Now that this has come up, I did left-foot brake my Z when I was still
autocrossing. However, I should mention that my Z had an automatic, which
made it easy to practice this technique on the street. Once I got the
Miata, I didn't practice it anymore. And the one time I actually tried to
LFB the Miata, I wound up hitting the clutch.
The Z was not terribly nose-heavy (in fact, the weight distribution on a Z31
such as mine is about the same as a Miata's), but left-foot braking it did
help plant the nose better. The strut suspension on the Z does NOT stick
well under power, whereas the Miata will still turn if you come in too hot
and can stay off the marbles.
Scot
----- Original Message -----
From: <Toy4speed@aol.com>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: The hardest autox skill?
> 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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