Gearchange video

[R_U_LOCAL]

Just a quickie, this, to accompany my original post on gearchanging here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

In the video, you'll see me turn right from a T-junction and then go up through the gears to 5th. Watch the movement of the rev counter to see what I'm doing with my right foot during the upchanges.

You'll then see me do a systematic right turn into a junction, accompanied with a block change down to 2nd.

Following a short drive, you'll see me perform a favourite little gearchanging exercise, where I hold the car at a given speed (40ish mph in this case), whilst changing between various random gears, either raising or lowering the engine revs during the change to smooth it out.

Notice how, with practice, these gearchanges can be just as quick as other techniques.

Other videos to follow...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTScu7jOJd0

[R_U_LOCAL]

K13 WJD said:

im not going to get into arguments about my mother. and neither are you.


perhaps i miss-read the orig topic. i was looking at it from a performance point view.

Then perhaps you should learn what "performance" means from a road driving perspective before offering criticism.

[R_U_LOCAL]

iLiekCarz said:

Just a semi-related thought here...

In your video, you showed a lot of systematic approaches to turns and stuff. I was wondering, given a man of your experience, how would you apply the system to driving a traditional automatic vehicle?

I think that would be interesting to see actually.

I'll put "driving automatics" down on my list of future posts.

7db said:

Great video, Reg.

Classic coppers hands on the steering. Lovely.

I am what I am!

WeirdNeville said:

I take the front tyres survived this particular demo?

Yes they did, thanks Nev. Mostly because this wasn't just a series of flat-out right handers.

For those who are wondering, here's the result of a trackday at Llandow that Nev and I attended...

K13 WJD said:

it would appear i have made a complete knob end of myself.

I was drunk, and presumed the thread you refered to was in fact the one about double-de-clutching.

Having now actaully read the thread you refer to, i see that the video, is infact a very good depiction of what you describe.

And, having now watched it again with the speakers actaully on, i can hear its nice and smooth.

I'd like to see a video of your heel and toe.......

No problem. I'll consider an H+T video, but it's only something I use very infrequently on the road.

iLiekCarz said:

His name on Youtube is "davidmclaughlin01". He was even kind enough to register with his real name.

Poor kid.

I've sent him a reply.

[R_U_LOCAL]

CommanderJameson said:

Are you changing gear on a slightly trailing throttle? Someone on here told me that this would help smooth things out, and they were right. Dunno if it's good practice, but clutch down on falling revs seems to help me - or am I doing something silly here?

If you mean on the upchanges, then yes, I am. Rather than letting the revs drop to tickover, it's better to let them drop just to the correct engine speed for the road speed in the next gear.

Edited by R_U_LOCAL on Sunday 26th August 21:24

[R_U_LOCAL]

GreenV8S said:

I hope that wasn't yours. It should never have been allowed to wear that far.

It's not wear. If you look at the rest of the tread on the tyre, it's more than sufficient for a dry track day. On this occasion, an inch-wide strip of tread delaminated from the tyre face on a fast right-hander. I recognised the lack of grip immediately and came into the pits straight away. That particular track is very hard on front left tyres, but I was very surprised that the tread stripped from the tyre like that.

[R_U_LOCAL]

GreenV8S said:

I can't make it out from the picture, but I assume that there's a step at the edge rather than progressive wear down to the canvas. Are there any signs of tyre/body contact?

Yes, it steps at the edge of the tread. There was no contact with bodywork - I just think it delaminated due to a combination of excessive heat and stress.

It's not what I'd normally expect from a Michelin Pilot though.

[R_U_LOCAL]

GreenV8S said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

It's not what I'd normally expect from a Michelin Pilot though.

Nor me. I'd be interested to know what Michelin make of it. Was it correctly inflated and within its speed rating?

It was, yes. In defence of the tyre, it is an extremely grippy track surface which is notoriously hard on front left tyres. It was a very hot day (by this summer's standards, anyway) and I'd been pushing fairly hard in the few previous laps. The tyre was approaching it's wear indicators and was ready for replacement anyway.

