[alfa] "American Style Shifting ?"

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Beatle from Oz asks: "Could someone please define this for a dumb Aussie
?  I find it hard to believe that the US (and UK/Aust/SA) suffer from
dodgy synchros in our Alfas but that the Italians all have pristine
gearboxes, as a direct result of some major difference in gearshift
technique."

*******

Many years ago when I was looking for a pristine GTV6 I took a drive in
one being offered by a private party. I kept apologizing for my lack of
'clutch finesse'. The twin plate clutch was definitely not my cup of
beer. The owner told me not to worry, I'd get used to it. (Bought it,
never did, had Rex Chalmers change it out with a Milano turbo single
plate). However, he couldn't believe how easily I shifted, especially
from 1st to 2nd. He remarked (no, he wasn't a sexist, Tess) how two
young ladies had come out to look at the car. The one driving would
simply slam the lever from 1st to 2nd. Obviously it balked but
apparently didn't even occour to her to simply ease it into gear. It was
2nd nature for me to pause momentarily from having driven / shifted my
Alfetta GT for years. I bought the car, later sold it to a nice fellow
who is a fellow Digester.

I believe finesse, is the key word. Many 'mericans feel it should damn
well do what you 'tell' the car to do. It bends (sometimes literally) to
your  / our will...never the other way around.

Having never been there, I'm guessing (at least in years past) because
the Italian economy wasn't as robust as other countries, combined to
being used to driving somewhat small, fragile (read: FIAT) cars, they
understood / understand the econmies of working With the mechanicals.

Believe it was Nuvolari who would smack the side of his race car with
his hand, urging it to go faster. He obviously knew great cars have soul
and should be treated as such.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA

Loved John H.'s missive on the birth of the Alfa five-speed combined
with his very knowledgeable and practical comments.
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