I've been promoting our very fun sport and club lately. With a number of comments back from people, I thought I'd suggest an additional FAQ for our Solo forum. I'm not sure who determines this, but if you feel it would be worthwhile, please consider the following. Let me know if you'd like me to make changes too. I did lift the opening paragraphs from the SCCA site, so let me know if that isn't allowed. The rest is something I created so I'm open to any suggestions.
EDIT - Incorporated suggestions Dec 26.
Edit - Incorporated suggested links to sites describing Autocrossing - Jan 1
Autocross – What is it?
SoloŽ is the SCCA brand name for autocross competition. Solo events are driving skill contests that emphasize the driver's ability and the car's handling characteristics. This is accomplished by driving a course that is designated by traffic cones on a low hazard location, such as a parking lot or inactive airstrip. While speeds are no greater than those normally encountered in legal highway driving, the combination of concentration and car feedback creates an adrenaline pumping experience.
Over 1200 Regional - and Divisional-level Solo events are held across the country at local shopping centers, airports, and stadium parking lots -- or wherever competitors can find a large amount of pavement to safely layout their courses. The sport typically attracts ordinary sports and sports-type cars used for daily transportation, as well as heavily modified vehicles used for racing only.
See these links for some examples:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af2zJAOAqWQ
http://www.sccastartingline.com/_10-things-you-absolutely-positively-have-to-know-about-autocross.php
More Details
The course is different EVERY time.
Your driving
Your car
What it isn’t
EDIT - Incorporated suggestions Dec 26.
Edit - Incorporated suggested links to sites describing Autocrossing - Jan 1
Autocross – What is it?
SoloŽ is the SCCA brand name for autocross competition. Solo events are driving skill contests that emphasize the driver's ability and the car's handling characteristics. This is accomplished by driving a course that is designated by traffic cones on a low hazard location, such as a parking lot or inactive airstrip. While speeds are no greater than those normally encountered in legal highway driving, the combination of concentration and car feedback creates an adrenaline pumping experience.
Over 1200 Regional - and Divisional-level Solo events are held across the country at local shopping centers, airports, and stadium parking lots -- or wherever competitors can find a large amount of pavement to safely layout their courses. The sport typically attracts ordinary sports and sports-type cars used for daily transportation, as well as heavily modified vehicles used for racing only.
See these links for some examples:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af2zJAOAqWQ
http://www.sccastartingline.com/_10-things-you-absolutely-positively-have-to-know-about-autocross.php
More Details
The course is different EVERY time.
- Your ability to quickly ‘read’ the course is a major part and fun with auto-crossing and adds a different dynamic not found anywhere else.
- While the venue might be the same, the layout is different every time. Competitors are not allowed on the course until the walk-through that morning, and then it’s on to driving. There are slaloms, tight corners, gradual corners, straights and sometimes even choices on which direction to go.
Your driving
- This will test your reflexes and then some. It puts a premium on how well you can control your car while making split second decisions on the point of braking, turning and accelerating WHILE you are getting familiar with the course.
- Very fast paced. It may not appear so by watching, but from inside the car, it is split second decision to split second decision for the ENTIRE run. You are going freeway speeds on a TIGHT course that you and others have not driven before. Even the most experienced professional drivers find it challenging. Have you driven fast-kart go karts? Yeah, like that but FASTER.
Your car
- If you have not done something like this with your car, it will amaze you how much capability it really does have. Even in stock form with stock tires. Want to take your car beyond that? Ask! There is a LOT of experience and knowledge that is freely shared.
What it isn’t
- “You have to have a car setup for the track”. The SCCA has class categories for nearly all car makes and models. From the common Stock form to mild or wild variations and everything in-between.
- “All competition, no fun”. We promote a family friendly FUN environment. While it is timed and there is competition, many choose to attend as a hobby. We cheer each other on and THEN TRY AND BEAT THEM on course!
- “All work for only a few runs”. Remember, when you are ‘working’ the course, you get to be ON THE COURSE and learn by watching the other drivers and how they executed a particular section, the line, speed etc.. This is HIGHLY advantageous to you as a driver.
- “I could wreck my car”. Our course stewards and safety crew have specific guidelines to insure each venue is as safe as possible for the car, driver and workers. That said, there are cones to navigate and at times you might hit a cone. If you are not sure, please attend an event to watch and assess for yourself.
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