Well you have to realize each person is different. I started getting good after attending my first novice autocross school in 2001, and then really fast when I attended my first Evolution School in April 2002.

Also realize it's not how long it takes, but how often you go to an autocross, ask for help, ask to jump in with an experience driver, have an experience driver drive your car, etc...

Someone could say oh I've been doing this 20 years but they still drive slow OR because they attend 1 event per year. Whereas one of my 1st students was an awesome driver his first year. Some people just pick it up quick.

For me I do about 30-40 events PER year, so I get alot of practice

 

I'll probably get 12-15 by the end of this year. Next year we'll see how my work schedule is, but hopefully several more. I feel like I'm catching on fairly well, but nowhere near where I could be obviously.

Something I noticed watching your videos. You don't downshift to 1st very often. You come off turns into a straight away in low 2nd. Why's that?

 

Everytime you shift you are wasting 1/2-1 second. If you upshift from 1-2 then 2-1 then back to 1-2 you just wasted 1.5-3 seconds.

Leaving it in 2nd gear is better actually. ONly at REAL tight courses do you ever have to downshift to 1st and it ACTUALLY helps. Leaving it in 2nd also makes your car accelerate smoother AND brake smoother.

When you downshift to 1st it upsets the balance of the car - which sucks for a FWD car, and when you accelerate in 1st out of a corner you will always power understeer.

 

So keeping your RPM closer to peak horsepower isn't really an issue in autocross. That sparks another question. Why is it always said that you want the peak horsepower and not peak torque? They happen at different RPM I know. I would think that since torque is what makes you accelerate then you would want the RPM with the most torque.

 

Ok nevermind I got it.

 

Spoken like a true champion Mike. I had to make my way over here to check out the RSX-S scene before I make my final decision. It's getting closer and closer.

 

Do EIITT!

 

Nice video! Good soundtrack too. It was really helpful when you raised or zoomed in the camera so the dashboard wasn't in the way. It takes a little getting used to before you can tell how the car is reacting, since the viewer can't feel exactly how far you're steering vs. how much you're turning/sliding.

I don't. Can you explain it?

 

Well I thought I had it, but I don't...anybody else?

 

I kept this in mind this weekend and it helped a TON. All day today I was in second gear...so much smoother, right hand is able to steer and not on shifter. Needless to say I won my bump class today and indexed higher than an ES car with a driver that is apparently pretty good. People gasped when they saw he lost. So thanks for the tip. :bigok: