Pucker Factor Moment

**swexlin** · 08-02-2014

Coming home from a cruise in tonight, about 20 miles of spirited driving, 72 degrees. On the highway, about a mile from home, stoplight. Nice sticky PS2s, light green, punch it, 1-2-....3..eer....of sh*$, missed it, 1st! Got back on the clutch, stayed off the brake, and some fishtailing...and got the snake back under control. Luckily, no one next to me, but boy, almost got bit. Don't know how I missed that shift, done it plenty of times.

I have a 2003, for those who don't know.

Be careful out there!

**FLATOUT** · 08-02-2014

When you make that 2-3 shift keep your palm slightly to the inside left. Was also told at one point at a Viper Days event that that was why they come from the factory with round shift balls.

**daytonprowler** · 08-02-2014

Open palm and push forward from 2nd to 3rd, you'll never miss 3rd again.

**swexlin** · 08-02-2014

Originally Posted by daytonprowler

Open palm and push forward from 2nd to 3rd, you'll never miss 3rd again.

Thank you, I sometimes do this, I will always it now (and in the Dart as well). After my heart stopped pounding, I was more embarrassed than anything. There were cars a ways back of me, the were probably wondering who the a-hole in the sports car. I'm usually a pretty conservative driver....

Over 4 years in this car, and sometimes it just reminds you that it always demands respect!

**Troublemaker** · 08-02-2014

I actually pull back with my finger tips and up with my palm when driving uh, spiritedly.

**plumcrazy** · 08-03-2014

soon as you think you are comfortable with the viper and know exactly what you are doing is when its most dangerous

**swexlin** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by plumcrazy

soon as you think you are comfortable with the viper and know exactly what you are doing is when its most dangerous

This exactly. I always consider it a learning experience every time I drive the car, and now will follow some of this good advice above.

**Fatboy 18** · 08-03-2014

I find 3rd to 4th the Dangerous shift, if you don't palm the stick away from you you can drop back into Second!

I have tried various shifters and different length shafts, I currently have a hurst shifter fitted in which you need to have Mr universe muscles to move it around I can't say its better, its just different.

**DaveW** · 08-03-2014

[QUOTE=Fatboy 18;69378]I find 3rd to 4th the Dangerous shift, if you don't palm the stick away from you you can drop back into Second!

AGREE!! After 10 years and 30k with my '00 GTS, a couple of months ago while on an acceleration ramp and merging into 70mph traffic, went from a hard 3rd to 2nd while passing another car, left 2 black marks with a bit of smoke. First time. Hopefully, the other vehicle occupants thought that was intentional - unless they saw my face which was the color of my car...

As I was receding in their REARVIEW mirror...

**Nine Ball** · 08-03-2014

Every shift requires a slightly different hand position or grip, in order to improve accuracy and speed. I practice this, even when driving slow. That way you are always ready, when driving fast. Most people pistol-grip every shift, which is a terrible habit.

**swexlin** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Every shift requires a slightly different hand position or grip, in order to improve accuracy and speed. I practice this, even when driving slow. That way you are always ready, when driving fast. Most people pistol-grip every shift, which is a terrible habit.

This is VERY good advice. I never pistol grip, on any manuals I've ever head, trucks included.

As I was driving the Dart to the gym this morning, I was experimenting with a few different techniques, and realized that I do indeed palm shift almost all the time as has been advised here. I haven't ever really had issues with the 3-4 shift (maybe once or twice, but I wasn't going that fast), but that 2-3 seems to be the trickiest, at least for me, or maybe it's a quirk of my car.

**gutterworks129** · 08-03-2014

"Live Life in the Red-line"

**swexlin** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by gutterworks129

"Live Life in the Red-line"

Well, I was doing so for a few moments!!

**whitebeard** · 08-03-2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILQvGAj3VRY

**Viper Girl** · 08-03-2014

I went from stock on my Gen III to an SVS shifter that was pretty nice... I rarely missed with that SVS... Technique is one thing, the actual shifter mechanism is another part of the equation... I didn't like the stock GIII at all...

