Back in the old days with drum brakes down shifting was a must
to get any kind of speed reduction and brake longevity (at the track).
With the introduction of disk brakes by jaguar at Lemans in the 40's (?)
this become unnecesary. also , engine braking only loads the rear wheels
and combined with normal biased brakes still puts too much braking at the
rear(can you say off throttle oversteer boys and girls?)j/k
proper cornering technique with a modded street car (generally accepted)
is to get all of your brakeing done in a straight line, down to your
cornering speed, and choose the correct gear before the entrance to the
corner. Now you want to balence brakes and throttle, to not upset the fine
balenceing act at max g's through the corner.
Heel and toe or left footbraking are the technics used.
Lift on the brakes or the throttle and "good bye"
This allows a very late apex and still carry speed. Just past or at the apex
is the time to gentley dial in more throttle just enough to shoot out ot he
corner but not too much to cause any oversteer (this scrubs off speed)
Now you focus on clean shifts and prepare to do it all over again at the
next corner.
When you get it righ, corner after corner, the feeling is such a rush
do it consistantly lap after lap and you will lots of brakes and clutch left.
I have learned this at various performance driving schools at race tracks
in canada. I have also instructed at
The Porsche Advances drivers school
Audie Experience
and Mercedes Driving Excellance
this style is not the only way through a corner but it is one way that
will yeild consistant results
every car is differrent an so might need a variation to this technique
I wouldn't hold the clutch in at stops. This causes premature wear to the throw out bearing. 1st is typically pretty tough to get into at speed. The synchros take a bit longer to engage due to the speed you're asking the layshaft to make up. I don't shift down to 1st in normal driving. I usually drop it into neutral after second is wound down.
