Heel and Toe for 3 pedals, left foot braking for 2 pedals, both skills that an accomplished driver should posses IMO. Another great post Ross and thank you
Ross, the best thing I got from listening to your podcast is you convinced me to learn heel & toe downshifting in my street car a couple winters ago. Made a real difference on the track, before that I was left foot braking and not clutching my downshifts. That technique worked great 90% of the time, but was hard on the gearbox. Thanks!
Thanks. So I do it the wrong way, just like described during 1:50. That's why I quite often miss the blip. But perhaps, it is due to my small foot that I find it difficult to do the correct way using the heel as a pivot point.
After you learn the technique in a non-stressed condition, consistently doing it while trying to squeeze the brake pedal as the g’s are throwing you into the engine compartment is the next challenge.
Note on your pivoting motion demonstrating heel and toe. But how you do keep consistent braking pressure, while pivoting for gas also? If you’re braking 70% pressure, I don’t want to drop any pressure for blipping throttle. So how do you keep both consistent. The consistency of brake pressure you want, and enough pivot to blip the gas enough to match the speed of down shift while not taking away braking pressure
The simple answer to your question is, “practice.” If you keep your heel on the floor, and practice keeping the same amount of pressure on the brake pedal, you can blip the throttle without it effecting the brake pressure. That’s why it is easier to heel and toe on the track because you’re rarely braking at 70% pressure. When you’re braking at 90% or above, the pedal becomes firm and gives you an easy point to pivot from without releasing any pressure. Practice!
@@Speedsecrets1 I'm running 60kg loadcell brake pedal on a simulator, i don't have any g force assist for applying brakes either, compared to usual road car brake feel, i'd say at peak firmness it's about 10x the stiffness. In terms of pedal placement, i notice two effects, at threshold braking distance, having the accelerator pedal be even, i can comfortably blip the gas, however i can only blip the gas about 15%. So depending on the car and how it's geared and how fast it slows down, it might be enough throttle to match the speed of downshifts or it might not. Part 2, would be if i bring the throttle pedal closer to me, I can give more gas then about 40% but my foot pivots off the brake enough where i lose pressure when shifting foot weight onto gas. Mainly i'm rev matching left side of right foot and right side on the throttle. these are floor mounted pedals so i'm trying t figure out how i could incorporate my heel when it seems like i dont get enough leverage or force with the heel on the floor vs rasing my foot
Good suggestion, and I will do a demo of keeping the heel on the floor while heel & toeing. I don't recommend heel & toeing with your heel off the floor, so I'll only show why it's a problem - and why I don't recommend it. I'll do this ASAP. Thanks for the feedback!
@@Speedsecrets1 either my pedals are too small or my feet are too small lol. Whenever I try to do it I end up braking hard. So I only do it if I’m at a great deal of speed to where I would have to brake a little harder than normal.
I’m assuming it may be different for each car, depending on speed, gearbox, etc., but do you advise drivers to row through the gears, or try and time one gear change blip sequence?
Ive been practicing the heel and toe for say 20 hours now, in a racing sim with a respectful pedal set. What ive been doing is (and my understanding is) when I know I will be downshifting whilst breaking i try to roll my foot to the throttle just before i release the clutch, to try to give the revs a head start, essentially. My question is.. Is there a list of situations where heel toe isn't the best option for faster lap times? Is it only beneficial to heel and toe on slow corners , say if its an uphill after the bend or should I be aiming to blip the throttle every chance I get, even say its best to coast round after changing gear? Its on corners where I have to be trial braking and I try to use the two techniques together is when it all goes wrong for me. I believe Im not seeing any benefits yet because Im over thinking it and not just driving with what comes natural.
@@bit-eki anytime you need to brake and downshift is the right time for heel and toe. In a sim, there isn’t much benefit because the software does the work for you, but in a real car it’s easier on the transmission and keeps the car better balance (and not upset with a jerky downshift).
