JERCS

Went to my friends place to drag race (private property with lots of land and asphalt)... and two or three times I completely missed 2nd, and on of the times made that nasty noise. Now I'm not a racer, don't really plan to race anywhere... just wondering what I'm doing wrong. It seems I push the clutch in all the way but maybe I'm not. I don't know.

Is it just my clutch ability that's doing this?

XDEEDUBBX

seems like your just getting nervous...stay calm and concentrate... but above all **pratice**

XeRo

some people have reported that they are having problems shifting from 1st to 2nd...i don't know if the dampener would have anything to do with it but might wanna see if you're part of the recall crew....i am, but I have no problem getting into 2nd...

Are you powershifting? it all takes time and practice...don't get overly frustrated becuase it'll just build up and you will loose concentration...take a deep breath and keep practicing...it'll come to you...then you'll take back your statement of not wanting to race...once you get the hang of your car...there's nothing like putting it on the track and running SOLO...

Omicron

I've missed it a few times myself, and I know how to power shift. Each time I've missed it, I've discovered it's because I'm so tense that I am pulling the shifter hard and slightly toward myself. When I relax and pull straight back, it snicks right into place nicely. Hope this helps.

JERCS

Thanks guys, I really thought I was just going to get flamed.

JERCS

I was just quick shifting. I've read about people mess'n their tannies up with poweshifting so I'm a little scared to try on my 8. I'm coming from driving a Jeep, so no experience with racing.

So with powershifting I would just keep the gas in all the way, and shift after lets say 8900? and slam into 2nd (of course with clutch)...

Omicron

Well, maybe I should say I'm doing modified power shifting then, because I do let up off the gas while I rapidly shift from gear to gear. I figure the Renesis revs so fast, and I'm shifting at (or close to) redline, that there is no way I'm fast enough to slam it into gear before the engine hits the rev limiter.

GTRay

I realize this might not help others as much as it has helped me but the best thing i've done besides practice is watching other people. I totaly believe that watching how other people react to certain driving situations is a great tool that can be utilized for helping to advance your own skills. It's much like any other sport or activity that requires skill - find the people that are really good at something and study how they perform.

i realize that you can't just calm your own nerves by watching someone else - that's where the practice comes in. a combination of studying others and practicing yourself is really the best advice i can offer.

If you take a look at some videos that are readily available on the internet notice how all of the drivers, good and bad, compose themselves.

the best analogy i can make is try to picture how the good drivers would act if they were sitting in a Lay-z-Boy recliner while channel surfing. i try to picture them behaving the same way behind the wheel. Imagine yourself in that recliner flipping through the channels - each click of the button is just the same as a flick of the shifter.

i know this is a very rediculous example but it's all a matter of mind-set.

also, try to realize that just because your car is acelerating and getting faster doesn't mean that you have to speed up all of your actions as well. speeding up all of your inputs will just invite more problems as you begin to act more aggressively.

i'd like to hear what others out there have done to help develop a calm demeanor behind the wheel!

Ray

Rotarian_SC

I have trouble shifting from 1-2. I usually don't take 1st gear very high, 6k rpms at the most. After that it is almost impossible shift to 2nd. The more revs i have the harder it is. It isn't like this for any other gear change.

JERCS

I've been working on it, and keeping that gas down the entire time is a lot more fun! For calm just rock classical :D I would also like to hear on how to stay a weee bit more calm.

Also want RPM's do you drop at? I've been doing mine at 3k (with all that stuff turned off).

-Guy

Killerking1964

If you want to stay calm, just take a Xanax before you race............hehe

XDEEDUBBX

try making sure you have your seat properly adjusted...try to get comfortable but not too much...