| If you plan to drive a race car or if you just want to | | | | proceed to crank the car. The car will have to be out |
| feel like you have the ultimate control of your car, you | | | | of gear to crank. Either depress the clutch fully and |
| need to learn how to drive a stick shift. Driving a stick | | | | apply the brake or engage the parking brake and put |
| shift is a bit of an art – something you have to do | | | | the car into neutral. To put the car into neutral, move |
| by feel as much as by knowledge. The basic process | | | | the gear stick to that horizontal bar in the middle of the |
| is the same for every car, but every car will have its | | | | letter H described above. |
| own idiosyncrasies. Still, when you're entering a tight | | | | To get the car started moving, put the car into first |
| curve and you downshift for power, there's a feeling | | | | gear with the clutch fully depressed and your right foot |
| you’ll get that just can’t be replicated by driving | | | | on the brake. Release the parking brake. Now, move |
| an automatic. | | | | your right foot to the gas and slowly depress the gas |
| Assuming you're in an American-made car with the | | | | and release the clutch at the same time. The first |
| steering wheel on the left, your left foot will work the | | | | several times you try this, expect the car to jerk and |
| clutch and your right foot will switch between the | | | | stall. That's OK – you'll get the hang of it. |
| brake and gas as needed. On top, your left hand will | | | | Remember what we said about stick driving being a |
| steer, while your right hand will work the stick shift and | | | | bit of an art? |
| the parking brake when needed and help with the | | | | As you accelerate, you’ll reach the upper limits of |
| steering the rest of the time. It will feel awkward at | | | | first gear. To change into second gear, again depress |
| first, but with practice, your coordination will grow. | | | | the clutch and take your foot of the gas, move the |
| When you get in a stick shift car for the first time, it's a | | | | stick shift into second gear and then apply the gas and |
| good idea to engage the parking brake, depress the | | | | release the clutch simultaneously. Follow the same |
| clutch fully and just practice moving the stick shift | | | | process to get into third and fourth as your speed |
| through the various gears. Generally, you'll be looking at | | | | increases. |
| a capital H, with first gear at the upper left; second | | | | When it’s time to come to a complete stop, |
| gear at the lower left; third gear at the upper right; and | | | | depress the clutch fully and apply the brake with your |
| fourth gear at the lower right. Some cars have a fifth | | | | right foot. Use your right hand to put the car into |
| gear, and every car will have a reverse. Typically, | | | | neutral. When it’s time to get going again, start |
| reverse is located up near first gear, but you have to | | | | again in first gear. If you haven't come to a complete |
| depress the gear shift to put the car in reverse. This | | | | stop, use the gear appropriate for the speed at which |
| helps prevent you from accidentally putting the car into | | | | you’re going. It will take some getting used to, but |
| reverse. | | | | with time, you’ll be able to move through the gears |
| Once you’re familiar with the gear stick, you can | | | | comfortably and confidently. |