rec.autos.simulators

A nice way in a road car to try it at a slow speed is to brake and shift to
first gear at about 20k, without heel and toeing the shift will be very hard
(don't push through it) with some nice heel and toeing it will work just
fine.
In order to know the revs you won't to make just check the revs you're doing
in first gear at 20k, you'll need just a very bit more in order to make a
supersmooth downshift.

That would be absolutely amazing.

No, in that case you're still travel sensitive (pot). I'd like to see a
system using some sort  of pressure transducer which translates the amount
of force I excert on the pedal to a reading for the game. I.e. where I don't
have to move my leg to modulate the brakes and can position the pedal in a
way which allows me to blip the throttle without nescessarily letting up on
the brakes (as is the case using my Nascar Pro pedals).

Besides, you're talking home build again. Stop it already you guys. I'm an
electronics engineer... mechanical stuff spooks me. ;-)

For sure, not mention the cost of repeatedly leaving the black stuff. ;-)

Jan.
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<Snip>

So, you need to press the brake, throttle and clutch at the same time,
but you only have 2 feet. In this case you use the left foot for
clutching, the right foot toe for braking, and the right foot heel for
the throttle.

Remco

I just don't feel like I'm "driving" with an automatic.  We have a 2000 Honda
Odyssey mini-van for the family that's an automatic, but for my beater car
going back and forth to work I couldn't live without my 1990 Toyota Camry V6
5-speed!

Being that I never left foot brake in my car (er... I need that for the
clutch), it took me a little while to get use to left foot braking in sim
racing.  Now it's natural for me to left foot brake in racing sims.  However,
when I try it in the mini-van I've found the pressure and sensitivity to be
quite different.  Needless to say, the family finds it a bit painful too!  

Dave Ericson
MomoBoy online
JDB Racing

I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but over here (UK) you're
not allowed to use your left foot at all when taking your test in an
automatic vehicle. Right foot only. You must have been tested in a
manual car, but drive an automatic when it suits you right? Ever
actually been tested in an automatic?

I tried using my left foot to brake earlier on today. It was a
horrible feeling. There isn't even enough room for both my legs to sit
together to control both the pedals.

Of course, the best thing about using your right foot for the pedals
is that it leaves your left foot free to tab to music on the stereo.
:-)

Alpha Omega

ICQ: 70300233

Why put yourself through the extra hassle of shifting gears and
popping the clutch? You don't gain much out of it.

Alpha Omega

ICQ: 70300233

There must be a reason why left foot breaking is not allowed by the
highway code in an automatic car in this country. Otherwise, wouldn't
they leave it up to the driver to decide which foot he uses?

Alpha Omega

ICQ: 70300233

Uh... first thing you learn in a decent driving school in Canada (if you are
learning on an automatic) is how to slap it into neutral without a second
thought.  It was a natural reaction in the winter.  Of course, I would never
volutarily go back to an automatic, but they're not soooo bad.

Stephen

Nonesense. Any competant instructor should rap the knuckles of anyone
resting their left foot on the brake pedal, or clutch in a manual.

The only competant argument for not left foot braking an auto is that a
driver might get confused when switching back and forth from a manual.

Left foot braking is perfectly ok with either form of ***.

I left foot brake and clutchless shift my manual street car all the time. I
NEVER use my right foot on the brake in an automatic.

I use the deadpedal for my resting left foot. That's what it's there for.

With the clutch materials used at the time the clutch was the most likely
part of the drivetrain to fail, every use shortened its life and entailed
the risk of burning it our completely. The drivers, for the most part,
avoided it's use during a race, saving it only for when it was really
neccessary.  This is still true today in many large Sedan classes, such as
Trans Am. Shifting clutchless is perfectly realistic. I do it in my street
Honda CRX all the time.

I might quote from Carrol Smith's Drive to Win:

"After you get good at shifting the Non-sycncro racing car you may notice
that your are not depressing the clutch all the way. The truth of the matter
is that most racing drivers don't - they just sort of jab at it with the
left foot. It is therefore a relatively small step for the "skilled" driver
to stop using the clutch at all........... The question of clutch use is a
matter of personal preference and confidence. My  opinion is that if the
driver is skilled enough and confident enought to learn how to do it well,
he (or she) will have a performance advantage- at least in short races."

Among modern drivers there are those who disagree, with *modern* cars. Danny
Sullivan uses the clutch, but says we's never double clutched in his life.
Bryan Herta always uses the clutch and double clutches, everytime. But Bryan
dosn't drive cars where the clutch is the weak link.

Left foot braking is another realism story, the only problem being the
steering shaft passing directly through the drivers feet made it difficult
to move the left foot over to the brake pedal. There WERE cars and drivers
who put the brake pedal on the left and the clutch in the middle however.
Pre war this was even common.

You WHAT??? You shift in a manual transmission car without using the
clutch?
I bet you only drive rental cars

Marty

And how would anyone know what foot you are using to brake?

Marty