Autotesting
Encyclopedia
Autotesting involves a series of tests, generally around traffic cone
s, to measure precision
driving
skill. The tests often include stopping with the front and rear wheels straddling a line, and always end stopping in a garage
(usually marked out with cones). Sections of each test are usually completed in reverse. Car
s involved can be standard road cars or ones specially built for autotest. In either case, the sport is cheap, with entries to events usually costing between £8 and £25.
Autotests can take place on either grass or hard surface. Grass Autotests are popular for club events as they are more gentle on tyres and transmissions. Many Clubs run their Grass autotests without any reversing. Championship Autotests in the UK are normally on a hard surface.
Each event consists of between three and six tests, with each test completed twice with the faster of the two counting for the results. The tests are timed with a stopwatch
, with penalties of 10 seconds given for each cone hit. A wrong turn in a test results in a maximum time, which is usually 30 seconds slower than the fastest time in class. The winner is the driver who completes the tests in the shortest time (including penalties). Each test usually takes around a minute to complete, and often turns into a test of memory as well as driver skill. Most of the autotest layouts are symmetrical and the drivers do get the chance to walk the course.
Autotests are conducted in the UK and Ireland and are similar to Motorkhana
in Australia and New Zealand. Cars compete one at a time and speeds are low so safety is high. Autotesting is also a little similar to autocross
ing in the USA, but the slower speeds, frequent handbrake turns and reversing are all major points of difference.
Important skills to learn for autotesting include:
Traffic cone
Traffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner...
s, to measure precision
Precision
Concepts* Accuracy and precision, measurement deviation from true value and its scatter* Precision , the number of digits from which a value is expressed* Precision , the percentage of documents returned that are relevant...
driving
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
skill. The tests often include stopping with the front and rear wheels straddling a line, and always end stopping in a garage
Garage (house)
A residential garage is part of a home, or an associated building, designed or used for storing a vehicle or vehicles. In some places the term is used synonymously with "carport", though that term normally describes a structure that is not completely enclosed.- British residential garages:Those...
(usually marked out with cones). Sections of each test are usually completed in reverse. Car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s involved can be standard road cars or ones specially built for autotest. In either case, the sport is cheap, with entries to events usually costing between £8 and £25.
Autotests can take place on either grass or hard surface. Grass Autotests are popular for club events as they are more gentle on tyres and transmissions. Many Clubs run their Grass autotests without any reversing. Championship Autotests in the UK are normally on a hard surface.
Each event consists of between three and six tests, with each test completed twice with the faster of the two counting for the results. The tests are timed with a stopwatch
Stopwatch
A stopwatch is a handheld timepiece designed to measure the amount of time elapsed from a particular time when activated to when the piece is deactivated. A large digital version of a stopwatch designed for viewing at a distance, as in a sports stadium, is called a stopclock.The timing functions...
, with penalties of 10 seconds given for each cone hit. A wrong turn in a test results in a maximum time, which is usually 30 seconds slower than the fastest time in class. The winner is the driver who completes the tests in the shortest time (including penalties). Each test usually takes around a minute to complete, and often turns into a test of memory as well as driver skill. Most of the autotest layouts are symmetrical and the drivers do get the chance to walk the course.
Autotests are conducted in the UK and Ireland and are similar to Motorkhana
Motorkhana
Motorkhana is a low-cost form of motorsport, unique to Australia and New Zealand but similar to autotesting in the UK and Ireland and somewhat similar to autocross in the US. It involves manoeuvring a car through tight tests as quickly as possible - one car at a time - on either dirt or bitumen...
in Australia and New Zealand. Cars compete one at a time and speeds are low so safety is high. Autotesting is also a little similar to autocross
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
ing in the USA, but the slower speeds, frequent handbrake turns and reversing are all major points of difference.
Important skills to learn for autotesting include:
- The Handbrake turnHandbrake turnThe handbrake turn is a driving technique used to deliberately slide a car sideways, either for the purpose of negotiating a very tight bend quickly, or for turning around well within the vehicle's own turning circle....
- The J-turnJ-turnA J-turn is a driving maneuver used to reverse a backwards-traveling vehicle so as to continue driving in the same direction, but with the vehicle pointed forward. The J-turn is also called "moonshiner's turn", based on the evasive driving tactics used by bootleggers. A J-turn differs from a...
or Reverse Flick - Reversing at speed