Why I Toe/Heel-Heel/Toe

[Tripler]

Interesting. I have always done it the first way but I can see how the second way works well for some people. The trick is applying steady smooth breaking with the middle of your foot while also stretching your toe forward to blip the throttle. Either will work with lots of practice ... I think in a larger spaced vehicle you might even be able to actually put your toe on the brake and blip the throttle with your heel as the phrase Toe/ heel suggests. I believe that's a tough one to do in a C4 ...
I will try tomorrow and let you know ...





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[Tripler]

Originally Posted by Tripler

When in Bowling Green this summer I had the opportunity to take our 1995 ZR-1 out on the BG test track and it was an amazing time . I had real problem though . I was unable to toe/heel in this C4 tho I had no issues in Mark's 620hp modded Zr-1 C4 . I had raced in a C4 more than 20 years ago in the Escort Endurance series and from what I remember I had no issues with toe/heel . What I found a few weeks later was that I had the wrong footwear . This is a very important step when doing T/H . For one thing I never wore a street shoe when racing as they were a Nomex Boot made of a flame proof material and also very pliable with easy movement . Toe/heel is used when you are slowing the car down and downshifting into the next lower gear while also braking smoothly .Recently someone asked my as to why one would toe T/H at all . Well there a few reasons as to why we would , especially in the LT-5 or any standard transmission or engine type for that matter .
First reason being smooth downshifts with very little stress on the drive train . When I raced cars years ago and during pit stops , the crew rarely if ever had to change the break pads when I was driving the car . Reason being that I was very gentle with my breaking and very light footed and that I was also using engine breaking to some point and of course sliding the car slightly to reduce speed coming into a corner . Afore mentioned are difficult skills to learn but with practice they can be mastered but most importantly learning T/H will be your first step into really enjoying a standard transmission in any car , especially the LT5 .

Secondly with the LT5 having all those extra cams up front (wow) when blipping the throttle to my thinking ,is that the oil will rise up to lubricate those 4 beauty's spinning like whirl winds and the intake/exhaust valves hopping up and down like a rabbit on hot coals inside that awesome engine . I recently learned that in my 2003 Concours motorcycle engine
( a double over head cam detuned 1000cc Ninja Motor) that you should keep the revs above 3000 rpm to keep the oil moving to lubricate the cams and valves . Lower rpm's such as long idling are not recommended . So throttle blipping on a motorcycle comes into play here and for good reason . I also thought that that principal would probably apply to the LT5 as well . Ever hear cars or bikes at the racetrack ? What are they doing when the are sitting to be gridded or even just moving to be lined up for a race ? Blipping the throttle ...Irritating as hell actually but it makes sense now .

And thirdly the satisfaction that you are driving this car the way it was meant to be driven . It is not your typical go to the store and get milk car tho you can use it a such . It is meant to be treated as it was designed . A high performance super car which it most certainly is .
Also while in Bowling Green a few of the other ZR-1 car owners were asking me about T/H as they were also having difficulty's with this process . I will be making an instructional video with the help of my daughter who just finished a 3 year stint at college and passed with flying colors in the Media, Arts/Broadcasting program . Right now one of the short films she has worked on will be shown here at TIFF here in TO .
Anyway I digress . I would also like to see a few response on this topic as to why you toe heel or why you do not toe heel .
Do you find it too difficult ?
Do you think you are harming the car ?
Do you think it is a silly process and is not required ?


Personally I find it to be most rewarding when I can get all that power slowed down smoothly and efficiently exactly as it would be done on the race track .

PS ,,, I have toe heeled every car I have owned , cars and bikes , with a standard transmission since I was a kid and never broke a vehicle in anyway and with less wear on the vehicle from the drive train , breaks , wheels , suspension , motor ...

Tripler

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[Fully Vetted]

Originally Posted by Tripler

Interesting. I have always done it the first way but I can see how the second way works well for some people. The trick is applying steady smooth breaking with the middle of your foot while also stretching your toe forward to blip the throttle. Either will work with lots of practice ... I think in a larger spaced vehicle you might even be able to actually put your toe on the brake and blip the throttle with your heel as the phrase Toe/ heel suggests. I believe that's a tough one to do in a C4 ...
I will try tomorrow and let you know ...





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I was never taught how to do it. I just figured that was the way it was done.

[RussMcB]

Originally Posted by Tripler

PS ,,, I have toe heeled every car I have owned , cars and bikes , with a standard transmission since I was a kid and never broke a vehicle in anyway and with less wear on the vehicle from the drive train , breaks , wheels , suspension , motor ...

I'm looking forward to your detailed description of toe/heeling on bikes. :-)

[Tripler]

Originally Posted by RussMcB

I'm looking forward to your detailed description of toe/heeling on bikes. :-)

Me too ;-)

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[Tripler]

Actually you do a hell of a lot of toe and heel when riding a bike tho not like a car of course . Your heel is on the peg and your toes are either working the rear brake or shifter. So the phrase toe / heel really does apply to a motorcycle as well .
;-)

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[Tripler]

Oh and yes . There are bikes with automatic transmission in case you were wondering . Google it .
;-)

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[Tripler]

Originally Posted by efnfast

I've tried, and the gas and brake are so far apart, I don't know how I could twist my foot around to be on both pedals at the same time.

Steve . Try placing your foot to the side of the edge of the brake pedal. Your right foot will then be much closer to the gas pedal . Practice braking this way first . Also you right foot should also be twisting a little to the right . Perhaps pigeon toed would be the correct posture ... Practice that foot placement first and see if you can get smooth safe braking first before you try a throttle blip and T/H ...

:-)

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[Hog]

I remember watching races from the 80's which involves 80's turbo technology (small displacement lotsa turbo-lag) and this would force the guys to stay on the accelerator and the brake at the same time in an attempt to keep the engine loaded therefore the turbo spooled as best as possible. Certainly different than driving a N/A car.

[Tripler]

Originally Posted by Hog

I remember watching races from the 80's which involves 80's turbo technology (small displacement lotsa turbo-lag) and this would force the guys to stay on the accelerator and the brake at the same time in an attempt to keep the engine loaded therefore the turbo spooled as best as possible. Certainly different than driving a N/A car.

Aahhh. So I guess that's were the left foot braking would be used in circuit racing . Interesting . Never raced in a turbo car .


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