It is also possible with a little practice to shift without using the clutch at all. This will really wow your friends. Can also wow your pocketbook if you don't do it right.
For downshifting, give the accelerator a little pop to unload the gears and shift to nuetral, then match engine speed to what the next gear down shoud be doing at that speed, and slide right into the gear. No clutch necessary, but it does take confidence.
For upshifting, just run up to where you normally shift, bring it into neutral, let the engine speed fall to where it should be at that speed for the next gear, and slide right into gear. The synchros will help a bit. Just be sensitive to the feel of it.
Try this at your own risk, of course.
Kurt
