07-14-2005, 10:11 AM
Since this is your first event, there are some things about driving that you may find helpful. Alot of people have given me this same advice, but it took awhile to sink in...
-When you pull up to the start, there will be a light. When this turns on you can go. There will also usually be someone there to tell you the same. Your time doesnt start until you cross the start, so you don't have to head as the very second the light turns.
-One big important thing out there is safety. If you see a worker on the course waving a red flag, stop immediatly. If your working the course, and you see any unsafe condition out there, don't be scared to use the red flag.
Now, onto the driving tips. On your first run, the course may look like a giant sea of cones instead of a course. Walking the course in the morning will help with this. All this information may be a little overwhelming, and this stuff usually leaves your mind as soon as you pull out onto the course, but its good to know anyways.
-Be smooth. If your going through a turn and your tires are howling like a wild coyotee then your going to fast. Generally you will want to be at the point where your tires are making a little bit of noise, but not screaming like that. If you watch a good driver out there you will see what I mean by smooth. You will also probably notice your later runs getting better and smoother. There is a well known quote that goes something like "most beginner drivers go to fast in the slow turns and to slow in the fast turns". Remember that.
-When I first started autocrossing someone gave me three things to remember. They where look ahead, look ahead, and look ahead. I said ok, I'll look ahead. Like a year later I went back and saw that thread again. Someone else said that if your not sure if your looking ahead, then your not. I wasnt sure. So at my next event I made it a point to look ahead, and it made everything so much easier. It took me that long to learn to look ahead, but when you do what a difference it makes. The course comes at you much slower, you know exactly whats coming up without having to memorize the course. You set yourself up for turns better, and your times drop.
-If you spin, both feet in
-When you pull up to the start, there will be a light. When this turns on you can go. There will also usually be someone there to tell you the same. Your time doesnt start until you cross the start, so you don't have to head as the very second the light turns.
-One big important thing out there is safety. If you see a worker on the course waving a red flag, stop immediatly. If your working the course, and you see any unsafe condition out there, don't be scared to use the red flag.
Now, onto the driving tips. On your first run, the course may look like a giant sea of cones instead of a course. Walking the course in the morning will help with this. All this information may be a little overwhelming, and this stuff usually leaves your mind as soon as you pull out onto the course, but its good to know anyways.
-Be smooth. If your going through a turn and your tires are howling like a wild coyotee then your going to fast. Generally you will want to be at the point where your tires are making a little bit of noise, but not screaming like that. If you watch a good driver out there you will see what I mean by smooth. You will also probably notice your later runs getting better and smoother. There is a well known quote that goes something like "most beginner drivers go to fast in the slow turns and to slow in the fast turns". Remember that.
-When I first started autocrossing someone gave me three things to remember. They where look ahead, look ahead, and look ahead. I said ok, I'll look ahead. Like a year later I went back and saw that thread again. Someone else said that if your not sure if your looking ahead, then your not. I wasnt sure. So at my next event I made it a point to look ahead, and it made everything so much easier. It took me that long to learn to look ahead, but when you do what a difference it makes. The course comes at you much slower, you know exactly whats coming up without having to memorize the course. You set yourself up for turns better, and your times drop.
-If you spin, both feet in