Women’s Autocross
Supporting Women in Motorsports
Sunday
June 16, 2024
Calling All Women
For Women, By Women
This event is organized by women for women to provide a friendly and supportive environment in which to introduce you to the thrilling sport of Autocross. Do you find it it more comfortable to try something new with a friend? Bring one or a few! Women co-drivers are welcome! Or bring a male friend or loved one to volunteer at the event. The support of our male counterparts is key to making this event happen!
Beginners Welcome
Have you heard about Autocross, but don’t know where to start? Still not sure what Autocross is? This event is for you! We’ll have guided course walks, instructors available for in-car instruction, and ride-alongs with experienced women drivers. It’s a great way to get a fun, supportive introduction to this male-dominated sport.
No BMW, No Problem
We welcome all women drivers (over the age of 16 with a valid driver’s license) regardless of your level of experience, and we welcome all makes and most models of cars. That’s right, you don’t have to own a BMW to participate in this event!
BMW and Porsche SUVs such as the X1, X3, X5, X6, Cayenne, and Macan may participate. Other trucks, SUVs, and high center of gravity vehicles are not permitted.
Streamlined Membership
Membership is required to participate in this event, however we’ve made becoming a BMW CCA member easy for you! We offer a bundled package that includes a 1-year membership along with the price of entry to this event. Or sign up to become a member today, why wait?!
How to Register
01.
Sign In to Sign Up
We use MotorsportReg for all of our driving events. If you don’t already have one, an account is easy to set up!
02.
Select Your Options
Select the correct class for you and your car: BMW, Non-BMW, or Expert. If you need to rent a helmet or become a BMW CCA member, you can select those during registration too.
03.
Sign Your SpeedWaiver
Once you’ve successfully registered, you will receive a text that contains a link to SpeedWaiver. Follow the instructions and we recommend taking a screen shot once signed.
04.
Get Ready!
Review our Preparation Guide, attend our pre-event informational sessions, and get pumped to Autocross!
Preparation Guide
Safety First
Make a quick inspection of your vehicle. Are your tires worn? Do you have any loose panels? When was the last time you had your oil changed? Autocross is a safe sport and is about as hard on your vehicle as normal driving, but it’s always a good idea to check for potential safety issues. Technicians will inspect your vehicle at the event to ensure that it’s safe for Autocross, but catching any obvious issues before you get to the event will help make sure that you have a great time.
No Loose Change
Or loose anything! Be prepared to clear your vehicle of all loose items, including those in your trunk and under your seats. If you normally carry a lot of stuff, you may wish to empty your car of the things you won’t need the day before the event. We suggest that you bring a tub, bin, or bag with you to put your belongings into during the event. RMC BMW CCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items, so please limit the valuables you bring with you.
Helmets Required
If you don’t have a helmet, we have several available for rent during registration. If you have your own or plan to borrow a helmet from a friend, please note that it must meet our safety standards in order to be allowed on course. It must have one of the following certifications (usually located inside the helmet lining):
- SA2015, SA2020
- M2015, M2020
- SFI 31.1/2015, SFI 31.1/2020
- SFI 41.1/2015, or SFI 41.1/2020
What to Bring
While it’s a good idea to limit the amount of stuff you bring with you, there are a few things we recommend you bring along to make your day more enjoyable:
- Helmet, unless you’ve made arrangements to rent one from us.
- Reusable water bottle and water. We will have water available for refills but bringing you own water is also a good idea.
- Sunscreen!
- A hat and sunglasses. There is little shade at the venue.
- Camp chair for the lunch break.
- A bag or bin to store your loose items in for the day.
- Optional: Snacks if you need to keep your blood sugar up however you don’t need to pack a lunch! Lunch will be provided.
- Optional: A small cooler for ice, cold drinks and/or snacks.
- Optional: Painters tape to apply your numbers. We’ll have some available but bringing your own never hurts.
- Optional: Light jacket for wind, rain, or cool temperatures. This is Colorado after all and we never quite know what the weather will do.
About the Venue
DIRECTIONS
Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) is just outside Watkins, CO. However, if you follow the highway signs or map software directions, you’ll likely end up nowhere near the event. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with these directions before leaving for the event:
- Take I-70 east past E470 to exit 299, Manilla Road (CO Road 28) and go north.
- Cross over Colfax and after rail road tracks, make immediate right.
- Follow road and make the next left.
FACILITIES
There are port-a-potties available for use on site, however those are the extent of the facilities offered. We’ll have our blue and white tent up for shade and water available for you to refill your water bottles. We’ll also be providing lunch, however no other food is available for purchase on site.
