ok... i r confusored(input please)

[Erv]

everything I have ever read says that having busy hands makes you slower, but, whenever i try to drive smooth, it's always slower.

I assume that with everything there are exceptions to the rule. What confuses me is; If I were to figure out how to drive smoother would I become faster or is it just what I have become accustomed to. Like everything else, I tend to do it bassackwards, or at bare minimum against the grain.

The only thing I get from this is that maybe what works for others or is the exceptable norm doesn't necessarily work for me. Either that or maybe I don't understand the term busy hands.

I think Jordan said it best I drive like a madman...

I know alot of you have ridden with me, and, honestly why this is bothering me i don't know, but, I would like some input. Also this isn't exactly just in regards to auto x.

[chuck schultz]

The key is probably to concentrate on doing things "right" every time you are at the wheel, no matter what you're driving. When you can stop thinking about doing something a certain way, it should become faster on its own.

On the other hand, nobody's perfect. If you can dig up the video of the Race of Champions from this year, I saw more crossed arms and one-handed driving than I've ever seen, from pro racers (in unfamiliar cars.) I even saw at least one case of crossed arms with a thumb through the spokes to keep the wheel turned for a couple seconds!

Here it is - it's almost 2 hours long, IIRC - http://freecaster.tv/1000179_1006595

[Erv]

lol, not meaning crossing hands just busy, as in i almost never stop moving my hands

[Welacey]

SEAT TIME is the key. If I ever get enough, maybe can smooth up the chick car.

[chuck schultz]

I think when people say "smooth," they really are talking about making control inputs as smoothly as possible, arcing into and out of corners and not slamming the brakes or throttle on or off. Relative smoothness allows those all-important tire patches to make transitions between go, turn, and stop as productively as possible.

Sometimes the situation warrants very quick action, though, especially during an emergency maneuver or on an autocross course. A typical course doesn't allow much time to let your hands "rest." This especially true in a car with very high capabilities.

[waflet]

hideeho
i'm not sure how this is going to translate to this medium, but here goes.

the dots represent arbitrary units of time. the brackets indicate the direction the steering wheel is turned in 90deg units.

smooth street lane change manuever.
^........>........^........<........^

not smooth auto-x lane change.
^.>....^.<.^.<.^.>.....^

smooth auto-x lane change
^..>..^..<..^

the 1st is nice, smooth, & SLOW.
the 2nd happens quickly, but upsets the balance of the car forcing extra inputs & taking extra time.
the 3rd is nice, smooth, & QUICK. for a very graphic example watch how clay goes through a slalom. no jerking anywhere in the whole thing. no variations in how far his car leans w/ each cone. only slight variations of speed if the spacing is different on each cone, & then it is smooth, not all out-all in-all out around each cone.

it sounds so simple, maybe in the next 10 years or so i'll figure out how to do it in a car as well as i do it here.

l8rcu
waflet

[Erv]

so its up down up down left right left right b a b a select start?

[waflet]

hideeho
only if your car is made by nintendo.

l8rcu
waflet

[EWaugh]

An instructor on a race track would have a time with you the way you auto-x. Most auto-xers that I've instructed start out with jerky quicky hands that have a tendency to break the rear end loose. Road course require slow smooth hands, at lesat most of the time. Auto-x usually takes quick inputs.Although, auto-ers usually end up a whole lot faster and safer at the end of a weekend. They are usually not nearly as scarry either.

[staticpat]

My hands move slow and smooth, of course so does my car (emphasis on slow.)

[Erv]

i am a lil smoother on road courses

[chuck schultz]

not nearly as scarry

I hate scars.

[EWaugh]

...

[OverDrive418]

I found out that when I have a passenger in my car I tend to be a little faster.
WTF does this have to do with anything you ask?
Simply this, I'm concerned for the well being of the passenger and slow down and smooth out my crazy hand and feet movements instead of going balls out kamikaze style tossing them about in the cabin waiting for them to throw up...somehow that translates into a quicker run for me.

So if that's an example of how smoother translates into faster I think that's what it means. I think smoother inputs allow the car to be more stable and settle into the inputs you give it instead of throwing the car into a constant state of unbalance.




Do I get a prize?!

[Erv]

i am faster as well with a passenger, its not from slowing down, it from the car actually being balanced