Track Racing -
HOW - Downshifting more that one gear after a long, high speed straight. I have a fair handle on threshold braking into corners but I can't manage threshold braking while sequentially blip-downshifting. Lets say I have to go from 6th to 3rd after a long straight, is it better to downshift sequentially (6-5-4-3) into the corner or get most of the braking done and just blip-shift from 6th to 3rd at the end of the braking zone? I dont have a sequential trans or anything and heel-toeing from 6th to 3rd, at full braking, seems impossible to me.

Is this something that the pros do? Is it worth practicing?

Thanks,
Jr

 

I take each gear , practice makes perfect

 

 

It's a matter of preference. I have seen both ways done. Do what makes you comfortable.

 

Keep practicing. I personally skip gears.

 

I hit each gear going down but don't blip the throttle.

I know I'm some kind of loser but I can't heal-toe while braking at the limit either. I can heal-toe fine(ish) on the street. I think most of the problem comes from not having a racing seat and harness to hold me in. I use my braking foot to stabilize myself. Thus I find rolling over the accelerator is too tricky. On a list of things I prefer not to screw up its my braking zones

I hit each gear just to avoid the mess that happens of missing a gear. For example suddenly grabbing 2nd when I needed 4th. Been there, done that, bad things tend to happen

On the tracks I run I only use 3rd, 4th and 5th. There are few turns where 2nd could be used, but I find it upsets the balance or is too close to the rev limit. So I lug a bit in 3rd... I'm not trying to win any trophies so I'm OK with it. I've yet to get on a long enough track to need 6th and I run the Sebring which has the 1/2 mile Ullman Straight.

 

Road Atlanta is the only track I've driven that requires 5th to 3rd. Most tracks around me are 3rd and 4th only. I leave it in 5th as I start braking and then heel tow towards the end of the braking zone to 3rd so I'm back on partial throttle for turn in.

 

Yup, same here. Especially true on ACS coming from 2 in to the 3,4 corners; hard on the brakes, row through the gears, blip the throttle and smooth release of the clutch and your good to go.

 

You might be surprised but many people don't heel-toe correctly. From looking at quite abit of data it is common enough to see people bleed pressure off the brakes while blipping the throttle. I can even see it in my data sometimes.

 

Thanks everyone. It seems like most of you are doing what I do, clutch in to the end if the breaking zone (and I don't mean clutch in at the start of the breaking zone). Then get in gear and start the turn. I don't move through the gears during breaking but I can see how that can avoid a disaster. I think I'll try that.
And someone called me outo on exaggerating a bit. The track I had in mind when I wrote this was Thunder at NJMP but I really only go from 6th down to 4th on the front straight.

 

 

For sure - looking at my data (from an OBDII throttle trace) its amazing what you learn. I swore I was like at 60-70% throttle in some turns only to learn it was more like 25%. Your mind says "push harder" but your feet go into self preservation mode and refuse to follow commands

 

100% and I see it in my data as well. Requires a lot of practice to iron out.

Its fine to row down if it makes you smoother but some approaches necessitate skipping gears, and in that case im with mhoward1, you can virtually row through the gears to keep your mind in sync which will help you anticipate the higher throttle blip needed to synchronize the downshift.

 

I agree, I want the clutch in for as little time as possible. Why have it in the extra time it takes to row the gears?

 

Why as little time as possible? Are you using the engine/trans for braking? I would rather wear out pads than a clutch for deceleration.

 

Just faster deceleration with the clutch out. I always leave the clutch out for braking unless the wheels are going to stop.

 

6th on thunder????? Please do tell No hate just wana know. Its not that fast of straight.

 

No doubt. As little time as possible with your inputs. Less chance for error. Easier muscle memory. Make your shift and get on with the program.

 

I go down every gear sequentially. I do let the clutch out each time also, helps you slow down a little faster due to engine braking. If we have a 6th to 2nd situation and we leave the car in 6th until we need 2nd our braking line is longer. Think of it like this, we have a massive straight, you let off the gas in 6th at 150 mph and let it coast unti we hit 40, then take 2nd, then in another scenario, 6th gear at 150 mph, every time it is suitable you blip the throttle and go down a gear. The latter will slow down faster. This applies to when you are braking also. It's miniscule but helps. This plus other reasons other people mentioned above.

 

I don't believe engine braking slows you down any faster. braking is limited to tire traction and braking bias. So as long as all 4 wheels can apply braking force to the limit of tire traction then that is the maximum you can apply. It doesn't matter if the force is applied by the caliper or the engine.

I don't have data to support this in a Z car, so I can not prove it but I do have supporting data in other cars.

So if X is max force a tire on that corner to take, which component would you rather apply that force? The brake pad or the clutch disc?