How consistent are your times?

I can't say for sure, but I'd guess that there were lots of other variables. Certainly their are courses, or portions of courses, that are going to be faster if one downshifts, so there will be times when downshifting results in better times. At the PCA event last month I made one run in second gear, and was nearly two seconds slower, but I think if I'd stuck with it I could have shaved those two seconds off the second gear runs, and maybe some more. However, that's just speculation. I also did a tire smoking burnout on my last two runs, and cut another half second off my best time.

Keep in mind that at an Evolution school you are taught a lot more than just to get into and stay in second gear. The instructors identify the areas where each student needs the most work, so a good part the instruction is extremely individualized. Other parts involve things that will make anyone a little quicker. At the end of the day it all comes together to produce quicker lap times, so it's not just the gear choice.

If you use "look ahead" and "critical cones" your times drop; If you are smooth and have slow hands your times drop; Autocrossing at the level they teach at the Evolution schools takes a huge amount of focus and concentration, and I'm sure shifting gears and having way more thrust than you can use doesn't help. If I were trying to compete at that level I'm sure I'd use second a lot more and first a lot less, but I'm sure there are courses and situations where a downshift is a must.

 

I have shifted into 1st at a hairpin/180 on an autoX course. We had 8 runs that day. Nothing bad happened at the time. It does make for some fun time coming out of the corner when you stand on it.

 

Most of the cars I've driven with >80,000km on them will be pretty crunchy getting into 1st gear at anything above ~8km/h. They'll usually grind, some just won't go in. I wouldn't even attempt a 2->1 downshift without the engine being properly synchronized with the transmission's layshaft - there is simply too much of a ratio difference.

 

Looks like I'll be staying in second for a while. The course I was speaking about was the most technical one that I've been on. It was really cool, but I wasn't fast at all. To give you an idea, the fastest guys were running 53.xxx and my best one was 62.3xx.

Does evolution have a website? A quick google search turned up nothing.

 

Try this link.

I've been autocrossing longer than any of the Evolution instructors, but I still benefit from their schools.

You're about 9 seconds off the pace, so my *guess* is that you're probably not very consistent. If that's the case then I'm almost certain that you'll be able to go faster if you short-shift into second and stay there during your runs. If nothing else that will let you forget about shifting and focus on things like your line and looking ahead. I think an Evolution Phase I school would improve your times dramatically.

 

[QUOTE=gomarlins3,Jun 30 2006, 11:28 PM]I have shifted into 1st at a hairpin/180 on an autoX course. We had 8 runs that day.

 

The second car I ever owned was an MGA. The car didn't have synchros in first, so I had to learn to heal-and-toe and double-clutch early on. I often do a half-double-clutch (you don't need to let the clutch all the way out to spin up the transmission in neutral), but I now consider it a bad habit. As XViper said, the car will downshift very quickly with nothing more than a rev match.

XViper, I think the difference between "wearing in" and "wearing out" is simply a matter of degree. Whether it's synchros or tires, when parts are very new or very old they don't perform as well as they do during most of their lifespan. Wearing out starts as soon as wearing in (breakin) is complete. Our old MX5 is pushing 90,000 miles, has seen uncounted downshifts into first, and the original synchros (and clutch) are still working extremely well. I'll be surprised and a little dissipointed if the S2000 turns out to be any less durable.

 

Like you, I haven't been disappointed yet in this car. However, if you scan this forum over the years, dissappointment abounds, but that is not necessarily the fault of the car.

 

Here's a reveiw of the Evolution Phase I school.

 

That last event was almost like an exception. Before I would be about 5 seconds off the pace and extremely consistent, often times to the tenth. But that event just had 5 or 6 very technical areas where my lack of experience was slowing me down.

Evolution does not have any classes near me unfortunately.