17 replies to this topic

[MovieMaestro]

As a Bond fan and a car enthusiast (who happily drives a stick shift everyday and gets car magazines in the mail each month), I love reading the many car-chase passages that Fleming wrote. However, I'm puzzled by what he frequently refers to (but doesn't explain) as a "racing change." It appears in several of his books, sometimes when someone other than Bond is driving a manual transmission car (Dr. No, DAF). I'm assuming it's describing a downshift maneuver, but I'm curious as to what exactly it means. Is it what we would call a heel-and-toe downshift? Or something else entirely?


Not being from Fleming's era, and not being British, is there anyone who can help out with this definition?

[Jim]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's a clutchless gear* change.

Involves timing the road speed and engine speed just right so there's basically no pressure on the gears - question of timing. I understand olde worlde racing drivers (hence the name) used it because changing gears in an olde worlde racing car took about a month and I suppose it saves time and knocks seconds off a race etc.

In other words Bond is such a brilliant driver and has so many villains to kill and birds to knob that he don't need no clutch, y'know. He don't need none of that. He just ain't got time. He knows just when to judge the change and not mash up his gearbox real bad. Like anyone else would, but they're just peasants, not like Bond. He's super.

*might have been crotchless gear.

[Mister Asterix]

As I understand it, it is changing gears by matching the revs of the engine to your speed rather than using the clutch. I do it sometimes but never have quite perfected it.

EDIT: Ah, Jim beat me to it.

[MovieMaestro]

That would make sense in an old world car (like Bond's Bentley). But I cringe thinking of doing that to my own (modern) car!

[Mister Asterix]

I learned to do the ‘racing change’ because my first car, a used 1983 Ford Escort, had a clutch peddle that would stick part of the way back up so I sometime found it easier to not clutch rather than pulling the peddle back up from underneath with my foot. I still burnt out the clutch, but I like to tell myself that I got an extra few months out of it by using the ‘racing change’ and by shifting from second to fourth when I could.

I can still do the ‘racing change’ in my 2004 Jeep and I’d imagine it’d be possible on most modern manual transmissions. But then why?

[Bryce (003)]

It can also be done with automatic trasmissions presuming that -

A - You know your car and the precise point (RPM's) at which to do such.

B - See point "A"

I've mastered it in the Jaguar without any damage to what is otherwise, probably the perfect ratio for an automatic three speed transmission. Generally, I let it do the work, but, in certain circumstances - Say a J-turn, it proves effective. Depends on the car itself. To each their own.

On a manual, Jim does explain it best above. While both my vehicles are automatics, I still love the feel of a five or six speed. Paddle-shifters are a little over rated IMO, but, with the right driver and vehicle are damn fun.

[marktmurphy]

It can also be done with automatic trasmissions presuming that -

A - You know your car and the precise point (RPM's) at which to do such.

B - See point "A"

I've mastered it in the Jaguar without any damage to what is otherwise, probably the perfect ratio for an automatic three speed transmission. Generally, I let it do the work, but, in certain circumstances - Say a J-turn, it proves effective. Depends on the car itself. To each their own.

You've lost me a little there- you've managed to master changing gear without using the clutch: in an automatic car?


I used to not worry about those passges in Fleming: cars like his original Bentley were bizarre creatures that involved such things as double de-clutching (which I think involves engaging the clutch both before and after changing the gear or something) and as such I can't really grasp! Just take it as it means he's changing gear really fast

[Bryce (003)]

You've lost me a little there- you've managed to master changing gear without using the clutch: in an automatic car?

Certainly there is no clutch, but shifting manually can be done. Granted, it is easier when the gear lever is central as opposed to being in the column and you really need to know the car itself. It's just something you learn over time. A security/offensive driving course helps too. Actually, when you take it with your own car, it helps a lot. You don't want to be the guy that burns out the transmission or rolls it on the course. Thankfully, I was neither.

As to what old Ian wrote or described, who knows? I've sat behind the wheel of a '33 Bentley, but never had one on the road. Shifting and driving was different then. Still be fun to have a go at it though.

