5 Things to Know if Considering Autocross

We turned to Rachel Kerswill, 2014 and 2015 SCCA Solo National Champion, to guide those interested in becoming an autocross champion. This guideline outlines five key considerations when making your plan.

Know Your Car: You will need to know whether your car is competition ready. Know maintenance or repairs need to be done before you head off to a national competition. You need a reliable vehicle that is operating at its best to take the win. Make a timeline to get basic maintenance and repairs done in advance of major competitions. Do basic maintenance before every major event. Change your fluids; ensure your brakes are in good condition; and keep it clean and competition ready. (Make a checklist.) If you are making upgrades or changes, ensure to leave plenty of time to do this and test your new setup (preferably at a local event). Leave yourself extra time to deal with unexpected maintenance issues that will likely arise.Know the Racing Organizations that Offer Autocross Opportunities: Look at SCCA National Tour schedule and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) schedule to determine in which events you will be able to compete, considering schedule and budget. Know the rules in regards to how many National Tour events you will need to compete in to be eligible for the National Championships and the contingencies; you will need to attend a tour in order to qualify for Nationals. (Work your maintenance plan around this.) Also, find out what you can about the sites/courses you plan to compete at (e.g., Are you driving on asphalt or concrete?). Different surfaces have different grip. Knowing what you are working with in advance can help you pick the best tires and setup for that surface and your car. Also, plan to compete in as many events regionally as affordable to gain seat time (practice).