The Paddy Hopkirk gas pedal - is it a good idea

[Radford]

I've always likes the idea of fitting one of these to my car, but never have. The idea seems to be to give the driver a little more room on the gas petal for heel and toe work.

Some questions. Is it worthwile, and and will it work in my 1975 B even though Moss marks it as a '62 to '67 item?

 

[aeronca65t]

I think it actually depends on your shoe size.
I don't have any direct experience with an MGB, but I've tried one in a Mini and I didn't feel I needed it. I don't have one in my Spridget either.
I have kind of wide, size 11 shoes so I can "cover all the bases" pretty easily.
Actually, Paddy Hopkirk is a big lad (and likely has big feet)....I'm surprised he needed it.

 

[Nunyas]

Re: The Paddy Hopkirk gas pedal - is it a good ide

Well, on the MGB (at least mine anyways '76 'B) the gas pedal is a bit elevated off the floor pan. However, the pedals are close enough together I can hit both the gas and brake pedals with my toes alone... Not really "heal-toe" ... I refer to it as "toe-toe" when talking to my friends at work... heh

 

[Bruce74B]

I vote no for several reasons...

The pedals are too close together already for my big feet. I have no problem heel and toeing now. Add on pedal features are just something to some loose and get in the way...I know a guy who's "goofy foot" pedal came loose, stuck under the carpet edge and stuck open, blowing a very expensive freshly rebuilt engine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

Finally, I already have one car that has a tendency to trap my feet between the top of the gas pedal and the bottom of the brake, requiring more acceleration to what is already half throtled car in order to slip my foot out from under the brake pedal. Very disconcerting when it happens! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

All that being said, perhaps another style of Heel/Toe will be easier for you to master. I was taught (because of my duck-stance legs) to use my heel on the brake and toe on the gas pedal...this style works very well with my B /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[R6MGS]

My dad just bought one for his MGA(1958)but hasn't installed it yet....it's a bit of a garage queen so I don't think much heel and toeing will be done in this one but it does look better than the regular pedal.

Zack

 

[RonB]

The early B has a different gas pedal than the later cars. It has a small square pedal that is not well positioned for heel and toe. The Paddy Hopkirk pedal extension is made specifically for this early pedal and I doubt would fit the later cars. This is NOT a generic "goofy foot" pedal but designed specically for the pedal used on the early B and mini. I have had one on by '64 B and it makes a world of difference for heel and toe downshifting.

 

[Radford]

Re: The Paddy Hopkirk gas pedal - is it a good ide

Ron,

Thanks, that is exactly what I needed to know.

 

[Mini_Jim]

Re: The Paddy Hopkirk gas pedal - is it a good ide

I have one on my Mini. I have wide feet, but have no difficulty with it.
The only problem is that it is too heavy!