Welcome

Welcome to the Home of Autocross in the Okanagan Valley

Autocross is an exciting, accessible and low cost motorsport that uses traffic cones in a paved lot to produce a small road course for competitive events.

The Okanagan Precision Driving Association (OPDA) brings high quality autocross events to the Okanagan valley at locations in Kelowna and Vernon.

The OPDA is a proud affiliate of the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs (CACC), the sanctioning body of motorsports in British Columbia, Canada.

About Autocross

Autocross, also known as autoslalom or solo, is an inexpensive form of motorsport competition that uses traffic cones in a paved lot to produce a small road course for competitive events. Participants compete to see who can make it through the course the quickest and without dislocating cones or going off course. Two seconds are added to the driver’s time with each cone violation. Leaving the defined course path results in a disqualification of your time for that run.

Autocross is considered one of the safest forms of motorsport because competitors are racing against the clock rather than against other cars. Vehicles are launched once the previous competitor has completed the course or at sufficient intervals that no interaction will occur. Autocross events test driver skill and car handling rather than all out speed and aggression.

Autocross events may not achieve the breakneck speeds of road races, but it’s one of the most challenging and intense forms of motorsport in which you can participate. With low barriers to entry, almost anyone with a valid driver’s license, a car and the desire for motorsport competition can join the fun.

Click here to find out more about how your first Okanagan Autocross event experience will go.

Click here to learn how you can join the most accessible and exciting motorsport experience in the Okanagan Valley.

A Day at the Races

Attending a Typical Okanagan Autocross Event

A typical Okanagan Autocross event starts with a course walk where the course designer leads event competitors through an array of traffic cones that comprise the event’s course. Courses can be complex and change with each new event so paying special attention during the course walk is vital, particularly for newcomers. You’re welcome to walk the course as many times as you like in the allotted time.

Once the course walk is complete, the Steward or Clerk of the Course will call a driver’s meeting where general regulations, event cautions, safety and noise concerns, among other topics, will be discussed. Following the driver’s meeting, mark your name on the board in your preferred competition time slot and get ready for your turn at the course..

Morning course walk at Vernon

Waiting to launch

Since hosting autocross events require a lot of volunteers, all event competitors are asked to step up and help, typically as course workers, during each event. Newcomers will be trained on working the course at their first event. Volunteering at an event helps quickly develop a greater understanding of both the sport and the day’s course layout.

A box is drawn around the base of each cone to allow the cone to be replaced correctly if dislodged, and to allow corner workers to determine if a driver has disturbed it sufficiently to acquire a two second penalty. The rule of thumb is that a cone on its side or a cone that has hopped completely out of its box is assigned a two-second penalty. However, an upright cone that is in contact with the chalked box is not penalized, although the course worker still needs to put it back into its proper position.

After you complete each run through the course, your time is displayed as you pass through the stop gate and recorded by the time keeper. Two seconds will be added to your time for each cone that you have dislodged during your run. If you went off or around the defined course, your run will be disqualified, but don’t worry, you’ll have a few more passes to make up for it. Your best run for the day will go toward your season’s point accumulation.

Click here to learn how you can join the most accessible and exciting motorsport experience in the Okanagan Valley.

Join the Fun

Here’s How You Can Join the Fun at Okanagan Autocross

Becoming an Okanagan Autocross competitor is simple. All you need is a valid driver’s license, a reliable and safe car, a helmet that meets minimum requirements and an Okanagan Precision Driving Association membership. Having a little skill behind the wheel is a bonus.

First, get your annual membership using the link on our Club Information page. Once your membership application is processed, register for an autocross event on our schedule page. Then complete the technical self-inspection form for the car you’ll use in our autocross events. Present the form along with your car and helmet to the Technical Inspector for inspection and classification at your first event. New member technical inspection and novice orientation begins at 4:30 PM at Kelowna and 7:30 AM at our Vernon events.

If you wish to compete in regional or national open events, you’ll need to get an autoslalom license from our sanctioning body, the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs.

If competitive driving is not for you but you enjoy spectating and the thrill of being around motorsports, the folks at Okanagan Autocross would love to welcome you as a volunteer. For more information, visit our Volunteers Wanted page.