I'm 74 years old. My dad taught me to drive his 1937 International 3/4-ton truck when I was 6 years old. We'd go fishing in the hills and he's put me in the driver's seat and teach me the same way you did. The only problem with it was the gears weren't synchronized and you had to learn to double clutch from one gear to the other both up and down. I also drove his A/C tractor to learn to plow at the same age. My first car was a 1954 Chevy Belair with a straight 6 and 3 on the tree. Since then, over the many years of driving, I've driven many motorcycles and even semis with 10 speed brownie transmissions. I miss my dad to this day and think of him often and the lessons he helped me to learn. Great video and thanks. You brought back memories and a few tears.
My grandpa taught me to double clutch, so the firemen at the volunteer fire station were amazed that I not only could drive a stick but double clutch their ‘57 tanker made from a milk truck.
It's easy for us to look down on teens who can't figure out tech that was ubiquitous to us. But we can't assume they have ever seen it, let alone touched it.
Your comment on "best anti-theft" feature is exactly what I said I had on my truck. It wasn't fancy & you could easily open the doors. But the fact it was manual was definitely peace of mind in a crowded/busy parking lot.
I’m 68 yrs old. My parents had manual transmission cars for most of my childhood. I watched and learned. I taught my kids on a 97 S10 w/ a 5 speed. Watching you teach Trent brought that memory to mind. Thanks. And thanks for your great videos.
The smile on that fellas face was priceless! Similarly, my cousin taught me to drive a vw pickup for a dealership I worked at. He sat with me for about 15 minutes and the sent me to the warehouse 60 miles away to pick up vw parts!. It was mostly freeway, thank the Lord. But I still stalled it several times to and from the freeway! But I learned quick!
From an NC Preacher: The memories you share are what keep me coming back time and again. It’s that way you have of taking us back to our own childhood memories when you tell yours that make this channel what it is. As a pastor who tries to encourage others and live as best I can, your sermons on life and family are so needed! Keep up the good work. I enjoy it immensely!
Good Morning Neil! You’re a good man for teaching kids how to do something instead of complaining why they don’t know how to do it. The best way to pass on knowledge and tradition. I learned on a VW Jetta (my dad’s) he had to get a new clutch by the time I learned how to drive it!
I love memorable teaching moments like this. I have taught many of friends, family, and even coworkers how to drive a stick. My mom had me go pick up her 1968 Chevy Nova from a friends about a 1/2 mile from our house and bring it home to her when I was around 8. I had planned on ridingin fist gear the entireway home. My mothers friend howeverjumped in with me and he had me shift up to third and back down again to get my moms car back home. Let me tell you that car only had three gears “ peel, power, and cruise” man was that a great day.
Awesome of you to carry on supporting younger family members and making memories they will carry with them forever. My dad had a worn out work truck that literally was retired to holding an old unused barn door shut. When I was 10 he said go move the truck so we can get in the barn. I didn’t understand why he asked me to do it, let alone why he wanted in the building we never used. An 84 F150, 3 speed w/ overdrive, worn out clutch and no brakes. What could go wrong? I’d never driven, let alone a manual. I got it moved forward and got out to open the barn door where I found two new-to-us ATVs. I was absolutely on cloud nine. Kinda forgot about the truck at that point. 😂
I learned on a 57 chev with a 3 on the column, I was handed the keys and told to go drive it and learn on my own. I left home with a full tank of gas came home with a 1/4 tank left, it was my preferred car to go to when I drove, spent all day “toolin around the suburbs, open parking lots, and finally out in the country side. My last manual experience was with an 18 speed, we called it “ a 9 over and under”. I still love a manual transmission. Thanks for the video, appreciate your time.
Why is it ALWAYS a '57 Chevy? Istg everyone who mentions a car from the 1950's it's 99/100 times a '57 Chevy as if nothing else existed in the '50's except one car for one year
I learned on a 66 Jeep CJ5, It was originally my dad's then it went to my grandfather, and eventually to me when I got my license. It was a serious chick magnet in high school. That was 1984, and to this day I haven't owned an automatic.
Here in the Netherlands we only have manual transmission cars. It is quite an expensive option to have an automatic transmission in the car. Manual transmission cars also drive more economically. That is also necessary with a gasoline price of $9 per gallon. Thanks for another nice story and nice content. Keep up the great work, Bram
Anywhere near brunssum ?? 1970 to 74. at 10 to 14 years old. kennedylaan 19 . U.S. Air Force brat. Got to Drive My Fathers Beetle on the back country Roads.
This was the case for Americans back in the 70's and 80's, where manual transmissions started to phase out on more domestic vehicles. Most of the imports were still, usually, manual. The comment about economy was true back then, but not the case anymore. These days, unless you know exactly how to drive a manual tranny to maximize economy, modern automatic transmissions are proven to be more efficient. Still, driving a stick is so much more fun!!!
