Go Autocrossing!

For getting your feet wet in motorsports, it’s tough to beat autocross. It’s fun, safe, low key and requires minimum investment.

There really is no substitute for pushing your car to the limit. Not only is it fun, it can make you a better and safer driver. The easiest and safest way to do that? Autocross. All you need is a car, a helmet and an event. Yeah, it gets a little more complicated than that, but more on that later.

Autocross, called Solo in Sports Car Club of America parlance and NASA-X in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), is a timed event on a course marked by traffic cones, generally at speeds below 60mph. Typically there are three or more timed runs, and each one lasts about a minute, depending on the course. That can sound a bit boring, but trust us, it’s not. It rewards precision and requires a car that’s absolutely on the edge in acceleration, braking and cornering. And if you hit one of those cones, you’ll incur a time penalty.

Autocross events are put on by SCCA, NASA and a huge variety of local sports car clubs and marque clubs across the country. Since courses are usually laid out on large parking lots or airport aprons, they can be found in almost any metropolitan area.

We mentioned before that all you need is a car, a helmet and an event, and that’s basically true. The car should be suitable – SUVs and pickups aren’t recommended, and in some cases specifically not permitted. But if you’re reading this, chances are pretty good that you have an MX-5, RX-7 or RX-8 in your stable, and those are some of the best cars for autocross, although a Mazda 2, 3 or 6 will work as well. It will have to pass a safety inspection, so make sure your battery is tied down, your brake pedal is firm and your tires are in good condition.

If you’ve modified your car, be prepared to list those modifications – those will determine what class your car goes in. We’ll list some resources below so you can have an idea of what you’re in for.

Different organizations have different requirements for helmets, so check with that organization to see what kind of helmet they require – some have a minimum of D.O.T. certification, others require a Snell certification. Many SCCA regions or clubs have loaner helmets for first-timers.

Then you need an event. Again, check the resources listed below to find one. Google may be your friend here, also, to help you find local car clubs that put on autocross events.

Now comes the advice. First, arrive early for your first event. And, if you can, attend an event before you enter. That will allow you to get the lay of the land, ask questions and learn how an event operates (for example, at most events, every competitor will be required to spend some time working – for first timers, that usually means picking up downed cones). Find competitors with cars similar to yours and ask questions – chances are they’ll be happy to answer if they’re not in the middle of changing tires or otherwise preparing for their runs.

The reason for arriving early is that you’ll need to go through tech – the aforementioned safety inspection – and you will want to walk the course. The course changes every time, and you only have a few shots at it, so you’ll want to know where it goes before you attempt it at speed. Plus, you’ll need some time to remove any loose items from the car and adjust your tire pressures. Likely you’ll want more pressure than you run on the street, especially at the front. Again, a competitor with a similar car might be able to give you a good starting point.

The last piece of advice, or warning, is this: Unless you are an exceptional talent, you’re going to lose. That’s not a disparagement of your driving, but autocross requires some unique skills. Even if you’ve raced or done track days before, autocrossing is quite different. It’s going to take some time to get used to it. But don’t let that discourage you; everybody has to start somewhere. You’ll learn how to drive autocross, you’ll learn how to set up your car and all along the way you’ll have fun.

RESOURCES
SCCA Solo
NASA
Miata.net directory of U.S. Miata Clubs
Go Ahead Take the Wheel

Mazda Motorsports

Mazda Motorsports Development

Going For Glory One Hour At A Time