The lack of grip was immediately obvious, and I was able to pull off the track without any unpleasantness.

I think I'll just put this one down to experience.

[R_U_LOCAL]

GreenV8S said:

Flintstone said:

Like to see you track a proper car. Something like, say, a Scenic. Only an outright loon would take one of those on track.....................

There seems to be something wrong with the suspension on that one. Is the driver really really fat?

No, just ginger.

Oh, and a complete ruddy loon!

[R_U_LOCAL]

bramley said:

I have no idea who you are or what you do, but I've just watched a video of a random bloke changing gear. I can change gear too, even my wife can. Fortunately for the rest of the population neither my wife nor I see fit to record such achingly dull activities and broadcast them across the interweb. Perhaps my assumption that the other members of this forum are competent at changing gear is misguided as some of the replies to this thread suggest you have just discovered the 8th wonder of the world and are revealing it for the first time.

Can I have 2mins 40s of my life back now please?

See ya then. Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.

[R_U_LOCAL]

mybrainhurts said:

What's with the driving naked thing in that youtube clip...?

It was a hot day.

[R_U_LOCAL]

bramley said:

Interesting assumption. My gearchanges are just fine ta. If I didn't have a life I'd film a few of them to share on the internet.

You seem to have little enough life to want to spend the time slating people on the internet though.

Fair enough though, I'm always interested in other people's opinions. So tell me - how could I improve my gearchanges?

[R_U_LOCAL]

Is it a full moon tonight?

[R_U_LOCAL]

WilliBetz said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

I'm always interested in other people's opinions. So tell me - how could I improve my gearchanges?

A few thoughts:

- Change your seating position, to give yourself more room to work (I know - I'm too long in the leg and arm for some MX5 as well)

I'm short in the leg and long in the body. The seating position in the Mazda is always a compromise.

WilliBetz said:

- DDC

As I've mentioned previously, if your timing is correct, DDC is totally unnecessary in modern manual cars. You wouldn't want me to do something I've already argued is unnecessary, would you?

WilliBetz said:

- Avoid BGOL on downchanges (when turning right off the main road?)

There's no overlap.

WilliBetz said:

- Try to time gearchanges to coincide with gaps in opposing traffic

Why? In all my years of advanced driving, no-one has ever suggested this before.

WilliBetz said:

- Avoid non-changes (1:53 in).

You've got me.

WilliBetz said:

- Consider the benefits of using less revs in first. It's not progressive when, as you rightly demonstrate, you are tapering on and off the throttle to ensure smoothness.

I don't understand this sentence. How is it not progressive? Many people seem to think that 1st gear should be used only for moving off from stationary, followed by an immediate change up to 2nd.

I'm not one of them.

WilliBetz said:

FWIW, I'm a big fan of your writing. But I don't think this video does justice to your obvious ability, nor demonstrates the points that you are trying to convey particularly well.

WilliBetz

I'm very new to all of this. I'd never written anything along these lines before I started submitting to PH, and sometimes I find it difficult to fully express a concept in writing. At the moment, I'm just toying with videos as a method of getting ideas across.

Of course some people will find them boring - that's because they're viewing them on their own, rather than as an accompaniment to the article on the subject.

[R_U_LOCAL]

bramley said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

bramley said:

Interesting assumption. My gearchanges are just fine ta. If I didn't have a life I'd film a few of them to share on the internet.

You seem to have little enough life to want to spend the time slating people on the internet though.

Fair enough though, I'm always interested in other people's opinions. So tell me - how could I improve my gearchanges?

I felt motivated to post simply because I am at a loss to understand why anyone with a full set of marbles would post such a video. Perhaps to a group of soon-to-be learner drivers, but to a group of so called driving enthusiasts I can only assume the vast majority of people reading this topic with (genuine) interest have the co-ordination of a newborn foal and therefore find your video in some way useful.

