I've run a Stage Right Brake with a column shift for a few years now.
When I used it the first time I was slow to move it out of first when the light turned. So on the second pass I leaned forward in the seat and grasped the lever solidly. I did move the shifter faster....but when the car left it forced me back and my arm upwards and the shifter continued into reverse. Scared the crap out of me when I realized I was going backwards from the line after the initial forward motion. Luckily no one was doing a burn out behind me. When I finally got the car stopped then went forward the starter's jaw was still down around his knees. True story.
Anyway, column shifting sucks with a Stage Right. I finally fabbed a few brackets in front of the tranny lever just in front of the tranny along with a starter solenoid. Ran some heavy wires from the bat to a pushbutton then onto the solenoid. Now I hit the button and it activates the solenoid which in turn pulls the tranny lever out of first.