How to Double-Clutch a Manual Transmission for a Drag Race

While performing a double-clutch maneuver on a manual transmission for a drag race is fairly uncommon and can easily result in the loss of a race, it is a helpful driving skill to master when you need to increase the torque of your engine in order to get more power. By following a few simple steps, you will be able to master the double-clutch technique for a drag race without limiting the performance of your car.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drag racing car with manual transmission

Double-Clutch a Manual Transmission

1. Begin by stepping down on the clutch of your manual transmission and quickly shifting into neutral.

2. Lift your foot off the clutch, maintaining a smooth movement the entire way.

3. Tap the gas gently to get the throttle to open up. Using the tachometer, try to keep the RPM level low enough so that engaging the clutch will give you the increase in power that you need instead of slowing your car down significantly as in a normal manual transmission down-shift.

4. Depress the clutch again (hence the term "double clutch").

5. Shift into a lower gear. Which gear you choose may depend upon the specific gear ratio of your car. For instance, if your car has an ideal gear ratio of 1:1, going from fourth to third will double the rate of your RPMs. You will need plenty of practice at knowing which gear to select, so that you will not exceed the red-line and burn out your engine.

6. Lift the clutch pedal back up and apply the gas. By practicing this technique, you will be able to consistently choose the right gear and power ratio to increase your acceleration without slowing your car down.

7. Continue to practice the double-clutch technique on your manual transmission until you can perform the maneuver quickly, smoothly and without a significant reduction in speed. The purpose of double clutching is to provide seamless power shifts, and to match the speed of the transmission to the rest of the engine.

Tips & Warnings

• While double-clutching is an uncommon technique to use while drag racing, it may be an effective maneuver to help you regain power if you accidentally select the wrong gear while speed shifting. Most professional drag racers shy away from double-clutching during a race, however, because you can lose too much momentum if you don't perform the technique smoothly.

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