I've just completed my first couple of AutoXs (PCA-led), and I'm struck by how...inefficient...the day is.

Basically, I spent the better part of the day to get just 6 runs - so ~5 mins of driving time across 6-7 hours. Rest of the time was in grid, or manning the flag stations. There were about 60 cars divided into 2 heats.

Is this unusual? HPDE is so much better, almost an hour of track time each day, if not more.

No flames pls, just trying to understand if this is always how it happens?

 

The work/run thing is what keeps costs low. There are pros and cons to everything and chasing cones for a small amount of seat time is certainly a downside of autox but there are a lot of good things about autox too. HPDE and autox are apples and oranges. It's really not a fair comparison. The quality of seatime and driver involvement in the 5 minutes of autox will match or exceed your hour of HPDE. In autox you are 10/10ths on the ragged edge from start to finish... HPDE, not so much. Autox is actual competition... HPDE isn't. Autox might damage your ego... HPDE might wad your car up into a wall.

Without paying course workers to chase cones for you, I'm not sure there is any other way to do it without raising the costs. If someone has a better way of doing it, I'm sure SCCA and PCA regions around the nation would love to know.

 

I like the 10/10 running as you are at the limit of your car and the nut behind the wheel. At a DE you will not take a car to the limit. You don't know where the limit is till you put the car sideways and save it or spin it. I have a hard time getting to that 10/10 spot but that is what autox is about. Getting you and your machine to the limit and dam that is fun. Working course can also help you by watching how the fast folks are driving the course. I don't run with my local PCA they are more geared to only HPDE's and only run 1 autox a year. So there autox is only go out and get some runs and no competition like a DE. I like the competition and seeing and even riding in some very cool non Porsche's so I run with my local SCCA SOLOII. The local track PPIR also does a Time Attack. I love the rush taking the car to limit something that I never did at a HPDE.

 

+1

 

I wrote my thoughts about this question in the second half of this blog-post here: https://edfishjr.com/2016/06/

 

You want inefficient? I drive 11 hours (each way) to Lincoln, Nebraska late every summer to get six total runs over two days.

And I'll do it again.

 

Great article. I alluded to the seat time differences in my post but you explain it in better detail. I'm going to save that for reference.

 

You are just at the wrong AX

Here in San Diego with PCA, at minimum we generally have 2 practice sessions of 5 laps each and 1 timed run session of 4 laps. At our AX yesterday, we did 2 practice sessions of 6 laps each and timed runs of 4 laps.

It does depend a little on how many drivers we have, mores laps (6) when 80-90 drivers and when we have 100+ (5). We have 6 run groups

We have great courses , typically just over a mile long with many features like slaloms, on and off camber turns, increasing and decreasing turns, elevation changes, etc
A pretty good deal for $60

 

60 drivers and only 6 runs? Somebody cares more about getting home early than driving. 8 runs minimum and some clubs here run 10-12-14 runs a day. NER PCA region is one of them. Autocross is more than driving, it is also a car guy, or gal, GTG. A coffee shop GTG has people showing off their cars will all sorts of mods. An autocross has people showing off their driving skills.

 

...

 

That sounds about right...

 

Agreed. On a long summer day, CalClub SCCA can routinely run 105 people through 12 runs. Shorter, winter days, we'll get 75 people through 12 runs. It's all about running an efficient event. We shot for 24 seconds between runs and are diligent about picking starters who can pay attention for safe release, get the driver ready and off in 24 seconds (average). It's amazing how many minutes adding 2 seconds per driver can add. (With 97 drivers, 2 seconds adds 38 minutes to the day. We've developed a spreadsheet to determine entry caps based on sunrise/sunset times and how long we want to run.)

 

How do you guys handle switching out the workers efficiently with so many run-groups?

Switching out workers is often a slow process for us when we have 2 run groups and 80 to 90 drivers. Maybe with more groups, you don't have to wait for everyone to park the cars, etc. before going out on course, I guess?

 

You are not the first to make that observation. I took on the role of autocross chair for the Potomac region for the 2017 season and I'll share some thoughts.

We make every effort to run safe, fun and efficient events. We limit the number of drivers to minimize time throughout the day. We do 6 runs when other clubs around here offer 5 runs. We are limited by the size of the parking lot, a limited budget and the schedule of the parking lots in which we rent. Given the shape of the parking lot, we can only two cars on the course at a time, so that makes the time in between runs a bit longer compared to other clubs' courses. Therefore having 10 or 12 runs is unrealistic. RFK was not an option in 2017 due to scheduling on their end, and if it was, the cost over per event would make it cost prohibitive for all 7 events.

When you analyze our schedule, where should we cut back on time? Registration, tech, course walk, lunch, awards and raffle? When you break it down, we run a very efficient program.

HPDE, DE and autocross are like comparing apples and oranges. I just paid $550 for a 3 day event at Watkins Glen and that does not include the price of lodging, food, garage, gas, new brake pads and tires. Compare to a $50 autocross, that is a great deal. Many of us on the ax committee participate in DE events as well gaining valuable skills at autocross translates to the big tracks and visa versa.

With all of this said, PCA is a social club and we encourage people to attend many events, socialize and build deep friendships like many people have. It's not just the cars, it's the people.

We are always open to feedback and suggestions. Please fill out our survey when it goes out at the end of the season. I hope you attend future events!

 

You do a great job with our autocross events and we greatly appreciate all the effort that you and the other volunteers make into putting on these events!