i heaal and toe all teht ime when im wearing my pilotis or my reeboks, but in my pumas my shoe width is to narrow

if you want to heel and toe for the practice of saving break pads theres anotehr way to do it sort of that i use when coming off the highway and downshifting into fourth for some added engine braking when im in my pumas

this is literally grabbing the brake pedal with your heel and twisting your fott so the ball of your foot and toes throw some gas on; dont know if anyone already said this as im not reading like 40 different posts

that suggestions definitely wont do oyu anygood in spirited drving but as said before form a 6th to 4th downshift coming down form highway speeds at a stop light itll help save same pad life

 

Everyone else here has talked about heel-and-toe downshifting, but I wanted to chime in regarding your comment about small feet. There are pedal kits around that have an extension on the left side to reduce the gap to the brake pedal. I got a set at UUC Motorwerks, but I've also seen them on ebay. If you want to work on heel-and-toe downshifting, that might help you cover both pedals at the same time.

Good luck!

 

Check out the following link:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...uick-feet.html

 

its for downshifting but its also used by many rally drivers w/turbo cars.

theres videos on YouTube of a rally car drivers feet. They keep the gas down while braking to keep the spool (boost) up

this guy uses his right foot back and forth (brake & clutch), but others do use the heel/toe method...check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKQH3EUz2sI

 

For those of us with LONG feet, it would be impossible to heel and toe in a Mini anyway.

 

That webpage has a link to a nice video demonstration of heel-toe: http://mfile.akamai.com/27486/wmv/ha...07/Heeltoe.wmv

I've tried heel-toe a few times, with marginal success. I think I can get it with practice, but I have small feet and need to twist my foot a bit awkwardly between the pedals.

 

Not at all. It is easily learned and very beneficial.

 

These links have some great videos and hints.........
http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving..._heeltoe.shtml
and a great video of it in practice
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/c...db3f41d4d1.htm
and a good close-up video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...95572912437791
and finally a video with commentary
http://www.caranddriver.com/custom/s...ction=features

 

Check out the fancy footwork in this video. Pretty crazy having spectators so close to the action: Walter Röhrl 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1

 

Don't worry about it WannaMini - for daily driving heel to toe driving isn't critical. I doubt that it's any consolation but I have the exact opposite problem you have - my blasted feet are too big - size 13. Add to the equation I'm 6'4" and you should see some of the looks I get when I get out of our MINI.

 

There's lots of ways to do it. In my old car the pedals were too far apart to hit the gas with the side of my foot so I rotated the heel over to blip the gas. I still do that in my MCS just out of habit. Anyway, by doing it this way, it doesn't matter how narrow your foot is. Keep at it, it is loads of fun!

 

Walter can really dance the peddles. He seems to use left foot braking more that heal toe, although he does that too.

As far as the spectators go, that looks like it was shot in Portugal. Everyone seems to have bullfighter syndrome on the sides of the stage. After Michelle Mouton won there in a Quattro she was asked how she could drive so fast with all those people lining the roads. Her answer was she had to think of them as trees not people.

Thanks for posting the link. A most enjoyable ride. Group B forever.

 

Yes, I suppose doing heel-toe downshifting isn't necessary for driving your MINI.

But I contend that it is necessary for "motoring".

And I must say that it does prove you have some driving skill if you can do it, (not much more than average, but some). I don't hold that over anyone's head, mind you.

For me, it's all about enhancing my motoring experience, whether I'm going to get dog food, or driving to work. I guess I'm just a motoring fool!

 

In different shoes I do it different ways. Most shoes I can do a regular heel/toe, but on the track with my pumas my heel hits the brake and my toe blips the throttle. It works all the same way.

mb

 

I push mine to the skid limit ALL the time. So it may be beneficial for me to try to get it down. I have to admit, the one time I was able to do it, the downshift was so smooth, and I was able to take the corner at near full speed! Of course, I didn't have my baby in the back when I did it! Although, he probably would have thought it was fun!

 

All the time? Where are you so I don't visit there, do you know where the limit of your tires is? If you really drive like this on the street this is nuts. Take it to the track.

 

Alright, alrigh so not all the time. But frequently. Only when there are no other cars around, and when I do not have my baby boy in the backseat. Man, you're rude, Roach.

 

yep

 

ETA, you'll be happy to know I'm taking a BMW driver's course this Spring. And I do hope to take it to the track... :-)

 

I have a size 14 foot. To work the pedals, my right foot is at at 45º angle, and my heel planted on the floor. Not enough room in the foot area for me to straighten my foot (and leg) enough to heel and toe.

I've never once found it necessary, and has no more effect on my driving skills, than some bling on the car. I've beaten plenty of people on track that heel and toe. There are other methods of smoothly slowing for a corner and downshifting without jerking the car out of balance.

 

I don't heel & toe.
Maybe when the synchros go I'll start.

 

I've been trying to practice, but I'm still not good at it. The problem seems to be that you have to brake really hard to get the brake pedal to the depth of the gas for easy blipping. In daily driving I rarely brake hard enough.

I'm hoping to learn more during my first track day in June with SCDA at Limerock.

 

I did it again last night! Again, fairly sharp turn, no other cars around, still well within the speed limit.

It was SOOOOO smooth! I did the technique with heel on the gas and toe on the brake. Then I tried it again with another turn, and I messed it all up. HAHA Like anything, I guess it takes practice!!!

 

Cool WannaMini! Remeber you can do this going straight too for practice. For example if you are coming up to a light as you slow for it. If the light changes before you get there, you are in the correct gear. You don't even have to be going fast to do it (and it's probably beter not to for learning purposes).

 

Great. Can't own a Lamborghini Countach, now I can't heel and toe.

Never had, and the instructors and experienced drivers I've talked to don't think it's needed. Swell if you can, but don't rub it in.