Do you heel toe?
- Thread starter BMW-FW26
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gpoints said:
Guilty though I think I'm doing it wrong. I use the inside of my foot (the ball) on the brake and the outside (pinkie toe) to hit the gas. ![[scratch]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_headscratch.gif "Head Scratch [scratch]")
gpoints said:
Guilty though I think I'm doing it wrong. I use the inside of my foot (the ball) on the brake and the outside (pinkie toe) to hit the gas.
I've been doing it since I learned to drive stick in a 1966 Ford "3 on the Tree" pickup when I was a teen on the mid '70s. I learned the concept and need for it (downshift & rev) when I started riding motorcycles at 14, so when I started driving a truck, I just did it, I thought it was what you HAD to do. I didn't know it was called "Heel and Toe" until a few years later.
As far as left foot braking, high school drivers training taught me NEVER to left foot brake, keep the left foot for the clutch. Now that I Autocross, I am trying to UNLEARN that and use left foot braking. There are some instances in autocross/racing where left foot braking is useful, such as trail braking into a corner and still keeping the engine revs up.
Yeah i heel and toe my car as well. The pedal positioning in the E30 is ideal for this. In my case (right-hand-drive) i have my heel on the accelerator and my toes on the brake. I've been doing it ever since i started driving, really. In the old man's 740il (auto) i left-foot brake in heavy traffic - i just find it quicker and smoother.
Some people think its unnecessary and, in new cars, i think they may be right. However, in my car it really gived some good stability under heavy braking and takes a lot of load off the brakes. And i must say that it really shows it's advantages when i'm pushing the car hard on a twisty section of road. It really balances the car nicely for the corners and allows you to push just that little bit harder.
I do find that in my mum's 325i (manual) that it is absolutely impossible to heel and toe. The brake pedal is positioned so high that i can't heel the accelerator even if i try. I find it slightly annoying but my brother pointed out to me that, in this case, the gearbox is so good that heel and toeing isn't really needed. He may be right.... but i still want to do it, especially in a 325i [headbang]
Some people think its unnecessary and, in new cars, i think they may be right. However, in my car it really gived some good stability under heavy braking and takes a lot of load off the brakes. And i must say that it really shows it's advantages when i'm pushing the car hard on a twisty section of road. It really balances the car nicely for the corners and allows you to push just that little bit harder.
I do find that in my mum's 325i (manual) that it is absolutely impossible to heel and toe. The brake pedal is positioned so high that i can't heel the accelerator even if i try. I find it slightly annoying but my brother pointed out to me that, in this case, the gearbox is so good that heel and toeing isn't really needed. He may be right.... but i still want to do it, especially in a 325i [headbang]
Wow, I forgot about 3 on the tree.. I drove my mom's old 57 (I think) Ford Falcon once to take her to the hospital one night when I was 12.. 20 mile drive in the dark, trying to shift the gears on the damn steering shaft! (BTW she was having diabetes problems at the time, and was drifting in and out. Luckily my Mom was a nurse, and I 'knew' where she worked, so I just drove on autopilot!)
I wish I could do the ole heel & toe in my car, but I only can do it in my Tevos, and when I'm really 'into' driving.. I have big feet (size 13), and wide at that..
I wish I could do the ole heel & toe in my car, but I only can do it in my Tevos, and when I'm really 'into' driving.. I have big feet (size 13), and wide at that..
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