Scratching the Itch: Where to Autocross in March
If you are like me, I’ve gone crazy waiting three months to get back on course. I will be so rusty, my first couple of events will be jerky and full of mistakes. What’s worse, if they are points events, I’m (you are) leaving the door wide open to our competitors—unless you utilize a secret: go to six autocross events in March!…and, oh yeah, scratch that itch.
That’s right. March 2021 is chock-full of regional Autocross events around here. Though, I might add, that by the time you are reading this, the KC region will have already scheduled two Rally Cross events (one of which had to be cancelled due to weather) with their third event scheduled for March 28. If you’re looking to scratch that itch—you can also give Rally Cross a try. In RX, you get 8 to 12 runs for $35, it’s more fun that AX, it helps knock the rust off, and you get to look out your side windows…a lot. You can do it with a $500 car with stock shocks, junk yard wheels, on used snow tires…or do more, if you want. Come on out to an event and I’ll buy you a hot lunch and give you a “hold-on-to-something” roller coaster style, clawing-away ride. Uh…well…maybe you should eat after the ride.
This is what is available in March (always check the region’s website and your e-mail before travelling). All these are close enough (with some only $25 for 5-6 runs) that I get my car ready the day before, and I just get up and drive the morning of, so no motel. Tip: listening to audio-books make the miles fly by fast!
March 13th and 14th
A Test ‘n Tune Saturday followed by an AX Sunday. Wichita region site in Yoker, KS at the Hutchinson Naval Air Station. $25 for 5-6, 50-60 second runs. 3 hours from KC. It’s a concrete run-way a mile long, and wider than the Salina Region site. Expect long slaloms, big offsets with a large sweeper. Two to three heats of National style speeds for car set up and practice. I like the site because the age and texture of the concrete is the exact same as Lincoln Air Park (LAP) and with National speeds, it’s good practice. Since slaloms can make or break a win for a driver, it seems we want to be good at them, so the more the better.
March 14th
A Test ‘n Tune on Sunday. Saint Louis region site in Saint Charles, MO (a suburb of St. Louis and on this side of it). $65 and limited to the first 50 entries. 3 hours from KC. A straight shot East on I-70 without getting into traffic and just off the Interstate. It’s the parking lot of Family Arena…a concert/tradeshow/sporting events place. Grippy asphalt, not bumpy, huge lot. In AX events, it’s $45 for 6, 50-60 second runs. There is a cool, high-up area to watch from, like no other site around. Three heats of fast, National style speeds, but the site is so big you still get long runs. Past events are done by 3pm or so, even with 100+ cars, due to their well-run events.
March 20th and 21st
A Test ‘n Tune Saturday, followed by an AX Sunday. Salina Region site in Salina, KS at Berkley Family Recreation Area (formally the East Crawford Rec Area)…same place, new name. It’s literally a straight shot West on I-70. The TnT is free with Sunday’s AX entry ($15 without), though it’s 20+ seconds long instead of 45+ like other places. Sunday’s AX is $25 for 5-6, 45-60 second runs. 2.5 hours from KC. It’s a mile-long concrete run-way of a former airport. Two heats, sometimes three, of National style speeds for car set-up. Another place for class-winning slalom practice. Grippiest (is that even a word?) concrete I have ever driven on. You can bring old tires and they perform like they still have tread. You should be out of there by 2-3pm.
March 21st
An AX on Sunday. North-East Oklahoma Region (NEOKLA) site in Tulsa, OK at the Tulsa Fairgrounds (Fair Meadows horse track). $35 for 8, 50-60 second runs! 3.5 hours from KC. It’s the parking “infield” of a horse track. Medium grip asphalt, a little bumpy, but not as much as Heartland Motorsports Park. Medium speed runs similar to KC Region. There are curbed islands sprinkled around this huge site, but they stay away from them. You get very twisty, fun AX courses here. They do all 8 runs in succession, 4 class and 4 PAX. It’s a blast. The bad news is they do two heats, which are long because of all the runs. The good news is…you get all of those runs!…and are done by 3pm or so.
March 27th and 28th
An AX on Saturday and Sunday. Nebraska Region site in Lincoln, NE at LAP. $35 for 5-6, 50-70 second runs. 3 hours 15 minutes from KC. Grippy concrete tarmac of an active Air and Army-reserve air-base. National style speeds because most often it IS a former National course you will be running! Generally, three heats and all done by 4pm. This is AX mecca…50 acres of concrete and by my count, this year will have six, two-day Nebraska Region AX events there (at least one Saturday, its’s a TnT). These double-headers do not even count any single day events or the TIRE RACK Pro Solo/ Spring Nationals, a divisional, and the TIRE RACK Pro Solo Finale/Solo Nationals. Bring a bike. ‘Nuff said.
There you go.
***Hey if this is your first look at IN THE DRIVER SEAT with MARK HILL, make sure to check out past 2020 issues of the CHECKPOINT for go-fast techniques, seat time tips, tires tests, etc. I’ve got something in almost every issue since last March.
See you out there!
Mark Hill,
4-time SCCA Champion, 500+ class AX wins