Finally started Heel-Toeing

[MrMigs]

I dunno. but I suddenly felt like giving that "heel-toe" technique a try. I found it kind of "funky" at first. (making my foot go sideways didn't really feel natural)

Eventually, I got pretty good at it. I admit, I need a couple more days to get used to the whole thing, but it's coming along nicely. However, when I "heel-toe," I basically just use the sides of my right foot, and I only turn my leg just a little bit. There's nothing wrong with this, is there? It works well, so it's ok, right?

Yea... and I was going to go out and practice it some more at this big empty parking-lot, but for some reason, security guards don't like people driving around back there. It's pretty lame too... I drove by, and the lot was totally empty, except for this black-and-white security van... I can take a hint..

Anyways, I just practiced it on the streets when there wasn't any traffic. Although, some people were out on their lawns watching me pass by.... again and again...
-=^_^=-

Can't wait till I get them AGX Gas Struts.... still not sure what springs to get; I'd like constant rate springs, not progressives. I heard the kgmm DR21 supersport springs are good... ... Oh, i seem to be rambling on now.  -=^_^=-

[transient]

Yeah, for some people sidestepping is a little more comfortable. I know it is for me. I wear pretty big shoes, and I just can't fit my foot down there while turning it to heel toe. It's all about comfort since it does the exact same thing.

I learned to sidestep by doing it when I downshifted going straight. you wouldn't think so, but it's a lot easier when you don't have to think about the turn.

[MrMigs]

Yea, there's something entirely weird (psychologically) when you're driving... like, I was trying to "practice" at home by pretending that I was heel-toe'ing while sitting down on a chair.... but it's really different when I'm in my car. I guess......

When I'm in my room, and I'm thinking about it, I tell myself, "Okay, put your foot there, put your foot here, down shift... etc," But when I'm driving my car, it's more ... i dont know ... like the directions are simpler.... my brain basically says, "downshift while revving and braking."

[sspikey]

thats why race car drivers always say clear your mind. dont think act! in racing ive noticed. even things as simple as go karts you have to really just do it and act on instincts. sounds really dumb but be one with your car. listen to it feel everything.

[transient]

If you're a really good driver, the car just becomes an extention of your body. You don't think about steering or anything, just like you don't think about walking, you just think "I want to go here."

[MrMigs]

Yea, I guess that would be the ideal mindset for road racing.

Speaking of which, a couple of days ago, I was driving around looking for this store called Discount Performance. I couldn't find it, but as I was searching, I found what looked like a mountain pass. You know, like one of those "drift spots" they have in Japan. I've never been in the mountains before, but the area looked like someone out of Initial D. I was so eager to just floor it and test myself, but there were other cars on the road. Plus I had a friend with me in the car.

So, how about you guys? Where do you usually race around... assuming that you DO race? -=^_^=-

[DSC]

I have trouble with that little "blip" your supposed to give the gas. I do it just like I'm supposed to but giveing it just the right ammount of gas is really hard for me. I either hardly touch the pedal and just down shift like normal or I give it way too much gas which upsets traction even more than just breaking and downshifting. I've also found that its easier to heal-toe downshift at higher revs, cauz then I don't have to worry about being too hard on that "blip" I can just bang it real quick.

[MrMigs]

I find that if I happen to give the car too strong of a blip, I have to compensate by releasing the clutch a bit slower... slows down the whole process a bit, but it keeps it fairly smooth.

By the way, I like that quote you have at the end of your messages, DSC.

[transient]

I find myself every once in a while giving it too much or too little gas, but for the most part i'm ok with it. The car I'm driving now tho, is horrible. I've tried it a few times just for kicks, but the throttle response is so horrible that it just doesn't work.

[MrMigs]

What kind of car is it?

[MrMigs]

Okay nevermind. Dumb question... you have a picture of your car right there. -=^_^=-

[transient]

no, actually i'm driving an 86 toyota tercel right now. (for the winter) The 240 has great throttle response.

[Azarael]

It's not too hard to get use to it ... most normal drivers place their foot on the gas pedal and when it's time to brake they pull their foot back and then move it all the way over to the brake <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>. When I started to drive the resting place for my foot was right inbetween the gas and brake (most logical) ... and a great &nbsp;place if you want to work on your heel-toeing ... just get use to having the foot there and being use not having to pull your foot back to switch pedals. After you are use to holding the foot there you'll find it much easier.

[MrMigs]

yea, i found the exact same thing... well sort of... My foot is basically parallel with the gas pedal, and when i'm heel-toeing, i pivot my &nbsp;foot just enough so that i can touch both the brake and the gas pedals and the same time.

But yea, I have to keep it in a certain place like you said.. and just pivot on the ball of my foot. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>