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You're interested in autocross, or to use the SCCA name, Solo II, but you just don't know if you really want to try it? Let's walk through a typical event. We go to the registration table, show a driver's license and pay the non-member fee of $30-40. You must have a valid driver's license, and your car must pass a basic safety/technical inspection. By that I mean things like is the battery solidly attached in its holder, are the wheel bearings in good shape, does the car have seatbelts in working order, and does it have good tread on all the tires. Simple, any driver and car should pass this test. Look at the colored sticker on that registration card. You have a red sticker on your card, so you're in the "red run group." Hang that registration card on your windshield so the inspectors know to check your car. Look through the loaner helmets and find one that fits. Put it back, you only get it when your turn comes to run, let other folks have a shot at it in between. Now, it's time for the time-honored tradition of "walking the course." There's no practice in Solo racing. We're all seeing it for the first time. We can walk around it as many times as time allows, to see how the curves look, and pace off the distances between slalom cones. Yep, just like slalom in skiing, you drive on alternate sides of the row of cones. Notice how if you take this first one on the left side of the car, that means you end up on the right side at the end, and that lines you up for the corner. Understand? Good. See those two cones, across the road, about 20 feet apart? That's a gate, and you have to drive between the cones or you're a "DNF." (That's "did not finish" and it AIN'T good.) If you knock over a cone, anywhere on course, that's a two second penalty time added to your elapsed time. Notice where the starting lights are, and the finish line. See the area in which to stop at the end? Stop there, and then pick up your time slip from the worker. That's what it looks like, ready to race? This event, the Red group runs first, so grab the helmet, get in the car and buckle up. Follow the others to the "grid" near the starting lights. Somebody will direct you to the right slot. Remember it, and come back later. The starter directs you to the proper place in line, and when he waves the green flag, you're off! (As they say.) Remember this is called "Solo" racing, meaning you're the only one on course. Concentrate on driving the course, you don't have to think about traffic. Get used to the car leaning more than normal, and hearing tires squealing in the corners. Try to go quickly, but the first run, just learn the course, find braking points for all the corners, and get a "feel" for the car's handling. On the next run, try to go a little faster, go into each corner a little deeper. Trim off a few tenths each run, just see if you can. That's what it's all about. After your turn to race, it's your turn to work. Get a partner, a flag and a radio and take your place in one of the turns. Keep your eyes on the cars at all times. If somebody knocks over a cone, wait for a safe moment, trot out there and put it back in its place. Remember those guys standing around while you raced? It's their turn now, and you have to pick up the cones. After their run group is finished, you get to race again. Oh, wait, we might go to lunch first. Now that you've got four or five runs experience this morning, try to pick up the pace with every run this afternoon. Add a little more power coming off the corners. Go just a little deeper into the curve before you brake. Brake, steer, and shift smoothly, that's the faster way. Unlike street driving, Solo racing is a sport of extremes. Straights are short, so accelerate hard. Corners come up fast, so you have to brake quickly. But be smooth. Tougher than it looks, isn't it? If you scare yourself, or spin out, it's OK! Everybody does it. You're learning car control and it's a whole lot safer to spin here than on I-15 in the rain. Are your times still coming down? That's the way to do it. Now the other group gets another turn to drive, and we work the course again. Notice how these guys do it, you can gain a few pointers by watching the "old hands" taking corners. Then, it's all over. There may be awards handed out. More likely, just a bunch of folks that go to get something to drink, or have dinner together. Want to come along? Come on, you're part of the group! Now, what was it you were driving? You never raced before? You look at your posted times, and know you could do it better. Solo's like golf, only noisier. No matter how well you did, you always know you could have improved. That's part of why we keep coming back. The rest of why we keep coming back? It has to do with the thrill of speed, that adrenaline rush that hits when you turn a really "hot" lap. (When you come in off of a real smokin' run of your own one day, and can't get the helmet strap undone, you'll know what I mean.) It's about challenging yourself to do each lap just a little better than you ever have. It's about a day spent working, talking, laughing and racing with a great bunch of folks. I always leave a Solo event feeling like I've made a deposit in my life's bank account. That's why. Try it. - J.D. Kemp |