Advanced Autocross School

[gocart]

At the next autocross watch the faster drivers on track to see how they drive the track.
Don't be afraid to ask to have instructors ride with you. Sometimes instructors may have an empty seat available as well. It helps to get friendly with the instructors.

Plan on doing some DEs. They really help with control and confidence.

Get a ride with Jackie. You may have to wait in line, as she is a popular instructor.

[Jad]

I can hear him saying "more gas" already.

Good luck!

Yes, in theory this driving thisng is REALLY easy. Just turn in late, hit a late apex while under full gas, carry as much speed through the corner as the car will hold and brake late, at 100%, but not so late that you miss any of your marks and can't get back to full gas early. Advance to Formula 1.

That's about it, in theory, but doing it is another story completely

Actually, I virtually NEVER ride with ANYONE who doesn't tend to turn in a bit too early, couldn't be a little closer to the apex and trackout points and couldn't get on the gas a little earlier while carrying a little more speed through the corner. That definitely includes me. I always have to keep telling myself to keep out on turn in, HIT the apex (not 1-2 feet away) and roll onto more gas earlier.

So to some up, to go faster, many people will attest to the fact as your insturctor, I most likely will be saying "more gas" a LOT

[ChuckS]

+1
Bill,
What has been proposed is definately what you need.

Also, you said you have a G2X. Use it! If you can get Jad or Mark or Steve or virtually any experienced driver in the car and have them do a session you will learn A LOT! First you can see what they are doing and then you can overlay their laps with yours and see where the time is being lost and often learn why.

A few years back, Jad and I were going to Co-drive my 944 Spec car in the CFOS Enduro. We swapped cars on the Friday or Saturday so he could get a feel for my car. That evening we overlaid his data on mine and analyzed it. All of my lost time was in two corners. He was able to figure out what I was doing wrong and we discussed it. The first session of the next day, I was able to drop over 2 seconds just by doing what he suggested in those two corners.

I think your "plan" for Chuckwalla has been determined!

[Kim Crosser]

Bill, doing a DE will definitely "up your game". It is hard to overemphasize how much your driving skills can improve by doing continuous lapping with a good instructor in the car. Instead of 4-5 laps with minutes of parked time in between, you can work on a couple of corners over and over 12+ times in a 20-minute run group (and then do it again 2 more times - 36-40+ laps at a DE instead of 9-10 at an AX). Everything you learn at a DE (except passing, of course) can apply at an AX. David Diamond (in my LS/S class) has done a few DEs now, and he has really closed the gap in times as a result. He took 9th in the BRI and I was wondering if I was going to take a 2nd place Saturday!

At the AX events, keep asking for an instructor. I asked for an instructor at almost every event - at least until they told me I needed to *be* an instructor... You will learn something every time, and right seat time with an instructor will improve your skills a lot better than folding seat time under the trolley.

Identify instructors you think are doing well in similar cars and ask for them when you register. During the event, find the people who you think are driving well in similar cars and ask them about their lines.