Of drills, woods, bears, and PIV...

[Jim Thompson]

Match the engine speed with what? Zero RPM?

You've got to know your vehicle. Where the clutch engages and what
minimum throttle is required to provide adequate torque (without
scorching the clutch).

I don't think Jason has ever driven a car with a clutch.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Lord protect me from queers, fairies and Democrats

 

[Rich Grise]

Jasen Betts wrote:

Match the engine speed with what? Zero RPM?

You've got to know your vehicle. Where the clutch engages and what
minimum throttle is required to provide adequate torque (without
scorching the clutch).

I was once driving a friend's car that was new to me - it had a stick,
which I know how to use. I had to stop on a fairly steep slope. Some time
previous to this, I had read about "heel-and-toe braking"; race car
drivers use it sometimes; you do the clutch with your left foot, put your
right heel on the brake, and your right toe on the gas. Brake engaged,
clutch disengaged; modulate the gas and the clutch such that enough torque
is reaching the wheels so you can release the brake, slowly. I was amazed
how well it worked! Didn't roll back at all, and didn't burn out the
clutch!

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Nobody]

Best stick vehicles have a hand brake lever between the seats.

Er ... are you saying that this isn't, like, totally standard on US cars?

How would you pull away uphill without a handbrake?

 

[Jim Thompson]

Er ... are you saying that this isn't, like, totally standard on US cars?

How would you pull away uphill without a handbrake?

Most American-made cars have a "Parking Brake", pedal left-most
against the wheel well.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Stormy on the East Coast today... due to Bush's failed policies.

 

[Rich Grise]

Er ... are you saying that this isn't, like, totally standard on US cars?

How would you pull away uphill without a handbrake?

Heel-and-Toe. See my other post on this thread.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Nobody]

Most American-made cars have a "Parking Brake", pedal left-most
against the wheel well.

So, how do you pull away uphill (without either having three feet or just
being quick enough not to roll back into the vehicle behind)?

Actually, how are you supposed to pull away on the flat? I know that, in
practice, most people just use the footbrake. But if you do that on the UK
driving test, you'll fail; you're not supposed to release the handbrake
until the clutch bites (i.e. no freewheeling at any point).

[Note to Rich: heel-and-toe will also cause you to fail. Pedals aren't
supposed to be operated with the heel.]

 

[Jim Thompson]

So, how do you pull away uphill (without either having three feet or just
being quick enough not to roll back into the vehicle behind)?

Buy a Nissan with the lever between the two front seats ;-)

Actually, how are you supposed to pull away on the flat? I know that, in
practice, most people just use the footbrake. But if you do that on the UK
driving test, you'll fail; you're not supposed to release the handbrake
until the clutch bites (i.e. no freewheeling at any point).

[Note to Rich: heel-and-toe will also cause you to fail. Pedals aren't
supposed to be operated with the heel.]

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Stormy on the East Coast today... due to Bush's failed policies.

 

[Nobody]

Actually, how are you supposed to pull away on the flat? I know that, in
practice, most people just use the footbrake. But if you do that on the UK
driving test, you'll fail; you're not supposed to release the handbrake
until the clutch bites (i.e. no freewheeling at any point).

[Note to Rich: heel-and-toe will also cause you to fail. Pedals aren't
supposed to be operated with the heel.]

You take the test with an automatic transmission.

If you do that in the UK, you get a driving licence only allows you to
drive vehicles with automatic transmission. This would be a significant
drawback when 90% of cars (and nearly all vans) have manual transmission,
so very few people do so.

 

[Nobody]

I used to drive a 6150 pound Chevy Stepvan with non commercial
tags. 292 straigh six, five speed manual transmission, and rated for
over two ton cargo capacity.

It used to be the case that a "private and light goods" licence (i.e.
normal "car" licence, class B) was valid up to 7.5 tonnes (7500kg) maximum
gross (laden) weight, with a limit of 3.5 tonnes if you're under age 21.
Above that requires a LGV (large goods vehicle, class C) licence.

However, there's now an intermediate licence (class C1) required for
vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. But anyone who passed their test before the
changes were introduced got the class C1 added automatically.

More details at:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/index.htm

 

[Jasen Betts]

I don't think Jason has ever driven a car with a clutch.

You'd be wrong there, I mostly drive manual transmission vehicles.

I've not driven in city traffic on steep hills much so I'd forgotten about all
the hill starts that may be required.