DIY: H-Pattern Auto Throttle Blipper Set-up - For the Heel/Toe Impaired Driver

jstein77 wrote: Did nobody ever mention that you don't swing your heel out; you're supposed to use the side of your foot?

Well I suppose that's another way of describing it. Rolling the foot might be a better word to describe it. My foot doesn't bend that well (old gooter) so I may have to inject more heel to get what I need.

"I do notice my ‘threshold braking’ foot pressure varies on the brake pedal as I roll my foot over to the accelerator pedal."

Thanks for clarifying. I'm not the best writer in the world.

For some, heel-toe is exactly that. With my 12EEE's, I can do the big-toe/pinky-toe dance in pretty much anything. Except, oddly, an elise, where I have a hard time not hitting all 3 pedals with one foot.

No dumb questions here! Actually, activation/deactivation toggle makes this seem more complicated than it is. Think of it as a 'Blip System' on/off switch on the dash, similar to a 'Traction Control' on/off switch. It just changes the driving characteristics of the car. Once the system is ON, no further thought or action is required. Hit the brakes, downshift and it rev matches automatically.

The blipping doesn't just discriminate on reverse, but rather any shift while your foot is on the brake. Not a huge issue, but really just bugged me. I like being able to just turn it off.

Really cool project. Thanks for posting!

My pleasure. Thanks!

This project is brilliant! I have a mild case of cerebral palsy whereas I can drive a stick but cant control my right foot enough to do heel toe at all. There was a time a few years ago where I would have been first in line with cash in hand. If I start racing again I will definitely be looking at this. Just brilliant!

I finally had the opportunity to do a few shakedown laps with the new blipshift system. It worked pretty good despite my rusty driving skills after darn near two seasons with the car up on jack stands. But what fun! The car handles awesome... and we'll capable of going faster than I have the balls to muster.

Check out this video...

http://youtu.be/8pqook2uM5U

GameboyRMH wrote: Some people do swing their heel out, but they're contortionists I use the side of my foot.

some people actually use their heel on the brake and twist their foot so their toes are on the throttle ...

let's see this applied to an internal rail rwd trans... or something like an old Muncie or Ford Toploader with 3 separate levers (1-2, 3-4, reverse) on the side of the trans..

didn't the 370Z come with something like this (either standard or as an option) ?

how was their set-up different from yours ?

novaderrik wrote: let's see this applied to an internal rail rwd trans... or something like an old Muncie or Ford Toploader with 3 separate levers (1-2, 3-4, reverse) on the side of the trans..

As long as you are using a single shifter you could use their shift knob sensor or instrument your shifter with strain gages and an amplifier to act as the trigger.

This is a very cool exercise but I have to put myself firmly in the "try harder" camp. If you teach yourself a way to do it without the gizmo... it works in any car.

Now... as to cool exercises... if you are going this far why not fit up an Audi DCT, paddle shifters and ignore that pesky clutch pedal altogether?

Great job taking the initiative to make it happen, and thanks for the write up! If it helps you to get that much more enjoyment out of your car, then it's definitely worth it.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I remember a few F1 drivers who said that about ABS and TC a few years back. ;-)

Love the sounds that thing makes

Very innovate way to solve a problem. I could see someone with a physical issue that resulted in less dexterity adapting this.

I heel/toe on the street all the time so I'm not really threshold braking but I still have times when I notice the force on the brake pedal vary. In my case I'm confident time and practice will eliminate it.

jstand wrote:

novaderrik wrote: let's see this applied to an internal rail rwd trans... or something like an old Muncie or Ford Toploader with 3 separate levers (1-2, 3-4, reverse) on the side of the trans..

As long as you are using a single shifter you could use their shift knob sensor or instrument your shifter with strain gages and an amplifier to act as the trigger.

sounds like a complicated solution to a simple issue..