A First Timers guide to Autocross

By Scott Martineau

The NCR autocross program is designed to provide an avenue for improving your driving skills. Autocrosses take place in large parking lots or in our case airport runways. The goal is to navigate a course of traffic cones in the least amount of time. Timing is accomplished with start and finish line trip lights that feed your time into the computer database. You are grouped with other drivers of similar cars and your times are scored to see who is the fastest. If you hit cones during your run, penalty seconds are added to your time. In the case of autocross, neatness counts! Normally, you will get 8+ runs through the course.

Autocross 101

By Colin Blake

What is an Autocross?

For those of you who are new to the club or have never been to an autocross event before, you’re probably wondering what an autocross is. An autocross is a test of your ability to drive your car, as fast as you can, around a marked out course. Events are held in large open spaces and all of our events are held on the disused airfield at Fort Devens in Ayer, MA. The course is marked out with small rubber cones and a single run of the course typically takes about 60-80 seconds. Although an autocross is a timed event and the fastest drivers win, each car races separately against the clock, and therefore there is no chance of making contact with another car.

For 2023, a five event series is planned. All events are held at Moore Airfield, Devens, MA.

The following rules are used to determine the Class Champions for the Autocross Series:

1. PCA members from any region are eligible for the Autocross Series Class Championships.
2. Championships are awarded for all Porsche classes except Novice.
3. Championships are awarded for non-Porsche classes at the discretion of the Autocross Chair.
4. Points for each event are awarded as follows:
   
   

   1st place	9 points
   2nd place	6 points
   3rd place	4 points
   4th place	3 points
   5th place	2 points
   6th/lower	1 point
   DNS/DNF/DSQ	no points

5. To qualify for a series class championship, a driver must win points in that class in at least four points events and at least one first place finish in that class.
6. One event is dropped from the point total of each driver so a driver's best four finishes in the five event series count toward the championship.
7. Season point tie breakers:
   1. Most First Place Finishes.
   2. Total of class sizes for First Place Finishes. DNS/DNF/DSQ drivers not included.
   3. Lowest total score obtained by adding each driver's score for events included by both drivers.
   4. The decision of the Autocross Chair is final.

A Top Driver of the Year and the John MacDonald Most Improved Driver will also be awarded.

Awards will be presented at the NCR Annual Autocross Party on February 4, 2024.

Arriving at the Site, Check-in & Waiver

• You should arrive between 7:00 and 7:45AM
• Do not arrive before 7:00 unless you are on the setup crew
• Drive courteously and obey the local traffic laws and please report anyone not doing so
• Local police know we are here and often use radar before and after our events
• Everyone MUST Stop at the "gate" at the top of the hill (where the chain-link fence ends). Here you will:
  • Sign the Waiver -- this includes participants, guests, spectators, etc.
  • A PCA Minor waiver, signed by parent(s) is required for anyone under age 18
  • Check-in with on-site registrar(s)
  • All particpants must show their driver license and tell the gate workers their name, class and car number
  • If you have any changes or owe money, you will have to come to the timing tent from 7:30-8:00 to make those payments and changes.
• Everyone will get a wrist band after signing the waiver
  • One color for novice and intermediate drivers
  • One color for qualified instructors
  • One color for guests
  • Nobody enters the site without a wristband!
• Once you are checked in:
  • Park in the paddock
  • Prepare your car by removing all loose items, including floor mats, and affixing the number you were assigned.
  • Then put your car in the tech line with hood and trunk open.
  • Bring your helmet(s) to the tech line.
• At 8:15 sharp, be at the Mandatory Driver Meeting near the timing tent
• The course will be open for walking after the Driver Meeting
• Autocross is an all day rain or shine event
  • plan to stay until 5:00 if necessary
  • pay attention to the forecast and plan accordingly

General Rules and Guidelines

• No drugs or alcohol allowed on site at any time
• Speed limit 5MPH at all times in pit area
• Children must be supervised at all times and are NOT allowed in the hot grid
• Pets must be supervised/leashed at all times
  • Pets are NOT allowed in the hot grid
• NO SMOKING smoking in the grid
• No skates, Heelys, scooters, bikes etc allowed
• Stay away from timing tent
  • If you need help please see event chair or an instructor, they will be glad to help you
• Pick up any trash- Leave the site cleaner than when we arrived
  • Use the Dumpster
  • Devens will fine us if trash is left on site
• Support the local merchants
• • Tell them you are there for an autocross event at Moore Airfield
  • DO NOT park in front of the Cottage restaurant in town.
    
