Can you drive a stick?

[radcen]

How the hell am I supposed to drive a stick with a cellphone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other?

Driving a stick... making a left turn... in traffic... eating a burger... changing the radio station.

 

[StillBallin75]

Can you drive a stick?

Not only can I drive a stick, but a column-shift as well. I LOVE driving a stick! It is so much more fun. The only time I would prefer to own an automatic would be if I had to do a daily stop-and-go commute. Then, and only then, is an automatic a better option.

You mean like this?

 

[Enola]

I used to drive a column shift truck but that was after the GTO taught me, lol.

Hell, I used to be able to use a cherry picker and pull an engine...with or without the bell housing (easier with bell housing off but a bitch to get the other engine to line up with it if not). But..that was when I was young.

Hubby's truck is a shift. I can drive it with my RA hands, but it's hard to start it. I have to use both hands just to turn the key.

 

[radcen]

You mean like this?

Nah, but I did literally LOL.

 

[lizzie]

You mean like this?

I believe that is more likely known as riding the broom.

 

[Enola]

I believe that is more likely known as riding the broom.

My ride is parked in the kitchen at the moment but I'll take it out for a spin tonight around midnight.:mrgreen:

 

[Dittohead not!]

I learned to drive my dad's '51 International pickup. Yep, they used to make pickups and bigger trucks as well. It had a three on the tree. My first car was a '59 Ford, that also had three on the tree. I bought a '65 Mustang with a four on the floor after that, lots of fun, and very fast. When I started to think in more practical terms, I bought a new '68 VW Beetle with a four on the floor.

I've had a Pinto (not the greatest car) and an Escort (ditto) with four on the floor, a Dodge Colt (fun little car) with eight forward speeds, and a '90 Accord (great car!) with five speeds.

Yes, I can drive a stick.

The only thing better is the continuous variable on my new Outback. Much more efficient, and I can shift it if I want, and do when driving hilly country.

 

[Dittohead not!]

How the hell am I supposed to drive a stick with a cellphone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other?

Are you from around here? I swear, I see you on the freeway all the time.

 

[Enola]

I told myself I was going to get a Harley when I turned 70. But I don't think that is going to happen. I wouldn't be able to kick start it, much less hold it up.

 

[Dittohead not!]

I told myself I was going to get a Harley when I turned 70. But I don't think that is going to happen. I wouldn't be able to kick start it, much less hold it up.

I think they have electric starters now, but that could be wrong.

How you hold them up, I'm not sure. I've not wanted one in a long, long time. Call me chicken, but I'm scared of motorcycles, and even more afraid of the wacky drivers they have to dodge all the time.

 

[Leo]

LOL! No, not unless it has a motor, transmission, wheels, a steering wheel and a seat. I thought the title was a joke at first - we do not call a vehicle with a manual transmission a 'stick' where I come from.

But now that I understand the question, the answer is "Yes, of course I can."

I am fortunate in having an uncle who is a car tragic (like me) and who is also well off enough to be able to afford a stable of vintage cars - everything from a 1928 Bentley 3-litre to a 1970's Ferrari Dino 246GT. He taught me to drive (on a closed racing circuit) from the time I was old enough to reach the pedals, and see over the wheel. Needless to say, none of the cars he let me drive were automatic, and most were two-seater sports cars, so not only did I learn how to change gears, but also how to double-declutch, and how to heel-and-toe.

He didn't let me drive things like the Bentley (too difficult, he said) but he did let me drive these over the years -
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV
Austin Healey 100S
BMW 2800CSL
Jaguar SS100 (circa 1936)
Jaguar XK140 fixed head coupe
Jaguar 4.2 litre E-Type roadster
MGA 1600 Twin Cam
Morgan Plus 4
Porsche 911 2.7RSR
Triumph TR4
and the twin jewels in my crown - the Ferrari Dino 246GT and his current model BMW M5, now that I have a driver's licence.

My car (my first - an old BMW my mum gave me when she bought a new one) is automatic and semi-manual (clutchless) so I use the semi-manual mode all the time. Any form of manual gives you much better control, especially if you are going fast. I don't like slush-boxes.

 

[Enola]

I'm old school. A harley ain't a harley if it has an electric starter.

 

[Gina]

Yes, I can drive a stick. The first stick I drove was a 60's Chevy Truck, "three on the tree" and second was a knuckle buster. I was 11 or so, because my dad wanted us to be able to help him clear brush and stuff off his property without him having to get in and out to move the truck.

The first stick I drove legally was a 67 Chevy Camaro, 327, small block. (I'm pretty sure that was the description). Fun!

