1 Day Formula/MX-5 racing school

[M3Perfection]

The cars I will be in have no wings, and a 4 spd maual that requires double clutching right?

[dalyduo]

The old school cars with no wings and a four speed crash box are all gone. You will be learning in the winged race series cars with a five speed sequential box. They phased out the old school cars last year as it was easier and cheaper to maintain the same car for teaching and racing. Sadly this will no longer afford the opportunity to learn and practice double clutching.

Originally Posted by M3Perfection

The cars I will be in have no wings, and a 4 spd maual that requires double clutching right?

[M3Perfection]

Interesting. Well, I can't practice timing my throttle blips in my truck then....sounds like less to worry about though. Is left foot braking a possibility? or is the steering shaft in the way?

[dalyduo]

The footwell is tight and the steering shaft is between your legs. It's almost physically impossible though I've heard a couple people with small feet claim they can. For all practical purposes... you can't left foot brake in the open wheel cars.

You do need to blip during downshifts, but you do it with the clutch in to match revs. It's easier than double clutching because you don't have the extra cycle of releasing the clutch reving the motor and depressing the clutch again to complete your downshift.

I recall it feeling strange to blip without going through the double pump but you'll pick it up quickly.

Originally Posted by M3Perfection

Interesting. Well, I can't practice timing my throttle blips in my truck then....sounds like less to worry about though. Is left foot braking a possibility? or is the steering shaft in the way?

[M3Perfection]

Do you push foreward to downshift? Sorry for all the questions, the more time I have to correct the suppositions I have made, the better. I am used to pulling back for upshifts on sequential gearbox simulators, so I would like to reverse it if I need to. That would make a good sticky, a good rundown of the general workings and layout of the car for those members yet to have seen the formula cars, let alone driven them. A beginners orientaion.

[dalyduo]

No problem,

Your experience with the simulators will serve you well. Upshifts are a pull back toward you and downshifts are a push forward.

For upshifts pre load the shifter back toward you and then crack out of the throttle and it will slide up to the next gear without using the clutch. Downshifts are best using the clutch with a throttle blip to match the revs.

Originally Posted by M3Perfection

Do you push foreward to downshift? Sorry for all the questions, the more time I have to correct the suppositions I have made, the better. I am used to pulling back for upshifts on sequential gearbox simulators, so I would like to reverse it if I need to. That would make a good sticky, a good rundown of the general workings and layout of the car for those members yet to have seen the formula cars, let alone driven them. A beginners orientaion.

[M3Perfection]

Thank you, very helpful. Glad to know I didn't mislead myself....I hate to keep asking questions, is there a spec sheet aside from what is listed on the Skip Barber website. That way I won't waste anyone's time asking about details that I probably should not worry about in the first place. I would just like to understand my tools so I can use them efficiently. Thanks for your patience!

[Tireman]

Originally Posted by dalyduo

......The footwell is tight and the steering shaft is between your legs. It's almost physically impossible though I've heard a couple people with small feet claim they can. For all practical purposes... you can't left foot brake in the open wheel cars.....

Pat, don't forget, Trent Hindman left foot brakes exclusively, and wins a lot !!

Viz

[GT-Subject]

Originally Posted by Tireman

Pat, don't forget, Trent Hindman left foot brakes exclusively, and wins a lot !!

Viz

Viz - don't forget - that kid's a midget!!! Well, he is a kid after all under - easily under 5'5"......Hold it, Viz how tall are you??? Have you been left foot braking all this time???? Thats why you are getting so fast!!! Ah Hah!!

[Tireman]

Originally Posted by GT-Subject

Viz - don't forget - that kid's a midget!!! Well, he is a kid after all under - easily under 5'5"......Hold it, Viz how tall are you??? Have you been left foot braking all this time???? Thats why you are getting so fast!!! Ah Hah!!

I opted not to comment on Trent's height.....after all, I'm no giant myself. But, as Phil Lombardi said, we (Phil, Trent, myself, and all of those little folks) are of "proper (height) stature" when it comes to racing.

Viz

[dalyduo]

Trent is a terrific driver and an even better kid but he's the size of a gnome. You can easily left foot brake a skippy formula car if your shoes came from a Ken doll. The pedal box is so tight my relatively normal size 11 single right shoe will hang up on the brake pedal edge while attempting to transfer from gas to brake if I'm not careful. Hats off to anyone who can do it but I couldn't left foot brake those cars if my life depended on it. We could do a poll about it but I'm pretty sure the vast majority can't get their foot under the steering column to make it happen.

Originally Posted by Tireman

Pat, don't forget, Trent Hindman left foot brakes exclusively, and wins a lot !!

Viz

[rcote]

Remember another thing that helps out the smaller guys with left foot braking is that in the xs sized cars the pedal box is closer to the driver. With that setup there is a greater distance between the floor and the steering shaft. That combined with smaller feet make left foot braking possible for the smaller fellas.