rec.autos.simulators

Can someone out here explain me what "short shifting" really is? I read it in
"four wheel drift" but it isn't really explained.

Jan.

: Can someone out here explain me what "short shifting" really is? I read it in
: "four wheel drift" but it isn't really explained.

  Changing gear before the engine "requires it" - in GPL that means
before the white line on your RPM reaches the maximum indicated by the
red line.  The reason for doing this is that you'll get less torque
doing that which will make the car easier to control (of course it will
also make it slower).

--
Richard G. Clegg     Only the mind is waving
Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York.

www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

Thanks, this explains what it accomplishes but now...... how's it done? (yeah,
I know I'm stupid, sorry for that).

Jan.

:> Short shifting is when the driver up shifts "short of the redline".  The
:> reasons are many.
:> 1    you may save fuel shortshifting.
:> 2    you may shortshift exiting a turn to help reduce wheelspin.
:> 3    you may shortshift to avoid that whiney sound the engine makes at
:> redline ;)
:> 4    shortshifting helps reduce engine wear.
:> I'm sure others will add some here...

: Thanks, this explains what it accomplishes but now...... how's it done? (yeah,
: I know I'm stupid, sorry for that).

  You can only do this if you're not using "automatic gears" - you'll
find GPL is easier this way anyway.  Simple change up a gear earlier
than you normally would and change down a gear later.  I.e. stay in
higher gears for longer.

--
Richard G. Clegg     Only the mind is waving
Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York.

www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

So instead of revving the engine to the limit then changing gear, change
gear slightly early, before the redline or rev limiter is reached.

There are many good reasons to short shift, some of which are as
follows:

It reduces the strain on the engine and gearbox because you are not
revving to the maximum. Thus reducing the risk of a damaged engine or
geabox.

It reduces the chances of wheel spin because you are using lower revs.
Some people short shift when starting, or when entering or driving
through bends, as this is the most likely time when you will suffer from
wheelspin.

It increases fuel economy, which may be important in a race.

Short shifting generally makes the car slightly easier to drive.

The downside to this, is that the car is usually a bit slower (hence
easier to drive) because you are using lower revs, hence less power,
hence less speed. However, when used for cornering it can actually be
quicker to use the short shifting method (as in the slow in, fast out
technique).

Generally people short shift during racing to take advantage of the
reasons stated above, but in hotlapping people generally rev to the max
to obtain every last ounce of acceleration. But this obviously places
huge strains on the car as mentioned above, which is why you do not want
to do it all the time, lap after lap, during a race.

*Peter*     8-)

*Peter*     8-)

But I think you will find that double-declutching is a
thow-back to very early cars where you had to dis-engage the clutch
change into neutral, them dis-engage the clutch a second time
to change to the next gear, not sure about the reasons you had to do this
though.

Mark
London UK
Yamaha TRX850

I've never used automatic shifting and/or braking help b.t.w. What makes you think
I did?

If I understand it correct: Short shifting is some sort of preserving your engine
(by not over revving), right?
What about shifting itself: I find it rather difficult to get the timing right
(especially with the LWFF pedals) between releasing the throttle, shift and back on
(full) throttle. Every now and then I'm a bit out of phase (so to say) and notice I
accomplish the opposite: The gearbox is overrevving way into the redzone. any tips
on this one?

(I have the feeling this is why I almost never finish an int. long session: My
engine fails at a certain point (lack of power and a very nervous rpm-needle))

Jan.

            Zog

[Please don't be offended if you already knew the following. I'm just making
sure - and maybe it'll still help someone who just bought the game.]

Hmm, just check one more thing there. The fuel pressure. That sounds exactly
like GPL's out-of-fuel behaviour.

Sadly, the gauges were left out of the documentation coming with the game. Go
to

http://www.voicenet.com/~jeffreyh/gpl/gplgauges.html

and find out where the fuel pressure gauge is in your car. Check it, and if it
has started dropping when this occurs, you're simply running out of fuel.

(BTW, you can also get a numerical reading of the fuel pressure in the F10
external view).

Cheers,
    /ft

If you downshift, you blip the throttle to make the engine rpm match
the speed of the drivetrain in the new, lower gear. If you shift up a
gear and double-declutch properly, you slow down the input shaft of
the gearbox to a level that matches the ratio for the new, higher
gear.

I use this method sometimes when driving older cars with worn
gearboxes. If you ever drive a car which is hard to put into gear, try
it. Old trucks react most favorably to this procedure. With them,
changing a gear takes so long it is easy to get the timing right.

--
Wolfgang Preiss   \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.