shifting and double clutch instruction

[KNIGHTRACE]

https://youtu.be/0TYD4aOvN80

[Larmo63]

Nice video that every Porsche driver should watch!

Thanks Ian.

[SoCalSK8r]

I learned a ton with that video, thanks for sharing!


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[Aircooled4evr]

Wow! It's SO cool to actually UNDERSTAND what you've been told to do!!

[911TerryT]

I am in my 60's and learned how to drive with manuals. I drove a 5/4 split International tri axle when I was 16 for a after school job. I also have driven 13 speed with split axle, non sync 1st gear box's etc. I will send this video to my friends and family that drive a manual as many good points are made here on the how's and why's of shifting. I don't track any of my cars but I do drive spirited when the opportunity presents(where I know the road and risks of exceeding the speed limit) and use the double clutch/heel toe technique. I will mention I also will skip a gear when upshifting when I can(usually when I redline the gear I am in and on a flat/downhill slope) I feel its important to know how to drive a manual as I think it makes people a better driver(If you desire to go to Italy and drive the Amalfi coast good luck renting a automatic).
There is a lot of debate on what's better to drive...a manual or PDK for track and spirited driving. I am lucky enough to have both and I enjoy both for what they are.

If I could only have 1 to drive as my fun car it would be a manual air cooled.

Everything changes over time but I hope by sons will have a desire to rip some roads in a manual when they are my age.

Thanks guys for taking the time to put together a very informative video.

[d15b7]

this is probably the best explanation (and made understandable for a 'regular' driver) that I have ever watched/listened to about the hows and whys of shifting, with fantastic visual aids too. exceptional! i'll be showing this to a bunch of my friends; great job guys!!

[kent olsen]

All my vehicles with the exception of my motor home are manual. 65 Vette, 72 Porsche, 93 Classic Mini and my 2001 Dodge dakota. God help me if I trip over my cat.

I learnt to heel/toe and double clutch, and rpm match when I was young, I'm 77. In all those years I have never used up a clutch. Now if I pull the engine or transmission I will always replace the disc but I've never even replaced the pressure plate.

[faapgar]

I can not even imagine how many people you helped with this video.Every time I rebuilt a gearbox for a customer I would drive it for 100-200 miles and double clutch every shift to seat the synchros.You have done a great service with this video.Keep them coming.Ciao Fred But you have to remind them it is fun to drive this way.

[William A]

Been fortunate to drive many times with Ian. He knows his stuff, and is passionate to pass it on.

Lead/follow with Ian is a blast and educational. He sees so much, even when he is leading while watching you in the mirror.

As a passenger in his car, and it doesn't matter what car it is, you witness and marvel at his impeccable technique.

If Ian was as smooth with women as he is driving a car, Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson would be competing for a distant 2nd!

[KNIGHTRACE]

I think They did a good job explaining it and thought it was good to share. I hope this helps some people and brings some positive news/information. William Knight

[Jonny042]

Great video!!! - I learned to double clutch from watching an instructional video from Jim Russel Racing school when I was in my teens. By the time I actually got to take the course at the school I was proficient enough at it that I could drive the cars properly - dog boxes (like all REAL race cars have) don't have synchros at all.

The video is of great benefit for sure!! So few people know how to properly drive a manual trans car..... actually understanding the mechanics of what is happening is key and this video shows it well.

[Mahler9th]

I learned how to double clutch in the early 80's in my first car, and MGB. I learned from the Bondurant book... Bob Bondurant on High Performance driving. It had a picture-by-picture set of illustrations.

Since I first learned, I have always double clutched when performance driving on the street, in AX and on the track.

I found that book to be a great resource.

My number one resource has always been the Skip Barber video Going Faster!

Harry Reynolds does a nice job going over double clutch downshifting in that video.

Of course as folks know, the parts longevity of the synchromesh system used in many 911s is benefited by double clutching. Some do not know that many types of racing cars "back in the day" did not have any type of systems to help downshifting. For example the age-old Hewland boxes.

[KNIGHTRACE]

Many people do not know how to do this, most often it is explained incorrectly. I think the use of the transmission really helps.

