Autocross vids

[vtluu]

Finally got around to posting up some videos from my 2003.11.02 and 2003.12.07 auto-x runs.

http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album03/autox_tam_20031102a_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album03/autox_tam_20031102b_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album03/autox_tam_20031102c_s.wmv

http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album10/autox_tam_20031207a_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album10/autox_tam_20031207b_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album10/autox_tam_20031207c_s.wmv

As you can see I'm not very good. :lol: Anyway I can't wait to get vids from tomorrow's events with my new camera setup...

[EvolvedDSM]

Very nice. I'm already itching to start up again.

I've got a quick and dirty one here (http://www.wideopenwest.com/~Hwilli/) (right click the autox link).

[vtluu]

I've got a quick and dirty one here (http://www.wideopenwest.com/~Hwilli/) (right click the autox link).
Nice. I wish I could drive like that. Who knows, maybe someday I will. 8)

[DB8GSR]

great vids guys!! There's one thing that I notice about SF SCCA Region is that they have one of the hardest track layout on every event. I mean we're talking 30 degree, 90 degree, 220 degree turns on most of the corners. You find yourself doing crazy things that you never thought of doing and that's where the confusion kicks in. LoL!!

I'm glad I got out of it. I find 100mph turns more enjoyable and suitable for my needs!! :twisted:

[vtluu]

Had a pretty good time out there today. It rained--a bit--just for my run group, which helped keep the 'Vettes at bay. :D

First run, I was an idiot and forgot to close the glovebox (where my camcorder is; it records from the camera mounted on my rearview mirror stem) so on the first sharp turn it bounced out and got disconnected. Oops! :oops: Luckily it wasn't damaged.

Second run I inadvertently lifted off the throttle too fast on an early turn, and ended up doing a little drifting exhibition--not a good way to go fast.

Third run went quite nicely... except for me looking the wrong way on one of the early turns, going straight off-course, and having to loop back around to get back on course. D'oh!

Anyway here are vids:
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album34/autox_tam_20040201b_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album34/autox_tam_20040201c_s.wmv

[EvolvedDSM]

Ahhh.... auto-x in the rain... my favorite :)

[chrisw]

sadly it does not rain enough in the bay area... Autox'ing in the rain is a rare treat indeed...

[vtluu]

Forecast for this Sunday calls for rain, so let's hope I can take advantage of it. One might argue rain favours the STi a bit more than the Evo, since the former has ACD that can be better adjusted for wet conditions. Still, whenever it rains STi/Evo drivers are :) and Corvette drivers are :cry:.
:skid:

[vtluu]

Videos from Sunday (2/29) American Auto-X Series event at Castle Airport in Atwater:

http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album56/autox_tam_20040229a_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album56/autox_tam_20040229b_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album56/autox_tam_20040229c_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album56/autox_tam_20040229d_s.wmv
http://www.norcalevo.net/gallery/albums/album56/autox_tam_20040229e_s.wmv

I have 9 videos of Joe Harrison's runs as well and will post them as soon as I've re-encoded them in lower-bandwidth format.

[TheJANG]

So tell me, how exactly do you tell where the course is? Do you get a hardcopy course layout to memorize in advance?

[vtluu]

You usually (depending how early you show up) have about an hour to walk the course 2-3 times. At the AAS autocross they even allow you to use a little razor scooter or a bicycle. Sometimes there are course maps but not usually. You walk the course--take notes if you want--and discuss and plan how you're going to drive it--what lines to take through turns, how much braking/acceleration to use, etc.

Different series and course designers will use more or fewer cones. The BMW-CCA events have cones almost every few feet which is a mixed blessing: it's easier to figure out where to go if you're looking a few feet ahead, but further than that you tend to see a sea of cones (and when you hit a cone, you end up hitting several). In autocross you really need to be looking out a couple turns ahead. The few times where I've "gotten lost" (strayed off-course) it's because I wasn't looking out far enough and got surprised by a turn.

The AAS design is fairly wide open but where to go next is fairly obvious. The pointer cones (cones lying on their side) indicate what side of the cone you need to be on. As long as you keep your head up you can see where you need to go.

That said, it's not uncommon for people--even seasoned veterans--to DNF ("did not finish") due to going on the wrong side of a cone, missing a slalom cone, etc., once in a while. It's not really a big deal. If you get really lost, you stop and figure out where you are (or if you're stopped long enough, a course worker will come up to you and clue you in). Usually for me I suddenly realize I'm off course, so I loop back around and re-enter the course at or ahead of the spot where I left it. (That way I avoid the "DNF".)

[TheJANG]

Cool. Thanks for explaining. I'll do a little more reading up on the 'net. I hope to do my first autox in the next month or two.