What Padgett said about the mirrors is correct. You always want to look ahead. If you hear what might be a cone being hit, the tendency is to look in the mirror, taking your concentration from what's ahead. On how do I do, well, I was third behind a Subaru WRX and BRZ, but only by less than one second on a fifty+ second course. I start in first, but the shift to second happens quickly as there's not much first gear, and I want both hands on the wheel. The video posted on my YouTube site makes it apparent when the shift occurs. After that, it's second gear all the way. Here's the video link: