Driving DynamicsDriving techniques (trail braking, power slides, donuts, scandinavian flicks, etc), and vehicle dynamics (roll centres, c/g weigh transfer, etc)
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This week I have just collected my frst Subaru, a 2000 turbo sport-wagon. So far I've had little chance to experience it fully, but looking forward to be back with a turbo'd motor.
The last one I did have was a Lancia Delta HF turbo, and it really reigned supreme using left foot braking around bends as it kept the front end so stable (no sensation of oversteer) and totally adjustable between the brake and throttle, and still keep the turbo singing for when you are pointing straight!
So, how does a scooby handle with this techique, does it make for more controlled cornering or does the four wheel drive render it unnecessary?
As my foz has the hairdryer dimensioned TF035 it doesn't need LFB to overcome turbo lag, but it certainly keeps the front nailed into the corners, no oversteer though, unlike my old FWD Escort that would kick its 4rs3 out to all sorts of angles with the left foot!
This week I have just collected my frst Subaru, a 2000 turbo sport-wagon. So far I've had little chance to experience it fully, but looking forward to be back with a turbo'd motor.
The last one I did have was a Lancia Delta HF turbo, and it really reigned supreme using left foot braking around bends as it kept the front end so stable (no sensation of oversteer) and totally adjustable between the brake and throttle, and still keep the turbo singing for when you are pointing straight!
So, how does a scooby handle with this techique, does it make for more controlled cornering or does the four wheel drive render it unnecessary?
I brake with my left foot all the time out of habit now. Turbo or not, its always the quickest way. You can make a tiny correction or shift the weight of the car the second you think about it, so it only makes sense that its quicker in my opinion. Scoobs are well known to understeer on the limit so I use it to set the car up so it doesnt do that.
e.g you start turning into a left hand bend and you know its goin to be on the limit of grip...which in a scoob means understeer. When the weight is almost finished shifting to the right side of the car, give the brakes a jab with your left foot to get the front end planted and the back end light(weight is now on front right)...and thats the understeer solved! This also lets you keep your foot on the throttle as much as you like so as you said, there wont be any lag.
lol tried this the once and just stalled the car... me and my size 12's
PMSL. I remember the first time I tried it. I nearly put my head through the window! I practise it every day but only a bit of braking. I could not do a full journey, I'm not that confident yet! I wouldn't dare slam on either. I think it's also good for my football as it gives me a bit more control with my spaz foot
Tried this a while back, I thought my brakes were not working properly for some bizzare reason, because there was some wear on the right side of the pedal, so I thought I'd try and brake with my left foot on the left side of the pedal...............when there was no traffic around!
I nearly Killed myself
I think my left leg must be stronger than my right because its always working the clutch either that or the accelerator pedal is so sensitive? Or I might have feet like a hobbit from lord of the rings and be able to walk on broken glass with them
I now drive an M3 BMW SMG and I can honestly say I don't remember the last time I used my right foot for braking in it... right foot for go and left for stop.
I think if your car is well set up there is no advantage to using the brakes to control the car in a corner. You can do much better with the accelerator, the cars don't handle very well so you need to set it up to be neutral when you push hard. Then don't accelerate until the car can cope with it. The exception here is in very long corners.
I do however brake and accelerate (i.e. nill acceleration) to build boost on corners that have a long run out, but I'm having anti lag set up next week so thats the end of that.
I will also left foot brake if there is a run of corners that are all run in the same gear, it helps build a rythum in your driving but I'm not using it differntly that right foot braking. Still brake in accelerate out.
I prefer heal and toe to left foot braking for one reason ... if you forget to move your left foot from the brake to the clutch again and try change gear, you will probably head butt the stearing wheel as you stamp on the brakes instead of the clutch. These techniques are great, but best practised when there is no one else around.
I prefer heal and toe to left foot braking for one reason ... if you forget to move your left foot from the brake to the clutch again and try change gear, you will probably head butt the stearing wheel as you stamp on the brakes instead of the clutch. These techniques are great, but best practised when there is no one else around.
Use both! If you're gonna be changing gear use heel and toe. Much better feel with left foot braking though.
I can't get the hang of left foot braking so i gave up with it. It takes to much thought for me to do it. Besides, my stupid size 12's seem to cover 2 pedals at once anyway
I can't get the hang of left foot braking so i gave up with it. It takes to much thought for me to do it. Besides, my stupid size 12's seem to cover 2 pedals at once anyway
Just practice it all the time. Use it during normal driving and force yourself to get better. Takes a bit of discipline, but eventually you'll have the same feel with your left foot as you do with your right - The problem is you're so used to just using the clutch with your left.
When my mate and me were 17, he passed his test first and took me for a run the first night he was driving - nearly put my head through the window trying his left foot on the brake. A year later he was using it perfectly...and now he's just something else (21).
this is a technique i've taken from a trackmaster session onto the road- but practice makes perfect with it -
Your brain is so used to lifting off the throttle when braking that it takes some time to make it stay planted while you're breaking- it feels very odd to begin with
i find it useful myself not so much for braking as to try to keep the car 'flat' through corners and keeping the boost up to allow greater acceleration out of the bend
NOTE- if you're on the brake with the left foot remember not to change gear- I've done it once- my ABS worked better than i thought- lost 10 seconds on the lap though! luckily noone behind haha
this is a technique i've taken from a trackmaster session onto the road- but practice makes perfect with it -
Your brain is so used to lifting off the throttle when braking that it takes some time to make it stay planted while you're breaking- it feels very odd to begin with
i find it useful myself not so much for braking as to try to keep the car 'flat' through corners and keeping the boost up to allow greater acceleration out of the bend
NOTE- if you're on the brake with the left foot remember not to change gear- I've done it once- my ABS worked better than i thought- lost 10 seconds on the lap though! luckily noone behind haha
How do you change gear when your braking with your left?
I think, like others have done he inadvertantly he hammered down the brake pedal like the clutch and did an E-stop without actually getting to the gear change part!
Left foot braking.
PMSL. I remember the first time I tried it. I nearly put my head through the window! I practise it every day but only a bit of braking. I could not do a full journey, I'm not that confident yet! I wouldn't dare slam on either. I think it's also good for my football as it gives me a bit more control with my spaz foot
