Sports Car Club of America, Inc. completed the 2008 version of its National Convention and Annual Meeting Sunday in San Antonio. The four-day event featured seminars on leadership, town halls with the respective program boards, celebrations for the 2007 award winners and the annual induction ceremony for the SCCA Hall of Fame.It was also announced that 2008 would be the final year in San Antonio, with the February 2009 Convention heading to Las Vegas.A full collection of Convention information from the various seminars and the Annual Meeting will be available through SCCA’s secure member site within the next week.The individual award honorees were:OverallWoolf Barnato Award — Ron Sharp, Des Moines Valley RegionSCCA Hall of Fame Inductees- Roger E. Johnson- Don and Ruth Nixon- Kjell Qvale- Robert Ridges- Fred SchmuckerClub Racing AwardsPresident’s Cup — Andrew Aquilante, Philadelphia Region John McGill Award — Costa Dunias, Utah RegionJim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year — Nick Mancuso, Chicago RegionJim Kimberly Cup — Chris Bovis, Kansas RegionDavid Morrell Award — Gary Meeker, San Francisco RegionVal D. Scroggie Award — Dr. John Blizzard, Oregon RegionRRDC Mark Donohue Award – Brian Linn, Continental Divide RegionRoadRally AwardsRobert Ridges Award — Bob Ricker, Florida RegionManufacturer of the Year — SubaruArthur J. Gervais Award — Back Bay Area Roads, San Francisco RegionNational Tour Rally of the Year — Badger Trails, Land O Lakes RegionDivisional Achievement Award — Great Lakes DivisionRegional Achievement Award — South Jersey Region
RallyCross AwardsDivisional Achievement Award – Northeast DivisionRegional Achievement Award – Florida Region
Volkswagen of America and SCCA Pro Racing have announced the eight dates comprising the 2008 schedule of the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race series. Making its debut on American shores this summer, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series is an innovative approach to motorsports. The Jetta TDI Cup is composed of 30 factory-prepared and managed 2008 clean-diesel Jetta TDIs, piloted by talented drivers aged 16 to 26, who are relative unknowns in the industry. Volkswagen’s goal is to find the driver with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports. The concept is as revolutionary as the car, which is powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TDI, clean diesel engine. The Jetta TDI is lightly modified from spec, featuring race-ready suspension and brakes, and a 6-speed double-clutch automatic DSG transmission. Additionally, to highlight its environmental dedication Volkswagen has partnered with Carbonfund.org to certify the entire race series as carbon free. “Volkswagen has a long motorsports heritage and we’re continuing that tradition with the Jetta TDI Cup,” said Clark Campbell, motorsport manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The series will introduce a whole new generation of talented racers to Volkswagen, and showcase the power, performance and efficiency of our clean diesel technology. Plus, there will be some great racing.”The 30 drivers, selected at a driver qualifying event in early April, will be challenged with a variety of demanding circuits. The series opens April 25 — 27 at VIRginia International Raceway, in Alton, Va., a favorite among drivers and fans alike. The Jetta TDI Cup then heads north of the border to the ultra-fast Mosport International Raceway, in Bowmanville, Ont., Canada, May 17 — 18. The series stays in Canada for the following round, July 4 — 6, at the Grand Prix of Toronto, where Volkswagen will also stage a celebrity race. More details will be announced shortly. Following the Canadian swing, is a trip to scenic Lakeville, Conn., Aug. 14 — 17, for a visit to Lime Rock Park. On Sept. 19 — 20, the series heads to Iowa Speedway, in Newton, Iowa, to give drivers a shot at “roval” racing. The following week, the brand-new New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, N.J., will play host to the schedule’s only doubleheader, Sept. 27 — 28. The season closes in Braselton, Ga., Oct. 1 — 3, during the Petit Le Mans week at Road Atlanta. “We are incredibly excited to be nearing the launch of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup,” said SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Bob Wildberger. “This series is not only an example of how motorsports can become more eco-friendly, but it also puts the emphasis on the driver, rather than the pocketbook. Racing fans everywhere will welcome this innovative series and the new driving talent that will emerge from it.” There is still time to sign up for the Jetta TDI Cup on the Volkswagen Web site. Applications will be accepted until February 29th at http://www.vwmotorsportusa.com.
Pace American, Inc., the Official Trailer of the Sports Car Club of America, Inc., has announced that it will again award one lucky SCCA competitor with a new Pace trailer, valued at more than $14,000.Re-named the Pace Lap Challenge, Pace American will reward precision driving throughout the 2008 Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Tour and National Championships as well as the 2008 SCCA National Championship Runoffs®. Running consistent times during an event will earn 51 competitors entry into the Pace Lap Challenge. Following the final round of qualifying at the 2008 Runoffs, one of these names will be drawn at random to win a 2009 Pace Pursuit® trailer.”Last year’s program was so well received by the SCCA members, there was no doubt we had to do it again this year,” Pace American Marketing Manager Peter Calhoun said. “Drivers up and down the time sheets have supported Pace for over 20 years and in return we’re supporting SCCA drivers, regardless of where they finish.”At each Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour event and at The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships, the driver with the least time variance from their fastest run to slowest run on either course will be named the Pace Lap Challenge event winner, taking home a Pace American eligibility certificate and earning a spot in the grand prize drawing. Similarly, at the Runoffs, the driver with the least variance between their fastest three qualifying laps of the week from each class will earn an eligibility certificate for a spot in the grand prize drawing.In 2007, Solo competitor Bartek Borowski was the grand prize winner, earning his spot in the drawing by posting the most consistent West Course times on day three of the Tire Rack Solo National Championships.”We’re thrilled that Pace has chosen to continue this creative program,” SCCA VP of Marketing and Communications Eric Prill said. “It awards consistency rather than outright speed, it’s available to both Solo and Club competitors, and a new Pace trailer is something that should be attractive to any SCCA competitor.”To be eligible for the award, drivers will need to sign up for the Pace Lap Challenge program and carry the required decals. Each driver will need to run their times within 120 percent of the leader or polesitter’s fastest time. A driver may only qualify once for the award. Forms are available in the contingency section of either the Club or Solo pages.Should the winner require a different layout trailer (gooseneck, multi-car, etc) or desire additional options, they may apply the value of the prize toward their purchase.
