Down Shifting

[Shinny]

Haven't been out to Hallet yet, but watching some vids I'm now curious as to the proper way to downshift. As far as how fast you let out the clutch petal and how much throttle to give. Just trying to get some idea so I don't just go out and try it then way over rev and mess something up 

[InGroundEffect]

Can you heal toe?  Without learning to press both the brake and the gas at the same time with your right foot you will not be able to properly downshift while braking.

Unless you are downshifting from 4th to 3rd and miss and go to 1st you will not have problems.  Most cars 3rd gear will go to ~90mph.  If you hit 105 in the straight and apply brakes while in 4th, by the time you depress the clutch and downshift to 3rd you will have dropped off enough speed that 3rd gear will be in a safe range for the motor not to over spin.

The only times I have ever heard of someone over revving the a motor is when they missed a shift and went two gears down instead of one.

BTW. I heal toe and down shift almost every time I come to a traffic light or slow down.

[Shinny]

Yeah I've messed around with heel toe, but left foot braking is more applicable to Autox, I'll have to start trying that though. Should I let the throttle go with the brake so that if I'm all the way down on the brake the throttles open or angle my foot?

[neilcox]

I break with the ball of my foot under the big toe and "blip" the throttle with right side of the foot. In either the FV or Miata cross trainers are too wide and barefoot too narrow.

[LowFlyin]

Adidas Goodyear ADI Racers FTW!

[Shinny]

Hmm don't know if I can do that. When I did it I'd turn my foot sideways and brake with the front half of my foot and let my heel press the throttle

[civic52]

You can do it! The pedals are a little far spaced in that Civic, but I used to do it in mine with no problem. It did require turning your foot more sideways than the new Civic.

[rotaryracer]

Just takes practice and some trial and err. Getting someone that heel-toe alot to show you, helps. Foot size, pedal length, room to move that big foot. Try not to hit your knee on steering column. EASY once you get the hang of it. So I hear.

[ILoveOffRamps]

Chris post that video of you at Hallett from August. It's a good view of your feet.

[LowFlyin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK-UDIAS570

[Shinny]

Lol actually the vid I was watching when I thought about it. Think I got the theory so I'll be out driving around today lol 

[Shinny]

God the pedals are far apart. When I turn my foot and brake as much as I need to my heel only rests on the throttle so I have to angle my foot even further to get the revs up at all, and without pressing on the brake anymore thats only 2.5

[InGroundEffect]

God the pedals are far apart. When I turn my foot and brake as much as I need to my heel only rests on the throttle so I have to angle my foot even further to get the revs up at all, and without pressing on the brake anymore thats only 2.5

What really helped me when I first leared was a gas pedal extension.  That brought the gas pedal almost even with the brakes.  I use the same method as others where the left half of your foot is on the brake and the right half is on the gas.

[Shinny]

How hard is it to do that?

[InGroundEffect]

This is not exactly what I used but is the same idea.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RAZO-RP111-JDM-Aluminum-Automatic-Car-Pedal-Covers-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5636a8bc0aQQitemZ370284215306QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Mine had two straps and some spacers that held it in place.  You only need one for the gas pedal.  Also, if you have a rubber pad on the brake pedal you can pull that off.  Just be careful if you have wet shoes because you will have less grip.