Tire Rack Solo National Championships to remain in Lincoln

The Sports Car Club of America and the Lincoln Airport Authority have recently agreed to a lease extension that will keep the Tire Rack® SCCA® Solo® National Championships at the Lincoln (Neb.) Airport through 2017.

The event, which annually attracts more than 1200 competitors to crown National Championships in each of the Solo classes, has been held on the concrete airport runway surface since 2009. The recently-signed lease has an additional five-year option included, which could keep the event in Lincoln through 2022.

This year’s event marks the 40th anniversary of the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championship event.

“The SCCA, our competitor base, the Airport Authority and the city of Lincoln all wanted to keep the Tire Rack Solo Nationals in Lincoln for the foreseeable future, so this was an easy deal to make,” Howard Duncan, SCCA VP of Rally, Solo and Program Development said. “Lincoln is a centrally located site for all of our competitors, and the airport has the space to layout the event in a safe yet challenging configuration.

“It’s encouraging to know that the event has a home through the 45th anniversary of the event, and could remain there for the 50th anniversary.”

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce estimates the event annually has a $3 million impact on the local economy.

In addition to the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships, scheduled for September 4-7 this year, the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo finale runs just ahead of the Solo Championships, August 30 – September 7. Both the Solo National Tour and the ProSolo Series will visit the site for the second Spring Nationals event Memorial Day weekend, another four-day event that draws competitors to the area.

More information on the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour, the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Series, and the Lincoln events are available at www.scca.com/solo.

Follow SCCA on Twitter @SCCAOfficial.

SCCA to reorganize Solo and Rally departments

With an eye on program development, enhanced customer service, and improved operational effectiveness, the Sports Car Club of America today announced a reorganization of the Rally/Solo department in the national office.

Still headed by Howard Duncan, SCCA Vice President of Rally, Solo, and Special Programs, the reorganization features a number of faces familiar to both programs with changes in responsibilities.

Deena Rowland has been promoted to Rally/Solo Administrative Coordinator. Rowland’s duties will expand from her role as Solo Administrative Specialist, to include being the primary liaison to the RoadRally Board and community, additional budget support duties, increased support role for the Tire Rack National Solo program, and taking a greater role in the RallyCross and Solo National Championship events. Rowland has been at SCCA since the move to Topeka in late 2002.

Brian Harmer joins the Rally and Solo department after working for four years in the SCCA Technical Services department, concentrating on vehicle compliance for Solo events. In the new role, Harmer will be the primary liaison to the Solo Events Board and the RallyCross Board, provide assistance in developing programs to help the Regions grow participation, oversee safety programs, provide assistance for the Tire Rack National Solo program, serve as the project leader for the RallyCross and Solo National Championships, and assist with administrative matters such as budget development and monitoring.

Sandi Brown will continue as an independent contractor, expanding her existing role of administration chief of the National Solo program to become the National Solo Operations Manager. Brown will tap into her years of experience and contacts within the SCCA community to provide enhanced coordination with the host Regions for events on the Tire Rack National Solo calendar and to better serve participants by managing the on-line registration for these events. Brown will also have a role in the RallyCross National Championship.

In addition to the changes on the staff, Heyward Wagner will continue in an independent contractor role as the Solo Communications Manager, including responsibility for the program’s e-newsletter, SoloMatters.

“Despite the challenges that face the SCCA and our department, I feel more energized, optimistic, and confident than I have in years,” Duncan said. “These changes have been made with an eye on improving both the Solo and Rally programs, not only at the national level with our larger events, but especially at the regional level. Please join me in congratulating these folks and wishing them well in these roles.”

The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour opens March 9-11 with the Dixie National Tour at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga. The Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Series opens April 13-15 with the Maryland ProSolo event.

More information on the SCCA and its Solo and Rally programs is available at www.scca.com.

SCCA announces new Club Racing Majors program

TOPEKA, Kan. (January 16, 2012) – Sports Car Club of America announced today a new, top-level Club Racing program dubbed the “Majors,” launching as a pilot program in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions in 2012.

The goal of the Majors program is to
cluster competition forall classes,
like Formula Vee. /Mark Weber/SCCA

Focused on providing fresh, enhanced opportunities for National-level classes within a geographical racing area, the Majors offer a new format race weekend focused on clustering competition and providing greater value for racers.

The Majors concept comes from a two-year planning committee directive from the SCCA Board of Directors to evolve the top level of SCCA Club Racing with the changing times. For decades, “National” racing has served as the top Club Racing level, providing a path toward both Divisional Championships and the National Championship Runoffs®.

