autoX - first gear
 

So I just had my first autoX event this weekend and I think I did decent considering my skill level. However, once I got out of the gate and was in second, I stayed there the entire time and I feel like if I could have kept my revs above 5000 rpm in a few places, I could have easily shaved a few seconds off my time.

Does anyone actually use first gear while tracking for anything other than accelerating out of the gate? The dip in the torque band is killer. I dont know if I should be using first more or if it is frowned upon.

Depends on how tight the course is but I feel like it usually isn't worth it to try downshifting. TBH I don't think power supply is something you need to worry about for the time being. Instead try to focus on your line, as that is where you will see the biggest improvements. Shifting is really a more "advanced" technique in autox.

I've seen some people in other cars drop down to 1st gear, but the time it takes to jam (and I do mean jam) the car in first gear and then re-shift back to 2nd gear takes more time than you'll gain.

Also, downshifting into first at speed is pretty hard. Unless you double clutch it will take decent amount of time to get the synchronizers spun up enough to allow first gear to engage.

I have a slightly related question. The course setup for me was a short straight leading into a tight left-hand turn and I would hit the limiter in first right in the middle of the turn. Is it better to ride out the limiter until I'm accelerating again, shift to second before the turn, or shift in the middle?

Get in second and stay in second, going to first is never worth it. If your looking back at the run you did, and you find there was a corner where you had to consider it, very likely the line you're running could use some refinement, or in the worst case scenario, course designer built a stupid corner.

In the same or similar circumstances I would always shift BEFORE the turn, and before even turning the steering wheel into the turn. Get that out of the way first, then focus on getting the turn correct.

Sometimes trade-offs are required for the fastest lap time, not segment time.

Does that make sense? :)

The only people I've seen regular shift into 1st was with the old AP1 S2000 so they could stay in the VTEC RPM. On our cars it's just not worth it unless you are at a really really slow autocross with a 180 turnaround around a cone or something.

It would be a very odd autox design that ever required first gear from our cars. Plan on using second gear for the duration of your autox career. ;)

On occasion I've seen 'Vette drivers use first gear to their advantage, but their cars are rather different from ours.

Yeah, the first two times I really wasn't thinking about it and ended up shifting mid-turn which was almost certainly the worst idea. After that I was screwing around trying to decide between first all the way through and what you suggested.

Everytime you shift...it costs you up to 2-3/10s... so the majority of folks get to 2nd gear and leave it there.. thats why the gearing and powerband is sooo important. most autocross courses don't much go over 60mph... but its nice to have the extra gearing to surpass that if possible, achieving it with A) taller tires... or B) With a raised rev-limit.. mine is set at 8k which renders 64.2 mph.. which should be plenty to be able to just leave it in 2nd gear. :)

Bill

Of all the guys I auto-x with, it was typically the Honda guys that were concerned with staying in VTEC that would use 1st gear. I never did with my Miata.