Credit for all photos: Perry Bennett, autoxpix.com

Every year, it's the same thing.

Two months prior to competitors taking their first runs at the Toledo ProSolo, autocrossers within 500 miles of Toledo crack their knuckles and warm up their F5 keys in preparation for the *real* race of the event - getting registered quickly enough to claim dibs on one of the precious few spots available on the entry list. There is no handicap, nor dial-in, nor PAX index to help you, and the penalty for not rising to the challenge is the dreaded waitlist notification. This year, the race continued to show no mercy - the Toledo ProSolo sold out in all of about seven minutes. Indeed, you often have more time to get to the guitar solo in "Free Bird" than you do to be a participant in this event.

It's important to understand that people are not just trying to fill up the entry list to make people's lives difficult - this is a legitimately desirable site and event, and there really is that much demand. But why?

For anyone that hasn't been to the site before, Toledo Express Airport is the home of one of the country's best slabs of autocross pavement - it's a big ol' slab of concrete that also happens to be extremely flat and smooth. Whereas the concrete at Wilmington and Lincoln have plenty of minor elevation changes and bumps across the blocks, Toledo has very little variation and is easy on the car. Those of you still kissing your Hoosiers before you go to bed at night will love the grip that's available, especially once it gets rubbered in. You will be amazed at the kind of stupid tricks you'll be able to pull. Bringing street tires? No problem for you, either, but the increase in grip can tighten your car up, so be prepared to adapt.

And when you're walking the course, pay particular attention to the "grain" of the concrete. The car will have a touch more grip with the grain going against it than with it - not a big deal most of the time, but this can be noticeable when you cross the middle at speed and the grain changes.

When the day is done, you have plenty of options for a little R&R in the area as well. The Days Inn is the predominant hotel that's closest to the site (and likely sold out by now because of it), but the majority of hotels and restaurants will be further up Airport Highway. Your typical chain fare exists along with the odd Mexican place or three. In fact, there are *two* Don Juan Mexican places in the area - you have been warned. You'll also find some nicer fare off of Dussel Dr., just a bit south of Airport Highway.

Looking for something else to do? Toledo itself is not a far drive from the airport, and there is a karting place as part of an amusement park on the eastern side of 475. This isn't a "real" karting place, mind you, but it's another way to show your co-driver that you mean business if day 1 just didn't go that well for you.

No matter what you decide to do on site or off, it should be a fantastic event with a lot of stacked classes. Check back in later for the Tune-In to get the list of the classes you should definitely make time to watch - and there will be many of them!