|
|
Post by damnyankee on Mar 10, 2006 23:04:42 GMT -5
I'm a noob.
Are all courses laid out the same at each event?
|
|
clint
Full Member
Posts: 102
|
Post by clint on Mar 10, 2006 23:21:29 GMT -5
Nope, each time it's different, which makes it both more entertaining and more challenging. One slight caveat: if you've been to enough events at a particular location, certain 'conditions' can reoccur. For example, even if the course overall changes, the shape and slope of the parking lots the courses use -don't- change. So a left turn at a particular -spot- on the lot may 'feel' familiar to someone who has ran several events there. Indeed, such a person may be able to -anticipate- certain car behavior, just from walking the course...
|
|
|
|
Post by prancingdawg on Mar 12, 2006 22:32:30 GMT -5
Yeah, there are only so many *creative* ways to put it together and still design a course that is safe for the said property and keeps people from shagging cones on every single run. If you think a bit, you don't want too many cones out there. Cones=extra work unless the course is thoughtfully laid out... Pdawg  |
|
|
|
Post by C4Shane on Mar 13, 2006 8:01:58 GMT -5
Yup, I remember in the old, old days where a course would be laid out with about 50 or so cones - total. You didn't have all the pointers, gates, etc.
And, a little hint for noobs - At a place like Knights, with a sloped parking lot and old asphalt, you get a lot of grit at the bottom of the course (water flows downhill). This can make things a bit more exciting so always check that out during your course walks.
|
|
AJordan
Junior Member
STS 50
Posts: 75
|
Post by AJordan on Mar 13, 2006 8:38:21 GMT -5
At HSCC, we run a Nite Series that uses the same course all season. We do it partly because of the time constraints since the event starts at 5pm on Tuesday nights, and partly because it is a unique approach to autocross skill building. We come away from the first night feeling like we drove it as fast as we could. A month later, we end up going faster. Usually by the end of the season (5 nights) most of us have dropped nearly two seconds off of our times from the beginning of the year.
It's also a good way to learn about changing car setups and driving styles for changing weather conditions as no two nights are the same.
I'm glad that we offer one event like that, but I wouldn't like it very much if more autocrosses kept the same course. Last year I was at the Subaru Challenge in Maggie Valley. The course was simple and tight because Subaru of America didn't want anyone going too fast or launching their cars. The following day, we had an open autocross on the same site and the organizers left 90% of the cones in the same spot. They changed the starting point and the position of one pivot cone.. and that was it. Many of us thought that it was a little unfair to those of us who had been there the day before. As it turned out, we had a hard time adjusting to the new course.. what had been a slow spot the day before was now a fast spot and that changed the entrance to the next corner dramatically. If I learned anything that day.. it's don't take minor changes to a cone's position lightly.
|
|
|
|
Post by damnyankee on Mar 13, 2006 19:15:18 GMT -5
And, a little hint for noobs - At a place like Knights, with a sloped parking lot and old asphalt, you get a lot of grit at the bottom of the course (water flows downhill). This can make things a bit more exciting so always check that out during your course walks. Yeah, it makes for some exciting braking and cornering. Not to mention, when you get on it a little. It is very easy to break it loose. |
|
|
|
Post by damnyankee on Mar 13, 2006 19:17:04 GMT -5
Hmmmm......night runs? Sounds interesting. It certainly limits your "looking forward"!! Miner's hats?  |
|
AJordan
Junior Member
STS 50
Posts: 75
|
Post by AJordan on Mar 14, 2006 8:09:45 GMT -5
Miner's hats?  ;D Actually, some people show up with off-road lights.. most just run their headlights, and a few run without headlights at all. It allows you to use your night vision to see cones further ahead. |
|
|
|
Post by C4Shane on Mar 14, 2006 8:42:12 GMT -5
I just shut my eyes.....visualize the course.....drive away from the sound of workers cheering for me...(or is it screaming at me??)........
|
|
|
|
Post by lagunamiata on Mar 14, 2006 8:57:32 GMT -5
If you were driving with your eyes close you wouldn't hear screaming... just the sounds of running! Well, maybe screams of terror...  |
|
AJordan
Junior Member
STS 50
Posts: 75
|
Post by AJordan on Mar 14, 2006 9:40:17 GMT -5
 I'm embarrassed. I really thought I could feel it. |
|
|
|
Post by ROADBOY on Mar 14, 2006 11:28:14 GMT -5
If you were driving with your eyes close you wouldn't hear screaming... just the sounds of running! Well, maybe screams of terror...  |
|
;D
