MtotheIKEo is right, the best thing to do if you want to become comfortable with the course is to do more autocrossing. After you have run a few different courses it gets much easier to get comfortable with the layout.
Consider other things you did for the first few times and how much better you got after you had more experience
If possible, a course walk can also be a huge help.
While some SCCA autocross events can run the same course multiple events, It is almost impossible to have the same layout from one Good-Guys event to the next. In columbus the main factor for the lot we used was the condition of the asphalt. We used nearly every inch of the largest uninterrupted smooth spot we could find.
On a personal note, I thought all the cars looked great going through the cones - fast, slow, or otherwise. I would say great job to all the participants and thanks for putting on such cool show.