1. Art and Science of Autocross Course Design
making miniature
SPEEDWAYS
Art and Science of Autocross Course Design

5. Start at the start (and finish)
For safety, put a feature close to start box, to avoid full-speed launches.
Give a little space for “floor it at the end”, but not long enough to allow very high speed.
Be sure the “finish straight” starts where the cars are settled and under control.
Make sure finish box has plenty of run-off space, is pointed away from the start.

6. How are features described?
Curves – tight, sweepers, variable radii
Hairpin – very tight, low-speed curves
Slalom – start with minimum 50 ft spacing Even/odd, variable spacing,
driver’s choice entry
Chicago box = slalom with walls
Offsets – long slalom, few inputs, higher speed
Straights – top speed <60mph

7. Creating features with cones
Curves ● ● 
● ●
Or (pointer cone always
● goes on inside of curve)
● ●
▲ ►● ●

8. Creating features with cones●
 ▼
Hairpin ►● ▼ ▼
__________________________________
Slalom ● >45' ● ● ● ▲
Odd number = exit on same side as entrance.
Pointer cone can be omitted for “driver’s choice” slalom.

9. Creating features with cones
Offsets ● ●
 ●
● ● ●
Spread-out slalom. Control speed with amount of offset.
Chicago box ● ● ●
● ●
● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Short slalom with a hazard on the outside of the curve.
Approach angle, depth of box control how fast cars can pass.

10. Creating features with cones
Pointer walls ▼
(“eyelashes”) ▼ keep cars on course in
▼ long sweepers
Cone walls – block off wrong paths, course boundaries. ●
● Be consistent with the
● number of cones in these.
Don’t overuse cones – it can get confusing visually.
Make sure the cones in a feature can’t be mistaken for a gate (use different spacing).

11. What features do you choose?
Straights, long sweepers favor power.
Hairpins, tight turns favor handling.
Try to balance power and handling features
Course should flow smoothly, every
gate should be visible from the previous gate.

12. How many features do you need?
Laguna Seca: 11
COTA: 20
Nordschleife: infinite, it seems
Autocross: typically features
(= “inputs”) for a 0.75 mile course

13. 21 inputs
12 features

14. 7 6 10 11
S F
35 inputs, 11 features

15. Putting together a course
Measured map of course area
Step off the perimeter or
Use Google Earth distance feature
Avoid hazards (bad pavement, drains, bumps)
Plan for two cars running (find safe point for second car to start).
Plan for worker positions (typically starter, six corners, timing, board, grid).

18. Lay out the course, considering
~10-15 features
~20-35 inputs
Variety of features (make a list, then find the best place for each)
Visualize approach to each feature
Get suggestions for improvement
Make it fair, fun and safe

19. Lay out the course, considering
Include turns with different radii & speeds
Throw in some surprises (increase or decrease turn radius, slalom spacing)
Balance features that favor handling with those that favor power
Allow for driver error
Draw in pencil until you get a smooth course. Then expect it to be tweaked on site.

20. Safety
Allow 25-foot run-off areas between course and boundaries, solid objects.
Watch out for terrain changes, adjust features to slow pace.
McGee Park slopes from NW to SE
Sandia’s ovals are banked  humps
Rt66 is tiny, curves must be very tight
Worker positions must be located inside curves. Course visible to timing, board, grid.

21. Make it fun
“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” – Mario Andretti
“It is a good day to die.” Klingon proverb
We are not going to die, because we are not going to go fast enough to get out of control.
Keep speeds under 60 mph (PCA rule). Keep safety buffers at 25' (PCA rule). Make the course flow smoothly.
Don’t let your ego get in the way when changes must be made.

22. References SCCA Houston Area design guide
The most-cited source (124 pgs) houscca.com/solo/courses/Course_Design_4-1-2.pdf
PCA Parade Competition Rules
Just the rules, no help on design pca.org/resource/porsche-competition-rules-pcrs-final-changes-2017
pca.org/resource/2017-parade-competition-rules-supplementary-regulation-autocross