Did '67 drivers use left foot braking??

Can anybody help me with this? I was wondering if the real life '67 drivers use left foot braking back in those days or where they doing it the conventional way? ---SimTim---

Someone once told me that Ronnie Peterson was the first to left foot brake in the early '70's. Although according to the GPL manual they didn't need to use the clutch, except at the start, in '67. So it could have been possible even if no one actually did it. -A Tim Vanhee wrote in message <0Y#M#bKT$GA.467@btbntsys4>...

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>Can anybody help me with this? I was wondering if the real life '67 drivers >use left foot braking back in those days or where they doing it the >conventional way? > > ---SimTim--- > >

Left foot braking in a GP car did not happen during the 60s or 70s. Lauda in his books mentioned you did not have room to left foot brake due to steering shaft between brake and clutch [pedals. They did it in touring cars, but not in Formula cars. They did what is called heel and toeing, but it was basically using only the ball of the foot. The main part of your foot on the brake and bliping the throttle with the outside of your foot. Dave Aubrey <[email hidden]> wrote in article <O6G5r0KT$GA.283@cpmsnbbsa02>... > Someone once told me that Ronnie Peterson was the first to left footbrake > in the early '70's. Although according to the GPL manual they didn'tneed

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> to use the clutch, except at the start, in '67. So it could have been > possible even if no one actually did it. > > -A > > Tim Vanhee wrote in message <0Y#M#bKT$GA.467@btbntsys4>... > >Can anybody help me with this? I was wondering if the real life '67

drivers

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> >use left foot braking back in those days or where they doing it the > >conventional way? > > > > ---SimTim--- > > > > > > >

I'm sure I read that the 'heal toeing' technique was used with non-sychcromesh gearing on the downshift. Basically you thumped down the clutch with the left foot & as you shifted down to the gear you wanted to whilst you blipped the throttle with the ball of the left foot whilst braking. I certainly used this with old Formula Ford cars. Not sure about the GP cars though

Well, you would want to match revs not matter whether you have a full schynro box or non scyn box. The high performance engines usually run very very light flywheels so youy want to blip the throttle on downshifts to prevent locking the rear tires on downshifts. Dave

Yes you are right. 'Heal Toeing' was used on non sychcromesh gearing on the downshift. However is some classes of racing it is still being done today. For example - the Australia V8's. Quite often they have a camera focused on the drivers feet and you can see them Heal Toeing

It doesn't matter what kind of car you are racing, the revs have to be matched with the throttle when downshifting, or else the ballance of the car will be upset because the rear tires will want to lock up when the clutch is released. If you are right foot braking, then you must "heal-toe". If you are left foot braking (and not using the clutch) you still must blip the throttle when downshifting to match the revs or you will lock the rear wheels. Also, with a non-syncro transmission, the driver should "double-clutch" on the down shift. It works like this approaching a corner: *** the brakes. Clutch in (optional). Shift to neutral. Clutch out. Ball of the foot still *** the brakes, right foot pivots over to blip the throttle so that the transmission mainshaft rotational speed will match the new rotational speed of the transmission counter shaft of the new (lower) gear. Very quickly clutch in and move shift lever to next lowest gear. This part has to be done very quickly because the mainshaft will begin slowing down as soon as the clutch is depressed. Press the accelerator pedal and clutch out. Start trailing off the brake pedal and turn in. So there are actually at least two things going on at every downshift. Matching of the two shaft speeds inside the transmission to prevent grinding. And matching engine and driveshaft speeds so that the rear tires don't lock and unballance the car. In regards to the original post, watch the movie 'Grand Prix'. There is very good footage of the driver's footwork. It shows very clearly this "heal-toe-double-declutch" technique. -Tony-

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>It doesn't matter what kind of car you are racing, the revs have to be >matched with the throttle when downshifting, or else the ballance of the >car will be upset because the rear tires will want to lock up when the >clutch is released. If you are right foot braking, then you must >"heal-toe". If you are left foot braking (and not using the clutch) you >still must blip the throttle when downshifting to match the revs or you >will lock the rear wheels.

I've even had that happen in GPL. Kept spinning out going into the 1st Lesmos especially. I couldn't figure out, then it suddenly dawned on me that I was downshifting too quickly... :-( Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Dave, When I went to drivers school in 1968,we were taught how to heal and toe. I was driving a MG-B and had to have a special plate added to the throttle so that I could reach the brake. It was very strange to say the least. But once you get use to it,it becomes 2nd nature. So much so,that I still find myself doing it when I drive a manual transmission. Joel Willstein

Joel, I autocross and since its a true production race car I just moved the throttle closer to the brake. I heel and toe, using the ball of my foot. I should actually feet foot brake, but since the car has a clutch I never really mastered it. I brake with the left part of the ball of my foot and blip the throttle with the right part of the ball of my foot. I should left foot brake, but have not been able to master it yet due to the car having a clutch, and a motor that really needs revs to make power so what gear I am in is very important to getting out of a corner fast. Dave

I think we have missed the point!! leftfoot braking has nothing to do with changing gear. it is a handling 'aid' for those skilled enough to utilise it. i.e. after selecting the appropriate gear for a corner you find you are getting some understeer you gently apply some braking, whilst still accelerating this alters weight transfer to the front killing the understeer but avoids the very slow lifting of the accelerator to kill the understeer. I don't know how well it is written into the GPL models! Paul