Solo II and the beginner

[Paul H]

I have been following the posts recently and I thought that after the dust had settled a few points should be brought up from a beginner's point of view.
A comment was made on the need to attract new participants. I agree, and would like to tell you how I got started.
My first solo was with WOSCA at the Delaware Raceway. The weather was horrible (rain, hail, cold) but the people were great and the layout was interesting but pretty open. I had a blast and continued with the sport. I was driving a big station wagon at the time!
However, you can imagine how a beginner would feel, on their first time with the way some of the courses have been laid out recently. Looking out at the complicated sea of cones. After 5 hours he/she would get about 5 min of track time and probably end up with 5 DNFs. I doubt that this person would be very keen on trying it again. I know one individual that will not be returning.
Please do not read this as a b*tch post, I just wanted people to know how I feel that things have changed and how it affects the new people to the sport.
I am happy to hear that the courses will be opened up a bit.
Regards,
Paul H

[miataboi]

...being able to "see the course" while driving is the FIRST majorly difficult thing for most "newbies" in this sport... takes time... and eye-training. You MUST walk the course and be able to stand at the start-box and be able to identify the various "sections" of the course... It's hard... and some just give up as once they start... they get "sea-of-cones-syndrome".

That's too bad... I'm convinced that most would get it.

The second hardest and most UNNATURAL thing for most drivers with 2-3 events under their belt... is looking far enough ahead... IT"S TOUGH... you WANT to look at those little orange things and make sure that you aren't hitting them as you pass them!!!

The best advice I can give new people to the sport... and perhaps EVERY driver's meeting should announce that novice drivers can have an experienced solo 2 passenger help them to critique them and give a few VITAL tips...

LIKE... not depressing the clutch at EVERY brake point... or to look further ahead... or not to coast... etc.

It would eliminate some of those 5 DNF'ers.
Having said that... some of the local events (not regionals) might be a better place to "get your feet wet"

A "seasoned veteran" helped me out... it was PRICELESS advice and feedback.... and I reccomend the same to any newbie.

[speedevo]

i think having someone experienced to help would be great i'm looking in on this sport and having no real clue has to how everything works is kinda intimating with 100 cars there.

[JoeT]

Speedevo,

Don't let the "Over 100" cars intimidate you. Let us know what car you drive, come out to the next CASC Solo (Bronte), or come to TLMC, the SPDA guys would be more than happy to take you on ride alongs, as well as go through a narrative walk through.

We do this at every event we participate in. Yes, even for non Subaru drivers.

Come out to any of the events and look for anyone with the SPDA hat, ask them to take you to JoeT and we'll take it from there.

No worries.. We're all here to help.

[slick]

For us non-rookies (didn't say veteran, I'm not that old), we should always try to help out when new people show up at a course.

Anything from just making them feel welcome, to tips on tire pressures, running with them in car to show the course or even taking them along in your car. This improves the experience dramatically for them!

The biggest reason I continued in Solo2 after my first event was because of the cailber of people involved in the sport, both from the friendliness, to their experience and skill. I knew I could learn much in that fun environment.

That first year I think I must have competed in over 30 events (including the regional series too), ask Finboy! I was hooked that year for sure.
Also, having people like Finboy, SlalomSteve and Tony McGrath to compete with (in similar or exact same cars) definitely raised my game and told me where I had to be.


Let's not forget where we were a few years ago in respect to number of events and participants in regional and local events. The reason we are enjoying this surge in popularity is because of the people and affordability of the sport.

Let's continue to recruit more to the solo camps!

Cheers,

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by JoeT
Speedevo,

Don't let the "Over 100" cars intimidate you.

As a "veteran" with a whopping 4 whole events under my belt, I can heartily second this opinion. It is great, big, sh*t-eating-grin fun and the people you meet will change your life. It's also a helluva lot cheaper than joining a cult.

As JoeT says, you need not be intimidated by the number of cars there. There's always going to be people faster than you and there's always going to be people slower than you (check the #23 Miata's times for proof of that). But you will have fun if you come with the attitude that you want to learn, toss your ride around a bit, and meet interesting people.

My only word of advice is: bring LOTS of sunscreen and waterproof clothing, just in case.

[gatherer]

well this is my first season of solo 2 and I guess that makes me fairly new....

However, at my first solo 2 event (also happened to be a WOSCA event) I, after meeting Wes at the solo 2 school (which I heard about from friends and then rushed to get in to it) latched on to him and started sucking information out of his brain... I don't think I even let him have one solitary course walk that day... I also met other HADA members and got various people to ride with me and tell me how to go faster (which was my only concern)

since that first event I have done over 10 events now and still ask for advice, also I have only had 1 off course, yes it was in a sea of cones at a PITTL event, but my point is if newbies are open and out going it will be easy for them to find help and get it.


now if only I could set a faster time then Wes at an event.... :p

[Suzie]

Originally posted by AlienDNA
My only word of advice is: bring waterproof clothing, just in case.

Is that for when you ride along with someone supah fast and wet your pants? ;)

Suzie

[spoonie]

i can 2nd the sunscreen thing. i'm roasted - and i didnt shave, so now that i'm clean-shaven my face is multi-colour. its kinda scary looking.

the people are great. the mazda guys helped me a lot on my 1st event regarding tire pressures, so by my 2nd event i was even faster than one or two of them :D

i have yet to meet anyone that's rude or cruel. most people are here to have fun and learn more about driving dynamics and their car in particular.

i cant offer much useful advise, except to remember to reset your tire pressures back to 'normal' before you drive away from the event. :)

~Russ

[speedevo]

thanks guys just from this quick responses i can tell your all a bunch of good people, expect me to be there at Bronte Go station, is there anything else i should bring? i know i don't have a helmet so i'm hoping there are loners or maybe i can borrow one off a friend.

[speedevo]

also have i kinda screwed myself by having springs, ITR rear sway, and tie bar done to my car? cause i did those mods to have a better handling car on the street but finally waken up that i'd have more fun here.

[spoonie]

those mods will put you in BSS, probably the largest class running. that's a capable car - once you have a good understanding of your car and the courses - you'll be moving up in no time

[StewPiddass]

you're in the same boat as me evo... "hey this autocross thing is cool!".... "whaddya mean I'm in BSS?, I drive a 1.5 litre civic sedan!"

doesn't matter what class you're in, it's all good!

[speedevo]

lol great well at least i'm not alone :D

[StewPiddass]

Believe me, it doesn't get lonely in BSS (well, maybe a little near the bottom of the class where I am), it's gotta be the biggest class, and to top it off the BSS winner has been propositioning BSP almost all year.

What kind of car do you have? You should come to our (TLMC) event in Barrie this Saturday, very low key, great starter point.

[speedevo]

i've got an 01 integra ls, what time is this meet in barrie? i'm from hamilton but wouldn't mind the trip after work.

[speedevo]

oh crap i just misread an event, i was thinking it was a meet, sorry i'll be at work :(

[maddindian]

I second the "ask the veterans". I went to my first event at MOSPORT...and didn't know anyone. Well I met spoonie in Scarborough and he introduced me to a few ppl...as well as teaching me about the sport. Then I asked other ppl..and they were all very hlepful and cool.

I too was intimidated...but I knew I wasn't gonna be very competitive with the rest of hte ppl..so I focused on learning as much as I could. Hey it helped...I'm one of hte few guys that dind't hit any cones...hehe.

[ice/solo racer]

Umm a BSS winner has propositioned BSP at every event this year!:p

Sorry guys,if they didn't take the street tire bonus away I might have run streets again,then you wouldn't have had all these problems.:(