heavychevy

I've never tried it but can see how it can be a major advantage. I understand the concept (although the brain wants to puch too hard with the left foot on the brake), but I need some ideas on where it's best to be used (slow turns, off camber, decreasing radius etc)

I have run Road Atlanta, Barber, Robeling , TGP. So applications at these tracks would be really helpful.


My car is turbo as well so may probably benefit more than an NA car.

steponc

I was at Spring Mountain for my Level 2 class and this question was asked. The instructors saw no advantage to left foot braking. The comment was "it would create additional heat to the brakes and it would be very easy to unbalance the car.

The Spark

I have left foot braked in vehicles with automatic trans for years.
I can get on the brakes much faster.

During my first HPDE I was in an A4 C5 and using left foot braking. My instructor finally asked me if that is what I was doing. He said he'd never seen anyone do that. I could transition from gas to brakes and back on gas without "coasting".

To me it is has been 2nd nature. Now that I'm driving a stick more, I find myself using my right foot to brake more often when driving an auto car. I guess my left foot is busy looking for the clutch

davidfarmer

places where you trail brake, or brake for a very short period of time, saves you a few milliseconds moving your right foot around. I personally rarely do it, as most braking zones require shifts, but occasionally I find spots where I can save a bit of time keeping my right foot on/near the gas pedal.

Trouble for me is control. My right foot is trained to be my "smooth" foot (braking and accel), whereas my left foot is trained more of an off/on switch. I often find that my left foot braking isn't as smooth as I need it to be.

WNDOPDLR

Unlike David, neither of my feet are trained. Once I learn a track and am comfortable I left foot brake every where I don't need to shift in the turn. Contrary to what was said at Spring Mtn. I think my car transitions smoother with left foot braking, and I encourage my advanced students to try it. I suggest they practice on the back roads off the track to educate their left foot before they try it on track. A lot of the comfort level has to do with which foot is dominant.

Falcon

Put the heel of your left foot on the floor just in front of the brake pedal, and use the heel as a pivot point. That will allow you to modulate the pedal pressure smoothly, and eliminate the stabbing effect.

Bink

I've used it very little in my vette. But, it's easier if you've done some karting. It helps you keep the suspension loaded.
The first time I left footed in my vette everything ended up in the floorboard -- not too smooth.

freefall

Every turn where I don't shift. It lets you transition weight much smoother. Learn in an automatic (how I always drive one) on the street - right foot gas, left foot brake. Besides learning to modulate the pedal that way, your time from reacting to applying the brakes will go down...ala rush hour traffic or deer.

0Randy@DRM

Karting is a left foot brake only. I don't remember too many corners where we didn't left foot brake with the right pedal smashed to the floor.

Randy

Bink

Yep, it helps develope your neurosensory input/output of the left foot.
With my old kart ( 125cc Honda, TopKart - shifter), on asphalt of course, we basically stabbed the brakes, downshifted and steered it through with the throttle.

AU N EGL

Or on a high speed straight and you want to just tap the brake peddle ( while your right foot is on the floor) to make sure you HAVE brakes before entering a hard braking zone.

trumper Z06

You probably do it when carting !!!

Try it on a back road... left foot braking doesn't come easy... but it is faster... and also easier to keep the car balanced.

Schumacher left-foot braked while @ Ferrari... Rubens tried it... but went back to using his right foot for braking... even though Rubens has extensive carting experience.

Sidney004

Its easy, just watch this noobie do it in an Audi HPDE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyVHj3sHVHQ
I left foot brake in crners that do not require a downshift.

johnei

I thought it was more for fwd cars. Although I can see how it would shorten the time you spend between pedals. In fact, I've read somewhere that Mercedes was employing a system that would ready the brakes if you suddenly lifted off the throttle, mainly as a safety feature on the road.

AU N EGL

They also have 'brake assist' where the cars computer will apply the brakes if you get too close to another car or apply the brakes if your not stopping soon enough. SO much for Richard Petty Bump drafting

96CollectorSport

When I autocrossed my SVT Contour, I would left foot brake to rotate the car in tight corners. Since doing HPDE's in my 96 I haven't tried, I haven't gotten to the limit in the car and typically if I need to rotate I just hit the loud pedal.

I can see where it will help you balance the car at the limit
left foot = brake = weight on the front of the car and the car will turn
right foot = gas = weight on the rear of the car and the car will go strait....hopefully

0ATI Performance

If you are intent on trying left-foot braking, practice on the street until you can do it smoothly without thinking about it or your feet getting confused about where they are... It would suck on the track if you stood on the brake, only to realize it was actually the clutch pedal... think fast!

Bob

0Randy@DRM

FWD cars are crazy. I use the left foot brake to control the slide on my icerace car. Then on corner exit straighten out the wheel and get on the gas.

Randy

96CollectorSport

Did you ever get a picture of that beast with the wing on the front? You should really share that!
I'll have to come up again and this year I'll pick a weekend that you will be racing that thing. They sell beer at those right?

ghoffman

Left foot braking is very usefull with a dog ring transmission. Since with a dog ring trans like Jerico, Tex, Hewland, etc, you don't use the clutch for shifting, you can find some advantage with left foot braking. I use it with my GT1 car but not with the ZO6, my feet get confused.