On Left Foot Braking. The way it was taught to me by Rich Coffey was this:
if you leave your left foot on the floor, you have to pick it up before you
can use the brake. This takes a tenth or two. If you have your left foot
poised over the brake, you are much quicker and more effective, especially
in autocross. You can use the brake and gas quickly and even overlap them.
Jim Martin also taught me some LFB techniques, like dragging the brakes
while staying on the throttle. This helps keep the turbo spooled up (RX7).
I agree that LFB does create a tendency to brake too hard, because the left
foot doesn't have the sensitivity that the right one has. Practice.
But I still think the hardest part is the mental part. My biggest mistake is
usually trying too hard not to blow the run anywhere, and in the process I
leave time out there. Of course, you can't win if you hit cones all the
time.
-Vernon
on 12/10/02 11:48 PM, Toy4speed@aol.com at Toy4speed@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 12/10/2002 6:28:29 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> james@thevenom.net writes:
>
>
>> ok, more of james's controversial advice:
>>
>> left foot braking might be theoretically better but i dont like it for two
>> reasons:
>>
>> 1. it makes braking seem more important than it is so most left foot
>> brakers
>> over brake all the time
>>
>> 2. it makes most people less decisive, and being decisive is very important
>> in autox.
>>
>> having to DECIDE when to give up the brake and get on the gas gets you on
>> the gas sooner, where all the good stuff happens. (however, it does nag at
>> me because sherry, who drives my car very nicely and left foot brakes, can
>> do some things i cant, still, i always get on the gas sooner and am usually
>> faster)
>>
>
> I started left-foot braking last season when Charlie co-drove the Supra. I
> was fortunate to be able to ride with him in my car and observe some of his
> LFB style.
> I believe it really helps a nose heavy RWD car like mine wrap around cones
> better. I sincerely believe it is a vital technique for FWD cars. Most of
> what James says I agree with. Went through all of it myself. I think it's
> just a learning process. I had several stab the clutch situations only to
> find myself stopped on course. Just takes time for it to be reflex. Me,
> took over a year. Just don't ask me to shift once my left foot gets hovering
> over the brake pedal. Now THAT talent will take another year !
>
> Don Lew
> DSP (doing suspension prep)
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