My heart beats faster than ever before. I shift nervously in my seat as I see the car in front launch across the start line. As I pull up to the starter, my eyes lock on the fastest path around the first corner. I drone out all distractions around me, only feeling the beat of my heart through my ears. The starter turns to me and says, “You’re all good”, and I slam on the accelerator, beginning my lap.

I get this feeling every time I compete in an autocross event and no matter how many of the same event I have done in the past, the anxiousness never lessens. Autocross is a unique event suited for a select group of individuals generally known as car fanatics. It is a racing event where a group, usually sponsored by a car company, rent out an empty stadium car park to set up a course and race.The course changes every time so as soon as you adjust to one which is not easy when traveling through it at 60 miles an hour, it changes and BAM you are clueless again. If you are wondering how to determine who would participate in these events, the biggest clue is if their car is loud. Most of the cars that do autocross are smaller as it is a tight course and smaller cars corner much better, so making them loud warns people of the inner lion hiding behind that small frame. Most of these cars are road legal however the real hardcore drivers have specially built track cars which they tow to events. These cars are crazy and normally impossible to beat. 

The event starts with registration along with sizing up competition. There is an air of competition among the small talk between drivers especially those whose cars are in the same class. There are often people who try to find out how fast your car is by pretending to be interested in the car and asking about everything you have done to it. The safety brief is next and this is the BEST part of the entire event. You are lucky enough to listen to the same lady say the same things at every single event for about 40 minutes. My Dad and I made the crucial mistake at the first event by not bringing chairs to the meeting. We discovered quickly that the regulars set up camp during this time as it is so incredibly boring. Her jokes were not even funny the first time she said them, so hearing them again for the 15th time is not so much fun. 

Next is walking the track. This is when a driver must decide on a racing line and stick to it. From the start line all the driver can see is a mess of cones spread sporadically on some tarmac. Figuring out the course is difficult as they do not distinguish between cones so you have to be able to visualize the course without having a track. Any mistake in the course results in a DNF (does not finish). It is quite amusing however watching beginners mess up every single time they try to run the course and end with 0 of their 15 runs counting. 

My dad and I are extremely competitive as we are in the same car so we have no excuses for losing. We each have our own driving styles and experiences that make it an interesting battle. He has had experience racing in the past on an actual track but we drive the car I use daily so I know the car better than he does. He also drives much smoother than I do with more fluid motions while I, using my youthful quick reaction times, jerk the steering wheel back and forth when coming up to a corner. 

With the modifications I have made to my car, I have increased overall power, traction, stability, and cornering ability. When I first began I raced my car stock and the difference after the modifications is drastic. Now with grippy tires and my rear motor mount which keeps the car more stable, I am driving on only three wheels for most of the course. 

My dad recently built his own car, I think in an attempt to finally beat me. He took the car to autocross once, attracting a lot of attention as it is almost deafeningly loud and looks nothing like any car ever made. Although he did have some trouble, it looked great going round the course and was awesome to see it completed and running. Below is him starting his run as you can tell it was quite loud. 

Autocross is my hobby and I thought I would share an average day at an event as most people don’t actually know what it is. I hope you enjoyed learning about my hobby and hope to see you soon. 🙂