Lol I make vroom noises, sometimes I tilt my head, sometimes I half shift in the air. Prolly could just film me and laugh!

 

You would probably lose that argument because your name isn't Andy Hollis and you don't have multiple national championships attached to it. Autocross is not road racing. Using the steering wheel earlier was something I've tried to concentrate on this year and I think it's the biggest key to going fast (it also took me from a mid-pack national driver last year to a 1st and three 2nds at national events this year). Watch the really fast drivers, their steering inputs are WAY before the turn. As an example:

Corey Ridgick at one of our local events: he has the wheel already turned for the next cone before he crosses the centerline of the slalom.


A closeup, where you can see he's actually steering inside of the cone:


...and just to prove he didn't cream the cone:


I have datalogs from Atlanta that show me turning in just slightly before my car owner in one corner. I gained almost a second by opening up the turn. Over-doing late apexes doesn't pay off in autocross because there's no straight to carry extra speed through.

 

Wow. I've ridden with Corey before and you can clearly feel & see how agressive and early he turns in. These pics really make the point even more clear.

 

Nice pic GT. That clearly demonstrates that all drivers are not created equal. Not because he is doing that, but because he knows when to do it. Some guys will dive bomb apex's straight on to try to do the little hook move your showing and end up.. well end up hehe.....

For slaloms trying to hit the lead cone with the rear inside tire is a natural usage of this technique.

 

Well, I wrote "Ahh Jeeeezzz' 'cuz I knew it might stir up some trouble. FWIW, I have 7 or 8 road race championships and several lap records. You're right about one thing however.. I was talking on a I guess you'd call "real" track (for lack of a better word)..dedicated road race course. I did some AX'ing ten years or so ago, and even those were layed out like a road race course. Heck, the POC used to hold 'em at the Streets. I don't have any input on anything other than that type of layout, but I know the arguement for squaring off corners, and it's a strong one.
Sometimes I'll do it, and sometimes I won't. I know some very fast people that that's all they do. A lot of ex-flat-trackers get Superbike or even MGP rides because they get around the track very fast by squaring the corners off. A lot of car dirt-trackers get rides in Indycar, and even NASCRAP with that style as well.
It's one of those things where two guys from two different backgrounds could butt heads all day about it, and then go out and prove their both right with fast lap times. Another reason for the "Ahhhhh Jeeeeeeeeezze"

 

After doing some real racing a few weeks ago (sort of) I realized how different road racing and autocross really are. In road racing you're driving the car as quickly as you can while keeping it stable and in control. In autocross, you're trying to keep the car upset and just on the edge of control. I know an autocross run went really well when I felt the back of the car moving in nearly every turn. Moving the steering wheel early gets the car to rotate, and allows you to set up for the next turn early, which keeps you moving faster. It also reduces the distance you cover, which is absolutely critical.

 

Thats interesting. A couple people have told me you want to "slither" through the course which is a middle road betwwen being smooth and sliding.

 

stick (too slow) slide (too fast) slither (just right)...

If you have ever had an evolution school thats level 1....

 

I would say it feels more like "surfing" the course. Slithering describes it pretty well too.

Actually, the more I think about it, it feels a little like waterskiing. There's kind of a turn-slide-stick, turn-slide-stick rhythm to it.

 

That's not necessarily the case. Watch the in-car shot of the black S2000(at the end). It had the FTD, and the dude kept loosing it going in, in the middle, coming out... I dunno the situation with that car, but it seems to me they didn't quite get the setup right. Still, he got the FTD though.http://videos.streetfire.net/video/D...ine_177861.htm
This is kind of an extreme example, IMO, but being loose in some places can also be the fastest way around a road course too.
Kinda my whole point. There's not only one way to go fast around the track. You need to have a lot of tools, and have the chest open, ready to use 'em

 

Great Post!!

I've never been to an Evolution School, but that statement sums up what I've been feeling. I'm a noob to autox just for reference. If I've had a run that just stuck I know it's too slow and my times typically proof that.

Now how do you slither the car around those cones when you consistently actually run over them with the back wheel/half of the car?

 

stiffen the rear sway bar...

 

In terms of car setup:

-As Griceiv said, stiffer rear bar
-Higher rear spring rates than front
-Stiffer rear shock damping
-Run 2-4psi higher in the rear tires

Beware- doing ALL of these things together can make the car REALLY loose in back! Especially with cold tires, you may be surprised just how loose. Don't use them on the street!

Having a car this loose means you need to be very smooth, and you will benefit from the early steering (and other) inputs mentioned before.

 

but choose your apex wisely...

 

Great stuff guys, but I can't believe nobody has mentioned the most important tip, IMO--LOOKING AHEAD!!!