We Are Considering Offering Driving Lessons In Courtenay / Comox

Posted on By Mark Anderson

Although we are based in the Cowichan Valley, we recently received some queries from the Courtenay / Comax area inquiring whether we offer Class 5 and Class 7 Driving Lessons in the Courtenay / Comox area.

To date we have not been offering Driving Lessons in Courtenay / Comox but if there is sufficient interest we would definitely be willing to offer Class 5 and Class 7 Driving Lessons in Courtenay / Comox one day a week, perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday.

Our lessons rates for Class 5 and Class 7 lessons are definitely competitive with other Driving Schools in the Courtenay / Comox area. At this stage we are just trying to determine whether there is sufficient interest from the Courtenay / Comox area to justify offering Class 5 and Class 7 Driving Lessons there one day a week, perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday. Continue reading We Are Considering Offering Driving Lessons In Courtenay / Comox

Video: 5 Things Truck Drivers Should Never Do – 4 Of Which Apply To All Drivers

Posted on By Mark Anderson

Smart Trucking is a YouTube channel I like and subscribe to.  It is run by a Canadian truck driver named Dave, who regularly posts new videos to his Smart Trucking YouTube channel.

Here is a video Dave posted on Smart Trucking in May 2018 on Five Things Truck Drivers Should Never Do.  Four of these five “Things” apply to all drivers.  If you’re not a truck driver you will never encounter Number 3: Don’t Let Your Reefer Fuel Run Out.

For my Class 7 students, pay particular attention to what Dave says about Texting And Driving (3:20-3:30), Don’t Drive Too Fast For Conditions (6:40-6:50) and Don’t Drive When You Are Tired (6:50-8:10).

Just FYI, when Dave is talking about an “E.L.D.” in the Don’t Drive When You Are Tired segment, he is referring to an Electronic Logging Device, which measures the amount of time a truck drivers spends driving, resting etc.

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1933 Advertisement For 76 Gasoline, Union Oil Company of Canada

Posted on By Mark Anderson
Gasoline Advertising

We came across this 1933 advertisement for 76 Gasoline from the Union Oil Company of Canada.

Apart from being a very good example of 1930’s Art Deco advertising, this advertisement shows how constant and standardized gasoline advertising has remained over the years. Note this advertisement’s emphasis on “smoothness” of acceleration, fuel economy (mileage), “scientific selection and blending” and “continual research to achieve improvement in 76 without adding to the cost”. None of these statements would be out of place in 21st century gasoline advertising.

Another interesting historical note is the reference to the Union Oil Company of Canada sponsoring Band Concerts from English Bay in Vancouver on CKMO Radio. The CKMO call sign is still active but it is no longer used by a Vancouver radio station, as it was in 1933. The CKMO radio station ceased operations in Vancouver in 1955. the CKMO call sign was used by Camosun College in Victoria between 1993 and 2012, when Camosun College switched to Internet streaming instead of radio. CKMO-FM is now used by a radio station in Orangeville, Ontario.

1933 advertisement by Union Oil Company of Canada for its 76 Gasoline. (West Coast Driver Training & Education Inc. collection)
1933 advertisement by Union Oil Company of Canada for its 76 Gasoline. (West Coast Driver Training & Education Inc. collection)

1944 Advertisement From B.C. Electric Showing The Buses And Streetcars It Planned To Introduce In B.C. Cities

Posted on By Mark Anderson
HISTORIC ADVERTISEMENTS

We came across this 1944 advertisement from B.C. Electric (the forerunner to B.C. Hydro, which ran B.C. public transit systems before the formation of B.C. Transit), showing the types of buses and streetcars which B.C. Electric planned to introduce in B.C. cities.

Notice the “Trackless Trolley Buses”, which are still operating in Vancouver.

1944 advertisement from B.C. Electric (the forerunner to BC Hydro and BC Transit) showing the buses and streetcars the company was planning to introduce in B.C. cities. (West Coast Driver Training collection)
1944 advertisement from B.C. Electric (the forerunner to BC Hydro and BC Transit) showing the buses and streetcars the company was planning to introduce in B.C. cities. (West Coast Driver Training collection)

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1944 Advertisement About Winter Maintenance For Cars And Trucks

Posted on By Mark Anderson

Winter Maintenance

Here is a 1944 advertisement for Davis-Drake Motors and Wilson & Cabeldu, which were General Motors dealers in Victoria and Duncan at that time.

The advertisement is about winter maintenance for vehicles and contains suggestions which are still valid today. The winter maintenance suggestions in this 1944 advertisement are:

  • Cooling System Inspection – keeping anti-freeze at proper strength and levels
  • Lubricating System Inspection – including regular oil checks
  • Electrical System Inspection – including battery, defroster and heating systems
  • Steering System Inspection – including tires and wheel alignments
1944 advertisement about winter maintenance from Davis-Drake Motors and Wilson & Cabeldu, which were General Motors dealers in Victoria and Duncan. (West Coast Driver Training collection)
1944 advertisement about winter maintenance from Davis-Drake Motors and Wilson & Cabeldu, which were General Motors dealers in Victoria and Duncan. (West Coast Driver Training collection)

All of these suggestions are still totally valid for winter driving today.

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