Exercises for your heel and toe

[rei00]

I am having lots of problems mastering heel and toe technique. I read books and forums threads on the subject and know the process but can't seem to do it in practice.

Are there any exercises I can do in my Mini that I can do that would help me in mastering this fundamental technique?

Additionally, any recommendations in pedal sets that might help me in this regard?

Thanks!

Try small rpm gaps in 3rd and 4th gear without using the brake. Once you can do this, just start using the brake. It will be a little jerky for a while, but just keep practicing. Personally, I find it easier to do smooth ones with a fairly large rpm change, especially going into second. But, I do have a few tips for you.

1. When you blip the throttle, don't mash it to the floor. The blip should be a slower smoother increase.
2. Think of the engine velocity as a parabolic arc. You want to engage the clutch when the slope=0. If you engage while the engine speed is still increasing, or decreasing, it will not be smooth.

hope this helps. I found that thinking of it in terms of #2 helped a lot.

-Andrew

[HarryHBMCC]

I find heel & toe is very easy with the MINI due to its floor-hinge mounted accelerator. Just put your foot on the right side of the brake so that just the left half touches it and rock your little toe over to the accelerator. So while braking you can blip the throttle up while declutching. Much easier than on many other cars where brake and accelerator are in the same 'plane'.

Harry

[Noger]

"Heel and Toe" is a bit of misnomer as it is more like ball and ankle ... but anyway....

I would start by saying - don't try to "cheat" by only covering half the brake pedal with your foot to try to get a bit of extra reach. If your foot slips off it might be me coming the other way Seriously though, if that is what you are doing then it is wrong.

Cover the brake pedal with the ball of your right foot, turn your foot slightly so that your toes are to the left and your heel is to the right.

As you brake, roll your foot over on the ankle, so that the side of the ankle touches the accelerator. As said above, you are going for "blip" not "press". It feels odd, but essentially you are pressing the accelerator with the side of your foot, just below the ankle bone. The action is a bit like what happens if you "twist your ankle".

I would suggest doing it with the car stationary first. It is a knack more than a skill.

Don't bother with double de-clutching (i.e. bringing up the clutch whilst the gear passes neutral. It really adds nothing of value nowadays).

Have fun. Nothing like a throttle blip when coming into roundabouts