And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
That was part of dad's rules for my kids, also in their 30's, to get their driver's license. You had to drive a stick, you had to be able to back my F350 dually crew cab with just the mirrors, and you got a lesson in starting, stopping, and shifting without the clutch.
My cousin was a commercial truck driver who broke his right arm while replacing a tire. It happened in Chicago and he had to drive that double four speed from there back to NE Nebraska using his left arm to shift. He'd hook his left arm through the steering wheel and shift. I found it almost impossible to shift both sticks with a good arm.
It's been 24 years or so since I had to deal with a standard-shift-right-hand drive, but it would be like riding a bike. Intersections and round-a-bouts would require some thought. I do wonder what all those sticks are for, however. I obviously recognize the parking brake, gearshift, and a likely 2wd/4wd transfer case shifter. I assume the other two are a PTO and dump bed?
Long stick with the black ball on top = gear shift (4 forward, 1 reverse) Short stick with the black ball = overdrive Yellow top = 2WD / 4WD in High ratio only Red top = High / Low range (Low is 4WD only) Bent lever with white button = hand brake / parking brake
Land Rover or equivalent. Yeah, I remember driving one. Bad tranny occasionally would not go into 1st or 2nd. Shift to low range, put it in 3rd, shift to 4th, then back to high range and 3rd ...
Yeah I can drive it, but the right hand drive would be a bear.
A coworker had five Series Land Rovers one of which was his daily driver. The red knob is the high-low lever and the yellow is the 2wd-4wd plunger. In Low range 4wd is engaged, in High range 2wd is automatically selected so you have to push the yellow knob down to engage 4wd. The short black lever is for the PTO. All the instructions are on the dash. Al_in_Ottawa
Learned on a stick. Learned to drive one footed at 18 due to a knee surgery. At 21 was hauling hay in SoCal, pulling doubles and loading it the old way- no squeeze loaders back then. Yeah, kids today are short-changed on practical skills and knowledge. Damn progress…sometimes.
Spent 10 years in Okinawa driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. If I remember the clutch is still a left foot clutch and yes shifting left handed. Takes a little getting used to but if you've driven a stick it's easy.
AND the heater is crap, Electrical crap, sure be fun NOT, Lucas Electric ! the inventor of darkness. Drives like a manure spreader, cant hear the radio, oh sure it be fun to drive to the store then spend the rest of the weekend fixing it..Nope
Most commercial vehicles have the key in them somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMost folks don't even know how to shut off the parking brake.
Taught my sons (30's) to drive a stick shift, my Dad always said drive a stick you can drive anything.
ReplyDeleteThat was part of dad's rules for my kids, also in their 30's, to get their driver's license. You had to drive a stick, you had to be able to back my F350 dually crew cab with just the mirrors, and you got a lesson in starting, stopping, and shifting without the clutch.
DeleteMy cousin was a commercial truck driver who broke his right arm while replacing a tire. It happened in Chicago and he had to drive that double four speed from there back to NE Nebraska using his left arm to shift. He'd hook his left arm through the steering wheel and shift. I found it almost impossible to shift both sticks with a good arm.
ReplyDeleteStick shift: one of the best anti-theft devices.
ReplyDeleteRight hand drive, but I could get it rolling.
ReplyDeleteIt's been 24 years or so since I had to deal with a standard-shift-right-hand drive, but it would be like riding a bike. Intersections and round-a-bouts would require some thought. I do wonder what all those sticks are for, however. I obviously recognize the parking brake, gearshift, and a likely 2wd/4wd transfer case shifter. I assume the other two are a PTO and dump bed?
ReplyDeleteI would say you guessed correctly or at least the same i would guess anyway.
DeleteHad one of those as my first car...
DeleteLong stick with the black ball on top = gear shift (4 forward, 1 reverse)
Short stick with the black ball = overdrive
Yellow top = 2WD / 4WD in High ratio only
Red top = High / Low range (Low is 4WD only)
Bent lever with white button = hand brake / parking brake
The wheel is on the wrong side.
ReplyDeleteFlip the picture over and I could do it but this way I'd end up in a ditch.
DeleteLand Rover or equivalent. Yeah, I remember driving one. Bad tranny occasionally would not go into 1st or 2nd. Shift to low range, put it in 3rd, shift to 4th, then back to high range and 3rd ...
ReplyDeleteYeah I can drive it, but the right hand drive would be a bear.
Vermont? Kinda far from home, ain'tcha?
ReplyDeleteA coworker had five Series Land Rovers one of which was his daily driver. The red knob is the high-low lever and the yellow is the 2wd-4wd plunger. In Low range 4wd is engaged, in High range 2wd is automatically selected so you have to push the yellow knob down to engage 4wd. The short black lever is for the PTO. All the instructions are on the dash.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Learned on a stick. Learned to drive one footed at 18 due to a knee surgery. At 21 was hauling hay in SoCal, pulling doubles and loading it the old way- no squeeze loaders back then. Yeah, kids today are short-changed on practical skills and knowledge. Damn progress…sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIf you can drive that thing, so can I
ReplyDeleteMy first 5 cars were VW/Porsche but never woulda gone there if I had to do it with my left hand and right foot...I don't think. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteFeet don’t change.
DeleteSpent 10 years in Okinawa driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. If I remember the clutch is still a left foot clutch and yes shifting left handed. Takes a little getting used to but if you've driven a stick it's easy.
ReplyDeleteAND the heater is crap, Electrical crap, sure be fun NOT, Lucas Electric ! the inventor of darkness. Drives like a manure spreader, cant hear the radio, oh sure it be fun to drive to the store then spend the rest of the weekend fixing it..Nope
ReplyDeleteIF I can.
ReplyDeleteOf COURSE I can.