Let's say you have a 180. If you shift to first it'll put you 2-3k before your redline, do you shift to first and get a faster exit or leave it in second for a cleaner turn and keep momemtum. I'm just wondering if it's worth it to down shift sometimes.

 

I'd say, if you can manage not to upset the car or light up the tire(s) coming out of the turns when you downshift to 1st, it might be worth the trouble.

I'm not sure what you mean by leave it in second to keep momentum because if you can shift it without upsetting the car your mid-corner speed won't be affected much at all.

 

i usually don't downshift in those kinds of situations.

 

This is an autocross 180? If so, shifting to first totally depends on what's on the other side. There are courses in my region that have a wide slalom out, 180, wide slalom back. In this case, I almost always shift into first since I'm going to really get moving for a while after exit. However, some courses have a 180 with a right or left hander right at exit where you're really never getting back on the gas hard. If that's the case, I'll concentrate more on being smooth through the exit and the next element and I'll usually avoid the shift. FYI, this is in the DS ITR.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SiLooksStock &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm not sure what you mean by leave it in second to keep momentum because if you can shift it without upsetting the car your mid-corner speed won't be affected much at all.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've ridden with people that shift into first, but don't rev match smoothly so they lose momentum, as opposed to leaving it in 2nd and carrying constant speed through the corner.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is an autocross 180? If so, shifting to first totally depends on what's on the other side. There are courses in my region that have a wide slalom out, 180, wide slalom back. In this case, I almost always shift into first since I'm going to really get moving for a while after exit. However, some courses have a 180 with a right or left hander right at exit where you're really never getting back on the gas hard. If that's the case, I'll concentrate more on being smooth through the exit and the next element and I'll usually avoid the shift. FYI, this is in the DS ITR.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good point, consider whats ahead and shift accordingly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by georgiajdm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've ridden with people that shift into first, but don't rev match smoothly so they lose momentum, as opposed to leaving it in 2nd and carrying constant speed through the corner. </TD></TR></TABLE>

As SiLooksStock already mentioned, if you do shift to first smoothly without loosing momentum then shifting to first may be beneficial. If you can't do that, then don't shift to first. That's why there isn't one correct answer to the original question.

 

i think the best advice is to just see what the faster drivers are doing at those turns. knowing when they shift is certainly something you can tell from the outside if you pay attention. every situation is different, travis brings an excellent point to consider, but it the end, it still just 'depends', but if the faster guys are doing something, you should follow.

 

As said earlier, it depends on the course. But if you feel its beneficial (i do sometimes), I've found that to pull it off successfully you have to first learn how to get your car in 1st. This is almost always going to require very careful double-clutch downshift. Next trick is to have the car in 1st and the clutch out before you finish braking and reach the apex. Then as you accelerate out of the corner be careful how you roll into the trottle to prevent tire spin.

This may not help if you have an open diff and a front bar. Also I wouldn't try it till your pulling off perfect 3-2 downshifts then start trying some 2-1's on the street (CAREFULLY!! its easy to over rev 1st).

 

The one time this was an issue during an autocross last year I was downshifting into first for the first few runs, and staying in second for the second half. I'm undecided on which was better, because I think I had better control of the car heading into the 180 when downshifting, but I couldn't get the car out of the corner very well, and in one case I accidentally popped it into neutral and didn't realize it until I got back on the gas.

 

if you can manage a smooth second, into first heeltoe, you will do fine. i drove an ITR yesterday and was doing it all day in a hairpin which required first, otherwise would be at 1k in second gear... boo.

again, key is smoothness.