Driving Techniques: Rev Matching, Double Clutching and Heal Toeing

[ScottyBoy]

I thought id open a discussion on the driving techniques as in the title for people like me that want to understand all this and maybe put it in practice at some point! Safely that is.

When im driving ive always been doing one of these without really knowing much about it or reading up on it, this was Rev Matching. For example when im changing lanes on the motorway.

Eg,

Im stuck behind a lorry at 50Mph and im in 5th gear the traffic is moving fast in the next lane and i want to safely change lanes, for this i need to change down the gears to get a higher RPM to get out from behind the lorry as quick as possible, if i dont rev match ill get that braking effect as the RPM slowes with the clutch in and the as i change gear the RPM will suddenly rise and cause that breaking effect. So from this situation ive always Rev Matched so that the RPM is equal to what it should be for when i change down from 5th to 3rd so to get a smoother gear change and quicker acceleration from behind the lorry and safely in the new lane.

But im stuck to see why double clutching is used, this just adds a few more seconds to the gear change and in a hairy situation were you need to pick up speed quickly is not needed?

Is double clutching what i need to be doing or is this Rev Matching fine?

I think i understand what Heal & Toe is, This is just adding the brake in the equasion of Rev Matching and controling a car with balance etc etc

All you track guys and people with this knowledge and skill please explain if im wrong?

[mph999]

Rev matching is fine ...

If you're at a constant speed, lets say 45 and on the flat and want to drop down one gear, say 4th to 3rd, you can just leave your right foot completely still, and chage gear. As the clutch goes down, the revs conveniently rise to where they need to be for 45 in 3rd.

Other times, dropping down from 4th to 2nd, or selecting a lower gear when you're not on the accelerator you need to blip the throttle. Sounds like you have this covered.

DDCing, not required in todays cars, less you have a worn syncro in the g/box. I do use it occassionally, if say selecting 2nd from quite a high speed, I'll proabably DDC to reduce wear on the syncro rings. DDCing simply lessons the wear in the gearbox, but is not technically required.

H&Ting, yep, this is simply matching the revs whilst changing down and braking, not something I generally do, as I keep my braking and gear changing separate.

Martin

[alski]

just watched Russ swift yesterday at new Stratford on avon dealers,
do his usual stuff, forwards, backwords sideways, on two wheels etc
what he can do with a mini can only make you smile, i would happly swap my mcs
for a original mini to have 10% of his talent

a video of his footwork would be intresting,
i guess like a tap dancer on speed

[mab01uk]

Here's an in-car video of famous 60's rally driver Timo Makinen demonstrating his 'left foot braking' technique in a Works Mini Cooper S.
http://www.dailymotion.com/related/1253388/video/xqv6h_timo-makinen-cours-de-talon-pointe_auto