Good to hear it turned out well. It is amazing what another driver can do in your car isn't it! And that was his first and only run in the car, imagine if he had more time in it! I had a couple of national level drivers / champions drive my car a few weeks ago at an EVO school here in KC (If there is one in your area, and you can afford it, DO IT!)(Evolution performance driving schools, usually 250.00 for each level), and I thought they where going to flip my car a few times. They where able to get so much more out of my car it wasn't funny.
Also do any local schools offered as well, they are usually cheaper, also check with the Porsche/Audi/BMW clubs to see if any of them do an AutoX school. The local BMW club does one here in KC usually, and you don't have to own that make of car, just pay the club fee, and the entry fee.
Just remember:
Be SMOOOOTH with your inputs. A lot of Mini drivers (In my experience anyways) tend to hack the wheels and controls, but Mini's will forgive a lot more than most cars will.
Look as far ahead as possible, and look where it is you want to go.
Try and remember (or take notes) as much of the course as you can when you walk it, then "drive" the course in your head. Try talking your self through the course as you drive it as well. It helps me.
The more wheel you use, the less grip you have for brake and gas, and vise versa.
If you start to rotate on sweepers, try feading in more gas, again SMOOTHLY.
If you are understeering, try a SLIGHT throttle lift to shift the weight and induce some rotation, also, if you are understeering, use LESS wheel not more. just dial it out a little until the car starts to turn again. It sounds counter intuitive, but the first time you do it you will know it works.
Use Slow hands/feet, goes with being smooth. The local evo instructor here in KC has always told me that. When I ride with him it doesn't seem slow, but he never upsets the car.
Slow in - fast out
Slow down for the slow parts, so you can go fast in the fast parts. This is one of my main problems. I overcook the slow stuff, and then I am all out of shape for the fast stuff. Again, the evo instructors could go faster in the slow parts than I could, but they are also better drivers than I.
Brake in a straight line(sometimes you need to trail brake), if you left foot brake, you can modulate your speed with the brakes, W/O lifting throttle.
Do you left foot brake?
Hope that all makes sense and helps. If I get time I will try and check the rule book on those bushings. But if it puts you in any of the classes I think it does, you will be competing with full blown race cars (no interiors, verts w no windshield, not street legal stuff)
Here is a searchable PDF of the 08 rule book
http://sccaforums.com/forums/s...s.pdf
EDIT: Read the "street modified" section. I bet that will be where you go. Better there than in Modified or prepared. At least you will be competing with "normal" (I use that term loosely)street cars.
And welcome to your new addiction!
Modified by cracker at 2:19 AM 4/23/2008
