A Good Driving Shoe For The Large Footed?

[kevip6]

I havent checked for sizes, but why dont you try Colin McRae website.

I know they are running off the stock of his clothing etc.

There may be a bargain to be got there.

Took a bit of a gamble and went for these ones in a size 48

http://www.colinmcrae.com/store_main.asp?int_catalog_id=1&int_category_id=10&int_subcategory_id=0&int_page=2&int_product_id=67

Thanks for all the posts! I'll let you know how these turn out!

[Matta]

A bit late but another option may be cycling shoes. They tend to be narrow and you can obviously get ones that double as a trainer and there's plenty of choice. That's what I used to use in my last car.

Matt

[kevip6]

I did think about cycling shoes but aren't they a bit hard on the sole?

[JeffC]

I really struggle in an S3 Caterham as the tunnel is very narrow and pedals soooooooooo close together, I will only wear Merrell trainers as they are soooo comfortable and dont make your feet sweat but wearing the chameleons I hit 2 pedals at once ,tbh driving in them it is bordering on dangerous, so I bought a pair of Merrell Goal they are quite narrow and a bit tight when you first get them but once broken in are spot on to drive in and I dont have to change shoes once I reach my destination

[robo1968]

Does anyone else find problems with 'heel & toe' within the narrow confines of the Westy footwell a bit of a problem? Even with good footwear I can't get enough room to do it. Anyone have a technique that makes it work?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

This comes up a lot, and frankly, puzzles me. To be fair, my feet are "only" size 10, but the Westfield, (wide body, MT75 tunnel, floor mounted pedals) is by far and away the best/easiest car I've ever driven for heel and toeing.

Now, maybe it's 'cause I'd had a fair amount if practice over the years before coming to the Westfield, I'm not sure; it was something though, that I did try and get set up right when building the car as far as pedal heights go, but that's all.

Maybe it's a daft question, but how exactly are you actually trying to "heel and toe"? (you do know that it's not really the heel and toe as such that you use?)

[peterg]

I will only wear Merrell trainers as they are soooo comfortable

Seconded, I've been wearing Merrell shoes for years now and even have a pair or Goretex lined walking boots which didn't need any 'breaking in' and are like trainers compared to previous boots I've had - I should just add that I only wear size 7 shoes so I never have a problem fitting my feet in the tunnel of sprts cars

Try these, available in up to size 12 and they have rubber up the back of the heel so good for driving in

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item870c5b0388

[cast iron]

go to a sports shop and look at what Adidas Reebok etc have to offer, there is usually a good range. I have size 12 feet also and bought some decent Reeboks

[robo1968]

Maybe it's a daft question, but how exactly are you actually trying to "heel and toe"? (you do know that it's not really the heel and toe as such that you use?)

I don't try to use my heel if that's what you mean! I can do it without problems on other cars. I've got top mounted pedals in my westy. It's something about the narrow tunnel plus the actual pedals - the accelerator seems so far away from the brake that when I rock my foot over it has to move so far that sometimes I will slip off the brake! I think maybe I'm just used to most modern cars so I just need more practise! Maybe the sparco pedals covers below are the culprit? Previous owner looks like they have bent part of the blue accelerator pedal in on the left hand edge - might be an easy bit to aim for I guess if it was straightened out?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Yeah, maybe they're a bit on the slimy side, and possible the width doesn't suit you either?

The other thing to do is have a play with the pedal heights as best you can. (height seems the wrong word somehow). But when I built mine, I set the position of the accelerator pedal very carefully, (you're effectively moving the pedal bit nearer or further from you, by altering the accelerator cable length where it attaches at the top of the pedal).

You need the accelerator pedal to be at a comfortable height for you to be able to slide/pivot your braking foot sideways, so that while you've got the brake pedal pushed down far enough, you can still get the right hand side of your foot on the accelerator. If the pedal heights aren't lining up in this sort of position, you'll find yourself having to twist and rock your leg and foot too much.

Obviously, it goes without saying, that you need to make sure that in the new position, you've still got full travel of the acceptor pedal, and that you don't widen pedals so much you catch your feet behind them. And that any pedal stops are readjusted.

It's hard to tell from the picture, perspective distorts things a little and I don't know how much travel you have on the brake pedal; but the accelerator pedal might be a little low compared to the brakes?

[funbobby]

Sparco do some nice trainers at GPR Direct - great for track days etc without doning the full suit/boots.

[kevip6]

Sparco do some nice trainers at GPR Direct - great for track days etc without doning the full suit/boots.

Sparco do make nice trainers but unfortunately now only up to size 11!

[robo1968]

Yeah, maybe they're a bit on the slimy side, and possible the width doesn't suit you either?

The other thing to do is have a play with the pedal heights as best you can. (height seems the wrong word somehow). But when I built mine, I set the position of the accelerator pedal very carefully, (you're effectively moving the pedal bit nearer or further from you, by altering the accelerator cable length where it attaches at the top of the pedal).

You need the accelerator pedal to be at a comfortable height for you to be able to slide/pivot your braking foot sideways, so that while you've got the brake pedal pushed down far enough, you can still get the right hand side of your foot on the accelerator. If the pedal heights aren't lining up in this sort of position, you'll find yourself having to twist and rock your leg and foot too much.

Obviously, it goes without saying, that you need to make sure that in the new position, you've still got full travel of the acceptor pedal, and that you don't widen pedals so much you catch your feet behind them. And that any pedal stops are readjusted.

It's hard to tell from the picture, perspective distorts things a little and I don't know how much travel you have on the brake pedal; but the accelerator pedal might be a little low compared to the brakes?

Thanks Gadgetman, will try adjusting one day. Will probably ditch the slimy pedal set too. BTW is there a pedal set that can be recommended? or has a nice long gas pedal? I'm not sure if a long one can be fitted though to a top mounted westy?

[funbobby]

Sparco do make nice trainers but unfortunately now only up to size 11!

Just remove some toes :-)

[Pistol Pete]

Lonsdale do a cheap pair of narrow trainers, even have the rubber sole wrapped around the ickle toe and heel.

For heel n toeing I use the ball of my foot for the brake and the smaller ball on the other side for accelerator. Can take time to get them set up just so.