I enjoy driving, I enjoy driving smoothly, I enjoy H&T'ing, you just won't find me filming myself in a self-congratulatory way carrying out one of driving's most basic tasks as if I am some sort of god.

You're surely aware that changing gear really isn't that difficult aren't you? I see from another thread someone has requested a video of you positioning your seat and mirrors

Could we see one of you checking your tyre pressures too just for good measure. And perhaps doffing your cap at a passing pedestrian and bidding them a good day?

I'll be sure to drop into this forum more often, it beats any comedy on tv that's for sure.

Can I politely suggest you read some more of my articles before commenting further?

Just search under my username and read two posts that I've started in this thread.

If you do that, and you don't learn at least one useful thing, then I'll take your criticism on board and I'll stop posting.

But you have to be honest in your reply.

[R_U_LOCAL]

SJobson said:

Quick query Mr Local. If gearchanging is such an important part of driving to you, why is your other car a BMW M3 with SMG gearbox?

Did I say it was an important part of driving to me? It's no more or less important than any other aspect of driving, but getting it right does help to transfer weight around the car smoothly and keep it settled. However, I'll answer your question...

I wanted a manual M3, but finding a good M3 with the right history is getting more and more difficult. Mine was the right condition with the right history and in a colour combination I liked, but with the SMG. I decided to give it a go and I quite like it.

Plus, I've always got the Mazda when I want to change gear properly.

[R_U_LOCAL]

mybrainhurts said:

Beware the Trolls of Doom.....

It's either this or a Dirty Harry film.

[R_U_LOCAL]

Vaux said:

My RoSPA Observer/Tutor always preferred not changing gear with an oncoming vehicle near - something to do with having two hands steering.

It's honestly not something that I've ever come across before. On todays roads, it doesn't really leave much scope for changing gear, does it? I understand the theory, but practically speaking, I find that wholly unecessary. It's certainly not something that I've come across being taught at any Police driving schools. *Awaits correction by VH*

Vaux said:

At 1:53 you go for the gear lever but don't do anything with it - very picky WB! (But I've been pulled up for this too, by AD purists!)

Yes, you're right, I did. But in reality, all the gearchanges towards the end of the video were unecessary - it was a little excersise that I get students to do. Change gear randomly whilst maintaining a given road speed. I was merely demonstrating a smooth third to third gearchange.

Vaux said:

I've read your stuff from day one and it's excellent and has helped me, but I can see why some cocky lads might start off with this video and not understand what's behind it.....

So can I. Like I said, I'm fairly new to this internet video thing, and I'm bound to get things wrong along the way.

Besides, the trolls are keeping me entertained tonight.

[R_U_LOCAL]

advanceddriver said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

Can I politely suggest you read some more of my articles before commenting further?

Just search under my username and read two posts that I've started in this thread.

If you do that, and you don't learn at least one useful thing, then I'll take your criticism on board and I'll stop posting.

But you have to be honest in your reply.

I've read the previous "Zen art of gear changing"........for those with less time than me I will sumarise

If you match the engine revs to appropriate road speed you too could be a police driving god!

You can read?

Go you! Your carers must be so proud.

[R_U_LOCAL]

advanceddriver said:

Haha you really are a policeman aren't you!

Haha you really only joined the site to post your inane drivel in this thread didn't you?

[R_U_LOCAL]

WilliBetz said:

I don't know if you share the car. If not, why not replace the seat for a lower, fixed, one? Failing that, you may want to consider taking video in a car that you fit more comfortably?

Ok, I've two cars, both of which are used by Mrs Local and myself. If I fitted a seat which was suitable for me, then she wouldn't be able to see over the wheel. I find the Mazda reasonably comfortable to sit in. As for another car - I've two cars, one of which is a semi-auto. Want to lend me yours for the day?

WilliBetz said:

It may not be necessary, but it's a lot less ugly. Especially when changing from 4th to 2nd at speed.

