AZ Region Spring Driver’s School

Learning from the Pros

By Diane Deanovic

Firebird International Raceway – March 25, 2006

I sit behind the wheel, strapped into my seat with my CG lock, trying not to grip the wheel too tightly, trying to calm down as I run the course through my mind.

I always get a strange enhanced awareness of my surroundings right before the starter says “the course is yours”. I feel the rhythm of the car, my seat belt strapping me in, I hear the muffled voice of the announcer over the loud speaker through my helmet, I can smell hot rubber from the car before me, and I feel like I can see every orange and black cone on the course in front of me.

Jay Balducci

Today is different, however. Today I have a great driver sitting in the seat beside me. Today I am attending the Arizona Region SCCA Solo II Spring Drivers School. I signed up for the school so that I could improve my driving skills and try to shave more time off my runs. I have only been practicing since last summer and I feel like I can’t find any more time on the course.

My instructor is Dave Young. He is a very skilled driver. He looks smooth and precise every time he runs. I am hoping I can learn at least that from him; he makes driving through cones look effortless.

Before my group runs, we walk the course a few times. Dave explains car position and the importance of launching at the start of the course. We walk through the first few gates and talk about where we should be looking ahead to. When we reach the slalom, we talk about early entry and staying on–line. I have heard that in the past, but I did not understand that “staying on-line” meant the path taken through a turn. In some cases, that could mean the shorter distance may be quicker than faster speed. The goal in autocross is not to be the fastest, but the quickest. The goal is to minimize time.

From another perspective I spoke to one of my friends, Kat Morrill. She was enrolled in the class too. When I asked what she learned, she said, she found that Driver's School was really useful. She had been auto crossing for about 4 years, but had fallen into a slump of not being able to improve. Getting the chance to learn how her instructor (Mark Johnson) not only walked the course, but also how he approached driving the course was really useful. Getting immediate feedback from someone who has a lot more experience and knowledge was great.

She told me her favorite part was the number of runs she ran on each course. She said it was great to spend the majority of the day on the course, rather than sitting in the paddock waiting to make the usual four competition runs.

She said she would definitely recommend Driver's School to anyone who is interested in learning how to become a better auto crosser, a new auto crosser, or just someone who wants to learn how to become a better driver.

Back to reality. It is my turn to run again. I am waiting for the starter to say ”the course is yours”. I am running through all the new things I learned and hoping I will be able to recall them at the proper time. I repeat to myself, look ahead, think ahead, stay on-line, smoothness. I hear the muffled “the course is yours” and I count 3…2..1.

Photo: Chris Sparling