How and Why to Shift Gears Using the Double Clutch

Double clutching is a method for downshifting that gives you smoother transitions and lowers the wear on your transmission. It’ll prolong your transmissions life and giving you an overall smoother ride. You will, of course, need a manual transmission.

Double-clutching is usually only used by truck drivers or race-car drivers, but if you have a manual transmission, you can double-clutch. It’s easy.

Usually with a manual trans, you depress the clutch, put the shifter in the next gear, and release the clutch. Double clutching adds another step. Instead of going from one gear right to another gear, you stop in neutral and release the clutch momentarily and tap the gas. Doing this allows the engine to speed up a bit so the transition into the next gear goes more smoothly. It only takes a split second to get the gear speeds matched, so it’s all done as a nice fluid movement. So it goes like this: you want to change gears > press clutch > shift to neutral > release clutch > tap the gas > press clutch again > shift to next gear > release clutch. Done and done.

Here’s a video showing how it’s done:

There is a debate about double-clutching though, since most modern cars have a device called a synchronizer that helps match the speed of the gearbox with that of the engine. Some people say this eliminates the need for double-clutching. Still, double-clutching usually makes for a smoother ride and puts less stress on the gearbox. Either way, it’s an easy skill to learn and it’s good to know.

Steve McQueen, king of the double-clutch

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Internet Radio in Your Automobile

I love internet radio, it has more selection than satellite radio and it’s free. Granted most of its crap, but still, even if only 10% of internet radio stations are any good, they still have satellite beat. And remember: free. So why don’t we have it in our cars? The technology obviously exists, I can surf the internet on my tiny little phone. And cheaper manufacturing costs means it’s economically feasible, so whats up?

Most new cars already have small computers and some level of connectivity, but they’re still not interactive the way personal computers are. Microsoft has apparently come out with a new service called “Microsoft Live Search for Devices”, which would allow automakers to install localized search services on in-car navigation systems.

But that’s a proprietary software and system that only lets you do what it wants you to do.
I don’t want that, I don’t want the navigation system sending my location to Microsoft headquarters in real time so they can decide which advertisements to buffet me with. I want the freedom I have with my laptop now.

It really can’t be that hard to install some laptop parts, even low end ones, with a small screen and fold down keyboard where the ashtray usually is. I don’t smoke anyway. And while we’re making up imaginary products, let’s take Microsoft out of the equation. Make it open-source, or at least make it transparent enough so that I can uninstall the Microsoft OS and install one of my own choosing.

I’m really not talking about nuclear physics here, this is do-able. This is easy.
Internet car radio is actually easy enough to do yourself:

The data service shown in the demo is the Sprint Power Vision unlimited for $14.99/month. No additional subscription fees or special software on the phone were required for the radio. It all worked, 100%, out of the box.

And that’s fantastic, but I want the whole package, the whole computer. Does anyone out there have any laptop+car hacks? Anything interesting? Let me know, write it in the comments.

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Video: Heinricy on 2009 CTS-V’s 7:59.32 lap at the Nurburgring

Heinricy who? John Heinricy is a noted racecar driver who has a long established career with GM. He previously served as an assistant chief engineer for Chevrolet’s Corvette and is now Director...

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Ultra Light Electric Roadster from Evisol brings ThoRR to the Streets

…But a rather quiet “God of Thunder” ThoRR has become (comic book reference… could not resist).

Evisol is yet another Scandinavian company that is looking to provide EV solutions to the growing problem of global high fuel costs. Unlike like the Norwegian company TH!NK that is bringing cost effective budget rides to North America this Fall, the Netherlands based Evisol is dishing out a bit more wind-in-the-face fun with their all electric ThoRR roadster.

Inspired in design by the Lotus 7 roadster chassis the ThoRR roadster is what a primitive roadster is all about, except it derives its motive power from electric motors fueled by lithium batteries and not V8 engines fed on gasoline. The electric powered motors give the ThoRR a rather ominous, erie quiet as it propels down the road (as evidenced in the video that follows).

We use the term primitive because the ThoRR roadster does not have any of the refined attributes of cars today. The concept behind the ThoRR roadster is simplicity, but it is best described on the website itself:   “This concept stands for high performance through simplicity and light weight. Because of the absence of ABS, power assisted braking, power assisted steering, any form of sound absorption, even a roof and a windshield, only the basics of a car remain.” [ThoRR.eu]

That simplicity holds true when you look at the weight of the car and its maximum power output. (more…)

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Video: 5th Gear Gives the World its First Double-Decker Smart ForTwo… “Smashing!”

From the Creative minds at the British show 5th Gear comes the idea of stacking two two seaters to make a four seater. Four bolts, a small lift and some iron… uh… nerves gives us the worlds first double-decker Smart ForTwo. But how will we know of its capabilities without some very thorough testing? Well they are steps ahead and have acquired a new Mitsubishi “I” car with its 4-doors and room for four seating to provide some “scientific” comparisons.

Just as everything that glitters is not gold… Not everything on four wheels is destined to stay on them. Check out the video below for a taste of what makes the British so Brilliant!

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