Autocrossing... 3-cone slaloms, Ever hit the middle cone to be faster? Options

[SWortham]

Anyone ever intentionally clip the middle cone of a 3-cone slalom to be faster?

Say for example there's a 3 cone slalom put in the middle of a straight with the intention of slowing the course down. And let's say you're going 60 mph just before this slalom, and to get through cleanly you would have to go about 35. Why not just go through at full speed, just barely turning in at the middle to clip the middle cone? As long as you hit that middle cone then it's not a DNF right? And with all the speed you'd be carrying you may make up for the 2 second penalty. Or, there are some clubs with just a 1 second penalty where it'd be even more likely that you'd be making up time.

What do you think?

This post has been edited by SWortham: Aug 15 2007, 11:16 AM

[Bobzilla]

I have yet to see a course where you could "make up" that 2 seconds. Not that I'm all that experienced. But most of ours are relatively small courses that you never see 60mph in anyway. Plus most of the locations of ours slaloms are to slow you down for A.) hazards or B.)large slow turns.

But I have hit a few middle cones carrying too much speed. As a matter of fact, check out my tire's pics. THose black marks are from my last outing with the cones.

[mregt02]

we usually have 60 second courses around here, I don't see how you could make up that 2 seconds to justify hitting the cone since your speed gain is only in that slalom and you'd have to make up the 2 seconds in the slalom alone 'cause the rest of the course will be the same..... is that clear or am I thinking in French too much again?

[Bobzilla]

^ True, most of our courses are 45-50 secs.

[mregt02]

this is a touch ot but here's a google map of our autox site.
Map

[SWortham]

I agree that to even try this on some courses would be silly. The thing that got me thinking about it was the 110 second course I drove last Saturday. It had two extremely long straights with 3-cone slaloms in the middle of each. I was going about 80 mph before one of these slaloms and there's a long straight after it as well. So... imagine not lifting, just nailing that cone at 80 mph, and ending up at about 100 mph by the end of what would then be one long straight.

Oh, the other thing about this autocross in particular is that it was with the BMWCCA. And they only have a 1 second penalty per cone.

Of course hitting a cone at 80 mph will do damage to your car so I'm hesitant to try this unless I had some sort of armor over the bumper.

This post has been edited by SWortham: Aug 15 2007, 12:30 PM

[Bobzilla]

Damage? Psshh. . . wussy!

[SWortham]

I posted this over at the STI forum I visit as well. One guy responded with this...

Glad you don't run with my group, some how we prefer driving ability over cheating. Funny thing is that you have Ohlins struts listed as your favorite mod and then ask a question like this. Why pay that much for a suspension component just to try and cheat the course and go straight. You can do that stock or on the drag strip. The course is set that way for a reason, drive clean.

LOL, geez guy... lighten up. And since when is hitting a cone considered cheating? Did I miss a memo?

[Bobzilla]

Some people have no sense of humor! Show 'em a pic of my bumper marks! That oughta make 'em "happy"

[J-son]

^ True, most of our courses are 45-50 secs.

And this is why Fort Wayne SCCA is such a great club...50-60 sec courses, and 5-6 runs per heat... FWSCCA >all

THat is a neat point thought as for maybe in some cases it could work. I guess you will never know if you dont try

[Bobzilla]

Jason, just because YOU take 50-60 seconds. . . . .

[J-son]

Jason, just because YOU take 50-60 seconds. . . . .

ouch...that hurt

But come on...you got to admit...FWSCCA puts on an excellent event...RIGHT?