Thread: Heel - Toe
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Old Nov 29, 2007, 02:06 PM   #37
TouringBubble
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Just some insight on my heel/toe experiences ...

I learned the technique in a 1.8t VW that has the low accelerator, just like the Audi mentioned. I have fairly large feet (size 13), so the rolling, ball of the foot technique was easy for me to learn. After about 2 months I had it down ... it was second nature, much like shifting.

The problem I ran in to with that technique is that under heavy braking my foot would be over both the brake and accelerator. Because I was used to that foot placement, I would set up for the instinctively and end up in heavy braking and half throttle. In a situation like that, it's quite difficult to roll your foot the opposite way to get out of the throttle. You have to re-position your foot on the brake, and that is kind of tough with grippy pedals. This was not good and almost got me in to trouble a few times on the street.

When I got the Evo, the same technique worked fine, though the AWD did make it a little more upset on a slight mis match. A couple of days and I had it down again.

Then I bought some Pumas and basically had to learn all over again. With the Future Cats, the sole is just barely big enough to touch the brake and throttle at the same time with the roll left to right technique, so I had to learn the "right" way ... that uncomfortable backward heel shift to the throttle.

It took a few weeks of constant practice to get used to it and a couple more to make it habit. However, I definitely prefer the uncomfortable, backward heel shift technique 200% over the wide-footed roll. You will not ever find yourself with your foot in the wrong position and that may save your car, or your life, if you practice this on the street.

Also, I don't think that the roll technique would be as useful on the track for the same reasons ... under heavy braking you could end up on the throttle as well. So, if you plan to use the technique at all in a track setting, I would suggest learning the heel shift technique.

And, as a small note ... the reason the technique feel backward (toes on brake and heel on throttle) is because it IS backward. When the technique was developed, race cars had the brake pedal on the right and the throttle in the center, which is a more ergonomic setup for this technique.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WikiPedia
The name, stemming from earlier automotive designs where the accelerator pedal was on the left and could be actuated with the heel while the brake pedal was actuated with the toe, is misleading regarding how the technique is carried out in modern cars, i.e., operating the brake with the left edge of the foot, while rocking it down and to the right to operate the throttle.
The more you know ...
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