Autocross drivers 'blaze' across Columbus AFB ramp Published June 5, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Mississippi Region of the Sports Car Club of America held the first 2015 Columbus Air Force Base two-day Autocross event May 30-31 on the SAC ramp. The event occurs on base several times a year and allows drivers to race their personal vehicles around a track, competing against others for the best time. Autocross is one of several programs the Sports Car Club of America offers, said Skip Brunson, MRSCCA secretary and event facilitator. It is a one-car-at-a-time, against-the-clock event on a coned course. "The idea is to achieve the quickest time, and at the same time not hit any cones," he said. "Cones have a two-second penalty. They get six opportunities and the best time counts." Anyone with a valid driver's license and a vehicle that passes the club's safety inspection can participate. Between 20 and 40 people participate in each event, Brunson said. "This is something for people to do, enjoy their automobile, and not get tickets doing it," he said. 2nd Lt. Bill Adams, 14th Student Squadron student and event coordinator, has been involved with the base Autocross events for about a year and a half. "It's just a lot of fun," Adams said. "There's definitely things you can do out here, where it's completely safe. You do this kind of stuff on the road and you'd find yourself in trouble." "Trouble" had more than one definition for Adams, and Autocross events can help with both. "You can learn driving techniques," he said. "It will help you if you're ever in a bind where you've got to kind of swerve around. There are definitely skills you can learn here to avoid an accident." The next Columbus Air Force Base Autocross event is scheduled for June 13-14. Spectators are also welcome. For more information, visit msscca.org.
