RE: your comment about the second day. Phase II school?
Reminded me of a contradiction in my own experience to my other
post threatening to protest the memorizes:)
In 86 at the NCCC Convention at Sebring, my group ran the high
speed in the morning and I spun a rod bearing due to oil
starvation in a very long sweeper coming onto the front straight.
We were scheduled to run the low speed in the afternoon in the
parking lot on the other side of the track.
While I pulled the pan down to see how bad it was, a friend went
to a parts store and bought some rod bearings. I managed to
emory cloth the crank journal and throw fresh bearings in just
before time to run, but the course was over the crest of a hill
and you couldn't see the course from the parking area and I had
missed the course walk time. Gannon Bryant drew the course in
the dirt for me and I recall poking around the course in third
gear to keep the revs down to 2000 and being FORCED to look way
ahead. Held fastest time thru midway thru the third runs when
two C4's beat me. This was when GreenDot was running in Stock
class.
HMMM..... I could save a lot of energy at Nationals
if.............
'DOT
-----Original Message-----
From: Rm84fm@aol.com <Rm84fm@aol.com>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Friday, March 05, 1999 5:26 PM
Subject: Re: Course designs and looking ahead
>In a message dated 3/5/99 7:49:02 AM Central Standard Time,
washburn@dwave.net
>writes:
>
>> Jamie Sculerati wrote:
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: washburn <washburn@dwave.net>
>> >
>> > >Anyway, autocrosses most certainly are a navigation and
memory exercise,
>> > IMHO.
>> >
>> > Unfortunately, I don't have a rule book handy right now,
but I seem to
>> > recall a paragraph in there which says this isn't so.
Either way, IMO,
>> this
>> > is the fastest way to discourage new drivers -- it's hard
to convince
>> > someone to return when their results read "Off Course, Off
Course, Off
>> > Course."
>>
>> Agreed. I'm looking at the question from a "being
competitive" mode.
>> The course does need to be clearly defined so that it is
obvious where
>> to go to stay on course. Especially at the beginning of the
season. :)
>> I will note however, that when a lot of people are going off,
I find
>> that when asked, they admit they didn't walk the course at
all, or maybe
>> once. I try to make sure to tell all the novices as many
times as I can
>> that it is *thier* responsibility to know exactly where the
course goes,
>> from a competition and safety standpoint.
>> >
>> > >There is no way you are going to negotiate a course
quickly if you do
>not
>> > know where you are going before >you get there.
>> >
>> > Quite true -- but there's a world of difference between
negotiating a
>> course
>> > quickly and negotiating it at all! The fast line doesn't
have to be (and
>> > probably shouldn't be) obvious, but the general path of the
course better
>> > be -- otherwise, the course workers are afraid to get too
far away from
>> the
>> > light poles....
>> >
>> Light poles can be island of safety in a sea of chaos! I
guess my point
>> is don't blame your (not YOU, but a hypothethical you :) )
slow time on
>> the fact that a course might be complex. I will re-phrase
the comment:
>> While it is not necessary, it would be very beneficial to
completly
>> memorize the course. I personally like complexity, and you
CAN have
>> complexity and drivers challenge in a course while also
having it be
>> clearly defined. They are not mutually exclusive.
>>
>> Patrick Washburn <washburn@dwave.net>
>>
>
>Interesting subject, course design and memory. One of the
thinks I learned
>from the McKamey school was looking ahead - I mean LOOKING
AHEAD!! They
>emphasized looking ahead as far as you can see; not just at the
gate you're
>going into, but a turn ahead - maybe two; turning your head all
the way over
>your shoulder to pick up the next gate; etc. The second day, we
ran courses
>we didn't get a chance to walk, memorize, nor pick the "right"
line. I heard
>one person say that as practice in looking ahead, they'd run
the local events
>without walking the course. It seems like maybe memorizing the
course doesn't
>play much of a part in being competitive. Just a thought...
>
>Rick McClure
>36 FM
>
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