Is it best to go from say 5th to 4th to 3rd or can you just brake to the right speed so your rpm's are right and just go to third from 5th? This seems faster to brake, hold in the clutch momentarily and go to 3rd. Reason I ask is I was taught different at race school and notice that most people go through every gear instead of skipping some. Being a novice I'm probably wrong but I'd like to know why. Thanks

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95 Z28, SLP Y pipe, Flowmaster muffler, SFC, STB, KYB shocks, Moroso CAI, 1LE front anti roll bar w/poly bushings, Hurst shifter, TBB, LT4 KM, LG Motorsports pedals, high flow Cat.

 

There's no simple right or wrong answer. Successful pro racers disagree on this one. You're probably best off to do what feels more comfortable.

That said, more of the young successful pros skip. Watch a CART race on TV. The progressive shifters shift gears one at a time, but downshifting into a corner it's bang, bang, bang, as fast as the lever can move.

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2000 Firebird convert, chameleon/tan, M5, Y87, TCS
KBDDs, BMR STB and Panhard, 245/50-16 GSCs

 

From all that I've read, and somewhat praticed, is to do single gear changes, this way you lessen your chances of being wrong about the RPM you need to skip a gear. When your off (either too high or too low) it can send you off the road in a turn. I suppose someone might have an arguement for the skipping, but I haven't seen one yet.

In CART and F1 they go though every gear (they have to, but they dont clutch it or anything, they shoot right through them because they stop THAT fast, as in 150 to 70 in 1 second) and in Trans-Am, most shift clutchlessly and need to hit each gear because missing one is very costly.

Anyone heard about skipping? I find in high rpm ranges (where you better be if racing) its harder for me at least to guess, but on the street at 2600rpm in 4, its easy to brake a little, blip the throttle and put it into second.
--Kevin

[This message has been edited by auto-Xer (edited August 13, 2002).]

 

Well, I shift down one gear at a time, but an easy argument for skipping gears when needed is it's one less chance for you to miss the shift. It's also one less chance for your foot to slip off the brake when you blip the accelerator, etc.

 

use every gear, it allows more rapid deceleration(more engine braking).



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-94 Black T-Topped Z28 M6, 10s, and daily driven!
-96 CBR F3, modded of course
-92 Talon Tsi AWD, also too many mods..
-99 Tony Kart
http://www.fastblackcar.com

 

Jordon,

Sorry to disagree. I think you are a great engine builder, and a great drag racer. I don't intend disrespect, nor to start a flame war. However, In my opinion, IF you have the brakes, just nail the brakes until the speed is scrubbed off, down to the proper entry speed for the appropriate corner, make one downshift to the correct gear. It's faster, also, no compression braking can compete with modern brakes. Finally, look at a superbike (even a street bike). A good rider can do a "stoppie". How much stopping is the rear brake doing when the rear wheel is off of the ground? Modern race cars (Michael Schumacher's) have optimized weight distribution and sequential gearboxes. All of their brakes work at optimum rates. Computers match their revs for downshifts. Lacking these refinements, Previous GP drivers (Lauda, et al) shifted once, to the correct gear. With all of the weight transferred to the front wheels, it is extremely easy to lock up the rear wheels and spin on a down shift. One of the most useful driving tricks you will learn from your GoKart racing is left foot braking. Learn to use it in your car racing also.

Good racing.

Garrett Waddell

 

I skip regularly. However, even if you get the engine RPM right, the freely spinning input shaft rpm will be way off, which rough on the synchronizers. So, when skipping gears on a downshift, I generally double-clutch. It takes some practice, but it's a lot easier on the transmission and doesn't take long.

 

luckily the tracks I run don't need many double downshifts. when I try to skip, its much more likely that I goof, so I just go 1 at a time.

bobc
with the stock shifter

 

Corvette-

Actually, I am an accomplished autoXer and road racer. I hold 2 current(2002) Kart national championships, and in autoXing have placed at every national tour/divsional/regional I have run in. Also, I have instructed at several open track/road race events. I have, however, not drive a Formula One car yet.

Cars don't stoppie, period.(btw, I also race motorcycles a 'bit) try losing your rear brakes (just take your rotors off, and put a block of woode between the brake pads) and you will realize just how much rear brakes DO work. We don't drive formula one cars, our brakes are not carbon/carbon. even with nice brakes(baer, etc) we can cook them, easily with our portly 3500+lbs weight. downshifting through everygear does make a big difference in decleration/brake wear... because it helps slow the car down. if you are having problems with too much rear brake bias with downshifting, adjust your brake bias.. don't stop downshifting. any kind of non carbon brake can almost always be better.

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-94 Black T-Topped Z28 M6, 10s, and daily driven!
-96 CBR F3, modded of course
-92 Talon Tsi AWD, also too many mods..
-99 Tony Kart
http://www.fastblackcar.com

[This message has been edited by JordonMusser (edited August 21, 2002).]