Autocross comes to Columbus AFB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Gross
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Mississippi --  Seventeen autocross drivers from the Columbus, Mississippi, surrounding communities and states competed in several categories for fastest times on the flightline at Columbus Air Force Base Aug. 12-13.

The event was sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America. They host the event several times throughout the year at Columbus AFB, with the next scheduled for Oct. 28-29. Walking away with the fastest PAX, or handicap, time of the weekend was Eric Davis of Conway, Arkansas, with a time of 45.083 in his 2005 Honda S2000.

The event was free and to participate, drivers had to have a valid driver’s license or be at least 14 years old with a driver’s permit and accompanied by a licensed driver.

Carlotta Ford, SCCA member, helped with registration over the weekend and was also running time trials.

She said the group likes coming to Mississippi because it provides some great open areas to run.

She said she got into autocross after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. During that time her husband began participating in autocross events on the weekends and she would accompany him.

After she was cancer free and was given the all clear by her doctors, she also began racing.

She said the people in the sport are “just a really good group of people. [The] people you meet out here will help [you out].”