Downshifting

Comments on Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
#1

Just a note on Cecil’s column about downshifting. All the talk about the physics of cornering is great, but mostly misses the point. Use your brakes to slow down, whether on the track or on the street. (I assume the “racing” referred to is road racing, you hardly ever bother to shift on oval tracks. And on a road circuit you just don’t have time to use compression braking - if you are driving competitively you are on either the gas or the brake.)

For normal street driving, it’s not the cost of the clutch mechanism but the cost of the engine rebuilding that governs - engine work costs a lot more than brake pads or clutches. And it is the engine that suffers from excessive use as a brake, not the clutch.

On the other hand, if you are Juan Manuel Fangio and lose both the clutch AND the brakes in your Ferrari, and you STILL win the race (I forget where), then you really know a lot about compression braking, not to mention how to synchronize engine/tailshaft RPM. But few of us could do that.

#2

Hi, Ged! Ed! G! G.Edwards! Whatever! Welcome! Say, Arnold Winkelried likes it when we post a link to the column you’re talking about, and we like to keep Arnold happy because he’s Swiss and he has Connections to the International Financial Conspiracy.

So I’ll post it for ya, seein’ as how you’re new here, so you shouldn’t have any problems with the ATM the next time you use it.

To slow a stick-shift car, should you brake or downshift?

:slight_smile:

BTW, you might want to check out the discussion over at the other Downshifting thread. :wink: There’s more people over there…

#3

Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment.
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Cecil’s column can be found on-line at the link provided by the helpful Duck Duck Goose, who will be rewarded with a few extra Andrew Jacksons next time she uses the ATM.

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