Philly/S.Jersey SCCA Autocross?

[pmboy506]

Hey all,

I'm a newbie here on the forum, living in SJ and just purchased an 18' Fiesta and looking to get involved. I was wondering if anyone here has done autocross events in Warminster/Atlantic City for either the Philly SCCA or South Jersey SCCA Autocross events. I'm a newbie, and have never done anything related to Autocross and was just wondering if there were any other people that go.

I looked at the calendar and they have a novice school in Warminster in late May/early June that I was planing on going to.

Thanks!

 

[JDG]

I did the auto-x Novice School in 2018 with Philly SCCA. I really enjoyed it, learned a lot, and you end up driving a whole lot more than you do during a typical autocross event. It's well worth the $150 and they usually hold it on a Friday night (classroom) and Saturday (driving) so you get free admission into Sunday's auto-x event and get to use the skills you learned.

With all of that said, I wouldn't wait to do your first auto-x event. The Novice program is super solid with the Philadelphia region and given this will be your first year you will be in the novice class competing against all the other beginners. They do a good job doing a Novice course walk before the day begins where they go over the basics and show you how to get through the course. You can have an instructor in your car for every single run if you want which really helps with getting through the course your first couple of times (easy to get lost, spoken from experience). As you get better, the instructors can help you with more higher level skills like looking way ahead which I still take advantage of sometimes as I still consider myself a beginner.

I haven't run with the SJ region but from my understanding they run a solid program as well.

Also, Warminster is a cool spot, it's an abandoned runway and I think this is the last year of auto-x at that venue.

The Fiesta is very competitive in HS with minimal modifications and you can run the car completely stock and have a ton of fun. I recommend making an account on motorsportreg.com so you can see upcoming events in your area and registering ahead of time as a lot of the events (especially in the summer) will fill up ahead of time and they won't allow walk-ups. Also, you will have to buy a weekend SCCA membership (I think $15) for any event you want to do. But if you love it, that $15 can go towards your annual membership (~$100 /year).

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with any more specific questions.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Do they allow spectators at the Warminster events, at all?

 

[JDG]

Do they allow spectators at the Warminster events, at all?

Yup, just sign a waiver and you are in. It's a good place to spectate because of the runway setup.

 

[VARIABLE9]

I saw the link for motorsportreg but wondering if anyone has a direct link for Philly SCCA. I’ve looked in the past two weeks and just found dead links and old event calendars. TIA

 

[JDG]

I saw the link for motorsportreg but wondering if anyone has a direct link for Philly SCCA. I’ve looked in the past two weeks and just found dead links and old event calendars. TIA

https://www.phillyscca.com/


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[VARIABLE9]

https://www.phillyscca.com/


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Thanks, but this what I’m talking about. No schedule since 2019. Website is pretty sparse. Someone above mentioned a Warminster event in May 2020, where can I get that info?

 

[JDG]

Thanks, but this what I’m talking about. No schedule since 2019. Website is pretty sparse. Someone above mentioned a Warminster event in May 2020, where can I get that info?

It hasn't been officially released yet. When it is, it will be up on the website and on motorsportreg. You can join the Philadelphia SCCA facebook group if you want the inside scoop.

 

[VARIABLE9]

It hasn't been officially released yet. When it is, it will be up on the website and on motorsportreg. You can join the Philadelphia SCCA facebook group if you want the inside scoop.

Ok. I’d just have thought a 2020 schedule would be up by now. Motorsportreg has lots of 2020 for SouthNJ SCCA as well as Pittsburgh and DC areas, but no Phila. I’m not on FB so that’s no bueno.

 

[pmboy506]

I did the auto-x Novice School in 2018 with Philly SCCA. I really enjoyed it, learned a lot, and you end up driving a whole lot more than you do during a typical autocross event. It's well worth the $150 and they usually hold it on a Friday night (classroom) and Saturday (driving) so you get free admission into Sunday's auto-x event and get to use the skills you learned.

With all of that said, I wouldn't wait to do your first auto-x event. The Novice program is super solid with the Philadelphia region and given this will be your first year you will be in the novice class competing against all the other beginners. They do a good job doing a Novice course walk before the day begins where they go over the basics and show you how to get through the course. You can have an instructor in your car for every single run if you want which really helps with getting through the course your first couple of times (easy to get lost, spoken from experience). As you get better, the instructors can help you with more higher level skills like looking way ahead which I still take advantage of sometimes as I still consider myself a beginner.

I haven't run with the SJ region but from my understanding they run a solid program as well.

Also, Warminster is a cool spot, it's an abandoned runway and I think this is the last year of auto-x at that venue.

The Fiesta is very competitive in HS with minimal modifications and you can run the car completely stock and have a ton of fun. I recommend making an account on motorsportreg.com so you can see upcoming events in your area and registering ahead of time as a lot of the events (especially in the summer) will fill up ahead of time and they won't allow walk-ups. Also, you will have to buy a weekend SCCA membership (I think $15) for any event you want to do. But if you love it, that $15 can go towards your annual membership (~$100 /year).

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with any more specific questions.

Thanks for the update this is super helpful. I'm probably going to do the Philly SCCA courses as they are actually closer. I'm creating a motorsports reg account now, but when you say don't wait to do your first auto-x event, I was under the impression you needed to a novice school first? Or your saying I can just go, and if the car passes inspection, I get a helmet, etc. I can go to a regular auto x event and participate?

The Warminster park sounds awesome too btw.

 

[JDG]

Thanks for the update this is super helpful. I'm probably going to do the Philly SCCA courses as they are actually closer. I'm creating a motorsports reg account now, but when you say don't wait to do your first auto-x event, I was under the impression you needed to a novice school first? Or your saying I can just go, and if the car passes inspection, I get a helmet, etc. I can go to a regular auto x event and participate?

The Warminster park sounds awesome too btw.

Yes, correct, no need to do the novice school first. As long as your wheels are tight, wheel bearings are OK, and battery is secure, you will pass tech. Also just get everything out of the car including your spare tire and jack.


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[Liono]

Hey I noticed you're in Haddon, I live in Springdale Cherry Hill. I started going to the SJR SCCA events last year with zero experience and it was lots of fun. I'm planning to go again this year when it gets the ok to open back up again. We could roll together if you're down next time.

Also there's an SJR SCCA facebook group you can join for more info

 

[FiST to death]

Yes, correct, no need to do the novice school first. As long as your wheels are tight, wheel bearings are OK, and battery is secure, you will pass tech. Also just get everything out of the car including your spare tire and jack.


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Correct- I went to one in Philly at the stadium complex a few years back with my 2003 Evo, and I was shocked it passed tech- they literally just looked for a loose battery or wheels ready to bounce across the lot and hurt someone and said I was good to go. That thing had an absurd amount of backyard engineering and way too much power to be out there, but OFF I WENT! lol