Any advice on how to 'heel toe' easier for beginners?
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From: Vancouver
Any advice on how to 'heel toe' easier for beginners?
Hello everyone. Well, I sort of got the feel for driving manual now...after about a month and a half...I'm starting to want to take some fun corners!
Last week, I was roaring down a street having fun, when I was heading nearer and nearer to a right hand corner. Not being able to heel-toe....I had to go around that corner in neutral. I was in second gear before I got into the corner, but not being able to brake and give it gas at the same time, my left foot being on the clutch until after I finished the turn. And that felt so so wrong in every way!
There is absolutely no feeling of being in control having to go around a turn in neutral!!!! So I'm forced to learn how to heel-toe now. I know all the facts on how to heel-toe...but the problem is....it feels so so strange, and I guess you can say, my timing is only so 'slightly' off.
You guys all seem to be pro manual drivers, and I expect most of you know how to heel-toe right?
Anything anyone can tell me on how you guys were when you were first starting out when learning this technique? Anything to make it easier?
I tried with the car parked...just trying to get a feel for how and where my right foot should be with the brake and gas. When the car is moving...now that's a different story. Sigh...I guess I just need to practice?!
Ok..back to
, and then 
, then back to
Last week, I was roaring down a street having fun, when I was heading nearer and nearer to a right hand corner. Not being able to heel-toe....I had to go around that corner in neutral. I was in second gear before I got into the corner, but not being able to brake and give it gas at the same time, my left foot being on the clutch until after I finished the turn. And that felt so so wrong in every way!
There is absolutely no feeling of being in control having to go around a turn in neutral!!!! So I'm forced to learn how to heel-toe now. I know all the facts on how to heel-toe...but the problem is....it feels so so strange, and I guess you can say, my timing is only so 'slightly' off.
You guys all seem to be pro manual drivers, and I expect most of you know how to heel-toe right?
Anything anyone can tell me on how you guys were when you were first starting out when learning this technique? Anything to make it easier?
I tried with the car parked...just trying to get a feel for how and where my right foot should be with the brake and gas. When the car is moving...now that's a different story. Sigh...I guess I just need to practice?!
Ok..back to
, and then , then back to
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Corners should never be taken in neutral.
After mastering rev-matching, you shouldn't have much trouble doing heel-toes. I think most beginners brake too much while heel-toeing, so when you're practicing, try to step on the brake as lightly as possible, then clutch in, rotate your right foot so your heel can touch the gas, then blip the throttle to match the rev to the lower gear, move the gear lever into the lower gear, then release the clutch.
Good luck. Practice makes perfect.
After mastering rev-matching, you shouldn't have much trouble doing heel-toes. I think most beginners brake too much while heel-toeing, so when you're practicing, try to step on the brake as lightly as possible, then clutch in, rotate your right foot so your heel can touch the gas, then blip the throttle to match the rev to the lower gear, move the gear lever into the lower gear, then release the clutch.
Good luck. Practice makes perfect.
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From: Fullerton
My advice,
Practice rev matching first, you shouldn't be in neutral when you corner.
When you see a stop up ahead, practice revving the engine then droppin in the clutch at the lower gear...Everything should be smooth, no jolt on the car from under revving and lack of power from over revving.
Once your getting used to rev matching, Then i'd suggest doing heel/toe. No point in heel-toeing if you can't rev match
It feels awkward at first, do it everytime you are stopping (stop light, stop sign etc). You don't even need to go fast, i got it to be ok in about 2 weeks.
Right now i'm heel toeing with my left foot
I brake with my toe, and hit the clutch with my heel, my right leg is on the throttle at all times...
This way you can be more precise at matching revvs.
rev match by going over the limit, and while the revs falls, drop in the clutch at appropirate rev, sure you'd best be looking at road, but give yourself a couple of month, you can do it by ear in the future.
its all confusing at first, but you'll get it... i'm surprised your already doing this at only 1 month into learning manual
remember, practice makes perfect
Practice on a cheaper car too
Practice rev matching first, you shouldn't be in neutral when you corner.
When you see a stop up ahead, practice revving the engine then droppin in the clutch at the lower gear...Everything should be smooth, no jolt on the car from under revving and lack of power from over revving.
Once your getting used to rev matching, Then i'd suggest doing heel/toe. No point in heel-toeing if you can't rev match
It feels awkward at first, do it everytime you are stopping (stop light, stop sign etc). You don't even need to go fast, i got it to be ok in about 2 weeks.