[jmc1313]

Many people don’t know this but you can shift without depressing the clutch, just match road speed and engine rpm/gear.
Example, if you are driving at 40 mph in 2nd at 4000 rpm, let off the throttle and slip it into neutral, let the rpm’s drop to 2500 rpm and slip it into 3rd gear.
The same for downshifting, going 40 mph in 3rd at 2500 rpm slip it into neutral and rev the engine to 4000 rpm, slip it into 2nd.

You do need to find out what the splits are for each gear but once you know that it’s pretty simple.
The point they made in the video about weight transfer is important, you will not believe how smooth the drive is when you match road speed/rpm/gear.

John

[smadsen]

What a great instructional video!

I've found, at 6'4", foot placement is difficult to accomplish because I can't come anywhere close to straightening my right leg in the Porsche ('82). You need to monkey with the pedals (brake/throttle) so that when the brake pedal is depressed, it stops just a little proud of the throttle at idle. You need to get to the throttle for the "blip", but not pick up the throttle by accident under braking.

After you practice for a while, the process becomes seamless, and second nature.

In the Formula Ford with the Mk8/9 Hewland the process was the same, but you didn't use the clutch, expect to get going. I always used the clutch on the upshifts, now I understand why it never felt quite right. To hard on the internals. Downshifts, 4 to 1 were always very smooth and fast, generally under full brakes, no clutch.

[jmz]

Nice Foot work Fred Astaire! ...cool video.

[pampadori]

@Jmc1313 if you do the clutchless downshifts you are suggesting you're not getting both shafts to the same speed and you're asking the syncro rings to sacrifice themselves to match the speeds for you.

[jmc1313]

@Jmc1313 if you do the clutchless downshifts you are suggesting you're not getting both shafts to the same speed and you're asking the syncro rings to sacrifice themselves to match the speeds for you.

Either I didn’t explain it well or you misinterpreted it. When you double clutch you re-engage the clutch when you let out the clutch in neutral, that’s what matches the engine and road speed. The only difference is I don’t push the clutch in to move it in/out of gear. As long as you match the engine speed to road speed in the proper gear it will slide right in, smooth as butter.
Millions of truckers use this method driving billions of miles.

John

[robertmark]

Great Vid Ian. You know your s**t. Now move to Indiana so I can take advantage of your knowledge.......damnit!!!!

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by jmc1313

@Jmc1313 if you do the clutchless downshifts you are suggesting you're not getting both shafts to the same speed and you're asking the syncro rings to sacrifice themselves to match the speeds for you.

Either I didn’t explain it well or you misinterpreted it. When you double clutch you re-engage the clutch when you let out the clutch in neutral, that’s what matches the engine and road speed. The only difference is I don’t push the clutch in to move it in/out of gear. As long as you match the engine speed to road speed in the proper gear it will slide right in, smooth as butter.
Millions of truckers use this method driving billions of miles.

John

Problem is, if the clutch is up (engaged), there's no way to independently change the rotation speed of the input shaft to match the rotational speed of the output shaft in a just-shifted lower gear. Unless the gearbox is in neutral during that rev, the input shaft is still connected to the last gear selected.

Depress clutch (pedal down) to disengage the engine from the rear wheels and momentarily shift into neutral. Re-engage clutch (clutch pedal up). This allows you to blip the throttle to raise engine and input shaft rotation speed to match the gear speed in the next lower gear. A quick clutch pedal down to disengage before revs drop too much while shifting to the next lower gear should hopefully closely match engine speed to rear wheel speed as the clutch pedal re-engages (pedal up). You want to end up with the engine revs the car would be at the same car speed. If not, try again.

Practice on a deserted road and practice using the higher gears. There's typically less gear reduction e.g. between 4th and 5th than 2nd and 3rd and thus fewer rev difference to match. For example:

Vehicle speed...........RPM
30 mph in 4th gear...2000.... double-clutch from here...
30 mph in 3rd gear...2600 ... to end up here w/o discernible vehicle dynamics


Sherwood