Rallycross Downshifting

[ForcedFirebird]

Only if you don't rev match properly. Ideally you want to be on the brakes as hard as possible while heel-toe downshifting so that when you are ready to get back on the gas, you are in the correct gear at the proper rpm to maximize acceleration. It's not rocket science, just takes practice to perfect. But it is something that can make a good driver into a really good driver, and can save valuable time getting through the corner.

You are reiterating what I was taught. Rev matching is to least upset the car in a cornering situation. The shift should be as smooth as possible, and the engine RPM to wheel ratio is minimized.

When down shifting in a track scenario, a passenger wouldn't know it happened.

[Artful Dodger]

Im gonna chime in here a bit. I do a little Rallycross in my E30. I also do Track events and autox.

Heel Toe downshifting is a must for a smooth controlled transition. Just practice Heel Toe. find a way that is most comfortable to you and practice. Eventually, it will be second nature much like shfiting in general. I mean when you drive your car every day, you dont really think about going to the next gear. you just kind of do it.

As for the mechanical side of the transmission stuff. Be careful with solid mounts. this can lead to broken ears on the transmission. A good set of stock mounts or slightly stiffer aftermarket ones are best in my opinion. I am using AKG Swap mounts on the engine and new stock trans mounts.

Good luck, and stick with it.

[TobyB]

I was always taught to never use the engine for braking

Sometimes, though, (again with the 2002) a bit of engine braking in the right part
of a corner can step the rear out. Usually a light, controlled lift will do it.
When it's rotated enough, you ease back into the
throttle, and the rear hooks up. And you're now pointed in the right direction,
so you can unwind lock and get onto the throttle. The E30 does it too, but to a lesser
extent. It can be pretty subtle, but looking at data from a corner where it
works, you can sometimes make as much as half a second in the corner,
and 3-4 mph exiting onto the straight. Kevin York, in T2 at Pacific Raceways
before they repaved it, taught me that.

And yeah, there are some places and some conditions
where you end up having to shift mid- corner. Which is
why you work on your smoothness BEFORE you get there!

t

[Gary Horneck]

RallyX is too violent to heel and toe correctly. I punch the throttle just prior to pushing in the clutch, grab 1st, release clutch as revs are coming back down. The engine braking is vital to proper rotation the way I drive my E30. If your'e worrying about hurting the driveline... well, wrong sport.

[DER E30]

I ALWAYS double clutch down... I taught myself a few years ago when the weather was cold and trans oil is cold. Double clutching saves wear on the syncros because the work on the part of the syncros is much less because you've done the matching the input shaft speed to the output sahft speed for each gear.

How I do it...
1. clutch in.
2 shift to N
3 release clutch.
4 rev motor in N
5 clutch in while revs are slightly past point of gear I want.
6 find gear.
7 let clutch out.

Or more simply, double pump the clutch when shifting, once into gear and once out of gear.

It happens so fast and its become so engrained into my muscle memory that I can do this without thinking even the slightest. This technique, when done *right* provides the most satisfying feeling when you've nailed it and the shifter falls into the next gear with almost no effort.

Heel/toe can easily be done with some practice... What I do is slightly different, I do big toe on the brake and little toe on the gas, with a twist of the foot for the rev match.

[ForcedFirebird]

Heel/toe can easily be done with some practice... What I do is slightly different, I do big toe on the brake and little toe on the gas, with a twist of the foot for the rev match.

It's still called heel toe. ;)

I do something similar using the ball of my foot on the brake and roll my foot over for the gas.