[SWortham]

This is some of the most fun I've had on 4 wheels for quite awhile. Today I autocrossed with the BMWCCA for the first time and they do things a bit differently.

First of all, I got 8 runs (although only completed 7 since I ran out of gas) instead of the typical 4 with SCCA. And they also take a break and serve lunch for free. And lastly, BMWCCA is known for creating much faster courses than your typical autocross. I reached speeds between 85 - 90 mph at this event.

I also won my class which is something I haven't done in awhile. Of course the classing for non-BMW's is very crude and I was lumped into 'Y' class with slower cars like Miatas, a GTI and one S2000. So the competition obviously wasn't as tough as usual and as it turned out the 350 hp in my car was a huge advantage on a course like this. I managed to lead my class by about 5 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZhSmM_9wqg

[RFFG]

Pretty cool, looooooooooooong course I likey very much

[SWortham]

It was long indeed. I was feeling a bit like The Stig on the Top Gear test track.

[STirish]

If I may add a little constructive criticism:
1. Keep your thumbs outside of the wheel. A local racer just broke his thumb at the auto-x.
2. Your getting a little behind. Maybe due to not looking ahead as far as you should or just not starting your turns early enough?
3. You can get closer to the gates. Try to run over the gates with your rear tires. It's more difficult than you think.
4. In the slaloms, try to keep you hands moving. If you can't keep your hands moving, you're going too slow. It also looks like you are setting yourself up to be late though the slaloms. Start your turns into the first slalom cone early. It looks like you could be getting on the gas much earlier out of the slaloms. One in particular around 3:09-3:11. You can be on the gas while passing the second to last code in the slalom.
5. Try to think smooth inputs. There are a few places where a bit of abruptness is placed into the wheel, the car gets unsettled. Starting your turns earlier help with smoothness, car placement, and forces you to look further ahead.

Hopefully you don't mind, I love all the criticism I can get with my driving. And I'm guilty of all of the above as well from time to time

Nice runs BTW!

Rob

[SWortham]

Thanks Rob, I noticed most of that myself when reviewing the videos.

I noticed that I was behind at times. For some reason I just wasn't carving good lines through some of those offset gates. I guess it was a mental thing because most courses I've seen don't have gates like that.

I also noticed what you said about the slalom and going too slow. I picked up the pace a bit on my 5th run. But I have a bad habit that kills my slalom speed a lot of times. I'll usually attack a slalom on at least one of my runs and end up going too fast and hit a cone, then I'll back off too much. I need to learn to back off only a little when that happens so I can get a feel for that particular slalom and set the pace for my following runs. The slaloms have been and still are my weakest area. I'm only going to get better with practice. If I race with the BMWCCA from now on as well as the SCCA and don't miss anymore events that should amount to 3X the seat time I have been getting. That should make a big difference.

Another guy told me I was too easy on the brakes and braking too early and I think he's right. I was pretty good with finding braking points and threshold braking last year after the track day I did. If there's one skill you pick up more from driving road courses versus autocrossing that has to be it. But since then I lost some of that feel for the brakes. It's funny how if I don't keep practicing I lose my touch. And the video never lies.

I haven't heard anyone tell me to keep my thumbs outside the wheel though. Not even the instructors have told me that and I can't imagine it being a problem in my car. Did the guy who broke his thumb have manual steering?

[tyler_sti]

Wow awsome run group, and track layout!!. Looks like to much fun.

[STirish]

Originally Posted by SWortham

Thanks Rob, I noticed most of that myself when reviewing the videos.

I noticed that I was behind at times. For some reason I just wasn't carving good lines through some of those offset gates. I guess it was a mental thing because most courses I've seen don't have gates like that.

I also noticed what you said about the slalom and going too slow. I picked up the pace a bit on my 5th run. But I have a bad habit that kills my slalom speed a lot of times. I'll usually attack a slalom on at least one of my runs and end up going too fast and hit a cone, then I'll back off too much. I need to learn to back off only a little when that happens so I can get a feel for that particular slalom and set the pace for my following runs. The slaloms have been and still are my weakest area. I'm only going to get better with practice. If I race with the BMWCCA from now on as well as the SCCA and don't miss anymore events that should amount to 3X the seat time I have been getting. That should make a big difference.

Another guy told me I was too easy on the brakes and braking too early and I think he's right. I was pretty good with finding braking points and threshold braking last year after the track day I did. If there's one skill you pick up more from driving road courses versus autocrossing that has to be it. But since then I lost some of that feel for the brakes. It's funny how if I don't keep practicing I lose my touch. And the video never lies.

I haven't heard anyone tell me to keep my thumbs outside the wheel though. Not even the instructors have told me that and I can't imagine it being a problem in my car. Did the guy who broke his thumb have manual steering?

Just remember with the slaloms, try to keep your hand moving all the way though the slaloms and run the cones over with you back tires. Don't worry, you'll get them

The driver who broke his thumb was driving a DP Miata which I believe still has power steering. Either way it's good common practice to keep your thumbs on the outside of the steering wheel while entertaining yourself with motorsports.

Good luck!