Why no hand clutch?

to be clear, you're talking about paddle versus stick shift?

 

No. He's talking about a hand clutch.

To answer the original poster, hand clutches are a real pain in the butt. You would only use it at launch and I think that unless you have a background in race cars/karts, it's not going to be popular or user friendly. The clutches have to be just as strong but there's much less travel so here is not enough of a lever to lower the work. So it's going to be stiff. If it were electronic or pneumatic, I don't see what the advantage would be over having it as the F1 equipped cars are now.

IT makes sense for a race car that never stops at a light but it would be too much of a pain in a street car.

 

yes that's very clear. the title says this.

i was asking, verifying, if he was talking about incorporating such a device into pre-existing setups, ie, with the paddles or with a stick. currently the F1 shifting is a clutchless device. i would imagine that to have a hand clutch would perhaps complicate shifting and would not serve any useful function. too busy.

i agree with the notion that the traditional clutch and manual shifting experience is probably more fun and involving than clutchless paddles.

 

ummm... WHAT?!?!

 

the driver does not use a clutch when shifting. there is no pedal or any action taken by the driver to use the clutch, as in an automatic clutch system. the driver uses the paddles and that is all.

what is at issue?

 

ok...

The F1 system in Ferraris still have a clutch. It is not a "clutchless" system. The F1 system uses an electronically actuated clutch.

Had you said there was no clutch-pedal, I would not have had a problem with your statement.

Please remember the difference.

 

yes i know it has an electronic internal clutch.

however, the system is referred to as clutchless with regularity.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=110078

excerpt:
"Brave New Clutchless World
Automatics have outsold manual transmissions since at least the '60s, and electronic switches have been systematically replacing levers and human effort throughout the history of modern automobiles (and most of the rest of life, too). So most drivers will never miss manual transmissions when they disappear forever — in the same way that they don't miss window cranks..."

 

Just because it is regularly referred to as "clutchless" doesn't make it correct.

 

well sure, technically it's not correct. for general purposes, sometimes you see it used in quotes like this: "clutchless manual." it sort of appears as a glorified automatic (which, yes, still has a clutch).

i have yet to drive one of these cars so i am anxious to see how they really feel. the opinions seem polarized about them.

 

Anybody see the latest 'Inside Grand Prix' on Speedvision?? They showed the Toyota steering wheel with both gear shift paddles as well as separate clutch paddles. Maybe those are just used to engage neutral or something??

 

Formula race car steering lock to lock is about 180 degrees, so you can keep your fingers on the controls at all times. Street car steering lock to lock is about 2.5 turns making a hand clutch not very useful.