@neilkratzer3182 it's likely you didn't. You need to tell us what make and model of older vehicle that you claim to have gotten better economy in. If your claim is true, I will explain to you exactly why. I'm not trying to be rude. The truth is that modern vehicles get better economy as an automatic vs. their manual counterpart. This is fact, and is what I said previously.
@matthewpeterson3329 1988 chevy nova rs with dual overhead cam. Basically Toyota corolla with dual overhead. 36mpg on the highway and it would run over 130 mph and still wasn't revved out.
When I was 7, my first time driving was my dad's old f250 2 tone blue with a stick shift. On the lake in the middle of winter up here in Ontario Canada. I'm 38 now and my oldest is 15 and she has been driving my manual jeep tj rock crawler for a little over a year now. The satisfaction I get from watching her wheel that rig on 42" tires is like no other. Love the channel. And that pond build. Quite the undertaking, and it turned out amazing.
Neil, I just wanted you to know that you really made my day. Watching this video brought back a memory that had been stored away long ago. My mom taught me how to drive our manual transmission 1985 Mercury Capri. I can't tell you how many stalls and gear grinding that poor car endured. Not to mention the whiplash I probably gave her! 🤣 Thank you so much for sharing an insight into you and your families lives. I miss and think about my parents every day. I enjoy each and every one of your videos. Keep up the great work.
Man this brings back fond memories of my childhood. My mom never could grasp the concept of manual transmission so we had automatic cars. My dad was a trucker and i rode with him during March Break and summer time when I wasn't in school so I learned subconsciously how to run up and down thru the gears. I also had drove tractors since I was 9. I bought my first pickup with a manual transmission.Dad was quite shocked how effort less it was for me to just jump in and go for the first test drive. I turned to him and said well I've had the best teacher all these years riding in the rig with you. Hearing the sounds the motor makes winding up to that sweet spot to drop into the next gear and hearing that sweet Jake brake holding that driveline back as you come back down thru the gears. I've never seen a man so proud in his entire life as it was that day. Thanks again for the memories.
Memories came flooding back, had my oldest son (he was 4 or 5 at the time)in my 1978 f150 manual out in the pasture with him driving. Every time he would hit a rut he would bounce from the seat to the floor. With me yelling get back up here he would climb back behind the wheel with the biggest grin on his face. I agree country life is the best. By the time he was 12 years old he would drive our ranger 5 speed manual pickup to the neighbors to visit his buddy. Thanks Neil, I always look forward to seeing your posts.
Boy, that sure brings back memories! My first driving experience was very similar to yours. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, my dad was working on the fence behind our barn. We had a 1958 Ford F100 pickup. My dad asked me to drive the truck down along the fence to the next spot he needed to repair. Dad put me in the truck and depressed the clutch with his left hand and slipped the transmission into granny gear and eased out on the clutch. I remember being scared to death as I "drove" the truck down to where he needed it next. It's an experience I'll never forget for the rest of my life and I'm currently 68 years old!
Trent did a great job listening and you teaching him. I taught my wife to drive a 1980 Chevy Chevette when we were dating and 42 years later she can still drive a standard like a champ.
You’re recounting and building of memories is what I wish more gen z-ers could experience. It’s not like it for them as it was for us when we both grew up. Nice job of putting a smile of accomplishment on his face, Neil! 😊
I have a twin brother and we grew up in the middle of the country just like your twin daughters. Other than learning to drive on tractors, my dad bought a yellow manual 1998 Jeep wrangler with a 4 banger when I was 14 years old. We learned to drive by going to get ice cream with it in the summer and then my brother and I would drive it 5 miles to work on a nearby farm every weekend. I am 27 now and your videos really bring back a lot of great memories for me. Thank you for all your hard work making them!
My first car was a Dodge Omni 4 door five speed. Loved driving a stick. Several manual jeeps later in life and both my boys wanted to learn to drive stick. My oldest son wanted to take my high performance Cadillac CTS-V to prom which was a stick shift. Had he not learned on his first car which was also a stick, he would have never experienced that car. I sold it a year later😢 my kids are 25 and 21 today and love that they learned to drive manual transmission! Great video brought back many memories! Thank You!
Hi neil, i’m a guy from italy and here there are a lot of manual cars but this days a lot of young folks preferes automatic because they see the car only as an object which brings you from point a to point b, being grown in the countryside i’ve driven a lot of tractors and cars but always manual, and nothing connects you to your veichle more than a manual transmission. Thanks a lot for the content you provide us every sunday.
