Learned to drive in a Jeep

[southtj]

For the Nascar fans, Wally Dallenbach Jr learned to drive on this Jeep as did others in his family and he still has it. Nice Jeep.

Q. What vehicle did you learn to shift on?
A. I learned on this 52 Willys jeep. As did my younger brother and sister.

I also have three children, Jake 16 who is racing in the legends series, and Wyatt 14 also racing in the legends series. My daughter is 9 and races 1/4 midgets, but cant reach the pedals on the jeep just yet. But both my sons, also learned how to use a manual on the very same jeep I did. This jeep is on my ranch in Texas, and we still use it to this day.

Full interview here: http://shiftyworld.com/news-details.aspx?id=b0653354-c325-41d9-9e3e-03a317fdd2fc

 

[carriss]

ain't nothing wrong with that,...... i still would like to have an old willys like that!

 

[redrooster]

I learned by reading the forums on Jeepz.com


ok, actually it was in an 85 model S15. I washed my dad's truck and when I was finished he threw me the keys and said drive it around back. I didn't know how, but had seen him do it plenty. I put it in gear, revved it up way too high, dumped the clutch and tore out on the wet asphalt. All he said was "at least you didn't stall it."
He just sold that truck two years ago and it still ran great.

 

[mud4feet]

I learned on a '62 4banger Ford Falcon, 3 on the tree, when I was 15.........almost ran my dad into a telephone pole trying to downshift. I've loved manual transmissions ever since and it is still my preference.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I learned on a '67 Chevy Pickup with 3 on the tree back when I was 8 or 9 years old on the farm with my uncle. Like Mud, I still prefer a stick over an automatic.

Oh, BTW, Wally D is a dweeb and should have stuck to driving the Jeep. Nascar would have been better off without him.

 

[KrazyJeeper]

I actually got the rhythm down on a motorcycle and then I jumped in a friends nissan pickup one day and just started driving it. No stall, jerkiness or anything. I guess you just have to have the rhythm.

 

[mudwoman]

I think that's true for all of life.....rhythm is everything.

 

[TwistedCU]

I rode dirt bikes when I was a kid, so the first manual I drove was not really "learning", but it was a Chevy Cavalier.

 

[southtj]

I learned to drive a manual on my sisters Celica. I guess I was 16 and no one was home and I found the keys to her car. I hop in and proceed to kill the engine about three times getting out of the drive way. I make it down the street and at the first stop sign I kill it a few more times trying to get moving. Once I got going I "got it" just like that. From there on it seemed easy. I found the rhythm. All my cars have been automatics except for a 280zx many years ago and my Jeep and I love it.

 

[droopey]

I learned to drive by sneaking my dads old 66' Chevy step side with 3 on the tree. Just jumped in and that was it. My dad always had trouble shifting from 1st to 2nd,(Trucks fault not his) Not long after I was In It I was catching 2nd gear!

 

[Ragtopman]

A 1977 Celica GT when I was about 15 It was my dads. When it got crushed by a garbage truck while parked at his work he came home and tossed me the keys and said if you can fix it you could have it. Well I fixed it had it painted and then he sold it on me when I went to college

 

[90Xjay]

I always like Wally D. I wished he could have been more competitive and his driving career would have lasted longer. He does have a pretty cool personal life with his hobbies.

 

[mingez]

Ford Courier. Best damn Ford/Mazda combo ever! That pickup was a workhorse.