Hmm, the trans shifts itself into 2nd at the hit on the starting line, I never had that happen AFTER I learned to stiffen my arm up a bunch before hitting the throttle so my hand and arm wouldn't move backwards at the hit making the shifter shift Your not the first and I'm sure you will not be the last one to have that happen on a shifter like those in a car that moves really hard. I've even hurt my hand on my old 1963 Bracket Beleveder(1.49 60 ft.) when my hand flew off the shifter and hit the roof roll bar behind the seat Now to work on getting it to hook, BTW, how many times did your back hurt on the hit I had to retrain myself to push myself back into the seat before letting go of the button on the new car to make the stupid car quit hurtng my back during the run, especially last year when coming off the throttle stop