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Kirk driving stick shift canon violation resolved.

Stag

Stag

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
I read in a few posts that Kirk driving a stick shift Vette is a canon violation because he could not drive a stick in the episode "A Piece of the Action".

Here's how to resolve that one - the transmissions used in that era of Corvettes, like today were all fully synchronized with helical cut gears, meaning just push in the clutch and select the gear you want, the built in synchro will mesh the gears together smoothly and quietly.

In "A Piece of the Action", the car Kirk gets in to drive off is a 1930 Cadillac V12 coupe, which while introducing the synchronized transmission in 1929, did not have any synchronization between neutral and 1st and did not have anything but intercut gears, allowing for difficulty engaging the gears as the teeth on one gear had to match up with the gap on another and at precisely the same speed, otherwise there was the grinding. Something he would not have experienced in the Vette.

Anyway, just thought I would bring some real life tech to this forum.
 
Sure why not.
Not that it's a big deal to anyone.... right?

I'd hate to be in charge of making a Star Trek movie. Every little tiny thing like this is blown out of proportion. I don't think it's even remotely possible to create a storyline that has at least some continuity errors in it like this.
 
I'm not so sure about that. Most TOS movies have aspired to do something new, greatly decreasing the odds of treading over old toes.

But as we can see, a rationalization can be found for every minor instance of carelessness, so why worry?

Timo Saloniemi
 
Stag said:
I read in a few posts that Kirk driving a stick shift Vette is a canon violation because he could not drive a stick in the episode "A Piece of the Action".

Here's how to resolve that one - the transmissions used in that era of Corvettes, like today were all fully synchronized with helical cut gears, meaning just push in the clutch and select the gear you want, the built in synchro will mesh the gears together smoothly and quietly.

In "A Piece of the Action", the car Kirk gets in to drive off is a 1930 Cadillac V12 coupe, which while introducing the synchronized transmission in 1929, did not have any synchronization between neutral and 1st and did not have anything but intercut gears, allowing for difficulty engaging the gears as the teeth on one gear had to match up with the gap on another and at precisely the same speed, otherwise there was the grinding. Something he would not have experienced in the Vette.

Anyway, just thought I would bring some real life tech to this forum.
Click to expand...

Ha! Awesome.

You see, this to my mind is what canon means. Explaining away apparent contradictions. Not holding the creators hostage.
 
What's his face said:
Sure why not.
Not that it's a big deal to anyone.... right?

I'd hate to be in charge of making a Star Trek movie. Every little tiny thing like this is blown out of proportion. I don't think it's even remotely possible to create a storyline that has at least some continuity errors in it like this.
Click to expand...

Yep. That's why the Star Trek franchise is in the state of flux right now-- if people would just enjoy it instead of nitpicking we'd still have our weekly series on TV.
 
What's his face said:
Sure why not.
Not that it's a big deal to anyone.... right?

I'd hate to be in charge of making a Star Trek movie. Every little tiny thing like this is blown out of proportion. I don't think it's even remotely possible to create a storyline that has at least some continuity errors in it like this.
Click to expand...


Of course it's all a big deal...that's a huge part of what being a Trekkie/Trekker means!

'WE' have been Exploring, Dissecting and Extrapolating on the "MINUTIAE OF TREK" since it's inception.

That's NOT A BAD THING...
It's just another part of what makes it so FASCINATING!! :hugegrin:

And ANYONE who has contemplated making a Trek Movie since the very first one, has to know from the very start, that 'WE' are going to do that.

It's a no-brainer...

'WE' can't help it!!

:lol::devil::vulcan::klingon::rommie::evil::borg: :alienblush::scream::drool: <=== This is why Star Trek is still around...

...because of the multitude of Fans who have a Love/Hate relationship with Trek and Each Other. (Especially the last Two!!) :guffaw:

As long as at the end of the day 'WE' all remember to end like this... :beer:
TREK WILL NEVER DIE.
 
Actually, there's no reason to explain anything. The fact that Kirk has driven stick as a kid nicely explains how he, as a 23rd century man, was as familiar as he was with how to drive a 1930s automobile. I'm sure shifting in a car from the 30s is a different experience than in a corvette. I used to think it was kind of silly that Kirk was able to figure out how to drive a 20th century car so easily, but now it's been revealed: He drove a corvette as a kid.

Thank you JJ!
 
Carbon Unit said:
Actually, there's no reason to explain anything. The fact that Kirk has driven stick as a kid nicely explains how he, as a 23rd century man, was as familiar as he was with how to drive a 1930s automobile. I'm sure shifting in a car from the 30s is a different experience than in a corvette. I used to think it was kind of silly that Kirk was able to figure out how to drive a 20th century car so easily, but now it's been revealed: He drove a corvette as a kid.

