trying to learn heel-toe downshifting is a pain in the @ss!!!! =(
09-12-2002, 11:37 AM
#3
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don't really need pedal covers...
...but running shoes suck...need shoes with a nice wide sole that you can feel the edge of the pedal through. The stock brakes are so damn grabby, it's hard to learn to do it smoothly driving on the street.
09-12-2002, 11:46 AM
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Here's a reference...
Have followed several threads on different forums recently where people are having trouble with "heel and toe".
As a result, I decided to illustrate my own foot positions so that people who might be having trouble with it might be able to compare.
During braking, the meat of the left side of my foot is approximately on 1/2 of the brake pedal...the line of force (line from my knee to my foot) is straight and I'm VERY careful to have a good "grip" on the brake pedal with my foot (appears crooked in the photo because it's shot from the side but my foot and leg are in-line). As I brake, my foot comes flush with the throttle pedal but isn't actually touching it...
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v9/photos/4/41918/109066/Braking-or.jpg">
Now when I'm "blipping" the throttle to rev-match downshifts...my foot ROLLS onto the throttle pedal and the line of force from my leg is ANGLED to help my foot roll to the throttle pedal without letting any pressure off the brakes. To see what I mean, bend your leg and push foward so your foot is in-line with your knee...now angle your knee INWARD and at the same time your FOOT will angle heel outward. If you practice, you see how you can still keep the majority of your "weight" on the part of your foot that's braking while STILL rolling your foot well onto the gas pedal to "blip" the throttle. Note that in reality, the bulk of the part of my foot that is actually working the throttle is the outside half BUT my heel being angled like it is helps the geometry of my leg and foot to brake smoothly while rolling my foot in and out on the throttle pedal.
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v8/photos/4/41918/109066/HeelandToe-or.jpg">
As for shifting...I believe in using the tips of my fingers to feel the synchros. This allows me to shift quickly without FORCING the gears any faster than the synchros will allow. Note I HATE driving cars with truck-like transmissions for this reason. In a race car with straight-cut gears, one simply yanks and crunches their way through the gears. This isn't a race car and there's no point yanking and crunching.
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v9/photos/4/41918/109066/Shift-or.jpg">
Don't like my shoes? <i> BITE ME </i>
As a result, I decided to illustrate my own foot positions so that people who might be having trouble with it might be able to compare.
During braking, the meat of the left side of my foot is approximately on 1/2 of the brake pedal...the line of force (line from my knee to my foot) is straight and I'm VERY careful to have a good "grip" on the brake pedal with my foot (appears crooked in the photo because it's shot from the side but my foot and leg are in-line). As I brake, my foot comes flush with the throttle pedal but isn't actually touching it...
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v9/photos/4/41918/109066/Braking-or.jpg">
Now when I'm "blipping" the throttle to rev-match downshifts...my foot ROLLS onto the throttle pedal and the line of force from my leg is ANGLED to help my foot roll to the throttle pedal without letting any pressure off the brakes. To see what I mean, bend your leg and push foward so your foot is in-line with your knee...now angle your knee INWARD and at the same time your FOOT will angle heel outward. If you practice, you see how you can still keep the majority of your "weight" on the part of your foot that's braking while STILL rolling your foot well onto the gas pedal to "blip" the throttle. Note that in reality, the bulk of the part of my foot that is actually working the throttle is the outside half BUT my heel being angled like it is helps the geometry of my leg and foot to brake smoothly while rolling my foot in and out on the throttle pedal.
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v8/photos/4/41918/109066/HeelandToe-or.jpg">
As for shifting...I believe in using the tips of my fingers to feel the synchros. This allows me to shift quickly without FORCING the gears any faster than the synchros will allow. Note I HATE driving cars with truck-like transmissions for this reason. In a race car with straight-cut gears, one simply yanks and crunches their way through the gears. This isn't a race car and there's no point yanking and crunching.
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v9/photos/4/41918/109066/Shift-or.jpg">
Don't like my shoes? <i> BITE ME </i>
