I'm very confused. What exactly is Autocross? I've seen a number of posts mentioning drivers switching to Autocross because they moved to areas without many tracks. How can you race without a track? Also, if Autocross is a race without a track, then what do you call a race on a track?

If someone could please educate me I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,

Maddog

 

Autocross is basically a small course made out of cones in large parking lots. You get about 4-5 runs depending on turn out and your club. Runs range anywhere from 30sec-1:30sec. Also at autocross it is only 1-3 cars on course at a time and they are released seperately and never interact. The runs are timed for competition within your class.

Track events are mostly non-competitive, you go out on the track with anywhere from 10-15 cars just as practice and driver education. You usually are not timed for competition. At track events you also get anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours of track time.

Ohh also autocrosses usually cost anywhere from $15-$35 per event where track events cost anywhere from $150-$400.

 

It's really simple. An autocross course can be laid out in any large paved area, like a mall parking lot. It's a short, twisty course laid out using cones.

 

Thanks, very good explanations.

I signed up for the next SoCal club track day (in August) knowing it was a training event not a race, now I know what I'm training for.

Maddog

 

Also, you usually get instruction on the road courses (track). Sometimes 100mph four wheel drifts through the corners. Yes "technically" there is no competition. But they do allow passing...

Autox is a great learning experience at lower speeds and lower costs. If you can get good at autox, it will be much easier to learn the road course.

 

Check out this link to your local SCCA solo 2 (autocross) page. Tons of info.
http://www.solo2.com/

 

Indeed. Back when autocross was evolving in the 1960's from 'gymkana' events, we did NOT call or regard autocross events as 'racing'. Racing was wheel to wheel with other car(s) at high speed tracks (road course or ovals or drag strips). The SCCA Solo II events are today NOT called racing events by the SCCA. This is because autocross is a competition based on time, without wheel-to-wheel contact with other cars, and at highway legal speeds for stock-class cars. SCCA today has hybrid type of events that are not wheel-to-wheel but involve higher than legal speed and road course level safety (Solo I). Also there is a hybrid type of autocross called Pro Solo in which cars start side by side like a drag race.

Today, many ARE calling autocross as a type of racing, including insurance companies, car manufactorers and their lawyers... unfortunately for us.

Too me, autocross is a competition (so are some car shows), but it is NOT racing. I've done both.

Cheers,
Dave