Track shoes?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,822
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
A nice set of Nike's, Rockports, New Balance without the ribbed and slotted soles is fine. Leather uppers would be best. I just purchased a set of New Balance walking shoes with leather uppers and 3 narrow slots across the sole that are pretty much perfect. Light weight, flat sole and comfortable.
With ARM on the new manual cars you don't need to have a thin soled racing shoe to feel the brake and gas pedal so you heel/toe properly. Just put your foot totally on the brake pedal and let ARM blip the throttle. It does it perfectly every time.
Bill
With ARM on the new manual cars you don't need to have a thin soled racing shoe to feel the brake and gas pedal so you heel/toe properly. Just put your foot totally on the brake pedal and let ARM blip the throttle. It does it perfectly every time.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,797
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From: Dallas Georgia
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
C3 of Year Winner (track prepared) 2019
I too wear Pumas on track but prefer the Futurecats. They are somewhat more narrow than my normal tennis shoe but the feel is great for heal toe or just pedal placement.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 337
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From: Calgary Alberta
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Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
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Another vote for the Pumas. I have narrow feet so I really like the way they fit. Their martial arts shoes are also very much like the driving shoes. I bought a set of these because I liked the convenience of velcro closure and like them a lot as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,250
Likes: 656
From: San Diego Ca
sneakers have too thick of a sole to accurately feel the pedals. Race shoes have a very flexible and thin sole for this purpose. They also are made from fire resistant nomex. The downside of all of that is the cost: $150.
Go to a good sports store and buy wrestling shoes. They aren't nomex but have the same flexible thin sole. And should be $50 or so.
Go to a good sports store and buy wrestling shoes. They aren't nomex but have the same flexible thin sole. And should be $50 or so.
Last edited by pkincy; Mar 3, 2018 at 09:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,699
Likes: 1,136
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Some might do it, for what reason I can't understand, when regular shoes work fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
Define need? I'm pretty sure I don't need to define it. I drove ZR1's at SM in regular old tennis shoes and I currently drive my Z06 M7 in regular shoes. The fact is you don't need to spend extra money on "special" shoes to drive a manual. It's not like you will wear special shoes to drive your manual car around when you get home Some might do it, for what reason I can't understand, when regular shoes work fine.
Some might do it, for what reason I can't understand, when regular shoes work fine.Obviously Police drive "fine" in hard soled shoes all day long. They don't "need" better shoes either. But you can still benefit from the unnecessary.
Like I said above, it appears I drive in the same shoes as you do, because I don't feel a need either. But I bet they still allow you better pedal feel and so on if you do happen to have them.
Last edited by davepl; Mar 4, 2018 at 03:54 PM.