Just had a LEO neighbor / friend stop by.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

He pulled a young lady over for erratical driving.  She pulled over and stopped on a slight uphill spot, but her car kept rolling slowly backward.  She kept stopping, shifting gears and rolling.  He said she looked scared to death and was crying.  Her car finally bumped very lightly into his cruiser and stopped.  He walked up and said for her to shut the engine off.  She did and he had her get out of the car.

 

Long story short, she was driving her boyfriend's car to the store while he was getting supper ready.  She was just going to get desert and wasn't familiar with his car, a four speed manual transmission.  She was being really careful, but wandering around very slowly trying to get the car stopped, but couldn't find find out how to put it in park.  She was shifting gears alright and got it into neutral, but just wasn't familiar with a stick shift.

 

He got her calmed down and showed her what she was doing wrong, then followed her a couple of blocks home.

 

She never did get the desert.

 

He said he was fighting hysterical laughter, but really felt sorry for her because she was really doing her best.

Edited January 8 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Doc Shapiro]

That was well handled.

[Rip Snorter]

That is why stick shift cars have become a theft deterrent!

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

9 hours ago, Doc Shapiro said:

That was well handled.

We have some great cops here.  They are part of the community and try to treat people very understandingly.

 

I've met a few dozen of the locals and am friends with four or five.

 

Them and our local fire /EMT / ambulance folks....as good as any I've known in my travels.

Edited January 8 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

I had a pick-up with manual stick.

My poor wife wanted to make a quick run to the store, but my truck was in last and she decided not to bother me to move the truck so she could get to her car.

After all, she had ridden with me in it several times.

How hard could it be?

My next door neighbour/cousin called out to her "Sherron! Could you grind me a pound of that?"

I spent a couple of hours in the Church parking lot giving her lessons on the intricacies of the clutch, shift, gas.

It got that she kinda liked leaving rubber streaks on the road.
 

[Texas Lizard]

Once you learn how to, you never forget....If away from it for a while...You might  not do well with it at first...But soon get the swing of it.....

 

Texas Lizard

 

Learned on 1950 Chevy...Three speed on the wheel....Fun to drive....But you could not drive and hold your lady....Needed two hands. to drive.......

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

I have told this story before.

I was between jobs and took a position as a route mileage test driver for a company prototype testing Jaguar/ Land Rover vehicles.

(this particular testing group did summer testing in Las Vegas/ Death Valley and winter testing in Brainerd Minnesota).

 

So my job was to arrive at the test facility at 6 am; sign out a euro spec Land Rover prototype and gas card; then proceed to put about 400 miles on it over a prescribed route.  Bring the vehicle back, document any issues, incidents or evaluation items.

 

These were lovely cars to drive.

 

So one day before we signed out our cars for the day - our supervisor called a meeting.  This meeting included our Land Rover team, the Jaguar team, our Mitsu truck team and our Mercedes Benz team.

(About 25 of us).

 

The supervisor stated that we had contracts with these companies for extended mileage testing and we were expected to put X number of miles on the vehicles everyday.

He then stated that Mercedes-Benz had recently added a manual transmission vehicle to the testing fleet and we were falling behind on the daily mileage because we didn't have "enough" drivers that could drive a stick.

(I found out later, "not enough" meant zero)

 

"So, who among you can drive a manual transmission?"

My hand went up; between motorcycles, my ratty Porsche 914, grandpas Ford F100 and tractor - I had logged plenty of stick shift miles.

I was the ONLY one that raised their hand.

 

"Ok, you're reassigned to Mercedes effective immediately - thanks"

 

I walk over to the Mercedes garage; mind racing about what limited edition Black Series hot rod Benz I would be driving.

 

Sadly, Mercedes-Benz had just acquired Smart as a brand and I was going to be driving a early prototype manual transmission Smart car.

Such an early prototype that the we were still running camouflage body covers to screw up auto photographers, had no radio, third party seats and it used a full size desktop PC bolted in the rear for engine management and data recording.

 

So my new job was 300 miles a day in a manual Smart Car.

Covering the exact same 60 miles of road in a circle 5 times a day.

St. Rose Pkwy, 30 miles down Las Vegas Blvd. southward to Jean Nevada, jump on Hwy 15 - back to Las Vegas; off at St. Rose and do it again

and again

and again

and again.

 

All because I could drive a stick.

Edited January 9 by Creeker, SASS #43022

[Subdeacon Joe]

I was a late starter on learning to drive a stick,12 or 13 years old.  My brother's pickup,  3 speed on the column. It took me quite a while to get the hang of throttle and clutch. 

