Do you double de-clutch or do heel and toe gearshifts? Does is make the car faster, smoother or more fun to drive? Any other tips or ideas for a better gearchange.
If i'm having a race I usually power change, as in keep ya foot welded on the accelerator and just use the clutch. You have to be very fast at changing gear but it works a treat as long as you don't miss a gear. I've tried double clutching and it seems a bit dangerous for the clutch and bearings so I stick to the power change.
You know when you pull off really quick or accidently hold the clutch a bit too long and you can feel the extra boost from the engine as you're pushing it more with the clutch. Well as far as I remember double de-clutch is to do with that. Basically you give yourself extra power when changing and you don't lose your revs.
Double de-clutch:-
1st Gear to 2nd gear - Clutch down gear to neutral, clutch up still in neutral - set throttle to match transmission speed to engine rpm which is a little lower that before when changing up, clutch down then select second gear.
Going down a gear is much the same but you need to increase the engine speed. And some drivers will blip the throttle with their heel while braking with their toe to achieve this.
When you get good this takes as little time as a conventional gear change and maintains very smooth and progressive power delivery.
On modern cars with syncromesh some people argue that the DDC is no longer of value and others say that it is what proper drivers on a track do.
Why do it - its much smoother - when cornering at 100+ on a track a typical rough gearchange could upset the balance of a car.
On a drag strip where you just want to get the car to the top speed then the power change has a place but you still risk wheelspin and loss of traction with this brutal method.
I'm just really interested in the debate as to wether this method still has value today. I feel that it does on the track and it is a habit you can learn on the open road.
I still use the DD technique on the way down the box. As for upchanging, waste of time. Power changing is fine but can shred clutches and tyres. Go for a decent 6 or 7 speed auto if you really want continuous power delivery.
The dog tooth gears and straight cut gears are less forgiving of bad changes so double clutching although not vital will help to smooth things out and make the box last a bit longer.
A new article on de clutching is live on the main site:-http://www.torquecars.com/articles/double-de-clutching.php
Double de-clutching 
Linear Mode
