Roger Siebenaler, of North Hero, Vt., captured his first SCCA National Championship in 11 years, winning the Formula Vee race at the 48th SCCA National Championship Runoffs® from Road America. Bob Neumeister, of Pueblo, Colo., and Michael Varacins, of Burlington, Wis., completed the top three.

Sunoco Hard Charger: #21 Mark Jurczyk

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

DNS, (10) CJ Moses,Gainesville/VA, Mitsubishi Evo X, 0

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2011) — Richard Spicer, of Laurel, Md., captures his third career Spec Racer Ford National Championship on Friday at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, crossing the finish stripe just ahead of Scott Rettich, of Camden, Ohio, and Brian Schofield, of Lakeland, Fla.

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

2011 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

(Click on image to view larger)

If there was a most frequently used word for the week, the word would be OPR. It stands for “Other People’s Rubber” and became the official term for all the discarded rubber on course that often was picked up by race tires. The solutions ranged from putty knives and heat guns to this device, designed to remove laminate flooring. The local Harbor Freight sold out of them in record time.

Every championship is sweet. Toby Larsson’s however, may have been the sweetest of all. Larrson claimed the F-Prepared National Championship over one of Solo’s greats, John Thomas. Thomas had won the class the last 5 years,with a 11 year championship run previously in E-Prepared, but this championship belonged to the Southern Californian with the orange BMW and ear to ear grin.

Chris Dorsey put together one of the most dominate performances of the week in his  Corolla, dropping 7 seconds on the E-Prepared field. Dorsey time would have won any of the Prepared Classes except for X-Prepared, where he would have been 3rd.

Competition was not limited to the courses, as there was a “big wheel ProSolo” course set up in the Texas/Spokes compound on Thursday evening. Despite the aero advantage expected from the “corn hat” Troy Acosta was able to edge out Stephen Ingram to win the round.

The paddock vehicle getting the most attention was the “cooler kart” built by SEB member Dave Hardy. The kart consisted of a scrapped race kart chassis, a hand-me-down aluminum cooler and race “lock and latch” seat belts to hold the two together.

2011 was one of the hottest Solo Nationals in recent memory. So hot, it even caught up with “Fast Freddie” White.

Kevin Youngers’ West course featured no less that 32 slalom-able cones. Some in the form of walls, some as offsets… many of which were hit, often.

Many women have elected to compete in open classes over the years, but until this year only two had been able to win. 2011 added another name to the list, Brianne Corn took the top spot in B-Modified in the Le Grand Dragon. Even more impressive, she did it as the tire warmer.

Street Touring Roadster (STR) was given a challenge by the SEB, bring 51 drivers to Nationals and you can have Nationals Class status. Not only did they meet the goal, they were the largest class at Nationals with 68 total drivers in open and ladies. STR also delivered the tightest competition of the week, with 4 drivers in the first tenth of a second and only 1.8 seconds covering the 17 trophy spots lead by 21 year old Robert Thorne.

Solo Nationals saw another strong influx of rookies in 2011, most of whom, including Aditya Madhavan, were all smiles, helmet on or helmet off.

Click here to see all of Perry Bennett’s photos from the week

Tire Rack ProSolo Series

Tire Rack Championship Tour

Tire Rack Match Tour

The 2014 Tire Rack SCCA National Solo® schedule, including Championship Tour, Match Tour, and ProSolo events, was announced today to participants. The schedule features 27 events, spread out over the three formats.

The Tire Rack SCCA Championship Tour season begins March 15-16 in Cecil, Ga., at the South Georgia Motorsports Park. A traditional location on the Solo calendar, the event falls just one week after the SCCA National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. — close enough for those across the country to participate in both events.

The Tire Rack ProSolo Series season begins one week later at another traditional site, March 22-23 in Blytheville, Ark. Blytheville also appears at the end of the Championship Tour schedule, Sept. 27-28 following the Tire Rack Solo National Championships. The end of the season event will feature a permanent course beginning in 2014, to remain consistent moving forward, with the local community working with SCCA to develop incentives and rewards for track record holders — by nature, a rarity in the Solo community.

