learning to drive
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Le Mans Master
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From: Norcal CA
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learning to drive
Yesterday, I surprised my 16 year old son by letting him drive around in an industrial park. Last December, he just got his learner permit. He has not driven that much since mostly raining and early sunsets. It was fun for him since he has driven his 66 1 ton dually up and down a dirt road for comparison.
Overall he did well. He did not know how far to let the clutch out before the gears would grab. His shifting needs some work. I think he was not used to the shifting gate nor the clutch.
The most he got up to was 3rd gear. This was something I was looking forward to doing for quite some time.
Anyone else taught someone to drive in their corvette?
Overall he did well. He did not know how far to let the clutch out before the gears would grab. His shifting needs some work. I think he was not used to the shifting gate nor the clutch.
The most he got up to was 3rd gear. This was something I was looking forward to doing for quite some time.
Anyone else taught someone to drive in their corvette?
Last edited by jimh_1962; Jan 12, 2017 at 09:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Norcal CA
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From: I'm not doing as well as I expected, but I never expected I would
After constant pleading and nagging, I allowed by 17 yo (at the time) to drive my 61 in his homecoming parade. The next week I taught him how to change a clutch.
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Army
Put my 15 year old daughter out in the empty high school parking lot one Sunday by herself in my ratty S-10 4 speed pick up truck... I sat on the ground and read the newspaper and smoked a cigarette (or two) pretended not to watch but was observing closely...
After a humorous 20 minutes of jack rabbit starts, grinding gears and stalling she had it down. I think the no-pressure, no-yelling environment helped with the rapid learning curve. The truck ran fine for another three years.
She's 37 now and a program manager for Pinellas County's recycling facility; the old f@arts were amazed when her 120lbs would jump in some of the older work vehicles with stick shift and take right off...
After a humorous 20 minutes of jack rabbit starts, grinding gears and stalling she had it down. I think the no-pressure, no-yelling environment helped with the rapid learning curve. The truck ran fine for another three years.
She's 37 now and a program manager for Pinellas County's recycling facility; the old f@arts were amazed when her 120lbs would jump in some of the older work vehicles with stick shift and take right off...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jan 12, 2017 at 10:28 AM.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Norcal CA
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Good story. When I got my license, my dad let me take his '61 around the block a few times. He (perhaps wisely!) parked the Vette for-good shortly after that, and I was relegated to driving my '76 Vega until I could afford an upgrade several years later.
As most of you know, the '61 sat for 35 years.. and it's the same car I drive now!
As most of you know, the '61 sat for 35 years.. and it's the same car I drive now!
Last edited by SDVette; Jan 12, 2017 at 11:34 AM.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Reno Nv
Congrats, sounds like your son did good.
I haven't taught a teenager how to start out driving but, I'm an instructor in the "Street Survival" schools teaching them accident avoidance, how to control a spin on a wet road, abrupt lane changes, etc.
At the end of the day, they can do things that their parents can't.
I also teach adults (sic) how to drive their Corvettes like a sports car on the track, but that's a different story.
I haven't taught a teenager how to start out driving but, I'm an instructor in the "Street Survival" schools teaching them accident avoidance, how to control a spin on a wet road, abrupt lane changes, etc.
At the end of the day, they can do things that their parents can't.
I also teach adults (sic) how to drive their Corvettes like a sports car on the track, but that's a different story.
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From: Norcal CA
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Congrats, sounds like your son did good.
I haven't taught a teenager how to start out driving but, I'm an instructor in the "Street Survival" schools teaching them accident avoidance, how to control a spin on a wet road, abrupt lane changes, etc.
At the end of the day, they can do things that their parents can't.
I also teach adults (sic) how to drive their Corvettes like a sports car on the track, but that's a different story.
I haven't taught a teenager how to start out driving but, I'm an instructor in the "Street Survival" schools teaching them accident avoidance, how to control a spin on a wet road, abrupt lane changes, etc.
At the end of the day, they can do things that their parents can't.
I also teach adults (sic) how to drive their Corvettes like a sports car on the track, but that's a different story.
Thunderhill is close by so maybe I can get him into a class. If not then maybe we will build a 24 hours of lemons car so he can learn how to properly drive.
He has had some road course racing experience when he was younger(Chicago indoor cart racing league). I am sure some of that knowledge is in there.
Last edited by jimh_1962; Jan 12, 2017 at 12:29 PM.
Drifting
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From: Akron OH
I thought my youngest son how to drive a stick shift in my '71 Corvette 4-speed when he was 15 and still had his temporary permit. He's 17 now and regularly takes that '71 out by himself to cruise around and be "seen".
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From: Chattanooga Tennessee
I was taught to drive a stick on. '53 Ford Club Coupe 
when I was 14. I taught my nephew to drive a stick on my 06 BMW a few years ago, but I have yet to teach anyone on the Corvette. Not that I wouldn't.
when I was 14. I taught my nephew to drive a stick on my 06 BMW a few years ago, but I have yet to teach anyone on the Corvette. Not that I wouldn't.
