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A comment on How America lost its love for the stick shift. Parent comment

Re:How America lost its love for the stick shift by esaym on Tuesday September 11, 2018 @05:10PM (#17963395)
Not sure how old you are, but on my grandpa's 1950 Ford there was a hand operated parking brake (under the dash). I had to use it once after stopping to get gas and the driveway to get back onto the main road went down into a steep ditch and then out onto the road.

Of course some nitwit pulled up right behind me as I was trying to pull out into the road. I tried easing up on the foot brake and allowing the clutch to grab some as a quick test but the car still started to creep back. I said screwed it and yanked the parking brake as hard as I could while getting off the foot brake and meshing the gas while at the same time letting up on the clutch and undoing the parking brake. Not the hardest thing, but mainly made an issue by modern drivers getting right on your bumper...

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Re:How America lost its love for the stick shift by tyingq on Tuesday September 11, 2018 @05:16PM (#17963450)
It was cars with a foot operated emergency brake that locked into place with a separate lever to release it. Not useful in these situations. Even on cars with a hand brake, it was still a bit dicey, because they only operated the rear brakes, and could be mis-adjusted/weak/etc.

Pretty common on late 60's, 70's, and some 80's cars.

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Re:How America lost its love for the stick shift by esaym on Tuesday September 11, 2018 @11:52PM (#17965427)
Whether foot operated or hand pulled, you will have to use your hand to disengage it so not seeing the difference.
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Re:How America lost its love for the stick shift by tyingq on Wednesday September 12, 2018 @07:07AM (#17967271)
You had to reach down pretty far, and look down to find the release. A handbrake is a one handed operation you don't have to look at.
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Re:How America lost its love for the stick shift by esaym on Wednesday September 12, 2018 @04:37PM (#17973034)
I agree is sucks. But the option is there.
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