re: hand on shifter; tobacco adverts

["Hardwick, Robert C" <Robert.Hardwick@PSS.Boeing.com>]

Can't imagine that most people apply enough force to the shifter while
their hand is resting to wear the synchros, but it's certainly not a
good habit for performance driving.  And if you don't have a performance
head on, take the bus! :)  Resting a foot on the clutch pedal won't wear
the clutch plate but will apply more force to the thrust bearing.
Theoretically this will cause the bearing to wear out sooner, but
question whether most folks feet weigh that much.  Most bearings will
make quite a racket for thousands of miles until clutch plate wear
forces replacement of the whole assembly.

France & Germany don't allow tobacco advertising already.  I consider
myself fairly immune to adverts but I recognize the color schemes and
emblem motifs in an instant on F1 cars.  Kinda scary to find yourself
programmed.  During the ESPN2 broadcast of the Argentinian GP, Stirling
Moss suggested that there is TOO much money in F1.  So would tobacco's
departure be so bad, at least in that venue?

cheers, robert hardwick, seattle usa