“By definition in the SCCA General Competition Rules, National racing has not changed for decades, but many of these events have evolved away from their true purpose—to provide a high level event for the most serious competitors,” SCCA Chairman of the Board Jerry Wannarka said. “The Majors program does just that, not unlike the Tire Rack® SCCA ProSolo® Series does for the autocross community.”

A Break from the Norm

The most significant philosophical and structural change from the current Club Racing model deals with treating competition classes differently from one another at select events. Classes in the Majors program are placed in one of two groups—Invitational or Showcase. The highest subscribed classes in a particular geographic zone will be included in the Invitational program, with the remaining classes comprising the Showcase group. Both the Invitational and Showcase classes will have special opportunities throughout the season.

“There are too many National program classes to create a championship-level experience for each of them on each race weekend,” SCCA President & CEO Jeff Dahnert said. “We are able to do that once per year, at the Runoffs, and it takes a full week. We need a departure from the philosophy that we can be all things to all people at every event. We can provide better programs, but we need to spread new opportunities out over several race weekends.”

The 2012 Majors Pilot Program

For 2012 the Majors program will coexist with the current Regional and National programs in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions. These three Divisions will be combined to make up the Majors “zone.” The Majors Championship will be comprised of six weekends, two being geographically held in each Division, including the three BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events and three Invitational class-only events (one per Division). Additional opportunities will be planned on separate weekends for Showcase classes.

While all 29 National classes will be part of the BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events, the Invitational weekends will be a special opportunity for the highest-subscribed classes based on combined participation numbers within the Zone. Limiting classes for the Invitationals allows organizers to target two classes per race group, allowing for split starts to cluster like-classed cars together on the racetrack.

“Multi-class racing, whether in amateur or professional motorsports, is done out of necessity,” Dahnert added. “That’s why the Runoffs and special festival events are so popular. If you can fill a field with only one class, the drivers are much happier. Every car on the track represents a position.

“The problem is, with so many classes, we need an event as long as the Runoffs to accommodate everyone. The Majors Invitational events take the top 10, or so, classes within the Zone and gives them additional opportunities to run in large fields without the impact of several other classes on the track.”

The top 10 (roughly 1/3) classes represent nearly 70 percent of the entries on a given weekend at an SCCA National event.

All six Majors races in 2012, including the BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events and the Invitationals, will feature a common pre-event registration process, chief steward and management team from the National office for continuity and consistency, while still being operated by the local Regions to provide the local flavor and atmosphere. The idea is to take the best elements of the Club Racing experience and meld them with some components often found at professional events. Making events better than, and different from, other events is a key focal point.

Events

Each of the events will feature a pair of “points” races toward the Majors Championship (for the Invitational classes) that will also count toward the existing National and Divisional Point Championships. At Invitational events, drivers can expect to be on track two to three times per day for no less than 20 minutes each. For two-day events, Saturday will feature traditional timed qualifying followed by a 45-mile points race. Sunday will grid cars based on the fast laps from Saturday’s race for a brief qualifying race, which will set the grid for Sunday’s feature 45-mile points race based on finishing position.

Following each race and the winner’s victory laps, the entire field will be brought to impound for technical inspection and award presentations.

A New Championship and Path to the Runoffs and Super Sweep Award

Combining participants from the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions for the six Majors events creates a new opportunity for a meaningful Championship. Not only does a driver need to better the competition from his own Division, but also those from the neighboring Divisions as well.

A driver will count his or her best eight finishes (out of 12 possible) toward their respective class Championship, using the GCR Points schedule established for Divisional Championships. Along with the prestige and prize package to be announced later, the Champions will be recognized as having met the second leg (Divisional Championship) of the four-legged Super Sweep award.

Additionally, recognizing that participating in the Majors Pilot events could hamper a driver’s ability to qualify for the 2012 National Championship Runoffs® through the traditional process, any driver that starts at least one race on each of three Majors weekends (in the same class) will receive a Runoffs invitation.

In addition to the Majors Point Championship for the Invitational classes, other awards will be offered, including, but not limited to, special recognition to up-and-coming drivers that are new to Championship racing and a year-end prize for the best performers in qualifying races. Point Championship awards will be announced at a later date.

“There are a great many opportunities to race, score points and qualify for the Runoffs across the country,” SCCA Planning Committee Chairman Bill Kephart said. “The goal of the Majors is to identify key events that a driver can count on for a good field of competitors, not only from within his or her Division, but drawing from the surrounding Divisions as well.

“For the most serious racers in SCCA, competition is the most important aspect of a weekend. Recognition programs and social aspects are important components, but giving a racer a full field to compete in is our primary objective.”

The Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions were grouped into the pilot zone based on the ability to travel out of Division within, for the most part, one day’s tow. Additionally, the average entry counts of each Division could benefit greatly with the incentive for drivers from the neighboring divisions to participate in one or more event outside of their own Division.

Showcase Events

Showcase Events are for the National-level classes in the program not covered in the Invitational program. For the Pilot program, this will include 19 classes, which makes up just over 30 percent of the total entries based on 2011 participation numbers. Showcase classes will have additional racing opportunities at other events, likely a Bonus National in 2012. This program could also include festival events, anniversary races or marque-specific opportunities.

Like the Super Tour and Invitational events, the goal is to shine a spotlight on these events for the classes they include, creating an atmosphere and opportunity designed to draw racers to that event, thus clustering competition.

Pilot Program Invitational Classes

Based on combined participation numbers from 2011 in the Zone including the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions, as well as taking trends into consideration, the following classes and groupings will take place in the three Invitational races and Majors Championship.

-Spec Racer Ford

-Spec Miata, Super Touring® Under

-E Production, F Production, H Production

-Formula 500, Formula Vee

-Formula Mazda, Formula F

Majors Events

The following events have been designated as part of the 2012 Majors Championship Pilot program:

March 9-11*Texas World Speedway (Lone Star Region)Super Tour, all 29 classes

April 14-15*Hallett Motor Racing Circuit (AVRG)Super Tour, all 29 classes

May 5-6*Texas Motor Speedway (Texas Region)Invitational Classes only

May 5-6Heartland Park Topeka (KVRG)Showcase Event component

May 25-27Pikes Peak International (CDR)Showcase Event component

June 16-17*Pueblo Motorsports Park (CDR)Invitational Classes only

June 30-July 1*High Plains Raceway (Colorado Region)Super Tour, all 29 classes

July 14-15*Heartland Park Topeka (KVRG)Invitational Classes only

*-Part of the Majors Points Championship

Note: One additional Showcase event may be added in the Southwest Division

Future Expansion

The 2012 Pilot program is designed to both provide the Majors opportunity and experience for those within the Pilot Zone, but also be a test-bed for a coast-to-coast rollout targeted for 2013. While the Invitational program will initially include approximately 10 classes, there is nothing locking the program into one set of Invitational weekends per Zone. If more than 10 classes within a Zone can support the concept of clustering competition and providing good car counts at each event, then that number can, and will, evolve as needed.

“In a perfect world, we’d have all of our National classes strong enough to support an Invitational-style program,” Dahnert said. “If we have 15 or more classes that can support that concept, then we would look to expand the number of Invitational weekends accordingly.”

Summary

Overview

• Majors are a step beyond National races in SCCA Club Racing. The progression is now Driver’s School > Regional > National > Majors > Runoffs
• Attractive event format clusters competition, provides quality track time and is a good value for a racer’s investment.
• 2012 pilot for the “Zone” including the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions
• Majors Events can separate classes into two groups (Invitational and Showcase) to create a more manageable sample for unique opportunities
• 2012 Majors program will include three BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events and three Invitational events. Each weekend will be a doubleheader for a total of 12 races.
• Additional Opportunities on different weekends for Showcase classes

Events

• Focus on things that are better than, and different from, other events
• Separate Majors Point Championship for Invitational classes, including the 12 races in addition to the traditional Regional, Divisional and National Point Championships.
• The top classes are invited to the Invitational Majors races.
• Invitational weekend race groups will have a target of one or two classes per group. Split starts for all multi-class groups. Pairings must allow for good racing for all classes involved.
• Qualifying races will be included for Sunday Invitational weekends. Possibility for Super Tours.
• Victory laps and awards presentations for each race.
• Showcase classes will have Bonus Nationals or festival type races on alternate weekends

Organization

• Series and event management by National office
• Consistent Chief Steward for all events
• Operations by SCCA Regions
• Consistent pre-event Registration

Promotional

• Marketing to drive entries to Majors events
• Post-event recaps on SCCA.com
• Live Timing & Scoring
• Opportunity for special contingency programs

Five selected to join SCCA Hall of Fame

Five esteemed Sports Car Club of America members have been selected to comprise the 2012 class of the SCCA Hall of Fame based on their significant contributions to motorsports and the organization. The newly-selected inductees will officially join the Hall during an induction ceremony at the SCCA Convention, Saturday, March 3, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The SCCA National Hall of Fame was created in 2004 to preserve, protect and record the history and accomplishments of the Club by acknowledging those members who have made a significant impact on the development of SCCA, be it through service to the national organization, achievements in national competition or brining national recognition to SCCA. Nominations were submitted to and reviewed by the Hall of Fame Nomination and Selection Committees. The 2012 class consists of Charlie Earwood, Jim Hall, Gene Henderson, Dr. Peter Talbot and Bryan Webb.

