performance driving help: consistency in heel-toe downshifts

[Shadowden]

Ah...confusion sets in. I rev-match when I down shift. But rev-matching and heel-toe seem to be similar but distinct creatures, right? I say this because we don't always need to be on the brake to down shift, but we should always be rev-matching when we downshift.

I will definately continue to play with proper heel-toe shifting. Even playing around with it at my desk, I feel that my leg/ankle positions are not right when driving to do this technique correctly, efficiently, or in a consistent manner. So it will be a fun skill to learn.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[chromal]

Yeah, I am kinda in the same boat as some others, I aim to rev match on upshifts and downshifts, but don't usually combine it with braking, e.g.: as an integrated set of controls while driving hairpins in the mountains. I skirt around it various ways, like downshifting early then braking, or throwing it in neutral, braking, and then dropping it back in gear and accelerating. I could see it being handy in urban driving, where you're doing a lot of 90-degree turns at intersections, I guess. Obviously, it's a big deal for competitive driving.

My main impediment to trying to learn is that I normally wear thick-soled Dr. Martens leather boots.

[kingtut]

Even playing around with it at my desk

Dude...

[SecondGenPAt]

Dude...

What?? You've never heard of a "desk pop?"

[speedjunkie]

My foot is wide enough to halfway cover both pedals at the same time so I just tilt my foot to whatever side is needed. It isn't pretty, but it works...kinda.

[Shadowden]

I'm getting better, but it still isn't second nature by a long shot.