Like much of my generation
we started in a go-cart (later a shifter cart too) or on a mini-bike
went to a motorcycle, knew the concept of clutch & shifting well
& a dune buggy 4 speed, at about 10-ish my stepdad made out of a
POS 61 R/E rwd Renault, we'd go to dunes in Or., Nv. or SoCal
I drove a lot...
I drove tractors, a military Jeep on my Uncle Tink's place,
out in Bethel Island too...
at about 10-ish,
he took me to Park & Shop, the biggest parking lot in Concord,
at the time, where I grew up
huge place
He had me drive his, really nice rod, nice wheels & tires a lil' LA rake
53 F100 with a hopped-up 352/FE & T10 top-loader 4 speed,
4.??:1 something rear gears
I had the seat all the way forward, could hardly reach the peddles
but I was game, and excited...
I knew how to use a clutch from other vehicles
but this was a bit different
I was a lil' bit intimidated, way more power, choppy cam & stiffer peddle
he didn't hesitate, and said;
to paraphrase of course
"make sure the e-brake is set so it won't roll,
pulled out from under the right side of the column
then push in the clutch & 'start her up'
put it in 1st gear (H pattern on the floor of course) then release the e-brake
& start to let out the clutch & feather it, & the gas at the same time
that I can't just dump it & punch it, like in the sand with the POS Renault"
I took off, well, np problems with the stiffer clutch & it was going well
did a 1st to 2nd shift maybe 15mph still doing well
a couple turns & down shifted to 1st, slow down & using the clutch
going up & down, thru 1st & 2nd, having a blast
going really good...
I'm getting my confidence up, a lil' cocky probably
a lil' more throttle, & shift into 2nd going about 25mph-30 (I'd guess)
my dad all of a sudden says really loud;
''watch out & stop now'',
he wanted me to react out of the blue & do a panic stop...
I got all flustered,
I hit the brake but didn't push in the clutch
my foot was still on the gas a lil too, it was driving thru the brakes
rooky mistake
(In no danger lots of room nothing close)
dad just reached over shut off the key, it came to a quick stop
& he said;
"calm down, it's Ok, let's do that all again",
now I was a bit flustered/a bit scared as a lil' 10 y/o kid would be
glad he has the patience to deal with it
we did the whole deal all over again,
I did the shifting & driving around, got up-to about 25
& he did the 'panic-stop' deal again...
This time, I passed with flying colors...
He told me to set the e-brake & shut it off
I was worried, he'd never let me drive anything ever again...
he said;
"good deal, we'll do it again sometime later & don't tell your mother"
he got in the driver's seat, then did a lil' smoky burnout,
he was a ol' drag racer & a bit of a kid at heart
& he knew I loved that ****...
I used to ride along with him when he would go out & get street races in
in the later 60s, I'd stand outside & watch (always, don't tell your mom)
anyway