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Autocross event draws 'adrenaline junkies'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Warriors of the North held their first-ever Autocross event Sept. 14, 2014, at the free zone in front of the 3-Bay Hangar here.

Nearly 60 entrants driving cars of every make and model participated in the day-long event, with proceeds going to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The event was approved by wing senior leaders and by the Sports Car Club of America, a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying and autocross in the U.S. formed in 1944. The club runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.

The race consisted of three heats, and each car was able to take on the course three times within their heat.

Tech. Sgt. Mindy Tyson, 319th Force Support Squadron, a self-described "adrenaline junkie," who has spent more than a decade overseas, put the event together.

"I've always wanted to race cars in any form, fashion or way," she said. "I've always wanted to do something like this; it's always been in my blood to do this kind of stuff."

Tyson explained that others have attempted to put on this sort of event before, but this was the first year that it has been successful.

"There were a lot of people who said this event would never happen," said Tyson. "There have been other people who have tried to do this event in the past, and I said, 'hand it to me.' I said I would get it signed, and I got it signed."

Many participants were local to the base and the Grand Forks area, but others came from as far as Canada to get the rush of adrenaline. It also raised a total of $1,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Tallon Early, a plumber from Fargo, entered his 2012 Honda Civic Si into the race.
"I came here because I wanted to see how far I could push my car and myself,"
Early said. "I'm very glad that the proceeds from this event are going to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project--it's always good to help people, but if you can help people and have fun doing it, that's even better."