The second season of the Tire Rack Match Tour format begins April 12-13 in Wilmington, Ohio. The former hub of DHL Shipping’s US operations, the airport site is wide, smooth and provides options for a variety of courses.
The options available at Wilmington make the area a prime site for Solo competition, and the schedule reflects that. Wilmington is the only location on the schedule to host all three formats, as the ProSolo and Championship Tours will visit on back to back weekends, July 26-27 and August 2-3.

Packwood, Wash., hosts back to back events in early July. The Championship Tour visits July 5-6, followed immediately by the ProSolo July 12-13. The Packwood site is legendary for its scenery, beauty, and all around good fun, providing an excellent vacation destination for out-of-towners.

Crows Landing, near Patterson, Calif., returns to the schedule in a big way after a 20 year absence. The large concrete pad, used in the past by both the military and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for training exercises, hosts a Pro Solo, June 7-8, and a Championship Tour, June 14-15. The last SCCA National event held at the site was a ProSolo in 1994.

While an event “in Atlanta”has been on the schedule several times over the years, for the first time in recent history the event will occur in the city proper. The Turner Field parking lots have been secured for the May 17-18 Match Tour event.

Also returning are the traditional Spring Nationals at the Lincoln Airpark on Memorial Day weekend, featuring the ProSolo on Friday and Saturday, May 23-24, and the Championship Tour, May 25-26.

Collectively, the events make up the “Road to Lincoln”and the 42nd Tire Rack Solo National Championship. The week-long event begins with the ProSolo Finale, Aug. 30-31, and the crowning of National Solo Champions September 2-5 at the Lincoln Airpark.

When: March 1-3
Where: South Point Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas Nevada

So, Why should YOU come to the SCCA National Convention?  It really depends on who YOU are. Are YOU a Solo Chair?  What about a member of the team that puts on Solo events in your region?  Are you someone who would like to get involved and positively effect your regions events? What about a Safety Steward?  Course Designer? Grid Chief? Novice Steward? Simply put, are YOU someone that wants to make YOUR region better?  If yes, then YOU are someone who should come to the SCCA National Convention in Las Vegas.

With When, Where and Who covered, the next question is Why?  This years convention will feature an aggressive program for solo aimed at giving your region’s solo leadership the tools needed to be successful. Areas of focus will include, but not be limited to, Improving Course Design, Utilizing Social Media, Volunteer Recruitment and Retention and Site Procurement. In addition, there will be an SEB Town Hall meeting, social opportunities and a very likely return to one of Vegas’s finest indoor karting facilities (provided we can smooth a few things over with the management<wink>).

Which brings us to How?  Many Regions and Divisions set aside funds to get their leadership to the Convention. If YOU are ready, willing and able to join us in Las Vegas now is a great time to get in touch with your Regional Executive and Board of Directors to see if there is a way to get YOU there. We are working hard to make sure this years convention gives YOU the tools YOU need to make your Regional Solo Program a success. All YOU have to do, is get there!

Tri-States Championship

Blytheville Arkansas

September 30- October 2

Late fees have been dropped for this event and folks can even enter at the site on Friday afternoon/evening.

Course will be a Grady Wood modified version of Doug Gill’s popular June, 2011 Tour courses

Event will feature the “Champions Challenge”(open and ladies) on Saturday afternoon matching up 2011 National Champions and 2011 Tri-State Tour leaders in single elimination rounds using PAX for scoring. In addition, there will be a Bonus Challenge by random draw. Prizes include 2012 National Solo entry certificates, annual memberships, and cash prizes.

Road Course Tour

Nashville Tennessee

October 28-30

First “Road Tour”(race track) National Tour in the 20-year history of the National Tour program.

Courses designed by Brain Johns and Jason Collett.

Courses will begin at pit exit and end before pit entrance. Grid will be on pit row.

This will be the last event run at the Nashville Speedway road course as the track is closing pending new ownership.

Site features covered garages, a media center for parties, and RV electricity/water.

it’s Halloween weekend; dress up your crew and car for the holiday!! Awards for best team costumes.