topic says it all, just interested what you gain by heel-toe, or what do you do when you heel-toe .... Maybe a dumb question, but then again no question is dumb right?

 

You use the heel to toe technique when you need to downshift for a corner while under braking.

Read this for detailed desription:

http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/drivi...g_heeltoe.lasso

But first you should learn to rev match without braking. Then after you master that you can start to work on heel to toe.

 

The benefit of Heel-toe down shifts is two fold. It allows the driver to slow the car while maintaining revs so as to keep the car in its optimum power range while also maintaining a smooth transition from a higher to a lower gear ratio. It is commonly used my race drivers but is also a good technique for performance oriented and experienced drivers. With a little practice and some trial and error it will prove to be the most effecient manner of downshifting while setting up for a corner. This technique can also be done with the sides of the gas/brake foot, where the driver will keep the brake depressed with the big toe while the throttle is blipped with the outside of the same (right) foot. Proper shoes and appropriate placed pedals are essential for either method.

 

novice to intermediate drivers will do either two things when coming to a corner:

1) brake, while pushing the clutch in, and coast thru the corner, and let out the clutch after the turn is completed or;

2) downshift, let out the clutch causing the car so slow down (letting the engine catch up to the car), also known as engine braking, however puts added, unecessary wear on the clutch


More experienced drivers will do a modification of #2, so that you don't have to use the engine for braking.

Heel and toe allows you to downshift WITHOUT using the clutch to slow down, that's what the brakes are for. It involves braking, pushing in the clutch, downshifts, blipping the throttle with your heel (or side of foot) of your braking foot while still braking. This benefits you because you match the engine speed to the speed your going for that gear, so the engine doesn't have to "catch up" which in result, allows a cleaner clutch engagement and reduced wear.

 

In a race it is allows a driver to go faster, braking at the very last moment, and getting in the right gear and speed for the turn, at the same time instead of one process followed by the other. It's not necessary when you're out driving on public streets.

Having said this, I'd still like to learn to do it. I can double clutch and can match revs fairly well now, but toe/heel is very hard, I find.

 

The main advantage is that there is no sudden drag on the rear wheels because they don't have to bring engine up to speed, therefore no upsetting of the car's balance in a corner.

A second advantage is that the synchos don't have to match greatly differing shaft speeds, thereby minimizing synchro wear.

To shift down a gear, using heel and toe:
1) Step on the brake with your toe; keep braking evenly until we're done here
2) Step on the clutch
3) Shift to neutral
4) Release the clutch
5) Blip the throttle with your heel to bring the engine and the input shaft up to the speed that will be required in the lower gear (just a blip - don't stay on the gas)
6) Step on the clutch
7) Shift to the lower gear
8) Release the clutch
9) Release the brake when you're ready to accelerate

The whole thing will come easily with practice, and take about one second. Fortunately, the S2000 pedals are placed just right for heel and toe - not the case for some other cars ('91 CRX for instance).

 

What you're describing above is double clutching while braking using heel-toe technique.
There's really no reason to double clutch any shifts on a modern transmission.
You can eliminate the shift to neutral and the release of the clutch... just rev match on the downshift instead, while still under braking. Gets the shift accomplished a lot quicker.

 

For the most part there are a lot of great answers to your question here. One other thing I will toss in is weight transfer. On the track you always here people say if you are smooth you will be fast. In general terms, heal-toe downshifts allow you to break, shift, and get back on the power in a very smooth manner, or, without any nasty changes of weight to the front or the back of the car which could provoke a spin.

 

dhayer: Your process breakdown is for heel and toeing with double clutching. Double-clutching isn't really necessary on a modern car with properly operating syncromeshes. The tranny appreciates the extra kindness, but it's a couple of unneccesary steps.

The heel and toe downshift process without double clutching is:

1) Depress brake pedal with right foot (and continue pressing evenly on the brake through the rest of the steps)

2) Depress the clutch with the left foot.

3) Shift into lower gear.

4) As you're performing step 3, stab at the outside edge of the throttle with the outside edge of your right foot or heel. You can use either. It depends on the car's pedal placement, size of your foot, and driver's preference. Of course, your throttle stab should bring the engine as close as possible to the rpms it would rise to when the new, lower gear is selected.

5) Once the tranny is in it's new gear, release the clutch.

6) Finally release the brake pedal that you've been pressing firmly throughout steps 2-5. Heel and toe (without double-clutching) downshift complete.

 

easier said than done