Growing up on the farm I learned how to shift a manual transmission. I taught my wife and our 3 kids. We bought a 1956 Chevy for our youngest daughter. It had 3 on the tree. Her classmates had no idea how to drive it or even where the gas tank fill was. She loved it and still has that car. 😊
I really enjoy it when you make these “slice of life” videos. I learned how to drive on a 1930s Ford Tractor on my Grandparents farm in Iowa when I was 17. I’m decades removed from rural farm life but learning to drive a manual consistently paid dividends as I have been able to pick up used cars on the cheap as so few folks can or want to drive a manual. I do every day in the VERY hilly streets of Seattle.
Love your stories Neil , I really liked the fact that you were teaching Clint to drive a stick , also loved seeing him smile when he was driving it on his own 😃👍
Two awesome things! That story about the first time you drove that Blue Ford pickup - awesome. I could tell that you could envision that whole episode in your mind's eye! I know that feeling! The other - teaching your nephew to drive the standard!! Good work!! I first met you when you went to Utah and visited Matt at MORR! I have not missed an episode since!! I look forward to each video!! Thanks Neil!!
I’m 58. I was 13 when helping my uncle bail straw. He had a new 1977 Ford F250 4x4 manual transmission pickup. The ultimate farm truck! We were short handed so he taught me to drive it and I pulled wagons from the field to the farm and back all day. The trip was 7 miles each way. Best day of my life up to that point. This happened not far from you in west central Ohio. One of favorite memories.
I first learned to drive with a clutch on our farm tractors. Next was our farm truck and this was all done first in our fields. Once I got my license in 1973 going to road driving was a breeze. I actually took my driver's test in a standard 4 speed w granny gear in a 69 Chevrolet 3/4 ton long bed pickup. That became mine to use in my junior year of high school. I used it after graduation when I got my first real job off the farm. This brought back alot of memories. Thanks for the video
My 1st lesson was a 1974 ford truck standard. Had to follow my dad to the job 20miles away. He was on a 90 hp international tractor. I almost rearended him bout 20 times on the drive thr.! On the way home I was a professional. I was 9 years old!!!!! I sure do miss him. Thank you so much for reminding me of memories of my dad
I had an uncle like your cousin. He was the one that would let me drive way before 16. I was about 6 he and my dad were loading hay. He had an old Chevy truck, he would engage the clutch and point me in the right direction. That was the day I felt I was a useful farm hand. I miss my Uncle Ray. Thanks for the great video, your stories bring up a lot of great memories. Thank you
Neil, good training with your nephew. All of my boys learned on my 79 Super Beetle, kind of a right of passage. The key to a smooth start was not to use any gas, but to learn where the engagement point of the clutch was to build some sort of muscle memory. Then came pushing in the clutch before using the brake. Shifting thru the gears then came easily. You taught your nephew the same way and he quickly learned the proper technique. Good job! My first time was learning on Mom's 66 Mustang in our short driveway. Got to second gear before I ran out of driveway. You brought back good memories. Thanks. Tom in NJ.
I found your channel in January of this year. I have enjoyed every one I’ve watched so far. I learned to drive a stick shift the same way as you showed on your Jeep. My dad pushing in the clutch the first few times and me shutting it off when I got to the spot I was supposed to go to, when I was 6 years old. A 1951 Chevy pickup with a three speed on the column & a foot starter pedal. Great memories! 😊 Thanks for all of the great videos!
Neil, great story and like many others it brought back my own happy memory of learning to drive. In my case, it reminded me of how my father taught me to reverse a trailer. We lived in outback australia in the Northern Territory and I had many opportunities as a young fella to learn to drive the 4x4 when we went camping off the beaten track. When he was satisfied that I was competent driving he told me I could drive the 4x4 inside our (fairly small) yard as long as I had hitched it to the trailer. My enthusiasm for driving had me spending hours back and forth in the yard with the trailer on and turned learning that skill into a neccessity really quick ! My wife and I both really enjoy your videos, hope you keep them coming and wishing you and your family all the best from Aus.
My dad taught me in a school parking lot in a Buick Skylark 3 on the tree. It was also winter with lots of snow so… I learned how to drift and do doughnuts! Another great video. Thanks for stirring up good memories
I learned to drive a manual transmission on a country road going to the farm. Dad would let me drive the 1958 Pontiac with "3 on the tree" on the back dirt roads. Then I drove tractors and farm trucks. "Bull low" was a crawler gear on their grain trucks. I never had experience with double clutching until I owned a 1963 318 V-8 with a 3 speed manual transmission. It would go 60 miles per hour in first gear. I learned to double clutch it if someone wanted to "race" on 8th Street in Saskatoon. First gear was not synchronized so I had learned double clutching was one way to race the Jaguars. We only went up to 25 or 30 mph. Believe it or not, I never received my first speeding ticket until I retired. (radar) Thanks for helping me recall old memories.