Later I encouraged my mom to get a manual Z car as her empty nest vehicle because one shouldn't have such a terrific sports car and then ruin it with an automatic transmission. Oh and it didn't hurt that I would get to drive it now and again and it would totally of ruined the experience for me. :2razz: She ended up with two of them before she grew tired of always having to shift.

 

[Leo]

I think they have electric starters now, but that could be wrong.

How you hold them up, I'm not sure. I've not wanted one in a long, long time. Call me chicken, but I'm scared of motorcycles, and even more afraid of the wacky drivers they have to dodge all the time.

I love motorcycles (rode an old 900SS Ducati for a while) but LOL, we would not consider a Harley a motorcycle on this side of the pond. Too fat, to heavy, and steers like a truck. It is the motorcycle equivalent of a T-Model Ford, with engineering of that era. Like when did Harley Davison ever win Moto GP? :mrgreen:

 

[Captain America]

If it has wheels or tracks I can drive that mother****er.

 

[winston53660]

I love motorcycles (rode an old 900SS Ducati for a while) but LOL, we would not consider a Harley a motorcycle on this side of the pond. Too fat, to heavy, and steers like a truck. It is the motorcycle equivalent of a T-Model Ford, with engineering of that era. Like when did Harley Davison ever win Moto GP? :mrgreen:

I use to ride on of these around New York City

 

[Dittohead not!]

If it has wheels or tracks I can drive that mother****er.

How about this one:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[Truckstop]

I love motorcycles (rode an old 900SS Ducati for a while) but LOL, we would not consider a Harley a motorcycle on this side of the pond. Too fat, to heavy, and steers like a truck. It is the motorcycle equivalent of a T-Model Ford, with engineering of that era. Like when did Harley Davison ever win Moto GP? :mrgreen:

The old 900SS was awesome, because of the dry clutch nearly everyone thought there was something wrong with the bike though. Bad ass looks and performance though, really fun.

 

[winston53660]

How about this one:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Hows about this:

 

[Dittohead not!]

I use to ride on of these around New York City

View attachment 67126791

Let me be the first to congratulate you on your continued survival.

 

[winston53660]

Let me be the first to congratulate you on your continued survival.

Wasn't till I moved back to Dallas I broke enough bones to be put in to the Evil Kenivel Hall of Fame. People here drive like ****.

 

[Leo]

I use to ride on of these around New York City

View attachment 67126791

Awesome! Is that a BSA? The tank badge looks like it, but I am not familiar with the model. It must be very old because BSA discontinued production before my mum was born, LOL! :lol:

 

[winston53660]

Awesome! Is that a BSA? The tank badge looks like it, but I am not familiar with the model. It must be very old because BSA discontinued production before my mum was born, LOL! :lol:

I had a BSA Royal Star almost just like that one.

 

[Omgitsme]

I love them, and would prefer one over automatic, but they are getting increasingly difficult to find in my experience.

Tell me about it. Ive been looking for one recently and there are almost no cars in stick anymore.

 

[Mycroft]

I love motorcycles (rode an old 900SS Ducati for a while) but LOL, we would not consider a Harley a motorcycle on this side of the pond. Too fat, to heavy, and steers like a truck. It is the motorcycle equivalent of a T-Model Ford, with engineering of that era. Like when did Harley Davison ever win Moto GP? :mrgreen:

Don't diss Harley racing, dude...LOL!!!

Seriously, though, Harley has be quite involved in racing...from the beginning.

A RICH RACING HERITAGE

In 1921 a motorcycle won a race with an average speed of more than 100 mph for the first time in history. That motorcycle was a Harley-Davidson. It wasn't the first time a Harley-Davidson set a record, broke through a performance barrier or raised the bar in racing.

It would not be the last time, either.

For more than 100 years, Harley-Davidson has been synonymous with excellence in motorcycle racing, and those high expectations will pace the 2010 season as well.

"Harley-Davidson motorcycles were raced almost from the very beginning of the company, first by independent owners, and then by an official racing department in 1914," said Bill Jackson, Manager of Harley-Davidson Archives. "Racing symbolized the ultimate in motorcycle challenge." Though Harley-Davidson was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers - building a bike in 1903 - that position was challenged by more than 150 other companies that entered the marketplace by 1911.

Racing, however, would quickly differentiate Harley-Davidson from the rest of the field. In fact, it would lay the groundwork for a century in which the company not only became the most-dominant motorcycle race team in history, but also the most respected manufacturer in the business.
read more here: H-D Racing History | Harley-Davidson USA