 

Fast forward 30 years,  10 spent driving a Chevy with a 3 1/2 speed.  Technically 4 speed,  but with a granny low. Had about 18 feet of throw between gears. We were looking for a car for my wife.  I test drove a VW something with a 5 speed.  Throw was about an inch. THAT was a  challenge. All that muscle memory and having to THINK about it again. 

[Calamity Kris]

I was taught how to drive a stick with an old Studebaker non-syncro stick and the longest clutch push I have ever seen.  After I mastered that, I could drive any of the fire trucks we had.

[Cypress Sun]

 

I learned on a 1973 VW Beetle. I'm surprised my step-father never got whiplash or developed neck problems during the learning process but I got it fairly quickly.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

I wouldn't let my kids get their DL until they both learned to drive the stick in my Jeep CJ7. 

[Rip Snorter]

I will tell you one thing, your left hand doesn't know how to shift. Discovered that in a rental car on a visit to the UK.  I had a shift car at home.  Quite a challenge between that, opposite side of the road, and roundabouts!

[Eyesa Horg]

My very first car, a '62 Falcon had a 3 on the tree! I honestly miss driving standards!

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Started driving a stick in the army.  Have had a bunch of them over the years.  The best one was a SAAB Viggen.  I used to take it out on speed runs.  Still have a 23 year old VW Beetle in stick.  

[Still hand Bill]

Went to a gala for my wife’s work and came out to get our car from the valet.   Kid ran to get the car then came back.  Quick discussion with another kid, then that kid ran off to get the car.  Yep, first kid couldn’t drive a manual.  Soon this will be a non issue as manual transmissions are not an option anymore.  No full sized trucks offer a manual, only 2 mid sized do and it’s rare to find one.  Other than a few sports cars it’s hard to even buy a manual transmission car today.  

[Eyesa Horg]

They're just too damn reliable!

[Stump Water]

Took the Challenger in last summer for it's annual appointment to keep the drive train warranty active.  Was asked to come back next week because the one guy in the shop that could drive a manual was on vacation.

 

3 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

I wouldn't let my kids get their DL until they both learned to drive the stick in my Jeep CJ7. 

 

That's what my dad did.  My brother and I learned on a Ford Maverick with three in the tree.

 

That said, I'll take a hydrostatic transmission on the tractor all day, every day.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

My daily driver is my Jeep. 2002 TJ with a 5 speed. I wouldn't have it any other way. That being said, I did like it when I got a new work truck, (BIG truck), and it had an automatic in it. Driving for any distance is far easier with an automatic. Even my pickup has one. Made my Arizona to Ohio trips easier. 

A few years back, I made my daughter learn to drive my Jeep. She complained that she couldn't drive one because her mother hadn't been able to teach her to. Ten minutes later she was having a ball. She hasn't done so since, but she could.

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

7 hours ago, Calamity Kris said:

I was taught how to drive a stick with an old Studebaker non-syncro stick and the longest clutch push I have ever seen.  After I mastered that, I could drive any of the fire trucks we had.

Yes ma'am, you are absolutely RIGHT!!!

If you can drive one without a synchronized gearbox, you can drive ANYTHING!!!

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

We got a new guy on the fire department.

I thought I was pretty good because I could drive our Farmall tanker (I'm sorry. International Harvester. Might as well say Farmall) -- it was a road tractor until someone dismounted the fifth wheel, stretched the frame and set a 2000 gallon insulated stainless steel milk tank on it and declared it a fire tanker.

No trace of synchronizers anywhere in that machine.

I was one of two men who could drive it.

We got a new Chevy truck and switched the milk body over and were making a water delivery for some folks whose cistern went dry during a drought.

I drove out and made the mistake of telling this new guy I was one of two who could drive that International we just got rid of.

He drove back.

When he backed it into the bay, I looked at him and admitted frankly that I thought I was good with a stick, but he ran that stick smooth enough it put me to shame.

I said it with a grin so he'd know I wasn't giving him hell or anything.

He laughed and said yeah, he drove a truck just like this every day for the State Highway Department.

(Not the first time I bragged on myself and got my comeuppance!) 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

29 minutes ago, Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 said:

Yes ma'am, you are absolutely RIGHT!!!

If you can drive one without a synchronized gearbox, you can drive ANYTHING!!!

Double clutching rules....sometimes.

[Texas Maverick]

13 hours ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

I had a pick-up with manual stick.

My poor wife wanted to make a quick run to the store, but my truck was in last and she decided not to bother me to move the truck so she could get to her car.

After all, she had ridden with me in it several times.

How hard could it be?

