What is autocross?
Whether known as Autocross or SCCA Solo II, the skills required to be the fastest car around a pylon marked course are the same as at Texas World Speedway. While the competition puts a premium on driving skills - with the fastest time often decided by a blink of an eye - this low-cost, low risk motorsport gets your adrenaline rushing through your system and makes you feel like you've just set the land speed record. This is what makes SCCA Solo II so attractive and entertaining.
Solo II is a low risk motorsport due to the speed limits placed on it and is low cost because you can use your daily driver - but, believe me, that does not reduce the excitement level in the least. How many of you can say that you wouldn't get a thrill going into a 90 degree corner at 50 mph, holding the gas pedal to the floor until the very last second and then cramming the brakes to just before full lock-up so that you can negotiate the corner? Imagine what it is like weaving back an forth through a series of cones - with your gas pedal foot to the floor - and still keeping the car under control; you finish the run and are leading the competition by .245 of a second . Will the competition catch you or is your lead of 245 thousandths of a second ENOUGH? This is Indeed low cost, low risk motorsports!
Just bring yourself and a mechanically sound car and yes, YOU can successfully compete in your daily driver street car! The Houston Region offers Street tire classes, Women's Classes, Open classes and Novice classes. All of these classes are then broken down into like car types and levels of preparation, so your Stock Mazda will not be in head to head competition with a souped up Mustang Cobra. It is not uncommon to see mom or dad competing against their 16-18 year old son or daughter.
This form of motorsport has more driver participation than any other form in the country. Each year there is a National Championship held in Topeka Kansas, where people from all over the U.S. and Canada (and occasionally from overseas) compete to see who the best drivers in the nation are. Last year there were just under 1,200 drivers in Topeka and this year they expect even more.
RX-Club goes autocrossing!
There are a plenty of chances to get involved with autocross action in Houston with events held both on the north-side of Houston at the Houston Police Academy (near Bush International Airport) and on the south-side at the Gulf Greyhound Park Dog Track (near Texas City).
Check out the online archives of our members out on the autocross track. If it looks like fun come on out to one of the events posted at the bottom of the page.
April 1998 - HPD Autocross
July 1999 - Night-time Autocross at the HPD Academy
February 2000 - SCCA Autocross and Rallye-Cross at Grand Sport Speedway
Houston area autocross schedule
So you think your ready to get out there on the track. Check out the upcoming race dates and make sure to pre-register on DLB Racing.com to make sure you have a spot waiting for you on the grid.
Listed are schedules for both the Houston Region Sports Car Club of America as well as the Houston Region BMW Car Club of America and the Lone Star Region of the Porsche Club whom both hold several autocross events throughout the year including several driving schools and other driving events.
Houston Region SCCA Solo (autocross) dates:
Houston Chapter BMW-Car Club of America and Lone Star Region Porsche autocross dates:Divisional Event - June 23rd and 24th 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
Regional Event #7 - July 1st 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
Regional Event #8 - August 5th 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
Regional Event #9 - September 2nd 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
Regional Event #10 - October 7th 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
Regional Event #11 - November 4th 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
BMW Autocross - June 10th 2007 @ Houston Police Academy
Porsche Autocross - July 15th 2007 @ Houston Police Academy
Porsche Autocross - August 19th 2007 @ Houston Police Academy
BMW Autocross - September 9th 2007 @ Houston Police Academy
BMW Autocross - October 21st 2007 @ Houston Police Academy
Porsche Autocross - November 18th 2007 @ Gulf Greyhound Park
BMW Autocross - December 16th 2007 @ Houston Police Academy