The turn before the start does not need to be tight, it only needs to be a
major turn, not a slight flick.
Make 'em turn 90 degrees, drive another 30-40 feet or so, then turn 90
degrees the other direction and put the lights after that. Your course can
be 25 feet wide and it still eliminates the need for a dragstrip start. They
can spool up approaching and driving the first turn, and will hammer through
the second one to start the clock (depending on what follows), but you've
eliminated all the driveline stress of the dragstrip start.
Basically, design it so they can get rolling BEFORE they need to nail it.
--Rocky
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Stevens" <Kevin_Stevens@pursued-with.net>
To: "Mark J. Andy" <marka@telerama.com>
Cc: "Team. Net" <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: Acceptable finish designs, and starts, too
> On Wed, 19 Dec 2001, Mark J. Andy wrote:
>
> > Howdy,
> >
> > On Tue, 18 Dec 2001, Kevin Stevens wrote:
> > > > On the other end of things, I like to put in a good stiff move
before the
> > > > timing-start line. This eliminates the need to launch the car like
you were
> > > > at a drag race. I realize this is part of the game at Pro Solo
events, but
> > > > it would not break my heart if I never saw one again at a regular
autocross.
> > > > The other upside to the tight move before the timing-start line is
that it
> > > > takes away all all the worry about precision staging at the
marshaling line.
> > >
> > > As a competitor and regular starter, I agree emphatically.
> >
> > Boy, not me. I don't mind a manuver outta the gate, but I definately
> > don't like the "boy I'm sure glad I'm in a miata" type stuff I saw at a
> > lot of the autoxes I was at out west. IMHO all that really does is toss
> > an advantage to small narrow cars and most of the good drivers are still
> > lighting 'em up anyway. In addition, it leads to reasonably mickey
mouse
> > cone hits on the start pivot cone which means the starter has to leave
his
> > post, etc. A course in particular that had this problem last year was
the
> > NorPac divisional I ran at Mather. I can't remember which day it was,
but
> > there was a start that in a C4 I was happy to fit through, never mind
> > trying to go fast.
> >
> > Personally, I'd rather have a little straighter start.
> >
> > Mark
>
> If the design is such that some cars can start straight and others can't,
> that's a problem. If it's such that people start fiddling around with
> backing and filling at the start line, that's a problem too. Those are
> bad start designs.
>
> Beyond that, I don't want to have to use dragstrip skills and procedures
> on an autocross course. I especially don't want to have to do it at
> local/regional events where I may be taking lots of runs for very little
> Fame and Glory. I don't want to burn up the tires, and I especially don't
> want to burn up the clutch.
>
> For those who will say "it's your choice, you don't HAVE to leave the line
> hard", here's my response: "Yes I do."
>
> There can be a huge difference in time between leaving the line really
> hard and just rolling out. It obviously depends on the specific course
> design, but several tenths is not at all unusual. I can't leave several
> tenths on the table and be competitive. I can't leave those tenths there
> and do reasonable assessment of my performance on the rest of the run. If
> the start permits a drag start, it REQUIRES a drag start to be actively
> participating in the event.
>
> Drag starts have a disproportionate effect on the outcome of an event.
> The production of this effect incurs a disproportionate degree of wear on
> the car. The execution of a successful drag start involves skills that
> have nothing to do with any other component of autocross driving, and
> nothing to do with the stated purpose of Solo II.
>
> Just to be clear, I don't like drag starts. ;)
>
> KeS
>
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