Driving

[badaz06]

Can someone properly explain heel to toe?

[EbVette]

Jeff,

Heel and toe downshifting means braking while rev-matching downshifting. The reason to brake is that you need to slow down for the coming corner, the reason to downshift is that you would need the lower gear's higher rev to provide the power exiting the corner. And the reason to match the rev is that whenever you downshift, the engine needs to rev higher to match the speed of the car in the lower gear. It is a really good idea to rev the engine before you let the clutch out because if you leave the engine to do it for you, neither the engine nor the transmission would like it. And if you are driving close to your race car's limit, not matching the rev would certainly locks up the tires.

To heel and toe,
1) right foot on the brake,
2) disengage clutch,
3) downshift,
4) blip the throttle using right foot, and
5) engage clutch.

This is called heel and toe because your toe is on the brake, and your heel blips the throttle while you maintain a steady brake pressure. It is kind of misleading because you actually use the inner-upper part of your right foot, instead of your toe, to brake, and your outer-lower part of the foot, not really the heel, to blip the throttle. Learning this technique takes a little time.

Hope this helps you out.... [:D]

[urtoslo]

Wow, Collin, that's a great explanation! Didn't expect that from a waxer! [:D] [;)] [B-)]

Jeff, I can give you a ride on the next parking lot autox (that requires a downshift from second) and you can see/feel from inside the difference between heel and toe and no heel and toe. There also a great video out there somewhere of a F1 dude's feet as he whips around the circuit.

[Black396]

Wow, Collin, that's a great explanation! Didn't expect that from a waxer! [:D] [;)] [B-)]


Most likely because he learned to drive that way. [B-)] Early manual transmissions didn't have synchros and to down shift you had to "double clutch" or "rev-match" (not the same thing) to NOT grind the gears. Even some manual transmissions in the 60s did not have a synchro between 1st and 2nd.

[badaz06]

Thanks Collin. I've actually been doing that even when just cruising the street...courtesy of Paul explaining on my first vette bringing the rev's up to match when downshifting...but never with the same foot on the brake and clutch. I just could never figure out how my heel and toes were going to do it....I didn't know if a size 12 was an advantage or a disadvantage!!

Now, I'm assuming the "race shoes" you guys wear are friendlier when doing this?>

[EbVette]

Mike you got it....remember I owned that damn 1969 Yenko Camaro...that's the only way to street drive that stupid car. I learned purely out of need, not want. I have learn to love HURST and MUNCIE over BORG WARNER....guess how I drive the 63...YEP...you got it. [:D]

Now come on Andre, I have been racing before I ever waxed...remember I went to school at Bryer, NH (now called Loudoun Speedway) witha 74 Fiat X/19, then later in England learned on the Austin Mini Cooper at Cooper Race School at SilverStone, and about five years ago went to Skip Barber at Lyme Rock, and of course have gotten many pointers from Reese Cox... I just lost interest, and it cost TOOO much, after all restoring a 63 to showroom condition is MUCH cheaper then racing......NOT [:D]

Jeff, all it takes is practice and coordination...now I know you will practice this,,,it's the coordination that you should worry about...

You'll do just fine....

Collin

[Black396]

Mike you got it....remember I owned that damn 1969 Yenko Camaro...that's the only way to street drive that stupid car. I learned purely out of need, not want.

THAT car wasn't meant to driven on the street. [:))]

I have learn to love HURST and MUNCIE over BORG WARNER....guess how I drive the 63...YEP...you got it. [:D]


Muncie all the way! [=D>]

As far as I'm concerned the best transmission made back then was the 'Rock Crusher'. ...and think guys complain about how the ZF 6 speeds in the C4s are noisy. [;)]

[badaz06]

I just lost interest, and it cost TOOO much, after all restoring a 63 to showroom condition is MUCH cheaper then racing......NOT [:D]

Jeff, all it takes is practice and coordination...now I know you will practice this,,,it's the coordination that you should worry about...

You'll do just fine....

Collin

That's cheaper????? Scary....

And me...co-ordinated! hahahahahahahaha

[EbVette]

Jeff,

You got mail, wrote and article on this subject for the Newsletter, don't have Jim's email handy, so sent it to you...let me know what you think...Collin

[C5inWV]

Jeff,

Heel and toe downshifting means braking while rev-matching downshifting. The reason to brake is that you need to slow down for the coming corner, the reason to downshift is that you would need the lower gear's higher rev to provide the power exiting the corner...
... if you are driving close to your race car's limit, not matching the rev would certainly locks up the tires.

[:D]

That's why we do it...to keep the rear from skidding when the gear change is made. You can drive for awhile before you actually need to heel-toe, but you will reach a point that you need this technique to go faster and maintain control.
You can practice on any cloverleaf; just go round and round, pick up speed and roll your foot from the brake to the throttle. Just "blip" it. You'll probably need to keep your foot on the brake throughout your gear change.

My walking shoes offer the best for heel-toe. I can do it with my tennis shoes (wider), but I found I was hitting the throttle too hard, and accelerating (rather than matching revs) as the clutch was released. Hard to hear when you're wearing a helmet.

[jpatrick]

EXCUUUUSE ME!!

Waxers supreme, Kirk DeNee and Don Patrick, both took and passed the Bragg Smith High Speed Driving School in Parumph, Nevada. While I wasn't there for Kirk's session, Don was voted best in his class. Blip Blip to you!! [;)]

[badaz06]

Ut oh....Go Judy Go!!