Welcome to the Top Dog Championship FAQ page.  There's lot of information here so please read/scroll all the way to the bottom.  At the end, you'll learn how we form the service teams.

 

What is autocross?

Trackcross, TrackCross, Circuitcross: these are different names for an event type that Get Fast LLC has been running at Summit Point for 20 years.  For the Rally4Vets Top Dog Championship, drivers race the twisty part of the Shenandoah Circuit with 30 seconds between cars.  Trackcross is perfect for beginner/novice drivers and for experienced drivers to run that perfect lap.  This is the safest possible format for driving on a racetrack.

 

Who can drive?

The event is open to any age 18+ driver with a valid street driver’s license, a legal helmet, and a car that will pass a tech inspection. No prior experience is necessary. Beginners/novices are welcome. There is no better, safer, or cheaper way to start driving fast on road courses!

 

Do I need a racecar to participate?

You definitely do not need a racecar. In fact, the majority of participants are in stock (ish) street cars or track-prepared cars that are often still street legal. Any kind of car, from Kia to Koenigsegg, is usually fine as long as it passes technical inspection. You only compete against cars in your class and drivers with similar experience – Novice or Experienced driver class.  Click the following link to view our car classes – Class Your Car.

 

For safety reasons, we don’t allow trucks or 4x4. Convertible cars need significant rollover protection (explained elsewhere on this page).  We do allow some car-based crossovers as well, please inquire before you register. Summit Point will no longer allow electric or hybrid-electric vehicles to participate as of April 2023.

 

How fast do we drive on each run?

Top speed is set by driver skill, the course used that day, the type of car, the modifications to the car, and more. The Top Dog Championship focuses on “the twisty bits” (i.e., multiple technical sets of corners per run) instead of long straightaways. That said, you can certainly go much faster than you ever could legally on a public street and/or at a regular autocross.  Click here to watch our favorite 400 hp Mini Cooper S run our section of the Shenandoah Circuit.

 

PS: We score team points five places deep, so you don’t need to win you class to help your team win the trophy.

 

How many people drive at these events?

We limit registration so we can make sure everyone gets plenty of runs on the course.  We run two heats, grouped by car classes and driver experience to maximize the number of runs.  You can expect about 40-45 cars in each heat.

 

Are there work assignments?

If you have experience with autocross, you know that you usually are working when not driving.  The Top Dog Championship is managed by Rally4Vets staff, the Get Fast LLC event team, and a group of wonderful volunteers who sign on to support this service dog fundraising event.  You just have to drive and connect with your service team “battle buddies.” You take breaks during the two heats you’re not driving in. Or, you can pop over to the skid pad and have some fun.

 

How many runs do we get on the track?

The number of runs depends on variables including daily schedule, car counts, course design/length, weather, and number of problems/cleanups. There is a 1 or 2-lap drive-through behind a pace car before each heat, and your first run in each heat is a warmup and does not count toward results. After that, three to five runs per heat is average. Sometimes it’s more when things are running smoothly and/or in the afternoon heats when time allows, but it’s usually not less unless things have really gone wrong. So, you can expect at least 6-10 runs per day, but hopefully more!

 

What are the tech inspection rules for entered cars?

Tech inspection is a check to make sure each car is in good working condition. We strongly encourage participants to “pre-tech” their cars before each event or have a shop or trusted professional do it. For Summit Point events, the tech inspection rules can be found here. Pre-tech the car if you know exactly what to look for, or have it checked by a qualified shop or person.  We will then re-check the vehicle the morning of the event. You must bring your completed/signed tech form to the event. Sorry, but there are no refunds or credits for cars that fail the technical inspection.

 

Can I drive my convertible?

Convertible rules for Summit Point events require rollbars unless the car is factory equipped with rollover protection, and it must state such in the manual. Drivers must bring the manual and present it at tech inspection. Mazda MX5/Miata, Honda S2000, and Dodge Viper convertibles (among others) all need 4-point full-width roll bars added.  All convertibles must pass a “broomstick test” as well.

 

Note: Cars with t-tops or targa tops that are removable from an otherwise fixed/structural roof are NOT considered convertibles.

 

Note 2: convertibles with hard tops (especially Mazda Miata PRHT or RF trim levels) are still convertibles, and the rollbar rules still apply because hard tops are typically not structural.

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Note 3: If you are running a convertible with the top down, you must have arm restraints installed.

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Note 4 [last one]: If you are planning to bring a 911 convertible, contact us at TopDog@rally4vets.com before you register.

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Please inquire before registering if you have any questions about the legality of your convertible. Sorry, but there are no refunds or credits if you register and/or show up with a convertible that doesn’t pass tech.

