How many of you Auto Drivers drive with two feet?

R0bDC · 02-22-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemon-fresh

Yea... Definitely a natural.

I think I'm Shifting Wrong

I was hoping someone would bring this up

awesome memories in the 370z forums

DEpointfive0 · 02-22-2013, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R0bDC

I was hoping someone would bring this up

awesome memories in the 370z forums

We don't forget a lot of things that happen... And some of us, me included, LIVE here

LunaZ · 02-22-2013, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDepp

Yes, it is common for autocross in AT FWD cars.... on race tracks. I'm arguing that toe and heel and left-foot braking are nothing similar for many reasons: the desired result, the application, and the technique. The only thing they share is that both would require practice, just like driving at all.
The citation of SCCA and off-road drift experience was to explain where one would apply toe and heel appropriately. I also used that to explain that while I can perform the maneuver, and I would drive in ice storms and snow on bald tires in the Z, left foot braking in traffic still scares the crap out of me.

Side story:
I've never used an AT for solo courses, and the only FWD I used was at the drags and it was a MT as well. I'm not knocking left-foot braking as a racing technique. I'm knocking it as a technique for drivers just beginning and for some experienced road drivers who would panic in an emergency situation.

Congrats on your wins!

I don't think the ITR came in auto.

LunaZ · 02-22-2013, 09:26 PM

The thing about any technique is that you put it into practice.
As I've said earlier, there's a whole lot of hypothetical situation conversation going on in this thread.
I'm comfortable with the techniques I use because I put them into practice whether on the race track or on the street. You can't just switch modes because you're in one environment or the other.
An analogy would be someone who doesn't practice proper handling of their firearm because it doesn't matter until they're in a crisis situation... but when that crisis situation arises, they can't "shift gears" and use skills that they haven't put into practice.
Or another example would be the person who says that spelling and grammar don't matter because this is just the internet, not a job resume and then finding themselves unable to put together an impressive resume because when it matters, they can't do it.

At the end of the day, do what YOU are comfortable with, what YOU put into practice on a daily basis. But stop telling people they are wrong because they do something that you're not comfortable with or skilled at.

JARblue · 02-22-2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

I doubt that he would have a problem left foot braking!

I can dribble and shoot a basketball quite competently considering I am right handed and generally not ambidextrous. However, I got that way with lots of practice. I have not practiced left foot braking much at all, and in my experience I am awful at it. I'm sure there are people that are just naturally ambidextrous at most activities, but I'm not talking about them. Generally speaking, being good at one ambidextrous thing does not make one good at multiple ambidextrous things.

Haboob · 02-23-2013, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

I can dribble and shoot a basketball quite competently considering I am right handed and generally not ambidextrous. However, I got that way with lots of practice. I have not practiced left foot braking much at all, and in my experience I am awful at it. I'm sure there are people that are just naturally ambidextrous at most activities, but I'm not talking about them. Generally speaking, being good at one ambidextrous thing does not make one good at multiple ambidextrous things.

Take it back!

Airwalk · 02-23-2013, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayrton88

I'm pretty sure most F1 drivers left foot brake today since the clutch is behind the steering wheel and is only used to get the car moving. They have to trail brake to be fast. That said, I would be willing to bet they don't left foot brake in a road car. Most are from countries that automatics aren't common. I know even though Schumacher and Jean Alesi have modern Ferrari, they both drive original Fiat 500s that are certainly manual. Completely crazy concept to me to left foot brake a road car. Of course I haven't driven an automatic in years.

True, my point was just to show that you can drive really well and use two feet although it seems a lot of the time a good amount of people don't.

Hotrodz · 02-23-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

I can dribble and shoot a basketball quite competently considering I am right handed and generally not ambidextrous. However, I got that way with lots of practice. I have not practiced left foot braking much at all, and in my experience I am awful at it. I'm sure there are people that are just naturally ambidextrous at most activities, but I'm not talking about them. Generally speaking, being good at one ambidextrous thing does not make one good at multiple ambidextrous things.

I am in complete agreement with LunaZ. All I was saying is that if you have the gift of dexterity, your learning curve maybe less. That said I didn't learn to dribble a basketball or hit left handed over night. I practices my a$$ off and I hit over .300 while I was at Cal Poly Pomona. This is no different than what the auto cross driver posted earlier. He became proficient and the result are he wins events.

I'm not arguing for or against left foot braking. I'm just saying it can be done proficiently by some and for most everyone else, heed the warning statement on commercials "do not try this at home...professional driver on board."

JARblue · 02-23-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

I am in complete agreement with LunaZ. All I was saying is that if you have the gift of dexterity, your learning curve maybe less. That said I didn't learn to dribble a basketball or hit left handed over night. I practices my a$$ off and I hit over .300 while I was at Cal Poly Pomona. This is no different than what the auto cross driver posted earlier. He became proficient and the result are he wins events.

I'm not arguing for or against left foot braking. I'm just saying it can be done proficiently by some and for most everyone else, heed the warning statement on commercials "do not try this at home...professional driver on board."

