THSCC Forums

In simple terms - since you're rev-matching with the clutch out in neutral, it brings all the tranny bits up to engine speed which is normally accomplished by the synchros when pushing the shift lever into first. End result for the driver is that less effort is required when pushing the shifter into first.

In my "old" car (the BMW), it's nice to do since it takes a fair amount of effort to push the gear into without double-clutching. I find it less distracting to do it this way now that it's habit.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

If I'm downshift ing from 3rd to 2nd on the approach to a slalom (we used to have courses fast enough to require 3rd gear), then I heel and toe. Very rarely I'll heel and toe from 2nd to 1st -- I think I did that in one place at Rockingham in June. For a pivot, like our end-of-runway turnarounds, I wait until that moment when I'm coasting just before the halfway point of the pivot and downshift to first then. That way I can concentrate on JUST braking on the approach (important when you don't have a computer stopping the car for you), and it's probably a lot less stressful on the tranny than an slightly imperfect heel & toe or double-clutch.

If you haven't changed to a synthetic transmission oil like Redline, do it. I thought my shifter was broken, the effort was so light compared to running ATF.