Block changing

Author
Discussion

Dr Jekyll

Original Poster:

23,820 posts

260 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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Was there a time when car instructors routinely taught 'down through the gears' instead of block changing?

I've heard about middle aged drivers being discombobulated during advanced training when concept of block changing was introduced, but I learnt in the late 70s and I don't remember ever being expected to go down through the gears.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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It was down through the gears when I learnt in the '90s.

Ed Moses

600 posts

119 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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I agree, when I passed my test in 1995 using the gears was the way.

Regards,

Ed

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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YES - when brake shoes were in common use coz they got too hot and faded

With disc pads the need is not there any more and its cheaper to replace pads than other components

Mopar440

410 posts

111 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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Why do they call it "block" changing? Where's the block?

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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Mopar440 said:
Why do they call it "block" changing? Where's the block?
Because you change several gears in one block. At least - that's what I've been told.

I block change all the time. 2 to 4. 4 to 2. 4 to 1 sometimes!

There are a couple of corners where it can be used on track. At Thruxton when you are coming out of the super-fast section (through Church) and heading for the chicane by the grandstand I change from 5th to 3rd (with a whacking throttle blip). Brilliant fun.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
Don said:
Mopar440 said:
Why do they call it "block" changing? Where's the block?
Because you change several gears in one block. At least - that's what I've been told.

I block change all the time. 2 to 4. 4 to 2. 4 to 1 sometimes!

There are a couple of corners where it can be used on track. At Thruxton when you are coming out of the super-fast section (through Church) and heading for the chicane by the grandstand I change from 5th to 3rd (with a whacking throttle blip). Brilliant fun.
Such a big shift has to be a bit iffy for stability and reliability, surely? It wouldn't take too much (for me!) to mess it up...

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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davepoth said:
Such a big shift has to be a bit iffy for stability and reliability, surely? It wouldn't take too much (for me!) to mess it up...
Well you certainly need to match engine revs to road speed with heel and toe. In my car I went about learning the rev differences between each gear when I first got it so I know exactly how much blip to give the throttle.

Yes you could get it wrong - and that could be bad - so don't get it wrong! biggrin

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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I often do 4 to 1 and its dead easy

40 mph road in 4th then needing 1st for a set of red lights = slow on brakes from 40 to 10 then engage 1st about 6 car lengths from lights and roll up towards lights in 1st with no accelerator use - hoping lights will change before I have to stop

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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I was taught sequential down changes in the eighties but I've swapped to block now. Felt a bit alien at first but I prefer it now I'm used to it.

Dr Jekyll

Original Poster:

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Surprising, I assumed insisting on sequential downchanges had died out in the 60s or thereabouts.

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Ed Moses said:
I agree, when I passed my test in 1995 using the gears was the way.

Regards,

Ed
when i learnt for cat b in 94/95 block changing was the way that was taught both up where appropriate and as standard coming back down the box.

when i first did midas in 98 i was told that block changing down was acceptable in D1 vehicles and if you got one of the then new higher powered D1 vehicxles blocks up were also acceptable ( rather hard to put into practice in the vehicle used for the training though a aspriated Mk1 Master)

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Don said:
Mopar440 said:
Why do they call it "block" changing? Where's the block?
Because you change several gears in one block. At least - that's what I've been told.

I block change all the time. 2 to 4. 4 to 2. 4 to 1 sometimes!

There are a couple of corners where it can be used on track. At Thruxton when you are coming out of the super-fast section (through Church) and heading for the chicane by the grandstand I change from 5th to 3rd (with a whacking throttle blip). Brilliant fun.
Such a big shift has to be a bit iffy for stability and reliability, surely? It wouldn't take too much (for me!) to mess it up...
braking down to the speed for the corner in 5th, rev match / sustain ( hence the poster describing a 'whacking' blip of the throttle ) , take 3rd and accelerate away ....

R_U_LOCAL

2,676 posts

207 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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R0G said:
I often do 4 to 1 and its dead easy

40 mph road in 4th then needing 1st for a set of red lights = slow on brakes from 40 to 10 then engage 1st about 6 car lengths from lights and roll up towards lights in 1st with no accelerator use - hoping lights will change before I have to stop
You're limiting your options with this approach by taking 1st.

It's better to roll towards the lights in 4th, press the clutch when the revs drop to tickover speed, then either come to a stop, or if the lights change, come off the brakes and take the most appropriate gear, which might be 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Remember - gear choice is entirely dependent on your speed, so if you commit to a gear too early, you might need to change gear again (I know - the horror!).

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
R_U_LOCAL said:
You're limiting your options with this approach by taking 1st.

It's better to roll towards the lights in 4th, press the clutch when the revs drop to tickover speed, then either come to a stop, or if the lights change, come off the brakes and take the most appropriate gear, which might be 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Remember - gear choice is entirely dependent on your speed, so if you commit to a gear too early, you might need to change gear again (I know - the horror!).
Not limiting options but making a choice to slowly roll up to them or the queue - try it

R_U_LOCAL

2,676 posts

207 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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R0G said:
try it
I've tried it.

It limited my options.

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
R_U_LOCAL said:
R0G said:
try it
I've tried it.

It limited my options.
I agree with reg

7mike

3,005 posts

192 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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mph1977 said:
I agree with reg
So do I, but the important thing is to roll slowly over the induction loops to trip the lights in your favour. If they are being a bit slow bob up and down in your seat a bit and they will change quicker. If you have kids in the car get them to do it too, try it, it works.





hehe

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
quotequote all
7mike said:
mph1977 said:
I agree with reg
So do I, but the important thing is to roll slowly over the induction loops to trip the lights in your favour. If they are being a bit slow bob up and down in your seat a bit and they will change quicker. If you have kids in the car get them to do it too, try it, it works.



hehe
LOL

steel framed bikes will set the induction loops off

7mike

3,005 posts

192 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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mph1977 said:
LOL

steel framed bikes will set the induction loops off
I've heard fat cyclists have better success, and I do have some sympathy for the skinnier ones when they jump the red lights silly