downshifting

Island_370

Depends on how (or if) you were taught to drive a stick. I was taught (and it makes sense to me) that you should always have the tranny in a gear and the gear should be in the useful rpm range. What if you need onto the gas to avoid an issue? If you are going 15mph, but still in 5th....you can't accelerate. So as I reduce speed, I drop the car into lower gears that I would use if driving. I don't always let the clutch out, but I have the gear selected.

I said "if taught" since a lot of folks just by a manual and self-learn. This teaches technique, but not philosophy. Same with folks that use the parking brake to hold the car on a hill. It works, but it is not the best....

Just my $0.02......

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Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"