Cars line up at starting grid to compete in autocross event at Diamond Stadium on May 24. (Photos by Emily Baierl)
Drivers raced through a cone-lined course Sunday, May 24, during an autocross event at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium hosted by the San Diego Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
The Memorial Day Weekend event brought around 70 drivers to the stadium parking lot for a day of timed racing, where competitors tested both speed and precision. Saturday served as a practice day, while Sunday featured official competition runs followed by additional practice runs.
“Autocross is parking lot racing,” said Linda Glau, a member of the San Diego Region SCCA and one of the drivers competing. “They create a course with orange cones, and we race for time.”
Autocross, also called Solo racing, is a motorsport where drivers race one at a time, instead of side-by-side on a traditional racetrack. Temporary courses are set up using cones in large parking lots, with layouts designed around quick turns, slaloms and handling.
“The worst that can happen is you knock over cones,” autocross driver Steve Glau said. “You don’t have to worry about hitting another car.”
A driver navigates a cone-lined course in the Diamond Stadium parking lot.
Before racing begins, drivers attend a safety meeting and walk the course to study the track layout. Since the course is different for every event, drivers have to quickly learn the layout before getting behind the wheel. Some cones are turned on their sides to indicate where drivers should turn, while others create slalom sections that require quick left-and-right movements through tight spaces.
“Part of the competition is to determine how well you read the track, because it looks like a sea of cones,” Linda Glau said.
Drivers each completed four official competition runs before moving into additional practice runs, often referred to as “X-runs.” Run times varied throughout the day, with some of the faster drivers finishing in the low 30-second range while others landed in the mid-to-high 30s.
Steve Glau said some drivers reached speeds close to 70 mph on previous course layouts, though Sunday’s tighter course focused more on maneuverability.
Linda and Steve Glau said they have participated in autocross for several years. After originally attending events to watch her husband compete, Linda Glau said she eventually decided to give it a try for herself. She said the community was welcoming and supportive.
“No one has ever made me feel like I don’t belong on the track,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for that.”
The event included a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from Corvettes and Subaru BRZs to Teslas and Nissan 370Zs. Drivers compete in classes based on the type of car they drive and how modified the vehicle is, allowing similar cars to compete against one another.
Driver Bill Sanford, who has been participating in autocross for over 40 years, brought a rare 2009 Lotus Elise SC Type 25 Jim Clark edition.
“One of only 15 sold in the U.S.,” Sanford said.
Bill Sanford stands with his 2009 Lotus Elise SC Type 25 Jim Clark edition.
Autocross events are also considered “work-run” events, meaning drivers help operate the event when they are not behind the wheel. Drivers are split into run groups, with one group racing while the other group works different assignments around the course.
Jobs throughout the day include helping with registration, directing cars through the starting grid and monitoring the course for safety issues.
The event also gave spectators a chance to ride along in the cars during practice runs. Riders were required to sign waivers and borrow helmets before getting into the passenger seat.
“You watch it and it looks fast,” Steve Glau said. “When you’re in the car, it’s really fast.”
Mike Parsons drives his Tesla during a practice run at the autocross event. Reporter Emily Baierl rides in the back seat during the run.
Several drivers also recorded their runs using GoPros and onboard cameras. Steve Glau uploads footage from events to his Youtube channel, and another driver, Derek Bertram, also posts autocross videos.
The San Diego SCCA hosts autocross events throughout the year, many of them held at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium. More information about upcoming events can be found on the San Diego SCCA website.
