Today I was at California Speedway in Fontana for a Euro event with European Car Magazine, and Piloti was there as a sponsor. Since I was there as a sponsor as well, and not a lot was going on, except my EZ UP getting blown around and tossed in the wind, I decided to say hello.

Guess what, Heh heh, I walked away $75 poorer! Actually, though I'm quite happy that I was a bit lighter! I picked up a pair of their just released Spyder Touring Shoes. They don't have Nomex lining, but they are super comfortable and best of all relatively inexpensive. I tried on the Mulholland on my right foot and the Spyder on my left.

Having never driven with Driving Shoes, I was curious about what benefit I'd get. I had read that it's easier to Heel & Toe with driving shoes for one, and that was a big benefit for me.

Well, for anyone wondering what it's like to drive your MINI with driving shoes, let me tell you, it's like adding glue to the soles of your feet.

It really makes shifting a pleasure as your feet don't slide or move about on the pedals. When I tried to heel and toe, I couldn't believe I did a nice smooth shift from 3rd to 2nd on a left hand turn at the correct RPMs. The reason I could do it now and not before was because as I rotated the ball of my foot to heel and toe, my foot never left or felt like it was going to slip off the brake pedal. That's what made it so hard for me to do in the past when wearing tennis shoes--I always felt insecure about rotating my foot off the brake.

Check out the cool shoe laces. They have a spring loaded clip. Just squeeze it and tighten! Never have to tie my shoes again! They do provide regular laces if you want, but who would want to?

I have a link to a good heel & toe article on my site:

Article HERE

And of course, here are pix of my new driving shoes. I shot these tonight, and were quickies. I put my MINI key for reference. They are size 10.

 

Very cool shoes, sweetie! I told you to get buckets filled with concrete or cement to hold down your canopy! LMAO!

Clo/Wanda

 

Hahha, I know, but I didn't need the extra weight in my car. LOL. It was already packed as it was! Fortunately it didn't start blowing until the later part of the afternoon when we were done anyways. We pulled ours down, and a few moments later, someone elses EZ UP went flying! LOL

re: Shoes
I'm so thrilled with them!!! Hmmm, now I just need my Schroth, and I'll be ready for the Dragon!!! Fortunately, that's still a ways away to save some money for them!

Richard

 

Awsome

 

Nice surprise for you, OctaneGuy! Great deal to boot:smile: . I've got these ...

http://minituner.com/images.original/723.jpg

 

Be sure to save up for TWO Schroths! Your navigator will need one! After whipping through the Dragon in Ryephile's MM2 , wearing the Schroth, I strongly recommend it. Those twisties toss you about!!!!! LOL!

Clo/Wanda

 

Thanks!!! you know, I saw your post on those awhile back. I think that's partly what influenced me! I saw those, and from then on, was like man, I gotta get me a pair. LOL

re: MiniClo
Hahahah, yeah, I guess I do need a pair. But then again, who needs a navigator? I got one built into my car! And he's got the best restraints.

 

Wow! Cool:smile:. My Monacos are now in my outside shoe cabinet ...ready to go tomorrow morning for a Time Attack event. Also: my Rs are on, the interior's completely empty, and the exterior's as clean as a whistle. Short track delight:smile: . Have an excellent motoring weekend, OctaneGuy (you will!)!

 

Thanks buddy!! I'm gonna hit the canyons on Sunday. =) I will report back how they worked.

Thank you, and hope you have a fantastic weekend as well!!

 

Those shoes are way cool. I want some! I want mine red with black to match my Mini!

Ohhh, just googled a local store that has them...and they are in my colors too!

 

Thanks!!!!

Yep, you want the PR12-4 which are perfect!!!

See the attached picture I scanned from the brochure they gave me! Mine are circled--PR12-2

Good luck!!

 

It's a comin' (it's now Saturday 5:12 p.m. HST):smile:

 

Here's my driving shoes:

 

OctaneGuy...

*How were they (your new Pilotis:smile?!

*How was the canyon run (aww yeah)?!

 

They are great!!!! I ended up skipping the canyon run. I felt I got lucky last weekend by living through the run. LOL. Didn't want to press my luck. Ya never know when your next run is your last.

But I've done lots of driving in all kinds of situations, and I'm very happy with my Pilotis. They are comfortable, and definitely make Heel and Toe much more manageable.

I got a bit peeved with myself last night though. I was wearing my Pilotis, and stepped in some Meguiars Trim Detailer. It made the bottom of my shoes slick!!! Ugh!!!! That's the complete opposite of what I want my shoes to do! Took lots of cleaning, and walking to get them sticky again.

 

Whew ~ no harm, no foul:smile: . Motor on (you will!)

 

That is aweseome, octaneguy! :D I need to get me a pair too.
Right now Im just wearing some Addias with a thin,flat bottom as
driving shoes. Works great, but want more. :smile:

 

The Samba

I've had 'em:smile:

 

I've been wearing my $5 Target tennis shoes. I liked them cause the soles were thin, allowing me to feel the pedals better, but the difference between them and the Pilotis is that the Pilotis are sticky and stiff.

Have you ever worn biking shoes? It's a similar effect. When you pedal a bike with regular shoes, it takes more effort because the walking shoes allow your feet to flex. Biking shoes are stiffer, thus translating more energy to the pedals.

The Pilotis are similar. I find that pushing in the clutch takes less effort, and that getting my foot positioned on the brake for heel and toe isn't a hit and miss affair like it used to be since my foot doesn't slip.

It really does make a difference.

I wear them everytime I'm in my MINI now.

Even for short trips.

 

Octaneguy - I think Im going to check out a local store who carries
Piloti shoes. :smile: They sell exotics.

http://www.foxvalleymotorcars.com/boutique.html


They're only about 25min from where Im at.

 

Oh excellent.

You'll like em better than what you got right now, that's for sure. See if they will let you try them on while in your MINI. :smile:

 

I was wondering....how do those shoes differ other than cosmetics?

They all seem to have the same reinforced heel and toe...and about the
same thickness on the base.

??? ???

 

Well, I compared the Spyder to the Mullholland since they were the newest and the only ones in the $75 range.

The two models were very similar and the colors were a partial determining factor, but the clincher for me was that the Spyder had the nifty no tie shoe lace. Makes them like a slip on, but much more secure since you cinch down the spring loaded device.

I'm referring to:


Richard