Great to see you continuing on your experience with our younger gen. First time with a stick for me was with my grandfather many many years ago. I already knew how to drive but only an auto. He got me to drive his Hiace van home from a job we did as he wasn't feeling well & with a few stalls & many bunny hops we finally made it home safe & sound. As soon as we got back he told me the van needed a new tyre & he wanted me to drive down to get it 😮After finally convincing me that I would be fine I did the trip & by the time I got home I would say I was pretty competent at driving a manual. He taught me the basics then chucked me in the deep end... A great way to learn & a moment I will never forget. RIP Pops x
Thanks for bringing back some good memories. The old stick shift. That was a long time ago. I am guessing like 55 years ago. Thanks for the memories on this Sunday morning.
Man, you're a good teacher! I learned to drive a stick on my dad's (in my dad's?) Ford Cortina. After that I've had a Datsun 120Y (M), VW Beetle (M), Ford S10 (M), VW Jetta (A), and all automatic from there. I miss driving manuals, so much fun
I'm also 68 years old my first experience driving a manual transmission was our Willeys Jeep little 4 cylinder I was 8 years old my brother who was 15 put it in low range in the transfer case and I just practiced taking off and shifting eventually putting it in high range and I was off driving around the oat field stubble after that it was a piece of cake no matter if it was one of our tractors or the pickup or the grain truck so I have my brother to thank for teaching me at such a young age. My kids all learned how to drive a stick using my Mazda B2300 pickup with a 5 speed that all asked why do I need to learn how to drive a stick, I said because you never know when it might come in handy! Keep up the awesome videos Neil!!
I was born in ‘82 and learned to drive with a ‘77 Toyota Celica, 4 on the floor. It was my parent’s and they told us 4 kids whoever fixed it up could have it. As the youngest of 4, I was the only one who did, so it was mine. I love watching every Sunday. Your videos are so wholesome. Thanks for sharing!
43 years old, self educated on cars and light trucks working at a car dealership as a teenager, unfortunately for customers. Self educated Class A while working at a diesel shop until I got my class A. My wife learned in 2005 when we bought her first new car, Saturn Vue with a 5 speed. In October 2023 we bought our 15 1/2 year old a 2003 Ford Ranger, 6 cylinder with a 5 speed for the exact reasons you mentioned. 1) skill he will have the rest of his life 2) has to pay way more attention to driving than the other distractions. Love it!
I’m 62 and my first time driving stick was in a 1974 Chevy LUV pickup. My Dad and I went and bought it used as my first vehicle and he taught me how to drive it on the test ride. Awesome experience and a great memory. Thanks!
My oldest brother taught me how to drive a stick in his Datsun 260Z in the parking lot of the local elementary school. After the initial instruction on how to use the clutch I immediately drove the car into a curb and popped the passenger front tire. I then learned how to change a tire. Great memories. BTW, my daily driver is a 1986 CJ7 with a 5-speed manual transmission. I love your videos, keep up the good work. Cheers.
it always good to teach them this.i learned on a vw bug because the next day I was going to work for a lumber company and I needed to drive the 30 foot truck to make deliveries.i taught my kids to drive a manual trans.
My very first stick was our Bolens G14, followed by my best friend and neighbors Ford 3000 tractor. I then graduated to their 79 Ford pickup in the hay fields. Ironically, my first car was also a 1978 Ford Fiesta. It was meant for my older sister, but she never gained the confidence to drive it, so dad gave it to me. Great memories.
I’m sure you made some great memories with your nephew to share with his kids someday. And you certainly brought back some memories for me! My grandpa used to have me sit in the middle of the bench seat of his Dodge Ram, and whenever I sat there from about 5 years old, it was my “job” to shift for him. Fast forward to 15, I was working for my dads friend building grain bins. My dads friend (Jim) drove a single cab F150 with a manual trans. We were working on a farm that was maybe a mile or so from a little convenience store. Around 10am, Jim asked me to run for coffee. My answer was “I would, but I don’t know how to drive a stick.” I don’t recall his exact words, but they were something to the effect of “I didn’t ask if you could drive a stick, I asked you to run for coffee.” I stalled it a few times before I got on the road, but I made it to the store and back to the farm without any issues. I was so confident on my return trip that I went all the way to 3rd gear! 😂 When I returned to the farm, Jim carefully examined the drink holder on the passenger seat to judge how smooth my shifting/clutch work was. I had spilled a little, but I passed the test. When I was 18, I bought my first manual. It was a 1991 Camaro RS. It was white with T-tops. On my ride home, I stalled it in front of a police officer at a 4 way stop. I thought for sure he’d pull me over, but he didn’t. I had that car for 3-4 years and man was it terrible in the MI winter snow! But, because of how terrible it was, it made me a pretty excellent winter driver. I owned two SUVs after that and it’s been nothing but trucks since then and none of those were a manual. I was just talking with my oldest daughter (who is 15 and learning to drive now) the other day about manuals and how I wish they were still an option. She strictly forbid me from buying her a stick shift for her first vehicle. It broke my heart a little! I’m going to show her your nephew “stealing” your Jeep and hopefully that inspires her some. For those of you that don’t know, changing the mind of a 15 year old girl once it’s been made up, is a pretty daunting task. Many have tried, many have failed! 😂 If she only knew the power of the memories that it would make. When the kids are out of the house and I can afford a “toy” vehicle, It will for sure be a manual. With any luck, maybe I can talk her into trying it then.