@@Speedsecrets1 Thank you for getting back to me. Thats good to know, I will continue to practice but will know no i dont need to really worry about it. I'm still going to buy your book! All the best
Hi Ross, Thanks for the video! One question I have is down to the speed release of the clutch during the heel toe downshift. Looking at some videos of driving on track the drivers jump right off the clutch - almost stabbing the pedal so to speak. In my car I always get a slight jerk if I try to be this fast and so find that releasing the clutch slightly slower to be a lot better. Is there a difference in the clutch enabling them to be faster do I just need to practise more to get quicker? Also is there actually any benefit in being faster with the clutch or is it not that important as you are in a breaking zone so not needing the power anyway? Thanks Chris
+Chris McGuire Hi Chris - Good question! The benefit of being fast with the clutch release is the car is always in a gear, and not "free wheeling" (which is never a really good thing). Definitely, some cars are easier to be very fast with the clutch than others. The big difference is in how short the brake zone is. If you're braking very hard and the zone is short, then you need to get your downshifts down as quickly as possible. That's why you'll see drivers of race cars be very quick with the clutch - they're getting it done in as short a distance as possible. Most times, when you brake hard, the release of the clutch will not upset the car (like you say you've experienced); if you're braking like you would on the street, then it's easier to be un-smooth with the clutch release. In other words, the faster you drive, the easier it gets. When I release the clutch while heel and toeing on the street, it's relatively slow. When I downshift on a track, where the brake zone is shorter and harder, the clutch release is faster. When I'm driving a race car - especially one with a racing gearbox - I use the clutch very fast (and even sometimes don't depress it all the way - just enough to get the gearbox to change gears). That is, if I use a clutch at all, as many race cars don't require the use of the clutch at all. I hope that helps. Thanks for the question.
Hi Ross. when you are doing the heel and toe, how do you know the exact moment (on the tacometer) on which you have to do it? I know it is diferent on every car... but do you have any trick to do this?
+andrescastaned80 You're not looking at the tach' you're looking at the turn/turn-in. It's getting to know the car and it's practice. First you'll not blip enough, then too much. After a couple (few :) ) practice blips (in a parking lot or easy lapping) you'll know how responsive the throttle is on your car and the engine sound needed to make the "rev-match" and also how coordinated you are at the clutch/shift/blip/clutch that Ross talks aboot. Happy driving.
+BubbaSmurft Well said. I'd add that you usually want to make your downshifts as late in the braking zone as possible - making sure it/they are completed (and your left foot is off the clutch and back on the dead pedal) before turning into the corner. You can't look at the tach to determine when to downshift. Yes, after you do it a few times you'll find the right timing - it's a feel thing. But again, don't be in a rush to downshift. I always say, "Brake... wait... then downshift."
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Heel and Toe for 3 pedals, left foot braking for 2 pedals, both skills that an accomplished driver should posses IMO.
Another great post Ross and thank you
+Versingetrix01 Great drivers have great footwork, right? Thanks.
Ross, the best thing I got from listening to your podcast is you convinced me to learn heel & toe downshifting in my street car a couple winters ago. Made a real difference on the track, before that I was left foot braking and not clutching my downshifts. That technique worked great 90% of the time, but was hard on the gearbox. Thanks!
i really appreciate you making this video!
Thanks. So I do it the wrong way, just like described during 1:50. That's why I quite often miss the blip. But perhaps, it is due to my small foot that I find it difficult to do the correct way using the heel as a pivot point.
After you learn the technique in a non-stressed condition, consistently doing it while trying to squeeze the brake pedal as the g’s are throwing you into the engine compartment is the next challenge.
Thanks for sharing
Note on your pivoting motion demonstrating heel and toe. But how you do keep consistent braking pressure, while pivoting for gas also? If you’re braking 70% pressure, I don’t want to drop any pressure for blipping throttle. So how do you keep both consistent. The consistency of brake pressure you want, and enough pivot to blip the gas enough to match the speed of down shift while not taking away braking pressure
The simple answer to your question is, “practice.” If you keep your heel on the floor, and practice keeping the same amount of pressure on the brake pedal, you can blip the throttle without it effecting the brake pressure. That’s why it is easier to heel and toe on the track because you’re rarely braking at 70% pressure. When you’re braking at 90% or above, the pedal becomes firm and gives you an easy point to pivot from without releasing any pressure. Practice!
@@Speedsecrets1 I'm running 60kg loadcell brake pedal on a simulator, i don't have any g force assist for applying brakes either, compared to usual road car brake feel, i'd say at peak firmness it's about 10x the stiffness. In terms of pedal placement, i notice two effects, at threshold braking distance, having the accelerator pedal be even, i can comfortably blip the gas, however i can only blip the gas about 15%. So depending on the car and how it's geared and how fast it slows down, it might be enough throttle to match the speed of downshifts or it might not. Part 2, would be if i bring the throttle pedal closer to me, I can give more gas then about 40% but my foot pivots off the brake enough where i lose pressure when shifting foot weight onto gas. Mainly i'm rev matching left side of right foot and right side on the throttle. these are floor mounted pedals so i'm trying t figure out how i could incorporate my heel when it seems like i dont get enough leverage or force with the heel on the floor vs rasing my foot
Thank you!
