Learning to Drive a Stick Shift – in a Corvette

 

When my husband suggested about 40 years ago that I learn to drive a stick shift in his car, I figured, no big deal. He made driving a stick shift look so easy. The fact that it was a ’64 Corvette, with an 11” racing clutch, 12” Indie tires on the rear with “radiused” wheel wells, 327 cubic inch, and 365 horse power didn’t faze me. (Of course, I had no idea what all that meant and I still don’t understand some of it to this day.) The fact that it sounded like a beast when it was running made me a little queasy, but what the heck: Jerry was very patient and it would be a new adventure.

Right.

First, you have to picture me in the driver’s seat. If you were behind the car, it looked like no one was driving. (Don’t even go there.) In order to reach the pedals, we moved the seat forward as far as it would go and I still needed a pillow behind me. Some of you folks are out there saying, wow, a Corvette, cool. No. It wasn’t. But I was still ready to learn.

So the next step was learning how to use the clutch and stick shift together. Okay. Actually, after stalling the car many, many times, I kind of got the hang of it. At least I didn’t grind the gears.

So I started to enjoy driving the beast. As long as I didn’t have to shift too often. Stop signs in quiet neighborhoods were no big deal. But traffic lights in busy intersections with impatient drivers — not so great. But I stuttered through with minimal horn honking behind me.

But then there were two major roadblocks to my newfound expertise: steep driveways and speed bumps. The driveway was at one of our favorite restaurants and was easy to enter, because I just let the car drift down. But feathering the clutch and slowly increasing the gas became my downfall when I tried to get up the driveway. I swear it was at a 90-degree angle! After stalling the car several times, and cars piling up behind me, we made a radical decision. I put the car in neutral, pulled on the emergency brake, and we both jumped out of the car and switched seats. Jerry rescued me from that cursed driveway. I’m not sure who was happier: me or the cars behind me. Jerry, bless his heart, did his best to try not to laugh.

The only other major difficulty was managing speed bumps. I had no idea how hard speed bumps would be! There was a quiet street with intermittent speed bumps in what used to be El Toro, CA (now Lake Forest). I don’t know how we ended up there; I suspect Jerry was suddenly overcome with evil intent and led me there. Naturally I couldn’t just power over the speed bumps or I would have destroyed the car. So I once again had to feather the blasted clutch, while slowly increasing the gas to move over them. By gosh, I was going to figure this one out! I can’t remember if I started to crack up with laughter or if I raged in frustration. But I finally figured out how to do it. Victory!

After that time I left almost all the ‘vette driving to Jerry. I’m just not a sports car person. I can say I’m very glad he taught me. When we eventually sold the Corvette and bought our first brand-new car, we bought a Toyota Corolla stick shift for me. I could have shifted that car with my baby finger after the 11” racing clutch. Nowadays Jerry has a 370 Z. It’s his baby, not mine.

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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    doulalady (View Comment):
    I taught all my kids, except the curmudgeon who preferred a motorbike, to drive a shift.

    Getting them comfortable with the concept started when they were little. If they were in the front seat they got to be the gear changer for me .

    It was a really bad day when one of them tried to help my husband. He has a somewhat more nervous disposition than me…..

    My worst moment in a stick was when the youngest managed to get out of his baby seat and open a door while I was negotiating a roundabout in England. I was holding his foot firmly in one hand while alternately steering and changing gears with the other hand, and feathering the clutch with one foot while controlling the gas/brake with the other foot.

    Like playing an organ I suspect.

    Yikes! Well done!

    • #61
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    Rain, slippery cobblestone streets, and me attempting to drive a right-hand drive stick. Trying hard to focus on the mechanics of shifting with my left hand and a right foot that seemed disconnected from my brain… The only thing I really remember is that we did make it back to the hotel.

    Glad you’re still with us to tell the tale, Barbara. OMG!

