I do my driving in a worn-out pair of Nike cross-trainers. They aren't
comfortable for standing around anymore, but the soles have been compressed
to the point where I almost feel like I'm driving barefoot!
But I am going to have to replace them soon. At the rate they're going,
they'll be sandals before long ;)
Scot
'91 CS Miata
----- Original Message -----
From: washburn <washburn@dwave.net>
To: Gary McDaniel <mcnjohn@sierratel.com>
Cc: <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 4:58 AM
Subject: Re: Driving Shoes
> Gary McDaniel wrote:
> >
> > A recent ad for Piloti Driving shoes got me thinking about what kind of
shoe
> > can you wear all day without getting sore feet from standing on the
concrete
> > and still be an affective, comfortable driving shoe. Has anyone tried
these
> > Piloti shoes? I don't really care for the Simpsons.
> > Gary
>
> Here are my unsolicited thoughts as written last spring in response to a
> request by Katie K.:
>
> Katie Kelly of Team.net fame and Ace Reporter for North American Pylon
> once asked about drivers shoes. What do you wear and why. Do they
> really make a difference? With the season just around the corner, and
> everyone getting ready, I thought I would offer my thoughts on this
> extremely important aspect of Autocross. This is important gear, and is
> critical to your success in this sport. (sarcasm alert!)
>
> I've worn a lot of different shoes while driving, some very expensive,
> some not. I see lots of guys wearing those red leather special driving
> shoes. They say "Momo" or "Shui" or something like that on the sides,
> and cost can run into three figures very easily. Very cool. I wear
> white
> canvas boat shoes from KMart at around $3.00 to $6.00 a pair depending
> on
> the time of year. (Happily, spring is the best time to buy.) Not the
> kind with the ribbed white rubber bottoms, but the ones with the
> yellow crepe bottom's that kinda look like leather. If your lucky,
> these shoes do not say anything on the side because if they did, it
> would most likely be "KMart" or something embarrassing like that. To
> make things even worse, I
> intentionally choose my shoes from the women's rack. While the best
> features of
> these shoes are their lack of longevity and ease of guilt free disposal,
> my current
> pair are going into their third season and you can still tell that they
> were at one time white.
>
> What are the advantages of these high tech tools?
> They are cheap.
> The crepe rubber sole is sticky, virtually the R1's of shoes, and will
> not slip off pedals even if their a little wet.
> They wont EGOD if you don't heat cycle them.
> They are cheap.
> The sole is both stiff and bendable at the same time. They are
> "stiffable".
> The total sole thickness is 3/16" (That would be 6/32" in racer talk) at
> the toe, and you can feel
> the grooves molded into the cars pedals.
> They are cheap.
> They weight about 4 ounces each, and being all canvas they breath very
> well.
> The womens version has thinner soles and "sidewalls". Women's sizes are
> extremely narrow also. (Take note all you Lotus drivers).
> They can easily be folded and stored inside your helmet.
>
> There are, however, some disadvantages:
> They are cheap.
> If you walk around on pavement too much, like if at all, they will wear
> out very quickly.
> They are women's shoes. (This could draw fire from those are as not as
> enlightened as you)
> Dogs love them. They taste great, and they are less filling.
> They are cheap.
> They get dirty fast.
> A 5/16" long thumb tack will project exactly 1/8" into the bottom of
> your foot, causing you to trip and spill your drink all over the wood
> parts you were sanding on the workbench.
> Kicking a workbench will result in a gentle reminder that these shoes
> are constructed of canvas.
> Do not under any circumstances mow the lawn with them.
> They provide ankle and arch support exactly like a pair of socks does
> not.
> They are incredibly efficient at conducting the solar thermal energy
> stored in parking lots into the bottoms of your feet.
> In the event of a fire: You must bend forward at the waist, reach down
> and grab both ankles, and kiss your feet goodbye.
>
> I am actually thinking of coming out with a line of my own high tech,
> expensive, state of the art Autocross driving shoes.
> They would be based on the same well thought out design and engineering
> principles, and would look and feel very much like the ones described
> above. O.K., they would be exactly like the KMart specials. But mine
> would come in really hot colors. (Canvas can be dyed any color very
> easily) They would have a really cool logo that would say to people: "I
> am a force to be dealt with and I am a member of a very exclusive and
> prestigious group of demi-god drivers. Bow before me." (That little
> scribble my daughter made with a crayola will work, and a dab of hot
> melt glue will hold it on.) These shoes will have all of the features
> that serious drivers demand. All for only $119.99. (Heh, heh....at
> $4.50 total cost, I will clear an easy $115.49 a pair profit! KMart,
> here I come!) Try them on and watch your times magically drop as if you
> had just taken a Mario-pill. These shoes will shed unwanted weight and
> increase horsepower. I guarantee it.
>
> Pat
>
|