2 Shift or not 2 Shift

[Oni]

Yep, they had it posted up at the trailer. I'm not sure if they always do this, or if it was more for the use of explaining the course. The course that day was by far one of the most confusing courses I've ever driven. I got lost on the first run, and after talking with several people out there, I wasn't the only one having trouble. If you look at the unofficial results, you'd see there are a LOT of DNFs for the first runs on the course even by the regulars. However, they no longer have the site anymore due to pressure I believe from the regional director (?) over the safety of the site. There was an incident at each event (three for three), and the last incident was by far the scariest/worst.

If they can secure a site, you should come out to the NEOkla region to autocross. You'll definitely find out what a Cooper S is more capable of than how some of the OKC Coopers drive. Not that any of them are bad drivers, but Brock is just plain good. I think you'll beat the competition this season with your improvements and upgrades, Mike. Maybe you and Brock can give each other a run for the first place spot.

Wish I could still run with you in G-Stock...

[DirtyDeeds]

The size and design of a course will for the most part determine your gear selection. For the average auto-x course, leaving the car in 2nd will do fine.

If you can keep your speed high enough in the tighter turns and stay in your powerband, then leave it in 2nd gear.

[SteelRain]

Originally posted by ilcowil
Maybe you and Brock can give each other a run for the first place spot.

Oh no, He ran in OKC early last year and SMOKED the course. I think he posted the top PAX time overall and in top 5 overall. No thanks, let him stay in NEOKLA and I will stay in OKC.

[eazyrider_tim]

I don't understand that map at all, and I read blueprints for a living.

[..:: sleestak ::..]

^^ LMAO. They can get pretty interesting.


Our courses out here are a little easier to read, have some tight areas, but also open up to allow you to get on it here and there.

Here was one of our winter courses....this was 2nd gear in my SVTF for pretty much the whole course.

[WD40]

I'm still on the fence concerning 2nd gear.
The tighter courses I've run in Great Falls, Missoula, and Bozeman can be handled entirely in 1st gear,
and only peg the limiter on the last couple runs of the day when I've finally found the spots where I can keep a bit more momentum
Yes, the courses are that tight, but a bigger factor is how tall the SVTF 1st gear is.

However, Helena and to a lesser extent Malmstrom AFB are much more open.
In fact, I need 3rd gear quite often in Helena.
Where I really started playing around with the "2nd gear factor" I'll call it after talking with Carrera26 was at Malmstrom.
I finally found the benefits in keeping momentum as well as having much less wheel spin.
(Watching my vids at home and at the track has been a great help,
as I can hear right away when the inside front starts spinning)
I'm definitely going to work on this more for this season.
The first few times playing around with it, I was so absorbed in when and when not to shift, I wasn't concentrating on my line.
I will say this though...
In the last event of the season (Malmstrom again) when I played around with 2nd gear,
my times were only a couple 10ths off of my all out runs shifting more between 1st and 2nd and back again.
Hmmmm.

[SteelRain]

Originally posted by eazyrider_tim
I don't understand that map at all, and I read blueprints for a living.

LMAO!!!

[Carrera26]

It's getting your foot re-trained to put the foot down farther and sooner while sticking in 2nd that's the hard part. 2 years of muscle memory from trying to limit spin in first gear was awfully hard to overcome. Get that licked and I think that there is tons of time to be found.

The fact that that advice came from a guy who won several Stock class National Championships with a torque-less 1.6L Civic makes me believe in it all the more.

[SVT_BMXer]

I really enjoy reading all these threads about autoX because i would love to get into it this year and reading this stuff is telling me more and more of what i need to know.

[Oni]

I just received word from Brock on the SVTOA forums, and it looks like he won't be running at most if not all the events. Bummer, he'd give you a real run for your money.

Don't want to run with him? It'll give you a goal to shoot for. I think you have more than enough skill to take down Pat's Cooper S. If you're running that close to him on your street tires against his slicks and at the last OKC event, I was able to put down a time that none of them could match, I think you're going to find you may have gone overkill with the tires in being competitive in our region. Who knows?

Just think. I have to go up against Eric Denison! He's the fastest guy at our events on street tires. Second place might be very comfortable this year unless Jason comes out to a few and gives me a run for my money. Oh well, it's all for fun, right?