Aavitt wrote:Jerry and Mark you "caved-in" to the pressure too fast on eliminating the Parade Lap. There has to be some pro's to all the con's listed.
1. For those who have disabilities and cannot walk the track, it is only fair to have a parade lap.
2. Even if you walk the track, the parade lap from the drivers seat gives an entirely different perspective from walking the track.
3. As a perpetual "instructor in training" I have practiced teaching a student in a parade lap. Much easier to discuss looking ahead, turn in points, track out areas, full gas, braking zones, pointing out corner workers, other safety issues.
4. A parade lap takes 2 minutes, give or take a few minutes, X 6 run groups, so an additional 12 to 15 minutes to the day.
5. I am sure less experienced drivers and new students would agree that a Parade lap is worth the extra time.
Although I may be in the minority, perhaps a poll should be taken at the next autocross, not just online, because most of the drivers online are experienced drivers who feel they dont need a Parade lap.
Angela Avitt, Membership Chair
Car # 425
Angela, I'll respond to these one at a time. I would like to note that this is not a rant against you or any of our hard working chairs and volunteers. I applaud all of your efforts.
1. Unlike SCCA and Parade, we allow bikes, skateboards, etc. on the track walk. The track walk is supposed to be at a slow speed so that you can study the track and discover SOME of it's potential nuances.
2. The parade lap does give a different perspective. It's usually the bumper of the car ahead of you and the dirt and rocks that are flying up and hitting your hood and windshield.
3. An instructor should be able to do that during the first couple of laps in the first session anyway. If you can't, your student MAY be driving too fast.
4. A parade lap takes about two minutes from the time the first car leaves until the first few cars finish. Most of the time lost during parade laps is getting everyone there, especially for the 2nd through 6th run sessions, and holding those sessions up while the previous session finishes up. In real terms, each parade lap takes an average of about 10 minutes. Add that hour to the additional 5 laps during the morning session and you've eaten up a huge amount of time and worn out your first two corner working groups. In the past, we would merge the sessions. If Red run group was finishing up and White run group was called up, they just merged. No waiting, no down track time, etc. The parade lap makes that practice impossible in the morning and that seems to carry over to the rest of the day.
5. Less experienced drivers and new students get the least out of the parade lap because they are busy watching the car ahead of them instead of the track ahead of them.
In my opinion, and that's all it is, it is much easier to learn a track when you are not distracted by other cars and can focus on the track. 1st lap should be fairly slow (5/10's maximum). Look at the track ahead of you. Try to look 2 corners ahead so that you're not surprised by the flow of the track. Pick out your initial turn in, apex and track out points. Find the corner working stations. As you take the other 3 laps in that run session, slowly build up your speed and refine your line. Think about what you discovered that session during your next break, corner working duties or ride along with your instructor. Use that information to improve your line and braking points. Some tracks are easier to learn than others. Talk to others. Really pay attention to what other drivers are doing when you're corner working. Ask for the busiest corner. It's probably the one that's giving you trouble too. 6 laps driven too fast and without paying attention are much less educational than 3 laps driven slowly and deliberately.
There's a reason that many of the experienced drivers don't want a parade lap. It doesn't do anything for us and extends an already long day.
I'll step down from my soap box now and have a frosty micro-brew.
Soooooo, here is a bit of background.