My next door neighbour/cousin called out to her "Sherron! Could you grind me a pound of that?"

I spent a couple of hours in the Church parking lot giving her lessons on the intricacies of the clutch, shift, gas.

It got that she kinda liked leaving rubber streaks on the road.
 

As long as it is rubber and not metal flakes left on the road.

 

TM

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

56 minutes ago, Texas Maverick said:

As long as it is rubber and not metal flakes left on the road.

 

TM

 

 

  ............ or gear teeth ....  😉

[watab kid]

i appreciate how he handled it but in my mind im wondering why they no longer teach stick shifts in drivers ed ? 

[Alpo]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

i appreciate how he handled it but in my mind im wondering why they no longer teach stick shifts in drivers ed ? 

How old are you? Stick shift in driver's ed?

 

I took driver's ed in 1970 - 55 years ago. Automatics.

[watab kid]

41 minutes ago, Alpo said:

How old are you? Stick shift in driver's ed?

 

I took driver's ed in 1970 - 55 years ago. Automatics.

im 76 , i took drivers ed the first year it was offered in our state - we had simulators that were manual transmission style , and we drove stick shift cars , luckily i learnd to drive [thanks to my father] in his 1957 triumph TR3 , the first car i ever drove , after that i drove family car that was a stick shift , 

i realize most cars today are automatic transmissions but really ? dont people need to know in case ? ...............maybe they dont , better for us old farts that do know 

 

yes the truck i drive today is an automatic transmission but i can run through the gears smoothly in an old pickup with three on the tree , and i could [given the chance] run through the gears of a classic Maserati or any other sports car with a floor shift , i can park it i can start an older one simply by being on a slope , ive done it both in forward and reverse , i drive with both feet without hesitation , oh and i can ride a motorcycle - both american and english without thinking much about it as ive owned and ridden both extensively , 

 

i prefer the english bikes as well as their cars 

Edited January 9 by watab kid

[Still hand Bill]

6 hours ago, watab kid said:

i appreciate how he handled it but in my mind im wondering why they no longer teach stick shifts in drivers ed ? 

I took drivers Ed in the 80’s and it was all automatics.  Now much like cursive, it’s a mostly unused skill.  I would bet that in 10 years you won’t be able to buy a manual except for a few specialty vehicles.  I am not sure Chevrolet even makes a single manual transmission car/truck now.  Corvettes have been all automatic for a few years now.  Cafe standards and consumer demand pretty much ended the use case for a manual.  Now the manufacturers don’t want to spend the money on developing two different drive trains.  

Edited January 9 by Still hand Bill

[Alpo]

My father taught me to drive a stick. 64 Fairlane with a three on the tree. I got pretty good on a straight and level, so he took me over to a street that was uphill. Had me come to a dead stop and then start while gravity wanted to have me backing down the hill. That was fun. But I learned.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

8 hours ago, watab kid said:

i appreciate how he handled it but in my mind im wondering why they no longer teach stick shifts in drivers ed ? 

They don't even teach stick shift in TRUCK driver's school anymore. Most of the Big Trucks out there these days have automatics in them. The days of Double Clutchin' and Gear Jammin' are long gone. When I learned to drive a truck in 1990 I learned on a Road Ranger 10 speed. But in the early 2000s they started putting automatics in them. Nowadays, these "young'uns" have "Automatic Only" CDLs. 

[Stump Water]

6 hours ago, Still hand Bill said:

I would bet that in 10 years you won’t be able to buy a manual except for a few specialty vehicles.

 

It's that way now.

 

This list is two years old.  I'll guess it would be half that size today.  Ex: Chevrolet no longer offers the Camaro, the Nissan Versa is no longer offered with a manual, and I don't think Kia offers anything manual in the US anymore.

 

[Stump Water]

5 hours ago, Alpo said:

he took me over to a street that was uphill. Had me come to a dead stop and then start while gravity wanted to have me backing down the hill. That was fun. But I learned.

 

My dad did the same.  "Until you can take off without rolling backwards...."

[Eyesa Horg]

That's where hand held parking/emergency brakes were handy!

[Stump Water]

5 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

That's where hand held parking/emergency brakes were handy!

 

Not allowed in Dad Driver's Ed.

[Eyesa Horg]

With some of our hills and folks coming right up to your bumper at extreme up hill stop signs, it was needed. Heal toe was handy on those once you knew how to do it!

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

That's where hand held parking/emergency brakes were handy!

 

1 hour ago, Stump Water said:

Not allowed in Dad Driver's Ed.

If you're driving a tractor-trailer rig, you can use the Trailer Hand Valve for that.