FUEL
There is no fuel available at CASP, so be sure to fill up before arriving! Also, there are no charging stations available, so if you’re driving an EV make sure that you have enough charge to reach the nearest charging station after the event.
What to Expect
The day of the event, we hope you’ll be super excited! And you’ll probably be a little nervous too, so here’s a step-by-step overview of what to expect from the day to help calm the butterflies.
01.
Arrive early
You’ll want to arrive at CASP no later than 7:30am. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with these directions before you leave; don’t count on Maps or highway signs to guide you there.
There will be a person at the entrance to the venue. Stop there and show them your SpeedWaiver on your phone. They will give a wristband to put onto your left wrist.
02.
Check in at Registration
Find a place to park along the sides of the road near the event and walk up to the Registration table. It will be located near the large blue and white tent. You’ll be given your car numbers and your spot in Grid. If you rented a helmet, be sure to bring your photo ID.
03.
Find your spot in Grid
Before heading back to your car, look for the number you were assigned at check-in among the cones set up at grid. They’ll be numbered along the top of the cone. Some spots may require you to pull through. Just ask any volunteer for help if you can’t find your spot.
04.
Clear out your car
If you have a lot of stuff in your car, you should empty your vehicle before parking in your spot in Grid. Place your collection of stuff together off the road, but somewhere you can find it at the end of the day. Be sure to bring a bag of essentials like water, sunscreen, and snacks with you to grid! If you proactively emptied your car before you left home, you can place your stuff next to your car after parking in Grid.
05.
After 8a, Park in Grid
Grid will open at 8a. Park you car in the spot you found earlier. Check to be sure that you’ve removed all loose items from the car, including items in the trunk, under the seats, in the glove compartment, and the driver’s side floor mat. There is limited space in grid, but you can place your items behind the cone with your grid number to keep them close at hand.
06.
Number Your Car
Apply the car numbers provided to you at check-in. They need to be clearly visible on both sides of your vehicle. You can choose to install them either on the driver and passenger side doors, or on the driver and passenger side rear windows. Your front windows will need to be rolled down so do not place the numbers there. Ask a volunteer if you need any help!
07.
Open your Trunk and Hood
Once you’ve cleared the car of loose items and put the numbers on your car open your hood and trunk. This lets the technicians know that your car is ready to be checked for safety. Leave your helmet on the driver’s seat. If you brought your own helmet and we haven’t previously checked it, the tech will also check to ensure your helmet meets our safety standards. If your car passes tech, the inspectors will close the hood and trunk and place a sticker on your windshield. Otherwise, a note will be left on your windshield to follow-up with the Chief of Tech.
08.
Attend the Driver’s Meeting
We’ll start the activities for the day with our mandatory driver’s meeting near the trailer. Don’t worry, you’ll hear the announcer over the loudspeaker tell you when it’s time and where to go. We’ll go over safety procedures, the schedule, announcements, and other vital information. If you still have questions afterward, ask a volunteer.
09.
Walk the Course
Head to the course start along with the rest of the group to walk the course you’re about to drive. This is an important step that all experienced Autocrossers perform before a race. We’ll have an experienced Autocrosser walk you through the course, showing you what to look for, and giving you pointers on how to guide your car through the coned course.
10.
Autocross!
Head back to your car and get ready to autocross! Roll down your front windows and put your helmet on. If you’ve asked for in-car instruction, wait by or in your car for your instructor. We’ll have a person “directing traffic” in grid and they will let you know when to pull out of your grid spot and queue at the start. Keep an eye on those grid people, they’ll be your guide to when you need to be in your car.
AFter your First Run
Congratulations! Wasn’t that awesome?! You’ll want to slowly make your way back to your spot in grid. If you had an instructor with you, they may want to impart some words of wisdom before they move onto the next student. Once you’re parked, feel free to hop out, remove your helmet, and chat with the people around you in grid. Keep an eye on the folks running grid, they’ll give a heads up when it’s time to get back in your car for your next run.
Schedule for the Day
Times are flexible and are subject to change, but you can generally expect the day to progress something like this:
- 7:00am Gates Open, Check-In Begins
- 8:00am Registration Closes, Grid Opens
- 8:30am Drivers Meeting
- 8:45am Course Walk
- 9:15am First Car Off, Everyone gets 2 runs
- 10:30am Second Course Walk
- 11:00am First Car Off, Everyone gets 2 runs
- 12:15pm Lunch Break
- 1:00pm First Car Off, Everyone gets 3+ runs
- End of Day: Awards & Announcements
Lunch is Included
Thanks to the support of our RMC BMW CCA Autocross program, lunch with be provided! We’ll have a selection of boxed lunches brought in fresh for you to choose from.