slapstick shifter

I have a 1980 Camaro Z28, hence my login name...and it has a slapstick shifter. I have been reading on here how you can slap it from one gear to another..but, I can't get it to stay down in first. I just bought this car in July of this year..and I am still trying to figure out how to work this gearshift. Am I supposed to put it into 1st by moving it to the right? Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

what happens when you put it in first?

I had a '79 Z28 LM1 with the TH350 tranny 27 years ago so my memory is a little foggy. I recall the slapstick function is used only for upshifts. You manually put it into first gear (D1). As you accelerate and the rpms are where you want it just slap the shift lever to the right. It should upshift to the next gear only and so on until you get to DRIVE(D). If it does not go to first manually or stay there then you may have a problem with the shift linkage cable or shifter.

In response to what does it do? I put in down in 1st and it won't stay there..it just flips back up to N. SO, I didn't know if that was usual and you have to hold it there in order to take off and then slap it into 2..3...D or if something is wrong with it. Thanks for the replies.

BTW..bnaylor..thanks for the reply. I really hope there isn't anything wrong with it. The dude who sold this car to me ripped me off, in my opinion. He lied about everything he told me...and I bit hook/line/and sinker..it's a beautiful car and runs great though..even with all the money we've had to put into it.