Well, another pretty fun Autox event... only 5/6 runs completed again though, because people were slow to work stations and some other timing issues. Apparently someone also lost his drain plug on course, so it took a while to clean that up again.
Anyways...
This event was at DCTC's roadcourse/training course. (I tried to find a good map of it that I could mark up with the cone positions and stuff like that, but I can't seem to find a suitable one.) So here is a crappy paint image showing the course, minus cones...
Quite a bit different that a normal autox parking lot setup. 4 wheels off the pavement becomes an issue and is an automatic DNF. There were only a few people all day who DNFd from going wheels off though. There were also elevation and pavement type changes which added some interesting things to the mix. The "optional slalom" area marked off above is actually concrete, while the rest is asphault. The main elevation change is the two long straights running west, and then back east. West was down hill and east was back up hill after the hairpin. I actually managed to get through all 5 runs without hitting any cones or putting any wheels off, so that was an improvement. I was stilling running to fast into the tighter corners though, so I was working on improving that at this event.
First run: 88.xxx - No instructor available, so I just went after it, did alright, but again, was going way to fast into the tight corners. Plowing a little bit from getting on the brakes too late, losing speed and the optimal line.
Second run: 87.0xx - No instructor again, no big deal though. Good improvement just from knowing the course a little better. Still too hot in a couple corners, but faster down the slalom I think. The concrete there is really grippy.
Third run 86.4xx - Instructor with this time, and my gas tank was on E (o.0). I really tried to brake early this time, and did a bit better as a result. I took the hairpin way to tight (came to it way on the left instead of the right, making the turn a lot tighter than it needed to be), but the braking was okay. Only really missed the braking on one of the corners, so it was getting better.
Break between heats, I went and got gas and some food, then sat around.
Fourth Run: 87.5xx - Damn, back up again. Had a different, more experienced instructor with this time, he gave me lots of pointers. I was still coming into the corners too hot, and I was taking the hairpin badly. I was also pretty un-smooth in the slalom. Kinda jerky turning back and forth between the cones... things to work on.
Fifth Run: 87.0xx - No instructor this time, working on the stuff from above. Did decently on the braking I think, and definitely felt smoother around the slalom, went a little wider, but tried to regulate the throttle and smooth out the steering inputs. Also took the hairpin a bit wider. As much as I play Forza (lol), in retrospect I should have known right away to take the hairpin wide, but it just didn't click for some reason. I worked the 4th heat, at the hairpin, so I saw how all the vet drivers were going way wide on it, that would have been smart :/
All-in-all, a fun event. I'm kinda disappointed in my times... no where near the top of the stack this time, but I guess there were a lot more places to lose time on this course than at valley fair. Top SI class times were in the 80s. Looks like someone got a pic of me too... (I think the pic is at the chicane at the end of the straight heading east after the hairpin)
