I'm looking for info for a relative from the "left coast" who would like to get into autocross. He'd need to start with a car first, and I honestly don't know if it would be a Miata, BMW, F body, etc and, at this point, neither does he. On the "ultra competitive/laid back" scale, I think he'd be leaning towards a club that falls on the laid back side of things. He's in the Eugene area, but also travels to Portland fairly often. Not overly concerned if its a "make specific" club, as he's in the "I'd just like to get out and see a race" stage.
Any recommendations GRM?
Back in the day when I lived in Portland I use to love going to the events for the local Porsche club (Cascade region PCA) I was the youngest member (I was 18) and had tons of fun. We would do autocrosses that basically anything would show up at and have some fun. Did the concourse thing with them as well which got me some seat time driving at speed around PIR.
There are a ton of other events in the area held by all sorts of clubs. Even a few drifting events if he just wants stupid fun and burning up a set of tires. Most of the autocrosses I went to in the area were not brand specific or anything.
I am just wishing I could find some like minded folks out here on the east side of the state to get something going out here.
Start at Where2Race.com and get the lay-of the land in terms of local clubs and events.
The Oregon Region PCA is a great, laid back club to run nearly anything you want (this year we had a turbo caravan running).
Check out Emerald Empire Sports Car Club and Willamette Motor Club as well. They hold events in Eugene and Astoria respectively.
Finally, there's also the SCCA who are a bit more serious with fewer runs and more stringent rules. They run at Portland and in Packwood.
I'm on the "right coast" so I wouldn't know anything about which clubs he should race with, but I would say that you should go with him for his first one so he doesn't quite feel like the new guy all by himself. I would also tell him that the answer is always Miata. 
But in general, autocross is great because you don't need an ideal car to race with. Tell him to race what he has right now. You need an ideal car to race when you don't want to stay in a stock class. If his current car is a vehicle that he doesn't want to race when he's fast, inform him to compete with several cars, not just the 1 or 2 he thinks is the coolest.
X3 on the Porsche club. Nice bunch of guys
Yup, good advice all around. PCA, EESCC, and Willamette Motor Club are all good starting points. I have run with both of the latter, and my shopmate has run with PCA and had good things to say. Oregon Rally Group also hosts a once-a-year low-key autocross on the infield of the Portland Historic Races at PIR. It is a funruns fundraiser time-only event with many cars from the marque clubs coming out and can be a good time.
In reply to Mr_Clutch42:
Going with him would be my first choice. Unfortunately, I'm a lot closer to the right coast than the left. I also suggested a Miata as a great place to start (I've got one). He was here in Michigan last week, but the only thing I could find was a drag start pro solo about 2 and 1/2 hours away. Didn't seem like the best place to start a noobie.
Thanks for the info all.
In Eugene the EESCC is all there is.
http://www.eescc.org/EESCC2014Schedule.cfm
As you can see from their schedule it isn't exactly packed. Also there are a LOT of competitors so expect a small handful of runs on a long weekend.
The real competition is in the mod classes where high HP A1 chassis VW's were the popular choice for a LONG time but now is starting to branch out to other makes and models over the last few years. There is still a lot of boosted rabbits out there though.
I am not a competitor, but everyone I know here is. I am an occasional spectator (just hanging out with friends really). The EESCC guys are super friendly, super awesome folks.
I am blown away by how many high dollar dedicated race cars are in this town when they get maybe 45 minutes a year of actual track time.
The Larrison rock hill climb is coming up but you are required to have a few Autocrosses with the club so they can make sure you have the needed skills to not fly off the side of the mountain.
A pro solo is probably a great event to watch and talk to the racers. They could give him some other great info that us non-pro competitors don't have, yet.
This is REALLY making me wish we had some car clubs out on my side of the state that put on these sorts of events.
