Going for a run in the car as a child

[whiteandgreenandgold]

Does anyone else remember on a Sunday going as a family for a run in the car? We did this regularly when I was a child, not really sure what the enjoyment was of it but I had totally forgotten we ever did it until today!

Yes, we did this too. I’m mid fifties. I have a vague recollection of my father getting a new car - a K70 if that exists - and wanting to show it off which was part of the reason for the “drive”.

Not normally, but I do remember one time.

We were visiting Gran. She didn't drive, and she did find her house being invaded by a lively family for a week lovely in theory but the reality was too much after 3-4 days.

Dad suggested we took her for a lovely family drive where she could see all her own haunts and talk to us about it.
We, being teens groaned and asked to stay behind. Mum and dad persuaded us to go "for Gran. So she can show you her favourite places. Please come."
We agreed, somewhat with bad grace, but we did come, and were prepared to at least pretend to Gran (even even we moaned later to parents).

Gran was an individual lady, who wasn't the best at expressing pleasure at something done for her.

Dad drove us around. The conversation was along the lines of:
Gran: Why are we going here?
Dad: We're going down to Ladybird Place. Do you remember <insert memory>?
Gran: Of course I do. Why would I want to go there?

Repeat. For about 2 hours with different places.
At the end, Dad turned round and said:
"Hasn't it been a lovely time everyone with Mum telling us all about the different places round here?"
Gran jumped in before anyone could speak:
"Well, I'd rather not have come, so next time, you can tell them..."

The uproar from the back was joined by Dm, who couldn't stop laughing all the way home.
So when we were back the only one not in a bad mood was Mum! 🤣

It's because hardly anything was open on Sundays and the TV was usually rubbish and streaming services and the internet didn't exist. So our parents were totally fed up with being stuck in the house with children saying how bored they were.

We used to drive to the beach - park looking out at the sea - get an icecream if the little shop was open (it was randomly open or closed) eat the icecream sitting in the car looking out at the sea and then go home.

Lots of people are describing days out where you go to do something - that's not what this was.

You might park and one person might get out to acquire ice cream or fish and chips etc. But everyone else just stayed in the car - looked at the view and then you all drove home.

Sometimes you just drove around and then went home.

We used to go for Sunday drives sometimes. There was a game we sometimes played: for the first part of the journey, we were blindfolded. When we were allowed to see, we had to guess where we were, usually somewhere we’d been before. It was a massive thrill when realisation dawned, and we saw somewhere we recognised.

It was a totally normal Sunday afternoon activity in the 60s. Drive about 30 or 40 miles, perhaps stop for a moment to look at a boring view. Flask tea for the adults.

Sometimes we would take an elderly aunt or neighbour which made it better as they would invariably bring sweets for my brother and I.

We were talking about this today! Used to go out for a ‘drive’ on Sunday afternoons. Not every week. We sometimes bought an ice-cream if there was an ice-cream van/kiosk en route.

Reading this I feel like the millennial version of this is now going for a drive through Costa/starbucks for a matcha or iced coffee , sitting in the car with a podcast on whilst your child watches a bit of tablet or sleeps 🫠😬amongst my friend group of early 90s babies who now have small kids, this is common

We did this! We used to go to the seaside for ice cream!

My granny and Granda used to take a Primus stove and heat up cooked potatoes and tinned stewing steak, they just used to park at the edge of the road!

My Irish parents used to call it 'taking us for the spin'.

Yes, my parents used to call it “going for a ride”. Sometimes, our grandmother came with us - she’d sit in the car and enjoy the view, while we went for a walk.

My 80s childhood was an exact replica of this 😆 I used to take my Sindys and play with them on the back seat

My 15 year old was feeling a bit down the other evening, so I asked if she wanted to go out for a run in the car? She looked at me as if I was utterly mad.

i used to enjoy a run in the car back in the 80s. It meant getting out the house, and my favourite spot to go was if it was dark, to a local road that ran along a long hill and you could look down at all the twinkly lights of the nearby town.

We'd pile into Dad's company car. There would be the usual argument about who was sitting in the middle (there were 3 of us kids).
We'd drive to somewhere like Clevedon, Glastonbury or Symonds Yat. Get an ice cream then pile back into the car and return home.

We'd sometimes go to Aberdeen beach and sit in Codonas Carnival but not be allowed to go on anything 😞...torture for a ten year old.
And yes to the aimlessly driving round the countryside.

Yes it wasn’t a trip too anywhere it was
just a drive around the countryside for us. Often parked by the side of the road or in a lay-by and admired the view for a hour drinking tea from a thermos. Then went home. Wasnt terribly exciting as a child tbh.

Yes,we did this. I just used to read my book, my sister would sit there feeling queasy! On the way home there would be a pub stop, no children allowed in those days, sit outside in the car with fizzy drink and crisps!

Yes used to do this in the 70s. Was called a mystery tour. We'd drive to the nearby countryside then my siblings and I would take it in turns to choose which direction at every junction and when dad felt like he was done with driving we went back home. Happy days and very little squabbling!

Yes we did this! I'd also forgotten until I read your post. I used to love it, especially if it was at dusk. We lived in the countryside and could spot hares and various other animals crossing in front of the headlights.

We also used to do drive rounds in winter to look at Christmas lights and drive rounds in summer to look at flowers!

I still do a Christmas lights round! Nice free activity looking at the most lit up houses.

We did this, and DH and I did it occasionally when we started dating and he had his first car.

Seems odd but considering we grew up in a small town that had zero kids facilities it was always nice to get out for a drive , I still used to do this into my 30’s really just set off and see where I ended up - saw a lot of the country as a result

Yep, having a run out. 70s / 80s. Dad driving round the countryside with the family (Renault 8, then R16), possible Nanas in addition. Flasks, potted meat / cheese & onion sandwiches. Park up and eat in the car, passing plastic cups of tea over the seats. Maybe opening all the car doors and Nanas sitting on folding chairs if it was warm.

Yes my Dad used to take me for a drive in the car. There was never a destination. I guess he couldn’t think of anything else to do with me so that was the days entertainment!