AutoSlalom #8 was my first auto slalom event and I had a great time. I am the guy who was in the black 370Z going really slow and missing gates. I learned a lot but mostly I learned that there is a lot about driving an auto slalom that I don't know. If the only time you can gain experience and learn is for 4 minutes every time there is an event, hey, I'm 65 and I won't live long enough to learn very much that way. So here is the question - is there some place (Halifax area) where I could just practice? A big, vacant, paved lot where I could screech my tires and not annoy anyone, run over anyone, get reported or get arrested. Or is there some other way to practice and gain experience outside of official auto slalom events?

In a word, nope.

The best way to get practice is to come out to a Test & Tune, often held by various clubs though out the year. Sometimes ASCC does an autoslalom "school" early in the year, and there is always a T&T on the Fridays before Digby & Slemon.

During the T&Ts you get to make dozens of runs against the same course, and can have an instructor with you. You can also ask around to be a passenger in other cars. Everyone is there to help.

During the winter you could read some books about autoslalom (aka autocross in the USA).
I'd recommend "The Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry A. Watts and the "Speed Secrets" series by Ross Bentley.

Another option (not popular with some) is online racing. GT5 on the PS3 and iRacing on the PC seem to be the best simulators out there right now. Choose your poison and get yourself a wheel. It's no surprise that most of the time the fastest drivers in real life are just as fast online. We plan to start up our GT5 league again in late October or early November. It's clean fast racing.

I guess what I'm trying to hit home at is going out and fooling around on an empty pavement patch isn't going to do much for you anyways. Practicing doesn't make perfect.... perfect practice makes perfect.

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"The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed."-William Gibson
1989 Van Diemen - Formula 2000 Continental

Walk the course. Walk the course. Walk the course some more. Show up early and walk the course as many times as you can. Get a hold of an experienced competitor and walk with them (they tend to give out valuable tips and tricks while they walk so listen intentively )

walk the course, make a plan on where to be close to the cones, where to brake, where to accelerate

walk the course some more

review your course plan in your head until you can picture the entire run with your eyes closed

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Charles