temporary or long term issue?

[bmsamson]

I was stuck in traffic on an uphill road, and noticed odor and smoke from around the driver's side rear wheel. Suspect it was clutch overheating, but of course I can't be sure. Temp gauge was well within range, so it wasn't the engine itself. After cresting the hill it drove fine and I didn't notice either smoke or the odor any longer, but obviously I'm concerned. Thoughts?

(PS the only other thing I could think it might be besides the clutch is the e-brake, which I recently had adjusted and now engages very early. I'm hoping it wasn't set so tight as to be stuck, and what I was sensing was that brake getting fried)

PS -03 base, manual