A few months ago SoloMatters gave Roger Johnson, the 2015 Solo Nationals West course designer, a quick questioneer about his course design experience, philosophy and what we might expect from his course this year:
Q: How much experience in SCCA Solo do you have?
A: I have been AutoXing since 1977, and participating in SCCA events since about 1985. In 1986, I joined SCCA and went to my first Solo Nationals.
Q: What kind of car are you currently competing in?
A: I have a 2005 Honda S2000, running in STR.
Q: How did you begin designing courses? What notable events have you designed for?
A: Started AutoX with the Boeing Employees Autosports Club (BEAC) in 1977. Being in Seattle, I started learning course design under the guidance of SCCA Hall of Famer, Karen Babb and did numerous local course designs for them.
- I moved to Houston in 1993 and have completed 35+ course designs for the regional program since then.
- I have provided course designs for and/or chaired ~8 Houston Region/Lone Star Region National Tours.
- I have provided course designs for and/or chaired ~12 Houston Region/Lone Star Region Divisionals.
- I did Pro Solo designs for the ill-fated Lubbock Pro Solo and in 2004 the Pro Solo Finale.
- I have provided course designs for the following venues: New Orleans SCCA, Colorado PPIR National Tour, South Carolina SCCA, Alaska SCCA, Guam SCCA, Formula SAE Lincoln, the Winnipeg Sports Car Club, The Canadian Nationals, and a Car Club in the Netherlands.
- I have also provided all (15) course designs for the Chilean AutoX Program “Solo Race”, events held in Santiago, Valparasio, Espacio Riesco, Quilpué, La Pampilla de Coquimbo, and Monticello.
- I created Solo Nationals Course designs in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, and now in 2015.
Q: East or West? Did you get to choose?
A: After a discussion With Alex, we agreed that I would do the West Course
Q: What made you decide to tackle the job of course designer?
A: The love of creating things and designing something that other people enjoy.
Q: What are some qualities a good course designer needs?
A: Creativity, originality, flexibility, and a strong work ethic.
Q: What is your thought process when putting a course together? How do you start?
A: Heheh... I could refer you to the 125 page course design manual for that answer, but that would likely be too long for your needs here. ;-) I start with an accurate site map that shows know site buildings, obstructions, anomalies and borders. Then determine where the Finish and then the Start are located. After that, I draw out several potential basic pathways the car could take. After choosing one of the basic pathways, I decide what “features” I would like to have in the design. I then add cones and flour lines for that feature. After that is completed I do a flow analysis on the design and adjust accordingly to ensure the course can be driven smoothly.
Q: What kinds of things do you believe a good course should have?
A: A balance of Transients to sweepers; several places where the driver can "floor it", at least one HARD braking section, and a very important 100’ straight before the lights. This is important because most drivers tend to floor at the finish in an effort to make up for ALL of the mistakes made up to that point – even if the design does not allow for it. Since they will do it anyway, I provide opportunity to floor it SAFELY.
Q: What are some "signature moves" you always like to include in your courses?
A: Varying size sweepers, increasing slaloms, turns that appear to be decreasing radius but can be driven equal radius, a maneuver that affects the positioning of the following 2 maneuvers, and walloms.
Q: What is the toughest thing you encounter when designing a course?
A: Using the maximum amount of the event site without getting the competitors lost in a sea of cones.
An additional note: This past year, Roger was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame for his Course Design efforts and other contributions to SCCA.
Originally posted on SoloMatters by Julian Garfield