    • #62
  3. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    • #63
  4. ModEcon Inactive
    ModEcon
    @ModEcon

    Fun story! Corvettes have to be my favorite car ever. I’ll take a corvette over Italian nonsense any day :)

    I actually leaned to drive mostly in my dad’s Mini Cooper S convertible. The car had horrible rear visibility.

    However, even though it had a small turbo charged engine that had to be run at higher RPM, it was actually pretty forgiving. I don’t regret it at all!

    • #64
  5. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    ModEcon (View Comment):
    Fun story! Corvettes have to be my favorite car ever. I’ll take a corvette over Italian nonsense any day ?

    I actually leaned to drive mostly in my dad’s Mini Cooper S convertible. The car had horrible rear visibility.

    However, even though it had a small turbo charged engine that had to be run at higher RPM, it was actually pretty forgiving. I don’t regret it at all!

    Mine too!  When they’re running at least.

    • #65
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    skipsul (View Comment):
    Mine too! When they’re running at least.

    Jerry asked me if I told people that the photo I used was not one of his Corvette. Then he said, anyone who knows cars would know those weren’t Indies-whatever on the back, anyway. Sure.

    • #66
  7. Pilli Inactive
    Pilli
    @Pilli

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
     

    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC. Traded it for an Audi (yes, a stick) less than a year later.

    Yup!  I loved my TR-4.  I also loved working on it.  And working on it.  And working on it…

    I remember at the time, there was a very noticeable difference in the engineering when comparing a German car to British car to an Italian car to an American car.  The difference in approaches to solving the same problem could be pretty radical.

    • #67
  8. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    Kozak (View Comment):
    Having a manual transmission is now a great anti theft device.

    I had one stolen from me (1994 GMC pickup crew cab).  It was found abandoned having been on fire.  My theory was that the guy didn’t know how to shift gears, so he drove it high idle in first gear until it caught on fire.  I had been leaving the keys in it for over 10 years.

    I think it was more an act of vandalism, or maybe a joyride gone wrong, and not a for-profit theft.

    After that, I bought a Ford F150, automatic.  It was my first new (or non-used) vehicle.  I had been driving manuals up to then.  I loved manuals, now I don’t care either way.  I do love it.  It’s the first vehicle I have had with electric windows and an AM/FM that works.  Ironically, I use the Bluetooth feature to listen to podcasts, not terrestrial radio.

    And I don’t leave the keys in that vehicle.

    • #68
  9. GLDIII Reagan
    GLDIII
    @GLDIII

    In 42 years of driving and ownership of 15 vehicles, I have never owned one without a manual transmission. The desire to remain in control of my gears has forced me into the more sporty marques (cough*BMW*cough). However it is getting increasingly difficult to find cars that are more than either uninspiring Ecoboxes or flat out high end sport cars. I suspect my next vehicle, probably a full size pick for towing, is going to be and automatic whether or not I like it.

    Pilli (View Comment):
    My first car was a ’70 VW Beetle. It was like shifting a marshmallow. You knew you were there but it was not a positive feel. The next car was Triumph TR-4A. That has the sweetest shift I have ever felt. The shift column was about 6 inches long as compared top the VW 24 inches. The trans just snapped from one gear to the next. A very positive feel.

    This was the car that first bit me for my obsessive desire for a manual transmission. I owned one with the 4 speed British Laylock transmission, and when everything in the car was working right, it was the sweetest tactile joy one could find in the driving experience. The only other car I have driven that came close it the Mazda Miata, and it is Japan’s sincerest flattery that this was the experience they were trying to duplicate when the Miata took the world by storm 28 years ago (and is still essentially the same experience, just without the joy’s of British “reliability”)

    • #69
  10. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    One time I sprained my left ankle.  I was still in college and on crutches.  I got myself a temporary handicapped parking permit, and proceeded to drive my manual transmission pickup with one foot.  Most pickups have enough torque at idle, so they’re not that difficult to get moving without using the accelerator.  But using my right foot for clutch work took some getting used to.

    • #70
  11. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Al Sparks (View Comment):
    One time I sprained my left ankle. I was still in college and on crutches. I got myself a temporary handicapped parking permit, and proceeded to drive my manual transmission pickup with one foot. Most pickups have enough torque at idle, so they’re not that difficult to get moving without using the accelerator. But using my right foot for clutch work took some getting used to.

    Been there, done that.  If you’re really patient, you can shift without the clutch, except from a start.  I used to do that in my jeep, but you’re not going to win any races doing that.

    • #71
  12. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    Skyler (View Comment):

    Al Sparks (View Comment):
    One time I sprained my left ankle. I was still in college and on crutches. I got myself a temporary handicapped parking permit, and proceeded to drive my manual transmission pickup with one foot. Most pickups have enough torque at idle, so they’re not that difficult to get moving without using the accelerator. But using my right foot for clutch work took some getting used to.

    Been there, done that. If you’re really patient, you can shift without the clutch, except from a start. I used to do that in my jeep, but you’re not going to win any races doing that.

    Over the years I also learned to shift without a clutch.  But learning means grinding gears, which can damage your transmission.  I did it anyway.

    • #72
  13. barbara lydick Inactive
    barbara lydick
    @barbaralydick

    skipsul (View Comment):
    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    Sprayed coffee on the keyboard laughing after reading just the first one.  I’ve copied and filed that page.  Thanks.  They’re all a hoot!

    • #73
  14. ModEcon Inactive
    ModEcon
    @ModEcon

    skipsul (View Comment):

    ModEcon (View Comment):
    Fun story! Corvettes have to be my favorite car ever. I’ll take a corvette over Italian nonsense any day ?

    I actually leaned to drive mostly in my dad’s Mini Cooper S convertible. The car had horrible rear visibility.

    However, even though it had a small turbo charged engine that had to be run at higher RPM, it was actually pretty forgiving. I don’t regret it at all!

    Mine too! When they’re running at least.

    Ah, the classics. Back when cars were classy. I am not old enough to have grown up with such cars, but I think they “feel” the best. A little more raw and less engineered. Gives them more distinctiveness and feel. It’s not just another perfect aerodynamic shape with interiors of molded plastic. Plus, it won’t hit the ground just because the pavement is uneven.

    I like those gen 3 corvettes the best. Sure, modern cars are nicer, more convenient. But nothing beats a classic. Those curves just give it so much personality.

    It’s funny too. One time I got to drive an old pickup that my grandpa had. It was from a time before power steering, but had been modified to put power steering on it. It was simple pickup, 4 speed manual transmission and was totally worn out. It was a beater, only kept around for the dirty jobs. It also had one of those old shift handles that came up from the floor and had so much longer of a throw than other the other manual I had driven.

    It became one of my favorite experiences to practice on that older technology. Well, perhaps because I only had to drive it once ;) . Part of the reason though was that it was not built for power steering so you had to turn the wheel really far to get it to turn. That made it so when you did take corners, you could do so really smooth. It made it real fun to drive around the neighborhood practicing driving a stick.

    • #74
  15. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    More Lucas Electric jokes:

     

    http://mez.co.uk/lucas.html

    • #75
  16. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Al Sparks (View Comment):
    Over the years I also learned to shift without a clutch. But learning means grinding gears, which can damage your transmission. I did it anyway.

    It’s really hard to damage the gears in a jeep.  I wouldn’t do it in my Porsche.

    • #76
  17. She Member
    She
    @She

    skipsul (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    My great grandpa loaned Joe Lucas, Prince of Darkness, fifty gold sovereigns to start his business. True story.

    • #77
  18. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    She (View Comment):

    skipsul (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    My great grandpa loaned Joe Lucas, Prince of Darkness, fifty gold sovereigns to start his business. True story.

    I remember you telling about that, but I don’t remember if it was in a post or not.

