HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - Cruising can be defined as traveling slowly with no specific purpose.
The Cruisin’ the Coast Autocross event throws that out the window.
“We bring a little more of the excitement,” said Brian Finch, the Autocross event coordinator. “We bring the action, the thrills, and get people’s blood pumping to get the week kicked off.”
Autocross allows drivers to test the limits of their cars by swerving and drifting through a cone course.
If you don’t have a car to drive, you can ride along with a professional behind the wheel.
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“You’ve got people who scream the whole time, or they are chatty Kathys at the start, and all of a sudden, you take off and they get quiet because they are holding their breath,” said Finch.
The sharp turns and quick speed leave riders with a range of experiences, from those who are eager to get in again to those who are happy with doing it once.
“The dude told me the same thing he told my friend Connie, that he was licensed and insured and that you are going to enjoy the ride, and I did,” said Stephanie Ducote, a cruiser from Louisiana.
“Oh my god, never again. I’m done,” said Connie Panepinto, who is visiting with Ducote. “One and done, and they can’t get me to do that [expletive] again.”
Though Autocross has been a part of Cruisin’ for more than a decade, some still made their way out for the first time on Tuesday.
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“I loved it. It is definitely an adrenaline rush,” said Danielle Hudson, also visiting from Louisiana.
Regardless of whether the riders were one-and-done or adrenaline junkies, the suggestion was always the same.
“You only live once. Go for it,” said Ducote.
“Definitely come, and I would definitely suggest you ride,” said Hudson."
“I think you need to go for it and try it one time,” said Panepinto. “Just to say you did it and be done with it. One time and done.”
Autocross will take place again on Wednesday, October 8, from 9 am to 5 pm. The event takes place in the north parking lot of the Scarlet Pearl.
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