Right now i'm heel toeing with my left foot
I brake with my toe, and hit the clutch with my heel, my right leg is on the throttle at all times...
This way you can be more precise at matching revvs.
rev match by going over the limit, and while the revs falls, drop in the clutch at appropirate rev, sure you'd best be looking at road, but give yourself a couple of month, you can do it by ear in the future.
its all confusing at first, but you'll get it... i'm surprised your already doing this at only 1 month into learning manual
remember, practice makes perfect
Practice on a cheaper car too
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From: davie
yes i had practiced rev matching for 2 months and perfected it....and heel toe comes natural now...do to the fact that i know where my RPM's should be in what gear so its easy to just brake and push the throttle for a quick rev.....
and rev matching it easy...its pretty much self explainitory..match ur rev's as if u were down shifting into second without pushing the throttle....so lets say that ur cruising at 40mph and u downshift (w/o touching the throttle) into 2nd gear and ur RPM go up to 5000.....so then next time ur cruising at 40mph push in the clutch and rev up to a lil over 5000RPM and put it in second and slowly (but not too slow) let off the clutch...and thats rev matching
and rev matching it easy...its pretty much self explainitory..match ur rev's as if u were down shifting into second without pushing the throttle....so lets say that ur cruising at 40mph and u downshift (w/o touching the throttle) into 2nd gear and ur RPM go up to 5000.....so then next time ur cruising at 40mph push in the clutch and rev up to a lil over 5000RPM and put it in second and slowly (but not too slow) let off the clutch...and thats rev matching
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From: Orlando, Florida
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From: Socal
yea, 
. I learned to heel toe the same way. Once you get rev matching, it'll be a piece of cake and come naturally. Start off with braking and then rev matching to downshift for street corners and stuff, and then you can eventually get into rolling your foot to tap the gas as you go through the turns. Eventually, it'll become second nature like it is, I'm sure, for most of the other members. Just be patient and becareful if the road is wet. I lost my rear ona ccident once and slid into the sidewalk some how...
. I learned to heel toe the same way. Once you get rev matching, it'll be a piece of cake and come naturally. Start off with braking and then rev matching to downshift for street corners and stuff, and then you can eventually get into rolling your foot to tap the gas as you go through the turns. Eventually, it'll become second nature like it is, I'm sure, for most of the other members. Just be patient and becareful if the road is wet. I lost my rear ona ccident once and slid into the sidewalk some how...
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From: Diamond Bar
christy, you wear heels? all my shoes have heels or are platformed (no sneakers at all), so it doesn't even seem possible 
let me know if you get the hang out of it with heels!
did you learn to drive manual on your s2k?
jane
let me know if you get the hang out of it with heels! did you learn to drive manual on your s2k?
jane
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From: Vancouver
Originally posted by traynspotting
christy, you wear heels? all my shoes have heels or are platformed (no sneakers at all), so it doesn't even seem possible let me know if you get the hang out of it with heels!
did you learn to drive manual on your s2k?
jane
christy, you wear heels? all my shoes have heels or are platformed (no sneakers at all), so it doesn't even seem possible
let me know if you get the hang out of it with heels! did you learn to drive manual on your s2k?
jane
) and I wear these plain, Adidas running shoes everyday. I learned to drive in my s2k since day1 with these shoes, so I can't seem to drive right without wearing these shoes. I tried bare foot one time, and I almost died in pain. Those black rubbery circles on our pedals hurt my feet so much. And I tried driving in these super comfy shoes too...and I couldn't drive at all either. Every condition that changes, and I can't seem to drive the same. So I try to keep things the same as much as I can everyday. 
If u have any more tips driving manual...pls let me know. Its nice to hear from another female driver.
Oh,,and I know how to rev match already. Well, yes..most of the time. I down shift pretty well..but this heel-toe thing is driving me nuts! I must be uncoordinated or something.?
Anyways, I don't think I'd dare to try driving manual in heels. Can u imagine if our heels got stuck under our pedals? Hmm...what a scary thought.
ok..
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From: Denver CO
Any advice we could give you now would be dangerous. You need to take a performance driving course of some type, whether it be a simple HPDE day at a race track or a full blown race school. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful but I'm concerned for the people who would be in your way if you tried to learn this stuff on the street and failed.
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From: BayArea to SoCal and back!!
I wear sneakers or flip-flops while doing my day to day driving, but I also wear heels (stilletos, boots, platforms) while driving. Just like the heal-to-toe, it just takes practice. Christy has convinced me to not even try driving barefooted. I must ask though...how would you get your heel caught under the pedal?