Pedal Technique

[SELfor50]

So, I've been pouring through the you-tube vid's of pedal work and found a few interesting ones.

First one is maybe a Ford Sierra (probably wrong) in asia, and the driver is fighting this thing all the way.. If you watch the steering throughout, and then reflect on the pedal work and gear changes, he's a machine!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klMur6TPkrM


Second one is of what it says is the HRT car on a hot lap. You'll notice the pedal work / shifting is a little more sedate, probably due to the massive amount of torque and longer gears that the V8 supercars have. Also on up shift, he only uses the clutch on a couple of the gears, the rest are matched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdWSyrqEnE4&feature=related

Finally, here's a funny japanese race with production cars such as RX-8, S2000, Honda Integra etc.. Camera's on the pedal work, to see what these guys do with the standard production car gear box / clutches etc. Pretty funny to watch them get fired up in the cars yelling at each other on the track.. Classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKjCUrij5YU&feature=related

Enjoy.

 

[oscar]

I've done the same, pouring through the pro vids. Amazing how the V8 doesn't lift of the accelerator for 1st-2nd then doesn't clutch for 2nd-3rd.
Nice little drift halfway through too in the last one, but there's a lot happening isn't there. The first time I saw one of those split screens on TV with a demo of the foot work and hand work I was impressed. Must take a lot of practice to do it all without thinking about it.

I'm finding the heel toe thing really difficult. Apart from lack of experience the accelerator doesn't lend itself to being easily blipped down low due to the floor pivot. I'm sure it can be done, just my clumsy feet are having probs.

The brown 280 has had that pivot removed (rusted out) and the pedal is crudely applied to the accelerator rod with plastic ties. However, the accelerator feels completely different as it pivots from up high instead of on the floor so the base or heel end of the accelerator travels the furthest when accelerating. Another future mod perhaps.

Have you got the left foot on the brake worked out? Like I've said before I've been doing it in autos for years after seeing something on TV in the late 90's of a race driver in an auto braking with he's left foot. Now it's second nature. (wish I could say the same for the heel toe thing). But I do it all the time especially when racing round town for work.

 

[abl567]

Oscar, try the heel on the brake and the toe on the throttle, some pedal placements make this easier.
Be aware you will have less feel through the brake pedal this way so don't stomp on it!

 

[oscar]

Never thought about that, might give it a go. It'll be like trying to write with the opposite hand but it's worth a try. At the moment, because of the pivot to the floor I find myself lifting off the brake when trying to roll or move my heel onto the accelerator and apply the force needed to rev a little.

 

[B13]

Everyone may disagree with me here but in a controlled environment such as the road with all the other drivers out there etc., to me it was harder to learn heel/toe technique than on a race track at speed with adrenalin boost.

Aim to hit the track for 20 minute stints and when the coast is clear (so to speak) for a good distance in front of and behind you, try it out... Since its easy to ride the brakes you may want to do it for 3 laps, cool down for 2, speed up again and try it again.

I use the ball of my foot on the brake and the heel on the accelerator, and blip the throttle two or three times while braking and then play it by ear to decide whether the revs are more or less right when I let out the clutch... 9 times out of ten I get an acceptable result. Bear in mind the RX4 flywheel is extremely light and a blip of the throttle will easily hit the redline, so I release the clutch as the revs fall down and when the clutch bites, foot off the brake and fully on the throttle.

Ian.

 

[abl567]

Never thought about that, might give it a go. It'll be like trying to write with the opposite hand but it's worth a try. At the moment, because of the pivot to the floor I find myself lifting off the brake when trying to roll or move my heel onto the accelerator and apply the force needed to rev a little.

HeHe, I'm left handed and water ski left foot forward so that may explain it.

I use the middle of my foot on the brake and my toes on the top of the accelerator pedal to maximise leverage so a curl of the toes provides a good blip on the throttle. I should add I have small feet, size 7

 

[SELfor50]

I have to honestly say i've never attempted to heel toe, but i can understand why it would seem more logical to try on a track with adrenalin etc.. Might give it a go in my mates WRX next saturday.

I never tried it in povo, but i know where you're coming from with the pedal feel simon.
Maybe you just need an ankle re-co though, get a little more length and movement..

 

[oscar]

Maybe you just need an ankle re-co though, get a little more length and movement..

Rather than a bionic ankle, I think I'd rather a 3rd leg Prob solved.

Actually moving away from heel-toe and onto left foot braking, I saw these two vids earlier today that are worth a view. Forget that they're manual cars because it applies to autos as well.

The first video especially talks about applying brakes and acclerator at the same time through a corner and how it changes the brake bias, increasing control and leading to a faster bend. Very interesting stuff! Part of a series if you want to see the user's other vids. A bit monotone but good info and in car/track footage.
The second video is just mccool to mcwatch Colin Mcrae have both feet constantly work both pedals.

They both say left foot braking's not necessary but I was wondering in particular for the V8's without LSD's, how braking and accelerating at the same time in a bend will help stop the inside rear tyre from robbing all the power and speed being maintained.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=XVDfDTp0Y7g

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=BMEqOGejlrw

 

[Michel]

Rather than a bionic ankle, I think I'd rather a 3rd leg Prob solved.

You mean you don't have a third leg?

 

[oscar]

You mean you don't have a third leg?

Not one that can reach the pedals unfortunately

 

[Michel]

Not one that can reach the pedals unfortunately

Ah well, some people are unlucky in life....

 

[SELfor50]

Hahahaha... You beat me to the call Michel.

Some really good vids there on the left foot braking Oscar!! It's exactly the sort of theory I had in my head. I really need to try and drill it into myself when i'm out there bout keeping the throttle on hard enough to keep the rotors going so there's no lockup etc. I think my issue is with the throttle still on a decent amount it puts alot of weight / pressure on the front (on top of the already massive weight transfer due to the size of car) which in the past has tended to lock up the fronts a little and it dives / slides to one side etc.. Have to see how it goes with the new rotors.

 

[oscar]

With a locked diff and slotted/drilled rotors it's going to be different again. I would guess that the locked diff is going to give you some understeer and of course the inside rear isn't going to rob the power and spin. I reckon it's going to feel so different at OP and it's going to be great to hear your thoughts after some experimentation on the day.

Braking whilst accelerating is so foreign in our mindset when driving around normally. It's likely to get some neg comment from a back seat driver as if you're going to brake something.

I liked one guys description of racing that I read - You're either accelerating or braking, there's no such thing as coasting and part throttle doesn't exist. Something like that. I realised I've got a loooong way to go before I find that moment I can get off WOT, brake hard and take a corner whilst pushing the limits.

 

[SELfor50]

True that.. Can't wait to see how it goes.

I'm still along way from it, and was just saying that to Ian the other day. I'm only now getting to the point where I'm not braking near as much so that I hold some speed through the corners.. I used to brake heaps then have to accellerate to get my speed back in the corners. Finding now that I don't brake as much, roll alot more through the corner, then half throttle for some and then full throttle on exit. That was to control the diff previously.. prob gonna have to change style again come OP.