I scanned the competition forum, and I wasn't satisfied with what I found so I thought I'd ask here.

Several times this past weekend I tried to heel & toe on approach to gentle curves, having had several other times I reeeally could have used that technique on some more aggressive corners.

Each time I tried, it seemed like my feet got all tangled up, with my right foot not being coordinated enough to brake and rev at teh same time without overdoing one or the other (or underdoing one or the other )

Anyone have any tips on how to learn to do this? I kinda sorta understand the theory, it's the practice that is giving me trouble.

 

I stink at it, Tom. But, I've been working on getting better at it, and luckily the placement of the pedals in the S2000 seems to be just about right, which is nice. I really don't need to do anything to angle my foot, I just put half the ball of my foot on the brake, and half on the gas.

It does seem to require a certain "touch" so as not to goose the gas too much. I've been doing it in slow motion... Gentle braking with left ball of right foot, shift into neutral, gentle press of the gas with right ball of right foot to the rev match engine speed, then off on the clutch and rotate the right foot completely onto the brake.

Frankly, I don't have much use for this technique, as I don't race. I double clutch upshift/downshift all the time (because I like to , but I don't find much need to brake and downshift (heel-and-toe).

 

I had a hard time with it until RT modded my pedals (bending the gas pedal to the left)

Now it's just a matter of practice.

And tomcatt - you should def. try autocrossing the S2000. The car is right in it's element and you'll learn more about car control in a short amount of time. Much better than messing around on the street.

 

I guess I'll just have to keep trying. I was trying to twist my foot to get more contact but it seemed I had little control of the foot then and kept goosing the throttle or brake.

I double-clutch also, it's a lot of fun and I can usually be smoother downshifting; that's why I'd like to learn to heel & toe: smoothness. I find that while approaching a curve or turn, or slowing for traffic I'd probably be smoother and more prepared for turning/accellerating if I were to heel & toe.

Do I "need" to do it? No, but it can only enhance the driving experience.

lig, I'm thinking on trying that next year. Too many other things to deal with this year and I'd rather not do any track time at FC04.

I'd love to take a 2-3 day car control course to better my abilities with this car; when I'm at 8/10 to 9/10 the car is only at 4/10 to 5/10.

 

As a two time attendee of the Skip Barber School I can attest that driving schools are BIG TIME into stressing this technique as to not to overrev the motor and "unsettle" the car. It is easier said than done. In fact I took the long way home this evening on a road that has two 90* turns (10MPH warning signs) about 150 feet apart. On my entrance into the first left handed (at about 70 if I have my foot in it (just to cover my butt that may be 70 KPH on the Granny scale)

For most guys having your toe on the brake and heeling the gas works best. Then it also becomes a function of how big your feet are and what shoes you are wearing (Most of todays sport shoes would be bad, as they are too wide and no feel) I can not take the credit for this but will give it to a friend that use to own a Miata. He had problems with heel/toeing and could not bring himself to spend the $ on driving shoes. So he found that "Wrestling shoes" purchased at The Sports Authority worked for him. In his opinion, they were light enough to give him good pedal feel and narrow enough that they did not cause "fat feet"

In the end, it takes practice, practice, practice. It is not easy to perfect.

 

Don't dispare if you can't master it. I've had major right ankle surgery and can no longer do it. It doesn't keep me from tracking the car. I focus on smoothness and rev-matching. And the nice thing about being older is the only person I need to impress is myself with my times.

 

Interesting... I have not found any real need to place heel on one pedal and toe on the other. Am I doing it wrong? I just lay half the ball of my foot on the brake and half on the gas.

 

Matt, I went to the local Galyan's in search of shoes that would not hurt my feet over time while driving. Most regular "sneakers" have a lot of support and padding around the ankle, which wind up putting pressure on my ankles/heel while driving and causing a lot of discomfort.

With the help of the sales guy I wound up with a pair of Adidas soccer shoes. Narrow, light-weight and no padding, I have now been able to be in the car for 9-12 hours with only fuel stops and have had absolutely no discomfort.

I'm going to have to practice H&T with them...

 

Tomcatt, if your going to Fall Colours look for Triple-H (Doug), he is a track instructor and would be the perfect guy to speak to.

Here is how I do it:

1 - place ball/big toe of foot on edge of brake.
2 - instead of trying to use the heel of my foot, I roll my foot over and use the side of my foot to blip the gas.
3 - blip deeply as too many revs are better and not enough revs.

Regarding shoes - they make a big difference imo, I don't like driving the S in any shoes other than my driving shoes now. If you can't find a driving shoe, look for a wrestling shoe - they are very similar.

 

Hi, Marco!! Haven't seen you around much lately.