At the autocross, you'll see a course set up on a large parking lot. Soft, rubber traffic cones will be used to form the course, which consists of turns, slaloms, and straights.
Prepare your car before you arrive. Remove all loose items from your car — floor mats, driver's carpet, coffee cups, etc. Check tire pressures. You may arrive early and set your parking spot up with chair and anything else you feel you may need. After parking, go to the registration area. Make sure your car number is correct and be available by your car for officials to "tech" your vehicle.
A course map is usually displayed on the side of the clubs' trailer. After the course has been deemed ready by club officials, participants may be allowed to walk the course. The first problem that confronts every autocrosser is staying on course, so the first step is to learn where it goes. A drivers meeting is held at the start and it outlines the rules and regulations for a fun and a safe event. Prior to the competition, participants will line up for a "parade lap" around the course in their cars. After you will return to the "pits" and wait for your group (catagory your car competes in) to be called to the staging area. When it's your turn, watch the starter and he will line you up and give you the signal to GO...!
Starting off, concentrate only on determining the best line. In an autocross, we are concerned with three things: time, distance, and speed. To drive the course in the least possible amount of time, the line must offer the shortest distance and permit the greatest speed. As the formula illustrates, time can be decreased by either shortening the distance or increasing the speed — or better yet, both. Many times it becomes impossible to drive at the highest speed over the shortest distance. When this occurs, the best path is a compromise somewhere between the two extremes. It's usually over in about 40 to 50 seconds. Get your times and try to better them on the next run....!