different way to a drive a slalom?

[Mike Hodges]

i was hoping somebody could tell me if this would work. i think i know the way we have been taught to drive a slalom, backside cone #1 then front/back/front/back etc. my question is why cant we frontside cone #2 instead, providing the entry or track layout allows this. we could carry our speed a little further, later braking. i think we could do this at the end of the slalom providing the exit or layout allows this. am i trying to reinvent the wheel or am i nuts? looking for every little edge i can get. anybody have any thoughts on this?

confused

mike hodges

[Mark DeShon]

...i think i know the way we have been taught to drive a slalom, backside cone #1 then front/back/front/back etc...

I'm a little confused about this explanation, but I'll try to answer your question. The way I've always heard is to backside all cones except the last one, or two depending on how fast your car accelerates on the way out. The reason for this is to 'stay ahead of the course' instead of reacting to the course. This way if you do come in a little bit too hot, you have a slight pad to keep you from hitting cone#3 and/or coming to a near stop to miss it. Be forewarned, however, that staying on the backside will make the course slightly longer, so don't over exaggerate it. The faster drivers will get closer and closer to being perpendicular to the cones and making the driving line as narrow as possible, but this becomes a knife edge.
On to your question: If the course has me enter a slalom from a 'friendly' angle, I basically ignore the first cone, and setup an early arc to backside the second cone. I set my rhythm and continue to backside all cones until the second to last, where I start to accelerate out. On the other hand, if there's a three cone slalom that I'm approaching at a high speed, I'll enter it hot and give it a lift or even left foot brake tap to rotate it around the middle cone like a big box (Tom taught me that trick). If this upsets the car a bit, who cares because there is no fourth cone to hit. So, yes, there are gains to be made by adjusting your entry and exit speeds based on the type of slalom and what comes before and after it. Remember, you never want to drive fast in a slow section at the expense of a fast section.
One more tip... And sorry if this is too elementary. Regardless of what type of slalom you're attacking, you always want to arc around the first cone. Set your rhythm before you enter the slalom, otherwise you start off behind the course and spend the rest of your time scrubbing speed in order to catch up. Hope that helps.
Mark D.

[Doug Kott]

Nice explanation, Mark.

You might think of it in road racing terms. "Backsiding" is like late apexing, where Mike's suggested alternative approach is an early apex. If you early apex a standard 90-degree turn on a track, you run out of road at exit. Similarly, early apexing a slalom will put you wide of where you want to attack the next cone in the slalom.

Backsiding the first cone also seems to set up what I call the "wag," compressing the outside suspension more than a less exaggerated move would. For the next cone, this released energy throws the energy toward the other side of the car more violently...a destabilizing move to be sure, but sometimes if you get the timing just right, you can get through the slalom quicker than with a smoother approach with this little bit of "momentary toss oversteer," for lack of a better term. Seems counterintuitive. Maybe it just feels better, but is slower?

Other thoughts?

[Sebastian Rios]

A helpful tip I picked up along the way is to look at the last cone of the slalom rather than the one you are approaching. This makes it much easier to establish a rhythm.

[Mako Koiwai]

Study this! Courtesy of Pete L:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqN6yCCNeNs&sns=em

[Mike Hodges]

...i think i know the way we have been taught to drive a slalom, backside cone #1 then front/back/front/back etc...

I'm a little confused about this explanation, but I'll try to answer your question. The way I've always heard is to backside all cones except the last one, or two depending on how fast your car accelerates on the way out. The reason for this is to 'stay ahead of the course' instead of reacting to the course. This way if you do come in a little bit too hot, you have a slight pad to keep you from hitting cone#3 and/or coming to a near stop to miss it. Be forewarned, however, that staying on the backside will make the course slightly longer, so don't over exaggerate it. The faster drivers will get closer and closer to being perpendicular to the cones and making the driving line as narrow as possible, but this becomes a knife edge.
On to your question: If the course has me enter a slalom from a 'friendly' angle, I basically ignore the first cone, and setup an early arc to backside the second cone. I set my rhythm and continue to backside all cones until the second to last, where I start to accelerate out. On the other hand, if there's a three cone slalom that I'm approaching at a high speed, I'll enter it hot and give it a lift or even left foot brake tap to rotate it around the middle cone like a big box (Tom taught me that trick). If this upsets the car a bit, who cares because there is no fourth cone to hit. So, yes, there are gains to be made by adjusting your entry and exit speeds based on the type of slalom and what comes before and after it. Remember, you never want to drive fast in a slow section at the expense of a fast section.
One more tip... And sorry if this is too elementary. Regardless of what type of slalom you're attacking, you always want to arc around the first cone. Set your rhythm before you enter the slalom, otherwise you start off behind the course and spend the rest of your time scrubbing speed in order to catch up. Hope that helps.
Mark D.

hi mark

i wanted to thank you for your reply. i will try to explain my selfbetter. i should have said. can i front side side the slamlom starting at cone number. i quess at that point you would have to front side the rest of the slalom which would leave little room for error if you over drive. if you over drive the backside at least room have room to adjust, i think. i think i under stand now. thank you again for your reply.

mike

[Mike Hodges]

Nice explanation, Mark.

You might think of it in road racing terms. "Backsiding" is like late apexing, where Mike's suggested alternative approach is an early apex. If you early apex a standard 90-degree turn on a track, you run out of road at exit. Similarly, early apexing a slalom will put you wide of where you want to attack the next cone in the slalom.

Backsiding the first cone also seems to set up what I call the "wag," compressing the outside suspension more than a less exaggerated move would. For the next cone, this released energy throws the energy toward the other side of the car more violently...a destabilizing move to be sure, but sometimes if you get the timing just right, you can get through the slalom quicker than with a smoother approach with this little bit of "momentary toss oversteer," for lack of a better term. Seems counterintuitive. Maybe it just feels better, but is slower?

Other thoughts?

hi doug

i think you are correct. it was a wild thought. your momentum carrys you too the cone if you front side, no room for error. thank you for your thoughts.

mike

[Mike Hodges]

A helpful tip I picked up along the way is to look at the last cone of the slalom rather than the one you are approaching. This makes it much easier to establish a rhythm.

thanks sebastian i have never heard that before. that was worth the post even if i looked dumb posting that questions.

thanks again
mike

[Mike Hodges]

Study this! Courtesy of Pete L:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqN6yCCNeNs&sns=em

hi mako

that looked so cool. that car seemed to rotate very well. i hope i can drive like that someday.

thank you
mike