TOPEKA, Kan. (Dec. 21, 2018) -- Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack has experienced incredible growth in its first four years. In 2018 alone, the initiative saw nearly 9,200 entries across 141 events at 32 different tracks around the country. Designed to grow the SCCA® at all levels, the program will again this year invest directly in regions thanks to the Track Night in America grant.
In 2019, the Track Night Region Development Grant is funded with $50,000 to be distributed to regions for the purposes of training, equipment upgrades, marketing, or offsetting costs of pilot events. Heyward Wagner, SCCA’s Director of Marketing and Experiential Programs, pointed out that funds do NOT need to be used for Track Night activities. The monies are being offered to support any region development activity across the board.
“SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack exists to help grow our Club,” Wagner said. “As part of that vision, the Track Night program provides support to regions so they can better position themselves to be able to give members the best possible SCCA regional experience.”
Grant applications must be submitted online at https://www.scca.com/pages/scca-region-development-grants. Submissions are due no later than February 15, 2019. Grant requests will be reviewed by a five-person committee made up of SCCA Board of Directors members and National Staff. Submissions will be judged on both merit and need. If all funds are not distributed in the first round, a second submission window will be opened until April 1, 2019.
In evaluating a grant, the selection committee will give the most attention and focus to projects that are innovative or demonstrate a need, are backed by a project management plan, and will have a positive impact on a Region or the Club as a whole. Submissions should include: Goal/Purpose, Anticipated Result, Project Timeline, Project Budget and Amount of Grant Request. Applications without a realistic and cost-effective budget will not receive consideration.
Several innovative and interesting concepts received funding last year. A handful of those grant recipients included:
South Bend Region
Solo Registration Improvement and Improved Customer Interaction: Improving on-site registration process to allow for quicker check-ins, reduced workload, and more personalized customer interactions.
Central Pennsylvania Region
Going Wireless for Better Autocross Events: Defray costs of a T-Link wireless timing system, which will be purchased and put into use during the 2018 season. By upgrading the timing system, CPR will have safer, more efficient events and increased flexibility in course design.
Continental Divide/Colorado Region
Solo Timing & Scoring Upgrades: Purchase equipment and software modules necessary for the implementation of bar coding and Solo Live Timing at all 2018 Solo Summer Series events.
Mid-South Region
Pylon Replacement: Replace Region pylons with SCCA logo pylons to better showcase the organization.
Susquehanna Region
RallyCross Timing Upgrade: For the first few years, only a couple events were held in the Region and all with hand-me-down autocross equipment.
Wichita Region
Women's Solo Initiative: Wichita Region will host a Solo event for women only. Held on a Saturday prior to a scheduled Sunday Points Event, this test-and-tune style event will introduce women to Solo in a safe and comfortable environment.
Eastern Tennessee Region
Cars and Coffee/Mini Autocross: In an effort to increase membership and participation in the Tri-Cities area of east TN, Region would like to host a Cars and Coffee event.
Indiana Northwest Region
Equipment Replacement and Implementation of New Programs: Replace loaner helmets, fund RallyCross and RoadRally programs. Provide new opportunities for membership by easing the pressure on limited cash flow.
New England Region
Hard Headed and Smart Thinking: Helmets in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large to allow for variation in drivers, as well as HANS devices.
Oregon Region
Promotion and Sustainability: Banners and flags to be used at recruiting events such as Solo, trade shows. New radios, and cones for Solo.
Central Illinois Region
Increase Visibility and Awareness, and Equipment Upgrades: Present Region to the local community and create awareness to drive more memberships and higher participation.
Great River Region
Test Drive SCCA #FunWithCars: This program will provide up to 50 first-time autocrossers a free entry to the Great River Region’s Test & Tune event with novice instruction.
Kansas Region
RallyCross Startup: Start RallyCross program in 2018 with necessary equipment to hold an event.
Indianapolis Region
Indy SCCA Play to Pro Track Events Program: Develop online virtual racing experience that draws people from around the country to become part of the SCCA community and investigate “real” SCCA competition.
The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 116 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Chevrolet, the Official Truck of the SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Mobil 1, the Official Oil of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.
