THSCC Forums

Good day gents:

While I am currently rally carless (but working on solutions), it is my belief that we need a rallyX school for the majority of people who rallyX with us (maybe split into two days so everyone gets enough track time).

Why?

- I know *I* need LOTS of 1v1 time with some of the *very* few experienced drivers we have to see what I am completely screwing up
- Almost EVERYONE needs to learn how to drive on a rutted course -- period.
- A school of the right size give A LOT more seat time then you get in a rallyX
- *I* need help in seeing how a course with a static layout changes dynamically throughout the day and how to 'keep up' with the course.

On the whole, 95% of us get waxed by the best 5% of drivers... and pretty handily. I think it would be worth the time to have a school of the top guys we have now to teach the CORRECT principles of rallyX driving.

Also, this would be a great way to show people how to drive correctly to avoid being stupid and launching themselves off/over ruts.

Input?

- dow

Brian, i would be interested in participating as a student. however, i think the reality of your idea is maybe 6 or 8 instructors and maybe 15 to 20 students. this being said, i see some logistical problems scheduling such a limited number of instructors. also, with such small numbers, would the costs outweigh the benefit to the club? from a safety standpoint i would say no, but i can't speak on the financial aspect. and in turn, how much would a student be charged to offset these costs? just playing devil's advocate here, i think it is a good idea for us to have a school.

Quite honestly, I don't even know if there would be THAT many instructors. As far as people who really seem to know what they are doing out there, I think we are limited to 3-4 people.

Costs? I have no clue. That is something I would need the rallyX VPs to chime in on.

Charge? I would pay 60 to play in a low number training setup with people who know what they are doing. Maybe it should be an 'intermediate' school. Regardless, I think it rallyX has MANY more dynamics than 'road driving' that are just different.

IMHO, we have good people you come to rallyX. However, I still think some 'formalized' learning would do A LOT of us some good. These instructional sessions could happen on a setup day... day before the rallyX... ??? As far as I know, Kevin's mom has been *very* gracious to us, and the cost to setup a school would be limited from what I can tell. However, I could be easily missing some 'duh' things (insurance, port-a-jons, etc).

Regardless, I think it is worth some constructive criticism to brainstorm if this COULD work, and those that would be interested in attending the school.

- dow

I am all for a school. Most of us need to learn how to deal with rutted up courses so we can navigate them fast and safe. I believe that to have a proper school could charge more as an entry fee. I remember hearing that if we have less than 30 people at a normal rallycross we are losing money at the $30 entry fee. So if we had maybe a $40 entry fee would work out. I know that I have learned tons just by watching and riding with Kevin. If we had a school atmosphere where you are not focusing just running faster times but running cleaner lines and learning where to give a little so you can gain a little somewhere else on course.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

I understand what you're asking for, Brian, and I see the benefit. But as far as safety goes, this really should be a novice school, since they're the ones showing us their undercarriages... As a VP, I'm a lot more concerned about incidents like that than I am with helping you go faster. I do think an "intermediate" school is a good idea as well, but, given our current history, I don't think we would be prioritizing things right to have it before a novice school.

I think there are a couple things that we could do (for everyone) in the meantime, though. One would be to encourage drivers to beg ride-alongs with the fastest drivers, and for the fastest drivers to make a point of having the right seat available for a variety of different riders (rather than just 1 or 2 perrenial favorites).

Another would be to create a discussion thread on Situations and Techniques here on the forums. Obviously not as good as real practice, but over the years I continue to see the same 2 or 3 mistakes being made over and over again, often by the same drivers. Whether it's a simple lack of information, a need for an "aha" moment, or an inability to engage the brain during a run and make a change to driving style, I don't know- but the concepts are not hard to grasp, and should be easily conveyed via text.

Maybe I'll create such a thread next.

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

Help us out Carl!

I am having some trouble adjusting to find that last few percent as well - most of my runs fall into the autocross category in that I go out with a plan and try to execute it. (and make a mistake or two...) It's proving pretty difficult to adjust my plan on the fly and make the runs be rallycross runs, where I start with a plan and adjust on the go.

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

This is interesting, Kevin. Can you elaborate? And why do you think this is?

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

Well I think you did a very good analysis of the most common reasons in your help thread. I think the most common situation for me is when I make a mistake (whether autox or rallyx) it's very hard to change plan mid-course. For example, if I enter an offset too hot and blow the first turn it's really really hard to change mindset and either change the line I want to run or get back on line without losing lots of time.

What I mean by the runs being rallyx runs is just that they are guided more by the condition of the course and location of available grip rather than my plan based on course walk or the like.

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

You know Kevin if you spent more time BSing on the course walk and less time thinking about your line maybe you would become a more adaptive driver, since you wouldn't remember the course anyway.

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Mk1 Scirocco Rally Car

Is there any other way to do a course walk

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Merkur xr4ti rally car

Of COURSE there is!

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Lina Racing: As Seen On Radio

I now really want to see our rally VP's doing a coursewalk while practicing their dance moves.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

... has Ander's been an event chair since his 'down the hills and I will dukes of hazzard my Impreza' rallyX?

I am so disappointed I missed that one, and more importantly, setup day

- dow

Nope. Now that I organize Sandblast Rally, I don't think you'll see me organizing anything else. Both sports (rally and rallyx) need more people learning to be good organizers, not good people learning to organize even more.

Myself, I really need to do some "just show up and drive and have fun" events to recharge my rally-love batteries.

Anders

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Lina Racing: As Seen On Radio

To return to topic, I would enjoy attending a rally cross school.

Cheers,
Anders

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Lina Racing: As Seen On Radio