The Clutch-Throttle 2 Step
- Author
- Jack Spanner
- Reading Time
- Approx. 4 Minutes
The mechanical dance we unwittingly perform every time we get behind the wheel.
Some routines require a little more finesse than others.
“I'd love to take her for a dance,” you think, stepping back from the showroom window.
“Would be such a trip…” you whisper as you walk away.
Picture Memphis from Gone in 60 Seconds for a minute. They've scouted all the ladies and finally locate Eleanor at the Long Beach Towers. He runs his hand up the C-pillar while talking to the '67 Mustang, telling her everything is going to work out just fine.
It's an old flame, and they're getting reacquainted.
The mechanical dance we unwittingly perform every time we get behind the wheel. Some routines require a little more finesse than others. It all depends on how many gears you're playing with, whether you skip any, and, of course, what you're actually driving.
The simple act of depressing the clutch while selecting a gear. Then comes the part automatics never experience. The move that connects it all.
The Clutch-Throttle 2 Step.
Dances are intimate, and so is driving. Fumble the two-step and she'll embarrass you. Let the clutch out a little too quickly? She'll let you know. Step on her toes and she'll throw a temper tantrum. Treat her well and she won't let you down.
Regular services, just as the good book stowed away in the cubby recommends. Fresh oil. New plugs. A new set of shoes every now and then. We all know a lady loves new shoes. Throw in the occasional wash and polish and she'll be turning heads in the parking lot before you've even switched her off.
When you go for a drive, it's never just a drive, is it?
It's reconnecting with an old flame. It's catching up with an old friend. Reliving the moves you both know so well. Sometimes one of you is a little rusty, but before long you find your rhythm. Once you're in it, you're in your element. You become one with the machine, feeling every piece of feedback through the steering wheel and hearing her roar with delight as you egg her on.
The best drives, I find, are the ones to no-where. Just for the feel and sound. Nothing but you, an old friend, and the open road ahead.
"Shall we dance?"