Autocross FAQ

While there are always risks involved in any form of motorsport, autocross is by far one of, if not the most safest form there is.

It’s very techincal driving, done at realtively low speeds, in areas where there isn’t much to run into.

As for your car, because of the relatively low speeds, it’s way less wear and tear on a car than something like road racing.  While the car is being stressed more than just cruising on the street, it’s really not bad.  Tires tend to be the thing that gets used up the most.

Nope, you sure don’t!  Anyone is welcome to register for an event, membership is not required.  As long as registration is still open, and the event hasn’t filled up, you are welcome to sign up and come on out.

It depends.  Our “home course” is the Lake Tech Institute of Public Safety in Tavares, FL.  Most of our events will be at this location.  However, we also sometimes run at the Orange County Convention Center, sometimes at The FIRM in Starke…check out our Events Page to confirm locations.

Yes.  Due to the arrangement with our insurance company, drivers must be at least 15 years of age and possess a permit/ driver’s license.

(Though if you are just watching, there is no age restriction!)

Go to the Events Page of our site, and when registration opens for that event, there will be a link that will take you to a clubregistration.net page for our event — you will register and pay there.

Alternatively, you can go search for Martin events on https://clubregistration.net/ and register that way — though just make sure you are registering for the correct event.

You will both need to register for the event.

If you are both driving in the same class (co-driving the car), you will each enter the car details, select the same class, and then choose different numbers.  The easiest thing to do is pick a 3-digit number, for example “145” — then one of you register as 145, the other as 45.  When one of you runs, you have the “1” in the front, when the other person runs, remove the “1” from the front.

If you are driving in different classes (for example, Novice and ES), then set the car, select your respective class, and pick an appropriate number.  Depending on how the heats are grouped, you may run together…or may not.

No, we accept pre-registrations only.  We do not allow walk-ups to register.

Registration is typically open for about 3 weeks prior to the event, and will close the Friday before the event — plenty of time for you to complete your registration.

It sure is!  And it’s free!  We will still need you to sign a waiver when you arrive (a person will be at the entrance to the event).  Once you have signed, you are welcome to watch!

In fact, you can even ride along with someone who is driving if you want to get the experience; the only caveats being:

1. you will need your driver’s license
2. you will need to borrow a helmet if you don’t have your own (see FAQ section on helmets for more info)
3. you cannot ride with someone in a Novice class, it must be one of the normal classes

Nope.  We do loaner helmets, at no cost to you.  We just hold on to your driver’s license while you are borrowing the helmet, and you will get it back when you return the helmet.

Getting the helmet is easy, just come up to the trailer at the door marked “Loaner Helmets” right before your run heat.  After you do your runs, bring the helmet back.

(We do have only a limited number of helmets though, so please borrow them only when you are driving/riding-along, and not for the full day.  Thanks for your understanding!)

We follow the same class structure as SCCA with these exceptions:

1. We don’t have separate ladies classes
2. We don’t have separate Pro classes
3. We have a couple unique-to-us classes that are not offered by SCCA

If this is your first time driving with us, we require that you run your first 3 events in the Novice class.

If you have previous autocross experience, not to worry.  We have a couple rules in place, depending on your time, that may immediately bump you to a normal class for your next event.  If you want more information on this, come talk to a board memeber at the next event.

Once you have completed your 3 Novice events (or were moved per above), register in your normal class for future events.

If you need some help figuring out what class you should be in after Novice, talk with the board or some members at the next event.  You can also try this Classification Assistant to get you going in the right direction.

You can pick any number that has not already been used in registration by another driver.

Numbers can be anything from a single digit up to 3 digits: 1 – 999.

Just about any car will do.  Seriously.  There are some guidelines (see below), but that’s one of the best things about autocross, you don’t need a special car.  You will see everything from Porsche’s to Honda Fits.  That’s why there are classes — to make sure cars of similar capability compete against each other.

Just make sure that your car isn’t prone to rolling over; it must have a wider track width than it does height.  In other words, if your car is taller (height) than it is wide (track width), then it won’t be allowed.

If you aren’t sure, reach out to us via email (info@martinsportscarclub.org) before the event and we’ll let you know if it’s okay.

Make sure your car is in good, working order.  You should have:

1. No leaks
2. Plenty of life left on the brake pads and rotors
3. Fluids (oil, brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, etc.) relatively fresh
4. No parts hanging or falling off the car
5. Clear windshield with no major cracks or chips
6. Tires in good condition (no bald spots or cords showing through) with appropriate tire pressure
7. Car numbers for both sides, and class for both sides; in a color that contrasts with your car color so as to be easily visible
8. Clean interior — clean out your car before the event, you don’t want a McDonalds bag in your face while going through a slalom

Since we are in Central Florida, we get to autocross all year long.

During the summer, it can get very hot and humid — make sure you bring a lot of water to stay hydrated.

We also tend to get summer rain showers during the day — we typically continue to run in the rain as long as it’s not storming too badly.  If it does get really bad and we can’t safely run, the event will be canceled, you’ll get a refund, and we’ll hopefully see you at the next event.

Yes.  Email the Events Director (their email will be on the event page at clubregistration.net) and let them know what’s going on.

If you have already paid, your regristration fee will be carried forward to the next event that you can attend.

