Optimum shifts

[Helge Wunderlich]

On Wed, 17 Apr 2002 08:03:54 -0400, ricematthews wrote:

>For maximum acceleration, you want to maximize torque.

True, but only if you are speaking of torque at the wheels. Since
there is a gearbox between the wheels and the engine, engine torque
and wheel torque are not proportional.

>So, practically
>speaking, you typically DO want to shift somewhere after peak torque and
>such that you hit the next gear somewhere before peak torque.

Wrong. Take a look at *any* race driver. They *always* go all the way
to redline before shifting.

>Theoretically, to say exactly where to shift, you must consider the torque
>curve and your gear ratios.  You want to maximize the total area under the
>torque curve(s) in all gears (Calculus II anyone?).

"Calculus II" is next semester. First, we do "Physics I" :-)