Quote:
Originally Posted by cgroppi
I think your main issue is that you're way late on pretty much every slalom cone. By the time you get to a cone, you want the car already turned enough to be at least parallel to the direction of the slalom, preferably already turning around the cone. This is called being on the "backside" of a cone. You are waiting to get to a slalom cone before turning around it. The problem compounds with every cone, so the problem gets worse as you go through a slalom. This issue also causes you to get progressively wide on each cone. You get hammered by this on the curving slalom on both runs. On your fast run with cone, the slalom at 1:05 is much better. You don't get as late, carry more speed and don't get stuffed at the end. You're also much closer to the cones. Also much better on the finish slalom on the cone run.
On a few of the pivot cones, you go in too tight to the cone and too fast, and way overshoot the apex. That sort of thing costs a HUGE amount of time (like 1-2 seconds each time you do it). I suggest going in wider, turn in earlier and try to place the car so you are within ~1ft of the cone at the apex. You'll carry more speed through, and drive a shorter line. Examples of this are the pivot at the end of the first slalom, the end of the curving slalom at 0:50, pivot at 0:55, the end of the sweeper at 1:20 and again at 1:27. The sweeper at 1:40 is way better, as is the entrance to the curving slalom. You don't overshoot and therefore don't have to stomp on the brakes and slow to a crawl to make the corner.
This issue is helped by "looking ahead". In this case, that means that before you even brake for a corner, you should already be looking at the EXIT of that corner. Before you get to a slalom, you should already be looking at the END of the slalom. This sometimes means your head is turned 90 degrees from the direction the car is moving. This will help you get your braking point right, turn in at the right time, get the car on the right line from the beginning, get your speed through the corner right etc. etc. It's probably the most important thing (and hardest) to learn to do. I still struggle with it, and find myself staring at the tips of my shoes sometimes.
I'm sure someone better than me could find you more time. I'm a hack.
Because of that, I STRONGLY suggest that if you have the chance, you take one or more Evolution schools. I've taken the Phase I, Phase II, Challenge and Setup schools. Phase I in particular is the best $250 you will ever spend autocrossing. The instructors are all national champions. Most are multiple time national champions. You could spend 10 times as much in your car and not get even a fraction of the gain. They will teach you to look ahead.
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To address the Slalom problem. I know it's a huge problem I can't seem to get around. I autocrossed my 325xi in STX for a year and a half prior. So it's completely different in every aspect (power, drivetrain, suspension...etc).
I noticed the first time I went out I always hit the slalom cones with my rear wheels if I took the same line that I did with my E46 (that's my cone hit as well). How can I make sure I turn in early, and get my nose pointing in the right direction without clipping the rear?
The bad thing was that my "best run" was my second heat. I ran a 86.6xx but I murdered cones by going too fast into the second optional slalom (I hit a cone prior and knew it was a throw away run). I can post this video if you want to see. I am still trying to get use to this car and see exactly how fast I can get into and out of the slaloms, and everything else. This is only my 3rd time out in the car.
When turning on the pivot cones, should I take more of a "corvette" line? Take it wide then straighten it out to almost a straight line to hit the apex?
I really do need to look MORE ahead. I will look ahead, but not to the extent that you mention at all.
With the purchase of my car, I missed the opportunity to do the Evo school this year. I plan on getting my butt to one of them though. I know how much of an improvement it can cause.
Here is a Paint MAP of the course. Hopefully this can help you try to show me what you mean when I approach the pivot cones.
