by "LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
Published 05/27/2017 at 21:06
by "LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
Published 05/27/2017 at 21:06
Tags: Autocross
; GTI
STARS: 9
It has been a long, tiring and very good day. Did the Central Carolinas Region autocross novice school at the Michelin proving grounds today. After a shower and some Mexican food I’m feeling better, and sipping on the beer I brought while relaxing at the motel is pretty sweet.
We will have competition tomorrow, probably my last as a novice before competing in class as a rookie. My frenemy who runs an almost identical GTI continues to always have a second on my best time, so that is frustrating and humbling. I only have a short list of excuses, but my best one is that he is more than a decade younger than me . . . so, more stamina? Better reflexes? More willing to risk it with aggressive driving? Our instructor basically said that the only real difference is that the other guy is more aggressive.
Picked a font and got my magnetic numbers this morning!
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
05/27/2017 at 23:26, STARS: 1
No need not to be aggressive in autoX. The way to find the limits is to exceed them. If you never spin out or plow through a bunch of cones, then you’ve not found the limits. You’re not going to hurt anything, let it rip.
Especially during the schools, that’s the best time to push the limits.
Punish those cones.
The school I did was one where the instructor drives your car as well. You do a lap, they do a lap, then you do a lap, and then you do more laps. I thought I was wringing out my car until the instructor took their turn. That recalibrated my expectations and improved my times. Not sure if your school does that, but if not, maybe ask if they would do a lap with you riding shotgun?
But at the end of the day, don’t beat yourself up, as long as you improve, that’s the key.
"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader)
05/28/2017 at 01:43, STARS: 1
Yay! Congrats.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/28/2017 at 02:07, STARS: 1
Congrats! As the former novice director for my region, I can tell you it was long day for your instructors as well. Beyond doing schools when the chance arises, the best thing I encourage new autocrossers to do is ride with other drivers, and in particular the fast guys. The guys who are duking it out for fast PAX are the ones to really seek rides with. As long as it is not thier last run of the day or the final event of a year where they’re in a tight points battle, most folks will be happy to take passengers for a ride (especially newer autocrossers).
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
05/28/2017 at 05:23, STARS: 1
It is not that I did not drive aggressively, it is that my competitor is apparently even MORE aggressive.
I apparently shredded one cone completely when I took out a wall of them experimenting with adding more throttle when the car was already understeering in a corner. A noble cone sacrifice.
I did have my instructor drive my car, and have done so at events, too. It does help. Also rode in his STF CRX at the end of the day and that was fun.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
05/28/2017 at 05:27, STARS: 0
Yes, the instructors worked hard, and I appreciated it enough to stick around and chase cones for a half hour while they got some fun runs at the end of the day.
I wrote about having instructor driving my car in another comment.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
05/28/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 1
That’s good to hear, sounds like you are taking advantage of the instruction and relative safety autoX offers. At the end of the day as long as you are improving, you’re doing well.