In the V I haven't missed a shift... maybe its luck, or maybe the shifter is better??? or both?

**Slithr** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Every shift requires a slightly different hand position or grip, in order to improve accuracy and speed. I practice this, even when driving slow. That way you are always ready, when driving fast. Most people pistol-grip every shift, which is a terrible habit.

Please elaborate Sir, I'll start to practice next time out

1st - 2nd:
2nd - 3rd:
3rd - 4th:
4th - 5th:
5th - 6th: .........(until you see God, then hit the brakes

)

Of course only at strictly regulated closed course events using the best available safety gear.

**Slithr** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by plumcrazy

soon as you think you are comfortable with the viper and know exactly what you are doing is when its most dangerous

Quote of the year, this should be a sticky on the home page

**swexlin** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by Viper Girl

I went from stock on my Gen III to an SVS shifter that was pretty nice... I rarely missed with that SVS... Technique is one thing, the actual shifter mechanism is another part of the equation... I didn't like the stock GIII at all...

In the V I haven't missed a shift... maybe its luck, or maybe the shifter is better??? or both?

I have an MGW shorty on my 03, so it wasn't because of that - it was due to my idiocy!

**VYPR BYT** · 08-03-2014

Originally Posted by plumcrazy

soon as you think you are comfortable with the viper and know exactly what you are doing is when its most dangerous

This is exactly what kept me safe while jumping dirt bikes as a kid/teen. Always kept a healthy amount of fear/respect... never broke a bone!

Originally Posted by gutterworks129

"Live Life in the Red-line"

Key word... "live"

**Nine Ball** · 08-04-2014

Originally Posted by Slithr

Please elaborate Sir, I'll start to practice next time out

1st - 2nd:
2nd - 3rd:
3rd - 4th:
4th - 5th:
5th - 6th: .........(until you see God, then hit the brakes

)

Of course only at strictly regulated closed course events using the best available safety gear.

1-2: pistol grip works, because it pulls the shifter toward you. Nearly impossible to miss 2nd.
2-3: Palm on top of shifter knob, only using meaty part of thumb to push shifter forward and to right.
3-4: Palm on top again, but using three middle fingers to push back on front of knob. Elbow higher. You will never go into 2nd, if you only push the knob straight back. Pistol grip here causes the dreaded 3-2 shift.
4-5: Same as 2-3
5-6: Similar to 3-4, but adding a little left direction. This feels weird at wide open, did it for standing mile. Lol.

This is all simply physics and using vectors (components of force). The shifter knob will only move in the direction it is pushed. If you eliminate touching the shifter on the wrong points of contact, it will not move in those wrong directions. This is why pistol grip is awful, you are touching the shifter all the way around, and adding components of force in too many directions. Wrapping fingers all around the knob also can cause this issue. Keep it simple, only touch the side of the knob opposite of the direction it needs to move.

**swexlin** · 08-04-2014

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

1-2: pistol grip works, because it pulls the shifter toward you. Nearly impossible to miss 2nd.
2-3: Palm on top of shifter knob, only using meaty part of thumb to push shifter forward and to right.
3-4: Palm on top again, but using three middle fingers to push back on front of knob. Elbow higher. You will never go into 2nd, if you only push the knob straight back. Pistol grip here causes the dreaded 3-2 shift.
4-5: Same as 2-3
5-6: Similar to 3-4, but adding a little left direction. This feels weird at wide open, did it for standing mile. Lol.

This is all simply physics and using vectors (components of force). The shifter knob will only move in the direction it is pushed. If you eliminate touching the shifter on the wrong points of contact, it will not move in those wrong directions. This is why pistol grip is awful, you are touching the shifter all the way around, and adding components of force in too many directions. Wrapping fingers all around the knob also can cause this issue. Keep it simple, only touch the side of the knob opposite of the direction it needs to move.

This is great! Thank.