Racing Southwest

I often hear local teenagers complaining about the lack of activities available in Albuquerque. “There’s nothing to do.” I often find myself saying the same thing. But boredom beware, I have found a perfect use of a Saturday, and it’s not just for teenagers. Autocross is fun for the whole family.

Autocross is essentially racing around a course that’s marked off with road construction cones.  Participants race in their own vehicles against the clock.  Any skill level of competitor is urged to join.  At each event there are novices and experts alike.  Autocrosses are hosted by racing clubs, such as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).

The first auto cross of 2009 in the Albuquerque area was put on by the Roadrunner Region Porsche Club of America (RRR PCA).  The course was set up in the parking lot of a church in Belen.  Race cars and daily drivers were both ready to rip around the cones.

The field was mainly comprised of Porsches, but the club allows anyone with a car and a valid driver’s license to participate.  They provide loaner helmets and helpful instructors.  The first few times out, “newbies” should invite an instructor along as a guide.  The sea of seemingly arbitrary orange cones becomes a confusing mess at times.  An instructor with years of experience is a valuable resource.

Before participants race, their cars must pass a safety inspection.  They must also attend a drivers’ meeting and pay the entrance fee.  The entrance fee for the PCA event was $30. Spectators watched for free.  After the business was taken care of, the morning race crew got into their cars.

A set of five cars pulled up to the staging area where a worker was positioned.  When the folks in charge of timing cued the worker, he waved a green flag.  As soon as the first driver saw the shimmering green flag, he punched it.  His car passed through a laser beam that started the clock.  His car rocketed from the start gate.  He then performed a series of well orchestrated shifting and steering maneuvers, his appendages moving as if he were in a rough, yet precise ballet.  Stomp the clutch, shove the stick into gear, and grip the steering wheel— as soon as that gas pedal drops, you’re in for a ride of your life.

The key is seat time.  Autocross can be the first step to higher levels of racing, but the most important aspect is experience.  It doesn’t even matter if your car is fast or slow.  Racing theory is best understood by simply racing.  You will start to feel out the physical boundaries of your car in relation to cones by having to dodge them so often.  You’ll start to understand how certain components in your car come into play in race conditions.  You’ll know how it feels under the various stresses gravity throws at you.  And in the end, you’ll be a better driver.

As the day progressed, the parking lot saw more and more sets of tires ran across it.  Young and old, man and woman, every driver was enthusiastic.  Some were annoyed at their own performance, vowing to do better on the next run.  Others were just happy to be racing instead of being at work.  The autocross community has a common passion and thus a common bond.  They all enjoy racing and find time in their budget and schedule to make racing a reality.

Autocross is a great outlet for your need for speed— plus it is way more fun than the video game.