nc89sho said:
already got both. keep in mind, i've only done 9 autocrosses TOTAL and NO racing experience other that that. I'm pretty happy with my progress so far. and i fully plan on getting more seat time and doing even more events next season. already planning on a cuicut cross (on a road course) in Feb. sadly i must admit that this is becoming an obsesion and i really fear for the sake of my budget. i just can't stop racing.
Yeah, congrats on the good progress!
Getting experience and learning cost effectively will get you an edge on other folks who don't take the time. Even racing games like GT4 or GTR2 can help a lot once you know the sort of driving model that you're trying to develop (e.g., weight transfer, etc.). Many of the sim games model such effects pretty well and you can learn a lot about line and control and hone some basic skills.
And karts are usually relatively cheap seat time, and can be especially helpful if you can get somebody of similar or slightly better skill level to go with you. Having somebody to chase around can really help. Some of my best lap times have been from following somebody or chasing down somebody in a faster car. You can get that in spades on a kart course. Often there are track heroes at kart places playing around, anyway, so sometimes you can find somebody worth following or you'll find them automatically as the session goes on.
And you can practice turning lines, smooth braking technique, and sensing feedback from the steering wheel, the seat, etc., whenever you drive, even on the most mundane street trip. Get in the habit of _always_ heel-toe shifting until it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it. I used to have all sorts of brake problems when I would track the other SHO and I got in the habit of pumping the brake pedal up a couple of times before _every_ application, and I still do that a lot on the street regardless of what I'm driving (even the SVTF and my truck). Getting that sort of thing to just be automatic and second nature lets you put your conscious concentration on the next skill you're trying to acquire (hitting your braking point or apex every time, whatever).
BTW, I'm not saying it's a good idea to alway pump up the brake pedal. It's just a habit I acquired of necessity. If you don't need to do it, don't bother. My point was just that it's another habit I've acquired that is now so automatic that it doesn't really cost me any time or concentration to do it. You'll sort out the kinds of habitual details that work for you as you go along.
