I wanted to take an informal survey for those that want to participate on how you apply your brakes in your radical. Are you a left foot braker or right foot braker?
I have heard the advantages of left foot braking are a faster transition from throttle to brakes. I was curious how many folks actually use left foot braking in races or track days
Thanks!
@schneller I use my left foot. When I switched, I found I could brake later since my left foot is always poised right above the brake, and I don't have to lift it off the throttle and move it over. It is possible (as I've never looked for it in my data analysis) that the "effective" brake point is the same, and I just needed to begin the braking effort earlier when I used my right foot.
I use my left foot to brake in the radical.
My old race car was a cobra with a dog-ringed 5 speed. I had to learn how to (left brake) drive that car with a clutchless transmission. You have to manually rev match on downshifts. It's too hard to use only the right foot. Since then, I only know how to drive left braking. It seems easier, and you can manipulate the throttle and braking at the same time.
I had always driven race cars with a traditional manual/clutch, so I was a right foot braker. This summer I switched to a car with a SaDEV sequential and started learning to left foot brake. I'm still better at braking with my right foot in terms of feel and braking right at the traction threshold, but the quicker application of the brake with the left foot basically makes it a wash in terms of lap times. As I continue to improve with left foot pedal feel, there's more upside. I've only had the Radical for about a month and haven't driven it much, I'm still not comfortable with the brakes at all.
Right foot but will be practicing left foot this season!
I use left foot braking. It becomes second nature if you commit to it, but it does feel odd initially. The worst thing that can happen is that you get lazy when you are learning and you find the clutch instead of the brake when you should be threshold braking. That will wake you up.
A great way to get comfortable with left foot braking and gain all the skill you need before you arrive at the track is to practice on a simulator.
Left foot. Do it all the time in your road car and you will soon be completely used to it. For bigfoots like me (size 13), you can rotate the steering rack up to get more room under the steering column; I even added a double knuckle steering u-joint.
@davidf Hey David, I recently purchased a car, but haven’t picked it up yet. I was able to get a close-up view of the cockpit at a race at Sebring this past weekend. I was shocked at how close the brake pedal is to the gas pedal. It made me wonder how often a right foot brake driver misses the brake pedal and actually hits the gas pedal. Also, how do you get 2 feet in such a small space to place your right foot on the gas pedal and your left foot on the brake pedal? Thanks.
Jay
Hi Jay. There is plenty of room for both feet however it is necessary to wear driving shoes which are just a thin leather or suede and rubber sole the covers your foot. In an open wheel car, the pedals are much closer and the insides of my feet touch. It requires lifting the throttle foot back while braking so that no throttle is accidentally added during braking and turn-in.
@davidf Thanks David. I have no experience with an open wheel road course car. I’m very familiar with driving shoes with nearly 30 years of driving experience in a multitude of different cars. I was just surprised at how close they are to each other. I see how it would help for the brake pedal reach the neutral point of the gas pedal after full depression by creating an “offset”. I think that would help prevent your feet from coming together. Do you live in the Florida area? I was at Sebring this weekend.
Jay
I’m very familiar with driving shoes with nearly 30 years of driving experience in a multitude of different cars. I was just surprised at how close they are to each other.
Sorry about that -- I often overexplain things, which is a bad habit.
I live in Nashville. Sebring is my favorite track because it is so difficult to go fast there, and because there are many opportunities to pass.
@davidf I appreciate that you over explain David! As a newbie to the Radicals a detailed explanation is exactly what we all need. Thank you for your support on this forum. Please let me know your schedule for Sebring this month. I plan to come to the race and would love to meet you.
Jay
