Launching through a corner. How's it done?

[RallyEclipse98]

So I've searched for answers and have a handle on launching from a straight stop, but what about launching through a corner? When I stop and go into a turn in first gear I'm redlining before I make the turn and I'm not about to shift in the middle of a high speed turn, so should I start in second? I like the power of first better though. So how's it properly done to be effective? Thanks.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

Why would you be launching in a turn?

You have to weigh your options. Do you want to start off hard and keep it in first gear to be stuck and slow coming out of the turn or would you rather put it into second gear, go in slow, and come out fast? I like the go in slow/come out fast option better.

 

[RallyEclipse98]

It's because it's really easy to redline out of a turn in first gear. I suppose I will start in second.

 

[JOEY A]

Our cars have understeer, so if your going to fast that means you might be pushing the car to hard and scrubbing off speed...


On a sidenote, I understand were your coming from with this idea but im not sure how your trans is going to like it

 

[RallyEclipse98]

On a sidenote, I understand were your coming from with this idea but im not sure how your trans is going to like it

That's why I don't want to shift through any corners. Hmm...... I feel like I'm going in circles with this question.

 

[Slow old poop]

So I've searched for answers and have a handle on launching from a straight stop, but what about launching through a corner? When I stop and go into a turn in first gear I'm redlining before I make the turn and I'm not about to shift in the middle of a high speed turn, so should I start in second? I like the power of first better though. So how's it properly done to be effective? Thanks.

This must be an autocross or rally question, not a road racing question.

What do you mean, "When I stop and go into a turn in first gear,"? Stop? Where are you stopping? Is it a gymkhana?

If this IS a road racing question, then you are doing something very wrong. In road racing, you never go down to first, and rarely even into second. On most courses, you usually can run the whole thing in 3rd, 4th and 5th, with just an occasional shift down to 2nd.

 

[talonTSIDriver]

I never have shifted down into 1st in an auto-x. What I would suggest doing is try it once one way, then try it again the other way. I usually find it easier to leave it in the one gear higher then to run one gear lower and be bouncing off the rev-limiter. Not to mention how hard that is on your car to be over 7k rpm’s through a turn.

 

[mavisky]

I guess I'm with the others.. I have no idea why you're "stopping" and then trying to launch in the middle of the corner. Just leave it in second or deal with the shift if it's really that slow.

 

[Slow old poop]

I guess I'm with the others.. I have no idea why you're "stopping" and then trying to launch in the middle of the corner. Just leave it in second or deal with the shift if it's really that slow.

Then, of course, there are the autocrosses that are held on postage-stamp-size parking lots, where you run the whole thing in 1st and 2nd gear. Gawd, I hate those. I ran one of those in my 3000GT and some guy came up to me afterward and said, "Cool, dude! How do you get wheelspin on all four tires like that?" If that's the case, find a Covette Club autocross, where they cater to bigger cars, and you might see a top speed of 80 mph, and get out of 2nd gear for a change.

 

[talonTSIDriver]

...you run the whole thing in 1st and 2nd gear. Gawd, I hate those.

I second that, those events are usually put on by the honda guys. they like slow speeds and extremely tight turns.

 

[RallyEclipse98]

Ugh, well I got the answer to the question. "He is saying on a tight auto-x course that he needs to shift out of first before he is thru the first corner...
my advice short shift to second just as you are about to enter the turn or just as you start to feed in steering... you don't have to be at redline to shift.
Hell you can turn in too tight and nail it after shifting mid corner and AWDs will carry you out in a 4 wheel drift." -From Attack Eagle over on T2G.

 

[JrCRXHF]

Ugh, well I got the answer to the question. "He is saying on a tight auto-x course that he needs to shift out of first before he is thru the first corner...
my advice short shift to second just as you are about to enter the turn or just as you start to feed in steering... you don't have to be at redline to shift.
Hell you can turn in too tight and nail it after shifting mid corner and AWDs will carry you out in a 4 wheel drift." -From Attack Eagle over on T2G.

I agree with the short shift. We had an even this year that right off the start you went 20 ft and then hard a 180 turn to a slalom and it was to open of a 180 to do in first but yet it was on the bottom of second. It was really cold and light rain that day i had more fun with a AWD slide that day on that turn then should have been allowed i am sure it might not have been the fastest way around but still was pretty quick.

 

[talonTSIDriver]

I agree with the short shift. We had an even this year that right off the start you went 20 ft and then hard a 180 turn to a slalom and it was to open of a 180 to do in first but yet it was on the bottom of second. It was really cold and light rain that day i had more fun with a AWD slide that day on that turn then should have been allowed i am sure it might not have been the fastest way around but still was pretty quick.

For a course like you mentioned, it would be better to shift into 2nd right before the 180degree turn and leave it in 2nd. What I would also do to is while going around the turn, brake with your left foot and take your right foot and give it part throttle. That way you will fly out of that turn at full boost. This does take some practice however.