    • The owner is very particular about saving those parking spots for his customers
• Stay away from the police cars
• Drink plenty of water
• • It is easy to get dehydrated--even on a cool cloudy day
• Anyone taking photos MUST use a spotter. They are your eyes and ears for safety.
• Everyone must work
• • You must work both morning and afternoon sessions.
  • If you need to leave early please see event chairperson prior to leaving
• Attendance at the Driver Meeting is mandatory
• Results are announced live and broadcast on 89.5 FM

Grid

• Grid workers will help drivers get lined up in grid
• We grid 2 cars deep
• Dual drivers go to front of grid
• Grid workers will get dual drivers on course to keep runs in synch with single drivers
• If you have a rerun go to the rerun lane
  • Grid workers will get you out for rerun after a minimum of 5 cars have gone

Instructors and Passengers

• We have assigned instructors for the event
  • First time autocrossers must use instructors until instructors feel driver is ready to drive alone
  • If you want an instructor put you flashers on and an instructor will hop in the car with you
• Passenger rules (Starter will be checking):
  • We encourage passenger rides for learning purposes
  • Only registered entrants are allowed in cars
  • Either driver or passenger MUST be an approved instructor
  • Approved instructors are identified by wrist band color
  • Passenger must be back in the grid in time for their next run (or lose the run)

NOVICES

• Novices running in the novice class will run with their base class
  • For example- if running in a 2010 Boxster S with no mods you will run when base class 6 runs
• If you win novice class you will no longer be eligible for novice class at future events
• There is a Mandatory Novice Meeting and course walk lead by our novice Captain
  • Grid, course elements, penalties etc. will be covered

Corner Captains

• A Captain is assigned to each corner
  • Captain is usually an experienced worker
  • Captain will have the radio and the red flag
  • Captain also shags cones
  • If you are assigned as captain and feel you can't do the job please let us know and we can make a change
• Radio
  • You MUST call in ALL penalties and ALL re-runs
  • Keep transmission short… “Control this is corner 4, car 8-8-7, 2 cones”
  • Wait for acknowledgement from control
    • If you do not get an acknowledge from control check if they got the call
• Red Flag
  • Keep the red flag in your hand at all times, never put it down
  • Keep the flag unfurled (NOT rolled up) and hidden from drivers
  • If red flag is needed waive it vigorously in a figure 8 pattern to get drivers attention
  • If you see something unsafe use the red flag
• Spread the workers out
  • Workers standing in one place makes getting to downed cones difficult and causes unnecessary reruns

Working the Course

• We allow cars to be driven to work stations
• Park cars at least 100 feet from course
• Do not park in line of sight of drivers
• Park cars out of the spin zone
• No sitting on course while course is hot
• No cell phones, cameras, pagers, etc. use allowed on course at any time
• Be ready to run in case of car spin or to reset cones

  Cones

• Watch behind the car as a lot of cones are hit with rear of car
• Each cone tipped over or moved completely outside of the box is a penalty:
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  • 
  •  
• Cones before the start are subject to the same penalties
• Any cone penalty after the finish lights is an automatic DNF
• Pointer cones DO NOT COUNT as penalty but must be replaced
• If a cone wiggles or is not centered in the box, reset it
• Move quickly, fix the cone and get out of the way of the next driver
• If not enough time, stay out of the way--your safety is more important
• NEVER turn your back to an oncoming car!
• Use the following hand signals to indicate penalty:
• •  
  • 
  •  

DRIVING

• Car numbers must be visible at all times
  • Large enough to be seen by workers on course
  • Numbers must be contrasting color to car
• If you get in trouble, save the car not the run!
• "If it starts to spin -- BOTH FEET IN"
• Save the equipment
  • If you damage the equipment (Timing lights/transmitters etc) you will pay for repair or replacement
• Devens has very strict sound requirements
• • If your car is over the limit you will be black flagged and given 1 opportunity to fix it
  • If you have a second violation you will be done for the day
• Always drive through the finish lights, even if you are getting rerun, off course, etc.

  Reruns

• If you are red flagged you will be given a rerun--unless you caused the red flag
• If you see a cone down or in the wrong place STOP
  • Get corner worker attention to verify cone is out of place
  • If cone is verified to be out of place corner worker must call in rerun to control. If not called in no rerun will be given
• Once moving again drive course quickly, no slow driving as other cars are coming behind you
• Make sure to go through the finish lights
• Return to grid and get into the rerun lane

Moore Army Airfield, located near the former Fort Devens, was built in 1940. During the Second World War it was also used by the Navy, and was referred to as Ayer Naval Auxiliary Air Station. The airfield originally consisted of three paved runways, taxiways and a ramp. Moore Army Airfield was declared excess when Fort Devens was downgraded to a training area, and was closed in the late 1990s. You can read additional information here .

It is on these now disused runways where the autocross events take place.

Note: Moore Army Airfield is just off of Route 2A which is separate from the former main Army base.

NOTE: We use the State Police entrance on Rt 2A (Fitchburg Road).