OK, I've heard rev matching several times on this forum and over the internet. What is it?

Sorry if it is a dumb question.:D

 

When you're changing down blip the throttle so that the engine revs match the transmission revs before you let the clutch bite. This way the gear change will be totally smooth. It's not as easy as it sounds.

 

Check out the articles at Turn Fast. I think you'll find exactly what you are looking for.

 

That is one hell of a good website - thanks a lot!

 

Holly S@%$....OK, this is far far more than I can take. I better start thinking of restarting my bike riding lessons.....

Now, seriously....too complicated for my poor brain. Besides, I won't experiment with the 8....now if I could only get my hands on someone elses car... j/k :D

 

I think the article pointed to talked about heel-and-toe gearchanges and rev-matching for corners, which sounds very complicated to me too - I will try it in an empty car park some day.

Regular rev-matching is much simpler (I think). I believe that all you do (after braking to desired speed) is blip the throttle whilst changing down a gear, so when you get to the lower gear the engine is already at a higher rpm and there is no jerking.

Who wants to be the first to correct me?

 

No correction neccisary.

All your doing is bringing the engine up to the space revs it would be in the new gear.

Otherwise the engine will have to speed up (via the clutch) and cause some unintentional braking which tends to throw passengers around some.

Bliping the throttle in between gear changes is easy, Heal-toing isnt quite so easy and not for 'normal' driving.

 

Well yes and no.. if you are braking and need to downshift while maintaing pressure on the brake pedal, heal 'n toe is a must. I was pleasantly surprised after sitting in ZoomZoom's 8 and checking out the pedals. Close enough for heal and toe which can't be said for most stock cars. I currently have custom mounted pedals which are very close together just for that purpose.

 

Does anyone NEED to do that during a drive on the streets?

Maybe it's just me not being able to experiment w/heel and toe, but it seems the difference between H&T and the 0.5 seconds it takes to lift off the brake & get your foot over to the gas pedal to blip highly outweighs any "need" on the streets.

You can time a braking downshift pretty well without having to heel-and-toe, and have it be smooth through and out of the turn.
Heel-and-toe might be a little more fun, and could help on the track if you were experienced...but there's fun to be had the other way too