Heel-and-Toe Footage

[Jeff Grow]

Actually, the best h&t action is towards the end.

http://pf-flyer.com/FootCam02.wmv

[bryanearll]

Actually, I was going to do a post on "how do you do 'Heal and Toe' "as I've been trying to think about the concept.

Seeing it on film is helpful, I'm sure I'm going to need someone in the car to listen. It's hard enough to remember to "not brake" at times.
bryan

[Tim Comeau]

Bryan, You can ask me to show you how to heel and toe anytime you see me. I'd be glad to help you out.

Jeff, That's cool the way it was filmed. If I shoot some video of me working the pedals, can you post it like that one?

[Jad]

Just so you know, that is 1 style of heel and toe, there are several others. In the film, the guy used the side of his foot to blip the gas, I usually use more of the ball of my foot on the brake with my foot agled right so the toes can press the gas, but in some cars, I actually heel toe, meaning I put my heel on the gas pedal and the ball of the foot on the brake so my foot is turned in 45 degrees. All three are exceptable, just see what feels good to you and the individual car and pedal location.

[Tim Comeau]

Here's the footage from outside the car of that track.

www.vilipend.com/~frrax/albums/PFFlyer/SWCatRA8.wmv

The funny thing about that video, when you watch it closely, is that he seems to "miss" the gas pedal almost every time he does heel and toe. He only nipped into it once, then got it good at about the 1:30 point. Then, he got the wrong gear! You can hear him drop a gear to get the engine back up in the powerband. The other times he tried heel and toe, he missed, and the revs don't come up until he releases the clutch! DOH!
No left foot braking?
Takes his sweet time moving from pedal to pedal?
Quite frankly, I was underwhelmed................

Now contrast that with the footage of Marc Lieb (factory driver) shot forward from under the driver's seat at Trois Rivieres (sp?). That's how I want to drive when I grow up.
Man, those guys are good!
Have you guys seen Wolfie Henzler drive yet? He's my newest Porsche hero. The guy is liquid speed...........

[glenn_993]

Tim,

Is there a link to that footage?

[MVZ944T]

If you guys want to see someone that really does it good, try to catch a shot fo Porsche factory driver Lucas Luhr. Now he is GOOD!

[Curt]

After watching the Porsche factory drivers in the ALMS, this Corvette guy looks lame. Heck, I've ridden with Dan A. and Mick R. and both of their footwork seems way more impressive than this guys.

[kary]

I like ball of the foot on the brake pedal and the heel on the gas. Works well for me.

[MVZ944T]

That only works if you don't have duck feet, quack, quack. Or your ankles are double jointed!

[sushinav]

I understand the concept of heel/toeing and have practiced. But any method I try I still seem to upset my braking pressure when doing it, and this is normally under a fairly critical braking condition. Any tips besides practice, practice, practice?

[Tim Comeau]

Sushi,
NOPE. The answer is practice, practice. It IS tricky to maintain threshold braking pressure with the ball of your right foot while blipping the throttle. I use the ball of my right foot on the brake, and just the toenail of my pinky toe to blip the throttle.

Glen,
Sorry, no recorded footage. Did anyone record it off the TV?

Wasn't Lucas Luhr in that IMAX film we saw with the Club?

Curt,
Yes, I agree. In our form of sport, many people with lesser skills get to race professionally because of the money thing. I think the same thing you do when I watch alot of "PRO" level video.
I ask myself, "How did that guy get in a pro ride?" The answer is, he paid. Sucks, but that's the reality of it.

[Jad]

ughhhh practice more

Actually, a very common error is to try to downshift too early. Wait until you are almost done braking, it is much safer for your engine (many people over-rev when downshifting and rev limiters don't help), safer for you as you are going slower when you start moving your feet, and easier, as you don't need to stomp on the gas as much to match revs. You can also just try matching revs on downshifts when not braking to get more practice as I often find the pedals are not optimal when braking lightly, such as on the street where you get most of your practice. So just work on learning how much to tap the gas.

Oh, and practice.....

Plus you have ABS, so you can always be sure to step harder on the brakes as you tip the gas, many people are not braking at the max anyway, so this improves your braking and if you go too far, your ABS kicks in and since the car has already taken a nice set, the braking distance won't change significantly.

Good luck and DON'T practice right behind me

[Curt]

Good luck and DON'T practice right behind me

Practice what?

[gulf911]

Good luck and DON'T practice right behind me

Practice what?

Oh brother...