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New To Solo?

NOVICE PROGRAM SPONSOR Age 16-24? Click here.

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What is Solo?

Solo, more commonly known as Autocross, is a low-to-medium speed, timed driving competition. A course is marked out with traffic cones on a large paved surface that is usually fairly flat. Competitors drive through the course one at a time, each trying to be the fastest person to complete the circuit. Timers record laps down to the thousandth of a second, and each person gets 3-4 tries at the course during competition. Speeds are around 20 to 60 MPH, with very little risk to either the car or participant. To see some in-car footage from our region visit www.youtube.com and do a quick search for autocross+Packwood or +Bremerton.

Autocross rewards precision driving—competitors who incorrectly navigate the course or hit the cones out of their boxes are given time-penalties for that lap. Each driver's single best lap-time is used to determine class winners. Autocross is an "amateur" sport, there is no prize money, but NWR-SCCA presents trophies at each event.

NWR-SCCA allows passengers on competition runs, meaning you can ride with other drivers and someone ride with you—one exception for safety, novices are not allowed to ride with novices. Don't worry about not knowing exactly what to do – our Novice Chairsand other experienced drivers will be glad to help you through the day and give you some driving tips as well.

What do I need to bring to an event?

• Your valid driver's license
• Entry fees (cash or checks accepted)
• last 10 years or newer Snell rated helmet—Loaner helmets are available. Helmets with only a DOT rating are not allowed due to our insurance requirements.
• Whatever you need to “be prepared” for the weather (golf umbrella, rain suit, tarp, extra water, food, suntan lotion, etc.)

More about what to expect at the event – COMING SOON!

Always check the Next Event page for the run order and event day schedule.

What type of car can I compete in?

Just about any car can compete in autocross—cars are subject to an onsite safety tech inspection. To avoid any surprises onsite see: www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm#tech for more information.

Cars are assigned to classes depending on their typical performance and any modifications they have. People can have fun autocrossing just about anything. The emphasis is on car handling and driver skill - not just horsepower or raw speed. Cars used for autocross range from un-modified or lightly modified to heavily modified. There are many experienced people at every event that can help answer questions about the rules.

What class should I run in?

New to autocross, or don't want to worry about figuring out which class your car fits into right away? The Novice, Intermediate Street Tire, and Time Only classes are open to all cars regardless of modifications. Intermediate Street Tire (IST) is a new class for the NWR in 2013 – click to read more.

To start getting an idea of what class your car fits into you can consult the Car Classification Worksheet for an idea on what type of class you should run your car in. Also, you can consult the SCCA rules for which specific class your car would run in.

Here is a chart that you can use to see what class category your car would be in, based on a the modifications listed.  This is just a guideline and always verify your modifications with the current rule book.

Want to know more about starting Solo?

Here’s a Novice Handbook put together by Kate Hughes of the Glen Region of the SCCA. Most of this will apply to our NWR, but, all regions do things a little different.