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From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
I learned to drive on a '61 Dodge Power Wagon. What a tank. 1st was a bulldog (or "granny" gear as some called them) non-synchromesh, and you did not start out in it. You started out in 2nd, and even it was non-synchromesh, only 3rd and 4th had synchros.
But, whether you started in 1st or 2nd, it was geared so low (5.89 rear gears IIRC) that you had to try to stall it out (except on a hill), even with a weak flathead 6 that dated back to the Civil War.
I taught my sons how to drive on a '98 Cobra Mustang and an '03 GT Mustang (that was a long time ago). I taught them the hard, but proven successful way: They had to learn to pull away from a dead stop (on a flat open space with no traffic) using no gas - no foot on the gas pedal. With the engine idling you just let out the clutch until the car pulls away at idle. It teaches you the clutch take-up points independent of laying on power. After that, using the gas pedal in conjunction with the clutch is easy peasy. If you learn that way, you will never ever have a problem using a clutch.
But, whether you started in 1st or 2nd, it was geared so low (5.89 rear gears IIRC) that you had to try to stall it out (except on a hill), even with a weak flathead 6 that dated back to the Civil War.
I taught my sons how to drive on a '98 Cobra Mustang and an '03 GT Mustang (that was a long time ago). I taught them the hard, but proven successful way: They had to learn to pull away from a dead stop (on a flat open space with no traffic) using no gas - no foot on the gas pedal. With the engine idling you just let out the clutch until the car pulls away at idle. It teaches you the clutch take-up points independent of laying on power. After that, using the gas pedal in conjunction with the clutch is easy peasy. If you learn that way, you will never ever have a problem using a clutch.
Melting Slicks
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From: Reno Nv
Yeah that's the next step.
Thunderhill is close by so maybe I can get him into a class. If not then maybe we will build a 24 hours of lemons car so he can learn how to properly drive.
He has had some road course racing experience when he was younger(Chicago indoor cart racing league). I am sure some of that knowledge is in there.
Thunderhill is close by so maybe I can get him into a class. If not then maybe we will build a 24 hours of lemons car so he can learn how to properly drive.
He has had some road course racing experience when he was younger(Chicago indoor cart racing league). I am sure some of that knowledge is in there.
I spent 11 years racing Karts with Nor-Cal at T-Hill, Sears Point, etc.
Then ran open wheel with SCCA's San Francisco Region, have over 3,000 laps in competition and instructing at T-Hill.
We (Reno Region) have 3 events scheduled on the 2 mile course, good instructors and very inexpensive. I'd put him in one or two before Lemons, it's important to go out a few times with a good instructor.
http://www.renoscca.org/
Also www.Hooked on Driving.com but they are quite a bit higher dollar wise.
Have him watch their videos, they are very good and free.
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From: Reno Nv
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I learned stick in my dad's '70 Opel GT in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco, where he was living at the time. I was 15. We were at a stop sign on Stanyon St (if I recall), super steep uphill, and when I went to push in the clutch, the block of wood that kept the driver's seat track locked slipped out and the seat rocketed all the way back, so I could no longer reach the pedals. Dad was super quick and from the passenger side he yanked up on the parking brake lever, and we didn't roll back. After a minute of honking, and jockeying the seat back into position, I took off in 1st and had it down. Pretty easy, as I'd been riding motorcycles since I was 12-13. Got my permit at 15.5, and license on my 16th birthday. Hell, I know 28 year- olds who don't even want to learn to drive in this day and age. Sure was different back then!
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What a great car to learn how to drive a stick in.He will never forget it. Sounds like he did very well for his first time. He may own it some day.
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I enjoyed reading all the "1st timers with a stick". My Dad taught me in a '53 Plymouth 4 door Cranbrook 3 on the tree stick 6 at the age of 14. First time I let the clutch out going down the alley (alleys in east side of Detroit), I thought the car was going to run away from me After "mastering" the clutch engagement, I went on to learn how to pull the car in and out of the garage. First time I pulled her out of the garage with Dad watching, I promptly ripped the driver's mirror off the door (Dad was not happy). Ended up being my first car I owned. Great memories!
Jim
In God We Trust!
After "mastering" the clutch engagement, I went on to learn how to pull the car in and out of the garage. First time I pulled her out of the garage with Dad watching, I promptly ripped the driver's mirror off the door (Dad was not happy). Ended up being my first car I owned. Great memories!Jim
In God We Trust!
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Hmmm...first time I drove a stick was with my buddy when I was 16. I had my license and he had a permit and we took out his parents Ford Festiva. I learned practiced a bit on a friends Subaru in college, a neighbor's Ranger pickup and finally a BMW e30 that I bought for myself.
Drove the Vette well once things were good in the bimmer. Funny how you really don't think about it once you get it down...
Drove the Vette well once things were good in the bimmer. Funny how you really don't think about it once you get it down...