downshifting

https://midwestscc.com/topics/downshifting

Midwest Sports Car Club > Projects / Technical Support

#1 Jul 1, 2009, 12:42 am Hide

andrew

When Rich let me drive his Gallardo, I did fine with everything except downshifting.. whenever I did that it threw us back instead of doing it smoothly. I should have asked Rich then and there but I forgot.. so what was I doing wrong? Downshifting at the wrong speed/rpm, giving too much gas, too little, releasing the clutch too early or too late? My dad's Toyota doesn't even have a tach so I'm not used to actually paying attention rpms when driving stick
#2 Jul 1, 2009, 1:03 am Hide

tony513

rev-matching?
#3 Jul 1, 2009, 2:10 am Hide

andrew

I didn't know what that meant so I had to look it up but it looks like that's my answer, so thanks
#4 Jul 1, 2009, 2:35 am Hide

tony513

haha no problem, I rarely do it I've just recently been trying to get into the habit of doing it
#5 Jul 1, 2009, 2:54 am Hide

doltmo

#6 Jul 1, 2009, 8:46 am Hide

tony513

double clutching is really hard to do, I know the concept but doing it at speed is complicated for me lol

my girlfriends dad has a Ford Model A and I want to drive it but I need to learn to double clutch first
#7 Jul 1, 2009, 2:24 pm Hide

DC33

doltmo wrote


damn that looks hard and complicated. Ive never double clutched in my life and dont want to try
with modern cars, trannys, and gear synchros its also unessicary. Older cars you need to, so keep me away
#8 Jul 2, 2009, 3:47 am Hide

doltmo

There variations on the double clutch downshifts - the one shown on the video is the "heal 'n toe" double clutch downshift done while braking. This is the "real deal" but requires the most skill.

A step in the learning process is to do the double clutch downshift without braking. One foot on the clutch, the other on the gas. This is not useful on the track but can be use on the street (e.g. downshifting prior to passing another car on a 2-lane). But it gives you a way of getting the muscle memory established prior to moving on to the next step. You'd be surprised how quickly your left leg and foot get into the habit of doing the double clutch. It becomes second nature pretty quick.

The trick to the heal and toe is maintaining uniform pressure on the brake while rotating your foot to blip the throttle. The pedal set-up in the car is critical. If the pedals aren't in the correct position (fore and aft) it's difficult to do.
#9 Jul 2, 2009, 11:46 am Hide

SMS

That is one of the things that makes the old Vette and MG satisfying to drive fast. You kind of become part of the vehicle.
#10 Sep 21, 2009, 11:41 am Hide

RJPKRP

Here is another example of double clutching......

#11 Sep 21, 2009, 1:53 pm Hide

Ralphyboy

I love those "ring" videos. I don't think he's double clutching though, I think he's sequentially going through gears requiring multiple clutch hits. Either way, whether I'm wrong or right, thank you for posting that!!
#12 Sep 22, 2009, 4:01 am Hide

RJPKRP

Ralphyboy wrote
I love those "ring" videos. I don't think he's double clutching though, I think he's sequentially going through gears requiring multiple clutch hits. Either way, whether I'm wrong or right, thank you for posting that!!

You're right, he's not not double clutching. My fingers get ahead of my brain...alot. What I meant to say was that he is another example of Heel/Toe. The first video, while he is double-clutching, he's also using heel/toe to stay in the powerband and synchro engine speed on his downshifts.
#13 Sep 22, 2009, 5:30 am Hide

Ralphyboy

I learned how to heel toe while working one day, I love my job for having that ability
#14 Sep 22, 2009, 6:18 am Hide

RJPKRP

Ralphyboy wrote
I learned how to heel toe while working one day, I love my job for having that ability


I learned how to do it racing stockcars in Virginia. That is me, about 10 years ago, in the #4 Greased Lightning Auto Care Pontiac!

The pedal setup on the NSX is great for heel/toe.

#15 Sep 22, 2009, 9:27 am Hide

Ralphyboy

Both my 240sx's and my BMW's are fine for me, I can blip and brake without issue. I have not driven a high end sports car however, so I have nothing to compare it to.