a question for the drg racers about up-shifting

[WestOzFJ]

I've read that a really fast; full throttle, ignition cut, remote actuator kind of up-shift can be worth 3 yards over a just a plain old mortal clutch-less foot shift - a statement that doesn't really account for different distances travelled at different speeds in the same amount of time saved with each shift.

Have any of the drag racers among us made that transition in track testing or have any quantifiable "evidence" of how much time is actually saved? So I can make some speed/distance calculations.

[andyb]

Well, assume that kill time on an airshifter is usually 70ms.  I'd guess each shift under air gives you a .03s advantage against shifting by hand (and doing it well).  The big benefit is consistency though, if you've got an airshifter set properly and no mechanical failure.

Of course you can just get a full 1-2-3-4-5 auto cut trans, and lose no time at all.  Of course there's other problems then.

You're also seeing issues more than just the shift, there's keeping the aeros by not moving on a shift, not getting a weave, etc etc. 

[WestOzFJ]

Well, assume that kill time on an airshifter is usually 70ms.  I'd guess each shift under air gives you a .03s advantage against shifting by hand (and doing it well).  The big benefit is consistency though, if you've got an airshifter set properly and no mechanical failure.

Of course you can just get a full 1-2-3-4-5 auto cut trans, and lose no time at all.  Of course there's other problems then.

You're also seeing issues more than just the shift, there's keeping the aeros by not moving on a shift, not getting a weave, etc etc. 

Thanks for that Andy - I get your point about consistency and other "issues" - when I think about it is probably more those other reasons why I'm going the remote path...