Can you please do a video on the demonstration of keeping your heel to the floor and also the heel up while heel toeing? Pleasee
Good suggestion, and I will do a demo of keeping the heel on the floor while heel & toeing. I don't recommend heel & toeing with your heel off the floor, so I'll only show why it's a problem - and why I don't recommend it. I'll do this ASAP. Thanks for the feedback!
@@Speedsecrets1 either my pedals are too small or my feet are too small lol. Whenever I try to do it I end up braking hard. So I only do it if I’m at a great deal of speed to where I would have to brake a little harder than normal.
I’m assuming it may be different for each car, depending on speed, gearbox, etc., but do you advise drivers to row through the gears, or try and time one gear change blip sequence?
Ive been practicing the heel and toe for say 20 hours now, in a racing sim with a respectful pedal set. What ive been doing is (and my understanding is) when I know I will be downshifting whilst breaking i try to roll my foot to the throttle just before i release the clutch, to try to give the revs a head start, essentially.
My question is.. Is there a list of situations where heel toe isn't the best option for faster lap times? Is it only beneficial to heel and toe on slow corners , say if its an uphill after the bend or should I be aiming to blip the throttle every chance I get, even say its best to coast round after changing gear? Its on corners where I have to be trial braking and I try to use the two techniques together is when it all goes wrong for me.
I believe Im not seeing any benefits yet because Im over thinking it and not just driving with what comes natural.
@@bit-eki anytime you need to brake and downshift is the right time for heel and toe. In a sim, there isn’t much benefit because the software does the work for you, but in a real car it’s easier on the transmission and keeps the car better balance (and not upset with a jerky downshift).
@@Speedsecrets1 Thank you for getting back to me. Thats good to know, I will continue to practice but will know no i dont need to really worry about it. I'm still going to buy your book! All the best
Hi Ross,
Thanks for the video! One question I have is down to the speed release of the clutch during the heel toe downshift. Looking at some videos of driving on track the drivers jump right off the clutch - almost stabbing the pedal so to speak. In my car I always get a slight jerk if I try to be this fast and so find that releasing the clutch slightly slower to be a lot better. Is there a difference in the clutch enabling them to be faster do I just need to practise more to get quicker? Also is there actually any benefit in being faster with the clutch or is it not that important as you are in a breaking zone so not needing the power anyway?
Thanks
Chris
+Chris McGuire Hi Chris - Good question! The benefit of being fast with the clutch release is the car is always in a gear, and not "free wheeling" (which is never a really good thing). Definitely, some cars are easier to be very fast with the clutch than others. The big difference is in how short the brake zone is. If you're braking very hard and the zone is short, then you need to get your downshifts down as quickly as possible. That's why you'll see drivers of race cars be very quick with the clutch - they're getting it done in as short a distance as possible. Most times, when you brake hard, the release of the clutch will not upset the car (like you say you've experienced); if you're braking like you would on the street, then it's easier to be un-smooth with the clutch release. In other words, the faster you drive, the easier it gets. When I release the clutch while heel and toeing on the street, it's relatively slow. When I downshift on a track, where the brake zone is shorter and harder, the clutch release is faster. When I'm driving a race car - especially one with a racing gearbox - I use the clutch very fast (and even sometimes don't depress it all the way - just enough to get the gearbox to change gears). That is, if I use a clutch at all, as many race cars don't require the use of the clutch at all. I hope that helps. Thanks for the question.
Hi Ross. when you are doing the heel and toe, how do you know the exact moment (on the tacometer) on which you have to do it? I know it is diferent on every car... but do you have any trick to do this?
+andrescastaned80 You're not looking at the tach' you're looking at the turn/turn-in. It's getting to know the car and it's practice. First you'll not blip enough, then too much. After a couple (few :) ) practice blips (in a parking lot or easy lapping) you'll know how responsive the throttle is on your car and the engine sound needed to make the "rev-match" and also how coordinated you are at the clutch/shift/blip/clutch that Ross talks aboot. Happy driving.
+BubbaSmurft Well said. I'd add that you usually want to make your downshifts as late in the braking zone as possible - making sure it/they are completed (and your left foot is off the clutch and back on the dead pedal) before turning into the corner. You can't look at the tach to determine when to downshift. Yes, after you do it a few times you'll find the right timing - it's a feel thing. But again, don't be in a rush to downshift. I always say, "Brake... wait... then downshift."
+andrescastaned80 The comments below should answer your question. Thanks for asking.