heal and toe downshifting

[Reminiz]

I know it has been discussed before, but I was searching around and seen this pretty nice article on heel and toe down shifting.

http://www.rev-mag.com/RevDriver/driver1.sht

[shadowcat357]

looks interesting worth trying

[rally_wrc]

Try this site also it covers all driving techniques with illustrations.
http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/driving.lasso

[Edited by rally_wrc on May 10, 2003 10:40 AM]

[shadowcat357]

Thats great info. I will be practicing this next chance I get.

[91cavgt]

Heel-toe downshifting is VERY difficult to try to do in my car. There's just not enough room for both of my feet!! The gas pedal is set too far back, and the center console is too close to the gas pedal. When attempting to perform this maneuver, my heel alwys just hit the center console instead of the gas pedal!

[shadowcat357]

I have been having the same problem so all I did was adjust the technique. If you try placing the Heel of the right foot on the brake instead of shifiting it to the gas and angle the foot so that you can use the toe of the right foot on the gas intead. I am working on that. It is an ackward thing to try thats for sure, but I hope that it will pay off.

[beppomarx]

i do this all the time but i use a slightly different technique.

fit wider aftermarket pedals to the gas and brake and set then as close as you feel fit. now you can still keep your foot pointing upwards and use the left side of your right foot (big toe) to modulate the brake and the right side of your right foot (litle toe) to modulate the gas. this only works well in daily driving because if youre braking hard (in an unmodified accent) there is a LOT of brake pedal movement and you can only brake so hard before you cannot twist your heel any more and if you need to brake harder you will also rev teh engine. which is ok as long as you have the clutch in as well.

i still have my cheapo wearever pads on and larger diameter tires (60 series on 15's) so i can easily fade teh brakes if used alone even from 60mph so i have become accustomed to downshifting at least down to 3rd usually 2nd gear to come to a halt.

[shadowcat357]

I have used the technique you mentioned in daily driving but still sometimes it is kinda had to push them both at the same time. It is a trickey technique.

[beppomarx]

you should never really push your brake and gas at the same time. more like when youre slowing down with the brake say in 3rd gear and you get down to 2000rpm you blip teh gas with the right of your foot to bring the rev up around 3500. youve got to match it and know how much to tap the gas because you need a small blip for a 2000-3500 spike but you need the pedal down about twice as long to go from say 3500 up to around 5300. its not easy and sometimes really cumbersome but after a while you can get used to it. or i can i dunno :ermm:

[MechaniX_034]

Look for a set of pedals with a little tab coming off of the side of the accelerator pedal[check out Sparco's stuff] These little things make the job a whole lot easier.:lol: