Left foot braking?

[OverDrive418]

Anyone use this technique and how effective is it vs. right foot braking?
I'm always trying to improve my times through technique rather than by throwing a bunch of cash into go faster bits (although I may be looking into installing better sway bars). I haven't used the left foot braking technique yet but may try it this Sunday. Just looking for some feedback as far as use in auto-x.
Thanks.

[chuck schultz]

If you're already in the hunt for a trophy, left-foot braking could make the difference.

When I autocrossed my old diesel Rabbit a hundred years ago, the only way I could keep up any momentum was to keep a heavy foot on the throttle, with an occasional stab of the left foot on the brake to get the pig to turn in. I think it was transferring weight off of the rear, so the car could rotate a bit.

With a more-normal car, if the course is all second gear, for instance, the transition time between throttle and brake is much less using your left foot, and can help, with proper application. It takes some practice, though, to get your left foot over in the "wrong" place. If you have to shift some during the run, it's pretty easy to get mixed up, though. At least once, I hit the clutch instead of the brake, with annoying consequences.

[Welacey]

Chuck, you looked real good going through the kinks last week. Forgot to tell ya.

[slowautoxr]

Left foot braking is a technique in a bag of go-fast goodies. I use LFB. I also use RFB, lift throttle and shuffle steering. There are lots of locally fast guys that only use RFB. There are lots of national champions that only use RFB. Try it to see if it works for you. As Chuck pointed out, be prepared for some embarrassing moments. It could take several events to get the full benefit.

[engled]

Practice on the street*.

*NOT IN TRAFFIC!

[Focus]

My Bob Bondurant book says he learned it by lfb driving his automatic Escalade every day for two months before he was comfortable enough to use it in racing. Tomorrow is probably too soon, but you can try it after posting a decent clean run. Worst that can happen is the workers laugh at you.

[OverDrive418]

Well, I played around a little before we started and decided that today may not be the best day to try a new trick. My left foot is too "gross motor skill" for LFB to be of any kind of advantage right now.
I'll practice in the empty lot down the street from my house for a bit and see if I can turn my Magilla Gorilla foot into a Michael Flaherty foot!

[slowautoxr]

LFB is definitely odd during the learning process.