More Ridgecrest Blvd
12-15-2012, 09:11 PM
#1
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More Ridgecrest Blvd
It's cold and wet in the Marin which means limited traffic and so what better time to take the S for a spin?
Ridgecrest on Mt Tam is the destination which affords plenty of chances to practice heel & toe down shifts. Or rather ball-of-foot and roll on to the outside for a blip. Or at least that's the theory but the brake pedal is too damn high to easily reach the gas pedal
I see a mod in my future.
I'm also finding that the 3 to 2 downshift is the toughest to rev match. Anyone else?
Here are a few pics including a shot of the street I live on. dave
Ridgecrest on Mt Tam is the destination which affords plenty of chances to practice heel & toe down shifts. Or rather ball-of-foot and roll on to the outside for a blip. Or at least that's the theory but the brake pedal is too damn high to easily reach the gas pedal
I see a mod in my future.I'm also finding that the 3 to 2 downshift is the toughest to rev match. Anyone else?
Here are a few pics including a shot of the street I live on. dave
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12-16-2012, 09:33 AM
#9
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It's cold and wet in the Marin which means limited traffic and so what better time to take the S for a spin?
Ridgecrest on Mt Tam is the destination which affords plenty of chances to practice heel & toe down shifts. Or rather ball-of-foot and roll on to the outside for a blip. Or at least that's the theory but the brake pedal is too damn high to easily reach the gas pedal I see a mod in my future.
I'm also finding that the 3 to 2 downshift is the toughest to rev match. Anyone else?
Here are a few pics including a shot of the street I live on. dave
Ridgecrest on Mt Tam is the destination which affords plenty of chances to practice heel & toe down shifts. Or rather ball-of-foot and roll on to the outside for a blip. Or at least that's the theory but the brake pedal is too damn high to easily reach the gas pedal
I see a mod in my future.I'm also finding that the 3 to 2 downshift is the toughest to rev match. Anyone else?
Here are a few pics including a shot of the street I live on. dave
can you elaborate on what you mean by the rev matching?
12-16-2012, 10:28 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
Great Pics! Thanks for sharing!
As for the rev matching, can you explain what the problem is. Are you having a hard time getting the shifter into 2nd from 3rd or are you having a hard time finding the right rpm's?
As for the rev matching, can you explain what the problem is. Are you having a hard time getting the shifter into 2nd from 3rd or are you having a hard time finding the right rpm's?
12-16-2012, 11:44 AM
#12
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Today looks like another wet one but no matter, I'm heading back to Ridgecrest for more 'practice'. dave
Nice avatar btw...
12-16-2012, 11:44 AM
#13
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fskof,
Great Car! You are right about 3rd to 2nd gear shifting. It's all about the timing and it cannot be rushed. I find that you need to smoothly shift by pulling back first into neutral, pulling the shifter over then blipping the throttle shifting into 2nd. 3rd to 2nd shifting cannot be done in one singular action with the stock shifter. You can improve the action buy upgrading to a B&M Short Shifter. Many of us have upgraded to this option and the shifting is fantastic. Try to practice this slower technique and you'll find that your shifting is smoother with less missed-shifts. The key is not to blip the throttle until you're hovering over 2nd gear with the shifter. Also, you're not trying to match the RPM you're blipping the throttle and slowly letting out the clutch so the motor RPM smoothly matches the speed and gear you're in. You're not a PDK computer so smooth action and remember not to abruptly shift or let out the clutch.
Also, Porshce uses that long gas pedal that hinges at the bottom for a reason, so use it to your advantage. Typically, I like to use my entire leg for modulating the brake so I position my heel on the brake pedal. The front of my foot is position at the top of the gas pedal where I can easily blip the throttle. Sort of like a metal head drummers us a technique called heel-toe action. I'm sure other guys do the opposite but my foot can't bend the other way so if you're like me use that big pedal to your advantage.
Good luck.....
Great Car! You are right about 3rd to 2nd gear shifting. It's all about the timing and it cannot be rushed. I find that you need to smoothly shift by pulling back first into neutral, pulling the shifter over then blipping the throttle shifting into 2nd. 3rd to 2nd shifting cannot be done in one singular action with the stock shifter. You can improve the action buy upgrading to a B&M Short Shifter. Many of us have upgraded to this option and the shifting is fantastic. Try to practice this slower technique and you'll find that your shifting is smoother with less missed-shifts. The key is not to blip the throttle until you're hovering over 2nd gear with the shifter. Also, you're not trying to match the RPM you're blipping the throttle and slowly letting out the clutch so the motor RPM smoothly matches the speed and gear you're in. You're not a PDK computer so smooth action and remember not to abruptly shift or let out the clutch.
Also, Porshce uses that long gas pedal that hinges at the bottom for a reason, so use it to your advantage. Typically, I like to use my entire leg for modulating the brake so I position my heel on the brake pedal. The front of my foot is position at the top of the gas pedal where I can easily blip the throttle. Sort of like a metal head drummers us a technique called heel-toe action. I'm sure other guys do the opposite but my foot can't bend the other way so if you're like me use that big pedal to your advantage.
Good luck.....
12-16-2012, 11:57 AM
#14
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I don't believe you should ever be in a situation where you're down shifting where your RPM is at 6,000 RPM. That only give you 1,000 RPM's to work with before your next shift. You want to stay in the power band around 4,000-5,000 RPM's if possible. I've driven roads and parts of tracks where I've never had to shift out of 2nd or 3rd gear. Watch some of the Porsche GT3 youtube video and you'll find that these guys only shift 5 times around the entire track. These 3.8l motors have tons of torque so use it to your advantage.
I'm having a hard time blipping the engine to the right rpm's on a 3 to 2 downshift. Done right, the transition should be smooth but my shifts are jerky as the rpm's are either too high or too low. Since Ridgecrest has limited sight lines and nonexistent run off room, the speed is limited and I haven't practiced the 4 to 3 shift except at low rpm's which is easy. The challenge is rev matching at, say, 6,000 rpm. I've had the car less then two weeks.
Today looks like another wet one but no matter, I'm heading back to Ridgecrest for more 'practice'. dave
Nice avatar btw...
Today looks like another wet one but no matter, I'm heading back to Ridgecrest for more 'practice'. dave
Nice avatar btw...
12-16-2012, 12:52 PM
#15
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Break the shift into 2 separate events - the physical shifting by your hand, and the rev matching by your feet.
You don't have to match until you let the clutch out, so go ahead and get the shift over with, then focus on your feet.
Simplifying it into separate events helped me, but I'm by no means proficient at it.
Nice roads and pics!
You don't have to match until you let the clutch out, so go ahead and get the shift over with, then focus on your feet.
Simplifying it into separate events helped me, but I'm by no means proficient at it.
Nice roads and pics!