Region Hosts First All-Ladies Autocross

Saturday, June 10th, the Southern Indiana Region held their inaugural Ladies Autocross. It couldn’t have been a nicer day. 14 drivers turned out for the event with driving experience ranging from “I have a permit so I need a ride along adult” to seasoned soloists. 10 of the 14 were first-time autocross competitors. 

Organizer/Course designer MacKenzi Payne-Crowe, Women of SIRSCCA chairwoman, was enthusiastic about the turnout. “With 14 entrants this gave us a chance to do a lot of runs and have a great time.”

Drivers were given eight (8) runs on the concrete at Mid American Air Center and were scored in three categories, fastest overall, top 3 fastest indexed and most improved.

Once the drivers meeting concluded the group started their first set of 4 runs.

In the first set of runs it became obvious that Julia Young in her C Prepared Mustang was going to be tough to beat for fastest time. She laid down a 49.6 to top the list of quick runs. MacKenzi Payne-Crowe in her Barbie Pink Miata was 1.5 seconds behind while Dawn Sturgeon in her WRX was another half second adrift. Indexed times showed the Miata, Subaru and Mustang all spaced about a second apart respectively.

In the second set of runs Julia slowed a tenth, MacKenzi slowed 5 tenths while Dawn turned it up and picked up almost a second and a half.

When the dust settled the quickest run went to Julia Young in her CP Mustang with a 49.623. In the indexed times contest Dawn Sturgeon drove her Subaru WRX to a half second win with an indexed time of 40.091 followed by MacKenzi with a 40.576 and Julia with a 42.378.

In the most improved contest the youngest driver, Breeze Grav, improved by over 58 seconds to take the prize. Breeze was very hesitant about competing in her Mom’s A Street Prepared Solstice, but she put aside her reluctance and persevered to win the prize. All the first-time drivers made huge strides and major improvements over the course of the day.

Overall, the entire day was a success and we look forward to continuing the tradition of an All Women’s Autocross.

 

Words by Paul Dornburg & MacKenzi Payne-Crowe
Photos by JS Metz Photography