Came back from my first HPDE event about a week ago and was thinking over one thing my instructor told me to do. He told me that when I brake, I shouldn't press in the clutch at the same time. I was thinking about it, and can't exactly figure out why that matters. Does it matter? And isn't that not so good for the engine?

 

Braking and using the clutch are only sort of related. Basically, you use the clutch to shift and to keep the engine from stalling. You use the brakes to slow the car down and/or to transfer weight forward.

The basic answer is to use the brakes when you need the brakes, and use the clutch when you need the clutch. Sometimes this will be the same time, sometimes it will not be.

I know that's probably not the answer you are looking for, but IMO is it counter-productive to be asking "should I use the clutch and the brakes together?"

Typically on the track, when you first enter a braking zone you need the brakes but not the clutch. As your speed slows down and it gets to be time to downshift, that's when you use the clutch.

If you are just beginning, you are probably doing the classic "first brake, then downshift, then turn in" routine. In that case, you will not be using the clutch while you are braking. As your skills progress and you begin heel-and-toeing and trail braking, you will eventually be braking and shifting (and using the clutch to shift) and turning all together. But that's something you work up to.

 

Your instructor could have also been trying to rid you of the tendancy to "coast" into turns with the clutch in which a lot of newbies do. In short, you clutch should be in only long enough to shift.

If you coast in, your revs will drop and then it will be very unsettling to the car when your let it back out.

edit: typo

 

Bluntly put:

You only use the clutch to shift.

 

 

Thanks. I'll only use the clutch at the very end. I was toe and heeling, although not super smoothly. I can't see how you wouldn't unless you're really coasting a long time or you're going way under the limit.

Trail braking, well, that's another matter. Won't be trying that anytime soon until I get my transitions to be super smooth and consistent.

 

If you are downshifting multiple gears, you may use the clutch several times during the time you are braking.

For instance, I head in to T2 at Pacific Raceways in 5th gear in the mid-8000 rpms (call it 125 mph). I get on the brakes hard. As I'm slowing down (not immediately, but when the speed drops to about 100 or so), I put the clutch in, blip the throttle, shift to 4th, take the clutch out. Brakes still on hard. A moment later (as the speed has dropped to about 80 or so) I put the clutch in, blip the throttle, shift to 3rd, take the clutch out. About now I am easing back on the braking, but I still have them applied. I've dropped to about 70 mph. Just after the clutch comes back out I turn in. I ease off the brakes and transition immediately to the throttle (but smoothly!). I keep on maintenance throttle for quite a while (T2 is a LONG sweeper), and then when I can finally see the trackout point I get harder on the throttle and throttle steer my way out to it.

 

okay i have a question.. i am still kinda new to driving a stick. is it bad to just put the car in neutral and then use your brake to stop at a light?

 

I sure hope not, I've been doing that for 20 years.

 

It's not bad for the car, but I never want to be in a situation where I might need to give the car some gas for some emergency situation, and it's in neutral. I don't put the car in neutral until it's stopped at the light. Personal preference only.