My Grandad let me drive our 1940's Willy's Jeep around his place. Little four cylinder engine, manual steering, incredible torque. It was more like driving a tractor than your jeep, but it got me going on manual transmissions. Then it was driving his 60's International Service body truck. That was a beast. Manual steering, manual clutch. Went on to drive fire trucks as a young adult. Thanks for sparking those memories.
I remember learning to drive manual when I was about 17, back in '92, when I was trying to get a job in valet parking at big hotel in the city I grew up in. I secured a job interview before I knew how to drive manual so I had to learn quickly. A buddy of mine took me out in his '83 Limited Edition Mazda RX7, which was basically a Lamborghini in my mind at the time, to a parking lot on a Sunday afternoon and taught me to drive around the lot for about a half hour or so. After putzing around there for a bit we just cruised around Michigan up and down the Lake Michigan coast for the rest of that beautiful summer day. About a week later I got the job and the rest is history... Thanks for the video and the trip down memory lane, good times!
Memories of a then 15 year old stepdaughter out to a neighbor's empty field and gave her a lesson. Don't know if she remembers it or if was any help. Glad I did it! Thank you for a great story.
I also grew up out in the countryside. My Dad taught me to drive his stick shift F150 when I was 12. We were hauling lumber from a neighbor’s barn about 1 mile away to our place. We must have made 20 trips. He let me drive empty back to the neighbors each time. I’ll never forget it. Great video as always Neil!
'29 Ford Model A. Dad jacked up a rear wheel and I did stationary shift practice. Then it was on to our very rural road. Exciting time for a 10 year old. I did the same for my daughter in my '64 Jeep CJ5 when she was 10.
Great video Neil soon there won’t any manual transmission to teach the new generations to come. I remember my first time I was bout 6 my dad had and still had to this day a 1980 f150 4x4 short box and on Sunday mornings he would take me down to my elementary school parking lot n let me drive it around it had a 4 speed with granny gear n he would tell how to shift n run through the gears I’ll never forget those days and what he had done for me I hope that I can do the same with my two little girls god bless Neil n family
Thanks, Neil!! Your story sure brings back memories!! My first driving alone was at 6 years old driving the grain truck back to the yard. I've taught all 4 of my sons to drive a stick!!
First car was an 83 Chevette with 4 speed manual. What a blast it was to run through the gears. Great learning experience to start with a manual transmission. Thanks for rekindling the memories.
My son’s first truck was my 90 model Nissan pickup with a 5 speed. I took him to the high school parking lot and taught him to drive it. Good times! My first truck was a 62 ford 3/4 ton with a granny low 4 speed. I taught myself as dad was always away for work. More good times! Thanks for the memories on this one! 👍🏻
Hey Neil. I'm a Chrysler tech. Noticed when you changed your oil filter. The loose part in the center should not be that loose and is missing the pressure relief valve. Basically your filter is being bypassed. You need a new filter housing/cooler assembly.
My 21 year old son has a '13 Camaro SS with a manual transmission he bought himself. He has spent countless hours souping it up and making it into a car he can take to the track and race. He loves it. And living in a big city, he has never had any issues. None of his friends can even drive it. I grew up in Nebraska and Southern MN. My first car my parents got me to drive was a manual, a little Mazda B2000 pickup. I remember shaking all my friends to death at every stop for a week or two until I really got better. My wife cant drive a stick, but all 4 of my children can. Outside this specific video, all your videos are a little taste of nostalgia every week for me ever since I found your channel. Growing up in rural farm communities, your videos remind me of simpler days. I remember growing up in barns, bailing hay, weeding bean fields, chopping firewood, etc. My first real paid job was hand gathering chicken eggs from a few thousand chickens at the chicken farm next door, I got paid a fraction of a penny per egg...lol. Love the channel, and all of your family feels like friends and family I grew up with. Wish you all the peace and happiness this life can bestow on you and yours. And a long life to this channel so I can have fun watching along each week.
❤ love it. Neil I too learnt in a mk1 fiesta. Steering wheel was on the other side mind. Trent’s face was a picture when he got it, now he’s driving!! Love the videos your always, you always manage to make me smile. Thank you.
I learned on a 67 Chevy Stepside with 3 on the column. All of my kids learned on a pickup with a manual. Not sure why, but I still think it is an important skill to have.
