Making Turns Smoothly
Discussion
Konic
You don't say how old you are or where you are - how about finding your local advanced group and having someone next to you who knows what they're doing and can advise you while you're in the car.
Getting round corners smoothly isn't all about what the hands and feet are doing - it starts with looking out the window and planning it all, like the video shows.
You don't say how old you are or where you are - how about finding your local advanced group and having someone next to you who knows what they're doing and can advise you while you're in the car.
Getting round corners smoothly isn't all about what the hands and feet are doing - it starts with looking out the window and planning it all, like the video shows.
As an earlier poster said, I too am not a fan of double braking either. Braking does not just slow your car, it shows a signal to those behind. I am not a fan of braking an indicating either. I prefer to slow a little, indicate before braking, so that indicators are clearly visible before the brake lights show. Not always possible, especially if you are searching for a turn off. I swear there are drivers out there who only indicate to remind themselves where they are going.
Good luck and great for trying to improve your drive, I certainly hope to learn something with each drive.
Good luck and great for trying to improve your drive, I certainly hope to learn something with each drive.
As for braking being a signal, I am only too aware of that. Before I learnt rev-matching, I used to drop few gears at a speed limit transition when I had a tailgater. Whether jerking backwards before flooring it and making them look silly, and in the process scaring the bejeezus out of them, is a benefit or a drawback is left to the reader. 
One last thing to add, does downshifting cause any clutch or transmission wear? I've read many views this, with some people saying that I should break instead of downshift rev matching as it costs a lot less to change break pads than having to change a gear box or clutch?
Yes, every gear change wears the (1) synchro rings and (2) clutch.
You can eliminate, or reduce (1) + (2) by double-de-clutching, or just (2) by rev-matching.
Realistically, the wear is tiny, and providing you don't slip the clutch I'd expect the clutch to last at least 100K and gearbox more. By braking and taking one gear change (as per the system of car control / road craft) you automatically reduce wear even without fancy gear changing simply because you make less gear changes.
Personally, I drive to the system (so use the brakes to slow) and usually only rev-match (both up and down), with the occasional double-de-clutch just so I don't lose the ability.
Yes, every gear change wears the (1) synchro rings and (2) clutch.
You can eliminate, or reduce (1) + (2) by double-de-clutching, or just (2) by rev-matching.
Realistically, the wear is tiny, and providing you don't slip the clutch I'd expect the clutch to last at least 100K and gearbox more. By braking and taking one gear change (as per the system of car control / road craft) you automatically reduce wear even without fancy gear changing simply because you make less gear changes.
Personally, I drive to the system (so use the brakes to slow) and usually only rev-match (both up and down), with the occasional double-de-clutch just so I don't lose the ability.
smoothness comes from having the car balanced correctly for the move you are making, lack of smoothness comes from being out of balance or the weight being in the wrong place... think of a baby pram rolling down a hill, it runs smoothly... now push it hard from one side, the weight goes all over the place and it loses smoothness...
so think about where you want weight to be in a corner, do you need to brake earlier, balance the car and change gear if needed, then add power as you move into the corner, keep the power constant around the corner and then pour on more as the corner opens up... or are you flying down to the corner, braking late, changing gear, braking and steering at the same time, and by the time you have sorted it out you have lost more power, so drop a gear and hammer out of the corner at high revs?! the first will be balanced, the second not.
to become smoother, brake earlier, separate the braking, gear change and acceleration, have brief pauses as you balance the car, get the weight in the right place... all at low speed... you can add speed back in later...
so think about where you want weight to be in a corner, do you need to brake earlier, balance the car and change gear if needed, then add power as you move into the corner, keep the power constant around the corner and then pour on more as the corner opens up... or are you flying down to the corner, braking late, changing gear, braking and steering at the same time, and by the time you have sorted it out you have lost more power, so drop a gear and hammer out of the corner at high revs?! the first will be balanced, the second not.
to become smoother, brake earlier, separate the braking, gear change and acceleration, have brief pauses as you balance the car, get the weight in the right place... all at low speed... you can add speed back in later...
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