Thread: Power Wagon build

One of my mates was once boasting about the crash box in his vehicle and how difficult it was and how good at he was. Now was saying this in ear shot of my mother who asked what this double declutching was and how it was done. Encouraging him to take her out in the vehicle so she could try. After listening and having it demonstrated asked to have a try herself. Proceeded to take off then do the changes without the clutch no gear grinding. Saying it does not seem that difficult then going off into the house. She had of course been taught to drive by her father who was a racing driver in a crash box vehicle. Just wanted to see if could still do it

I think it is one of those things that once you learn it, it sticks. A bit like riding a bike.

I femember seeing one of these in a paddock south east of Walgett in the mid nineties, it was complete then. No idea where it was now but 20 mile southeast rings a bell. Not visible from the road I saw it from the air.

Originally Posted by 3toes

One of my mates was once boasting about the crash box in his vehicle and how difficult it was and how good at he was. Now was saying this in ear shot of my mother who asked what this double declutching was and how it was done. Encouraging him to take her out in the vehicle so she could try. After listening and having it demonstrated asked to have a try herself. Proceeded to take off then do the changes without the clutch no gear grinding. Saying it does not seem that difficult then going off into the house. She had of course been taught to drive by her father who was a racing driver in a crash box vehicle. Just wanted to see if could still do it

After a few weeks in annual army camp, you get pretty good at clutch-less gear changes! Back in the day, I drove a 1962 Mini in which the synchromesh had largely departed, so I double de-clutched it on all gear changes. After one such camp, I scored a date with a girl I fancied, whose sister had a mini. While driving her to an evening out she paid particular attention to my gear changes and eventually asked, "What's that you do when you change gears"? "Oh, that's called a double de-clutch", I replied! "If you think that's interesting, watch this"!

With that, I went for a clutchless change ................. and missed - rewarded with a horrendous grinding sound!!! My date seemed somewhat less than impressed by my gear changing skills!
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Originally Posted by Barraman

After a few weeks in annual army camp, you get pretty good at clutch-less gear changes! Back in the day, I drove a 1962 Mini in which the synchromesh had largely departed, so I double de-clutched it on all gear changes. After one such camp, I scored a date with a girl I fancied, whose sister had a mini. While driving her to an evening out she paid particular attention to my gear changes and eventually asked, "What's that you do when you change gears"? "Oh, that's called a double de-clutch", I replied! "If you think that's interesting, watch this"!

With that, I went for a clutchless change ................. and missed - rewarded with a horrendous grinding sound!!! My date seemed somewhat less than impressed by my gear changing skills!
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I had a similar VW Golf but had to also "heel and toe" it while doubling, as it would stall on throttle lift off. The guys in the army only gave me one chance to drive the 12 ton 6x6 truck, which wasn't enough to perfect my technique as they were passengers.

Two of the first three cars I drove (1931 Swift and 1923 Reo) had crash boxes. (The third was a Ford T with planetary box). Not long after I got a licence and my own car it was a Series 1 with no synchro on 1 & 2, and I have driven Series 2/2a Landrovers pretty much ever since among others. I drove an IH R190 with a drilling rig mounted on it from Alice to Brisbane in January 1967 - no synchro on it.

R190 John, you'd have been king of the road!
w1R190.jpg
Note the manual, non illuminated directional indicators on the driver's door.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

R190 John, you'd have been king of the road!
w1R190.jpg
Note the manual, non illuminated directional indicators on the driver's door.

I can remember trucks having those when I was a little kid. Weren't the hands yellow?

DL