Question about Auto-Cross Events

[Chrisrustydog]

Hi,

I recently started auto-crossing, have been to a total of three events so far, (2 @ Qualcom, 1 @ El torro field) - needless to say, I'm hooked!

I have a question about the events, specifically, the organization(s) that sponsor them. The three events that I've been to have required SCCA Memberships (just recently purchased my annual membership). I was under the impression that SCCA sponsored and organized all auto-cross events until I came across the link below:
http://www.speedventures.com/events/eve ... spx?id=484

AUTOCROSS @ Auto Club Speedway is $75 (versus $30 here), doesn't require an SCCA membership, and it looks like there are no work groups.
Also, looking at the "who is attending list", the event (oct 3 or 4) is 2 weeks out, and there are only 14 people attending..

Anyone have any insight/experience on this? Has anyone who attended an auto-cross event there able to provide a comparison to an event at somewhere like El Torro Field?

Thanks

[George Schilling]

Lots of runs on a small interior lot. Gets a little boring for more experienced drivers, but beginners may like it as you'll typically get a lot of runs. But beware, there are curbs in play.

FYI, we will be returning to AAA Speedway in October for our winter season. We use a lot many times larger that the lot used by Speed Ventures.

[Bill Schenker]

We also don't charge for instruction: "instruction will be offered at $60 for 3 sessions, with a session being roughly 30 minutes in length." But the best day for instruction, although not nearly as lengthy as what Speedventures offers, is during Sunday's race, believe it or not - better than Saturday's practice.

[Chrisrustydog]

@ George Schilling-
Small interior lot with curbs eh? From the videos I watched, it did look like the runs were very quick. I'll just wait for October to run with you guys at AAA Speedway.

@ Bill Schenker -
Yeah, last time I was at el Torro Field (on a Sunday), my second time auto-crossing, I had an instructor drive my car for one run, then sit shotgun on another and it helped a lot - and like you said, didn't cost me a dime & it also didn't count as one of my runs (when he drove) which was a pleasant surprise.

Thanks for the responses guys.
Cya next Sunday at El Torro Field.

[Jayson Woodruff]

Anyone have any insight/experience on this? Has anyone who attended an auto-cross event there able to provide a comparison to an event at somewhere like El Torro Field?
Thanks

I do a few of these;). The numbers tend to pick up late. Freaking august had both days sell out (80).

Like said, a smaller course, less formal/stringent setting. These are typically get very high number of runs if you're patient enough to hang around all day. Competitive solo drivers typically learn all they're going to in 6 to 12 runs. Newbies though can really advance their experience with the extra runs. I think the sweet spot for this event is a 1st or 2nd year driver who knows what feels "right and wrong" but needs to experiment to get there.

Btw, Autocross (or AutoX) is the generic term for our sport. "Solo" is the SCCA trademark term. SCCA is by far the dominating autox orginization across the country, but there are several groups that put on their own flavors.

Jay W