Hey guys I'm trying to learn to heel-toe and was wondering if any of you use a special shoe with a rounded heel like Pumas or what not?

I mostly wear Clark Desert Boots or something desert boots similar so it seems difficult with those. Maybe I should break out my Sperry's and give them a go?

Sorry for the noob question.

 

Funny thing is my first DE is tomorrow and I've packed three different shoes I'll won't be heel & toeing in the classical sense as I roll my foot over to blip the throttle. I have a wood board on the throttle for street driving since I don't have many opportunities to mash the brakes. I'll know more tomorrow Dave

 

Depends on the size of your feet I imagine. Everyone has their own preferred technique for heel and toe. I have to work my foot across the brake pedal and rotate my ankle about 45 degrees to get my heel on the throttle. Some people can just twist and hit the throttle with the side of their foot. To answer your question, I always wear Pumas or Onitsuka Tigers. The softest shoe is usually the best although by now I could heel and toe in a pair of Oxford Brogues.

 

Converse all star low tops. Fashionable, cheap and easy to heel toe in.

 

I'm sure specific driving shoes help but I've been fine with anything that doesn't have a big chunky sole. Converse all stars, vans, tigers, that kind of thing.

 

Noob also. I have big feet and had a lot with trouble with conventional "heel and toeing" in my 996. I was never able to **** my lower leg enough to brake with my toe and blip with my heel. Things were much easier after installing the Rennline pedal kit and offsetting the throttle pedal closer to the brake pedal. This allowed braking using the left side ball of my foot on the right edge of the brake pedal and blipping with the right side ball of my foot on the throttle. Worked well in cooler ambient but was more difficult in summer months on Florida tracks late in sessions when the brake pedal would get a little soft and end up slightly below the throttle pedal level.

I've read a number of comments on forums and magazines questioning why P-car pedals aren't better positioned fort h & t. OTOH, I am regularly passed by GT-3s and RSs that clearly have no issue repeatedly performing rev matching downshifts smoothly and quickly.their less muffled exhaust systems certainly help but I was never able to do it repeatedly. I figure this inability was costing at least a couple seconds per lap so I went the PDK route on my new (to me) C2S.

I don't know if this is any help to you but in my experience, pedal adjustments can definitely help. Best of luck.

 

The 20 Best Driving Shoes: http://www.complex.com/rides/2012/02...-driving-shoes

 

Pumas.

Piloti, Alpine Star, DC, OMP, Sparco, Oakley, etc also have driving shoes.

 

Great thread, thanks.

 

I second some of the other comments here that it can depend on the size of your foot and also how much space you have in the footwell. Porsches are fairly roomy in that regard and I always found that for street driving a pair of Nikes or what-have-you allowed me to brake while rolling the right side of my shoe over onto the throttle easily. I don't like driving in harder soled shoes. For autoxing, tracking, or in tighter spaces where you want more precision, a good pair of driving shoes is the ticket. I have a pair of Sparcos that I like. Even though I now have PDK, I still wear the Sparcos for autox as they give me a good feel of the pedals.

 

Thanks guys for the replies, I think it's time I buy some new shoes!

I know these are expensive, but look at these babies!

http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.htm...GSCARPEVINTAGE



I know they are pretty pricey, but wow what great looking shoes! I am leaning toward getting the Nurburgring ones in brown as I can wear these while driving and walking around it seems more that the Carerra ones. What do you guys think?

 

Ok on second thoughts those shoes wouldn't be too practical for mixed driving/regular wear. I guess something like Pumas or even these would be better for all around:

http://www.grandprix-dakotashop.com/...seca-blue.html

 

The model in the products page is WOW! Stunning! Who is she?

Lol back to the subject... Alpine Stars and Oakley... That's what I have... Heel toe is not something I can easily do while street driving, but at the track because braking is more aggressive it is much easier...

 

I like Ayrton's technique....with Italian loafers


Tom

 

That video has been making it around the boards for years...and it never gets old.