Charlie Earwood, an SCCA member since 1960, started racing Porsches in E and F Production before turning his attention to where he made his name in the sport – officiating. A respected Chief Steward for many years, including the Runoffs at Road Atlanta, Earwood also served the SCCA as an official at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Daytona, the Trans-Am Series, Playboy Endurance Series, Spec Racer Ford, and many more, as well as other sanctioning bodies. Earwood is also a former General Manager at Sebring International Raceway, where he was tasked with designing the current course allowing the track and the general aviation airport to run simultaneously, opening Sebring for year-round events.

Jim Hall is best known as a leading innovator in race car design and generally credited for being the first to use aerodynamics and ground effects to an advantage on race cars. Hall was also a founding and charter member of the West Texas Region SCCA in the 1950s. After founding Chaparral Cars, he also built Rattlesnake Raceway for testing purposes, and made the track available to the region for SCCA races. Hall was a driver in Formula One, Can-Am, Trans-Am and more during his driving days, and won the Indianapolis 500 as a team owner in 1978 and 1980. Hall, the 1965 President’s Cup winner, is still available to the region for support and recruitment.

Gene Henderson is best known by those in the rally community, having successful careers in both the former SCCA ProRally and the current Road Rally. Henderson began as a road racer, participating in rally events during the winter months. He won the 1963 Press On Regardless Pro Rally, the 1968 TransCanada Rally, and the 1972 FIA World Championship Press On Regardless Rally in a Jeep Wagoneer, the first American Car to win an FIA event. Gene later helped organize the Press On Regardless Road Rally, and was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1989. Henderson passed away in April, 2005 at the age of 79.

Dr. Peter Talbot was active for many years as an SCCA Club Racer, but his real contribution to the sport came as the inventor and innovator of the tire wall safety system. An SCCA member from 1955 through 1994, Talbot’s tire wall safety system was first used at Laguna Seca in the late 60s and early 70s to make up for a lack of runoff as a replacement for the required CSI (a forerunner to the modern FIA) catch fencing. Successful there, the Long Beach Grand Prix used the tire wall system from the inaugural running of the race in 1975. The current tire wall systems are virtually unchanged from Dr. Talbot’s original design. A recipient of the 1974 SCCA Val Scroggie award, presented to an SCCA race physician who has made the greatest contribution to racing during the preceding year, and the 1985 George Snively Award for outstanding contributions to safety in motorsports, Dr. Talbot passed away in 1999.

Bryan Webb served as an SCCA member for over 30 years in multiple capacities, leading the Southeast Division as an elected member of the SCCA Board of Directors, serving as Regional Executive in the Florida Region on two different occasions, and participating as a Steward and Club Racing driver. As National Administrator of the Stewards Program, Webb was largely responsible for the content of the current Stewards Manual. Webb has previously been given the 1988 Woolf Barnato Award, presented to the member who has made the most outstanding long-term contribution, and the 1991 Dave Morrell Award for the Chief Steward who has exhibited outstanding performance and dedication to the sport and the highest principles. The Southeast Division annual awards the Bryan Webb Award to the Southeast Division Steward who has consistently shown the standards of service, dedication and fairness as exemplified by Bryan during his many years as an active SCCA member. Webb passed away in 2004.

The five inductees will join the seven previous classes, including:

2005: Cameron Argetsinger, A. Tracy Bird, John Fitch, Arthur Gervais, Harry Handley, Vern Jaques, Bill Milliken, Sue Roethel, Art Trier and Rob Walker.

2006: John Bornholdt, John Buffum, Mark Donohue, Denise McCluggage and Grant Reynolds.

2007: Marge Binks, Marc Gerstein, Carl A. Haas, General Curtis E. LeMay, and Theodore F. Robertson.

2008: Roger E. Johnson, Don and Ruth Nixon, Kjell Qvale, Robert Ridges and Fred Schmucker.

2009: Bill Chambres, Bill Johnson, Kim Kimberly, Paul Newman and John Timanus

2010: Nick Craw, Briggs Cunningham, R. David Jones, Burdette “Berdie” Martin and Wayne Zitkus

2011: Karen Babb, John Bishop, Jim Fitzgerald, Tracer Racing, Harro Zitza

For more information on the SCCA Hall of Fame and the 2012 SCCA National Convention, visit www.scca.com.