John and I have been discussing this article quite a bit, but I really can't
because I stopped reading it at the slalom part, like Jesse. :-)
I've found most drivers who have done some other sport where they must look
ahead in order to do well will do just fine autocrossing. John used to
rollerskate as a youth; I skied. Both require the same thing: looking ahead.
The rest falls into place. Several drivers rode motorcycles, or rode
horses...they all work.
The next part is learning to feel the car and what it's telling you. Is it
on the limit? Can you pull a corner faster? Go deeper into the corner?
Only seat time will teach the rest, until it comes naturally, like walking.
Does anyone plan where every footfall will land? Or do they look at where
they're going and their feet get them there?
--Pat Kelly
Jerry Mouton wrote:
> Jeremy, I had the same question about the advice in that
> article. Interesting that it was not attributed to anyone.
>
> My SFR gurus have emphasized to me that the important thing
> in autocrossing is speed into the longest straight, just as the
> article recommended for racing.
>
> I question the idea of worrying about the slowest corner, if
> only because the time gained by a small increase in speed
> at 20 is very small, and your biggest risk is going into
> that corner too hot, messing up the whole next straight.
> Better speed into a straight means that for every second of that
> straight you are gaining time, not just the first one. "The patient
> driver will win".
>
> The one tip to the contrary I have gotten and that seems to work
> for me is that for turns of > 90 degrees, hug the inside rather than
> worrying about a line (The Michelle Reitmeir Rule) which you
> have to apply selectively ;-)
>
> Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps
> rouler!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeremy Bergsman" <jeremybb@leland.Stanford.EDU>
> To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2000 1:48 PM
> Subject: best line
>
> > Could people comment on the learning to autocross article in the recent
> > Sport Car? My question concerns the advice to drive the shortest path
> > through the course and concentrate on the slowest turns rather than
> > approaching the turns like in road racing where you will try to increase
> > exit speed before the straights. To what extent does this decision depend
> > on your car's acceleration/handling mix?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > --
> > Jeremy Bergsman
> > jeremybb@stanford.edu
> > http://www.stanford.edu/~jeremybb
> >
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