The Pedal Laboratory

Ava tries out a wide variety of shoes to see which works best for driving.

Natasha takes her first drive in the simulator, in heels, but manages to create - and extricate herself from - all manner of mayhem.

Natasha takes her first drive in the simulator, in heels, but manages to create - and extricate herself from - all manner of mayhem.

Irene tries out the simulator in a brief but eventful session which ended when the car could not be extricated from the highway barrier.

Irene tries out the simulator in a brief but eventful session which ended when the car could not be extricated from the highway barrier.

Mewchii makes her first effort with a manual transmission count - causing a tear in the space-time continuum, or proving that the Earth is flat - you decide!

Mewchii makes her first effort with a manual transmission count - causing a tear in the space-time continuum, or proving that the Earth is flat - you decide!

Natasha wants to see which of a variety of shoe types works best, feels best, and looks best, for driving.

Natasha wants to see which of a variety of shoe types works best, feels best, and looks best, for driving.

Sunshine wants to see how much she remembers from her first stickshift driving experience, long ago, in a real vehicle.

Sunshine wants to see how much she remembers from her first stickshift driving experience, long ago, in a real vehicle.

Lora wants to see which of a variety of shoe types works best, feels best, and looks best, for driving.

Lora wants to see which of a variety of shoe types works best, feels best, and looks best, for driving.

Paula tries out the simulator for the first time, with an automatic transmission vehicle. She manages to create the usual mayhem, until she discovers a seam in the space-time continuum. Or maybe she just experiences the afterlife following a particularly bad crash.

Paula tries out the simulator for the first time, with an automatic transmission vehicle. She manages to create the usual mayhem, until she discovers a seam in the space-time continuum. Or maybe she just experiences the afterlife following a particularly bad crash.

Irene brought in some more shoes to try, using the simulator's driver seat and pedals for maximum realism. Which type will she prefer for driving?

Irene brought in some more shoes to try, using the simulator's driver seat and pedals for maximum realism. Which type will she prefer for driving?

Ziva checks out a new variety of sandals for driving, ranging from barely-there flat thong sandals to towering heels, and including some rare 1980's vintage wedge sandals from Unisa with beaded toe straps.

Ziva checks out a new variety of sandals for driving, ranging from barely-there flat thong sandals to towering heels, and including some rare 1980's vintage wedge sandals from Unisa with beaded toe straps.

Sushii checks out a new variety of sandals for driving, ranging from barely-there stiletto heels to nearly knee-high gladiator sandals, after a "control" test of barefoot pedal pumping.