[freeze]

Quote: Originally Posted by cct1

Maximum torque is between 4000 to 6000 RPMs; so you want to shift a bit higher than 4000 so you come into the next gear at about 4000 RPMs. It's gear dependent (you can shift a little sooner in 1st, a little later in 4th), but if you shift roughly at 6000 RPM's you'll hit the next gear at about 4000 RPMs.

Not quite: remember the force the road feels is proportional to torque times gear ratio. So for maximal acceleration, use the peak horsepower. For this car, that means shift at the redline.

The maximaum acceleration in any particular gear will always be at the peak of the torque curve, but a lower gear (at the same speed) will give better accelaration.

[ChallengeRacer]

Quote: Originally Posted by cct1

Maximum torque is between 4000 to 6000 RPMs; so you want to shift a bit higher than 4000 so you come into the next gear at about 4000 RPMs. It's gear dependent (you can shift a little sooner in 1st, a little later in 4th), but if you shift roughly at 6000 RPM's you'll hit the next gear at about 4000 RPMs.

Agreed...It is vital to keep in mind the drop in revs when changing up, so that the revs in the next higher gear are well within the torque curve peak. Torque aids acceleration. We shift at 7000 (or the rev limiter, sometimes), to drop to around 5100 on a 2-3 shift, for example.

On the other issue of upshifting, a few comments which might be helpful:

First, for boxes without external gates, like the Mini and most cars today, shifting quickly must be done subconsciously, without actively thinking about it. That means that the technique is practiced repeatedly until it is a part of your "muscle memory," like a golf or tennis swing. Method 1 is most conducive to this training, IMO.

Second, with a new gearbox, it will feel notchy or stiff until some kilometres are on it (ditto clutch, flywheel, etc.). Upshifting smoothly is more important that speed until the technique becomes second nature.

Third, upshifting without the clutch is possible...I have done it for years, especially for the higher gears. Just be careful and deliberate. BTW, I do not do it for racing, not because it is not quicker, but because there is less chance of making an error with the clutch, and there is much, much more time to be gained in other areas of driving, especially coming off the brakes on corner entry.

Fourth, the real talent is downshifting while braking. That's where drivers who do it well are most impressive for their smoothness, not only in maintaining brake modulation at the limit, but also in not upsetting the balance of the car under all this combined activity. And when you maintain this smoothness when an opponent is trying his best to nudge the nose of his car ahead into a corner, that's great to watch and even better to do.

My four cents....

Stephen.

[blaze1235]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

didn't realise there was so much to think about when changing gear, I just wait till it is about to bounce off the rev limiter and shift to the next gear

I'm with rakey on this one i just stick it in slot put the pedal metal and wallow in the harmony of the supercharger whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine mmmmmm

[Saad]

Yeah if I'm concentrating on the shift I usually find I mess it up. I've had a few embarassing mishaps when accelerating "swiftly" alongside someone. I sometimes crunch it into 3rd because I'm trying to do it perfectly. If I just sit back and do it subconsciously then I do it perfectly.

[herbie hind]

method 1 as long as you're concious of your gear (am i the only one who spaces out and forgets)?