S550 Heel-toe struggles

[RedStallion27]

2016 occasional track car and I’m struggling to perfect heel-toe downshifting.

My leg is too long for actual heel-toe with the pivot. My knee hits the steering column if I twist my leg counter-clockwise like that.

So I’ve been trying to get the ankle roll method to work, tilting the right side of my foot over to blip the throttle. But the gas pedal is too far away to reach. Nylon spacers didn’t help so removed them

I then installed the Steeda heel-toe gas pedal and that helped but created a new problem - now I can’t go full brake without accidentally pushing the gas pedal as well.

Has anyone successfully worked through this? What did you do?

 

[steveespo]

Get a Xingeneering module. Plug and play and can adjust timing and blip settings with laptop. Wire in a power switch to be able to shut off for street use. Heel/toe is a great skill. But is archaic in today's environment and definitely affects the consistency and repeatability of braking and downshift events. If you want to stick with it, shift the gas pedal towards the tunnel a bit or shave the edge of the pedal to find the sweet spot.

Blip Module

Downshift Rev Matching for ANY H-Pattern Transmissions. OEM Plug-and-Play, Easy Setup, Motorsport Grade Wiring

xineering.com

 

[txgt]

I use the ankle roll method but it’s very inconsistent with the results. Usually takes a few laps to get it dialed in. It’s a great feeling when everything clicks, but definitely frustrating when you fumble it. Keep at it if you want to perfect it.

As I chase faster lap times against automatic and factory rev match cars, I’ve decided to add rev matching to my car via MMR’s plug and play module. I just ordered it (It arrives Monday) so I can’t comment on it yet but I can report back after my July 8th track day.

 

[stevbd]

Years ago I was lucky enough to have an instructor who explained to me how hard it is to actually roll your ankle, or use your heel and your toe, or do anything with your heel off the floor. Don’t do any of those things.

Make sure your heel is on the floor. Keep it there at all times. Lock your ankle. Left side of ball of foot on brake, right side on the gas. Now, with your ankle locked, roll your knee (not your ankle) to the right towards the center console. Practice with the car just sitting in neutral.

I found this instruction game changing. I quickly picked it up and never looked back. Lots of my friends have said the same thing. There are lots of yt videos out there of amazing racers doing it differently but I guess I’m just not coordinated enough lol. This simple way works because it stabilizes everything plus most people have better fine right left motor control in your leg than you do in your ankle. Good luck, you got this.

 

[byronj]

Have you put a space under your gas pedal to bring the pedal closer to the brake? That was my fix.

 

[TMSBOSS]

Get a Xingeneering module. Plug and play and can adjust timing and blip settings with laptop. Wire in a power switch to be able to shut off for street use. Heel/toe is a great skill. But is archaic in today's environment and definitely affects the consistency and repeatability of braking and downshift events. If you want to stick with it, shift the gas pedal towards the tunnel a bit or shave the edge of the pedal to find the sweet spot.

Blip Module

Downshift Rev Matching for ANY H-Pattern Transmissions. OEM Plug-and-Play, Easy Setup, Motorsport Grade Wiring

xineering.com

What Steve said. I have used both the Autoblip and the Xingeneering units. The Autoblip is easier to adjust with knobs for adjustments while the Xing is more consistent while requiring g a laptop to make adjustments. .