Tutorial on Shifting

[ethirtystraight6]

Is there a tutorial on shifting somewhere.?Including proper technics of shifting when trying be quick of the line, proper times to downshift, how to drop your clutch in a way to minimize damage to your car (haven't tried this yet). General advice on how to shift in way to preserve the life of your clutch.

Basically something to tie me over til I go to driving school.

If there isn't one does someone want to write one up :) ?

[potomac]

1. clutch in
2. select gear
3. ease clutch
4. give gas
5. GO!
6. repeat through gears until satisfied.

:redspot

:confused: worst write-up ever.

[GotBHP?]

Read Silverstreak's drag racing launch tips on the Track forum (its posted at the top of the page). Its an excellent write-up on how to launch.

If you want to preserve your clutch dont go around doing hard launches, simple as that. You cant dump the clutch and not work somthing hard enough to eventually break it (such as your differential, transmission etc.). Personally, I would beat on the clutch all day long before I start dropping it to do some dumb burnout or whatever, its a lot cheaper to replace than the components that will break.

I dont know what kind of driving school you are thinking of going to, but if its a track oriented one, they dont teach you things like this. Its not useful unless you are drag racing. You take what you already know to the school and learn how to apply it to high performance driving on a racetrack. If its some other kind of school I dont know about then I'll shut up :stickoutt

[denverlicious]

how about
1. clutch in
2. floor gas pedal
3. release clutch
4. squeel tires
5. GO
6. hit speed limiter

[YoWsup]

what does it exactly mean to dump or drop the clutch? I'm assuming just pulling back your foot real fast out from a standstill and out of each gear?

[Rob Levinson]

Good hand placement technique:

http://www.shortshifter.com/techniques2.htm

- Rob

[potomac]

Good hand placement technique:

http://www.shortshifter.com/techniques2.htm

- Rob

I've heard/seen that...but who actually does that :dunno ?

[GotBHP?]

what does it exactly mean to dump or drop the clutch? I'm assuming just pulling back your foot real fast out from a standstill and out of each gear?

Rev the car up and let the clutch out all at once. Then watch as you wear your tires out or break somthing exspensive. My advise is to not do it, you'll thank yourself later.

[GotBHP?]

I've heard/seen that...but who actually does that :dunno ?

I'm sure the people who shift into 2nd instead of 4th on a 3-4 shift wish they had shifted like that....

I certainly dont do that all the time, but at the track I do somthing similar to ensure that I dont mess up and look bad :rolleyes:

[Pino]

I've heard/seen that...but who actually does that :dunno ?

ive seen Clarkson do that sometimes and the driver in the BMW Films
AKA: people 3L173 4 U :stickoutt

[rab986]

Bounce it off the rev limiter every shift. That way you know it's working!

[rwindleyme02]

I've heard/seen that...but who actually does that :dunno ?
I do.

[black_box]

here's what I do:

Normal driving: let the clutch out at a lower RPM, 1-1.5k, don't give it much gas till its fully engaged, shift at 3-4k.
A bit faster on the street: rev a bit higher (2.5k?), let the clutch out a bit faster, but not enough for wheelspin (i leave ASC on for day-to-day)
Autocross launch: rev to 2.5k or so, let the clutch out somewhat quickly, add gas to keep the revs constant until the clutch is engaged, then put the pedal down. There will probably be a bit of wheelspin here, but not much.

I hesitate a bit at the friction point for all of these launches to keep it smooth.

Street driving, shifting: clutch in, put in next gear, wait for rev's to come down to for next gear, release the clutch quickly and add some gas. When done properly, you'll barely feel the shift. Getting off/on the gas easily is important here, as well as timing your clutch engagement. You will spend some time waiting for the rev's to come down, a lightweight flywheel will help with that. The upside is there should be minimal clutch wear with this.

autocross/fast street shifting: clutch in, put in next gear, release clutch to friction point and give it a bit of gas to smooth it out (similar to a launch). This will wear the clutch a bit more, but should not break traction on the rear wheels. I do this for the 1-2 shift. For 2-3 and others you probably don't need to worry about breaking traction, so you can let the clutch out faster.

downshifting: I try to practice on the street. heel-toe before turns, but don't usually downshift if i'm coming to a stop, unless its a long deceleration over a decent distance. I generally downshift to keep it above 2k (rev-match as needed), and if i'm below 2k, i basically feather the gas. I haven't really done this much in autocross, it seems to take a while for the 1st gear synchro to mesh without grinding it, but I'm new at it. Double-clutching might make it easier, but right now thats too much for me to think about during an autocross.

hand position: always the same, and I never grab the shifter. 1-2, place my 4 fingers on the front/right, pull it back and don't let it go to the center (hard to screw this up). 2-3, open palm, thats it. push forward, pause in neutral slightly so it can center itself, then push forward into 3rd. 3-4, 4 fingers again over the front, they are flat together, not curved to the shifter (like you were holding a book). Pull straight back. 4-5, open palm again, but with my thumb on the left side of the shifter. Push forward to third, push right with the thumb, then forward to 5th. When downshifting to 3 or 4, I let the shifter center itself and push/pull it into gear as above.

I don't like the shift approach in Rob's link, doesn't work for me. I don't think pushing the shifter away from you should be necessary going from 2-3, just let the springs take care of it. And that approach seems like its trying for a diagonal movement when the transmission is designed for a forward/right/forward movement. The backhand position on the 3-4 may be useful, but if you just place your fingers on the front of the knob (again, fingers are flat, pointed straight down, not cupped to the knob), you shouldnt have enough leverage to slide it over to 2nd.

Thats just whats comfortable for me with my stock shift lever, comments appreciated.

[Rob Levinson]

I've heard/seen that...but who actually does that :dunno ?

Me, for one.

The guy who taught it to me when I was teenager for two.

A whole bunch of other people who practice good shifting technique whenever they drive. Now that I mention it, wasn't that what this thread was about? :)

- Rob

[Balthazarr]

I do it when I can remember to. Usually when I want a faster shift.
Most times in the past would use only fingers or palm, but never backhand facing d's side.

Try that when you're in a hurry...grind...pop...roarrrr:laugh

[DOO]

www.standardshift.com