Autoslalom #5

[Hutchead]

How do you all learn the course? Do you walk it or do you get practice runs or what?

[varg]

Originally Posted by Hutchead

How do you all learn the course? Do you walk it or do you get practice runs or what?

Once they finish placing the cones, we get to walk the course once. After that you have 3 attempts, where the two best times count. If you pass a cone on the wrong side you don't get a time, and if you do that on two laps you are out. If you only touch a cone it is 2 sec added to your time for each touch.

The series is a cross between the American AutoX and another called CarSlalom. It is great fun, as agility and precision are more important than power.

[Hutchead]

It seems like whoever can memorize the course the best would have such a HUGE advantage. This summer we have been getting 8 runs with Autocross. The first 2-3 I am still "learning" the best line to take... the rest of the runs I focus on 1 spot each run where I think I can go faster.

[varg]

It's no different from many other motor sports. I used to do Trial, so I'm used to getting only one walk through. In the nationals you also get a map of the layout, and the starting order is changed before the last lap. Still, the top cars are usually the ones with the most experience. We only run one car on the track at a time though, so you get to watch the others. The older guys are usually helpful in giving feedback to the younger drivers also. I guess I should be happy with my own progress when the only comment I got in my 6th ever race was; "Get some slick tires, and you will be in the top 10".