 

What are the helmet requirements?

We only recommend full-face helmets with the latest Snell SA rating. Open-face helmets are not recommended and may be prohibited soon. All helmets should have at least the Snell M2010/SA2010 or newer rating and be in good condition. Please verify that your helmet has the brown or orange Snell sticker inside under the liner, because that’s what tech inspection looks for.

 

We will have a few loner helmets available, thanks to our Friends at OG Racing.  We don't provide rentals, but our friends at OG Racing near Dulles usually have some available, but call early!

 

Can my child participate?

 Sorry – due to insurance regulations, your child may only participate when they’re legally an adult. Drivers and passengers must be age 18+.  Drivers must have a current US-state-issued driver’s license.

 

What are the rules about passengers?

These are solo events by design and for safety reasons. We allow passengers with experienced non-novice drivers during the afternoon runs only. Entered drivers may not take passengers during the morning runs, and novice drivers specifically may not take passengers at any time (unless it’s one of our instructors), again for safety reasons. If any driver spins or goes 4 wheels off the track, they lose passenger privileges for the day. In all cases, the passenger must be at least 18 years old, must be wearing a legal helmet, must have signed a waiver, and must have the same level of safety/protection as the driver. Passengers must also not cause delays at the starting line getting strapped in, must keep their hands and arms inside the car, and may not bring/use handheld recording devices inside the car.

 

Can drivers share a car?

Car sharing/co-driving is possible, but not if both drivers are in the same class/driving in the same heats.

 

Two drivers may register one car if they sign themselves up separately as two different entries and each pick car numbers they can change quickly with vinyl or tape (51 and 151, for example.)

 

That said, sharing isn’t recommended because it’s always much harder on the car – no time to cool down between runs – and it’s sometimes logistically challenging to get two runs on a shared car for every one rotation of the group inside of a heat.

 

Also, the car number needs to be changed to reflect who’s in the car for the next run, and that’s often forgotten, which can result in incorrect final times and results.

 

Bottom line: it can be done, but it isn’t very easy and not recommended.

 

What’s the car classing system all about?

Our classing system separates cars into classes based on engine size, drivetrain configuration, modifications, level of competition preparation, tire choice, and driver experience level. The system is designed to ensure drivers compete only against drivers and cars with similar capabilities.  It is each competitor’s responsibility to class themselves correctly and to help class all other participants correctly. Please click here to visit our page about car classing.

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How are service teams formed?

Drivers choose their service team when they register.  The drivers who choose Air Force, for example, form the Air Force team for that competition.  The service teams available are shown below:

• Army [Hooah!]

• Navy

• Air Force

• Marine Corps

• Coast Guard

• Space Force

• U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

• NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps

 

Each Service team initially is allocated 15 driver slots. If a team does not fill its quota, those open slots will be redistributed among other Services with waitlisted drivers—ensuring we get a full grid on race day.  In past years, most of our drivers came from the “Big Four” (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps). 

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How are run heats organized?

All registered drivers are organized into two balanced heats—each with 35 to 40 cars, sorted by driver experience and vehicle class. This structure helps ensure competitive fairness, safety, and track flow throughout the day.

 

Each heat will run once in the morning and once in the afternoon, with a midday break for lunch and prep. The afternoon heat is run in reverse to keep things fresh and technically challenging.

 

You can expect 8 to 10 total runs, depending on weather, track conditions, and time. No matter your Service branch or experience level, every team gets real seat time, fair competition, and a shot at the podium.

 

How do I see my times and results?

To see times and results during a trackcross day, we typically operate live timing at this link. Use your phone to check/refresh the page after each run (it updates every 60 seconds.)  We will post the final standings for competition day at the end of the day and on the Rally4Vets website.

 

For the Top Dog Championship, we score five deep in each category and by novice and experienced: 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.  The service team with the most points across all classes wins the overall Top Dog Trophy.  The fastest times in each class and each driver experience category are individual Top Dog Champions.

 

Final Team and Individual standings will be posted on the Rally4Vets website.

 

Is camping allowed the night before the event?

Limited camping is available.  You sign up for overnight camping during registration.  If you are approved for camping, you cannot access the paddock before 6 pm the evening before the event.  A Rally4Vets team member will allocate you a camping slot upon your arrival at the paddock.

 

Are car/trailer drops allowed the night before an event?

Yes.  But you cannot access the paddock before 6 pm the night before the event.  A Rally4Vets team member will allocate you a parking slot upon your arrival at the paddock.

 

Do I get an instructor?

Trackcrosses are non-instructed events by design. They were literally invented as “solo” transition events between autocross and track days.  However, we will have several instructors available. If you would like in-car instruction, please check that block when you register.

