Jamesnj

Does anyone here left foot brake? If so, when and to what degree? Are there advantages or not?
Thanks

KjellA

Yes, I use it now and then, but only during very spirited driving, or under very slippery conditions.

I had the opportunity to test it a lot this winter, during two ice-track days. It has great advantages when traction is low, since it will give you more weight in the front, reduce understeer and "pull" the front closer to the inner side of the corner. It feels almost as oversteering, but in a very controllable manner.

I also use it to correct my own driving errors, particularely going to fast into a corner. This will normaly create massive understeer and destroy your changes of making a quick exit. But if I quickly and quite hard left-brake while giving throttle to correct, it is much easier to get rid of the understeer, and even get the rear end to break loose. I will practice this some more next weekend, the season's first dry track day coming up!

I really see no reason to left-brake during normal driving conditions.


Some pictures from the ice-track days here, if anyone is interessted:

http://www.vwaudi-club.no/htdocs/treff/2001/sigdal/Default.htm
http://home.dph.no/~paumar/follo/pics/sigdal.html

M5 ETR

It is a very effective tool for controling the *** of the car in opposition to right-foot power dial-in.....

KjellA

The handbrake is a much less effective tool in reducing understeer and gain control of the front end. Left foot braking (while right foot throtteling of course) will transfer weigth forwards, handbake will not.

Handbrake is a nice tool to set up the rear end before entering a corner.

Regards,
Kjell A.
Oslo, Norway
'97 A8 4,2 qt sport