Same...

w/ LunaZ

I guess my only point was your assumption that your switch pitcher friends could left foot brake competently simply because he could pitch ambidextrously. I don't think those two are related, though I will admit, as you mentioned, good dexterity can certainly shorten the learning curve.

Hotrodz · 02-23-2013, 09:19 AM

No problem...the downfall of communicating in this manner is that many statements are taken literally or out of context. If I was a betting man, I would say most everyone here struggled with right foot breaking when they first learned to drive!!!

JARblue · 02-23-2013, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haboob

Take it back!

You didn't highlight the generally speaking part... I think there are probably more people who do not easily learn things with their off-hand or foot than people who do. I was speaking about that (what I assume to be) majority of people who require practice to be ambidextrous at certain activities. Unless you are naturally and completely ambidextrous or you have the gift of dexterity to learn left and right activities with equal ease, then being good at one activity with your non-primary hand or foot is not going to inherently lead to you being good at other activities with that same appendage. For example, I can feather a clutch quite well, but that set of muscles I have developed precise control of over the years is different than the set of muscles I would use to left foot brake. And being that I have never practiced left foot braking, it should make sense that my attempts at left foot driving are woeful at best right now - I don't easily learn activities with my off-hand or foot, so I have to exercise those muscles specifically to have precise control of them. And of course, everyone is different. I just wanted to clarify my comment

JARblue · 02-23-2013, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

No problem...the downfall of communicating in this manner is that many statements are taken literally or out of context. If I was a betting man, I would say most everyone here struggled with right foot breaking when they first learned to drive!!!

In my case the learning curve with my right foot was substantially shorter than it has been with my left foot. I've tried it out recently a few times just to try it, but I don't see myself ever using it in daily or track driving.

SouthArk370Z · 02-23-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

If I was a betting man, I would say most everyone here struggled with right foot breaking when they first learned to drive!!!

I've never driven an auto one-footed - I learned to drive an auto two-footed. I don't think it was any more difficult to master than other methods, but, not having used other methods, I can't be sure.

About the only time my right foot touches the brake is during hard/panic stops; just there in case of booster failure or other malfunction. The left foot beats it there every time.

sixpax · 02-23-2013, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I've never driven an auto one-footed - I learned to drive an auto two-footed. I don't think it was any more difficult to master than other methods, but, not having used other methods, I can't be sure.

About the only time my right foot touches the brake is during hard/panic stops; just there in case of booster failure or other malfunction. The left foot beats it there every time.

I'm the same way ... have driven auto's with two feet for 35 years ... built in trail braking when I need it ... just how I learned and how I have always done it.

The1michael · 02-23-2013, 10:26 AM

Voted in poll (6mt of course

) and saw results ...

View Poll Results: How many of you Drive with Two feet.
I drive auto with two feet and am proud of it!	14	7.87%
Hell no. I drive auto and drive with one foot. I know better.	60	33.71%
I drive MT so of course I use two feet.	104	58.43%
Voters: 178. You may not vote on this poll

02-22-2013, 09:26 PM	#109 (permalink)
LunaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vagabond Posts: 6,704 Drives: Project: a white one Rep Power: 512	The thing about any technique is that you put it into practice. As I've said earlier, there's a whole lot of hypothetical situation conversation going on in this thread. I'm comfortable with the techniques I use because I put them into practice whether on the race track or on the street. You can't just switch modes because you're in one environment or the other. An analogy would be someone who doesn't practice proper handling of their firearm because it doesn't matter until they're in a crisis situation... but when that crisis situation arises, they can't "shift gears" and use skills that they haven't put into practice. Or another example would be the person who says that spelling and grammar don't matter because this is just the internet, not a job resume and then finding themselves unable to put together an impressive resume because when it matters, they can't do it. At the end of the day, do what YOU are comfortable with, what YOU put into practice on a daily basis. But stop telling people they are wrong because they do something that you're not comfortable with or skilled at. SouthArk370Z, b1adesofcha0s, JARblue and 1 others like this. __________________ 2009 370Z Sport/Touring/Navigation \| see my journal for mods facebook: Be my friend... or not.

02-23-2013, 09:19 AM	#115 (permalink)
Hotrodz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NW, AZ Posts: 9,330 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z Nismo Rep Power: 2684385	No problem...the downfall of communicating in this manner is that many statements are taken literally or out of context. If I was a betting man, I would say most everyone here struggled with right foot breaking when they first learned to drive!!! JARblue likes this. __________________ *Fast Intentions TT Installed and Tuned by Seb at SpecialtyZ 610whp 560tq:\|Fast Intentions 3" TT-TDX*\|SpecialtyZ/Fast Intentions 72 Row Oil Cooler\|SZ 6 Puck Clutch & Flywheel\|3GsCustoms\|Z1\|Wavetrac\|Hotchkis\|Whiteline \|Blitz\|Fortune Auto 500\|Fujimura\|SPL\|H&R\|TK\|TWM\|RPM Rollbar\|Sparco\|Next Level Performance\|TrackSpec\|AeroFlow Dynamics\|Pioneer\|

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