Just a question for you autocrossers out there - what's your approach to the three runs you get? Do you take it easy on the first run and try to improve from there or do you go all out on the first run? Advantage/Disadvantage to either approach?

Usually, I just try to be smooth on the first run (not very aggressive) and then go ***** out on my second run which usually leads to severe conage. Then I have to worry about being clean in my third run. Got me wondering whether I should be attacking hard on the first run and using the second and third to clean up while maintaining aggressiveness.

Thoughts?

 

***** to the wall.....then if i don't get it i slow down....even with ***** to wall on first run i usually get faster over the 3 runs

 

I say a conservative, fast first run. The scale isn't linear, 9/10ths is MUCH faster than 11/10ths.

It's easier to identify 3 areas where you can speed up than it is to focus on slowing down in 3 areas just to get a clean run.

Scott

 

I go as fast as I can on my first run. It might be because I now have enough experience where I know where I have enough grip and what I need to do. I can't remember what I used to do a couple years ago though.

 

I throw the first run away if I know my car really, really well. With 3-4 runs, there isn't enough time to work your way up to a fast run, and the pressure mounts with each pass. I like to know right away what I can get away with and where I need to give it up. I also find that I am more calm after I get done with that first run, like you get all your mistakes out of the way.

The people who win autocrosses aren't the people who say "there's a few seconds out there..." they're the people who say "I'm going to do it exactly the same, and maybe this time I won't hit anything."

 

Yeah, I do about a "8.5/10" first run out.

 

Yeah. There isnt enough runs at an auto-x to be conservative. Make a plan on how you are going to attack the course during the morning walk then go ballz out on the first run. Then make adjustments during the remaining runs to find the few tenths, ie: a little slower here, a little faster there, change the line a little down there etc.

If you improve your times by more than 2 seconds from first to last (say on a 60 sec course), means you are probably too conservative on the first run or maybe misreading the course during the walk. Quite a few times, i'd set my best time on the first run then struggle to improve for the rest of the day. But usually, I pick up 1-1.5 sec from first to 4th run. We usually do 4 runs here in two heats, 2 morning then 2 afternoon.

 

you guys only get 3 or 4 runs! that sucks. we get 5 or 6.

I try to be really smooth on the 1st run then by the 3rd i'm at the limit of my braking and cornering. usually drop at least 4 sec per day. Last run usually try to pull off a really aggressive run and just get a mediocre run

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bailhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you guys only get 3 or 4 runs! that sucks. we get 5 or 6.

I try to be really smooth on the 1st run then by the 3rd i'm at the limit of my braking and cornering. usually drop at least 4 sec per day. Last run usually try to pull off a really aggressive run and just get a mediocre run</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here. $20 for 5 comp runs, and then the third round are fun runs for $10, which you also get 5 of. Typical speed I hit on the course as a high is about 60. The one course they had setup we were hitting nearly 70 on straight to a decent sweeper to another straight

 

interesting. I've been taking the 1st run easy every time, and go all out on my 4th run. I usually end up with my best time on the 3rd run.

 

The Vracer111 approach;

1st run - The get to know the course run. I use it to verify what I was thinking in the walk throughs as far as grip/traction issues, turn-in points, and braking zones.

2nd run - The get to know the course better run. From the results of run 1, run 2 is run at nearly 10/10ths to fine tune the braking/turn-in points and fine tune the Apex points.

3rd run - A.K.A - Infinity over ten equals pushing it over the limits. I find out just how far the braking zone goes, just how much more rotation the rear can give me, and just how much of the cones toes you can step on without sending them screaming out of their little box.

4th run - Bringing it all together. Mainly from pushing it over the limit in run 3 and knowing what nearly 10/10ths is like from run 2, my brain calculates what I should do for the 4th run. Usually my brain is correct - but it also thinks that a 5th run would yield even better results.

My 4th run's are almost always my fastest and lately I've been a lot closer to the class leaders ... within a 1/2 second of the current points leader and usual fast guy Mike Spears.

Vracer111, who needs to take the evolution I and II courses...and will, some day.

 

The more I have autocrossed, and the more I have walked the course, the faster I try to go on my first run.

 

I try to rip up the course on every run. My first runs are generally me trying to get the feel of the course anyway and generally will never be as fast. This is kinda my mindset if I only had three runs.

1st run- Learn the course from behind the wheel.
2nd run- Push every corner to the limit or past to figure out the maximum speed.
3rd- Tone it down a bit and correct my mistakes.

I tried actually think about being smooth at one event. I ended up behind the pace by a good bit, my next run I screwed up big time at the beginning so I ripped up the last part of the course not caring if I hit a cone or not. I realize this was a ton faster, drove it like I always did on the next run and won STX that weekend.

Like some others said you really don't have enough runs to start off slow IMO.

 

If you want to be a winner your approach should be the same every run, all out, or not at all!

 

definetly driving 11/10ths all the time. there are no conservative "recce" runs for me. every run counts and every .001 counts too.

more often than not i'm fastest right outta the gate. something i'm really trying hard to work on. if I would've gone faster in my 2nd and 3rd runs at nats i could have maybe nabbed 4th or even 3rd

 

Here's how the last few races went for me:

run#1 - sitting at the starting line, repeat to self "slow and smooth, slow and smooth" over and over again.... green flag drops and I'm out like a bat out of hell (so much for slow and smooth) ending race with a MUCH better time than expected based on watching other drivers earlier in the day. so far 1st place of the drivers in my class.

run #2 - sitting at the starting line, repeat to self "keep it smooth, just build a little bit from the last run".... green flag drops, botch the start lose mindset and miss a gate 1/2 way through the course. at least 1st run is still holding 1st place in class.

run #3 - sitting at the starting line, repeat to self "keep it smooth, be calm"... green flag drops, out like a bat out of hell, hit 2 cones AND have a slower raw time than the 1st run!! the competition's running faster, drop to 2nd place in class.

run #4 - sitting at the starting line, repeat to self "screw it, I'm going all out"... green flag drops, out like a rocket, run what feels to be a perfect run, look at the timer... SLOWEST TIME OF MY 4 RUNS!!!! meanwhile, the competition ran perfect 4th runs and I dropped to 3rd (or 4th)


That's my approach.... what's the right approach? you'll have to ask someone else that one.


Modified by thumpu77 at 7:29 AM 11/11/2003

 

I'm fairly new to Solo2 but here's what I try to do.

1st run - dont go all out, take everything wide and stay away from cones as much as possible and look ahead make sure I don't deviate.

2nd run - depending on how I feel I did on my 1st run I'll either go all out this run or just step it up a little from the first, or slow down if necessary.

3rd run - It's on. I usually go too fast and collect a cone or two. Lots of wheel spin on this run.

4th run - Trying to keep my time the same as the others. I realized that if I try to beat it, I'll mess up. Rather have 4 solid runs, then 3 good and 1 bad.

I really need to go to the Evolution driving school in a few weeks, so if anyone wants to donate $200 let me know.

 

we get 6 runs

Buccaneer Region

 

6 runs rule...