(May 9, 2019, 5:40 pm)
Due to unforeseen medical conditions ("drag foot syndrome"...? Spinal stenosis...?) I had been unable to drive my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am for some 6 years, a beloved car that I had purchased, brand new, 41 years ago. My ride has a clutch-equipped manual transmission, and my inability to activate it with my immobile LH leg kept the vehicle simply locked & stowed away in our garage, until this past summer...
I was seriously contemplating either (A) selling the T/A (a practically UNTHINKABLE option!), or, (B) having it retrofitted with an automatic transmission.
Then one day my son told me about a device called a "Duck Clutch" --- made in Italy --- that, when retrofitted into a stick-shift car, allows the clutch to be activated by a finger-controlled lever, mounted on the gear shift knob. Research revealed that "Access In Motion" was the nearest (if not the SOLE) facility that could do the retrofit to a "Duck Clutch" --- and the really good news was that they had already performed one such retrofit on a performance car just the previous year!
Marcus, Mark, & Dave at "Access In Motion" could not have been more gracious & understanding when I entered their exceptionally clean shop, my car in tow. These guys absolutely LOVE cars (and believe me, it shows, too!) & they shared my enthusiasm every step in the retrofit. They very patiently ensured that the "Duck Clutch" worked to its factory specifications, & then very patiently guided me through several "test runs," with me at the wheel, until things were "...just right."
I could NOT be more satisfied --- in fact, my ONLY regret is that MORE auto enthusiasts in Canada are not aware of the existence of the "Duck Clutch," nor of "Access In Motion," & so can not avail themselves of the advantages of both: physical mobility challenges do NOT have to deprive your face of a broad-beamed smile, after indulging in a summer cruise with "...your ride" --- and I am physical proof of that reality, too...!
