Learning to rev match downshift .. any tips?

[nefarious986]

Trying to learn some better driving technique to turn faster, and help make my clutch last longer .. and honestly just having more fun driving. LOL.

Rev match downshift (without braking ) is the first one I'm practicing? Not sure if this is even a good starting place.

Here's what I learned is the proper procedure:

1. Clutch in
2. Foot down on gas to quickly blip throttle to proper rpm .. learn by experience to hear when engine is at proper rpm
3. Shift to new gear
4. Lift foot off gas to end blip
5. With clutch in, and gas off, then start normal shifting procedure of lift off clutch and modulating gas again

I cant really do this right now, my mind is set to declutch when I put gas down, so I'm mis-shifting a lot.

So I'm trying to learn by breaking it down to granny shifting .. this is basically what I'm doing ..

1. Clutch in
2. Shift to neutral
3. De clutch so car is just coasting.

Then ..

4. Blip throttle
5. Clutch in again
6. Shift.

Any tip for a beginner trying to learn? Its my first day and I feel like such a failure. I havent even tried to heel and toe on a turn yet. LOL. :ah:

[stephen wilson]

Don't feel bad, it takes MUCH longer than a day to get down. Your "granny shifting" is actually the classic double clutch downshift. Clutch in, neutral, clutch out, blip, clutch in, select new gear, clutch out. The classic method actually results in smoother shift than the first tecnique you described, which I call a Pseudo double clutch downshift. But when braking hard you don't always have time to double clutch (unless you skip gears).

I most often use the pseudo tecnique, clutch in, blip, select new gear, clutch out.

I find it's actually harder to do on the street than on the race track. On track your always braking hard, so the shift points are consistant. On the street there's so many combinations of speed, RPM, and gear selection, it's hard to always get the "proper" blip.

Keep at it, it just takes time. I find nothing more exciting than a properly executed downshift that just falls perfectly in place!

Steve

[Topless]

The difference in revs between gears is about 1200rpm. When downshifting from 3500rpm I will blip to about 5000 and select the gear. When I get it right the shift is seamless. When I get it wrong it's uh... awkward.

[renzop]

Here are some suggestions:

Start your practice when downshifting form 4th to 3rd. The higher gears are easier to shift between because the greater rotational inertia of the wheels when traveling at faster speeds tends to smooth out RPM differences during shifting.

Before you go right into your practicing do this.
1) In 4th gear do a steady 40 mph
2) Look at the tach and note the RPM in 4th at 40
3) Shift to 3rd and bring your speed back to 40 mph
4) Look at the tach and note the RPM in 3rd at 40

Now you are ready for a little practice

1) Get up to 40 in 4th
2) With your foot steady on the gas push in the clutch
3) Put the tranny in 3rd (clutch still in, foot still steady on the gas)
4) Look at the tach and bring the revs up to the RPM you noted in step 4 abive
5) Smoothly release the clutch

The key is that you DO NOT BLIP the throttle but squeeze it to increase revs from a steady amount in 4th to a steady amount in 3rd.

Practice this until you can do it instinctively and quickly. Once you have the confidence of doing a steady speed downshift work on doing it while slowing down by coasting.

By the way - each pair of gears has a different RPM difference, not the 1200 RPM you mention. In general the lower gears have bigger gaps than the higher gears and this varies from car to car.

[boxster_s_boy_34]

I like the "squeezing" the throttle technique suggestion but around Laguna Seca (my kind of driving) you really do not have all the time in the world to down shift. However, watching a real pro drive a car at an extremely high speed on a winding road with a camera on his feet, I noticed that he blips with every rev match he does. You can see it for yourself on any Best Motoring video and his name is Keiichi Tsuchiya. He's the kinda old guy not he older than dirt guy.

[markk]

Blipping is imho done after selecting the next gear and before the clutch goes up. In practice I do it in parallel, i.e clutch in, selectnext gear AND blip, clutch up.

When you have mastered that, then try braking at the same time.
1. Brake hard with the top of your foot before a corner in high revs
2. Clutch in (during braking)
3. Blip the throttle with the bottom/heel of your feet AND select down gear with your hand - (still braking and clutch in)
4. Clutch up
5. Brake up
6. Steer into corner

Then for the fun part extend this to:
1 till 4 above
Steer quickly in opposite direction of corner
Steer into corner hard
Release break
Catch slide by opposite lock / steering
Put the throtle down hard and balance slide with steer and throtle




Mark

[boxster_s_boy_34]

One thing that I have picked up from driving my car all over the place is that you have to do a lot more tap dancing on the pedals if you don't have sport pedals installed. The art of "heel toe" is just about impossible for stock pedals, so that is my next up grade. To rev match downshift isn't too tough, but I do agree it definately takes longer than a day.

[944boy]

Besides practice, having the right pedals helps. But what is often overlooked is having the right shoes. A good pair of driving shoes will help tremendously. the flat bottom and rounded heel and soft sole give you good feel, grip and modulation.

It took me about 2 years to go from noob to natural as breathing, keep practicing.