One bit of info I would add to a person new to AutoX as well would
be to not worry about how you are doing compared to the rest of your class
at first. Work on being smooth, learning the Techniques and driving
consistently. Race against yourself, i.e. try to improve your time on every
successive run of a course, and if you don't go faster each run, stop and
analyze what might be done differently.Heck, even if you do go faster, stop
and analyze how you might be even faster.
Also, don't be afraid to ask some of the local talent to watch you
take a few run's or even ride with you if its allowed. Its amazing how much
that helped me. And remember that you asked them for thier input, so if you
think you had one section down perfect, but the local talent says otherwise,
give thier suggestion a try. It might work!
Oh, and I have said all this from the perspective of having just
finished my first year of AutoX, and am working toward many more.
John Moore
1993 Toyota MR2 NA (CS #55)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rocky Entriken [SMTP:RENTRIKEN/0003006623@MCIMAIL.COM]
> Sent: Sunday, February 14, 1999 12:50 PM
> To: Debbie Stohn
> Cc: autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Any Ideas?
>
> I dunno about *getting* ready, but as you get into it there will become
> the
> factor of *staying* ready. To this end, you will learn a lot of new stuff
> as
> you get into this game and one trick is to practice it at every
> opportunity.
>
> Now it has been said one of the problems with motorsport is that you
> cannot
> just go practice when you want to. It is not like basketball where you can
> go
> shoot hoops At the playground when you want. I disagree.
>
> About the only thing you can NOT practice is mashing your right foot to
> the
> floor. But, that's about the easiest part. Nearly everything else you
> learn,
> you can practice every time you drive to the grocery store.
>
> People will tell you about hand positions on the steering wheel, how to
> sit in
> the car and adjust the seat, how to look ahead farther downstream than you
> may
> be used to, perhaps techniques for gearshifting, left-foot braking, heel &
> toe.
>
> You cannot learn it all at once. Don't even try. Learn that which seems to
> come
> easily and don't worry about the other. It'll come along in time. BUT,
> every
> time you drive, practice it. If someone taught you a hand positions
> technique
> that seems to work for you, use it every time you drive. Make it habit, so
> that
> when you REALLY need it you do not have to think about it. It becomes the
> natural way you do things. You will eventually find your street/highway
> driving also will improve, you will be more skilled in rush-hour traffic
> and
> better able to deal with surprises there.
>
> When I was young, some chum once kidded me about my
> both-hands-on-the-wheel
> driving style that "you drive like my grandmother." No, I replied, I drive
> like
> Graham Hill. (Well, I could wish to have that level of skill, but he was
> an
> early hero).
>
> You can even practice "racing lines". You don't need to go edge to edge
> like
> on a race track. For your purpose, imagine the width of your driving lane
> is
> the row of pylons, then use that full width doing a turn. Late-apex
> autocross
> techniques become smoother street techniques. You may even find yourself
> doing
> corners faster, not because you are speeding, but because suddenly it is a
> more efficient turn.
>
> Good luck, have fun! :-)
>
> --Rocky Entriken
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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> R.Entriken@mcimail.com #4 DP Spitfire [Old Fartz
> #001]
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> Journalist
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> myself>
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> ||
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> ||
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