I learned to drive a stick on the job site in 1980. The foreman said they needed a “gopher” to drive the company truck to go pick up materials, etc... He asked “Do you know how to drive a manual transmission” and the only word out of my mouth was “Yes.” I figured all I had to do was get the truck off the lot and practice a bit behind the Hardee’s where he couldn’t see me, and if I could make the round trip to Kokomo Lumber I was set for the summer.
And that’s what happened. I got paid to drive around Kokomo and listen to Vince Lloyd and Lou Boudreaux broadcast Cub games on WGN Radio.
That initiative would never happen with most young people today.
I did the same thing with the dockmule/bombtruck in the Navy. Took it out to the parking area behind our warehouse and backed up and backed up till I got it. Pivot point was difficult to learn to back up.
I learned to drive a stick when shopping for my first pick-up truck. The salesman was so eager to sell me a gas-guzzler back in the early 80’s when gas was still high.
I get in for the test drive - “Oh - it’s a stick!? I don’t know how to drive these.”
“Oh - it’s easy - you’ll be fine!”
It really was pretty easy after the first three tries getting going. And I did like the truck. I shopped around for another one though - I figured the funny smell wasn’t doing something too much good!