Stupid Noob AutoX ?

[Radian]

I searched but my question is so stupid no one has ever asked it. I'm wondering what everyone that auto crosses does about 1st gear having no synchro. It seems like it there would be a lot of grinding going on. Do all you autoXers just leave it in second, or get real good at rev matching?Thanks

[Silvia007]

I don't think there are turns sharp enough to go back into first gear... but then again, who knows.

[offtheline]

I usually just leave it in second, but then again... I never do very well in the final standings...

[240marcuSX]

youll probably stay in second, maybe 3rd if theres a long, long straight away, but there wouldnt be any reason to shift back down to first....

[Vicious-S]

i have been in some tight freaking corners where i've had to go down to 1st to get a better time. there was a little grinding, but practice your heel-toe and rev-matching and what have ya and you'll do fine! you may not need to shift down to 1st... but it's good to be able to.

[KRUZNBY]

I've only AutoX'd once, but had a great time. I did find it very annoying not being able to shift into 1st on the hairpin turns, but then again I have no heel-toe skills. I hope to give it a few more tries this summer.

[skydragoness]

i have been in some tight freaking corners where i've had to go down to 1st to get a better time. there was a little grinding, but practice your heel-toe and rev-matching and what have ya and you'll do fine! you may not need to shift down to 1st... but it's good to be able to.

I've always ran in 2nd gear, the courses that i ran on, would put great 'dead-man-boxes' (literally drive into a box set off by cones, then you have to pivot back around a tiny cone) on the course some times. It's knowing the course, and getting your entering and exiting angles correct that really shaves seconds off your time. (that, and never slowing down )

[Ligouri Rd]

Ok, granted I have only Auto Xed four times in total, but I would worry more about your steering and breaking technique than changing gears. You need to learn to carry speed into the corners, that way there is no need to down shift. The second or so it takes to switch gears is a second not on the gas which equals a second off of your time. At one event with a tight 180 degree turn, I pushed the shifter into first with some effort it went in without grinding. Unfortuneately once I let out the clutch and layed on the gas, I lit up both tyres and spun out. Once above 5mph or so second gear requires throttle management to control the rear end anyway. My $.02

[matt4pl]

yea, my 1st auto x i ran totally in 1st gear. the dead man boxes sucked, or garages as we call em. the 2nd one was done in 2nd gear. much better and i actually was able to compete. most of the time, auto-x doesnt exceed the top speed in 2nd or drop so low that you'd have to go into 1st, and if u do find yourself going into 1st, you're probobly going too slow, and by shifting, you're losing more time, and the change in your cars balance while doing so can be devestating ,especially in a corner

[240marcuSX]

wierd how them damn boxes have so many names, i think they call them chicago boxes here? or something like that

[Ceptos]

"and by shifting, you're losing more time, and the change in your cars balance while doing so can be devestating ,especially in a corner"

yes, dont be shifting mid corner =)

[SeVa-S13]

Heh, I never even knew it was possible to downshift into 1st at all. The only times I've tried is when I'm just coasting up to a stoplight and it makes the most horrendous noise. So you can just force it through that evil grind thingy? Interesting...

[Mr1der]

yeah, make sure to rev match though, or you gonna get some savage grinding.

[Altiman94]

I agree with all the above statements. If you have to downshift to first gear, you are either going wayy to slow, or it's a wicked turning course.

[sr20power]

i've been auto-Xing for about ten months now and love it....i'm soooo trying for the points chase at the end of the year, so far 1ST, 5TH, 7TH, 3RD not officially yet :asmile

but it wasn't the last race (04/03/04) is where i had to shift into first gear. or should i say it was better to. i let a friend drive (national champion) and he shifted into first , where i was riding it in second. i don't know how bad your transmission is, but he told me to just apply some pressure to shift in first and it should fall in....it worked for me with no grinding.

hope this helps.....