[tudda]

I picked up my M6 hellcat a couple months ago and had never driven a stick before, and also don't have any racing experience. For the standard driving around town, I'm not having any issues, but when it comes to putting the pedal down to the floor and trying to bang through the gears, I find myself squawking the tires coming out of 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd at times.

In the hellcat videos I see, I don't really see anyone else doing this, so I am assuming I am just not shifting properly. I guess I'm hoping that someone who's an experienced driver can try to explain how I should approach shifting with this car. I've searched these forums and only saw the one post from StellasHC that discussed this in detail, but I was hoping to get some additional feedback.

The general advice I've received from people who have racing experience (non hellcat) is to power shift, but am I just doing a poor job it? Too slow between gears? Too much accelerator between gears? Or should I aim for more of a speed shift, or granny shifting?

I'm on the stock summer pirellis by the way, and driving on your standard expressway on ramps in the detroit area for most of my 0-80 action. I could certainly go out there and do 20-30 tests with it, but I thought it made more sense to get some feedback here before I unnecessarily (and unintentionally) beat on my car.

 

[tudda]

For reference, StellasHC's post : Power Shifting | SRT Hellcat Forum

 

[Dragon]

it takes time to really master a manual. there is a difference between racing and daily driving.

I have never full throttled 1st gear......I tend to quick shift 1st gear....then get set in 2ed before I hammer down the throttle........now one thing makes a factor in all of this.....I learned to drive in a 500HP truck with NO TRACTION.....the HC has traction control so use it.....it will make you a better quicker driver.

a couple of things for you to work on when racing.

do you take your foot out of the gas between shifts..........
if NO then your to slow on the clutch.......faster faster faster slam the gear and pull that clutch faster.....again practice.
if YES then your to quick on the gas........slower slower slower slower on the gas before you let out the clutch.......again practice.

enjoy and be safe

 

[huggytree]

get nittos....problem will most likely be solved...ive slid in my gt500 at 85mph with tc on.....put nitto's on it and no more.....cold also effects stock tires.....my f'1's were worthless below 70 and dangerous below 60....now w/ nitto's i dont have those issues

if your going to do twisty tracks keep your stock tires...if you plan on going fast in a straight line get nitto's...the HC is a drag car...its not meant for twisty tracks.....it can do it, but poorly...its a pig

with my A8 and nittos i can floor it completely around 55-60 w/o an issue...as soon as it shifts into 3rd my foot is down to the floor...no spin what so ever....tc on or off

 

[tudda]

I do think nittos would probably solve the spin part of the issue (and they are on my todo list).. but since I'm not a gear head myself, I really wasn't sure if pushing the RPMs up during shifts (which i must be doing if I'm getting spin), was also unreasonably hard on the clutch. If I'm being rough on the clutch because of poor shifting, I'd like to address that problem first before I mask the problem with tires. I don't want to burn my clutch out just by not understanding how to properly drive it or what the limitations of it are.

I think I'd prefer the drag tracks (or at least that type of driving), but I did sign up for the Waterford Road Course open track day on labor day. I don't plan on getting too wild but I figured it would be a good chance to get on the pedal a bit more without having to worry about traffic / obstacles / cops. After that, I'm going to look into getting nittos on the car and try to get some time in down at Milan Dragway before the season is over.

Generally I only drive the car when it's sunny and hot out (80+ here for the most part this summer - detroit area). Last night I took a buddy out for a spin after the sun was out and it was more in the 60 area and I actually got a little wheel hop in first when I got on it. I'm assuming that's temp related?

 

[StellasHC]

Dont buy Nittos... Buy Mickey Thompson drag radials. Ive used both, and if I could only buy Nittos, I would just stick with the factory tires. Look at what 98% of the guys running the quickest times are using... Yup, you guessed it... Mickeys. Jegs has them on sale right now

 

[Trucker Bob]

Dont buy Nittos... Buy Mickey Thompson drag radials. Ive used both, and if I could only buy Nittos, I would just stick with the factory tires. Look at what 98% of the guys running the quickest times are using... Yup, you guessed it... Mickeys. Jegs has them on sale right now

Do put the M/Ts on the stock wheel? If not what size and kind of wheel do you use? What price are going for??

 

[cole3986]

get nittos....problem will most likely be solved...ive slid in my gt500 at 85mph with tc on.....put nitto's on it and no more.....cold also effects stock tires.....my f'1's were worthless below 70 and dangerous below 60....now w/ nitto's i dont have those issues

if your going to do twisty tracks keep your stock tires...if you plan on going fast in a straight line get nitto's...the HC is a drag car...its not meant for twisty tracks.....it can do it, but poorly...its a pig

with my A8 and nittos i can floor it completely around 55-60 w/o an issue...as soon as it shifts into 3rd my foot is down to the floor...no spin what so ever....tc on or off

Huggy,

The car handles well for a bid car you can get over 1G in turns, Not a pig by no means

 

[StellasHC]

Do put the M/Ts on the stock wheel? If not what size and kind of wheel do you use? What price are going for??

Yes 305/35s on stock rims. About 350 each

 

[tudda]

Yes 305/35s on stock rims. About 350 each

Mickey Thompson 3727R, Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial Drag Tires | Mickey Thompson

These are the right ones, correct? Seems to be, but the price was quite a bit lower than what you said so I wasn't sure. If so I'm gonna order a pair right now. Free ground shipping on them as well.

 

[tudda]

I stand corrected, after i put my zip code in it added a 20$ fed ex charge, and a 20$ oversize charge.
$657.94 total for 2

 

[StellasHC]

I stand corrected, after i put my zip code in it added a 20$ fed ex charge, and a 20$ oversize charge.
$657.94 total for 2

Yes, those are what I have. They are actually the old styl. They went to a new design this summer, but those in the pic are great. That's a good price. I paid 740.

 

[tudda]

Yes, those are what I have. They are actually the old styl. They went to a new design this summer, but those in the pic are great. That's a good price. I paid 740.

Awesome, ordering now. Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how it goes once I get them on.

 

[CO Springs Sublime Kitty]

If you are on the street, make sure the car is in track mode, not sport mode. Track mode will give you more traction than sport.

Next, shifting is a big part of racing and every racer will argue his technique is better. Ultimately, whatever technique allows you the fastest transition between gears without breaking loose is the best. Personally, I don't power shift, I speed shift. Power shifting is also known as WOT shifting and works on cars with boost boxes very well. I have ran fellow hellcats down with my speed shifting so it works for me. The mechanics do require a lot of practice. I let off the gas for a millisecond as I shift, no traction loss and very smooth through the gears. But you do have to be really fast with the clutch pedal and gear shifter. My 3 cents.

 

[tudda]

If you are on the street, make sure the car is in track mode, not sport mode. Track mode will give you more traction than sport.

Next, shifting is a big part of racing and every racer will argue his technique is better. Ultimately, whatever technique allows you the fastest transition between gears without breaking loose is the best. Personally, I don't power shift, I speed shift. Power shifting is also known as WOT shifting and works on cars with boost boxes very well. I have ran fellow hellcats down with my speed shifting so it works for me. The mechanics do require a lot of practice. I let off the gas for a millisecond as I shift, no traction loss and very smooth through the gears. But you do have to be really fast with the clutch pedal and gear shifter. My 3 cents.

I generally drive around in Sport mode because I find myself bouncing straight up and down quite a bit in track mode on the less smooth roads, but that's good to know. I'm more than willing to practice it a lot. My main concern was making sure I wasn't beating on my clutch too hard during the practicing.

Thanks for the advice - and I will be putting my time in the next couple weeks trying to get smoother with it.