America’s cars are mostly driven with automatic transmission. There are only a few stick shift cars used on public roads. This makes things rather difficult for the aspiring racer. The real racers out there would argue that being a competent race car driver would entail that you begin your learning by mastering the methods of using the clutch in manually driven cars. Here are a few tips.
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1. Find the sweet spot
There is always that clutch height at which your car will start to move forward even without you stepping on the gas. Be very comfortable and familiar with this level because this first step is essential to mastery. When you’re a beginner, do a series of repetitions on a comfortable stretch of concrete by alternating between reverse and first gear. This also creates the habit of using the clutch to bring the car to a full stop.
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2. Don’t ride the clutch pedal.
Once you’re a master at the initial bursts of forward movement, you’re now ready to go for longer stretches. This would entail shifting up and shifting down. It is crucial that you develop the habit of letting your foot off the clutch pedal when you are committed to accelerating on gear. Riding the clutch is a half-baked way of driving that wears down on your clutch system, which is bad for your car.
3. Brake first before engaging the clutch.
A lot of new stick shift drivers make the mistake of engaging the clutch right away when coming to a full stop. After a stretch, slow down your vehicle by removing your foot off the gas pedal and pressing on the brakes, once the car is almost about to stop, that’s when you step on the clutch.
Steve B. Liefschultz is a NASCAR enthusiast who loves competitive racing. Discover more of his passions and read his blog here.
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