Left foot braking?
11-11-2003, 09:29 AM
#16
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Thanks again, all. I've read and re-read these last posts. Rennlist is a great place to get expert experienced points. Now all I have to do is wait 'til spring 
.
.
11-12-2003, 02:15 PM
#17
TRB0 GUY
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Daphne, AL
Posts: 3,769
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Radical Racer
Left foot braking can be valuable in a production based car, even in a DE environment in some situations. For example, there are two places at Mid Ohio where I would LFB even in a street car. T1 to keep the car balanced, I would take flat in most cars, but LFB to take some speed off. T3 is a very light braking in most cars and you lose time moving your foot from gas to brake with such quick braking.
As far as clutchless shifting, I take exception to some of what FSAE is saying. First and foremost, it can be hard on equipment so I would not advocate that in a street car. Clutchless shifts are smoother when perfectly executed, but can abuse the gears when not well executed. Simply not worth the risk in a street car.
Second, my understanding is that you can not shift as fast without the clutch in a synchro box as you can using the clutch. I'll add that I have no personal experience, so I may be wrong. My car is non-synchro and I almost always do clutchless shifting (Up and Down). Even if it could gain a bit of time, why would you risk the gearbox at a DE (remember, that is the basis of the question that was posed)?
Finally, I disagree about clutchless shifting being difficult. It is very easy to do, and to do well in a non-pressure situaiton. In the pressure of a race, you will screw some of the shifts up and you have to decide if the potential damage is worth it. I think it is best left to non-synchro gearboxes, preferably sequential boxes.
Left foot braking can be valuable in a production based car, even in a DE environment in some situations. For example, there are two places at Mid Ohio where I would LFB even in a street car. T1 to keep the car balanced, I would take flat in most cars, but LFB to take some speed off. T3 is a very light braking in most cars and you lose time moving your foot from gas to brake with such quick braking.
As far as clutchless shifting, I take exception to some of what FSAE is saying. First and foremost, it can be hard on equipment so I would not advocate that in a street car. Clutchless shifts are smoother when perfectly executed, but can abuse the gears when not well executed. Simply not worth the risk in a street car.
Second, my understanding is that you can not shift as fast without the clutch in a synchro box as you can using the clutch. I'll add that I have no personal experience, so I may be wrong. My car is non-synchro and I almost always do clutchless shifting (Up and Down). Even if it could gain a bit of time, why would you risk the gearbox at a DE (remember, that is the basis of the question that was posed)?
Finally, I disagree about clutchless shifting being difficult. It is very easy to do, and to do well in a non-pressure situaiton. In the pressure of a race, you will screw some of the shifts up and you have to decide if the potential damage is worth it. I think it is best left to non-synchro gearboxes, preferably sequential boxes.
A sychro is meant to match the engine and gear speed when you shift... if you are not using the clutch, you are already matching them with your right foot, so the synchros aren't used! As for clutchless shifting for a sequential... well yeah, thats what dog-gears are for!
Whether or not someone wants to do this is up to them...
11-12-2003, 02:17 PM
#18
TRB0 GUY
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Daphne, AL
Posts: 3,769
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by wch
"quicker lap times are never moot in racing"
uh ... pretty inciteful ... you're obviously the expert ...
Cheers,
Will
'00 360 Challenge (F1)
'03 Zeus (Hewland 6 speed sequential)
'03 FF2000 Zetec (recently sold)
Edit: I think Radical, Chris & Brandon pretty much nail it. Particularly agree about Mid Ohio T1, a hairy place to learn to trail brake though.
"quicker lap times are never moot in racing"
uh ... pretty inciteful ... you're obviously the expert ...
Cheers,
Will
'00 360 Challenge (F1)
'03 Zeus (Hewland 6 speed sequential)
'03 FF2000 Zetec (recently sold)
Edit: I think Radical, Chris & Brandon pretty much nail it. Particularly agree about Mid Ohio T1, a hairy place to learn to trail brake though.
'93 C2 Cab
'03 575MM" to "'00 360 Challenge (F1)
'03 Zeus (Hewland 6 speed sequential)
'03 FF2000 Zetec (recently sold)"
...exactly how many exotics and racecars do you own??
11-12-2003, 02:53 PM
#19
"wow, you definitely have a way with people"
Why, thanks!
"...exactly how many exotics and racecars do you own??"
Not nearly as many as I wish I could own!
See you at the track. Regards, Will
Edit:
'93 C2 cab
'03 575MM
'00 360 Challenge
'03 Zeus Sports Racer
Other toys
Why, thanks!
"...exactly how many exotics and racecars do you own??"
Not nearly as many as I wish I could own!
See you at the track. Regards, Will
Edit:
'93 C2 cab
'03 575MM
'00 360 Challenge
'03 Zeus Sports Racer
Other toys
