Road Racing Road Course | Autocross

Bliping for down shifts?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 25, 2014 | 11:17 PM
  #1  
ur-n-8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 66
Likes: 7
From: Black Hills
Default Bliping for down shifts?

Any advice on learning how to "blip" while braking on down shifts? Hoping to do some track days and any advice would be appreciated. Also if any advice on peddle placement.
Reply
Old May 25, 2014 | 11:52 PM
  #2  
Wheelman916's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
Default

Wear flexible comfortable shoes. Heel toe

Reply
Old May 25, 2014 | 11:57 PM
  #3  
Wheelman916's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
Default

At speed, on track

Reply
Old May 26, 2014 | 11:55 AM
  #4  
brigade24's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 291
Likes: 2
From: Richmond, ON, Canada
Default

even with my super small feet..i don't feel i have enough room for proper heel-toe.

i use pedals that widen so all you do is an "ankle" roll type of thing...i think razo makes them. i gottem from amazon.
Reply
Old May 26, 2014 | 12:19 PM
  #5  
Joseph Freda's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Default

Practice while driving on the street. You need to build up the muscle memory on how to do it without thinking about it. There is so much going on at the track, it is not the time to try it out.
Reply
Old May 26, 2014 | 12:41 PM
  #6  
FASTFATBOY's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,861
Likes: 2
From: Mobile Ala
Default

Something you don't need to do on track for a very long time. This is for very advanced drivers.

You only use 3rd and 4th gear on 95% of tracks in these cars anyway.

As a beginner, you can leave the car in 4th gear on most tracks.

Last edited by FASTFATBOY; May 26, 2014 at 12:48 PM.
Reply
Old May 26, 2014 | 02:00 PM
  #7  
Midnight02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta, GA
Default

With a size 14 shoe and the very little room we have to work in our cars I've simply accepted this isn't a technique I will learn any time soon.
Reply
Old May 26, 2014 | 09:00 PM
  #8  
79_T/A's Avatar
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 938
Likes: 35
Default

Listen to fastfatboy. These cars have torque, use it to your advantage. Also, high RPM engine breaking just makes brake hop worse in these cars anyway. Let the brakes do the work.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 26, 2014 | 10:14 PM
  #9  
Joseph Freda's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Default

I kinda agree, but not entirely. Heel toe braking is not the first thing to master in the car. It is much more important to learn how to find and use the optimum line, get the feel for the car in the corners while making "g's". Heel toe is for the more advanced driver once you make it HPDE 3 level. However, heel toe is needed to get that last couple of seconds a lap out of the car. Coming off the brakes to push in clutch for down shifts really upsets the balance of the car on corner entry. I can heel toe but personally I never got really good at it. When ever I would blip the throttle, I would loose fine braking control. This would not work for street cars, but what eventually worked best for me was going to a dog ring transmission. Then I didn't need to use the clutch. I learned how to left foot brake, blip the throttle, and pull on the shifter, and off you go. It had a huge effect on my lap times. I can hover my left foot over the brake, and use the brake and throttle simultaneously to balance the car. If any one has done any go kart racing, you know what I'm talking about. Again this is not for the beginner, but for the driver looking to get the last little bit of time out of the car.
Reply
Old May 27, 2014 | 10:02 AM
  #10  
EchoMirage's Avatar
TECH Addict
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
From: SE VA
Default

Originally Posted by Joseph Freda
Practice while driving on the street. You need to build up the muscle memory on how to do it without thinking about it. There is so much going on at the track, it is not the time to try it out.

exactly.

i dont 'heel toe', i roll my ankle, hitting the gas with half my foot. practice with every single downshift on the street first. a messed up downshift on the track could wreck your trans, rear, motor, or lead to a spin and total wreck.
Reply
Old May 28, 2014 | 10:17 PM
  #11  
ur-n-8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 66
Likes: 7
From: Black Hills
Default

Thanks for the advice. I can see that a shoe with more feel would be helpful.
Reply
Old May 29, 2014 | 01:19 AM
  #12  
orthopod's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default

Originally Posted by EchoMirage
exactly.

i dont 'heel toe', i roll my ankle, hitting the gas with half my foot. practice with every single downshift on the street first. a messed up downshift on the track could wreck your trans, rear, motor, or lead to a spin and total wreck.
I learned real quick my first event what a big advantage (after taking the proper line, braking correctly, etc.) being able to heel toe downshift is because I could not heel toe and I had my instructor who obviously could drive my car and it was a completely different animal headed into and coming out of the turns. Now I am practicing every single time I downshift on the street. I have been over to Alan Blaine's (who is an AMAZING wealth of information BTW) shop nearly every night for the past week getting some things done on the car and wrenching alongside him and one of the biggest things we have focused on is cockpit ergonomics (recaro profi spg seat mount positioning, a new hurst stick modified by him, pedal that he developed, shift **** he developed, etc.). Part of that is a improved gas pedal that he fabricates for the F body (I will start a build thread soon and post pics) that improves the space relationship between the brake and gas pedal for a proper heel toe downshift. It has made a huge difference and is some of the best money that I have spent on the car.

Last edited by orthopod; May 29, 2014 at 01:24 AM.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:06 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE