Get more out of your auto-x run!

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

OK, so you had your fun auto-xing, but how should you end a run? Well, most clubs will have a sharp turn right pass the finish, and any cones you may hit there will still hurt your times. You had your 30+second of your fun, but it wasn't enough? Well, just because your time is up, doesn't mean you can't fishtail one more time, let me explain

Approach, as if to late apex...

Start turning in, just as braking is finished... (Notice the timing is taken by the double cones, so this technique shouldn't've really hurt my times)

Apply throttle...

Don't let off the steering just yet...

Start to counter steer...

Keep on the gas, and ride it out...

Keep on the gas if possible, wouldn't wanna unsettle car now...

Back off the steering, VERY fast as soon as the rear starts to catch, and rotate. Notice the wheel is turned in MUCH less a fraction of a second later. (I think this is what happened to todd, he corrected, and it spun the other way?)

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Car totally straight, under hard braking, the race is over...

This has become how I end just about every auto-x I do lately... People must think I'm nuts, but it's FUN. Have it on mpeg, but got to troubleshoot a few things.

How do you guys like the little pictorial? I have a few more I may post later...
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

Dave's 944 · 05-15-2001, 02:53 AM

the last autocross i was at the start and stop where parrellel to each other. and about 5 feet apart. so we had what we called a stop cone. Basically it was a cone about 25 feet past the timing lights at the end of the run. and this one cone counted for 10 seconds if you knocked it down. Since it was at the end of a small straight nobody could stop if they weighted to brake till after the lights. Made the end of the run kinda interesting...

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If you drive it, Race it
Dave
'87 944

EGSMachine · EGSMachine's Garage

awsome.

EGSMachine · EGSMachine's Garage

Ahmet,
That looks like a dragstrip paddock. Were you at VMP this weekend with NASA?
e

White951 · White951's Garage

I went to an auto x last week with my local PCA. 6 runs, 6 dnf's. I thought I had found out where the first three happened and corrected on the last three, but maybe not. Oh well. AT LEAST I GOT TO TOSS IT AROUND FOR A DAY. There is no substitute.

John
86 951

eimkeith · 05-15-2001, 06:57 AM

VERY nice Ahmdretti!
Time to step up to the 51!

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Dave, that sounds like a stop box, I've yet to do something like that, but I'm hoping to... Sure way to keep speed down in the pits!

EGSMachine, thanks, and right on!

White951, it can get a little frustrating to find the course first few times you're running it. I try to get somebody to ride with me the first time around, if I missed the coursewalk, helps a lot.

redNecarsulm, I'd get one, and I want to... However we'll see depending on what I decide to do with my 550 idea...
Ahmet

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

not bad, only a 1-second penalty. :-)

about the 550, ahmet, we all want you to stay alive for a long, long time. get a 951 and have carter modify it.

eimkeith · 05-15-2001, 11:48 AM

I really don't think there was a penalty there...?

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

you know, you're right. in a quick glance it seemed to me at least one had been knocked down, but no.

TheStig · 05-15-2001, 12:44 PM

Ahmet you shoulda been in San Diego watching the PCASD guys in their 911s. One of my fellow competitors got the tail out on his 72 911S too far and he got squirly fishtailing left and right several times. Amazingly he got full control of the car! We have the whole thing on tape and have pictures. I have never seen a 911 owner this experienced in recovering from a fish tail, its almost as if he wanted to put on a show of doing it.

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Heel'n' toe your woes away..

Dave951M · 05-15-2001, 03:07 PM

They used the stop box trick at the last autox I did in 82. Depending on how the course is set up and if you know the traction limits of your car, you could try ending with a sideways slide into the box. I did it in an X1/9 reliably on each run that day. The key is to know how the car slides and when to start the slide. It also helps to have a short wheelbase that fits between the cones that mark the top of the box.

If you have a long wheelbase, obviously, you ain't gonna fit in that way!

The organizers frowned on my technique, but I would have made 2nd overall that day if I hadn't popped one over out on the course.

Dave951M

e_nough · 05-15-2001, 08:45 PM

if you hold down your scroll up button or your scroll down button you can see a 'flip-book' video of ahmet racing.

kukunaokala · 05-15-2001, 08:56 PM

Nice pics Ahmet. Ladies and Gentlemen this is the venue to do your "spirited driving"!

At our monthly SCCA auto-cross meet, the Subarus out number the Miatas, it's like a *&^%^%$ parade, three or four of them out on the course at the same time, THE SAME COLOR AND, there's more waiting.

I HAVE TO GET MY JACK STAND QUEEN OFF HER HIGH HEELS. Aloha, Neal

White951 · White951's Garage

During one of my 6 DNF's from last autox I spun. I had a quick right turn that I spun the rears on at got the backend out. I overcorrected the other way and over corrected the other side also. At that point I said the hell with it and I stomped on the clutch and brake and snapped the backed end around right in front of one of the worker stations. When I finally stopped, they were hooting and hollering and clapping. I flashed the thumbs up and took a short cut to the finish line at a nice 10mph. Oh well.

eimkeith · 05-16-2001, 12:52 PM

Boy, I wish I could show you some vids of my runs...
You wanna talk spins? Heehehehehheee...

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Good Turn on the end - looked like that cone was dust for a short while!

-Wayne

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Thanks for your comments...

PS: The line through that corner is good, but notice where the timing lights are, I just do the ending for fun. Fishtailing is rarely the fastest way to get around, except for tight U turns, and chicago boxes.

I guess you guys like this sort of thing, I'll probably post the notable pictures from future auto-xes then, glad you enjoyed them.
Ahmet

Brandon85-944 · 05-16-2001, 08:08 PM

umm...does anybody know where I can pick up Ahmet's book on aggressive driving I seem to have lost my copy.... I'm a horrible aggressive driver and need some direction...any tips for wear to get the best info and experience?

Brandon85-944