The intention was to let people hang themselves on the second cone. The first spacing was 45' but the was 55' and the rest were 66'. Hopefully it wasn't too painful.John Stimson wrote:Yeah, 45'. I drove at an event with a minimum-spaced slalom, and pretty much everyone's reaction was "KILL ME NOW". This one was work, but not that bad.KJ Christopher wrote:John Stimson - I think you mean 45'?
April course...kudos to Kurt!
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
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Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
i thought the slalom was perfect... if you weren't on top of that first cone you got behind really quick. The increase in spacing helped out but still gave a sense of rhythm needed to do it "fast." Big Kudos to you! :gpower:
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
After reading more comments after my post, I would like to congratulate you for actually offering an optional slalom.
Admittedly I have missed a lot of events in the last year and a half... So based solely on those I have managed to attend...
While a give take option with benefits / penalties is also a nice variation, I can't remember the last time in LA where I had a choice no matter the circumstances. So often were either required to take the obvious easy way (as the poste above felt should have existed), or forced to take the hard and/or painful way, all because of a forced pointer cone directional. This specific slalom required one to not only look ahead, but thing (remember?) ahead. While the rules specifically state a course should not require memorization, some thought process beyond simply looking ahead for the next directional should exist. Personally I think all courses should have three non directional slalom. This typically tosses out the "just go right (or left)" possibilities, and can create benefits for those who actually look at and learn their course. That's why you walk it several times, correct?
Admittedly I have missed a lot of events in the last year and a half... So based solely on those I have managed to attend...
While a give take option with benefits / penalties is also a nice variation, I can't remember the last time in LA where I had a choice no matter the circumstances. So often were either required to take the obvious easy way (as the poste above felt should have existed), or forced to take the hard and/or painful way, all because of a forced pointer cone directional. This specific slalom required one to not only look ahead, but thing (remember?) ahead. While the rules specifically state a course should not require memorization, some thought process beyond simply looking ahead for the next directional should exist. Personally I think all courses should have three non directional slalom. This typically tosses out the "just go right (or left)" possibilities, and can create benefits for those who actually look at and learn their course. That's why you walk it several times, correct?
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
But National courses Never have optional slaloms, and everything is just practice for Nationals
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
I thought the course was fantastic. Especially the area just preceding the large left hand sweeper before the Chicago box. Really really good stuff
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
Is it bad that I agree with Mako? Having to remember which way to go on multiple slaloms is just needless annoyance.Mako Koiwai wrote:But National courses Never have optional slaloms, and everything is just practice for Nationals
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
i dislike optional slaloms as well... in a sense it creates two courses. I would hate to lose a championship due to not doing the slalom the same way my competitors were. If that makes any sense. I prefer one course and the best driver to perform it best is the winner.Eric Clements wrote:Is it bad that I agree with Mako? Having to remember which way to go on multiple slaloms is just needless annoyance.Mako Koiwai wrote:But National courses Never have optional slaloms, and everything is just practice for Nationals
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
There was an optional-direction pair of gates at the 2005 National Championships. Optional features are rare, but they do show up at national events. It gives you a choice of line, but with two discrete options instead of the continuum you get when the course is really wide.
I just wanted to point out the logistical drawbacks to having an unmarked slalom at a local event. I don't see any positives. I don't think the lack of a pointer on Sunday posed any additional challenge for experienced drivers, but it may have tripped up some new people. Ideally, I'd want to challenge the veterans without confusing new drivers.
I just wanted to point out the logistical drawbacks to having an unmarked slalom at a local event. I don't see any positives. I don't think the lack of a pointer on Sunday posed any additional challenge for experienced drivers, but it may have tripped up some new people. Ideally, I'd want to challenge the veterans without confusing new drivers.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
All slaloms used to be optional!Eric Clements wrote:Is it bad that I agree with Mako? Having to remember which way to go on multiple slaloms is just needless annoyance.Mako Koiwai wrote:But National courses Never have optional slaloms, and everything is just practice for Nationals
I don't think I saw a pointer cone for the first 10 years I was autocrossing...
As if seeing Berry girls all grown up and married didn't make me feel old enough as it is.
Thanks a lot.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
Yep, that's the way I remember it. Lots of discussions standing at the entrance to slaloms trying to decide the fastest way to go. In fact, I can remember Craig Angel using an optional *short cut* in a course.Robert Puertas wrote:All slaloms used to be optional!
I don't think I saw a pointer cone for the first 10 years I was autocrossing...
For a practice, I like optional slaloms so one can see the effect both ways. For a championship, a defined slalom makes sense in that we're all driving the same course.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
Actually, as it was originally designed, it was a five-cone slalom that had benefits and drawbacks to entering at either side, but we had to extend it by a cone on switchover so we could slow the course down (if you weren't there, it was really fun but waaaaaay too fast). I actually went in on the wrong side on my first run We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I like making people plan and think a bit.John Stimson wrote:I just wanted to point out the logistical drawbacks to having an unmarked slalom at a local event. I don't see any positives. I don't think the lack of a pointer on Sunday posed any additional challenge for experienced drivers, but it may have tripped up some new people. Ideally, I'd want to challenge the veterans without confusing new drivers.
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Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
I guess it all depends on experience. Having run for about 30 years before there were pointers, to me it's no big deal to have options. Just part of the game to decide which way benefits your particular car more. And sometimes you change that after your first run. As far as Novices, that's why there is a Novice course walk.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
They are running the same course, everyone has the same option. No different than choosing a particular line over another.George Schilling wrote: For a championship, a defined slalom makes sense in that we're all driving the same course.
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Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
I remember those......now I feel old!!! Thanks George.George Schilling wrote:In fact, I can remember Craig Angel using an optional *short cut* in a course.
Re: April course...kudos to Kurt!
They're all optional. You just DNF if you go the wrong way.Will Kalman wrote:They are running the same course, everyone has the same option. No different than choosing a particular line over another.George Schilling wrote: For a championship, a defined slalom makes sense in that we're all driving the same course.