Frequently Asked Questions

There are very few requirements for cars to run in the autocross. If you are planning on driving an SUV or truck, please email us to obtain permission. The requirements are:

1. The car must be in good working order and NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS.
2. You must wear a helmet. Any Snell-rated helmet (2010 or 2015, M or SA) is allowed. We do rent helmets, but supply is very limited. There are usually a few loaners available at the course.
3. There is no TECH FORM required for the autocross. However, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to arrive with a safe, sound vehicle.
4. Battery must be securely fastened down (they are on all cars from the factory).
5. Tires:
   1. Street tires must be in good condition, with at least 2/32 of tread remaining. NOTE: 2/32 is probably not enough to get you through a day at the track!
   2. Race tires must be in good condition, with no cord showing.
6. You must have 3-point seatbelts, or better, in good condition.
7. A rollbar or rollover protection is NOT required in convertibles for the autocross, though we highly recommend that you have rollover protection.

1. Polaris Slingshot
2. Trihawk
3. Fireaero
4. Campagna Motors T-Rex
5. Campagna Motors V13R
6. Morgan 3-wheeler (roll-hoop equipped only)
7. Grinnall Scorpion

Speed Ventures allows convertibles with some form of behind-the-seat roll protection, either factory or aftermarket.  Cars with stock roll hoops of substantial construction, such as those found in the Honda S2000, BMW Z3 and Z4, Porsche Boxster and similar cars, as well as cars with pop-up roll protection such as late-model 911s and M3 convertibles are allowed on track.  All convertibles with aftermarket roll protection are allowed as long as the installed roll bar is not a vanity bar and actually provides rollover protection.

Cars without roll protection behind the seats, such as first- and second-generation miatas, C5 corvettes, and mustangs are not allowed without some form of SUBSTANTIAL aftermarket roll protection.  We apologize to any drivers this may exclude, but a track day is simply not worth the risk of driving without a measure of protection.  Please contact us with any questions about your convertible

Whether you hit anything or not is essentially up to you. Basically, if you go out and push it too hard too soon, you are probably going to go off track and possibly hit something. On the other hand, a reasonable person can go fast on the track without hitting anything. You have to know your limits, start conservatively, and work your way up. The likelihood of an accident varies from track to track, and is mentioned on the page describing the event you're considering attending.

We do watch those on the track, and though we're relaxed and want people to have fun, if someone is unreasonably aggressive or breaks the rules we set forth about passing other cars, etc., we *will* pull them off the track. The point of this event is for everyone to have a great time and still be able to drive their cars home. If your goal is to see if you can pass people in the turns, this isn't the event for you.

It depends.  Some events sell out and you will not be able to sign up at the track.  If you want to attend an event you should sign up well in advance through our website.  If you want to take a chance you can just show up, but there no guarantees.  You can always check our website for details about an event.  Once we've closed registration we will put a note up that will tell you how much room, if any, is available for walk-ons.

Collisions are governed by the 13/13 rule, which states that if you are involved in an incident sufficient to cause damage to your car or any other car, you may be prohibited from participating for the rest of the weekend, prohibited from entering the next event, and placed on probation for up to 13 months. If you are involved in another such incident during your probation, you will be suspended for up to 13 months.

Keep in mind that when on the track you are responsible for your own behavior, which includes your failure to avoid incidents. If another driver is being reckless, it would be wise to give that person wide berth, and to let us know about it in the hopes that we can prevent an incident from occurring. Incidents at this type of event are very rare, but it is only with your help that we can keep them so.

These events are run by Speed Ventures, Inc., a California-based motorsports organization.  Speed Ventures organizes, promotes and manages track days, time trials and time attacks, performance driving schools, car control clinics, wheel-to-wheel races, private events, corporate events, autocrosses, and more.  Our goal is to provide safe, well-run and fun events for automobiles on professional road racing circuits as well as managing events for other organizations.

Speed Ventures offers professional driving coaches and private instruction and can provide professional Timing & Scoring services to other motorsports groups using its professional-grade AMB timing system.

For more information, feel free to contact us at 323-973-7744

Because of the lower car count, the pricing for this group is significantly higher. And because it requires the commitment of a minimum number or drivers to set a run group aside, we do so only after polling our Supercar / Exotic customers in advance to gauge interest. To have your account added to the Supercar / Exotic email list, send an email request to info@speedventures.com.

Usually. The availability of race gas varies from track to track. It is available every day at Buttonwillow and Willow Springs/Streets of Willow Springs, Sears Point and Cal Speedway. If your question is about a different track, ask us. 100 octane unleaded is about $7/gallon, and other gases are available, though you're going to want to make sure you DON'T run LEADED race gas in your catalytic-converter and/or O2-sensor equipped street car.

All cars on the track must have car numbers. The numbers should be at least 8" high, and be placed so that they're visible from both sides of the car (for instance, on both front doors) and on the rear of the car.  If the number on your car conflicts with another car at the track, we will deal with it at the event.

Many people simply use masking or duct tape for car numbers, while others prefer professionally-made numbers. If you would like to have magnetic numbers made for your car, you can find a variety of places online that do so.

Groups are classed according to driver skill level, laptimes, and driver behavior. For instance, a new driver in a Bugatti Veyron will start in the beginner group and probably stay there all day as would a driver in a 1981 Toyota Corolla.  However, if they are equally skilled, the Bugatti driver might move up to the next group after a day or two.  Any driver that demonstrates that they are quick enough, courteous enough, and safe enough can move up to more advanced groups.  We generally let the drivers decide the appropriate run group for them, however, we will move people up and down if necessary.

Speed Ventures allows passengers provided they are 18+ years old (or 16+ if they are registered participants that day) for educational purposes.  Our hope is that non-registered individuals will learn about our DE events and become participants in the future!

Time Trials & Hot-lapping are open to anyone in any car which meets the requirements stated above. The Race Group is a wheel-to-wheel race in which cars are competing for position and passing whenever and wherever possible. To drive in the Race, you must hold an approved Race License and have a car prepped to commonly accepted race standards. These include an approved roll cage, harnesses, race seat, SFI driver's suit, helmet, SFI gloves, SFI shoes, head and neck restraint, and fire extinguisher, to name the major components.