Auto-X on Sunday

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Took the ol girl out SUnday. Finished 8th of 13 in STS, 50 out of 110 in overall points. Only got in 3 runs, no cones. Car felt good and I think I could have pushed it more, but I was still getting used to the feel.

[SWortham]

Good job Bob. STS is a tough class to be in for the Elantra. What tires are you using?

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Kumho 711's in 205/50/15. Not the best, but couldn't say no to the price. $45 ea. They took a beating yesterday but overall held up pretty well IMO. I ran the fronts at 43 and te rears at 42. That gave the best feel and used the tire to the fullest.

[SWortham]

Nice. OK, so given your tire choice, that really sounds like a pretty strong finish. If you had 215mm wide Falken RT-615's you may have done considerably better.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Maybe. The tires (and car) had more to give. I just made some poor choices while driving. THere were a couple times where I chose the wrong line and once where I just flat out overshot where I needed to be.

At the end, they had the "bus stop" right after a short slalom. I smoked through the slalom and realized I was going WAAAAAAAY too fast to make it through there and stood on the brakes to get turned in in time. MAde it through, but lost so much speed that I was lugging second out of there into the lights. The sad part was that was my best run and would have been even better wthout that mishap!\

I'd Love to have even the 205 RT-615's, but checkbook says otherwise.

[mregt02]

Next time out you'll be stronger. Nice showing though.

My train of thought is that if I can improve as the day goes on, I'm doing something right; mind you it would be really hard when only doing 3 runs.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Than I was succesful! First run 45.898, second run 44.938 and my last run (even with my screw up) was a 44.398. Just one ore two more runs and I know I couldabeen in the 43's, putting me in spitting distance of the real class leaders.

I think the thing I was the most pleased wit hwas the fact that a Focus SVT, Integra hatch and a Civic coupe all fell to the mighty Crooked H! Of course, driver had a littlesomething to do with it. Not that I was good, but they were that BAD!!! :abovelol:

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Video is up. . .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjTxsnNt-fI

Professional photos are also up. . .HERE (http://jwwwebdesign.smugmug.com/gallery/2671529#P-8-9) starting page 8 and more on page 51.

[Munky]

Damn..nice driving Bob. You car has a nice growl to it.

[SWortham]

Very nice. Thanks for posting the video Bob. It's hard to tell but my first impression is that you looked like you knew exactly where you were going and were probably looking ahead as you should. I say that because it looked like you set yourself up for each corner nicely. That's a VERY good thing and lots of people tend to struggle with that (including myself).

Then I also noticed a good foot or so between your car and some of those slalom cones, so you can definitely tighten that up and be faster. If you have a practice, school, or test & tune day later in the year it will be a great opportunity to practice the slalom. I try to remind myself every race to risk a little more to force myself to come close or even touch those cones if I'm lucky. The instructors will tell you to try to back side each cone of the slalom with your rear tire, and follow a very tight line all while being smooth with your steering and steady with your speed. That's all easier said than done, but it's become obvious to me that slaloms deserve a lot of practice because of how much time can be lost or gained.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

I could see where I needed to be. . . getting it there was another story! Much like pool. . .I can always see the shot but can never make it!! I think my problem with the slalom is I waited too long to turn in. Like Ron Conrad was telling some of the younger guys if you wait until you're at the cone to turn it's too late. . .

I walked the course 3 times with my wife and twice with a veteran. Being in the 3rd heat allowed me to see what everybody else screwed up on too. Personally, I like being later in the day.

Only 12 more days to the next one!!!!!!

[mregt02]

The more you walk the course the better, I have found some interesting lines when walking the course with a veteran.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

I learned 4 times as much walking the first time with the vet than I did walking it by myself.

Things I learned: NEver be afraid to ask questions.

[SWortham]

Walking it by yourself and with a pro definitely helps. Tommy Saunders does the novice 'walk-throughs' here locally prior to the start of each event. I walk with him every time. I think he's won 11 National championships now so he knows his stuff pretty well. It definitely helps to see what driving line he proposes that you take. Over time, the lines that I've come up with walking on my own have become closer and closer to what he recommends so I guess I'm learning how to read the courses better.