Autocross uses traffic cones to make a mini-road course in a large parking lot, unused airport tarmac, or other large paved surface, and we see who can drive it the quickest without hitting any cones or going off course. Drivers are sent onto course one at a time, at a staggered pace. Autocross courses typically have lots of maneuvers combining slaloms, off-set gates, and sweeping corners, with only a few short straight-aways. Autocross emphasizes car handling and driver skill, not top speed.

Competitors range from the casual participant who may use the same daily driver that they car-pool with, to the hard-core driver who has a special car, and special tires. In between the extremes, there are levels and classes for different degrees of car modification. Roll cages are NOT required for most cars.