    • #78
  19. barbara lydick Inactive
    barbara lydick
    @barbaralydick

    skipsul (View Comment):
    More Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://mez.co.uk/lucas.html

    Another keeper. Thanks

     

    Pilli (View Comment):
    Yup! I loved my TR-4. I also loved working on it. And working on it. And working on it…

    Not car repair savvy as you, my TR7 was often in the shop.  On the umteenth time, my boss asked, “Quick – what’s the difference between a pedestrian and a British car owner?”

    • #79
  20. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    skipsul (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    skipsul (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    My great grandpa loaned Joe Lucas, Prince of Darkness, fifty gold sovereigns to start his business. True story.

    I remember you telling about that, but I don’t remember if it was in a post or not.

    She told me too, so it must have been.

    • #80
  21. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Chuck Enfield (View Comment):

    Dominique Prynne (View Comment):
    he owned 3 Opels, one which ran and two others that didn’t for parts.

    Most Opel owners had one car that ran about 33% of the time. Your friend fixed it by having 3 Opels. That’s genius.

    I learned to drive a stick in my mother’s Opel Kadett.  It was a fun car, and I don’t remember it having much, if any, trouble.

    I still can’t get that Opel theme music from the old TV commercials out of my head.  What an earworm!

    • #81
  22. She Member
    She
    @She

    skipsul (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    skipsul (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    My great grandpa loaned Joe Lucas, Prince of Darkness, fifty gold sovereigns to start his business. True story.

    I remember you telling about that, but I don’t remember if it was in a post or not.

    It was a comment on a thread.  For some reason, I think it was a anonymous post, but I’m not sure.  I’ll try and find it, but don’t hold your breath #RicochetSearchFeatureIs[Redacted]

    • #82
  23. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    But admit it, guys. A woman who can drive a stick shift is extra interesting, right?

    Indeed.

    • #83
  24. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    She (View Comment):

    skipsul (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    skipsul (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    BTW, that car (mine) was actually a piece of crap. Never thought the Brits had quite grasped the concept of QA/QC.

    In that case you should enjoy this collection of Lucas Electric jokes:

    http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

    My great grandpa loaned Joe Lucas, Prince of Darkness, fifty gold sovereigns to start his business. True story.

    I remember you telling about that, but I don’t remember if it was in a post or not.

    It was a comment on a thread. For some reason, I think it was a anonymous post, but I’m not sure. I’ll try and find it, but don’t hold your breath #RicochetSearchFeatureIs[Redacted]

    I could have sworn that you expanded on it in a post, though.

    • #84
  25. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    A woman who can drive a stick shift is extra interesting, right?

    I’ll rue the day I have to succumb to driving an automatic!

    • #85
  26. GLDIII Reagan
    GLDIII
    @GLDIII

    MLH (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    A woman who can drive a stick shift is extra interesting, right?

    I’ll rue the day I have to succumb to driving an automatic!

    When we were shopping to replace the wife’s totaled 2000 BMW 3 series sedan, her requirement was for another middling size 4 door for her car pool. At the time there were only four manufactures that offered that size car with a stick. I asked her if the stick manual was a hard must have requirement, and she said “I am not that old” I want my manual box  transmission. Eventually settled on a BMW 330i 2006 E90, and had to get the high zoot model to get a manual.

    Turned out to be a touchy subject.

    • #86
  27. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    MLH (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    A woman who can drive a stick shift is extra interesting, right?

    I’ll rue the day I have to succumb to driving an automatic!

    Turned out to be a touchy subject.

    I’ve heard that it is a control issue.

    • #87
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    This conversation was part of our September Group Writing, the theme for which was Cars. In October, our theme is Cards, and you can sign up to write about any sort of cards right here. As I am writing this, we still do not have a volunteer for today, so if you have anything to say about cards, whether of the greeting or playing variety or that guy down the street who thinks he’s funny, I would appreciate your help.

    • #88
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