I'm not going to change this thread into another argument about whether DDC is necessary or not. I believe it isn't necessary in modern cars, and I'll be sticking with that.

WilliBetz said:

If you were braking when you declutched/removed the car from gear, would you call that an overlap?

Yes I would. However, the brakes were fully released in this case before I de-clutched.

WilliBetz said:

Most others seem to find it risible as well. I certainly recall (police) advanced instructors discussing it as a good habit, even though not doing it may never cause a problem. In that regard, it's a bit like not changing gear while crossing the crown of the road, or stopping with the steering pointing straight ahead when waiting to turn right.

You may consider it too pedantic. Fair enough.

But, if you consider that many of our roads were designed for carts and horses (and are now maintained with them in mind), you may prefer to habitually be in gear with both hands on the wheel when a stranger is driving toward you at a closing speed in excess of 100mph, aiming to pass you with a lateral separation measured in centimetres. Or not. Your choice.

It's too pedantic.

What next? Don't change gear when there's a change in road surface? Don't change gear when there's a danger of low flying aircraft?

There are occasions where it's preferable to avoid changing gear. During an overtake, for instance, I'd expect a driver to select a flexible gear which will take them past the overtaken vehicle before needing a higher one. However, if you're driving systematically, and planning correctly, you'll often find yourself in a position where you have to take a gear whilst passing oncoming vehicles.

Take a right turn from a major road into a minor road, for instance. A good driver will signal right, position towards the centre-line and start to brake. If there's on-coming traffic, the driver will look for a suitable gap. At the point the gap appears, the driver should be in the correct gear, ready to accelerate. That means that the gear has to be taken whilst the on-coming traffic is still passing - if the driver waits, there will be a lot of last-minute fumbling for a gear, which isn't ideal.

So yes, I consider it too pedantic, and a good example of how, when we descend into arguments over such pointless minutiae, the average driver can easily be put off the concept of "advanced driving".

WilliBetz said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

WilliBetz said:

- Avoid non-changes (1:53 in).

You've got me.

Unapologetically pedantic - it's an instructional video, intended to show good form.

Like I said - you got me. Here, have a biscuit...

WilliBetz said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

WilliBetz said:

- Consider the benefits of using less revs in first. It's not progressive when, as you rightly demonstrate, you are tapering on and off the throttle to ensure smoothness.

I don't understand this sentence. How is it not progressive? Many people seem to think that 1st gear should be used only for moving off from stationary, followed by an immediate change up to 2nd.

I'm not one of them.

It isn't progressive when compared to a technique that uses more throttle for longer in a higher gear. The reason is simply that you are spending so long tapering onto and off the throttle (for smoothness) that you aren't really taking advantage of wide open throttle performace. It's even more evident in a powerful car.

It's not always necessary to take advantage of wide-open throttle performance though, is it? Do you set off from every junction with the accelerator nailed to the floor? Of course you don't. And if you consider that the tapering throttle was exactly what I was trying to demonstrate, then you'll see why I did it.

WilliBetz said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

WilliBetz said:

FWIW, I'm a big fan of your writing. But I don't think this video does justice to your obvious ability, nor demonstrates the points that you are trying to convey particularly well.

WilliBetz

I'm very new to all of this. I'd never written anything along these lines before I started submitting to PH, and sometimes I find it difficult to fully express a concept in writing. At the moment, I'm just toying with videos as a method of getting ideas across.

I genuinely appreciate the time and effort that you've taken, and enjoy your posts. If you can produce video of similar quality to your prose, I'd think you have a marketable product.

WilliBetz

Let's just be straight about this - I'm not trying to market anything, and I've never made a penny out of my articles. I've made it quite clear that they're available for posting elsewhere or for printing out for instructional use to anybody, free of charge.

I wouldn't rule out trying to get some stuff published in the future, but for now, this stuff is free and I do it all in my spare time.

I accept that there are some serious limitations in producing video with a shonky old home video camera, and I'm looking at ways to improve the quality.