I love the older Winters, Fairbanks, T/A type shifters bow up
I have done the same thing on other brands and types shifters also shruggy
I learned a long time ago to either stiffen up the right arm a lot with my hand on the shifter or don't leave it on the shifter in 1st gear leaving the starting line shruggy work

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)