






Step 1: Apply Brakes

While approaching a given corner on a track, take your right foot off the gas and rapidly apply the brakes to the desired pressure, while moving your right hand onto the shifter. 

-This should be as quick as possible, so time lost transferring from throttle to brakes is minimized.
-Your left hand should still be firmly placed on the steering wheel.
-The instructions here are given for a left hand drive car, so hand movements in a right hand drive car will be opposite of these instructions.
-Place your left foot onto the clutch pedal if it is resting off to the side so you are ready for the next step.

*Note: Avoid stomping on or mashing the brake pedal, as you do not want to lock the brakes of the car up. Locking the brakes will cause the car to become unresponsive, uncontrollable, and not stop quickly enough (i.e. lost time on track).

I know I'm way late but if somebody could help me out that'd be awesome.
Man, I have been doing what you described. Haven't experienced any issue. Also wondering why there is a need to put to neutral. Let me know if you have found out the answer.
Why do you shift the car into neutral before changing gear? Couldn't you just keep the clutch down, blip the throttle, and go right into the next gear without having to put the shifter into the neutral position?
No it's not the same as &quot;American&quot; anything - it is the same as WRX driving! <br> <br>
I use the Heel-Toe shifting when drifting :-D
Ohh i get it. Thanks! Does engine braking put added wear on the engine? In other words does the benefit of saving brake pads due to engine braking(block, transmission, clutch wear) saves money in the long run. provided you have perfect rev matches.<br>Also, is it better to downshift from 4th gear to 2nd at 6000 rpm or 3rd at 3000rpm(im guessing gear ratios)?<br>@kriley0, I've read somewhere that the ideal(fastest) line for a corner is a somewhat late apex, due to braking power is greater than acceleration power. is this true? its kinda hard to find info online because of noobs in forums.<br>I know that drifting/handbrake turn is better than grip if the corner is too tight, is there any exceptions for this?<br>Thanks a bunch!!!! I cant w8 to get a miata!
You downshift when you need more speed to keep the car in line when in a curve.When you feel you don't have enough power to keep it in line it's already too late : the car is already skidding off the road&hellip;<br><br>I drive my car using downshift capability every day (I'm in Europe and most of us drive manual cars, so I'm nothing of a hero when saying this !!&hellip;).<br><br>What this Inst' doesn't say is that in a tight curve the car will tend to skid : if you control it with you hand brake you can get out of the curve much faster and gain precious seconds by controlling the skid&hellip; But then this is car racing at a higher lever than this Inst' and just another matter. DON'T USE YOUR HAND BRAKE ON THE ROAD : YOUR LIABLE TO RUIN YOUR CAR, YOUR HEALTH AND OTHER PEOPLE LIVES !&hellip;<br>Also this Inst' is on heel-toe downshifting : this also is for car racing, DON'T DO IT ON THE ROAD, as you may well loose the control of your car by getting mixed up with clutch, brake, speed, etc !&hellip;<br><br>This said, downshifting is very handy on daily driving because of 4 reasons why.<br>1) You are always on the good speed / engine rpm ratio : your car will live longer and your mechanic will like you less as he won't see you so often ; <br>2) you have a good use of your engine brake : which is a true benefit as it helps to slow down the car in a very smooth and effective way &hellip;&nbsp;plus your brakes will last longer &hellip;<br>3) In a curve, when you downshift at the exact moment your car will &quot;engine brake&quot; while coming into the curve and just a spilt second after will gain speed at the crucial moment in the curve when it is needed to keep the car in line and not skid off the road in an uncontrolled manner&hellip;&nbsp;<br>Remember speed keeps you in line when in a curve.<br>4) It makes for comfortable driving for passengers : when the driver only uses his foot brake he has to constantly adjust his / her speed in the curve giving small pulses to the brakes which results with a sensation of being constantly jerked&hellip;&nbsp;<br>Not so when downshifting a regular car (or with and automatic car !&hellip;)<br><br>Downshifting comes naturally to any driver who drives a regular car. You may try it without qualms.<br>Don't worry too much, don't ask too many questions ; just do it (but skip the heel-toe combination : which is meant to keep constant power to the engine in order to gain milliseconds in a curve, you don't need this to drive kids at school&hellip;).<br>Practice in curvy back roads, driving slowly (using 3rd and 2nd gear for instance) then you'll gain confidence and it will become second nature.<br>When I taught my daughter how to drive, she could do it the third time she was at the wheel, and she mastered it pretty fast. She was 15 at the time and it was just a taste of how a complex machine as a car could be mastered&hellip;&nbsp;Now she's like most Europeans and she uses it moderately I guess &hellip;&nbsp;and for the benefit of all !&hellip; (But no heel-toe !&hellip;)&nbsp;<br><br>Don't rush, don't race&hellip;&nbsp;use this as an extra tool that will give you more confidence with your car and your driving abilities.<br><br>Maybe you'll want to do more : at this point this will become heel-toe, and hand brake skidding, car racing and having pleasure on a dedicated circuit. But that is an entirely different matter.<br><br>A personal example, to show you how natural downshifting can become. Last May I rented a car at the Albuquerque N.M. Airport. T'was years I didn't drive an automatic car. At the 1st stop my left foot searched frantically for the clutch as I had the reflex to downshift and engine brake !!!&hellip; Resulted in coming too fast at the stop and had to crush the brake pedal and almost stalled the car. No harm done : it was 11:30pm and the road was empty as a dried arroyo in august. Rest of the ride was uneventful &hellip;&nbsp;but for a while I remained somewhat uncomfortable with my automatic car !!&hellip; <br>So it's all a matter of habit and practice. <br>And practice is mainly common sense !!!!&hellip;<br>Best wishes<br>:D
I think the &quot;double-clutching&quot; technique is used primarily in drag racing. I'm not really familiar with it and have never understood it....I also am pretty unfamiliar with drag racing.
Your both right. Clutching once into neutral and then again into the next gear is a double de-clutch.<br> <br> Using the right foot to press the throttle whilst also applying the brake is a heel-toe. This technique can be used while single and double de-clutching.<br> <br> Shifting without the clutch is skip shifting, which also often uses the heel-toe to rev match. Coincidentally this one of the more preferred drag racing techniques as you only ever upshift.<br> <br> People argue A LOT about double de-clutching in racing, for me personally it boils down to whether you want to put more wear on your synchros (Single) or your clutch assembly (Double). But its a pretty moot point either way, modern drivetrains can take a lot of abuse on both of these components and come rebuild time you'll replace both of them anyway. I prefer single clutching with a rev match as it's the fastest option.
Exactly, it is all about staying in the engine's power band. Nothing like coming out of a corner with no power because you are not at correct gear/rpm combination.<br><br>If you want difficult, take a look at the motorcycle road racers who have to do this with the brake and gas on the same hand!
love your miata what year is it<br>

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