Handbrakes can be used for more than
parking a car and making
handbrake turns. A
hill start is a
handy method for getting a
manual transmission (
stickshift) car up a
steep hill.
Hill starts involve use of the handbrake to hold the
car in place while the
driver modulates the
clutch and
accelerator to provide
traction.
Cars in
neutral (i.e. not engaged in
gear) or with clutch disengaged will
roll on any
incline. A car can only be moved forward by "
slipping" the clutch; that is, finding the
friction (
bite) point on the clutch that engages forward movement to overcome the force of
gravity.
Automatics slip the "clutch" for you through the
torque converter. A stickshift driver might choose to continuously slip the clutch on a sharp grade, but this
technique can lead to
premature clutch wear. Slipping the clutch on steep hills can result in the car rolling
downhill and hitting a car behind. Using the handbrake on hills secures the car so the driver can focus on moving the car forward without rolling back.
First, stop on a steep grade. Put the car in neutral while holding the
foot brake down. Hold the foot brake while securing the hand brake (pull it all the way up) and lock the brake. When ready to go, slip the car into 1st gear, slipping the clutch to find the right amount of forward
momentum. When that's found, release the handbrake in a controlled manner so that the car edges forward as the brake is let down. Try not to "pop" the handbrake while modulating the clutch.
Accelerate normally when on your way.
This
technique requires
practice, so make sure you just find a few nice steep hills and go for it. I don't use this technique on all hills. Cars are different with varying amounts of
torque (
pulling power), so each driver has to make up his/her mind which hills are handbrake hills and which aren't. Some drivers may
discourage hill starts. "A true driver can quickly
heel and toe their way up any hill."
Whatever. Using a handbrake on hills avoids rolling, saves the legs and a clutch job, and makes driving in hill country
pleasurable rather than
dreadful.