> My biggest mistake is
> usually trying too hard not to blow the run anywhere, and in the process I
> leave time out there.
i find the same problem in my car- the faster a car is, the harder it is to
force yourself to be aggressive enough. backing off 5% in my car costs 1
second, which means 1st to 8th in OSP. going 1% over means a blown run. i
can only imagine what a knife's edge you walk in a kart!
-james
PS oops, i forgot. i left foot brake on a front wheel drive car and on a
turbo car!
keeping the gas nearly 100% while braking in a FWD helps the car to turn,
and you need to get on the gas before you finish braking in a turbo car (at
least i did in my brother's super laggy 1995 WRX)
still maintaining that braking is a necessary evil to driving technique.
get it done and get on with it! :)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vernon Head" <vlhead@pacbell.net>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: The hardest autox skill?
> 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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