Paddle shifters?

[StephenB]

Chris... seriously? I think that this may be true for the US and our roundy round culture like Nascar but I bet any F1, ALMS, WRC, ect, ect, ect, ect, drivers have not driven a racecar with a third pedal in a several years! I think paddle shifters have proven to be faster and more reliable in most of those high level racing series.

If you are talking about a normal everyday automatic then we are on the same page, personally I think you loose lots of car control with your regular old fashioned Automatic 3 speed!

Stephen

[Kai Noeske]

Here is an interesting video on that topic ...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-iNbHhbfcE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-iNbHhbfcE[/ame]



Cross-posted from another forum. I _had_ to!!!

EDIT: changed to new video URL.

[RedMisted]

Chris... seriously? I think that this may be true for the US and our roundy round culture like Nascar but I bet any F1, ALMS, WRC, ect, ect, ect, ect, drivers have not driven a racecar with a third pedal in a several years! I think paddle shifters have proven to be faster and more reliable in most of those high level racing series.

If you are talking about a normal everyday automatic then we are on the same page, personally I think you loose lots of car control with your regular old fashioned Automatic 3 speed!

Stephen

I agree that the top foreigners have not seen the clutch pedal in a while, but they probably had to drive machinery with traditional transmission/drivetrain layouts back in their formative years.

No doubt that the more sophisticated systems are way better in terms of performance and reliability. My whole point was that the traditional systems require a bit more driver involvement, that's all.

Call me a purist, but I will always prefer dancing with the pedals. I do accept that SCCA club racing is going to have to include paddle-shifters on a wholesale basis, because in the future, that's all that car manufacturers are going to be making.

[BruceG]

I agree that the top foreigners have not seen the clutch pedal in a while, but they probably had to drive machinery with traditional transmission/drivetrain layouts back in their formative years.

No doubt that the more sophisticated systems are way better in terms of performance and reliability. My whole point was that the traditional systems require a bit more driver involvement, that's all.

Call me a purist, but I will always prefer dancing with the pedals. I do accept that SCCA club racing is going to have to include paddle-shifters on a wholesale basis, because in the future, that's all that car manufacturers are going to be making.

Chris....IMHO, so much safer with the new paddle shifters. faster to shift and one never has to take one's hands or eyes off the road. I recently drove a new 2010 Subaru Outback with a 6spd manual and a new CVT autotransmission with paddle shifters. The auto gave great,crisp shifts, nice downshifts and very quick!

[GKR_17]

...and a new CVT autotransmission with paddle shifters. The auto gave great,crisp shifts, nice downshifts and very quick!

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but by definition a CVT does not shift gears.

[RSTPerformance]

Greatest Video ever!

Thanks for posting!

Raymond

[BruceG]

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but by definition a CVT does not shift gears.

CVT's usually(or always?) run off a belt but as long as they shift gears, who cares?....LOL

[vr6guy]

I think all the advancements of technologies with transmissions is great. With that said i think some of those advancements should'nt be allowed in the IT racing world. We have to remember that this is entry level racing. Theres already alot of argument about where cars belong in the classes, and what they should be allowed as far as weight is concerned, etc etc. Just imagine what will happen if we allow these different transmissions into the mix.

take it easy on me, its just an opinion and one way to look at it.......

Marc

[BruceG]

I think all the advancements of technologies with transmissions is great. With that said i think some of those advancements should'nt be allowed in the IT racing world. We have to remember that this is entry level racing. Theres already alot of argument about where cars belong in the classes, and what they should be allowed as far as weight is concerned, etc etc. Just imagine what will happen if we allow these different transmissions into the mix.

take it easy on me, its just an opinion and one way to look at it.......

Marc

MArc...I respect your opinion but wouldn't you like to race a Golf with VW's sequential auto box in it? Leave your hands free for steering and wave at the crowd on your victory lap.....LOL. Seriously, thought we shouldn't let any of our classes get to the point of technical stagnation that Formula VEE is at right now.