Posted on 01/02/2014 9:54:08 PM PST by Impala64ssa
For the newest generation of drivers, and even those with years of experience, the skill of driving a manual transmission is one that few possess. With less than 10 percent of new cars produced today being equipped with a manual transmission, there’s far less opportunity and need to learn how to operate a clutch and shift gears. The Hagerty Driving Experience Powered by Ford aims to help steer that outcome down a different road.
Pairing a classroom session with closed-course driving lessons, the Hagerty Driving Experience provides a unique and exciting opportunity for young drivers to learn how to operate a manual transmission. At six locations across the country, more than 300 participants finessed the pedals in a wide variety of vehicles that included a 1929 Ford Model A, 1963 Jaguar E-Type and 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
“The future of the car hobby depends on young drivers being excited about cars, and being able to actually drive them,” said McKeel Hagerty, President and CEO of Hagerty. “The Driving Experience gives them the chance to learn those skills from behind the wheel.”
Ford Motor Company shares the passion for teaching young people how to drive manual transmissions, and it was with great pleasure that the Driving Experience officially partnered with Ford this year. Through the company’s support, two 2013 Ford Mustang GTs and a Focus ST were provided for each event, giving participants the chance to experience modern performance vehicles in addition to a variety of classic cars provided by local car owners.
With the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang approaching in 2014, the inclusion of new Mustangs at each event offered a perfect opportunity for participants to experience the modern version of one of the industry’s most iconic cars, one that is easily relatable to young and old alike.
Some events included both modern and classic examples of Mustangs. During the Orange County, Calif., event, ABC- 7 television personality Dave Kunz volunteered his 1965 Ford Mustang. It was with this car that he learned to drive a stick shift as a teenager, and he was thrilled to give today’s young drivers the chance to learn behind the same wheel. Having Kunz’s first generation Mustang roll alongside Ford’s 2013 Mustang GT was an ideal parallel that helped participants gain an even deeper appreciation of our automotive heritage and how the past continues to carry us forward.
The Driving Experience wrapped up the year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September. The experience was especially unique for 16-year-old Krystal-Jo Weiss, who used her newfound shifting skill to drive her 1967 Ford Bronco to her high school homecoming.
“It was fun driving both the classics and the new cars,” Weiss said. “I learned that you really have to focus when driving a manual transmission. You’re more involved and more connected because you have to know your car better.”
The Hagerty Driving Experience Powered by Ford continues to gain momentum for 2014. Our partnership with Ford Motor Company helped provide more young drivers the chance to learn the ins and outs of motoring in a unique and memorable way that will remain with them for years to come – and might even lead them to owning a manual transmission vehicle of their own one day.
There are some driver training courses here in the UK for 11 year olds and older. I took my daughter to one at Brands Hatch raceway, 2 hours in the classroom, and 2 hours seat time, she had a blast, and now is proficcent driving a manual, and asking to get into karting while waiting to reach 16 and do her provisional test.
And yeah, whoever did that conversion spent some time to do it right. Everything is very nicely proportioned and spaced right.
Imagine my disappointment in 1989 when I tried to buy my second Eddie Bauer Bronco II, that the dealer could not trade for a five speed gearbox anywhere within 500 miles.
For us hardliners, there are still the semi-manual autos, which I still use. While it's not really the same, when you feel the absolutely wussified "response" of the latest eco-boosted "shifting," it's tough to let the computer make the decisions.
In congested traffic just throw it in neutral and let the auto tranny’s hill gear of the car behind push you until you can actually drive. Problem solved.
I also have an a/t Escape that always manages (when cruise control is on) to downshift just at the top of a minor hill on the freeway. Very annoying. If it is even minorly hilly, I have to cut out the cruise and go to (manual) constant throttle position.
You raise an interesting point. The article mentions the Model A. Wouldn't the Model A have a non-synchronized transmission? Driving the "modern day" synchronized transmissions is a whole different ball game.
It always seemed to me that one reason for the success of the model T must have been because it wasn't as hard to shift gears as in other cars of its day.
At any rate, I doubt that they were really teaching people to double clutch (or float gears) at the event mentioned in the article.
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My biggest issue with right hand drive here in The UK after 20+ years driving in the US, is that it just feels wrong to look to the left for the rear view mirror. That, and being in a hurry, jumping in the car without thinking and realizing the steering wheel isn’t there...damn, get out and walk around to the other side and hope nobody noticed.
The really annoying part about your criteria is that you can get that vehicle at Audi.de, VW.de, BMW.de, etc. Just not at their corresponding USA sites/dealerships. And much of the reason is over-regulation from NHTSA and EPA.
I took the driving test for my first drivers license in a car with manual transmission many years ago and the testing guy made me parallel park between two cars on a steep hill. He must have been a sadist.
Nevertheless, I was able to do it and passed.
I think every new driver should have take their driver’s
test on a manual. And all driver’s ed vehicles would have to
be manuals.
LOL! I had that down pat.......This summer I bought my first automatic trans vehicle since 1977. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my left foot.........The least they could have done was leave the headlight dimmer switch on the floor.
I learned on a ‘65 Plymouth Belvedere with 3 on the column. Near the end of it’s life it was a true manual shift. You had to get out, open the hood and manually lift the linkage to get it back into first.
I learned to drive on old trucks wherein the term “double clutching” described a coordinated foot work that would make Fred Astaire swoon.
Texting? Using two hands and two feet sometimes wasn’t enough on the old floor shifts when the shifter had to be chased down as it flopped around like a fresh caught fish.
Automatics? I wouldn’t have anything else!
When my daughter was 16 she learned to drive in a manual first. She is probably the only one of her friends that can even drive one. so sad.
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