Shifter, I am not overly worried about adding some lightness and removing some strength. Fore / aft beam strength is only minimally reduce. Definitely the cross car beam strength is reduced. Actual loads to shift through the gears is low, when done properly. Over coming the 1st / reverse gate is the highest load, but generally done when stop.
To your point shifting in the heat of battle. I like to practice driving with quiet hands, economy of motion, light touch, place it in the gear. Don't run the lever through to a heavy hard mechanical stop. Not always successful at it. If I do bend it, then it is opportunity do something different again. Worst case, it is a awkward drive home. It was done more for visual effect than weight reduction but I do have a weight goal, to keep it light as possible but still add some sound deadening. Amusingly the gear level was bent before I owned the car, don’t know why, maybe to position it closer to the driver.
Thanks for all the feedback, it is appreciated
Michael, Most of the pictures were from British Motorsport calendars,
McKlein Photography | McKlein Publishing I don’t know if they still offer them for sale.
The past few years I have been getting this calendar from a motorsport store in Toronto
F1, Sports, Road & Historic Cars & US racing - Motor Sport Magazine