Shifting Technique with Manual Transmission?
Rodolfo,
As devils adv and Paul have written I need to heel to when I brake hard and then downshift.
Coming into turn 1 on NJMP lightening I'm doing about 130 mph and if I don't heel toe and do it your way I need to slow down the car way to much so to avoid the wheel lock up and shutter that has been mentioned. Your corner entry speed is then compromised.
I don't know of any racing book that downplays the importance of heel toenin a manual car.
As devils adv and Paul have written I need to heel to when I brake hard and then downshift.
Coming into turn 1 on NJMP lightening I'm doing about 130 mph and if I don't heel toe and do it your way I need to slow down the car way to much so to avoid the wheel lock up and shutter that has been mentioned. Your corner entry speed is then compromised.
I don't know of any racing book that downplays the importance of heel toenin a manual car.
In spirited driving situations and track, when you don't rev match and just pop the clutch that immediate power transfer(that big lurch you feel in the car when you do this) can break traction mid-corner and cause you to spin out, or at the very least ruin the fluidity of your driving, thus slowing you down. Not to mention the huge amount of wear and tear you put on your tranny by not "helping" them in such demanding driving, that's a lot of power transferring going into the transmission at those shift points, especially at high rpms.
The car is smoother and I can get around the track faster.
Last edited by buck986; Jul 29, 2011 at 06:14 PM.
Everyone I have ever spoken too or anything I have ever read on performance driving agrees with you.
Heel and toe is not really necesary with modern syncronized transmissions.
It was a most, maybe 30 years ago, but now, if you match your car speed with your engine speed, gears almost can go in without using the clutch.
Try going full speed to fourth or fifth, then brake really hard and downshift to fourth, third and second. Gears will go in with no problem.
Most of the downshifting will go down before you enter the corner, and you will be controlling the throttle before you get to the middle of the corner.
It was a most, maybe 30 years ago, but now, if you match your car speed with your engine speed, gears almost can go in without using the clutch.
Try going full speed to fourth or fifth, then brake really hard and downshift to fourth, third and second. Gears will go in with no problem.
Most of the downshifting will go down before you enter the corner, and you will be controlling the throttle before you get to the middle of the corner.
Of course the gear will shift... BUT the car will be unbalanced and the clutch will not last long. Go to a track, and try to push the car to proper track performance, and find out.
Except with PDK which allows you to shift mid-corner with perfect car balance.

Have you ever had performance driving coaching? Try PSDS.
Last edited by adias; Jul 29, 2011 at 06:54 PM.
You are confusing gear meshing with rev-matching. Imagine yourself flying over Turn 1 at Laguna Seca at 110MPH in 4th gear and braking hard for the Andretti Hairpin, where you need 2nd... Just try engaging it without rev-matching (H&T). Good luck! 
Have you ever had performance driving coaching? Try PSDS.

Have you ever had performance driving coaching? Try PSDS.
When I was going thu turn one at laguna seca at about 120mph at 5th I get to the breaking point, shift to 4th, 3th and 2nd and get into the turn.
The problem must be you are trying to go from 4th to 2nd, without passing thru 3th?
The car barely moves. If you want to give it a blip of the throttle to look Cool, you may.
I dont need to imagine,
When I was going thu turn one at laguna seca at about 120mph at 5th I get to the breaking point, shift to 4th, 3th and 2nd and get into the turn.
The problem must be you are trying to go from 4th to 2nd, without passing thru 3th?
The car barely moves. If you want to give it a blip of the throttle to look Cool, you may.
When I was going thu turn one at laguna seca at about 120mph at 5th I get to the breaking point, shift to 4th, 3th and 2nd and get into the turn.
The problem must be you are trying to go from 4th to 2nd, without passing thru 3th?
The car barely moves. If you want to give it a blip of the throttle to look Cool, you may.
Doesn't make sense to me..sorry.
Your stopping distance is limited by tire traction. Locking your wheels means that your brakes have stopped the wheels faster than the tires can. Heel/toe does not help you brake any faster.
This is the PRIMARY benefit of heel/toe - being aware how fast the engine is spinning and what gear to be in.
Another benefit is that it helps keep the car balanced while shifting, which is important especially mid-corner. HOWEVER, if you're feeling the need to downshift mid-corner, chances are that you've already made a mistake somewhere else (i.e. entering the corner in the wrong gear).
This is the PRIMARY benefit of heel/toe - being aware how fast the engine is spinning and what gear to be in.
Another benefit is that it helps keep the car balanced while shifting, which is important especially mid-corner. HOWEVER, if you're feeling the need to downshift mid-corner, chances are that you've already made a mistake somewhere else (i.e. entering the corner in the wrong gear).
My shutter has nothing to do with my brakes and tires.
It has to do with the transmission and engine revs being out of sync.
Please read sped secrets or "going faster" for the technical details..
In laguna seca I was not in a porsche and dont know if I was in 4th or 5th, the point is that you can donwshift in the straight line with no need for heal and toe in modern cars, and when I say the car barely moved, I ment because of the downshifts, which is what we are talking about hear.
To give some sence to my coment, the guy asking the question is having problems shifting from 1st to 2nd, so what is the point in trying to heal and toe? you only use it a bit while downshifting midcorner, any other time is just showing off.
Or you car is on a very unstable situation during that downshift.

I am not trying to be facetious. Track driving is well documented and taught by several performance driving schools. It's all about smooth driving - emphasis on smooth - with a perfectly balanced car throughout the track line. You have to rev-match on downshifting or you will pay the price. This is fact, not conjecture, But... you'll decide for yourself. Good luck! Cheers!



