Stupid question...

Kinja'd!!! "michael bleggi" (mikalbleggi)
05/31/2014 at 23:23 • Filed to: None

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I've never autoxed or anything before, but i can definitely drive stick. I can utilize all three pedals virtually simultaneously when corning and stuff without much thought. I drive an mk6 jetta. I've driven a fair amount of other stick cars, but not to an extent that i can comfortably screw around with them..

So my dilemma is: what is the proper way to heel-toe? I always use my heel/center of my foot on the brake, and poke the throttle with my toe. My friend was in my car during some spirited driving and said "are you dancing over there?" asking if i was heel-toeing, looked over, and saw the way i was doing it and was pretty confused. Does my stock economy car just have pedals that aren't good for this? aare my feet too big? or am i just wrong... When i use my heel all i can do is vaguely stab at the base of the throttle and don't have much control.... Gif for your time


DISCUSSION (10)


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > michael bleggi
05/31/2014 at 23:31

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I think it really is just the bad set up of the pedals. I basically do the saem thing in my Civic. If I do it the "proper way" I catch the side of my foot on the gas pedal and screw up.


Kinja'd!!! Leadbull > michael bleggi
05/31/2014 at 23:32

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Usually, it's toe on the brake, and heel/side of foot on the gas.

I can't imagine trying to do it your way...


Kinja'd!!! Biased Plies > michael bleggi
05/31/2014 at 23:35

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Most economy cars don't have pedal setups ideal for heel-toe-ing. Eg, throttle too far away or too deep in the footwell. The brake will also not be as firm, which would be a massive help for stability in heel-toe-ing.

The way you do it will vary by car, foot size and how the pedals are configured. I have big feet and with the way my pedals are (madza3) I have to sideflip - slide the right side of the front of my foot over the gas while braking and use it to blip the throttle. The braking will done by the left side of the front slightly toward the centre of the foot. The throttle is out of reach (too far down), my are feet too big to be able to rotate enough and the footwell is not wide enough to blip it with the heel.

You just have to make do, whatever way works for you is good enough.


Kinja'd!!! Biased Plies > Leadbull
05/31/2014 at 23:36

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That's the basis but it varies by car, pedal setup, room in the footwell and foot size - you just have to make do with what you've got.


Kinja'd!!! lonestranger > michael bleggi
05/31/2014 at 23:38

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Apparently both ways are acceptable:

From http://www.zpost.com/forums/showpos…

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Here's a couple of diagrams I made, originally intended for class-room sessions at some of the schools we teach...

This is the "traditional" definition of a heel-toe. Heel of the foot on the gas, toe of the foot on the brake. The position of the car in diagram indicate how quickly and how short of a distance you typically have to get this accomplished.



This is the alternative way I was taught, it's especially effective on cars where the pedals are close, or for guys with repeated ankle sprains/injuries where rotating the foot in via a traditional sense of heel-toe becomes increasingly difficult with age. Keep left side of the ball of your foot on the brake, rotate your whole foot to the right to catch the gas pedal with the right side of your foot. Takes some practice, but it comes easier for me on a BMW.



On cars like a Nissan 350Z, where the gas and brake pedals are far apart and meant for a traditional heel-toe, since I don't have a lot of flexibility in my ankle anymore, I rotate my foot the OTHER WAY and catch the brake pedal with the ball of my foot on the right, and rotate my foot forward and catch the gas pedal with the tip of my toe. Works just as well.

I personally use the "alternative" method, but that's only when I'm driving my Mom's Yaris, so....


Kinja'd!!! michael bleggi > lonestranger
05/31/2014 at 23:42

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Makes so much sense, thanks! when i do what i do it definitly works and is comfortable, just wanted to make sure i wasn't crazy ahha.


Kinja'd!!! bhardoin > michael bleggi
06/01/2014 at 00:51

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Its all about what's comfortable to you and works in your car. But thinking of doing that in my car makes my ankle hurt. haha


Kinja'd!!! PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > michael bleggi
06/01/2014 at 01:09

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yeah! mk6 jetta owners! woo!!!

I have one too (mom's) and it's basically my DD. I have no idea how to heel-toe, but driving a Jetta's cool!


Kinja'd!!! michael bleggi > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
06/01/2014 at 09:17

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it's a racing technique... when you slow down to enter a corner, you have to brake. you also have to put the car in a lower gear, but you can't wait until you're done braking, or else you will loose time. So while you're braking, you have to nudgle the throttle with the same foot to get the revs high enough to stay in the pwerband and get into another gear. Then, by the time you're done braking for the corner, you're already in the peret gear to push through it.


Kinja'd!!! PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > michael bleggi
06/01/2014 at 13:01

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No, I know what it is, I just wanted to point out that we've got the same car! :)