Autocross 101: How to Race a Shopping Car (or Sports Car)
Are you a car enthusiast looking to learn more about your vehicles and make friends in the process?Are you a beginner driver and need a safe place to practice your vehicle control skills?Do you want to be a racing driver? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, autocross might be for you.
What is autocross?
- Autocross is an organized sport in which drivers drive as fast as possible around a narrow, technical course marked with traffic cones.
- Autocross tracks can be set up in a parking lot, a race track, or on a closed road.
- Autocross is one of the best ways to improve your driving skills and get to know your car in a safe, legal, and controlled way. Autocross Classes
Cars are divided into different performance classes, so the emphasis is on the driver’s ability, not on the type of vehicle or subsequent modifications.
For example, comparing a driver who drives a Toyota Corolla to a driver who drives a Porsche 911 Turbo is like apples and oranges, so these drivers are in different classes. Both drivers may win in their respective classes and will not compete head-to-head.
Autocross competitors must pay special attention to the modifications they make to their vehicles. Wider wheels or aftermarket coilovers may push the driver into a higher class and make the vehicle less competitive. Some people completely ignore autocross classes, modify their cars to their liking, and just drive for fun. This is a very smart strategy, since after all, the point of autocross is to have fun and improve your driving skills.
What do I need to get started? Autocross is a cost-effective sport with a low barrier to entry. In most cases, all you need is a driver’s license and a roadworthy vehicle.
Helmet
You must wear a helmet while running. Most clubs follow Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) rules, including what helmets are allowed. The SCCA currently accepts 2005 or newer Snell M or SA helmets.
If you have any questions about helmets, contact your local club. Some clubs offer rental helmets if you don’t want to buy your own.
How fast will it be? Because the courses focus on tight, precise maneuvers such as slaloms, figure eights, and hairpin turns, top speeds are typically under 100 km/h. However, the fastest cars and drivers on more open courses can reach higher speeds in certain circumstances.
ROUTE WORK
To keep costs down, most clubs require you to practice your route during runs you are not participating in. Examples of route work tasks include working the radio, collecting cones, recording times, starting drivers, etc.
Track work is actually a lot of fun. If you’re a pylon runner, you’ll have a front row seat to experience the action. You’ll see all those very fast and expensive cars going by making amazing noises. You can also get your cardio workout for the day, especially when the Classic American Muscle (CAM) class is being held. Powerful rear-wheel drive vehicles usually make their way around most of the cones.
Can you autocross anything? You can autocross with just about any vehicle. It doesn’t even have to be a car. Some people bring trucks, crossover SUVs, and even minivans to the events. Motorcycles are usually off-limits. Some club rules prohibit vehicles that are taller than they are wide to reduce the risk of a rollover accident. Is an autocross hard on a car? An autocross is actually pretty gentle on a car. You might notice that you’re wearing out your brakes and tires a little quicker than normal, but that’s it. Few vehicles leave second gear, and there’s plenty of time to cool down between runs.
As cars age and some components fail, an autocross can help detect the problems in a safe, controlled environment that poses no danger to anyone. Are autocrosses safe? Autocrosses are very safe. Collisions are very rare and occur at low speeds, so damage is minimal.
Route guards make themselves visible by wearing orange vests and stand well out of the drivers’ paths. Some marshals will raise a red flag to inform drivers that there is a problem on the track and instruct them to stop immediately.
Can I Autocross With an Automatic?
Absolutely. In fact, most days nearly half the cars in grid are automatics. On courses that would require you to shift from first to second back to first, automatics have a distinct advantage. Many manual transmissions are tricky to shift into first while moving.
Does My Convertible Need a Roll Bar?
Most clubs do not require roll bars for autocross, but it’s a good idea to double check with your local club before you decide to autocross in a convertible.
Roll bars generally do not bump you into a higher autocross class, but they are almost always required on race tracks for high performance driver’s education (HPDE) events or track days where speeds are much higher than autocross events.
Can I Make Money Autocrossing?
While you can make money autocrossing, it’s usually not a lot and certainly not enough to live off of. However, winning high profile autocross events could open the door to other opportunities.
Autocross wins could help build your resume if you wish to become a professional driving instructor or test drive different types of sports cars for an automotive magazine. National wins may also help you network and find your way into a professional racing career.