Thank you JJ!
Click to expand...

Thinking about it, I guess Spock was him him and helped figure it out, wasn't he? I haven't seen this one in a long time.

Maybe it was the LDS after all.
 
Stag said:
I read in a few posts that Kirk driving a stick shift Vette is a canon violation because he could not drive a stick in the episode "A Piece of the Action".

Here's how to resolve that one - the transmissions used in that era of Corvettes, like today were all fully synchronized with helical cut gears, meaning just push in the clutch and select the gear you want, the built in synchro will mesh the gears together smoothly and quietly.

In "A Piece of the Action", the car Kirk gets in to drive off is a 1930 Cadillac V12 coupe, which while introducing the synchronized transmission in 1929, did not have any synchronization between neutral and 1st and did not have anything but intercut gears, allowing for difficulty engaging the gears as the teeth on one gear had to match up with the gap on another and at precisely the same speed, otherwise there was the grinding. Something he would not have experienced in the Vette.

Anyway, just thought I would bring some real life tech to this forum.
Click to expand...
Ah yeah that's good man **lights one up**
Although I just thought the fact that he drives it off a cliff is enough :P

darkshadow0001 said:
What's his face said:
Sure why not.
Not that it's a big deal to anyone.... right?

I'd hate to be in charge of making a Star Trek movie. Every little tiny thing like this is blown out of proportion. I don't think it's even remotely possible to create a storyline that has at least some continuity errors in it like this.
Click to expand...

Yep. That's why the Star Trek franchise is in the state of flux right now-- if people would just enjoy it instead of nitpicking we'd still have our weekly series on TV.
Click to expand...
Yeah, nitpicking brings down a TV show, not poor ratings.
 
Clearly it is TOS that was wrong, Kirk would obviously be able to drive stick.

I thank Mr Abrams for correcting this error.
 
Honestly I made this post to answer some nit pickers and not be one myself. I used to be a mechanic and restore cars so I actually know something of what I speak. I can drive a stick,but I had to learn how to double clutch to drive some of the older cars without thrashing the gear boxes.
 
I'm going to be the "ultra-geek" here and point out that Spock was the one who explained to Kirk what a clutch is.

(ducks and runs) ;)
 
Also, it was an Iotian impression of a stick shift... unless we are to believe that that mob history book included detailed technical schematics... but then they did seem to get all the architecture and firearms and clothing right as well... but then... oh for pity's sake it was a silly episode about gangsters in space!
 
I know how to drive a stick shift, but I haven't owned one in 15 years, and so haven't had to drive one in that time.

If I had to do it now, I'm sure I could, but it would be rough going until I got the hang of it again.

Between 12 years old and sometime in his mid-30's, Kirk may be a little rusty...
 
Stag said:
I read in a few posts that Kirk driving a stick shift Vette is a canon violation because he could not drive a stick in the episode "A Piece of the Action".

Here's how to resolve that one - the transmissions used in that era of Corvettes, like today were all fully synchronized with helical cut gears, meaning just push in the clutch and select the gear you want, the built in synchro will mesh the gears together smoothly and quietly.

In "A Piece of the Action", the car Kirk gets in to drive off is a 1930 Cadillac V12 coupe, which while introducing the synchronized transmission in 1929, did not have any synchronization between neutral and 1st and did not have anything but intercut gears, allowing for difficulty engaging the gears as the teeth on one gear had to match up with the gap on another and at precisely the same speed, otherwise there was the grinding. Something he would not have experienced in the Vette.

Anyway, just thought I would bring some real life tech to this forum.
Click to expand...

I literally posted almost exactly the same thing over at the LJ Trek community, which user are you or is this just a bit of a coincidence? :lol:
 
Carbon Unit said:
Actually, there's no reason to explain anything. The fact that Kirk has driven stick as a kid nicely explains how he, as a 23rd century man, was as familiar as he was with how to drive a 1930s automobile. I'm sure shifting in a car from the 30s is a different experience than in a corvette. I used to think it was kind of silly that Kirk was able to figure out how to drive a 20th century car so easily, but now it's been revealed: He drove a corvette as a kid.

Thank you JJ!
Click to expand...
I agree -- When I watched A Piece of the Action as a kid, I would say "how can Kirk drive a car so well, even after Spock points out the clutch". Here's my answer.
 
Didn't Volkswagon also have a automatic/manual fusion? I think they had a car with a gearshift for manual shifting but no clutch, as odd as that sounds. When all else fails, we could assume someone "upgraded" the transmission on the Vette.

However, I like the OP idea better. As others have noted, it explains how Kirk so easily picks up driving a car later on. And this is an Iotian car - for all we know their transmissions are similar, but different enough so as to confuse even an experienced driver.
 
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