Oh I had two incidents on Minis where the roll pin dropped out of the gear linkage, leaving me stuck in top gear. After that I added cable ties through the centres. There are two on the selector rod.

Both times required some high speed work at T junctions and a lot of clutch slipping. The second time was just after I left home to pick MrsW up from work. I figured by going round the block always turning left I could make it home. But the first left was a 90 degree onto a busy road and also uphill. And it was "rush hour". Anyway I committed to that junction, miraculously got a gap in the traffic then spent the next quarter mile kangarooing up the hill. The other lefts were easy-peasy. I got home.

I went to a job interview in Leeds in my best suit. At Woolley Edge, on the steep grade it went onto 3 cylinders. I stopped at the services, whipped the plugs out and number 3 was totally oiled. The A series usually screws up number 3. I cleaned it off, but no difference. So I had two choices. Make it home and swop cars, or carry on. I carried on, on three cylinders. Downhill was Ok, but uphill was a bit testing.

After my interview it started reluctantly. A series are great starters, even with two cylinders out. I made it back home on three. It was a bit rough but got me there. Turned out the exhaust valve had dropped a chunk.

There have been other occasions where I struggled to get home but they are the most memorable.

DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4