I'm doing it wrong(!) or (?). Heel Toe


FENZO

FENZO

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 7, 2008
1,518
Lafayette, CO
So I noticed in Cobrar's avatar (pic below) that during the heel/toe move the toe is on the brake and the heel is on the gas. I've always used my heel (or instep) on the brake and toe on the gas. Seems easier to me to roll into the throttle with my toes. Huh.. doing it wrong? Does it matter? I wear a size 14 btw.

Disclaimer: I am not a race car driver or even a particularly talented driver but I enjoy that maneuver, and really enjoy it the times I get it right.



heetoestep34.gif
 
If it works for you, then it is correct. In the truest sense the pic above it the traditional proper method, the though is that the ball of your foot which is more sensitive on the brake pedal.

However, I roll my right foot out like you do. Especially in vehicles that don't have great pedal spacing, like my pick up truck. When pedals are good, close, and at the similar heights, I do keep my foot almost straight up and down brake under ball, and gas pedal, and blip with the outside of my foot. My feet don't bend like in the pic.

Ironically Cobrar and I were discussing this very topic over the weekend, his foot does not roll like yours and my foot can, so he does it like the picture.
 
It all depends on the pedals and reach. On the gt I can do either heel on brake toe on accel or do the ankle roll. On the corvettes at the bondurant school only ankle roll works
 
I'm no expert either, but if you can achieve a proper blip of the throttle with your foot simulataneously on the brake, it doesn't really matter how you do it. The 'traditional' method is depicted in that drawing, but a lot of people/professionals use the inside or ball of the foot on the brake and just roll the outside of the foot on the throttle. Pedals have to be spaced fairly close together and/or you have to have wide feet to do it this way.

How do you modulate the brake pressure with your heel?
 
Very delicately?
 
bonehead said:
How do you modulate the brake pressure with your heel?
Click to expand...

Not actually my heel.. arch or instep.
 
I'm with the others here. First point. If you have a technique and it works for you, stay with it. I step onto the right edge of the brake pedal with the left edge (ball) ball of my foot. Then, I just roll it over to get a blip on the throttle. Proper pedal placement for your chosen technique always helps!
 
nota4re said:
I step onto the right edge of the brake pedal with the left edge (ball) ball of my foot. Then, I just roll it over to get a blip on the throttle.
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+1
 
Specracer said:
Ironically Cobrar and I were discussing this very topic over the weekend, his foot does not roll like yours and my foot can, so he does it like the picture.
Click to expand...

We also discussed pros/cons of autoblip. Buts that's another topic for another day. :facepalm::biggrin
 
Autoblip :thumbsup
 
Grrrr on autoblip.... Might not get a new m3 because it doesn't not seem that it can be turned off except in the most aggressive setting, which then also brings the annoying non linear throttle travel, called "power" . Awaiting confirmation on this detail.
 
While "autoblip" may be what's done in many instances, it will still rely on the transmission synchros to accommodate the change in rpm between the engine and the trans's input shaft.

The actual use of the heel & toe technique came about to equalize these two rpms, in the form of double clutching, where one first shifts with the clutch to neutral, "blips" the engine to the appropriate rpm to increase the input shaft rpm, and then performs the downshift with the clutch again. Thus, the gears in the transmission will slide together easily without relying on the synchros (This was absolutely necessary on cars without synchromesh gears, as was my first car, a 1930 Chevrolet).

All done while braking to the corner.
 
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I love 3 pedal cars! Paddle shifters do this "better" - but I'm old school.

About 100 years ago - a friend of mine used his heal on the brakes, and toe on the gas. Though I told him that was "wrong" - he was a LOT better than I ever was...
 
RALPHIE said:
The actual use of the heel & toe technique came about to equalize these two rpms, in the form of double clutching, where one first shifts with the clutch to neutral, "blips" the engine to the appropriate rpm to increase the input shaft rpm, and then performs the downshift with the clutch again. Thus, the gears in the transmission will slide together easily without relying on the synchros (This was absolutely necessary on cars without synchromesh gears, as was my first car, a 1930 Chevrolet).

All done while braking to the corner.
Click to expand...

Technique still works today ~ pedals in my Boss are too far apart (as well as accelerator and brake being different distances from floor) to be repeatedly comfortable/reliable, so a quick 'blip' get it done. To your point tho, even doing this, you can at times outshift the synchros in the Boss. Not too surprising, the trans apparently was derived from the Ford Transit Van. Design limits maxxed-out?? :facepalm:
 
I'd say you're doing it right. Senna did it like this also.

[video=youtube_share;8By2AEsGAhU]http://youtu.be/8By2AEsGAhU[/video]

Pretty much so did Walter Rohrl. So you're definitely in good company! Me too!!! :D

[video=youtube_share;wdy8CG09rSU]http://youtu.be/wdy8CG09rSU[/video]
 
That Sena video never gets old.

On the second one, in racing walls are a bit intimidating. However walls that can die (the people off to the sides) if you run out of talent would be very unsettling. I have never understood the desire to stand feet from a VERY fast moving car on a dirt road.....
 
Funny, I always thought Senna was a left foot braker.
 
Practice on the street.
I find depending on the pedals there are 3 ways to toe and heel. 1st is what you see Senna doing ,rolling the side of your foot.2nd is balls of you feet on the pedal and moving your heel over to the gas pedal.3rd is heel on the brake pedal and using your toes/balls of your feet to blip the gas pedal. I find the GT has a perfect pedal set up for rolling the side of your foot over to the gas.Just my 02
 
Are you a PDK man now Ron or still rowing like the rest of us?
 
Not a pdk man !
 
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