This article first appeared in the April, 2016 edition of SportsCar Magazine. SCCA members can read the current and past editions of SportCar digitally here after logging into their account; To become an SCCA member and get SportsCar mailed to your home address monthly in addition to the digital editions, click here.
William B. Secrest
River Cities Region
“My first SCCA rally was in 1961 in my new 1962 MGA with Central Kentucky Region. My driver, Richard Foster, whom I had just met, was a freshman having recently returned from an army stint in Germany. He raced Alfa Romeo’s there. I was a junior at that time.
I graduated and went to USAF pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas, and put on rallies there. I participated in SSCA rallies in Corpus Christi and Austin. Dick and I got together again in 1974 in southeastern Pennsylvania. We ran one of Dave Teeters’ RoadRallies and couldn’t find the finish restaurant. Rally rules had changed and we were clueless about trap rallies. I do not participate in trap rallies.
SCCA sponsored the first Great American Race, a 14- or 15-day rally across the USA. I participated in 22 of them (won one), plus their local spinoffs. Through the years, I have also been rallymaster for local SCCA rallies and internationally (Rally of the Tsars, Berlin to Moscow and back).
Through rally, I have competed all over the world. Twice I rallied from Seattle to the frozen Arctic Ocean, and have rallied on all of the major deserts and on all continents (except Antarctica). I have been to three of the lowest points on the Earth and to the two highest navigable lakes (we ferried across Lake Titicaca during the Inca Trail Rally, running the 15,000-mile, 55-day rally in my 1949 Ford convertible).
If Guinness had a record for most competitive miles, I’m sure I would hold it as I have rallied over 20,000 miles in 12 months on three separate occasions. One of these events was the Around the World in 80 Days Motor Challenge, where my daughter was my driver. We drove around the world in a 1935 Chrysler Airflow that had already run 13 Great American Races.
European rallies are different than our SCCA rallies, but the principal is the same: low score wins. I shipped a 1954 Studebaker Lark to England to run rallies over there. Their Rally of the Tests is very unique, as they combine rally with our Solo events. We visited 10 malts as part of the Scottish Malts Rally and came home with 10 bottles of scotch. Unfortunately, they were only about three inches high.
I have been on some historic SCCA rallies as well, such as the 50th anniversary of the Press on Regardless Rally in Michigan.
In short, SCCA has had a great impact on my life.”
Storylines/Things to Watch:
A Sedan Show at Pitt — The A Sedan battle should be interesting this weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. A quick glance at the entry list shows there’s a Heinricy, a Sloe, and a couple Aquilantes scheduled to hit the circuit in that Class. Could be two very interesting events to watch over the weekend.
Don’t Short Circuit of St. Louis — At 1.65 miles in length, Circuit of St. Louis is the shortest track on the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour 2016 schedule. But don’t let its size fool you. Located just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, the 7-turn circuit utilizes part of the facility’s oval track and is a popular venue within the Region.
King Kong Kicera — After convincing, back-to-back wins two weeks ago at Summit Point, Tyler Kicera is back on track at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in the Spec Miata Class. In the Northeast Conference point standings, Kicera currently leads Nick Leverone by 47 points. But Leverone is scheduled to be at the event, too, for the Conference’s Rounds Five and Six this weekend.
In Life, a Little Rain Must Fall — The Great Equalizer seems likely to make an appearance both Saturday and Sunday for the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour event at Pittsburgh International Race Complex as water will likely be coming from the sky for a good portion of the weekend. Raincoats and rain tires will probably be in abundance at that event. Meanwhile, at Circuit of St. Louis, things look to be dry and sunny with temperatures in the 60s for the entire weekend.
Northeast Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour May 14-15: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania.
Mid-States Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour May 14-15: Circuit of St. Louis (formerly Gateway Motorsports Park), Madison, Illinois
Events/Circuits:
– U.S. Majors Tour Northeast Conference — Rounds Five and Six of 12
Pittsburgh International Race Complex; 19-turn, 2.8-mile circuit
– U.S. Majors Tour Mid-States Conference — Rounds Seven and Eight of 12
Circuit of St. Louis (formerly Gateway Motorsports Park); 1.65-mile road/oval layout
Practice: No Practice Scheduled for Either Event
Qualifying:
– Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Seven Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. morning qualifying sessions
Sunday: 15-min. morning qualifying sessions
– Circuit of St. Louis
Six Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. morning qualifying sessions
Sunday: 15-min. morning qualifying sessions
Races:
-Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Seven Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. afternoon races
Sunday: 18-lap or 35-min. late morning and afternoon races
-Circuit of St. Louis
Six Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. afternoon races
Sunday: 31-lap or 35-min. late morning and afternoon races
Live Timing and Notes: Live Timing & Scoring, lap notes and more via the SCCA® Pit Board are available for all sessions through http://www.scca.com/live.
Entry lists, full event schedules and more information available at http://www.sccamajors.com.
Photo: Spec Miata racers attack the Pittsburgh International Race Complex track in Wampum, Pennsylvania.
