This is a low-to-moderate-speed driving event. It consists of a course laid out on a parking lot or similar area. The course consists of a start garage, a stop garage, gates, turns, and straightaways marked by traffic cones serving as pylons. The object is to traverse the course as quickly as possible without knocking down or displacing any pylons or going off course. Drivers are permitted to walk the course beforehand to become familiar with the layout, track surface, turns, and any unusual local conditions.
An approved helmet is required. Loaner helmets may be available check with the event chair if you do not have a helmet.
Cars must be safe and in good operating condition, but no special preparation is required. Beginners should run their normal street tires. To pass the pre-event tech inspection drivers must remove all loose items from the passenger compartment and trunk of the car, to include front floor mats. Drivers running street tires should also add about 10 pounds of air pressure to their tires.
Participants are divided into classes based on criteria in the current National/Regional Event Rule Book. Standings are determined by best time within class. At National Events such as StarFest and Tri-O-Rama, trophies are awarded in each class as long as there is more than one participant.
Participants are expected to help operate the event when not driving. In most cases this involves taking a turn as a corner worker, resetting displaced pylons, and similar easy tasks.
A section may allow non-Mercedes-Benz vehicles in local events. When GWS allows other marques to participate, the other marques are scored separately from Mercedes-Benz and smart cars. We use the current year SCCA rules to assign cars of other marques to classes. Standings for other marques are determined by an index time that is derived by multiplying the driver's best raw time by the class-appropriate index value listed in the current SCCA approved PAX index.
For the annual GWS autocross series, we award 10 points for a first place finish, 9 for second, and so on. We keep a running total of event points scored by individual drivers. Awards are presented based on the final standings, which are based on the sum of a driver's best five of eight event scores. Drivers who compete in fewer than five of the eight events in the GWS autocross series are not eligible for an award.