What an awesome video! A little bit of reminiscing and teaching. Very cool! I learned in an old chevette during deer hunting. I had the concept and did it on my own.
Kudos to your nephew for having n his first stick shift experience on RU-vid! I learned on tractors but my first experience driving a manual transmission car was in Germany. My rental was supposed to be automatic but all they had was stick. Had to get proficient VERY quickly. Hardest thing was figuring out how to get that Opel into reverse!
Great video as always Neil!! When I was about 12 my dad had an early 80’s Dodge Omni. I told him one day, hey dad I bet I could drive that car. He said well jump in and try it! So I did! Drove up and down the dirt road next to our house. I don’t even remember stalling it! All those years of watching him and asking questions paid off I guess 😊
Oh I love this Neil! Brings back so many good memories. In 1986 I learned on a 3 speed on the column🤗 lots of jumping and killing the motor😂. I’d love to have that truck again. Everyone should know how to drive a stick shift. There’s just a sweet feeling about shifting up. Thanks for video, have a great day!
I learned to drive on an 81 Honda Accord. When I couldn't practice driving with a parent I would practice shifting on our 40 % driveway and the cul de sac we lived on. Start in the middle of the driveway in 1st and go forward without rolling backwards at all. I'd do it forwards and backwards. Loved watching your nephew learn. His eyes were as big as saucers. You could see he was taking in all the information.
Neil, thank you so much for the correction when you were referring to the number of manual transmission cars available these days, at first you said they were less of them and you corrected it to fewer. Thank you so much this is one of my pet peeves and you’re the only RU-vidr I’ve ever seen use the correct term let alone correct their mistake. anyway really enjoy your videos and your family. Thanks so much for the content.
❄️ WoW. So much memories come out with this story. Times with my dad who passed away 4 years ago. Thanks ❤. Great video. Great time. Be blessed. From Quebec Canada 🇨🇦 Eric 👋🏼❄️✨❄️
lol awesome. You stopped saying pickle🤣 My first experience with standard was an old 1970 something FORD column shift😮. That was when I was 10 in 1980. Most fun we ever had behind any vehicle. Great video as always👊🏻
Good on you Neil! My mother taught me how to drive in a 1970 Volkswagen bug with a manual transmission at the dormitory parking lots at the University of South Alabama. Great memories and she was almost as good of a teacher as you are. Thanks for the smile.
You know I haven't been subscribed to you for a very long time, but every once in a while your videos simply leave me smiling, full with just wholesome energy. I always want to share the videos with other people, just for them to feel the heart warming feeling. Thank you, for being a nice influence on your own family and friends, but also mine 😊
great job teaching. one afternoon and he gets it! I Learned the same way you did, 73 VW bug. Up and down the drive way. Learning just where the clutch engaged. it's a lifetime skill i still use today. Thanks for sharing.
Neil, you're a good teacher. And your nephew listens well, which makes him a good student. As a city kid, I learned how to drive stick in a parking lot with an old Toyota Corolla. As a young man I loved to drive stick, and still own several manual transmission vehicles. But a bad broken left ankle (plate and screws) along with two bad knees and a bad back, they are no longer my daily drivers. Regardless, I agree that it's a useful skill and something everyone should know how to do.
Brings back memories this… I learned to drive a manual transmission on the very same vehicle, albeit a little older model. I learned on a 1973 Jeep CJ-5 as I drove it off of the lot no less. It was a three speed, my uncle was with me and like your video here, on flat terrain. I’ll never forget that day.
Three on the floor. Back then Jeep CJ’s came with very little standard equipment. I had to buy the passenger seat, roll bar, rag top, rear bench seat and radio as extras.
I taught my oldest daughter to drive a manual transmission in a Suzuki Samurai. I put the transfer case in 4-Lo and it made it much easier. She was shifting and driving in no time by herself. It's a privilege that alot of fathers are missing out on these days. Teaching their children to do such things. It's a great memory. Thanks Neil for bringing back all those good memories.
My dad taught me when I was 13 in a little sand raiI. I had to lay flat to use the clutch. When he taught me when I was getting my license it was 1985 and in a 1980 Datsun 4x4 truck. He took me to the steepest hill and had me go up about 3/4 of the way and told me to stop. Then he said Go. Honestly, I was a bit scared because it was pretty steep. But he calmly talked me through how to use tje hand brake and I got going on the first try. I aced my driving test with the stick.(now I have a 1990 miata 5 speed.) I love telling that story. Miss my dad. He passed last year. Thank you for the great content. 😊
Omg! Your story is so like mine! I was 9, and it was they hay truck with a trailer. My grandpa put me on a phone book or 2, and wooden blocks on the pedals. My first car at 15 was a 63 VW beetle. I still drive a stick to this day. One of them (my toy) is a 1973 fully restored VW Beetle. Great memories.
