42 replies to this topic

[cradley-heathen]

i found when i had my first mini on the road that heel and toe was essential in winter to keep the engine running when it was stone cold and on the choke, equally i used to have a really highly tuned R5 turbo that required heel and toe.

 

as regards giving the throttle a blip before changing down, i do that sometimes, but more for the pleasure of the exhuast note than anythng else. that audi r8 advert i linked to in the general discussion area demonstrates this very nicely, although i think cars like that do it themselves.

[Ethel]

The main advantage of double de-clutching is reduced synchro/dog clutch wear. It was an essential technique before gearboxes had the luxury of synchromesh. When you change gear you start with one gear hub locked to the mainshaft. The gear hub you are about to select, by locking to the mainshaft instead, will be "freewheeling" around the mainshaft - if it's a higher gear it will be turning slower than the shaft, and turning faster if it's lower. By letting the clutch up in neutral you can drive the gearhubs with the engine to better match the speed of the mainshaft so they go together without the input side having as much inertia to overcome as it accelerates or slows. It has a bigger effect in a Mini because of the transfer gears, that add rotating mass between the clutch and gear synchros.

 

Toe & heel is just double de-clutching (changing down, so blipping the throttle in neutral to speed up the gear hub) while braking at the same time.

[JustSteve]

Mine has on of Ithose special 0 synchro box's ;) crunchy barstool it is... So double-declutching has become the norm!


Probably look stupid to passers by in my 998 though

[olds_kool_lews]

Ive always used the gears to slow down, when the road speed drops to allow the next gear down to be selected, i do so, using the brake a little to slow the car a little more so the engine isnt revving highly in the lower gear, its a nicer way to slow down, instead of braking hard like a lot of drivers do, but you do tend to get the late brakers over taking you as you slow down, but they look stupid when you cruise to a stop directly behind them lol

[mini-luke]

 although i think cars like that do it themselves.

 

They do when in sport mode, yes

[GTIAlex06]

Just crunch it it without the clutch, seems to work fine.

[Captain Mainwaring]

 

 

Toe & heel is just double de-clutching (changing down, so blipping the throttle in neutral to speed up the gear hub) while braking at the same time.

 Noooo...it can be with a double de-clutch, but it doesn't have to be.....used to work nicely on a Rallye Imp to get the power on early and the tail wagging coming out of a tight corner.....

[Captain Mainwaring]

Just crunch it it without the clutch, seems to work fine.

Yes, my wife has adopted that style of car control, as did one guy you tried it on my old Bonneville....he got confused by the suicide gear shift and nearly ended up with the center stand up his kazoo.

[JimminyBob]

If you're slowing down I find the best technique is just to shove it into 1st at 40MPH without using the clutch.

[Guess-Works.com]

I find the brakes are an amazing tool for slowing the car down, it's like they were designed for the job.... 

[Fast Ivan]

I find the brakes are an amazing tool for slowing the car down, it's like they were designed for the job.... 

 

you know I've been reading this thinking "am I missing something here?" as I tend to use the brakes

[cal844]

 

 

I will try and change to double de-clutching since it seems to be the best way of preserving the gearbox. 

 

 

Performed properly on a classic car it will, but performed incorrectly it will just lead to premature clutch and gearbox wear. In short not really the sort of technique that you really want to learn whilst using the relatively fragile classic mini gearbox. If you really want to learn the technique, then practice on a more robust modern car first, or ideally take a few lessons from an advanced driving school or track driving school and get them to teach you how to do the technique properly and preferably in their car!!

 

Otherwise you might end up putting some business guessworks's way a lot sooner than you'd planned!! 

 

 

Ahahaha yepp I don't really fancy buying a brand new gearbox every time I change down! If im honest I single clutch rev match usually when I change done from 4th (30mph) to 3rd (less than 30). I've done this from when I passed my test (nearly 5,000 miles) and I've had no issues touch wood. Al 

 

same dude, altho i have changed down into 3rd at 45mph sometimes and its been fine.

 

[cal844]

Ive always used the gears to slow down, when the road speed drops to allow the next gear down to be selected, i do so, using the brake a little to slow the car a little more so the engine isnt revving highly in the lower gear, its a nicer way to slow down, instead of braking hard like a lot of drivers do, but you do tend to get the late brakers over taking you as you slow down, but they look stupid when you cruise to a stop directly behind them lol

indeed.. i get passed by the same car and driver when i come home from the petrol station after work, and even going from 60 mph to 25 mph(for a tight off camber corner) i still catch up with him on the brakes and out the corner in my standard 998(has a stage 1 kit)

[minisilverbullet]

I tend to do both, (braking and down shift).

 

One thing I have been thinking about though... I am teaching my girl friend to drive at the moment, over here in Sweden we need to attend a 3 hour training lecture to be approved as a 'teacher'. 

 

They are big on what the call eco driving - Part of which is thE use of engine braking (down shifting). Does that save fuel? Cant really figure it out. 

 

On a side note, they also promote skipping a gear when accelerating, despite a long winded debate with the instructor, I am sure that doesn't save fuel either. yeah you dint accelerate as hard, but you accelerate for longer. 

[firstforward]

I find the brakes are an amazing tool for slowing the car down, it's like they were designed for the job.... 

 

LOL