Topic: Some call it racing, I call it having a good time, once you realize all is lost.

[Uranium-238]

Arabas, I ran in ESC off as well. My second run I was fishtailing all over the place, but I was able to keep the car in control. ESC isn't going to find you more grip, it's just going to help make sure that the rear tires always follow the front ones. It *might* help smooth out your runs, but I prefer to bo the one in control of the car.

[Arabas]

i agree with you U-238, it is best to be the one to control the car.
im just saying that in some cases, the competition mode can help you not to waste time by making slight or major adjustments of the front wheels.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Critterman's runs
Run 1
http://www.vimeo.com/13499370

Run 2
http://www.vimeo.com/13499558

Run 3
http://www.vimeo.com/13499731

Run 4
http://www.vimeo.com/13499910

[ChiliSky]

Joe, what kind of camera mount are you using and how heavy is the camera?

[DeepBlueGXP]

Chili, it's a small kodak camera M753 with a suction mount like this one on ebay. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Suction-Mount-Tripod-Holder-Car-Window-Camera-Hold-/330445785992?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf01a8b88

[Ben L]

Critter -- First, do not get discouraged or give up.  Seat time is the best vaccine.  Second, concentrate on finding a way to not go off course, before you focus on all the other good advice about getting around the course faster. 

Remember, an O/C gets you no time at all.  In terms of course recall, when walking, as Bob said try to mentally break the course up in your memory into key elements or segments.  Also, realize that there are only a few key cones on every course; the others are there just to distract you.  Burn into memory those key cones and key elements.  When on the walk and approaching an important turn, ask yourself, if I am in the right place, what does the relative position of the key cone to others or other features look like?  Does a gap open up? Squat down at these points to replicate what it may look like from the driver's seat.  Try to visualize those key features and, when driving, keep your head up and look for them.  As soon as you see the key cone and position the car correctly, forget that one, even before you cross it.  Its history before you get to it. Look ahead to the next one.

Also, while all the advice about being either on throttle or on brakes and not coasting is correct, thinking about it when trying to overcome navigational challenges becomes a distraction.  Your exclusive occupation and mission at this point is to post clean on course runs.  Keep your head up and look for those key relationships and cones. Go really slow on the first or second run.  Etch into your memory the course and think about car position and line.  At this point, I want the car here, and I want to look for this or that feature or relationship that I remember from the walk.  Do not worry about looking uncool or going slow.  If you successfully log a couple of clean but slow passes, the course layout will burn into memory, and you can progressively add speed. 

A word on this on throttle or brakes stuff.  I learned (and am still learning) to autox in high hp high torque superlight Cobras. Its quite easy to cause throttle-induced oversteer these beasts, on any kind of tire.  So I would refine the advice above a bit.  The goal is to be foot to the floor as much as possible as soon as possible.  But sometimes, when exiting turns, modulation is required to avoid spinning.  As you unwind the wheel, roll on that throttle progressively, so that its all the way on the floor when the wheel is straight.  Stay in it when approaching the next turn until the braking point.  Only lift then, and long enough to brake with vigor.  This will seesaw the weight forward over the fronts, and rotate the car.  You must believe in your brakes and suspension.  If you want a clininc in how to do this, watch Larry Casey's and Wade Chamberlain's videos.  They are masters.

But again, I think the reason why people are observing coasting is because you are backing off to find the course.  Proper throttle/brake attack is only possible if you know where you are going.

And most importantly, NEVER surrender.  PLEASE keep at at.  You will never overcome any obstacle unless you get out, strap in, and log that seat time. And remember.  Thousands of people dumber than you have figured out how to do this. 

[Critterman]

Sir Benjamin - not discoraged at all, just not seeing the course, probably has to do with CRS.  But you know what, even if I don't do the same course as everyone else, I am still getting experience with the car, what it can do and what I can't, I mean can do as well.  Besides, where else can you drive like that without worrying about hitting anything or the LEO's?

[Sol Asylum]

Critter had the FTD all be it on his own course though.

[NormSky]

Just tell them your a novice and find a similar car or one that is slower or heavier. Get as many free laps as you can asseat time is invaluable.

This past weekend at an autocross in Mansfield, Ohio,(I finished 1st in class and 2nd overall) an open course really let me use my road course experience as the F-Mod guys could used some class room time. We had one novice that had one event under his belt but could used more instruction.

[deepwater805]

Critterman's runs
Run 1
http://www.vimeo.com/13499370

Run 2
http://www.vimeo.com/13499558

Run 3
http://www.vimeo.com/13499731

Run 4
http://www.vimeo.com/13499910

These videos are just too cool. Love the Skynyrd in the last one on Vimeo. I've been playing it my office here in Azerbaijan, and the local guys are drooling over our little Kappas, as I knew they would.....

[DeepBlueGXP]

Thanks

[NormSky]

Critter, what is with the throttle through the slalom? Blipping the throttle through the slalom, any time on the course especially at the wrong time in the slalom, will cause the car to rotate as you've found out. 

[Critterman]

What I am not supposed to rotate the car by the throttle in a salom?  Now you tell me

[DeepBlueGXP]

Actually, at the EVO class that we took, you are doing the slalom correct critter.  You want the rear to come out a little when you're on the back side of the cone and then as you come off the throttle, the front end will bite and turn and set up for the next to repeat the process until your at the 2nd to last cone where you give it even more peddle and power through the last cone of the slalom. 


I'm not good at explaining this but after 8 runs with an instructor in the passenger seat and 4 runs with him in the drivers seat.  It

[NormSky]

I would not suggest to a novice but to learn the proper line and steering position or cadence through a slalom with smoothing inputs connecting the course. It looked high speed with plenty of time to turn unless the speed is so high that the car is understeering. If the cones were closely spaced or speeds really high a small but repetitive slow application of the throttle would work. But rotating the car for fun is not always the fastest way through a slalom unless your driving and S-class Mercedes. 

Start smooth and the speed will come. You do have quick hand though.