Thoughts from a Novice after First Event...

[ArtyG]

Okay, so I've thought about this. The preparation that the Novice Dudes gave was excellent. About the only thing that helped was getting the opportunity to talk to other people who had previously attended, and having the help of an experienced driver walk through the course before we even walked through with the Novice Dudes. I think that they did a great job, but maybe just putting a slight more emphasis on letting the novices know that walking the course helps out. Other than that, CHEERS!

Keep up the good work, DUDES!

[unFIT2compete]

Walk early. Walk often.

[uglymazda]

We're glad you had a good time. I'll see what we can do to get something posted on the "your first event" page about course walk.

[GonzoRacer]

Hey Arty-
Yes, you are correct Grasshopper... Walking the course is very, very essential. Often, novices ask "are there practice runs before we run for time?" and that opens the door to explain the need for the "course walk". Guess we didn't hit that one hard enough this time.

There are lots of theories about course walking. Some people walk as fast as possible, because that's how they'll see the course. Some like to bend over or squat down and look at parts of the course, to give them a "car level" perspective. Personally, I always have to look back from one element to the previous one, and say "Oh, I need to exit that one over there so I can wind up here..." and then walk it a second time to see if that flows. Confused yet? Good...

Yeah, walk thru the course often. Try to envision where you need to brake, which "line" you want to take thru each element, etc.

Glad you had fun. Hope to see the Tally Imports group again, lots of 'em!
Take Care-
JD Kemp

[unFIT2compete]

another trick while walking the course is to stay on the view from the driver's seat. Account for the width of the car on either side of the driver while walking through cones. You'll get a more acurate look at the next gate.

[Sandy Heath]

Feb 6, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -5 unFIT2compete said:

another trick while walking the course is to stay on the view from the driver's seat. Account for the width of the car on either side of the driver while walking through cones. You'll get a more acurate look at the next gate.

and don't forget to air drive while your walking.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Honestly I've gotten to some events so late I didn't walk the course at all. I would park near the end of the grid line and beg rides with people that did walk it before my first run. This works pretty good even if you did walk it.

[09eclipse]

Having never walked a course before and then associated it with driving the course I'll feel much more prepared to walk the course and take notes the second time. Hopefully this weekend I'll ride with someone, I can imagine how advantageous that could be.