The Canadian Autoslalom Championships were held in Huron Park over the Civic Holiday weekend, attracting over 100 drivers from Canada and the United States. The event took place on the runways at New United Goderich’s James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome, where drivers navigated two courses, aiming to complete them as quickly as possible without hitting orange pylons.
The competition was hosted by the Western Ontario Sports Car Association and the Twin Lakes Motor Club, based in Barrie. According to Steven Day, a board member with Twin Lakes, autoslalom is a car control skills competition where drivers race against the clock. The courses are typically around a minute long, and cars are categorized into various classes based on their type and modifications. SUVs and trucks are not permitted to participate.
The championships, which took place on August 1-2, saw 109 drivers compete on the two courses. Each driver completed each course three times, with the top three overall winners being Ujjwal V, Val DiPietro, and Devin Johnston, the latter from the St. Marys area. Day emphasized that the key to success in autoslalom is to complete the course as quickly as possible without hitting any cones or going off course, as hitting a cone results in a two-second penalty.
Day noted that autoslalom is one of the most affordable forms of motorsport, with most vehicles being street cars, although some have been modified to the point where they are no longer street-legal. He also highlighted the benefits of autoslalom, stating that it teaches car control in a safe environment and can help drivers become better behind the wheel. Day, who has been competing in autoslalom since 2003, praised the Huron Park airport as a great venue, citing its suitability for the event and the cooperation of the airport staff.
Article and image source: lakeshoreadvance.com
