In a message dated 3/7/99 6:35:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
RENTRIKEN/0003006623@MCIMAIL.COM writes:
<< Ray--
I absolutely agree that a course should not be a confusing maze. The
challenge
should not be finding your way.
My point is that, beyond that, if you want to drive WELL, you'd better
memorize. Memory should not be a factor in whether or not you DNF, but it
is very much a factor in whether or not you might win a close contest.
"...but you just get your 3 or 4 shots..."
But you can walk it as many times as you can stand to, depending on when it
is set up and when they shut off coursewalks to begin running cars.
At the average local event, I may walk it only once. At Divisionals I am
usually around the course 3-4 times (each one, there are two); and at
Nationals
I've probably done each course 6 times. And I know drivers who do 3-4 times
that many coursewalks.
As a result, even if the course IS confusing, I tend to adopt the attitude
that if I DNF, it is my own damn fault. If I see that confusion early in the
morning, I may point it out to the event chair and suggest a fix (up to him
whether he does it or now ... often they do). If I am not there in time to do
that, well ... *I* was not there in time.
Untimately, the responsibility for doing well is mine and mine alone.
--Rocky >>
..................................
I just don't enjoy rinky dink little courses that go right this time thru
this gate and left the next time thru it and so on and so on...Too many
complicated features, too un-race-like.
If I choose to run I don't blame anyone if I screw it up. I can't
remember the last time I went the wrong way or dnf'd. I study them and do the
best I can. IF I run.
I'm just trying to indicate what at least this one autocrosser will
definitely plunk down an entry fee for and what might keep the bucks in my
pocket.I'll enter every time if it is something visually simple and something
that you can approach somewhat in the way you would approach a race track
where one look tells you WHERE to go. Exactly HOW you do it is something I've
spent more than 2 decades trying to learn.
As someone else said, this is all opinion. There's no absolute right and
wrong to it. It is just a matter of likes and dislikes. If someone else likes
complicated puzzles that's fine. I got hooked on this sport a long time ago
but the hook ain't in that deep. It doesn't kill me to leave an event and go
do something else if it doesn't look like my idea of automotive fun.
Now, I know I'm contributing to what some call beating a dead horse here.
But what else is there to talk about on an autox list but autoxing?!
Happy Motoring
Ray Elliott
|