Slipstream - April 2007

Ladies/Teens/AX102 Schools
by Denise Sanchez
Notes from the newbie... Wow! Man, that was a blast! Better
than...hmmm (ice cream?)! Can't we go around again?! Cold?
Didn't feel it - too much adrenalin, too much concentration! Can't
wait till next time! What more can I say?
The ever infectiously enthusiastic Lisa Steele has twisted my
arm to provide some observations of a newcomer to the
Autocross schools: Ladies and Teens AX School (held at
Pennington Field) and AX 102 (at Mineral Wells). I admit that after
wanting to take these classes for so many years, the level of nightbefore
excitement was great enough to keep me from sleeping
much. With so much anticipation, I suppose there could be a danger
of the experience not living up to the dream. No such case. The
classes more than delivered. To other new members: This is a great
group of diverse individuals with a common passion; it's wellplanned;
and it's seriously fun. You've got to try it. And here's what
you can expect.
In my eagerness, I arrived too early the first day, but this provided
an opportunity to meet people.
Second only to their warm welcome was the clear sense of
organization. While the student set-up unfolded (sign-in, name
tags, donuts and coffee, car numbers and parking spots, empty
the car, tech inspections, meet your instructor), the AX volunteers
were busy setting cones out to mark the morning exercises. After
spending years in organizations where four people seem to do all
the work, it's great to see the number of members who are
involved, and how smoothly everything came together. A quick
general meeting and introduction by Bryan Bell and Tom
Snodgrass, then instructions to students and instructors, and we
were off to the good part - squeals and smoke on the braking
exercise; flying cones on the skid pad; and swinging rear ends on
the slaloms.
A note about tech inspections: The new procedure is to perform
these the morning of the event during sign-in, rather than
having it done during the week prior; which means drivers need
to be sure everything's in order before arriving, or not drive that
day. Take advantage of this chance to ask questions. I received
numerous suggestions for improvements, and even though
everything passed, some things could be tweaked.
I'm sure all the Maverick instructors are excellent, but Shelly
Burbank's excitement and clear direction (“Gas! Gas! Gas!”) were
fantastic. Making it 2 for 2 in top-notch instruction was Eric Erz,
who patiently explained the physics of why things work the way
they do on the course, at the second class. Mornings were spent
with instructors driving the exercises first, then students taking
half a dozen runs at each.
After a quick lunch provided by the club (brilliant way to
keep people from leaving and showing up late for the afternoon),
the volunteers set up the AX course and timing lights, and we
walked it with our instructors. Yes, it all sounded so logical, as
Shelly and Eric pointed out the best line to follow, when to brake,
when to hit the gas, and where to look. Driving the course while
attempting to apply all the skills we'd practiced in the morning
was a different matter, but the whole point was to improve with
each run, and we did.
The classes were divided into two groups, one to take several
runs on the course while the other learned to work corners,
with a switch half-way through. Actually, working the corners is
just as instructive as driving. Besides chasing flying cones and
radioing in hit cones and DNFs, this is the opportunity to analyze
how other drivers are running the course, what works, and
what doesn't.
Thanks go to everyone who works on a committee or volunteers
for a day, for their professionalism and dedication to
making these events enjoyable and educational. Can't think of
a better way to go home exhausted and exhilarated.
See you at TMS!
A hooded mystery instructor gives Lisa Savage some early morning tips
Shelly burbank pointing the way for Denise Sanchez
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