Finally I feel like a proper autocrosser!

[BmacIL]

Slaloms?

It's a slalom technique, where you're basically in a bit of a drift the entire time. Worth a few tenths per slalom section if you can pull it off well.

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[Norm Peterson]

Isn't that kind of a "consciously get your turn started noticeably before reaching the cone you're turning around" thing, where you're counting on a little tire slip and slip angle to keep you just wide of actually hitting it?

It takes a finite amount of time to crank the steering wheel from some amount left to a similar amount right, and your car is still moving down-course the whole time. So if you've only begun cranking the steering over at each cone, you're late and probably won't ever catch up.


Norm

 

[BmacIL]

Isn't that kind of a "consciously get your turn started noticeably before reaching the cone you're turning around" thing, where you're counting on a little tire slip and slip angle to keep you just wide of actually hitting it?

It takes a finite amount of time to crank the steering wheel from some amount left to a similar amount right, and your car is still moving down-course the whole time. So if you've only begun cranking the steering over at each cone, you're late and probably won't ever catch up.


Norm

Mostly yes. It's also making the rear yaw (with throttle) just that bit much more to allow for quick transitions. Difficult to master without getting yourself into a tank slapper over a long slalom.

 

[SteveW]

Isn't that kind of a "consciously get your turn started noticeably before reaching the cone you're turning around" thing, where you're counting on a little tire slip and slip angle to keep you just wide of actually hitting it?

It takes a finite amount of time to crank the steering wheel from some amount left to a similar amount right, and your car is still moving down-course the whole time. So if you've only begun cranking the steering over at each cone, you're late and probably won't ever catch up.


Norm

It's more like figure peak grip of a tire occurs at 10/10ths. The fastest way around an autox course is just past that at 11/10ths or barely under control and in a slalom it looks like slithering. Be careful trying to drive that hard on the postage stamp lots many of us are stuck with. They have curbs, barriers and light poles all over them so, get this wrong and bad stuff happens.

Beginners should focus on driving at 5-7/10ths of what they perceive the limits to be until car control and staying on line becomes second nature. Then, work up to 10/10ths.

 

[Cardude99]

It's more like figure peak grip of a tire occurs at 10/10ths. The fastest way around an autox course is just past that at 11/10ths or barely under control and in a slalom it looks like slithering. Be careful trying to drive that hard on the postage stamp lots many of us are stuck with. They have curbs, barriers and light poles all over them so, get this wrong and bad stuff happens.

Beginners should focus on driving at 5-7/10ths of what they perceive the limits to be until car control and staying on line becomes second nature. Then, work up to 10/10ths.

We do it on a skid pad. Nothing to hit thank God. Very rarely does someone go into the fence surrounding it.

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