You really don't need to use the clutch at all except for starting, even with a crash box. Just shift to neutral, match RPM with speed and shift to the desired gear. I've driven an MG TD for a couple of weeks with a broken clutch rod and a bad battery (I was in the service and had to wait for payday). That involved starting it in neutral with a starting crank, pushing it to get it rolling, jumping in and jamming it in low shifting through the gears up and down and serious route planning to keep from making complete stops. I made alot of turns in parking lots and gas stations waitng for lights to change.
