Good god, don't let your foot slip to the outside of the pedals. Those spring would crush it in an instant if you he a bump!!!!!!

 

I have tried this technnique a few times and still have some questions; mainly, when you are blipping the throttle coming out of a turn, have shifted down a gear, foot still on clutch, how fast do you lift the clutch when you want to accelerate?

Also, is it bad for the transmission or clutch to have the gas pedal depressed while the clutch is all the way in?

Thanks.

 

I use the "pigeon toe" technique. Using the sides of the feet. this is only good if you have semi-large to larger feet. It's not as good as true heel toe though, but it all depends on personal preference either way. I actually go into true heel-toe when I miss a shift, usually in my supra.

rev-matching is a good thing to get into to practice, then slowly start trying heel-toe (first in a parking lot or something). Like anything else when you're trying to do something completely new to you- practice, practice, practice.

 

It actually feels awkward to me to heel/toe with my heel on the brake and toe on the gas..

That video of the time attack really explains a lot and I agree that when your at speed it's much easier to heel/toe because it's an aggressive technique to use.

The technique that I apply braking from 4th to 2nd is the following:

1) Place toe of foot higher on brake pedal and begin braking
2) Depress clutch when ready to downshift keeping toe on brake pedal
3) Shift gear into 3rd while simotaneously blipping throttle with heel of foot
4) Continue applying brake with toe of foot
5) As mph drops more, shift gear into 2nd while simotaneously blipping throttle with heel of foot

It takes a lot of practice to get this technique right, but when you do it feels great and saves you a lot of time. Using this technique will allow you to keep the car a lot more stable then just dumping the clutch. Thats the last thing you want to do is upset the car right before a corner.

Hope this helps I'll be practicing this on Friday at Ca. Speedway Cant wait.

 

I would suggest for those who want to practice to do it in a empty parking lot or at the track. I tried showing this tecnique to my roommate on busy streets but he just didn't seem to pick it up right away. Made for an interesting ride. Also make sure your shoes are DRY. We both got into my 8 after a light rain and didn't realize our shoes were still wet. His feet kept slipping of the brake and onto the gas pedal giving it way too much gas.-Good Luck!

 

I haven't taken the time to practice heel-toe yet, but let me ask...

I tend to do a quick downshift just before a turn by clutch-in - blip/shift - clutch-out, then brake going into the turn. Done right, there's no sudden "jerk" to the drive train. Both engine and brake slow me before the turn, and I just slide from brake to gas pedal as I reach the apex, then accelerate out.

Seeing as this is very easy to do, yet everyone talks about the merits of heel-toe... what the heck am I missing? What does heel-toe have over the above "downshift before" method?

 

I think the advantage is that while your making your quick shift before you brake, we are continuing to accelerate for a brief moment. This allows us to use the latest braking zone possible to complete our shifting where as you need some time to make your shift before you start to brake. Plus the fact you cant make a quick shift going 110 mph so you would have to brake, down shift/blip to 4th, brake again, down shift/blip to 3rd, brake again down shift/blip to second and then make the turn. Where as someone who heel/toes would just wait as long as possible to brake, then brake, blip to 4th, blip to 3rd, blip to 2nd all while continuing to brake. This maximizes both your straight line speed and makes your braking zone a heck of a long shorter.

 

When you are approaching a turn on a track, will you never get a chance to do what you are describing. The reason is that you will be in the lowest possible gear for the speed you are at, which means that your engine RPM will be very high. To downshift before braking is going to automatically blow up your engine. For example, if you were at the end of a straight at 8500 rpm in 4th gear, you can't possibly consider downshifting to 3rd BEFORE slowing down. No, coasting is not an option. You have to floor it the entire time, or else everyone else will be passing you. In third, your engine will go way above 10000 RPM and give you huge engine braking (and breaking) as well.

So you would need to brake first, slowing down enough so that you can safely shift into 3rd (as well as negotiate the turn that is approaching), and while you are braking, you do your blip and shifting, and let out the clutch. Then you are free to smoothly turn-in, and get back on the gas on corner exit.

What you describe is really only possible when you are a at least one gear higher than what you would be if you were at a track.

 

I'm glad someone finally explained the so-called "heel-toe" technique. I've long been under the impression it was just that; heel on the brake pedal and toe on the gas pedal (foot twisted about 70 or 80 degrees to the right). I had actually tried that technique a few times and I just couldn't modulate the brake pedal very well, not to mention how uncomfortable it was. I wrote if off to my lack of finesse.

After reading the true technique last evening, I ventured out to the garage and practiced for a while with the engine off. This morning, I took the long way to work and tried the correct "heel-toe" technique and actually pulled off some cool down-shifts while braking. And I still made the turns! It's not as difficult as I thought it would be. Major fun!!! :D :D :D

1.3L

 

In addition to what others have said, you really don't want to be braking hard going into a turn on the track; that's a great way to spin, but that's not what we are usually trying to do.

 

Okay, so bottom line here... the method I described is fine for local streets and the twisty fun back roads... But for anyone who wants to get serious, and both drive and survive (g) on the track then heel/toe is pretty much an absolute necessity.

Okay... next thread...