Every component in your car plays an important role. While people who have cars for the purpose of commuting or taking their families to different places don’t pay much attention to features other than the most essential ones, racers have to be keen about every minor detail of their cars. A person driving a car for years to go to office might not have paid any attention to the pedals but professional racers are serious about their choice of pedals as well. This is why there are racing pedals that are designed specifically to meet the needs of professional racers.
Just a few years ago you wouldn’t have thought of paying much attention to the pedals but if you are a parent and have a son or daughter who’s learning to drive, you need to tell them about pedals. Today, the idea of pedals and how they work is different from the past. Here is some important information that you should give to young drivers who are interested in racing and are learning to drive.
The Manual Transmission And Pedals
Manual transmission is when your vehicle is accelerated by changing gears manually. Whenever you need to move from one gear to another gear you will have to use the lever located to your right if you are driving a left hand drive car and vice versa. However, that’s not the only difference. When you are driving manually you will also see an additional pedal beneath your steering wheel where your feet rest. The pedal on the far left side is the clutch. This is the additional pedal on a standard transmission car. This transmission is also called the manual transmission since the gear and clutch needs to be controlled manually by the driver.
Racing Pedals Manual
With automatic transmission you are free from changing gears manually. You don’t have to press a clutch before changing the gear and so this transmission is called the automatic transmission. In this type of transmission you will not see the clutch pedal, which is located on the far left side. However, there are cars with semi-automatic transmission. These cars have pedal shifters that are attached to the sides of your steering wheel. Instead of the lever located beside your thigh the gears are shifted using these pedals shifters. One shifter is designed to move to a higher gear whereas the other one moves you one step down.
Racing Pedals Automatic
Car racing pedals look a bit different from the pedals on your passenger cars. First thing you will notice about these pedals is that they look very stylish and flamboyant. They are esthetically beautiful. They are also designed looking at the position of the driver in the car. They must be easily reachable by the driver without extending the legs too much and their height should be just enough to provide maximum control to the driver. Their design is also an important aspect to consider because a flawed design can make you press the wrong pedal.
They should be big enough to allow your foot to press them without slippage. However, they shouldn’t be so big that pressing one pedal makes you press another pedal right beside it. The cover on the pedal should provide you a good grip. Throttling is common during races but you wouldn’t want your foot to slip from the pedals. For this reason, it is best that you rest your feet on the pedals many times and check them repeatedly for any slippage. Lastly, their design must be perfect for your foot type. You should not feel any cramps in your foot after pressing them repeatedly for a long time.
How And Where To Buy Racing Pedals?
First, you have to make sure what you are exactly looking for. You don’t always need the entire pedal. Sometimes all you want is the linkage that connects the pedal to the rest of the mechanism of the car. At times you only need the cover of the vehicle because it has worn out. Lastly, you might require a pedal arm. However, it is always recommended that you buy the pedals that are most compatible with your car’s make and model. Choose the ones that are easy to use and don’t give pain in your foot when using.
Racing pedals are easily available online in different colors, shapes and sizes. You can always buy ones with your favorite company’s logo on it. The most important thing to look at is your comfort rather than the esthetics. You can also buy used pedals but make sure they are in a good condition because if you are a frequent racer the wearing and tearing process will be fast. Make sure you are prepared to pay the cost since good pedals can easily be around $250 to $300.
