Hello Tom Carney and you other young'uns, I'm just reporting here
that I did my part not too long ago, as follows :
My then-15-year-old daughter was being driven to school by a `friendly'
neighbor boy, who for a while was driving his dad's Chevy pickup with
auto trans. Soon, though, this kid bought 2 ratty Escorts, and was
successful in combining enough good parts to have himself a passable
driver, so he wouldn't have to borrow Dad's truck any more. Minor
problem, though - he did not know how to drive a stick shift. I like
the kid, and he is obviously resourceful and motivated enough to make
two junkers into one decent car, which is exactly what I try to do
with my own commuter cars (Renault Encores these days, was Pintos..)
so when he asked me if he could drive my TRusty Red TR-250 around the
big church parking lot, at night, I said OK.
After a few stalls on start-out from stop, he got the hang of the
hydraulic clutch's engagement spot, and learned to give a little gas
at the right time, and was soon doing long figure 8's from the front
lot into the back, with a large grin plastered on his face, though
he never got above 3rd gear.
Now, a year later, he has a part-time job at a local auto parts
store, and is getting to be a decent Mr. Fix-it, for his age. When
the question comes up, as it often seems to when you're 17, `What's
the first stick-shift car you drove?' he gets that same large grin
and answers, `A '68 Triumph TR-250 !' and then watches the other
guy's reaction, which is almost always, `HUH ???' Whazzat ? ...and
he explains, `A real English Roadster'. `HUH ??? Whazzat ? again,
so he usually has to say, `Sort of like a Miata, only 20 yrs older..'
and then it clicks with the listener (sigh) but at least they like
the idea, and universally agree that it must have been a really
cool car, even if it didn't have thumping bass speakers and silly
O-ring tires...convertible top and 2 seats are a great start.
Just thought you might like to know...
Tom Tweed
SW Ohio
'72 TRident 750cc (basket case)
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