Heeling and Toeing shoe myth?
Discussion
I have no desire to start another discussion about heeling and toeing. It is the art of pressing two pedals at the same time and can be learned by most people in an hour or so.
I once read in an IAM book that their method stated never to change down and brake at the same time. They then went on to discuss heeling and toeing, saying that it was a very silly thing indeed; performed by boy racers in Hopkirk Pedalled Coopers and Cortinas with a 4 inch hike on the rear (it was a new book, but rather out of date in style).
Now as a final justification, the absolute killer blow if you will, the book stated one simple fact. That practising the dark art of heeling and toeing wears out one's shoes. Yes it was really there in black and white "Your shoes will fall to pieces if you press two pedals at once". I believe the book even had a little drawing of some ruined footwear.
I have been heeling and toeing for years. Being a fashion concious chap I have been doing it whilst wearing the same pair of shoes. I have noticed no appreciable degredation to said shoes, in fact they are in good health. They are only an old pair of squash trainers too, not expensively crafted driving slippers.
Maybe my shoes are of exceptional quailty, maybe this is a myth pedalled (it's a pun, get it) by the IAM. I hae seen it mentioned in several bits of their literature. Has anyone else here experienced shoe failure as a result of enthusiastic Walter Rohrl impressions? Or is it, as I believe, completely made up?
I once read in an IAM book that their method stated never to change down and brake at the same time. They then went on to discuss heeling and toeing, saying that it was a very silly thing indeed; performed by boy racers in Hopkirk Pedalled Coopers and Cortinas with a 4 inch hike on the rear (it was a new book, but rather out of date in style).
Now as a final justification, the absolute killer blow if you will, the book stated one simple fact. That practising the dark art of heeling and toeing wears out one's shoes. Yes it was really there in black and white "Your shoes will fall to pieces if you press two pedals at once". I believe the book even had a little drawing of some ruined footwear.
I have been heeling and toeing for years. Being a fashion concious chap I have been doing it whilst wearing the same pair of shoes. I have noticed no appreciable degredation to said shoes, in fact they are in good health. They are only an old pair of squash trainers too, not expensively crafted driving slippers.
Maybe my shoes are of exceptional quailty, maybe this is a myth pedalled (it's a pun, get it) by the IAM. I hae seen it mentioned in several bits of their literature. Has anyone else here experienced shoe failure as a result of enthusiastic Walter Rohrl impressions? Or is it, as I believe, completely made up?
I've never heard that one before. It's rubbish of course - I regularly heel and toe in a handmade pair of leather work shoes and they look fine! Most of the time though I drive in a pair of Puma driving shoes and they've last four years. There's a chance of getting some wear I suppose, but no more than walking!
t s
too true mate i tried it and thought it was the hardest thing in the world, then got an ibiza cupra, pedals were set up so i could but if breaking the accelerator does not work ans was specifically warned by the garage not too keep trying as would ruin the ecu when i asked about the problem.
i now have an elise and have picked it up very quickly due to responsive engine an correct placement of pedals! whoop whoop im a real driver
i now have an elise and have picked it up very quickly due to responsive engine an correct placement of pedals! whoop whoop im a real driver
Toltec said:
Do they also mention wearing your driving gloves out if you do not feed the wheel in the prescribed manner?
Slightly off topic, but I have been feeling a strange desire for driving gloves recently. You know, proper old fashioned string back ones. I think it came after reading one of my car porn mags (Evo or something) where they were driving Lambos wearing them.Is there a pill I can take to rid me off this affliction?
Depending on pedal-spacing and the width of one's foot, H&T can in fact cause excessive wear on the right side of the right shoe. This is why racing boots are usually reinforced along that edge. You definitely see more wear there than on anywhere else on the upper.
It's not a good reason not to do H&T, but it's not factually absurd either.
It's not a good reason not to do H&T, but it's not factually absurd either.
flemke said:
Depending on pedal-spacing and the width of one's foot, H&T can in fact cause excessive wear on the right side of the right shoe. This is why racing boots are usually reinforced along that edge. You definitely see more wear there than on anywhere else on the upper.
It's not a good reason not to do H&T, but it's not factually absurd either.
It's not a good reason not to do H&T, but it's not factually absurd either.
In truth, yes. It depends how one heel and toes and the pedals in one's car.Out of interest, I was forced into buying special driving shoes in order to drive my Elise properly, but now use them in every road car I drive. I find them safer than ordinary shoes, because I can operate the pedals with much more accuracy and certainty.
elster said:
PapaHett said:
I can't heel and toe... 
Not in my car anyways, the accelerator pedal's too short.. and my heel doesnt really sit on the pedal. I need a proper car..
Join the club, my ankle physically can't bend like that.Not in my car anyways, the accelerator pedal's too short.. and my heel doesnt really sit on the pedal. I need a proper car..
Futuramic said:
I once read in an IAM book that their method stated never to change down and brake at the same time. They then went on to discuss heeling and toeing, saying that it was a very silly thing indeed; performed by boy racers in Hopkirk Pedalled Coopers and Cortinas with a 4 inch hike on the rear (it was a new book, but rather out of date in style).
Now as a final justification, the absolute killer blow if you will, the book stated one simple fact. That practising the dark art of heeling and toeing wears out one's shoes. Yes it was really there in black and white "Your shoes will fall to pieces if you press two pedals at once". I believe the book even had a little drawing of some ruined footwear.
To the best of my knowledge the IAM only publish one book for cars and I have never seen the text you're discussing?Now as a final justification, the absolute killer blow if you will, the book stated one simple fact. That practising the dark art of heeling and toeing wears out one's shoes. Yes it was really there in black and white "Your shoes will fall to pieces if you press two pedals at once". I believe the book even had a little drawing of some ruined footwear.
I can also say that it forms no part of the lectures by the Edinburgh IAM. It also was not discussed by senior observers during my recent IAM course. In fact in the traffic police training video that formed part of the lectures I attended, heel & toe driving was employed by the police driving instructor.
I'm sorry but where on Earth are you getting this from?
Edited by G_T on Monday 2nd November 10:42
Jag-D said:
elster said:
PapaHett said:
I can't heel and toe...
Not in my car anyways, the accelerator pedal's too short.. and my heel doesnt really sit on the pedal. I need a proper car..
Join the club, my ankle physically can't bend like that.Not in my car anyways, the accelerator pedal's too short.. and my heel doesnt really sit on the pedal. I need a proper car..
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