Autocross Appeal

It’s the Google effect -- every time I learn something about one sport or facility here in Maryland, it leads to something I knew nothing about. Thus, my visit to Regency Stadium opened my eyes to yet another popular Maryland pastime.

This revelation came after I stopped in to see Phil Hutson, project manager at Regency, to tell him how impressed I was with the finished product. We chatted for a moment about the versatility of the stadium and the multitude of uses it provides the community.

“They race down there, too,” he mentioned casually.

With what, bumper boats? I revved up my favorite search engine for answers. That’s when I learned about the popularity of autocross in Maryland.

So what’s autocross? Simply stated (Wiki version,) it is a precision driving race against the clock. It tests the driver’s skill and reflexes as he/she maneuvers the vehicle on cone marked, asphalt slalom course.

Substitute pot holes, rail tracks, disoriented pedestrians and stalled vehicles, and autocross sounds a lot like my evening commute up Howard Street. There must be more to it. Turns out, there is.

Autocross meets, (sometimes called rallies) are organized by clubs. In Maryland, there are quite a few autocross clubs, and each has a home course. Regency is the tarmac of choice for the Autocrossers. However, it isn’t the only minor league stadium with a motor sports constituency. The Bowie Baysox share their asphalt with Capital Driving Club and for at least two seasons, Ripken did too. Even FedEx stadium hosts regional autocross meets.

Autocross meets don’t seem to be spectator oriented, although the competitors usually bring friends along to watch. It is an activity with a strong element of camaraderie bound with appreciation for driver skill and vehicle performance. Also a lot of socializing and general bonhomie.

One of the oldest auto clubs in the region is National Road Autosports. They sponsor an annual series of events at the Cumberland Airport. I planned a mountain journey for the Summer Sizzler next week when I made an embarrassing discovery.

It seems Cumberland Airport is actually in West Virginia. Oops. When the region broke from the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War, Maryland could have annexed Mineral County in the confusion . Unfortunately, they didn’t, and the little bend in the river called Wiley Ford has both a nice airport and a West Virginia address. Fortunately, the club also has an August event on our side of the Potomac called the Polish Mountain Hill Climb. That rally takes place on a public road which SHA (bless them) closes for the race. It’s just outside of Flintstone, so maybe I can make a Rocky Gap weekend out of it. Stay tuned.