[s-cars] heel-toe driving

[Theodore Chen]

--- QSHIPQ at aol.com wrote:
> This thread is mostly BS.  There is no "right way" to heel and toe, any more
> than there is a "wrong way".  THE way to heel and toe is to rev match a
> downshift.  However your feet are planted has nothing to do with the ultimate
> outcome or purpose.

agree completely.  as long as you are able to brake and match revs
while staying in control of the car, it doesn't matter how you do it.

> I haven't seen H/T techniques do much of anything in terms of a urs car
> "longevity".  Synchros are for those that don't want to heel and toe.
> There's some really high mileage quattros around that have never been H/T at
> multiple track events with absolutely no effect on trans life.

i have not driven my s-car on a track and have no plans to do so.  but
heel-toe will make it much easier to downshift in places like turn 2 at
laguna seca, which requires a 4-2 downshift in my car.  if i didn't
heel-toe, i'd have to use a lot of force to get into 2nd, or i'd get some
grinding, or i'd have to wait until i was going back to the throttle to
shift.  this particular corner, in fact, was my incentive for learning
to double-clutch and heel-toe years ago.

some people don't do heel-toe, and prefer to wait until they go back to
the throttle to perform their downshift.

it's largely a matter of choice.  i prefer to get my shifting done
under braking, so if i make any mistakes in matching revs, the effect
is smaller.  if i made a mistake shifting while turning at maximum g's,
i'd have a very good chance of spinning off the track (the mustang is RWD).

> Track experience and LFB make a bigger difference in terms of chassis
> performance.

i agree on the first part but not the second part.  lots of people go
fast without left-foot braking, just as they don't have to heel-toe to go
fast.

> Audi changed pedal location since "unintended acceleration" to
> make H/T just about impossible without changing the hardware under your feet.

you can add an extension to the gas pedal to make it easier.

>  As of drive by wire, there is no heel/toe beyond 3 seconds anymore than
> there is LFB beyond 3seconds.

can you explain this?  if you are on the brakes for more than 3 seconds,
the throttle becomes inoperative?

-teddy


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