Crusty Trucker Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 Manual transmissions have become something of a theft deterrent in recent years, as many younger people do not know how to use them, but how about getting the car started in the first place? That seems to have been the challenge for a thief or thieves who tried to steal a rare race car near Melbourne, Australia, last week. The Brabham BT21 was one of about 110 that were built in the late 1960s for use in Formula 3 and other racing series around the world. The open-wheel single-seater was at a home in the suburb of Toorak, where it was being stored ahead of its entry in the Phillip Island Classic car racing event. According to the Victoria Police, it was stolen during the overnight hours of March 9, but found by police abandoned on a nearby street early in the morning. Apparently, whoever tried to get away with it didn't know the starting procedure, which isn't as simple as turning a key.Like many competition cars, the BT21 has separate switches for the battery, fuel pump and ignition, and they must be engaged in a particular order to get it to work."I don’t think they knew how to turn on all the switches to be able to start it properly," owner Peter Williams told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday morning.Police said the clutch for its five-speed manual transmission was also damaged, making the car inoperable and in need of repairs. Police released a photo of the car and are asking for tips, but there are so far no suspects or witnesses to the crime. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 This article is making its rounds on the forum circuit faster than that car can make a lap. I think there is more to it than what is posted. That car is way too special for someone to be 'foiled' by not knowing how to start it, or even a manual trans. A toyota would be much easier and more profitable to the average thug. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 Watch the Saturday Night Live skit "The Heist" on you tube.Very funny,I don't know how to post it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1gt Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 1 hour ago, TAKerry said: This article is making its rounds on the forum circuit faster than that car can make a lap. I think there is more to it than what is posted. That car is way too special for someone to be 'foiled' by not knowing how to start it, or even a manual trans. A toyota would be much easier and more profitable to the average thug. that is my opinion also. I have been told that not too much worry about a super car stolen because it would be hard to sell. Parts are another thing. other opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Buick35 said: Watch the Saturday Night Live skit "The Heist" on you tube.Very funny,I don't know how to post it here. Is this the one? I can't watch SNL lately because of all the politics. Nice to see them do something in the non biased comedy realm finally. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 My wife can drive a standard shift. She says the first time, maybe only time, she heard her father swear was when he taught her. When we were dating I got her a '66 Chevy pick up (she was a Hippy). I taught her how to slip the clutch while stopped on an incline. She went home and told her father about this great thing I knew how to do and she wanted to teach him. Best best thing about standard is being able to pronounce it. If you can you can pronounce Bernard the way my mother did. A complicated linguistic for most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 3 hours ago, 30DodgePanel said: Is this the one? I can't watch SNL lately because of all the politics. Nice to see them do something in the non biased comedy realm finally. Yes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_padavano Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 One of these articles makes the rounds on the interwebs about every month. Dog bites man. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 (edited) Most young people can't back up in a old VW Beetle, even of they can go forward. This story is another reason not to have your shift pattern on your shift knob. Edited March 18, 2023 by Paul Dobbin (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 True, and the three on the tree does not have it on the knob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 23 hours ago, Frank DuVal said: True, and the three on the tree does not have it on the knob! Three on the tree... Now that's a statement that will truly mess with anyone who is green to manuals. Can you imagine the look on any young persons face as they skim over this thread by accident? "Wait, why is he talking about trees?" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan arnett (2) Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 My grandson has a summer job as a valet in a high end restuarant and likes to talk about the cars he gets to drive because no one else can. He learned to drive on a saturn and my stick shift cars. He is 23. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) On 3/17/2023 at 5:27 PM, Paul Dobbin said: Most young people can't back up in a old VW Beetle, even of they can go forward. This story is another reason not to have your shift pattern on your shift knob. even when they see it they don't understand the down-over and around bit. Oh, and what to do about that third pedal. Edited March 20, 2023 by Pfeil (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkV Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 On 3/17/2023 at 10:58 AM, joe_padavano said: One of these articles makes the rounds on the interwebs about every month. Dog bites man. Boomers mistaking generations again. Millennials are the ones who still know how to drive a stick got their license on their 16th birthday and are driving many clubs today, Gen Z’ers are the ones who don’t have a license until age 27 because they are afraid to drive and don’t know what PRNDL is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Model A Ford Starting Procedure ...and all that's before you ever get to the 3-speed manual transmission! 