Autocross Update Club Race Edition

Article by Steve Kidd

An AutoX at the 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race! That’s what took place on February 4, 2023. Many of you have heard about the 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race, but how many of you know that the Gold Coast Region AutoX team has been hosting an AutoX as part of the Suncoast/Gold Coast activities every year since 2008? I believe we were the first Club Race to introduce Autocross as a feature activity to Club Race and have billed this as a Zone Challenge competitive event since the beginning. This AutoX has drawn the best drivers from all over the country to see who could claim the title of class “Top Gun” or FTD (fastest time of the day). This year we had drivers from as far as northern New Jersey and middle Tennessee.

This year’s Club Race and the AutoX had some challenges in the form of staff shortages and 20+ MPH winds. However, preparations were made for the wind and we tied down the tent and timing equipment, and so endured only a few antenna blow-overs. While we had fewer volunteers at AutoX but made up for it in their quality. A huge thanks to those that helped us make this event a success, including Chris Alvarado from Club Registration. Besides Chris, we had Noel and Brigette on Friday and Brigette and Julie on Saturday. Many of you remember Julie as one of our committed volunteers who drives up for the day, doesn’t run, and works the timing console all day. Dottie did an excellent job of grouping who would run and who would work and the event finished right on schedule! Julie, James and Janet kept timing running smoothly, with zero timing errors, despite the wind, which caused a number of false trips, especially in the afternoon. The course was a modification of a design we have used in the past. Similar, but with enough difference to make it challenging and safe.

Many of you have asked what was new about this year’s 48 Hour AX. Listed below are the AX enhancements for 2023:

• An AutoX school on Friday. This proved to be rewarding and hopefully part of the 2024 agenda.

• Not everyone could win a trophy; however everyone got a “Race Pack,” thanks to Hagerty Insurance.

• A two-event structure that provided for an event in the morning, a two-hour break to do the track tour, get lunch and socialize, then a separate AX event in the afternoon. This new format allows competitors to do either morning, afternoon, or both events. It eliminates the need to stay at the AX site all day, and participants only need to do one work shift per event and still get six runs.

• Really nice FTD Pirelli hats for both the men’s and ladie’s fastest time of the day.

The level of competition was spectacular, and the Fastest Time of the Day went to Ernie Revuelta for both the morning and afternoon events. Ernie is from Gold Coast Region and drives a lightly prepared Cayman S. Ladies FTD went to Kirsten Eggert, who co-manages the AX program for Suncoast Region with her husband Jerry. Kirsten drives a modified Cayman R and jumps in to help wherever necessary a full listing of results and pictures can be found on both the 48 Hours at Sebring and Gold Coast Region websites. If you missed this year’s Club Race AX be sure to plan on participating next year.

Tentative AX schedule for the remainder of 2023

Event #4 3/11/2023 @ St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, a new site for us and about 45 minutes closer than Sebring.

Event #5 4/15 /2023 @ Sebring in conjunction with the Suncoast Region DE. Thanks again to our friends at Suncoast for the site.

Event #6 9/09/2023 @ Sebring in conjunction with the Suncoast Region DE. Thanks again to our friends at Suncoast for the site.

Event #7 10/21/2023 @ St. Lucie County Fairgrounds

Most of the above dates & sites are subject to change due to weather, availability, and factors beyond our control. News, reminders and 2023 updates:

• Everyone is now required to pre-register for any AutoX on Clubregistration.net. Please consult the GCR website and the Kassette for all Autocross photos & results.

• Porsche car classes are currently based on the NEW PCR’s for all of PCA, with minor regional adjustments. The new PCA rules provide for a reduced number of classes. The major difference will be the addition of SN (stock car/novice driver) for men and ladies. These classes are strictly for newcomers only. Please contact Steve for any car class questions. We reserve the right to make additional class/rule changes as needed.

• Our 2023 series is planned to include 5 to 7 events, depending on site eligibility. To be eligible for an end of the year award, competitors must run in over half the events in the same class. Each competitor’s top finishes will be calculated, and an end of the year class champion will be recognized. In case of a tie, additional events will be added until the tie is broken. Year-end class champion awards may be presented.

• No passengers are allowed in AX vehicles except for an approved AX instructor driving or in the car instructing.

• For 2023 please remember to still be Covid-19 conscious. This means appropriate safety protocols will be enforced when necessary.

• Questions? call Steve or Dottie Kidd 954-946-3196.