[Mister Asterix]

I used to not worry about those passges in Fleming: cars like his original Bentley were bizarre creatures that involved such things as double de-clutching (which I think involves engaging the clutch both before and after changing the gear or something) and as such I can't really grasp! Just take it as it means he's changing gear really fast

Not sure if it’s the same thing but I’ve driven trucks that needed to be double clutched. Essentially it goes like this in first gear, depress clutch, move to neutral, release clutch, depress clutch, move to second gear, release clutch. I never understood the need for it except the fellow that I got the truck from told me that’s how you have to do it. It’s easy so long as you remember, and since I never forgot I can’t tell you what happens if you don’t do it.

You've lost me a little there- you've managed to master changing gear without using the clutch: in an automatic car?

Certainly there is no clutch, but shifting manually can be done...

Well, there is a clutch. But it’s done automatically. I think they call it something like a hydro-slip clutch on automatic transmissions.

[Mark_Hazard]

I remember having to change gear without using the clutch many years ago, on my motorcycle. The clutch cable had snapped at a time that I couldn't afford the AA, so had to make my way home just getting the revs right and then changing - 6 gears over about a 100 mile journey. When I mentioned it to the shop where I had it serviced, MOT'd etc he checked it out and praised me for not damaging anything. When one of my brothers tried it on his bike (thinking that if I could do it, anyone could - all my brothers had high opinions of their riding styles), he managed to do quite a few pounds worth of damage. Don't know if I could manage it with a car mind you.

[Bryce (003)]

Bikes are a whole other creature, but cheers to your success. It's been years since I was up on one.

*thinking*

- First is up, next are down.
- Left = brakes
- Right = clutch
- Throttle is right.

Either I'm going senile or I've reversed some things.

[marktmurphy]

You've lost me a little there- you've managed to master changing gear without using the clutch: in an automatic car?

Certainly there is no clutch, but shifting manually can be done. Granted, it is easier when the gear lever is central as opposed to being in the column and you really need to know the car itself. It's just something you learn over time.

I don't think I'm quite getting you- I've driven an old 5.3 Jag with a three speed auto box myself; if you want to hold it in gear or change gear you simply move the lever to the gear you want- there's nothing more to it, is there?

Not sure if it’s the same thing but I’ve driven trucks that needed to be double clutched. Essentially it goes like this in first gear, depress clutch, move to neutral, release clutch, depress clutch, move to second gear, release clutch. I never understood the need for it except the fellow that I got the truck from told me that’s how you have to do it. It’s easy so long as you remember, and since I never forgot I can’t tell you what happens if you don’t do it.

Heh- that's fun. Reminds me of how the synchromesh on my old mini was rather knackered so in order to change down a gear you'd have to blip the throttle in order to get the revs to match so you could get the damn lever in! Rather fun, actually- required proper heel and toe action every time!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Don't racing drivers these days still use double declutching?

[marktmurphy]

Don't racing drivers these days still use double declutching?

Depends what racing you're talking about. I suppose some historic racers would, but most modern racers have sequential gearboxes. F1 cars don't have clutch pedals at all.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Don't racing drivers these days still use double declutching?

Depends what racing you're talking about. I suppose some historic racers would, but most modern racers have sequential gearboxes. F1 cars don't have clutch pedals at all.

Yes, you're right and I should have said "Don't some racing drivers...". Especially touring car and rally drivers.

[marktmurphy]

Pretty sure they use sequential gearboxes too- I don't think the clutch pedal is used when they're driving; possibly in rallying but not in touring cars.

[Simon]

And here's me thinking racing changes was double de-clutching.

Seems to be a an element in both though. The chap above that describes the double de-clutching is accurate, although I always do it in single manoeuvre - which is to say when changing down, I depress the clutch and blip the accelerator at the same time.

Everything matches and it sounds just great. I think I am aware some pedal shifters do this thing for you in some really modern cars.

Anyway, I had to do this as the first car I owned, handed down to me from my grandfather, was a 1954 Standard 8. And there was no syncromesh from 2nd to 1st, or some such. So it had to be done - never stopped since.

Consider it. 800cc, 8 HP of terrifying brute force, with a racing change. Even had trafficators as opposed to indicators.

[Mark_Hazard]

Bikes are a whole other creature, but cheers to your success. It's been years since I was up on one.

*thinking*

- First is up, next are down.
- Left = brakes
- Right = clutch
- Throttle is right.

Either I'm going senile or I've reversed some things.

It's been quite a few years since I was last on one too, had to swap it for a car as I was getting too wet, too cold, too often.

On my bike (Honda Super Dream) the brake and throttle were on the right, clutch on the left. From what I remember, British bikes differed somewhere, but can't remember where.