Every event will follow the same basic format:

1. Arrive
2. Get your car ready for tech: put your numbers and class on, remove everything from your trunk, remove floor mats if they aren’t secured
3. When the course is ready, walk it as many times as you can before the Novice Walk
4. Do the Novice Walk (Novices are required, but anyone can also do the walk)
5. Attend the Drivers Meeting
6. First run heat starts
7. Move through all the run heats until finshed
8. Pack up, head home

The times for each of the above items will be listed in an email that you will recieve a day before the event.

There will be an area specifically set aside for tech inspections.  You will take your car there, and the tech inspector will review you car for:

1. Car number and class are displayed, large enough, on both sides, in a color that visibly contrasts with that of your car
2. Windshield that has no major cracks or chips
3. Battery is securely tied down
4. There are no loose items inside the car
5. All wheel lugs/bolts/studs are present
6. General condition — nothing is broken or hanging off that might affect driver, passenger or worker safety
7. If you have your own helmet, it must be Snell M or SA rated, and the year/certification must be inline with current requirements (see helmet question in the section).

If you fail on something, you will have time to correct the issue(s) and resubmit for tech inspection.

We strongly enourage you address all of these items before you show up for the event to ensure a smooth and easy tech inspection!

Yes, but it must be Snell M or SA rated, and the year/certification cannot be older than 2010.

There will be a sticker somewhere on the inside (you might need to fold back some padding to see it), and this sticker will list the year/certification.

All of the various classes that participate in an event will be divided up into groupings, or heats.

A run heat is when your class will be driving.  During this time, there will also be a work heat, where other classes are out on the course, working.

Once all the cars in a run heat have finished their runs, that heat is over and the next heat starts: a new set of classes will be running, and a new set will be working.

There are typically between 2 to 4 heats per event, it just depends on the number of drivers that have registered.

If there are 3 or more heats, that means you will run 1 heat, work 1 heat, and then have the remaining heats off — you can get some lunch and watch the other heats…or maybe even consider snagging some ride-alongs!

Yes.  One of the ways autocross can stay so affordable is that when you aren’t driving, you are helping out on course — just as someone is doing this for you when you are driving.

You will be assigned a work heat.  When your work heat comes up, we’ll announce it; come to the trailer for your assignment.  You will be assigned a station such as a corner worker, starter, grid, etc.

You can find your work heat by looking in the email that you’ll receive the day before the event — find your class and then associated work heat.

Absolutely…as long as you are not a Novice driver.

If you are a Novice driver, you can only have an instructor ride with you.  This is a safety requirement imposed upon us, thanks for your understanding!

If you are in any of the normal classes, then you can have anyone allowed ride along.  (“Allowed” means they have signed a waiver, have a driver’s license, and a helmet.)

Each driver is allowed only one passsenger, and this passenger must be 15 or older, with a valid permit/driver’s license.

Yes, we try to have several instructors available per run heat.  If you are a Novice, we strongly recommend you have one ride with you for the first couple runs at a minimum.

Instructors are also available for seasoned autocrossers — it can be quite helpful to get a different perspective!  Just keep in mind that our instructors will prioritize Novices, so you may have be patient to get one.

During the Drivers Meeting, the Events Coordinator will let everyone know where the instructors will be hanging out in case you want to grab one.

It depends on the layout of the course and the number of drivers that have registered, but we usually have between 4 to 6, and typically average 5.

After we get about half way through the 1st run heat and see how fast things are moving along, we’ll announce the number of runs.  The person working grid will be able to let you know once we announce it.

Yes, we have a Live Timing page that will be continually updated during the event.  Check there to see how you are doing.

Keep in mind that the page is only updated during the event, so if you visit it any other time it may not show anything relevant.

For certain locations we try to have a food truck on site, other locations are positioned near some fast food places — it just depends.

The email that gets sent out the day before the event will say whether we have a food truck on site or not.  If we don’t, take a look at your favorite maps app and see what food places are nearby…or plan to bring a cooler with some food. 🙂

You should have an instructor ride with you at least a couple times.

And then just focus on having fun and trying to knock your times down lower each run.  Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others right now (as much as you may want to).

And that’s it.  Autocrossing is hard and there’s a lot to learn and many skills that you’ll need to develop, and while it is deeply satisfying (especially if you are at all competitive), it will not happen immediately.

So bear that in mind; don’t get discouraged, focus on having fun and learning.  And get an instructor to ride with you.

Also, you should get an instructor to ride along with you 🙂

Extra seat time!

After everyone has completed their official runs — at the discretion of the Events Director — if there’s time for extra runs then “fun runs” will be announced and any that are interested are to come to the trailer for check in.

If there’s enough participation, then those interested will form a line at the start, and run through the course.

When exiting the course, return to the line at the start.

Whether we have workers or not will at the Event Director’s discretion.

The timing equipment may be up and running, but these runs do not count towards any official run from the event — they are just for fun.

Also, keep in mind that all the rules from the event regarding passengers still apply to fun runs.

Lastly, once fun runs are over, please stay and help pack up the course!

Email the Events Director (their email will be on the events page at clubregistration.net) and let them know what’s going on.

Your registration fee will be carried forward and applied to the next event that are able to attend.