Hi all,

I've been playing LFS for a couple of weeks now, and have been trying to learn how to learn to clutch properly. (I own a G25 ). My reasoning is if I'm playing a sim, I should play it in as realistic a manner as possible.

When asking in various servers whether many other racers with a clutch setup did this, they pretty much all said something along the lines of ''No I don't, its not as fast, but it is more realistic''.

Feeling intrigued, I decided to practice a couple of popular setups, namely AS Cadet with the UFR, and AS Club with the FOX. (I know, I need to branch out a bit more!), with and without clutch. Without clutch I would brake with my left foot.

I found that I was actually driving quicker and more consistently WITH the clutch! Thinking about it, for me it makes sense. Using the clutch my driving seems smoother, probably because my throttle and brake inputs are entirely separate. (I don't heel toe or anything like that) In comparison to without clutch I found myself hitting the throttle and brake together at points, causing the car to act unpredictably during braking.

Now, even if using the clutch is slower I think I may continue using it. If anything, my tires will thank me. Perhaps new players to LFS should consider learning to drive with the clutch, but I understand that it hard to break old habits for those of you that don't.

Also, what LFS cars would I need to use a clutch for in real life. Do I need to clutch for the single seaters, or just those cars which use the H-shifter?

What do you think?

Sounds cool and I congratulate you for taking the time to learn proper controls.

I think it's cool for anyone to use what controls suit their budget/needs best. Unless it's full-tilt hardcore servers, where forced control settings ensure everyone's on even playground.

Well LFS simulates what cars use a clutch and what dont.

Assuming you have a simular set up to me, it will automatically sort out.
So, for example, I jump into a xrg and race, manual clutch, shifter (My reverse broke yesterday, GO ME ).

Then i hop into the "fauks" (fox) as was memorable recalled one night on TS, you have the flappy paddles and automatic clutch.

I also use no driving aids at all when racing, and its only if my ankle starts to killl (2 hour stint in IGTC does that to you) will i switch to teh paddles de flappy, at which I'm slower by about half a second.

But you arnt supposed to use a manual clutch in the fox, hence why it should be auto clutch with flappy paddles

I use auto-clutch in the single-seaters (inc. the MRT) just because they brake so quickly, it's a nightmare to downshift sequentially and blip the throttle for each shift, and it feels too weird to coast all the way to a corner with the clutch in. All the tin-tops I use a clutch pedal, and I generally feel a lot more in control in those cars. I very rarely drive the single-seaters since I added a clutch pedal actually.

I am faster in the road cars with manual clutch, but in the race cars I'm no quicker or slower either way. I did try going back to auto-clutch to see if it would gain me time earlier this year in a XFR/UFR league I entered, but I didn't go any quicker.

A reverse does not "BRAKE", it's just the mechenical part of the whole, its not very stable. It takes minor adjustments to get it right. I have had major struggles with G25's shifter. It's mainly done by potentiometers and one button. The potentiometers (like in a joystick X+Y axis) calculate in what direction the stick is at which is then converted to numbers 1 to 6. When putting it in rear it's actually the same like gear 6. But u have to press the stick down (it activates a button) which makes 6+button = 7 = Rear.

It could happen this button on the bottom of the stick ain't working well so it still sees it a gear 6. Mainly it needs to be replaced. Now i don't have any problems with replacing stuff and i never call things broken, it just not works well so it needs corrected

For most ppl this is a matter of replacing the whole unit Sadly...

I find using the clutch makes me drive more like I would IRL as my body is doing what it had to IRL. This helps me drive faster.

I only use clutch in the cars that use sequential to launch though

Ehm... I noticed this option. But what's clutch? :-)

Quote from Moonchild LT :

Ehm... I noticed this option. But what's clutch? :-)

If you don't understand what a clutch is or does I would say you are better off not using it. Also unless you have a 3 pedal system it does not matter much anyway because a button will never give you the control a clutch does

All right, now I understand :-) Sorry - I just didn't knew how was it called before.

Cheers for the replies everyone.

I was having trouble manual clutching in the single seaters, I now understand why!

I agree with the post above in that I do feel more in control of the car using a manual clutch and shifter, and in some cases I feel I can brake slightly later...

One last question... When I use manual clutch I do all my throttle and braking with my right foot, with my left solely dedicated to clutch (like driving IRL). Should I be left foot braking? Is there much benefit to using heel and toe and is it hard to learn? (I know, that was technically 2 questions.....!)

Quote from Origamiboy :

Cheers for the replies everyone.

I was having trouble manual clutching in the single seaters, I now understand why!

I agree with the post above in that I do feel more in control of the car using a manual clutch and shifter, and in some cases I feel I can brake slightly later...

One last question... When I use manual clutch I do all my throttle and braking with my right foot, with my left solely dedicated to clutch (like driving IRL). Should I be left foot braking? Is there much benefit to using heel and toe and is it hard to learn? (I know, that was technically 2 questions.....!)

Some people use Heel&toe because (for them at least) it shaves a few tenths off their times. I tend to left foot brake while clutching anyway, kinda like this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3155497110873728174

Also, in LFS I can do clutchless downshifts. If you change a gear down, then release and floor the throttle under braking, you'll change down a gear. Enabling you to left foot brake and get some level of a throttle blip too.

this makes it funner