It should be way too cold and snowy up there for you to be out driving around in your Crossfire!

I'm familiar with that shift linkage and the clip because I had to change out the shifter assembly in my rescue roadster. The way that clip attaches it would be VERY difficult to have the clip just fall off. I'm sure it could break but that would seem unlikely too. I suspect your experience is a rare one. I did a search of the forum and couldn't find any references to the shift linkage coming apart. I guess you're just lucky . . .