rec.autos.simulators

by **5th Docto** » Fri, 21 May 1999 04:00:00

Forgive me if I have missed something here. I have been driving GPL since
it was released. I have never used automatic shifting. I have allways
shifted for myself and have never bothered with the clutch. I don't even
know which button works the clutch. I use the Nascar Pro wheel, and the
wheel buttons are for looking left/right, the shifter shifts, and I never
touch the clutch button. On starts, I sit on the grid in neutral, rev to
about 8 grand, and when the flag drops I pop it into first and take off. Am
I losing some performance and/or hurting the car by not using the clutch???
I have never suffered breakdowns that were a result of this technique.
Please enlighten me.

--
the 5th Doctor . . . (the first 4 Doctors are quacks)
Rx; two Chee-tos every two minutes followed by intense ***.
take with soda. Adjust setup and sound for pain.

by **john moor** » Fri, 21 May 1999 04:00:00

> On Thu, 20 May 1999 16:41:31 -0700, "5th Doctor"

> >Forgive me if I have missed something here. I have been driving GPL since
> >it was released. I have never used automatic shifting. I have allways
> >shifted for myself and have never bothered with the clutch. I don't even
> >know which button works the clutch. I use the Nascar Pro wheel, and the
> >wheel buttons are for looking left/right, the shifter shifts, and I never
> >touch the clutch button. On starts, I sit on the grid in neutral, rev to
> >about 8 grand, and when the flag drops I pop it into first and take off. Am
> >I losing some performance and/or hurting the car by not using the clutch???
> >I have never suffered breakdowns that were a result of this technique.
> >Please enlighten me.

> >--
> >the 5th Doctor . . . (the first 4 Doctors are quacks)
> >Rx; two Chee-tos every two minutes followed by intense ***.
> > take with soda. Adjust setup and sound for pain.

> You're probably not doing much harm to the engine, as even with a
> manual gearbox the engine has an automatic clutch. The manual clutch
> is only there as an extra, which can be useful if you know how to use
> it.

Uhhh, when your trannie blows you will know you don't have an automatic clutch.
You are simply popping it out of and into gear. If you don't match the rpm well
you'll hear the gears crunch.

Wow, that's a new one too.

- Show quoted text -

by **john moor** » Fri, 21 May 1999 04:00:00

I too use the Nascar pro and you can configure the controls as you wish. If you
want to you the clutch for the start (saves 1st gear) you can build a pedal etc.
or simply put your keyboard just above your dash and use the enter key for the
clutch. Assuming your'e right handed you'll like it.
JM

> Forgive me if I have missed something here. I have been driving GPL since
> it was released. I have never used automatic shifting. I have allways
> shifted for myself and have never bothered with the clutch. I don't even
> know which button works the clutch. I use the Nascar Pro wheel, and the
> wheel buttons are for looking left/right, the shifter shifts, and I never
> touch the clutch button. On starts, I sit on the grid in neutral, rev to
> about 8 grand, and when the flag drops I pop it into first and take off. Am
> I losing some performance and/or hurting the car by not using the clutch???
> I have never suffered breakdowns that were a result of this technique.
> Please enlighten me.

> --
> the 5th Doctor . . . (the first 4 Doctors are quacks)
> Rx; two Chee-tos every two minutes followed by intense ***.
> take with soda. Adjust setup and sound for pain.

by **Griffin, the Slay** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

On Thu, 20 May 1999 16:41:31 -0700, "5th Doctor"

>Forgive me if I have missed something here. I have been driving GPL since
>it was released. I have never used automatic shifting. I have allways
>shifted for myself and have never bothered with the clutch. I don't even
>know which button works the clutch. I use the Nascar Pro wheel, and the
>wheel buttons are for looking left/right, the shifter shifts, and I never
>touch the clutch button. On starts, I sit on the grid in neutral, rev to
>about 8 grand, and when the flag drops I pop it into first and take off. Am
>I losing some performance and/or hurting the car by not using the clutch???
>I have never suffered breakdowns that were a result of this technique.
>Please enlighten me.

>--
>the 5th Doctor . . . (the first 4 Doctors are quacks)
>Rx; two Chee-tos every two minutes followed by intense ***.
> take with soda. Adjust setup and sound for pain.

You're probably not doing much harm to the engine, as even with a
manual gearbox the engine has an automatic clutch. The manual clutch
is only there as an extra, which can be useful if you know how to use
it.

It's sometimes easier to go around difficult and twisty corners with
the clutch on, as it detatches the engine from the gears and
accelerator, so the car glides around the corner.

It'll be useful for you to start practising how to use the clutch
however.

Griffin, the Slayer

by **Michae** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

Have to agree with Griffin here.

Using the clutch helps keep me from wheelspin in some corners - letting me
get back on the accelerator earlier - keeping the car from sliding and
making exit speed faster. Timing can be hard to master if you've only
driven an automatic in real life, though - as my nephew proves constantly.
Another reason to be glad I learned to drive with a manual.

Michael

> > It's sometimes easier to go around difficult and twisty corners with
> > the clutch on, as it detatches the engine from the gears and
> > accelerator, so the car glides around the corner.

