When we use the term “veteran soloist,” we’re not referring to an elder statesman playing in an orchestra or a guitarist for the Rolling Stones. In the sport of autocross, veteran soloists are seasoned competitors, usually with many hours of seat time, who have honed skills and earned their stripes and driving talent.

Veteran soloists are an extremely valuable asset to the Solo community. Whatever anomaly may arise during an event, it’s likely they’ve encountered it before and have a solution for the situation.  And in many cases, these competitors are also the trusty mortar that binds Solo participants across Regions.

So it is only appropriate that the SCCA Solo program has created a fun competition award for these golden members of the sport. The “Get Off My Lawn Award,” new for 2016, will be handed out for the first time during the Tire Rack Dixie Championship Tour event.

The illustrious trophy is about 6-inches high and features a bright, scuff-free orange cone emblazoned with “Get Off My Lawn.” The pristine cone sits atop a 7×7-inch square of luscious green artificial turf “ruined” at one corner with black tire tread marks.  A small plaque on the front of the trophy contains a quote frequently attributed to George Bernard Shaw: “Youth is Wasted on the Young.”

Howard Duncan, SCCA Senior Director of Solo and Rally, said the award will go to drivers, 62 years of age or older, competing in the “unofficial” Master’s Class at 2016 SCCA National Solo events, including Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo, Tire Rack SCCA Solo Championship Tour, Tire Rack SCCA Match Tour and Tire Rack Solo Nationals Presented by Garmin VIRB. The winners at each event will be based on the best index score across all car classes, with a trophy going to the Master’s Open winner and Master’s Ladies winner.

“The ‘Get Off My Lawn Award’ was created as a way to honor Master’s Class competitors out there driving hard at SCCA Solo events. And who knows, maybe we’ll be able to scare up some contingency rewards down the road from an arthritis pill maker or bifocal manufacturer looking to get into motorsports sponsorship,” Duncan joked with a grin.

So, baby boomers, dust off your helmets, check your tire pressures, and get ready to compete for the “Get Off My Lawn Award” during a SCCA National Solo event coming to you.

For the third consecutive year, the SCCA team won the Great Topeka Bed Race this past Saturday. The race consists of a 75-meter drag race, a shirt change by the rider, then a drag race back to the start/finish line. Each of the 24 teams competing consisted of four runners and the rider. All proceeds from the event go to Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., a nonprofit agency that offers financial counseling and homebuyer services in Topeka, Ks. The bed race raises about $10,000 annually.

This year, for the first time, the event was timed using the same equipment as SCCA ProSolo events, adding accuracy to the timing process and allowing spectators to see the provisional times on large displays.

Video of the final race in which SCCA defeated the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad team:

The winning run for the SCCA team. Calvin Prather on the front leg for the big win today!

Posted by Jesse Prather on Saturday, March 12, 2016

In addition to the main SCCA team, a secondary bed was run by some children of the staff. They all had a great time and were a crowd favorite:

Great Topeka Bed Race today! Our kids team making their first run!

Posted by Reece White on Saturday, March 12, 2016