My friends that autocross a lot know that there are a lot of factors that go into posting a fast time on course. Once you get past basic car setup and have some experience with driving lines and car control, it really comes down to just finding a way to get those last few tenths you can get out of the driver and the car. Those few tenths can sometimes mean the difference between a win and second place. Sometimes it’s a course design that fits your particular driving style or one that benefits your car setup, sometimes it’s a good night’s sleep the night before, and sometimes you can’t find your rear end with both hands while out on course. I’ve had plenty of those types of days the past year or so, changes to my car requiring changes to my driving style and trying to tie it all together led to a frustrating year in finishing results last year.
Those results carried forward to our Test n Tune last Saturday, I was trying to get used to some new suspension parts and some new power under the hood while in a non-points, lots of runs type of scenario on a course that should have been big car friendly…and I was a few tenths off all day. It seemed like nothing I tried worked any better than before, just the same old same old from last year. Then sometime Saturday night I had an idea, something I could try with my shock settings that was different than anything I had tried before. The knowledge I gained from Ron Suttons suspension workshop last fall gave me an idea and I texted Ron Sunday morning with my idea and asked his thoughts. He replied right back with a “sure, give it a shot”.
I had 4 shots Sunday at a track I’d never seen before so I figured I’d try the new settings for a run or two and if it wasn’t working I’d go back to my basic set up. I went halfway with my new shock strategy on run 1 and I liked it, it seemed to help the issue I was having and I put down a pretty good time. So I went the same amount again on my second run and picked up over a second. This is where I was trying to go with my point though… watching my videos back Sunday night, I realized it wasn’t the shock settings that gained me that second, it was the driver nailing two key elements on the course. On my subsequent runs 3 and 4 after, I blew both of those elements and never got close to that time again. That’s how fickle autocross can be at this level. Those drivers that are always on the top of the charts no matter what car they are driving, they are the ones that nail all of those elements continually, and it is a LOT harder than it looks.
That second run netted me a class win for the first time in over a year by 2/10s of a second on a 43 second course. I could not have done that without my fantastic #Ridetech shocks, #RonSuttonRaceTechnology suspension tune, the new #UMIPerformance rear sway bar, and the Yancy Shepard power under the hood, but in reality it came down to the driver and car fitting the course, the weather on my side, and maybe it was just my day. Regardless it felt great to get a win again…finally!
We had 142 drivers post times yesterday, 10 were in CAMC cars, 6 in Junior Karts, and competition was fierce in many of the other classes. It made me happy to see all of the active participation continuing to grow in this sport.
Here's a video of all 4 runs in order...
See if you can figure out which two elements are the two that made all the difference.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Lance, Car looks and sounds very stout. You are dead on with the drivers, it's hitting the same spots and the right spots every time. Nothing will help the car more than seat time.
Congrats Lance on nailing it on your 2nd run (my quickest as well) and getting the first win of our season in CAM C!
And do I agree, the mental aspect of this game is wildly understated and is more often than not the difference between a good day at the track and one that disappoints. Especially when you look back at the last couple seasons when the spread between the 3 of us has been less than 4 tenths on many occasions.
For me, it's time to put last weekend behind me and charge forward. See you next weekend.
The element starts around 2:18 and runs to about 2:23 (this would be the time showing on the 3rd run) or so.... when you're on the throttle vs choosing to "coast" thru....
The element starts around 2:18 and runs to about 2:23 (this would be the time showing on the 3rd run) or so.... when you're on the throttle vs choosing to "coast" thru....
Just sayin' -- LOL
There may be a bit time to be had there, but that isn't what I'm talking about.
The thing about pushing hard there is if you screw up, you pay the price ALL the way through the slalom and that kills you...so I tried to tip toe through that section most of the time.
Here were the actual times of each run for reference:
44.611 clean
43.543 clean
43.377+1
44.629+1
I knew I had locked up the win after the second run so I got more aggressive on the 3rd and 4th runs. Both times (forgetting about the cones) I blew the same two sections.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Lance, Car looks and sounds very stout. You are dead on with the drivers, it's hitting the same spots and the right spots every time. Nothing will help the car more than seat time.
Any action photos from the weekend we could post?
Thanks Ryan! No pictures posted yet but I'll let you know when they are. I know there was a photographer out on course for my heat.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Here's how I analyzed the runs, others may see it differently though. My first run I hit every element pretty cleanly, I was just a bit reserved not quite as aggressive as needed for a great time. It was my safe run. The second run again I felt I hit everything pretty well with more aggression. There was probably a tenth or two left here or there mainly with shorter lines getting closer to cones and a bit more throttle...but still not bad.
With that on the books I got aggressive and on the next two runs I completely butchered both the start\first turn element and the gate before the finish. I found I could get way more grip off the line than I was used to and while trying to really get a good jump, I'd mess the entry into that sharp lefthander up. Huge loss of time there. Then I'd just get way too aggressive on the long sweeper and carry too much speed into the finish, locking the brakes up trying to stay on course.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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