how do you heel toe downshift?

Answer 1

The idea behind doing this is to bring the revs up to match the wheel speed when you downshift. As downshifts are generally going to be happening while braking, you need to do this while braking, and matching the revs can also become more important as you will be doing this at a point where you don't really want to do anything to upset the car.

The name can be a little misleading, and stems back to earlier car designs before the current pedal layout we all know became standard. The basic process is that you brake, while keeping the brake down you then clutch in-blip the throttle-downshift-cluth out before the revs fall, and then complete your braking and start the turn.

There are a few ways that you can go about the acrobatics of using one foot for both the brake and throttle at the same time. If you are driving a real race car (ie, not a street based model), the pedals will be very close together and you can generally use half of your foot on each, rolling back and forth at your ankle to control the pressue (being bless with a large foot, I can do this on most street cars as well). A good tip that I tend to use as an instructor at track events for people trying the more traditional manuever of using being on the brake and reaching over with the toe for the throttle: rather than trying to over rotate your foot, learn to brake from beteween your arch and heel, and then press your toe over towards to top of the throttle (rather than the middle or bottom that most seem to aim for).

The manuever quickly becomes second nature... but if it is not, it's easiest to start by first just getting used to blipping the throttle for downshifts. And once you are used to this, then try and incorporate the entire sequence.

Answer 2

Heel and toe is a standard technique for ANY form of auto racing on a road course, not just stock cars. It's used to keep the engine in the right power band during braking. Here's the wikipedia entry. Another good source is the book "Bob Bondurant on High Performance Driving".

Answer 3

??? I've heard of using heel - toe for the gas and brake, but never for shifting. I'm assuming you question is in regards to a stock car. They will sometimes shift w/o the clutch as well, but thier cars are set up for that. I wouldn't advise doing a heel toe downshift. Sounds kinda dangerous.

Answer 4

Good answer Paul S. I would also recommend renting the video "Drive to Win". I'm thinking it was made in the early 1980s...by Caroll Smith (also wrote a book). There is a good explaination of heel and toe technique in that video, as well as many other fundemental racing techniques. Practice, practice, practice.