05 What is autocross (Solo II)?
Description
This article is from the VW Performance FAQ, by with numerous contributions by Jan Vandenbrande others.
05 What is autocross (Solo II)?
A:Autocrossing (or, Solo II) is timed racing in a
controlled situation where the agility of your car, and
your ability as a driver, are more important than raw
horsepower. Autox courses are usually setup in large
parking lots with orange traffic cones. Unless the course
is pretty long, only one car is allowed on the course at
any time, which means that there's no possibility of
going fender-to-fender with another car. Cars are
classed, either by the local group (if they're
independent) or by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA),
according to their level of vehicle
preparation/modification called categories (Stock, Street
Prepared, Prepared and Modified, or S, SP, P, M) and by
their performance characteristics, i.e., class. There are
9 stock classes from SS (Super Stock) down to H Stock, SP
and M go from A-E, but P goes A-F.
There is a category that some SCCA regions are using
called SM or Street Modified (aka "Open Street Prepared"
in some regions). This is for cars that do not fit in
Street Prepared but are not competitive for Prepared
class. (Note that this is not a nationally recognized
class).
Stock class was originally intended to be a place for
novice autox-ers to "run what they bring", and many
local clubs have special classes for novice competitors
to compete in for their first year. The current
situation for the Stock Category is that it has become BY
FAR the most intense competition, followed by either
Street Prepared or Modified (depending whether you look
nationally or regionally).
The two other categories are Prepared (mostly race-
prepped production cars) and Modified (open wheel cars
and production cars with major engine transplants, etc.).
The preparation allowances for Stock Category are
somewhat more liberal than one might guess: any front
swaybar may be used, and adjustable suspensions are not
required to be adjusted to factory specs. As an example,
the VW GTI that I run typically is set to 2.25 degrees
negative camber and 3/16" toe out at the front. In
addition, you need autocross tires to be really
competitive, and these tires are worthless for any street
use. Most serious competitors in Stock Category buy a
second set of wheels and mount autocross tires. The above
notwithstanding, autocross competition is amazingly
challenging and fun, as long as you understand that you
won't be winning any trophies until you get some "seat
time". I highly recommend the activity.
At the beginning of the autox season most clubs also hold
novice driver and performance driving schools which teach
you the basics (how to follow the course, how cars are
staged on the grid, how to be a course worker, safety
issues, etc.). All you need to compete in most places is
a street-legal car that can pass a basic safety
inspection and a valid drivers license; you're required
to wear a helmet (Snell 75 or ANSI Z90.1b (1979)
approved) when you race, but there are usually loaner
helmets available for you to borrow when you're first
getting started. (Note: DOT only approved helmets are not
allowed).
There's an Internet-based group of autox-ers called
"Team.Net" (the "dot" is pronounced) who have a mailing
list and an ftp archive to promote discussion of autox-
related issues.
Send email to "autox-request@autox.team.net" or in case
of failure, use autox-request@triumph.cs.utah.edu (the
former hoosier address has been decommissioned) to be
added to the list. Their URL for WWW access is:
http://triumph.cs.utah.edu/team.net.html. They also have
a fairly extensive set of archives, pictures and mpeg
movies.
Also, call the SCCA ((303) 694-7222) and ask for the Solo
II contact person in your region; they should provide you
this person's phone number, and you can call this person
to find out when events are scheduled.
Contributors:
[Blake Sobiloff <sobiloff@lap.umd.edu>]
[jay.mitchell@the-matrix.com (Jay Mitchell)]
[Jonathan Dove <jdove@gsvms2.cc.gasou.edu>]
[Mark Sirota <mark@greenwich.com>]
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