Power shifting for dolts
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From: Dallas
Power shifting for dolts
Had a conversation with someone last week who insists powershifting a synchro tranny is faster than shifting normally. My view continues to be that technically power shifting is faster, but not advisable for anything other than flat out drag racing. A synchro tranny is limited by the synchros anyway as regards to how fast you can engage the next gear.
My (friendly) adversary pointed out that if he can shift gears even a tenth of a second quicker than I can using the clutch that he just gained a .1 second advantage. Add up all those shifts over a lap and he is leaving me in the dust. I explained to him that's not true. He looked at me
That shift that is one tenth of a second quicker does not put you .1 seconds ahead because when I dip the clutch my car does not instantly stop and then start again when I let the clutch out, it coasts. Add that to the fact that with a synchroed tranny the synchros physically limit you with how fast the gears can be rowed (clutch or not) and it seems to me powershifting is doing nothing but begging me to destroy my tranny while not offering any performance gains. Many guys (especially beginners) are just too danged hard on gears, slamming the shifter in that "mad quick" style isn't getting you anywhere. Be brisk and firm in your shifting, but not fast. You transmission will thank you but not puking its innards out
My (friendly) adversary pointed out that if he can shift gears even a tenth of a second quicker than I can using the clutch that he just gained a .1 second advantage. Add up all those shifts over a lap and he is leaving me in the dust. I explained to him that's not true. He looked at me
That shift that is one tenth of a second quicker does not put you .1 seconds ahead because when I dip the clutch my car does not instantly stop and then start again when I let the clutch out, it coasts. Add that to the fact that with a synchroed tranny the synchros physically limit you with how fast the gears can be rowed (clutch or not) and it seems to me powershifting is doing nothing but begging me to destroy my tranny while not offering any performance gains. Many guys (especially beginners) are just too danged hard on gears, slamming the shifter in that "mad quick" style isn't getting you anywhere. Be brisk and firm in your shifting, but not fast. You transmission will thank you but not puking its innards out
Last edited by DamonB; Feb 17, 2003 at 10:06 AM.
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From: Milpitas, CA
Ask him how much faster he's going to be when he pukes the guts out of his tranny on a bad upshift.
or if he overpowers the rear wheels on an upshift on corner exit and loops the car.
Seen both happen.
This is the first thing I work on with my students once they look like they can get around the track, everyone overshifts and tries to make each shift as hard and fast as possible.
PaulC
or if he overpowers the rear wheels on an upshift on corner exit and loops the car.
Seen both happen.
This is the first thing I work on with my students once they look like they can get around the track, everyone overshifts and tries to make each shift as hard and fast as possible.
PaulC
well, despite this tearing up the synchros and gears, it will also unsettle the car as silkworm said. smoother is faster. sounds great in numbers but last time i checked, my calculator couldn't race very well. drag racing will work but you are still tearing the **** out of the gears. hope you like changing the tranny out often.
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