Autocross and Hill Climb Trophies for Car Clubs

Short answer

An autocross or hill climb program usually needs two sets of awards. The first is a small trophy for the top finishers in each class at every event, often a fraction of the entries in that class. The second is the season set handed out at the region banquet: class champions and points places, novice of the year, a ladies class award, the index overall winner and a worker of the year. We design both from your club logo, cut and printed in acrylic, wood and metal, with no minimum order and a proof you approve before anything is produced.

First, second and third place awards on wood bases with printed acrylic faces and cut metal numerals

Timed events, many classes, small fields

Autocross, time trials and hill climbs are scored against the clock, one car at a time, and the entry list is split into many classes so that similar cars compete with each other. A regional event can easily run twenty or more classes with three to eight cars in each. That shapes the trophy order more than anything else: lots of small awards, not a few big ones.

Most class trophies also go to people who will compete again next month. A design that stays the same all season, with only the event number changing, gives a driver a row of matching pieces. Acrylic cut to a car outline, a cone or the club logo carries the identity; the plate carries the class and finish.

For how we build awards from your own artwork, see custom awards. The season-end side of the program is covered in more depth in end-of-season awards.

What an autocross or hill climb program awards

Event class trophies

The top finishers in each class at each event. Many clubs trophy a share of the entries in a class, so a class of three gets one award and a class of nine gets three. It is common practice, not a rule; set your own and publish it in the supplementary regulations.

Season class champions

First through third (or deeper) in each class on season points, presented at the banquet. These are the larger pieces in the set.

Index overall

Best time after each raw time is multiplied by its class factor, often called PAX or index. It compares every class on one scale.

Novice and rookie of the year

A novice class trophy at each event and a rookie of the year at the banquet. A first trophy keeps new drivers coming back.

Worker of the year

Timing, grid, corner workers and the course designer. These events run on worker shifts, so this award belongs near the top of the banquet.

Fun awards

Cone killer, most spins, longest drive to the event. One or two keep the banquet light.

A season award list you can copy

A typical list for a club autocross series, with or without a hill climb or time trial. Trim it to the classes you ran.

Typical season awards for an autocross or hill climb program
Award	How many	What goes on it
Class champion	1 per class	Club name, class, “Season Champion,” driver, year
Class points places	1 to 3 more per class	As above with the place
Index overall champion	1, sometimes top 3	Club name, “Index Overall,” driver, year
Ladies class champion	1 or more	Club name, class, driver, year
Novice or rookie of the year	1	Club name, award, driver, year
Hill climb or time trial champion	1 per class or overall	Event name, class or overall, driver, year
Worker of the year	1	Name and a line of thanks
Fun awards	1 to 3	Award name, driver, year

Points settle most of these names before the banquet. For how many places to award per class and how to handle ties, see points championship awards. A longer list of categories is in racing banquet award categories.

Event trophies: plan the season, not one weekend

Ordering class trophies one event at a time means guessing at entries every month. Many clubs order for the season instead: one design, the event number as the only line that changes, and a quantity based on last year’s class counts plus a margin.

If your entry counts swing a lot, leave the class off the event trophy and put only the finish and event on it. Then any trophy can go to any class, and leftovers carry forward to the next event.

Region Autocross Series
Event 4
1st in Class

When the first trophy design is approved, you can reorder it for the next season with only the year changed. Championship trophies covers the larger season-end pieces in more detail.

Hill climbs, time trials and track days

A hill climb is usually a stand-alone weekend with its own entry list, so it often gets its own design: the course outline or event logo cut into the piece, class trophies for the weekend and a top time overall award.

Time trials are scored much like an autocross, with classes and season points, so the same award list works. Track days that are run as instruction rather than competition rarely give finishing trophies. When they recognize anyone, it is usually instructors and the volunteers who ran the day.

If your club also hosts shows, cruises and year-round meetings, car club awards covers that side. For two-wheel road racing on a circuit, see motorcycle road racing.

What to send us

The club logo, and the event or series logo if different.
The class list for the season and last season’s entries per class.
The banquet award list with names, classes and places once points are final.
The date of the first event and the date of the banquet.

We send a design proof for the full set before anything is produced. For timing, work back from the date the awards must be in hand and contact us for the current lead time against that date; how far in advance to order explains how to plan it.

Autocross and Hill Climb Trophies FAQs

How many trophies per class at an autocross?

Many clubs trophy a share of the entries in each class, so larger classes get more trophies. That is common practice rather than a rule, so set your own ratio, publish it and order against last year’s class counts.

What is an index or PAX award?

It compares drivers across all classes by multiplying each raw time by a factor for that class. The best adjusted time wins the index overall award, which many clubs present at each event and for the season.

Can event trophies be ordered for the whole season?

Yes. Keep one design and change only the event number.

Should workers get awards?

Yes. These events depend on worker shifts and the few volunteers who run timing, grid and course setup. Worker of the year is one of the most valued pieces at the banquet.

Can the trophy be shaped like a car or the course?

Acrylic can be cut to the outline of a car, a cone, a course map or your club logo, then printed in full color. We work from your artwork.

Is there a minimum order?

No. A single hill climb overall trophy is as normal an order as a full season of class awards.

Racer in a helmet raising both arms as gold confetti falls under stage lights

SEASON POINTS FINAL?

Send the class list and we will design the set

Send your club logo, the class list and the banquet award list. We design the event and season awards together and send a proof before anything is produced.

There is no minimum order. Tell us the date of your banquet or first event when you ask for a quote.

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Autocross and Hill Climb Trophies