Chemical Guys Citrus Wash..What a suprise!

As an ex-mechanic and hobbyist performance driver with a lot of track experience, I can tell you that David is correct. The ONLY time downshifting in place of braking makes sense is descending a long hill where repeated applications of the brakes would otherwise be required, and where simply staying in a lower gear maintains the speed without braking. Brakes are for slowing; downshifting is to select the right gear with which to continue at a new slower speed, or for maximum acceleration.



Heel and toe (note - it isn't "heal" and toe) is also not necessary for downshifting per se - it is a technique for downshiftng WHILE braking, and is needed on the race track. It is impossible to slow at the last possible moment for a corner, and simultaneously shift to a lower gear in preparation to accelerate out as quickly as possible, without it. Heel and toe refers to using a portion of your foot to brake while you simultaneously blip the throttle so that engine RPM is equal to what it needs to be for the current road speed in the new (lower) gear. There are a few styles, but the most prevalent really is not done with the heel and the toe - rather, the ball of the foot is left on the brake pedal (its right edge) while the foot is rocked over, contacting the thottle pedal with the side of the widest part of your foot.



If you'd like to see and hear what it sounds like, I did a short video (which is on my review of the Derek Daly Academy 4-Day Formula Racing Course web site.



right click and "save as" this link to get the video (8Mb / quicktime)
 
carguy said:
There are a few styles, but the most prevalent really is not done with the heel and the toe - rather, the ball of the foot is left on the brake pedal (its right edge) while the foot is rocked over, contacting the thottle pedal with the side of the widest part of your foot.
Click to expand...
This is news to me! I've read lots of "how to" articles/posts about heel and toe, and everything I've read (replete with diagrams!) says to rotate your heel to position it over the gas pedal.



I've always wanted to learn to do this. I like to corner fast and it sounds very cool when done right. I sort of tried to learn using the above technique one day, but instead just burst out laughing because of the awkward angles my right leg was making. :D I haven't tried since.



It sounds like you're saying to use the left side of your shoe to brake and the right side to tap the throttle? (Subject to shoe size and pedal placement of course. :D)
 
Brian - that's right. I position my heel between the throttle and brake pedals. So my foot is pointing to the left a bit to brake. The ball of my foot presses the brake pedal, overlapping the air to its right. I rock my foot and catch the throttle pedal with the side.



Some cars make this easier than others, but I've heard people complain that "the pedals aren't set up for it" in lots of cars, including the cars I drive, while I've had no problems. I don't have big feet (size 9) either. In my BMW, I find the brake pedal is a bit high - if I try this under very light braking pressure it is harder to blip then when I'm under hard braking.



/G



DavidB - move this to the "driving" forum?
 
LOL, I just tried this in my car and unless I get wider pedals (or shoes) it's not going to work too well! I am also a size 9. Oh well - crazy foot angles here I come. :p



Cool video by the way.
 
I washed my wife's car with Chemical Guys Citrus Wash mixed to the strength for stripping wax and sealer, prior to detailing. After washing and drying the car I commented to my wife that the car came out so clean that I could almost talk myself into skipping the polish and go straight to applying sealant, but I didn't. I polished the whole car except the roof and for a test applied sealant to the roof with out polishing. After I removed the sealant haze I was surprised at the level of shine on the roof. Mind you this is a very light cream color and the results might look different on a dark color car But...I can hardly tell the difference between the roof and the rest of the car that was polished...I am very pleased with the results of the wash job using CGCW. This is some good stuff!
 
jlineman said:
I washed my wife's car with Chemical Guys Citrus Wash mixed to the strength for stripping wax and sealer, prior to detailing. After washing and drying the car I commented to my wife that the car came out so clean that I could almost talk myself into skipping the polish and go straight to applying sealant, but I didn't. I polished the whole car except the roof and for a test applied sealant to the roof with out polishing. After I removed the sealant haze I was surprised at the level of shine on the roof. Mind you this is a very light cream color and the results might look different on a dark color car But...I can hardly tell the difference between the roof and the rest of the car that was polished...I am very pleased with the results of the wash job using CGCW. This is some good stuff!
Click to expand...

cleaning and polishing are two very different things. if the paint was perfect but dirty, washing it properly will not require any polishing. however, if there was swirl marks to begin with, polishing will yield better results......
 
qaz393 said:
cleaning and polishing are two very different things. if the paint was perfect but dirty, washing it properly will not require any polishing. however, if there was swirl marks to begin with, polishing will yield better results......
Click to expand...
You are correct...my car is kept in pretty good shape and unlike the rest of the car the roof could have used some clay, but other than that I was real pleased how Chemical Guys Citrus Wash left the surface especially after I put a coat of sealer on on the roof without polishing. pretty good stuff to use to wash the car before detailing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top