I hope that someone can give me some sound advice and that this doesn't turn in yet another PDK discussion ;-)

Track day in Laguna Seca yesterday.
Had Sport Chrono Plus on and had the PDK in manual mode.
My understanding was that the PDK would not interfere at all and let me do all the shifting.
There are two sections where you could go in 2nd but I prefer to stay in 3rd, but as soon as I hit the throttle the PDK does a "kickdown" and goes into 2nd. The first time I didn't notice it and thinking I was still in 3rd hit the rev limiter when accelerating out of the turn. I have a paddle shifter steering wheel, so there's no chance that I accidentally pushed the PDK shift buttons with my palms.

Is there something I can do to prevent that from happening?

 

Don't floor the throttle to the point it kicks down. Isn't it an actual mechanical button under the throttle pedal? I might have to go out and check as now I'm curious.

I too don't like the kickdown feature. If someone knows how to disable it I'm all ears.

 

AH!, So are you saying that last few millimeters of movement of the gas-pedal (where it gets harder to push) the throttle doesn't open any wider and the only thing I am doing si to activate kick-down?

 

Just out of curiosity, what are he two sections that you prefer 3rd over 2nd?

 

#1: coming out of the Corkscrew down the hill
#2: coming out of turn 3

But now thinking of it, these were my preferences that I developed driving a manual transmission. For example: If you come out of the corkscrew in 2nd you'd have to shift mid-turn which would upset the car. With a PDK with it's super-fast shifting *maybe* 2nd is the right gear...
Coming out of turn 3 in 2nd you'd have to upshift to 3rd so quickly that you'd loose all the advantage you gained with the momentum lost during the shift, this also does not apply to PDK. So maybe 2nd is the right gear in both sections after all

But there was one other section where the PDK downshifted where it was not appropriate: I got meatballed for sound (95 dB on a 92 dB day), so I shortshifted into 4th at the sound station between 5 and 6. Twice the PDK downshifted like half a second later, which really wasn't helpful

 

I've only driven L/S three times but Brother H., I feel your pain!!! Turn 8 (entry into the Corkscrew) is a 2nd gear turn in. But there is so much going on that, for me, I just take in in 3rd (I'd rather lose a little time than control at this point). An SCCA racer friend of mine was driving my car (with me in the right seat) and I told him to take "hot" laps. About the third time through 8/8A he was going down into second and really worked the car to keep it settled when he shifted into third. (He told me later that he was only at about 75%!!!). (A perfect example of letting the guy in front of you drive your car, an M3 behind us spun out trying to keep pace!). Anyway, in my limited experience, I'd say you'd really have to practice to get the Corkscrew really down. You're in third carrying a lot of speed through "Turn" 7, then hard on the brakes and into 2nd for the top of the Corkscrew, then on the descent into third and then, carrying a lot of speed again, set up for the Rainey Curve (which wouldn't be too difficult if things weren't coming at you so quickly), and, if you're good (unlike me) continue to increase speed into Turn 10. It is a thing of beauty to get braking, throttle and steering in and through those three turns right. It also is humbling when you think about the skill you need when you watch the car ahead of you pull away!

Turn 3, as you mention always sneaks up on me. I'd think that with a PDK transmission it would be a little easier to master though since the shifting would be very quick (and you get to keep both hands on the wheel!). I've always taken it in 3rd only because I double apex Andretti and I approach 3 faster than when I single apex (probably because I don't get the turn in and exit right for the single apex; off the throttle too early and on too late). Second gear would be the better choice but for a mediocre B group driver, I'm not that interested yet in gaining the small fraction of time that would save me and am focusing on mastering some of the other turns first.

One of these days perhaps I'll see you at L/S

-Tim

 

Agree. There is a slight "pause point" just before kick-down with the gas pedal. In Sport Plus you should be able to avoid the kickdown if you can sense that spot. Unfortunately my history has been when coming out of a turn, or just past apex I tend to get a bit hard on the gas so I almost never sense that point.

As for my experience with 997 PDK, even in manual mode it will auto shift under certain circumstances. You have observed the auto downshift, it will auto upshift too if you attempt to exceed redline. I have been pretty successful at avoiding kickdowns by staying very near redline -- just have to watch out for unexpected upshifts.

 

haha. Being from Oklahoma, I cannot relate. You guys in Cali are so sophisticated.

 

With the ignition off, depress the throttle pedal all the way down and you'll feel the kick-down point just past a point that feels like a false throttle stop point. Question becomes is the throttle at the fully open position before moving further to the kick-down point?