Solo / Autocross school and Test & Tune April 5th.

[tysonK]

This thread is just making auto-x seem like a physics word problem now.

bleh.

[Dean]

Physics is ruining autocross...

[cody]

Thanks for dropping knowledge Dean. I've known forever that I have a problem of "over driving" the course. Your post makes it plain why this slows (slowed) me down so much.

[dknv]

Originally Posted by Dean

...These are the sorts of things you need to think about while walking as well as when thinking about what you need to change between runs....

Having a plan: Good advice!

I was trying to convey this as well (to those I rode with, or my passengers), beginning with where to line up the car at the start line; then to get around that first corner cone without hitting it! No need to lose 2 seconds right at the start! One of my next plan steps is to figure out about where my shift point might be.

As for braking zones:

1. Increasing radius sweeper, braking early: learned my lesson on run #1. A really good autocrosser sees this on a course walk, without sacrificing learning it on a run.

2. Left hander after the crossover - Learned my lesson on run #2. Went in too hot and lost time catching the car there. Never got that part right.

As a side note, one of the benefits I tried to point out to my corner worker companions, is to watch the line and listen to where the good drivers accelerate and brake. For example, the 97/197 BSP Corvette accelerated hard after the left/right, through that section, so I knew what the potential was (flat foot until the right 180 degree turn) when done right.

3 & 4. That was my plan (brake early, accelerate out, stay close to those cones). I figure I did not get it right on any runs, because I don't remember having to brake to exit the Chicago box. But, that may also be my car's lack of torque after the left-hand turn.

5. I touched the brakes between the 1st & 2nd slalom cones, to get down to the appropriate transition speed through cones & 3-5.

(Besides myself ), how many people did I see who had a decent run going, then end up driving over one or more slalom cones due to too much speed? This is great advice for that situation: ... "give up current speed for future speed gains" (or to prevent time losses).

[cody]

Apparently I hit a slalom cone every run. Sucks, cuz I thought my last run was clean (and not far off Nick's time after the math), but Moose said I hit the 2nd slalom cone.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by dknv

3 & 4. That was my plan (brake early, accelerate out, stay close to those cones). I figure I did not get it right on any runs, because I don't remember having to brake to exit the Chicago box. But, that may also be my car's lack of torque after the left-hand turn.

Braking in or for the Chicago box was not required, I was referring to the left after the box turning you toward the bleachers.

The need to brake for the slalom was really dependent on how you took the corner before IMHO. If you took it fairly tight with a constant arc that brought you into the backside of the first slalom cone, the right turn as you past the first cone heading for the second should have scrubbed enough speed. (Let me clarify that I was already pointed 30* to the left when I passed to the right of the first slalom cone. At that time, I was already turning the wheel right to get around the second cone.)

If you went faster and wider you likely had a straighter and/or later entry into the slalom and yes, speed would have to be dumped, but now you are asking the tires you would like to be using their traction to turn to also slow as well as upsetting the car in pitch.

I nailed the slalom in the former manner on my second run while Mike was riding with me and it allowed me to absolutely attack the entire 6 cones putting my foot down before I passed the 5th cone. I tried to go faster each of my next two runs which was my mistake. I had nailed it and then tried to go faster where there was no more speed to be gained. That "nailed' run ended up being my fastest even with two earlier small mistakes in the skid pad turn and on the "straight" heading to the first 180.

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by Dean

Physics is ruining autocross...

As soon as I can get my physics exemption, I'll be destroying you all.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Nick Koan

As soon as I can get my physics exemption, I'll be destroying you all.

Those are only available for SUVs and 4x4 pickups. That is why we don't let them autocross.

[MPREZIV]

I KILLED the slalom, on my last run. The speed I was carrying out of the previous corner required a bit of a brake application as I approached the first cone, but as Dean said, right turn BEFORE I was even to the second cone, and I was accellerating as I passed the fifth. Perfect! It was smooth, and fast! Only did it once...

[A1337STI]

I was flat footing out of the last hair pin, switch to 85% ish throttle through the chicago back to WOT, then down to 20% throttle while mashing the brake with my left foot, then back to WOT as i'm aiming at the bleachers, then down to 60% ish throttle, then as i started to turn in (i was not already facing left) i mashed the brakes and my car would not really "rotate" but it would turn in really quickly, then i Tried to take the slalom at a constant speed, going to WOT around the last slalom cone.

I think if i would have used less throttle when facing the bleachers i could have been pointed a bit more @ the slalom , but then i would still have to dump speed. although i constantly felt that i was a lil behind on my slalom turns, costing a lil bit of speed.

[NevadaSTi]

Originally Posted by wrxkidid

You guys are making me miss my car and ability to AutoX :sadpanda:

I'll second that motion!

Pete, do you need a co-driver?

[WRX06TR]

Originally Posted by wrxkidid

You guys are making me miss my car and ability to AutoX :sadpanda:

Me 3...

Costco is ruining Autocross...

[A1337STI]

What happened to his evo anyway? or sore subject?

[Bob Danger]

Originally Posted by NevadaSTi

I'll second that motion!

Pete, do you need a co-driver?

As Pete's mechanic I call first dibs.

[van]

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

As Pete's mechanic I call first dibs.

you might be better off in an awd car anyway

[Bob Danger]

Originally Posted by van

you might be better off in an awd car anyway

If you're referring to me spinning 6 times, that was due to my rustiness. Throttle lift over steer is a bitch.

[MPREZIV]

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

As Pete's mechanic's apprentice I call first dibs.

Fixed.

[wrxkidid]

Originally Posted by A1337STI

What happened to his evo anyway? or sore subject?

gas prices soared and school started so no more full time job + insurance, payments and maintence was just too much for me. Plus there would have been no way i could have kept it in college. Oh well.

[A1337STI]

ah. well work hard in college and you'll be able to get a sick car when you get out.

although maybe it will have to be electric if gas prices keep going up.

[Bob Danger]

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

Fixed.

Lets get one thing straight! I've never assisted anyone, in fact I'm the opposite of an assistant. I go around creating disorder, and chaos that other people have to fix. I'm an Anarchist.

[wrxkidid]

Originally Posted by A1337STI

ah. well work hard in college and you'll be able to get a sick car when you get out.

although maybe it will have to be electric if gas prices keep going up.

Well technically not college, paramedic school in a couple years after I graduate EMT school and work in the field for a few years, so with that pay probably no sick car, but this summer hopefully a gsxr 750 to satisfy my speedy needs and will hopefully be able to get my track license and do some track days.

True that about the electric car though.

I almost bought a f250 7.3l powerstroke instead of the tacoma, now I am glad I didnt.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

Lets get one thing straight! I've never assisted anyone, in fact I'm the opposite of an assistant. I go around creating disorder, and chaos that other people have to fix. I'm an Anarchist.

So if I bring my car to you for an oil change it will come back with 3 square wheels and the motor mounted upside down?

[MPREZIV]

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

Lets get one thing straight! I've never assisted anyone, in fact I'm the opposite of an assistant. I go around creating disorder, and chaos that other people have to fix. I'm an Anarchist.

I didn't say assistant. I said apprentice. Look it up jerkbag!

[Bob Danger]

Originally Posted by MikeK

So if I bring my car to you for an oil change it will come back with 3 square wheels and the motor mounted upside down?

Na, I'm way to lazy.

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

I didn't say assistant. I said apprentice. Look it up jerkbag!

In order to taught, I have to be willing to learn. Which I'm not.

[MPREZIV]

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

In order to BE taught, I have to be willing to learn. Which I'm not.

Fixed again. And that's no shit...

NOW GET YOUR ASS TO WORK!!!!!