Growing up, my father purchased a 1979 MG Midget. It was ridiculously small, but the fun that it brought the family was ridiculously huge! He used that car primarily to commute to & from work as it could only carry one other person. It was lousy in the snow & being a convertible, it was also rather chilly in the winter as the ragtop wasn’t insulated in any way. This meant that the MG was kept garaged during the winter months mostly & Dad would take Mom’s Buick wagon to work. My mother would use the MG for short hops around town & the MG’s inability to handle snow wasn’t a problem with her. I learned to drive a stick shift watching my parents. I’d ask questions & they’d explain. I was about 13 years old at this time & my mother had knee surgery & had to wear a knee/leg immobilizer to keep her leg straightened. She was unable to work the clutch because of it & found herself needing to run errands one day which included getting some necessary groceries. I had an idea…but kept it to myself but her intuitive mind knew what I was thinking. She asked me if I could drive her to the store, utilizing back roads. I couldn’t get in that car fast enough. I had already been allowed to move the car in & out of the garage to wash it, so I understood how the clutch pedal worked. Shifting would be what i remembered my parents doing. Since my passenger seat observations didn’t allow me to see the tachometer, I simply shifted using the sound of the engine. Our trip to the store & back went so well that other trips ensued until my mother’s leg healed. We never told my father of our automotive outings! He wouldn’t have allowed it. One day we wheeled up alongside a classmate of mine ( he was riding in the backseat of his mother’s car…where he belonged ) at a stoplight & I was found out! He told the kids at school & I was something of an instant sensation with the other kids. One day soon afterwards, one of my teachers held me after class & asked me if I had been driving my parent’s car around town…as he’d overheard the gossip. I was busted. I didn’t lie. I explained that my mother had surgery to her knee & couldn’t work the clutch & we had to get groceries etc. & he grinned & said “Your mother is with you?!? God bless you, son…I thought you were alone!” He then explained that he grew up on a farm & learned to drive at about the same age, if not younger & that all was well with me & my driving. He said he wouldn’t say anything more about it as he understood my mother’s need for a chauffeur. The MG was simply too impractical for a family of 6, so my father traded it in on a Buick Century. I still miss that car & it’s probably why I’ve had several cars since outfitted with manual transmissions with an ‘18 Jeep Wrangler most recently. As long as they keep building them, I’ll keep buying them. For many of us, shifting IS driving. No way around it.
Watching you teach your nephew immediately brought back all the memories of learning myself. We, unfortunately, didn’t have a nice piece of property, but at 16 (a year before you can legally drive in the UK) my step-dad took me down to the local station car park on a Sunday afternoon and I learnt there. I also clearly remember the day I passed my test, taking my Mum’s car solo for the first time and patting the empty (left) seat next to me and feeling that same kind of rush you had as a 9 year old driving that blue pickup. Great memories, and I still love driving to this day.
Neil you make me so proud! So many people just make fun of the younger generation for not being able to drive a manual! I learn from my brother in law in a 88 s10 that thing was a beater but it was great! Like riding a bike I have taught several how to over the years and I have a 71 VW bug to keep it alive!
I got my DL when i was 20, learned on an automatic. One week later my dad taught me to drive a sick shift during rush hour traffic and that's all I drove for 41 years! Until I bought my first automatic, Rav4 just a few months ago. I kind of miss it, but it's OK! I loved your video teaching your nephew, bright back great memories! I miss my dad!
I bought my son a '98 Corolla 5 speed for his first car. It's hilly where we are and early on he called it, "the anxiety box", haha! Great video, Neil.
After you drive back off the front wheel ramps… let the oil settle and then dip to recheck. The sump tipped at 15/20^ will not give the true oil level reading. Great video and good work teaching a young man to safely control the jeep.
Working on a farm gives you the experience and ability to drive just about anything. I was probably 14 an was driving a tractor ,Baler and a wagon or 2 down the road.
Driven a manual all my life, as automatics were few and far between in 80's South Africa. A skill sorely lacking in modern times. My first driving experience was, similar to yours, driving the old Massey Ferg farm tractor on my friends sprawling sheep farm in the Great Karoo, near Murreysburg. Thanks for this trip down nostalgia lane, and for all the videos you produce. They truly bring back the best memories for me. It's great to see the passion and love you have for your lifestyle. Long may DDD continue. You have a lifelong subscriber. ❤
I learned to drive a stick in high school probably 1973. My shop teacher wanted me to go to the hardware store and get some sandpaper. His truck was a 1970? Chevrolet with 3 on the tree. I had never driven a stick before. But, I had seen it done and had an idea how. Well I made it there and back with no accidents. I did grind the gears a couple times. I may have killed it once or twice but I made it. My sons both learned to drive a stick in high school. It is a good life lesson. Great video Neil ! You brought back some memories 😊
lol as soon as you said thee on the tree you grew up in my time remember how the chevys would jam sometimes, and the hurst universal floor shift conversions lol
@@digdrivediy Yep. When I was a kid, the bus drivers were students themselves! I don't know what the rules say now, but I imagine the requirements have been tightened up a bit.
