I have my first solo event in my clubbie jcw tomorrow. Any advice? Take off, should I launch? If so advice? How to take corners properly in MINI (smaller wheelbase than anything I've ever driven). General SOLO advice?

Thanks in advance

 

My advice is to not try to hard and enjoy the experience. Worry about doing it right in later events.

I did my first recently, I didn't expect much and didn't achieve much, I got lost, spun and came in 18 seconds behind the leader. Even my wife came in ahead of me. I was there just to experience it. I've got a bit better since then.

Who are you running with? If its the SCCA launching isn't necessary as the timing should be round the first corner. Other organizations vary.

 

I'm running at the scca south nj region

 

Before your runs:
1. Walk the course, and really concentrate - your goal is to be able to drive it in your head without any "gaps" or "now what?" sections. Walk it three times if you have the time. I used to make a sketch just to remember the sequence of elements - not trying for accuracy, but just noting the odd spots.

During your runs:
1. Do not drive at 10 10ths, but instead look ahead on your first run and STAY ON COURSE. If you go off course on your 1st run, then you cannot work on improving your plan, but have to waste a run fixing it!
2. After your 1st clean run (hopefully the first one for real) after you re-park the car, take off your helmet and think for a couple of minutes. Recall what you did, and what the results were. Find one thing you want to keep, and one thing you want to do differently (go a little faster, don't hit that specific cone, drive a particular element differently). Take this thinking process patiently and seriously, because getting faster is in the brains not the hands and feet.
3. Each successive run, look ahead. Notice that the farther ahead you look, the less rushed you feel and the better you are able to position the car so that it can flow through the course and not fight with it.
4. Each successive run, remember to take time to think before you get out of the car, and see if you can remember your own coaching.
5. Have fun. Do not get frustrated. Trying to drive a course well is like squeezing a balloon of water - when you push in on one location another will pop out. If you forget to have fun and just enjoy the sheer thrill of the experience, then you won't hang around long enough to get good at it.

Cheers,

Charlie

Ps: I rather suspect that this post is happening while the OP is on course!

 

I walked the course but didn't learn it well enough. We had only 5 runs because we started late.
I under steered a lot at a tear drop/ light bulb turn so I definitely need to adjust my driving because the instructor that drove my mini with me in it had no such problems. Coming off the line was hard too; I just kept spinning my tires. Overall I had a blast, but I'd like to be faster. I was quicker than all of the mustangs and most of the STIs and EVOs in the street mod and prepared classes :-).
I came 20th out of 80 raw time so not bad I would say. Hope to get out there some more. Thanks for all of your help!

 

Pax I was 9th :-)