Re: Question on shifting
Old topic, but I thought I'd add my two cents.
When shifting, a lot of people will do what's called power shifting.....or keeping the gas mashed to the floor while they shift gears. While it's good for maybe a tenth or two (depending on the car) it's a BAD idea for a person who relies heavily on their car as a daily driver. Why? Because, our cars are not race cars and don't have race components in them. Eventually it will take it's toll on parts for one, for two, a missed shift can be a blown tranny or something else. It's almost as bad as dumping the clutch.
As for when to shift, you need to look at your vehicles dyno sheet, or talk to other who have dynoed their car. If you have modded your car your best bet is to take it to a dyno. Your ultimate goal is to stay in your powerband for the next gear, but before the gear your in peters out. For the stock 2001 Tiburon this is around 5700 rpm. After that the car starts losing power.
Ideally, when you shift, you want to match the RPMs of the engine with what they would be at when you entered that gear. This is NOT an exact example, but say you're doing the 2-3 shift, and you leave 2nd at 5700 and you know when you hit third the RPMs will drop to 4700......you'd want your RPMs to be around 4700. The shift will be smooth, no jarring on the drivetrain and you still maintain optimum power. This is what Kirk meant by matching revs.
There is also a shifting technique you should use to keep your adrenaline from shifting your car in to the wrong gear. For the 1-2 shift, you should be pistol gripping the shifter. Palm on the right side, thumb on top of the shifter.....pull straight back.
For the 2-3, you should have an open palm on the back side of the shifter (the side that faces you.) At no time do you put your fingers on the shifter. Just push it straight up. The shifters natural movement will find third for you. The 3-4 is the trickiest. This time you have your palm on the left side of the shifter, thumb pointind down. Pull straight back. With your hand like this you're less likely to hit 2nd cause you'd have to pull the shifter towards you.....with your hand the way it is, that would be hard to do. Reverse won't engage, so if you do miss the shift you'll just bounce your rev limiter, but no harm is done to the tranny (or engine if you hit 2nd).
As for the launch.......I don't know who came up with the concept of dumping the clutch but you can still get awesome 60' times by feathering it off the start. Dumping the clutch once is harder on the car than a dozen 1/4 mile runs.
My goal is to do good at the track, but still treat my car as a daily driver. If I want to pick up a tenth or two, I'll spend the money on a performance part, not sacrifice my car for bragging rights.
[Edited by BlackTibby on Sep 22, 2004 4:08 PM]
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