Driving Stick....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,413
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From: NJ
St. Jude Contributor
Driving Stick....
Today my friend and I started taking driving lessons in his VW Jetta (80's style). It has a 5 speed and he has been planning to teach me how to drive a manual for about 2 months now. Well we finally got to doing it. Man is it hard. The one thing in my favor is the RPM guage (just like in a cockpit). Well after about 20 minutes i can get from a standstill to 1st then 2nd. (most of the time). But we tried a slight uphill start and that is hard as hell. So more learning for me later.......gotta get ready for the 6-speed vette :D
-Will
-Will
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Driving Stick.... (flyinace2000)
The first time I ever drove was in a stick shift, really never driven anything else.
It just takes practice, uphill starts become second nature once you master the clutch pedal.
It just takes practice, uphill starts become second nature once you master the clutch pedal.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,413
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From: NJ
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Driving Stick.... (Mr Mojo)
I figured for my first 20 minute lesson i was not doing to bad, considering i have only driven automtics (probably a minor mistake). The sooner i learn the better. Whn i was "driving" (i use the term loosly) or putt putt down the street this old guy stopped next to us to see if we were "ok", i told him i was learning manual and he was well god bless you son and drove off. I thought i was mildly ammusing.
-Will
-Will
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Re: Driving Stick.... (flyinace2000)
Its really easy actually. I learned like nothing. I was a natural, it just felt so right to me.
I went to go pick up my vette, my dad got the keys from the salesmen, threw them to me, and told my mom to ride with me. Next thing I know I'm redlinging 3rd gear at about 95mph...and my moms going "WOWOOOOOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOOWW!!!!!! !!!! SLOW DOWN!!!!"
:lol: :lol: :lol: Its almost impossible to stall out a vette(I think the only way to do it, is to hold on the brake, when u let out clutch.)
[Modified by Marty McFly, 12:16 PM 8/4/2002]
I went to go pick up my vette, my dad got the keys from the salesmen, threw them to me, and told my mom to ride with me. Next thing I know I'm redlinging 3rd gear at about 95mph...and my moms going "WOWOOOOOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOOWW!!!!!! !!!! SLOW DOWN!!!!"
:lol: :lol: :lol: Its almost impossible to stall out a vette(I think the only way to do it, is to hold on the brake, when u let out clutch.)
[Modified by Marty McFly, 12:16 PM 8/4/2002]
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: (scorp508)
Shrink the sig pic!!!!!!!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
Re: Driving Stick.... (flyinace2000)
I've been driving stick since I was 15. After 21 years (holy crap could it be that long?) it comes second nature. Every car is gonna be a tad different you'll get use to it quick. On the uphills just have confidence and don't back off, remember you can always slip the clutch a bit to aid yougetting going.
The biggest mistake people make is worrying about clutch abuse, get over that as fast a you can. With a six speed you'll be beating the poop out of the clutch anyways. Just don't ride the clutch and everything will be just fine.
Now you'll need to learn gear selection! :yesnod:
The biggest mistake people make is worrying about clutch abuse, get over that as fast a you can. With a six speed you'll be beating the poop out of the clutch anyways. Just don't ride the clutch and everything will be just fine.
Now you'll need to learn gear selection! :yesnod:
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 1
From: Sunbury North Carolina
Re: Driving Stick.... (Bones LT1)
Don't worry, Will - it'll become really really easy. I used to worry about driving my Vette and now I don't think about it. I learned on my 90 6spd, and my Kubota tractor....:lol:....Vettes are VERY easy to drive since they have so much torque and just basic hp, you don't have to rev it up very high at all to get it to go like an import that doesn't make any power till 3000rpms. ;)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
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From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: (flyinace2000)
Good luck with the learning experience. I personally prefer manual tranny's to auto's. But my vette is an auto, so I'm at least getting used to driving one. Been driving for 10 years, never owned an auto until now :):( Would love to throw a zf6 in here, but I fear it would be too difficult.
Good luck!
One hint for the uphill starts: since you can't really use the e-brake to hold you in the vette, I suggest checking into heel and toe maneuvers. That way you can hold the brake and hit the gas at the same time.
J :seeya
Good luck!
One hint for the uphill starts: since you can't really use the e-brake to hold you in the vette, I suggest checking into heel and toe maneuvers. That way you can hold the brake and hit the gas at the same time.
J :seeya
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 19,812
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From: Weirsdale (outside of Ocala) Florida
Re: Driving Stick.... (flyinace2000)
Funny story.. When I was in the service this guy fresh off the farm had to drive a truck. It was a stick. He could not shift gears unless he was looking at the floor shifter. He took his eyes off the road and ran into the back of another truck that stopped at the gate.
Stick with it Will. My first car was 3 on the tree.
Stick with it Will. My first car was 3 on the tree.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 21
From: Bern Switzerland
Re: Driving Stick.... (flyinace2000)
Over here you *have" to start with stick..... we have two tipes od driving licences... (*all* or *automatic only*) since automatics are still not the rule here, we all make the license with stick... don't worry... you'll get used to it:-)
btw nice second pic jennifer :-)
btw nice second pic jennifer :-)