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Old 11 Jul 2000, 22:54 (Ref:22614)   #6
Gerard
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,291
Gerard should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Yes, in road traffic, left foot braking is considered an abnormal practice.
Most drivers brake with their right foot, or use heel-and-toe braking.
Left foot braking can however be learned.
It has its advantages.
I learned it and I'm using it all the time.
When right foot braking, you are on the throttle, then you lift, move your foot over to the brake, then start braking. From the time you lift to the time you get the brakes on harder than your engine braking, you are actually braking with the rear wheels only.
So, there's four transitions in the above sequence: throttle - rear wheel braking - braking - rear wheel braking - throttle.

With left foot braking, the time from throttle to braking is zero, in fact, it can be negative... you can actually slowly ease on the brakes as you slowly ease off the throttle. That eliminates two of four transitions, and makes the two remaining transitions silky smooth. And smooth transitions greatly improve your car control.

If you decide to learn left foot braking, the best thing to do is borrow someone's automatic, and just left foot brake for a week.
Further, as you come to each stop, try to ease off the brakes just right such that you prevent that normal recoil weight shift after the car stops. By the end of the week, you'll be left foot braking as smooth as right foot braking.

Then its time to get back in your stick and learn when you can left foot brake and when you need that left foot for the clutch.
Be very careful with it on the street!
You will get the clutch instead of the brake, the throttle instead of the brake, both, or get your feet 'crossed' at least once.
Get ready for some surprises while learning.
But if you manage it all, you're a better driver.
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