My first time driving was in our Studebaker farm truck. It had a dual range rear end with four on the floor. I couldn’t reach the pedals. But, that didn’t matter. We were picking up hay bales and had a farm wagon attached to the rear bumper. My dad put it into low range and ‘Granny’ gear. He instructed me to drive between the rows of bales and follow them around the field. All I had to do was steer. The crew… a cousin and two neighbor kids were positioned with one loading bales on each side of the wagon and one atop it doing the stacking. My dad stood on the running board to show me how to steer. He stayed there through the first couple of straight aways and curves. Then, he stepped off to help load hay. I remember thinking that I was walking in tall cotton! At 1 or 2 mikes per hour, I was exhilarated to be commanding that mechanical beast. That was until I got to the third corner… you understand that I couldn’t really see over the dashboard very well. The field far ahead was visible… but nearby, was out of view. I was guessing where the bales were… I knew that I had to turn…. But not when or how sharp. Then, I heard my dad holler, “Turn now!” So…. I did. I cranked the steering wheel as sharp as it would go. At my command, the truck turned instantly… as did the wagon. The truck missed the inside bale. But, the front swivel axle on the wagon did not. It dove right into the side of the bale sitting there. I heard my dad hollering something… then felt the truck jerking strangely. I panicked… I knew that those pedals on the floor were the key to stopping the train wreck that I was commanding… so, I stomped on one with my right foot. The engine raced and the truck lurched forward… the wagon wheel dug into the bale and started dragging it along the ground. The force of the lurch threw me backward and slowed the truck enough that my dad could climb onto the passenger side running board and holler, “Turn the switch off!” (The key had long since been replaced with an off/on switch. The starter was a small silver button on the dashboard.). As soon as I hit the switch, the truck bounced to a stop. And for a moment the world went silent. The racing of my heart was the only thing I remember. Then, I heard my dad’s labored breathing… and a sense of impending dread took over me. It lessened a bit when my dad asked, “Are you OK?” I crawled out of the truck and met my dad on the other side. He never said anything. He just grabbed his Barlow pocket knife and cut the strings from the mangled bale beneath the wagon wheel. He had me crawl under the wagon and pull the bale out from beneath it. Then he said, “Toss it in the back of the truck. We’ll see if the calves like it.” All dread lifted as I realized he wasn’t upset. The cousin who had been on the wagon during the whole episode chided me with, “You wrecked the truck the first time you drove it!” And that, was to become the topic of conversations for years to come. The whole episode didn’t seem to affect my dad… he put me back in the truck and we resumed my driving lesson. I didn’t hear him speak of it for a long time… then one day, while we were at the feed store a guy asked him if he got all of his hay put up. My dad looked at me and said, “Yep. I taught the boy to drive and it went pretty good. He only ran over one bale!” Then he winked at me. You know Neil, that first lesson taught me a little bit about driving and a whole lot about how my dad handled a crisis. When it came time to teach my daughters to drive… I kept that in mind every-time they encountered an oopsie or a near miss. Millions of farm kids got their first taste of driving on the farm… I am glad that I was one of them!
What a wonderful story! So much can be taught and learned from your father's demeanor. He taught you way more than driving that day! My Dad is patient like that too, and I try my best to be the same. Also amazing how many kids get their first taste of driving while putting up hay! There seems to be a universal labor shortage in terms of wagon operators when it comes to baling. I got one of my first tastes of real tractor driving while running the baler and pulling wagons for my Uncle Ronnie. Good times. Good memories. Thanks so much for sharing!
I learned in a 1956 jeep willy, also like you said country kids get a head start on driving, my grandpa would send me out to my uncle’s about 3/4 miles out a gravel road barely could see over the steering wheel 😂. Keep those stories coming that one brought back an old memory back for me!!!
Love those farm stories. There is a lot of kids(me included) that learned to drive at an early age on the farm. Between tractors and back roads got a lot of experience. Sadly those days a pretty much gone anymore. Taught both my girls how to drive a stick(my Jeep).Great video Neil 👍✊
Well, who's fault is that? Because our generation (for me Gen Z) we should have taught them. I can tell you every one of my kids can drive a stick and do anything we do. It's the teacher's, Parent's fault not the kid's fault.
I just turned 60. My first car was a stick for the same reasons you just outlined. My dad took me out to some farm roads and yeah, it was rough getting it all together, but I ended up driving tractors with a low boy hauling heavy equipment in the Army. It was a great experience.
