Being a WRX driver I know all about turbo lag in a 2L turbo car. If the courses are really tight, there isn't really much you can do. "Typical" solo2 courses aren't tight enough that you'd need to go for 1st gear in an EVO, that's why you don't really hear many people complaining. I don't think the MR gearbox would help things tremendously either. Left foot braking can be used to keep on the throttle a little bit while entering a turn, but it's not an easy technique to master.


The Miata is a polar opposite to an AWD turbo car. It's a lightweight RWD car. Slow in and fast out is really what you need to remember when driving a heavier car, and the benefit of AWD is that once you are halfway through the corner and have the car going in the right general direction you can get back on the gas sooner than a RWD car.

As for a Miata guy just braking and then mashing the gas, you can spin them real easily doing that. Usually they take pretty precise throttle control to get through a corner well.

 

Emre...

You are correct about my definitions of each style. The first listed is a "Double Clutch Downshift", which also involves heel-toe. The second is a "Heel-Toe Downshift".

However, your sequence in the "Double Clutch downshift" is still incorrect. The sole purpose of the additional steps involved in a double clutch downshift is to match engine rpm and input shaft speeds in the tranny and to the output shaft speeds in the tranny and the subsequent drivetrain.


You wrote:

Note that you have the clutch in for the 2nd time and are then blipping the throttle. At this time the clutch is disengaged.

Please understand I'm not trying to argue, just trying to give accurate descriptions.

John

 

Just don’t miss second! (grind) I highly recommend getting some shifter bushings (kartboy), they will make a more precise gear change. If your going around a corner upshifting or downshifting its easy not to go strait into gear, these bushings will take out all the slop.

 

Even on autox courses that I could run without downshifting I found that I run consistently quicker times by downshifting to 1st in the tight spots giving me more torque and quicker acceleration out of the tight corners. I only do it on real tight areas. If you can shift quick and smooth it shouldn't hurt you.

 

First, dwx is right on three points...

- If the course is really tight, there isn't much you can do. Even if it's tight enough to leave it in 1st gear, that has its own problems -- mainly snap oversteer since at high RPMs in 1st, the car goes from "compression braking" off throttle to full power on throttle so quickly. The weight is transferred forward due to engine braking, then you hit the throttle and get some serious torque at the wheels (after the gear multiplier) before the weight shifts backward. And it's virtually impossible to modulate the throttle well enough to solve this, due to the turbo lag. I've done a very few courses in 1st gear the whole way, and trust me, it's not the way to go. It's better to have 125 HP at the wheels in 2nd gear while in total control than to have 225 HP at the wheels in 1st gear and get so loose that you have to back out of the throttle.

- The MR gearbox won't help you at all. Get that idea out of your head before you start dreaming about trading in for an MR. The difference in speed (at redline) between the standard Evo 5-speed and the MR 6-speed amounts to less than 1 mph in both 1st and 2nd gear.

- The Miata really is the polar opposite of the Evo when it comes to autocrossing. It would be naive to think that what works in a Miata will work for an Evo. Even the BMW M3, which is a lot closer to the Evo in both power and weight, drives nothing like an Evo.


As for the Kartboy shifter bushings, just be aware that they're not legal in Stock class -- but they are legal in every other class.

 

Matt,

I'm from Rochester, but I've run in CNY in the past. If you ran at Shoppingtown, it's a really small lot. The kart track also has mostly tight corners as well. Come on over to Rochester if you get a chance, and you'll probably find bigger lots, and tougher competition - although we do occasionally use pin turns - but those are true first gear turns.

For the most part, you don't really save any time by downshifting to 1st on most corners. Just make sure not to overdrive the entry, and left foot brake if you can.

George

 

The problem with the 2-1 shift in some Evos (like mine) is that the synchos are weak/shot and, unless you double clutch on drownshifting, you have massive gear grind and can't get the car into 1st. Unfortunately, it is a slow way to shift and costs precious 1/10s of time when done in auto-x competition.

 

Brake boost through tight corners, learn to control the rear end, check your tires pressures.

 

I use left foot braking to keep the boost up, and stay in 2nd gear for pretty much everything.

It will vary from car to car, but if I go to first and use full throttle I just spin wheels and slide around - I can't put down full throttle power, so I don't see that it buys me anything.

Full boost in 2nd is at the limit of the grip I have in a tight turn, so as I exit and the revs build, the power builds, LFB'ing lets me (try) to hold the car close to its traction limits. And I save a gear change in the process.

This scenario is about the only place I LFB any more, as I'm not very good at it, so it mostly harms rather than helps. I keep working at it during testing events, but this is about the only place I use LFB at events that matter.

Charles