SHELBY OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.
AUTOCROSS
Also
called Solo or Solo II, consists of cars in various classes timed on
a course laid out with cones on an airport taxi way. A two-second
penalty is assessed for each cone hit. By rule, the course
shouldn’t allow the fastest stock cars to exceed 60 mph, and usually
top speeds are closer to 50. While this doesn’t sound all that
fast, it comes at you fast. Usually one element starts where the
last element ends. Cars run against the clock. The next car will
be started once it’s safe to do so, usually once the first car is
about half way through the course. Emphasis is on driver skill and
car handling. Safety rules keep the course away from lights,
drains, other cars, spectators, and curbs.
Car
preparation is fairly easy. You’ll need to make sure your car is in
good running order. The cars will be teched. Make sure loose items
are out of the car, the battery is mounted solidly, and fluids are
capped. You’ll probably want to remove your spare and jack and you
can do that at the event. You’ll need a Snell rated helmet, 95 or
newer, but loaners are available if needed. Having a portable air
compressor or air tank is suggested otherwise you’ll need to add air
to your tires before you arrive. You’ll need around 40-45 psi up
front and 35-38 psi in the rear for a Mustang. This is to help keep
the tire from rolling over when cornering.
Participants
run one heat and work a heat. A heat usually consists of four runs
with around 25 cars in each heat. Usually when you start out,
they’ll have you working a course, which consists of chasing and
resetting downed cones, as well as watching for cars off course.
ROAD RALLY
RALLYING is a
safe, enjoyable but exacting motor sport that fully puts to the test
your Ford powered vehicle’s ability and responsiveness, a driver’s
ability to follow instructions, and a navigator’s accuracy in
interpreting route instructions. Above all a club rally is not a
race, and participants are still subject to local speed limits and
traffic laws. Please erase all notions that these rallies are
actually races.
The course
will take you out into the county township for approximately
twenty-five miles on quality-paved streets. It requires a driver
and a navigator. The rally consists of specific driving directions,
questions to be answered in route, a checkpoint for bonus points,
mileage restrictions and the course is timed for ties.
Any SOA club
member can enjoy rallying at any level of proficiency or seriousness
of intent. A driver/navigator team may run a rally competitively or
treat it as a pleasant day’s scenic motoring ending with the
camaraderie of their fellow club members at the finish. All you
need, at a minimum, is a car in good running order with a working
speedometer, and an accurate clock with a seconds display. An
accurate stop watch and a calculator is also recommended.
