So I have been wanting to get custom made gas and brake pedals. See I suffer from two problems that make heal toeing very difficult. The first is small feet, which wouldn,t be a huge issue if I didn't have problem number two. the second is that when my knees are pointing straight my feet point outwards at 10 and two. Weird I know but it makes heal toeing extreamly uncomfortable. When I heal toe I kinda need to roll my right foot instead of kicking my heal out. I figured getting custom pedals made that would better suit my condition would make the process on heal toeing less painfull and easier to perform. Does anyone know where I could go to get custom aluminum pedals cut? Scott would you be able to do this?
Thanks for the help

 

According to the book "Going Faster", you may actually be doing it correctly, and perhaps may only need to adjust the relative height of your pedals.

Aluminum seems pretty easy to work (I've used woodworking tools with metal cutting blades and grinders), and you can get small pieces of stock at www.speedymetals.com.

 

don't really know the "correct" form for heel and toe but I find more of a roll of the foot works better and smoother. If i attempt to use my actual heel I tend to jab at the brake. I have size 12 feet though which makes a difference I'm sure. I can cover brake and gas pretty easily and just give a twitch to the right for a smooth throttle blip.

If it works then i'd continue doing it

 

I am not an expert nor do I know the appropriate way to heel toe however when I do it, I just noticed now after reading this post that although I pivot on the ball of my foot, it is ever so slight and I accomplish the heel toe actually more from rolling my foot.

***Not very helpful information here.... just ramblings**

I think the little pivot I do is mostly to kinda bring slightly more area of my foot to the pedal. Since our feet a generally wide towards the toes and taper towards the heels, pivoting allows me to create a straight line that goes parallel with the gas pedal. So instead of only having the top portion of my foot stepping on the gas I have a the whole side of my foot on it.

This is all theory though until I can record myself heel toeing. This information doesn't really help you much though.

***Amusing Story Here***

I do remember when I was trying to teach myself heel toeing, I found it very difficult to perform those dramatic heel toes I see on TV and Initial D where the driver;;s foot practically twists 90 degrees inwards. for me to do it I had to actually had twist my hips too which was uncomfortable and not natural at all.

***Possibly helpful information here***

What I decided to do was kinda develop my own technique for heel toeing which was almost like an inverted heel toe of a toe heel if you will. Step on the brakes with my heel and step on the gas with my toe. I was able to do it somewhat but it really required building on that muscle memory so that I don't jab the brakes by accident (as mentioned above). Our heel's movements are governed by our legs which is gross movement as oppose to more fine and dexterous movements on the toe. Also as you step you would need to do a reverse in movement of a typical heel toe where typically you would lessen the load slightly on the toe to compensate (assuming you're not slamming your brakes) as you step down with your heel you have to do the reverse and lessen the load on the heel while extending your toe.

Actually having your foot positioned in such a way where the toes are pointed outward is more anatomically correct or ergonomical than having your toes pointed inwards. Pointing inwards is like a force for your body and not very natural.

Implications of being able to perfect such a technique I'd imaine is that since your toe has the more fine and dexterous movements, You can develope some crazy throttle control while braking and have a pseudo-left-foot-braking technique.


-Ri.Le

 

I never understood how drivers could turn their foot in and get control of correct pressure that they need on the gas and brake. The motion just seems so awkward. The rolling of the foot with my big toe and the area just below it on the brake and my right side of my foot bliping the throttle is the only way I can perform it. But I don't get quite enough of my foot on the brake to feel comfortable that it won't slip off, especially under hard braking. Aftermarket pedals suck so that's why I wanted to design my own to suit my style

 

I am sure we can come up with something we can make a rough set to mock it up and then give them to my friend with a machineshop finalize

 

being 6'2" in a little box, I can tell you that I heel toe like you do, more like left and right side of foot .. Part of it is my height and having learned to drive with the side of my feet because of my mother's car it comes more natural. the other is i shattered my knee 4yrs or 5yrs ago now and turning and supporting my leg with that joint is difficult to say the least...

I have tried to do Heel toe using the "real" method in GT5 to try and learn it and it just in't natural to me like rolling my foot.

I do find a nice pair of driving shoes helps immensely. I really like the Piloti line of shoes. this year I tried the Prototipo style and I like them quite a bit. They have a nice balled heel, reinforcement around the toe box and wider in the flat of the foot. Not much to stand for long periods in but make driving more enjoyable and work better with how I "heel toe"

I also plan on putting some sand paper type tape down on the edge of the pedals to help ensure my foot doesn't slip off.

 

Puma > Piloti

 

[QUOTE=dibi,Dec 3 2010, 10:48 AM] I never understood how drivers could turn their foot in and get control of correct pressure that they need on the gas and brake. The motion just seems so awkward.

 

here's another link of Senna driving an NSX-R. He uses a similar rolling technique only qith a slight angle.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8By2AEsGAhU [/media]&feature=related