 

Is the Top Dog trackcross considered a “track day?”

No. Although trackcrosses are technically “a day at the track”, trackcrosses are not considered ‘track days’ by the standard definition. Since the 1980s, “track day” has meant HPDE, driving school, open track, or a similar high-speed event with 20-30 minute lapping sessions for groups of cars separated by experience and passing each other frequently. Trackcross is considered a higher speed autocross experience, not a track day experience, since cars go one at a time for each 90-120 second timed run and drivers are separated by ~30 second intervals so they usually don’t see each other. This is important only when an HPDE organizer asks how many ‘track days’ you have done.  They want to know how many high-speed lapping days you have done, so they can figure out which run group/experience level you are.

 

Can I bring my wife/friends/children?

Yes.  Things to consider: because of the Shenandoah Circuit layout, spectators can only see the start and finish lines, and a bit of one of the turns toward the end of the run.  Skid pad:  We will have the skid pad in operation both days, which is in full view.  We will have several large-format screens.  Depending on who we have in our audience, we’ll be showing current driver times, football, and maybe kids' movies.  We will be holding a paddock party Saturday evening, with music by Interstate 68 – Deadgrass & Bluegrass. Drivers are responsible for the location and behavior of their guests at all times. Children must not be left unattended, and pets must be leashed/cleaned up after.

 

What about the skidpad?

We will have the sidpad open both days. It’s free for registered drivers in cars that have passed tech inspection.  We will have a skid pad competition on Day 2.  Results will not count toward the Top Dog Trophy, but it will be fun.  Sign up at registration.

 

Why can’t I arrive late and still participate?

One of our “sorry, no exceptions” rules is that everyone must be through registration and tech inspection no later than the driver’s meeting start time, which is 8 am. This is because all staff and officials scatter to restricted areas around the circuit to put on the event by a fixed schedule. So, after ~8 am, there is nobody around to help you register/tech and no time to give another driver’s meeting because all the people who perform those activities are now a mile from the paddock doing some other mission-critical task to make the event run smoothly.

 

We cannot offer entry fee refunds or credits for those who arrive late, so you forfeit your entry if you are unable to arrive on time. Please think of your entry like non-refundable airline tickets. If you’re not on the plane when the doors close, the tickets have no value. The best way to not have this problem is to stay in a nearby hotel the night before and/or leave early to give yourself a good time buffer if you’re driving in that morning. All participants really should be there by 7 am! Note: We will have 90+ cars going through tech on Saturday morning.  And remember, this event is a fundraiser for disabled veterans!

 

What is the bad weather policy?

This is a “rain or shine, hot or cold” event.  We will only postpone an event for frozen weather or a significant system like a hurricane, and your entry would then automatically apply to the rescheduled date while still being subject to the standard cancellation policy detailed below. Note: during any event day, we do pause for thunderstorms (to get corner workers out of possible lightning strike areas) and resume once they have passed. We can’t control the weather, so please be prepared for wet or dry and hot or cold conditions. Just think of this as a field deployment!

Important Note: MotorsportReg now offers optional event cancellation insurance for a few extra dollars when you sign up. This is great because the Top Dog Championship is a fundraiser for our service dog program.  If you fail to purchase the insurance, please don’t request a refund as this directly impacts a veteran receiving his/her service dog.

 

What is the registration cancellation policy?

When you register for a Rally4Vets Trackcross, you agree to the policy: “All sales are final – no cancellation, refund, or credit. Entries are transferable to another person for this event only.”

 

Rally4Vets events are fundraisers for disabled veterans. To make them possible, we commit the full cost of each event upfront. Refunding registration fees directly reduces the funds we can dedicate to providing service dogs for veterans in need. We hope you’ll understand how important this is.

 

Think of your registration like a concert ticket or airline seat: it’s for a specific time and place, and once purchased, it holds that spot whether you use it or not. If your car has an issue, you’re welcome to bring another. If you cannot attend, your best option is to sell or give your entry to someone else who is qualified to participate. Please notify us of the name change no later than noon on the Tuesday before a Saturday event or noon on the Wednesday before a Sunday event (72 hours before track setup). After that deadline, the only changes we can make are to your class or vehicle.

 

For peace of mind, MotorsportReg now offers optional event cancellation insurance when you register. This is a third-party service, and any claims must be made directly with the insurance provider.

 

Thank you for your understanding and support. By honoring this policy, you’re helping us keep costs low, events accessible, and—most importantly—funding more service dogs for disabled veterans.

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Another question?

Just email us at TopDog @ rally4vets.com