Footwear For Heel & Toe Driving

Footwear For Heel & Toe Driving

Author
Discussion

chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th December 2005
quotequote all
Hi

When driving different cars I have to choose between two shoes on my right foot to accommodate for the differing pedal height/travel. I have some large ‘Cat’ shoes that have a very wide, thick toe section. The ‘Cat’ shoes have poor pedal feel but allow me to heel and toe in the Seat Altea, Renault Megane, Renault Clio, Nissan 350Z and Saab 93, among others. I have some cheap karting shoes that have much thinner, narrower soles compared to the ‘Cats’. I find the karting shoes are too narrow on the above vehicles and so, even though pedal feel is better, I can’t heel and toe with them. I believe there is a legal limit of 48mm between the brake and throttle pedals in road cars and so this distance generally requires a larger soled shoe, in my case, to use both pedals at the same time. However with the Fiat Panda and Vauxhall Astra I can heel and toe satisfactorily with the karting shoe. Does anyone here have the same issues and/or a better solution? A wide but thin soled shoe seems an obvious answer but do you know anyone who makes them?

I always fit the karting shoe on my left foot as this allows more room in the footwell for left foot braking and better clutch/brake feel.

If you are wondering, “Has he ever forgotten about the odd shoes when paying for petrol at the counter” the answer is an embarrassing yes :-)


Thanks

Chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th December 2005
quotequote all
Hi

I had not considered trainers to be honest, I will take a look, thanks.

As for the Megane I can only heel and toe with the Cat shoes on as the sole is very wide, allowing both pedals to be pressed. If I try a normal width shoe they are too narrow and contortionist skills are required.

Next time I drive a Megane (I don't own one) I will take a better look how I use the pedals and I will take a picture that I can mail you, off list, of how I heel and toe if that will help. This will also show the Cat shoes I use. The forum maintainers may think I'm starting a foot fetish subgroup though so I best be careful ;-)

Cheers

Chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Sunday 1st January 2006
quotequote all
That's great, I will go hunting for trainers. I can take my Cat shoes to compare sole widths.

Cheers

Chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Monday 2nd January 2006
quotequote all
7db said:
I'm thinking of a pair of diver's flippers - my boots keep slipping down the middle of the pedals...


Now I hadn't thought of that. Wide enough to use all three pedals with one foot, thin enough to provide plenty of feel. They will also come in handy when wading with the 4x4 ;-)

Chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2006
quotequote all
I find if I bridge the throttle and brake pedals with narrow shoes on my foot occasionally misses the throttle pedal when blipping the accelerator. I have more of my right foot on the brake pedal than is taught for heel and toeing but this is what feels comfortable for me. I know what you mean about pedal height too, this causes problems for me with H&T.

I will be attending some car control training soon and I will discuss this issue with the instructor.


Thanks

Chumpers

Original Poster:

36 posts

221 months

Thursday 5th January 2006
quotequote all
Andrew Noakes said:
[quote=DanH]Ideally you should be hitting the throttle with the outside side of your shoe. i.e. twisting your foot to the right whilst bringing your heal out to 40deg or so to the right.


Thanks for the picture, it speaks a 1000 words! I basically use my right foot in the same way but I prefer to have my right foot further to the nearside of the RHD car. This is something that just suits me, not everybody. I can reach the throttle most of the time ok but I have, in the past, not made contact with the throttle pedal in certain cars. A wider shoe assists me in this task.

Chumpers


>> Edited by Chumpers on Thursday 5th January 23:06