> Wow, that's a new one too.

by **Kirk Lan** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

Well, it's a clutch :)
I use it to get out of spins and the like, though the cheapo button I use
for it on my Thrustmaster GP1 should be replaced...

--
Kirk Lane

ICQ: 28171652

>Forgive me if I have missed something here. I have been driving GPL since
>it was released. I have never used automatic shifting. I have allways
>shifted for myself and have never bothered with the clutch. I don't even
>know which button works the clutch. I use the Nascar Pro wheel, and the
>wheel buttons are for looking left/right, the shifter shifts, and I never
>touch the clutch button. On starts, I sit on the grid in neutral, rev to
>about 8 grand, and when the flag drops I pop it into first and take off.
Am
>I losing some performance and/or hurting the car by not using the clutch???
>I have never suffered breakdowns that were a result of this technique.
>Please enlighten me.

>--
>the 5th Doctor . . . (the first 4 Doctors are quacks)
>Rx; two Chee-tos every two minutes followed by intense ***.
> take with soda. Adjust setup and sound for pain.

by **gordo..** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

I have the clutch mapped to a key and use it only on the starts. I am
not sure if it gives you a better start than just "jamming it" into
gear, but I do know that I generally get off the line very well.

-- Doug Gordon

--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.---

by **Trip** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

> It's sometimes easier to go around difficult and twisty corners with
> the clutch on, as it detatches the engine from the gears and
> accelerator, so the car glides around the corner.

Any time you're not accelerating or braking you're losing time on the track.
If you're coasting around corners you need to brake later or accelerate sooner.

Trips

by **Trip** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

> Have to agree with Griffin here.

> Using the clutch helps keep me from wheelspin in some corners - letting me
> get back on the accelerator earlier - keeping the car from sliding and
> making exit speed faster.

Control wheelspin with the throttle, not the clutch. Using the clutch to
control wheelspin is an indication of poor throttle control.

Trips

by **Mark Seer** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

If this was the real world, at racing speeds coasting is one of the best
ways to find yourself eating a tree.

Mark

>> It's sometimes easier to go around difficult and twisty corners with
>> the clutch on, as it detatches the engine from the gears and
>> accelerator, so the car glides around the corner.

by **Graeme Nas** » Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:00

I have the Clutch assigned to the gearstick on my NASCAR Pro. It's kinda
halfway between being analogue and digital and allows me to get very
good starts.

--
Cheers!
Graeme Nash

http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk
ICQ# 11257824
________________________________________________________________________________
"Sorry, my eyes were on screensaver"

(Calvin & Hobbes)

by **5th Docto** » Sun, 23 May 1999 04:00:00

After about 50 practice starts using a clutch button, I have abandoned that
technique.
I cannot seem to get off the line straight with a competitive speed. So
I'll go back to
crunching first gear, taking my chances, spinning the tires, softshifting,
hoping turn 1 is clean,
racing into the night, listening to the wife giggle as I lean into the
turns, etc.

--
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
the 5th Doctor
"4 out of 5 Doctors recommend yadayadayada"
My Rx: two Chee-tos every two minutes, with soda.
followed by intense *** till you die.
adjust setup and sound for pain.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

>If this was the real world, at racing speeds coasting is one of the best
>ways to find yourself eating a tree.

>Mark

>>> It's sometimes easier to go around difficult and twisty corners with
>>> the clutch on, as it detatches the engine from the gears and
>>> accelerator, so the car glides around the corner.

by **Griffin, the Slay** » Sun, 23 May 1999 04:00:00

>Have to agree with Griffin here.

Thank you!
:)

Using an automatic gearbox in GPL slows your car down a bit (it's a
penalty), so it's best not to use it at all, unless you're still
learning how to control the cars.

Griffin, the Slayer

by **Griffin, the Slay** » Sun, 23 May 1999 04:00:00

On Fri, 21 May 1999 19:39:55 +0100, "Mark Seery"

>If this was the real world, at racing speeds coasting is one of the best
>ways to find yourself eating a tree.

So a lot of people say. For example, when I race motorcycles I have
often found myself increasing my lap times and positions by coasting a
just a tad around corners which should be taken a little slower. If I
were to use the brake it would slow me down too much. Use the
accelerator and I'd crash. Coasting however simply uses gravity to
slow the bike down.

Simple!

by **Mark Seer** » Sun, 23 May 1999 04:00:00

I'll put it to you this way. If you was coasting on a British driving test,
you would automatically fail in most cases.

I don't fully understand the dynamics of a motorcycle under cornering but in
a car, there is a lot more stability to be had by having the clutch engaged
and having the diff doing it's stuff. I agree that constant speed can be
attained mid corner but should only be done under full assistange of the
drive train. Go look up some driver interviews over the years. It is amazing
how many racers have gone off on corners after failing to engage a gear or
getting the wrong one.

Sounds like a lack of sensitivity on your part using the brakes. You are
either braking too early or too hard for too long.

Again. It depends on how you use it. Sure if you floor the gas mid corner
you are going to get high sided every time.

Coasting however simply uses gravity to

Sorry to nit pick here. Coasting uses friction not gravity to slow down.
That is unless you are running up hill ;-)

Cheers mate

Mark
!

rec.autos.simulators

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???

What's all this talk about a clutch???