[Capt Spaulding]

At the risk of interrupting a perfectly delightful D&^k M#!#*%(*g event, my experience teaching people to drive standards suggests that the hardest part of the process is the clutch release on startup. And, that the hardest part of that is learning how to feel and manage the friction point.

My usual teaching tools are a large parking lot and my son's old 6 cyl Silverado. Sit the student in the driver's seat and tell them NOT to touch the throttle - AT ALL. Then we launch the truck/car in first w/o throttle until they feel comfortable and no longer stall. Then we launch in second until they feel comfortable. Then we launch in first and shift to second w/o throttle. Then we introduce the accelerator, then we learn to shift using the accelerator. Usually takes a half an hour. Once the student feels comfortable with what the clutch does and how to make it work for them, the rest is cake. It will take a while to learn it, but it's cake.

To be sure, other cars will differ in feel. But once you learn the principles you can adapt to different cars pretty easily. Handbrake usage is in the eye of the beholder.

BTW - the Chevy has 200k+ miles on it with the original clutch.

Oh, and like the Nu Yawkah told the tourist who asked how to get to Carnegie Hall - practice - practice - practice.