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidden_hunter Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 1 hour ago, MarkV said: Boomers mistaking generations again. Millennials are the ones who still know how to drive a stick got their license on their 16th birthday and are driving many clubs today, Gen Z’ers are the ones who don’t have a license until age 27 because they are afraid to drive and don’t know what PRNDL is. Pretty much, I'm a millenium and all of my mates got manual licenses when learning to drive which for some millenniums was actually quite some time ago now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I knew a truck driver. One day his assignment was to take the new guy out and show him the ropes. Guy gets in the truck, looks around for a few minutes then asks where the shifter was. Buddy answered, its the big stick coming out of the floor. This guy had gone through driver school and got a license and had no idea how to drive a manual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif in Calif Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I belong to the Arcane Auto Society. Everyone has an odd car (I have a '51 Simca 8 Sport) one of the members has two Toyota Sport 800. About a year ago someone broke into the place he keeps them and tried to steel them. One didn't quite leave the building and the other one was recovered several blocks away. I don't think the thieves had any idea what they were. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 ..and all that's before you ever get to the 3-speed manual transmission! 🤣 You lost me at "clockwise". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) 17 hours ago, MarkV said: Boomers mistaking generations again. Millennials are the ones who still know how to drive a stick got their license on their 16th birthday and are driving many clubs today, Gen Z’ers are the ones who don’t have a license until age 27 because they are afraid to drive and don’t know what PRNDL is. Let's forget about gear shifts and not even knowing how to drive. Some of these older z adults are still in diapers and have never left home. Edited March 20, 2023 by Pfeil (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Just one question, if your heart doctor can’t drive a standard transmission car, will you change doctors because they are not smart enough to know how to do it? This entire idea on placing human worth and capability on the ability to drive a car with a clutch is ridiculous. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 4 minutes ago, TerryB said: Just one question, if your heart doctor can’t drive a standard transmission car, will you change doctors because they are not smart enough to know how to do it? This entire idea on placing human worth and capability on the ability to drive a car with a clutch is ridiculous. Like a lot of threads, this one has some truth, some myths and some "personal opinion" posts.I am and old fart that has been around cars FOREVER, and there are some I can't drive. Ford Mod T? Nope. But guys need to feel superior! 😝 Ben 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 5 minutes ago, TerryB said: Just one question, if your heart doctor can’t drive a standard transmission car, will you change doctors because they are not smart enough to know how to do it? This entire idea on placing human worth and capability on the ability to drive a car with a clutch is ridiculous. If the person is still living at home, can't drive a car, can't drive a stick shift, mow the lawn, etc. The person wouldn't be my heart doctor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 23 minutes ago, Pfeil said: If the person is still living at home, can't drive a car, can't drive a stick shift, mow the lawn, etc. The person wouldn't be my heart doctor. It all depends on your medical insurance plan 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 25 minutes ago, Pfeil said: If the person is still living at home, can't drive a car, can't drive a stick shift, mow the lawn, etc. The person wouldn't be my heart doctor. I don't want a heart doctor that has to cut his own lawn. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) There was a fellow who told a story he swore was true. He was cutting his lawn in a very exclusive neighborhood when a lady stopped driving a big expensive new Cadillac convertible and asked him a question. She commented him on doing such a nice job on the landscaping and asked if he would come and do her lawn also. Then she asked how much he charged. He told her he would be happy to come to her place and “the lady of this house lets me sleep with her” for his work. The lady took off. The guys name is Lee Travino the pro golfer. It was his house. So you never know maybe a hood surgeon likes cutting grass to relax. dave s Edited March 20, 2023 by SC38dls (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmhowe Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Let's raise the bar a little: You're not a real driver unless you can float the gears with your pre-synchromesh transmission... ... Of course, I am not a real driver as I can't do it, and I have been afraid to try to learn with my cars. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I drive a pre-synchro-mesh transmission (1912 Buick) and can usually shift it quietly. Alas, not always - - - 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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