Left Foot & Clutch Difficulty

Proper footwear is essential to driving a car built for the driving experience.

Also the proper seating position. My knee used to bang against the dash, the key (if I didn't fold it), etc. What's odd is that once I started heel and toe driving the car, I haven't had any problem of that sort. I haven't hit anything around the clutch since shifting my driving position, either.

The only bad part is that the pedal positions show on the soles of my Florsheims -- especially the heel and toe contact points.

These aren't cars where you fidget. You strap into the proper driving position and stay there. And drive.

Another thing I've noticed is that, the more you drive it, the more comfortable you get with it, and the more you enjoy driving it. I have to keep mine garaged over the winter, because the summer tires are pretty useless in the cold. So I have to go through a bit of readjustment each spring, until it becomes second nature again. Then it gets fun.

After getting used to driving the Ferrari "properly", I find that I can't really drive anything in heavy boots, anymore. In MA, I used to keep a pair of driving mocs in the car, even when I was wearing Red Wing boots around the plant. (Boy did those shoes get cold sitting in the car. )

 

Are you a size 14EE or something?

Heck, I can drive my 328 in cowboy boots, and I've seen my buddy step out of his 512M wearing them too.

 

But in Texas, you're born wearing cowboy boots -- so you're effectively bare-footin'.

 

I wear size US 14 in Nike.

I drove a friends 308 and I had to take my shoes off........and I was still getting my feet caught up down there.

Couldnt possibly drive it with shoes on. I was just about to try, got all crossed up when my mate suggested I take my shoes off as that is what he does. And he is only around a size 10 I reckon.

Lol!! Thats what I was thinking too!!

 

I've got a size 13 and don't have a problem unless I wear work boots. So considering I don't work anymore and I don't drive in the snow/rain I have no problem with loafers or sneakers. Of course flip/flops are a problem. Enjoy the ride

 

Time to get a 360/430 with an F1 transmission!

 

Did you just channel BigTex?

 

I have size 14 feet and I can't drive my 328 if I'm wearing my Nikes. Impossible not to press 2 pedals at once. If I wear Topsiders I can get by, although the sole catches on the edges of the pedals a lot.

I bought a pair of Puma Futurecats and they work great in the 328. They are narrow and have no protruding soles. I can also feel the pedals better through the soles.

 

I have the Puma Speedcats, which work great. As posted, proper footwear is a big help. I also have 355 challenge pedals in my car, which provide better grip and feel, IMO.

From the first post, though, it sounds like the OP is trying to compensate for the classic Italian driving position, in which it helps to have arms like a gorilla. He may be sitting on top of the pedals.

 

Jon is right and part of the reason is, in the olden days, Italians tended to drive using the bottom of the steering wheel and passed the wheel from hand to hand for turns. I tend to drive that way myself. If you want to drive with thumbs hooked over the thumb-rests or spokes, that part of the wheel is further away on older Ferraris, including the 308. This causes you to move the seat forward and put a bunch more leg under the dash.

With F1 transmissions, you just about have to drive with your thumbs on the thumb-rests so you can shift gears, and the driving position has been shifted by Ferrari as a result. My thumbs have to be on the spokes for my F1 transmission.

Size 14 feet? Wow, mine are size 9, so have never had much trouble. Being small is an advantage in a fighter, too.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Are you the original "Big Foot" everyone has been looking for?

 

That's how I usually drive the 328 while cruising. I'm 6' tall and I slide the seat almost all the way back, dial a little rake into the seatback recline, and hold the bottom of the wheel. I have long arms so I can reach farther up the wheel for added leverage while doing parking manuevers.

I have the Hill steering wheel spacer but haven't installed it since I can't get the bolts holding the steering wheel removed to get the wheel off. It's like they are super-glued in place.

 

Size 13.5 US, and I wear driving shoes, otherwise just too big in there on the Mondial T, which is close to your scenario, but on the 456 I can get away with even boots....but prefer to slip on driving shoes in both cars.

When I say driving shoes, I am not saying racing but close shoes, with perf. foot pads and heal pads...not good for walking, but driving = great. Used to love the 1803 brand, but they stopped making them.

rik

 

That is normal using left foot in clutch.. How can you say that difficult using left foot in clutching...



__________________
Support Hose

 

Awesome Taz, I can certainly imagine most fighter pilots are little guys!! There wouldnt be too much room in there for a big guy eh?

Some people say I have a "damper foot"!

 

Pap- All the latest fighters have huge cockpits and we do have large pilots, but they, like Dan Gruney in F1, tend to be the exception. Shortness makes it easier to pull g loads as well. Less distance for the heart to pump blood up to the brain. The perfect fighter jock is short and has moderate blood pressure because low blood pressure again inhibits the ability to force blood to the brain. AF fighter pilots concentrate on upper body strength and are usually limited to three 3 mile runs per week to prevent lowering blood pressure and thus lowering g tolerance. Current fighters can make 9 g turns and GLOC or g loss of consciousness is a danger that has killed several pilots.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Wow!! Very interesting Taz!!

 

I never even thought about it but there's another reason Rachel is so easy to drive - - no clutch pedal I could probably wear swim fins and still drive in comfort

Cheers, Hank

 

11ee, and I had fits with the 355...feet were too wide...had to use tight driving shoes...not the most relaxed driving situation..... no problem with the 360, which has much better ergonomics........

 

Unfortunately the rework of the T caused more of an offset in the pedal area, which I don't like very much so the Valeo conquers that problem too.

Saw a few Valeos on ebay recently.....there might just be a few more out there than previously known.....they all seem to be selling at once.

That Rachel is a keeper.

rik

 

+1 on the Pumas.

 

Took my sister-in-law's partner out for a drive. I stopped halfway and told her it was her turn. We traded places and after adjusting the seat pushed the clutch and said "This doesn't work".
She took her shoes off and drove barefoot, grinning the whole time. We're signed up for a factory tour in May.
My kind of girl.
Cheers, Tom B

 

I drive with size 12 running shoes and find that they are perfect for the t. I have never been very good at heel-toeing, but I have discovered that I can use the left side of my shoe on the brake and get the throttle by twisting my foot to the right. The throttle is well below the brake so when I need all of the gas I slip my foot underneath the brake. Time for the brake: slide foot out from under brake pedal and apply. With moderate brake pressure the gas and brake are of equal height so I can easily catch the throttle with the outside of my shoe. I have also noticed that driving barefoot, the gas pedal contours perfectly to the underside of my foot (is this because driving shoes have a soft sole?). The same method works barefoot but I use my big toe on the brake. Probably wouldn't work very well on the 308 with manual brakes.

Hmmm, yea, I can see where a Valeo would have it's advantages.
dave