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The engines were revving and the dust was flying this past weekend as Tarheel Sports Car Club teamed up with Orange County Speedway to host a pair of events at the new rallycross course on the grounds of OCS's Rougemont racing facility. Quite a few passersby were seen either stopping by the track, or simply stopping on the side of Highway 57, to get a better look at the spectacle of the rallycrossers sliding their cars around on the twisty grass and clay course.

Rallycross is a fast-growing new sport that combines the thrill of all-out rally action familiar to video game players and World Rally fans, with the accessibility and safety of autocross, another very popular form of motorsport but little known outside of amateur racing circles.

Saturday's event was a rallycross school, where both new and old drivers got 1-on-1 instruction from some of the best competitors in the state. Then on Sunday they got to put their skills to the test as a full competition event was held. Sunday's race was won by Jim Feinberg from Durham, with Mike Whitney of Apex close behind. Pittsboro's Keith Vail took 3rd overall in a Subaru.

To participate, no special safety equipment is required beyond an approved helmet, and many competitors race their everyday cars. The public is welcome at these events, either to watch or compete. Admission is free to spectators, and the entry fee for competitors is $30. The next OCS scheduled rallycross events will be August 11th and September 22nd. Come on out and see it for yourself!

For more information about rallycross, please visit the Tarheel Sports Car Club on the web at www.thscc.com. Founded in 1964, Tarheel Sports Car lub is North Carolina's Premier Amateur Motorsports Organization and hosts many different types of driving events in Central and eastern North Carolina.