Conference Finales — Both the Western Conference and Mid-States Conference wrap up their 2016 calendar with Fourth of July weekend events, the Western Conference at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon; and the Mid-States Conference at High Plains Raceway in Deer Trail, Colorado. This will bring to a close an exciting 12-round season for each league that saw drivers attacking six challenging racing circuits in each Conference schedule.
But It Ain’t Over Out West — A few Class Championships are still up for grabs in the Western Conference. In E Production, Kale Swifts has a one-point lead over Anthony Jimerson — and both are schedule to appear at this weekend’s SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at Portland International Raceway. And in Spec Racer Ford Gen3, John Black has a points lead on Todd Harris, but both are scheduled to be on track in Portland. The Formula F battle is tight, too, with Edward Erlandson and Charles Horn tied at 153 points. But only Erlandson is currently registered to race this weekend. Keep track of developments all weekend live online at http://www.scca.com/live.
Touring Tussle in Mid-States — The big battle during this weekend’s SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at High Plains Raceway will be in the Touring 3 Class. Robert Schader leads David Muramoto by one point, and they’re both on the T3 entry list for Colorado. Then in Super Touring Lite, Scott Bettinger is only 13 points behind Brian Laughlin, but Laughlin may not be running at High Plains. So this could very well be Bettinger’s chance to claim the STL Conference Championship. And Michael Pettiford looks to lock down two Conference Championships, one in Touring 1 and the other in Touring 2, at the weekend’s conclusion. See who does what live at http://www.scca.com/live.
Four Chances Remaining — When fireworks go off on July 4, three of the five SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conferences will have completed their racing for the year. The Southeast Conference crowned its Champions back in April, and the Western Conference and Mid-States Conference will be done. That leaves only four SCCA U.S. Majors Tour races remaining in 2016, and only four opportunities left to qualify for the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, presented by Garmin VIRB, which will take place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in September. There are also only two Conferences, the Northeast and Northern, that have yet to name Champions this year.
Western Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour; July 1-3: Portland International Raceway; Portland, Oregon
Mid-States Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour; July 2-3: High Plains Raceway; Deer Trail, Colorado
Events/Circuits:
– U.S. Majors Tour Western Conference — Rounds Eleven and Twelve of 12
Portland International Raceway; 12-turn, 1.97-mile circuit with chicane
– U.S. Majors Tour Mid-States Conference — Rounds Eleven and Twelve of 12
High Plains Raceway; 2.55-mile, 15-turn course
Practice:
– Portland International Raceway; Six Majors Groups
Friday: 20-min. morning practice sessions
– High Plains Raceway; Five Majors Groups
No Practice
Qualifying:
– Portland International Raceway; Six Majors Groups
Friday: 20-min. afternoon qualifying sessions
Saturday: 15-min. morning qualifying sessions
– High Plains Raceway; Five Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. morning qualifying sessions
Sunday: 15-min. morning qualifying sessions
Races:
– Portland International Raceway; Six Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. late morning/afternoon races
Sunday: 26-lap or 35-min. morning/afternoon races
– High Plains Raceway; Five Majors Groups
Saturday: 25-min. afternoon races
Sunday: 20-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.
Photo: Podium from earlier Western Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour race
In a small Eastern Kansas town, about an hour from the SCCA National Office, is a small lake. It was built in the mid-1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. The lake was surrounded by a road allowing visitors to access the water, parks, shelters, etc.
SCCA held its first race there in 1959, with 25,000 spectators attending. The track was not for the faint of heart; narrow roads, little runoff, stone bridges, and some very tight corners made for a dangerous driving experience. The following video shows a modern MG RV8 navigating the historic course.
The Lake Garnett track was all but forgotten by all except locals until a revival was started in 2013. Organized by numerous local vintage organizations, the event features racing, autocross, and a car show in early October.
Hooniverse put out an article in 2014 discussing the downfall and revival of Lake Garnett here.
More information on the Lake Garnett Revival Grand Prix can be found here.
Image: A driver starts a victory lap at an early Lake Garnett National Race
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Chevrolet Becomes Official Truck of Sports Car Club of America
Chevy Pickups Pull SCCA National Solo and RallyCross Program Across Country
The Sports Car Club of America announced a new relationship today with Chevrolet that provides critical support for several SCCA® competitive activities. Through this new agreement, Chevrolet becomes the “Official Truck of the Sports Car Club of America” and will provide the SCCA with multiple Silverado pickup trucks, the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickups on the road.
The legacy of dependability built by Chevrolet pickup trucks, which is partially responsible for the marque’s truck sales increase of 27 percent last year, will be called upon to execute the busy competition calendar of the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo® and National RallyCross programs, as well as the SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, presented by Garmin VIRB. Eric Prill, SCCA Vice President and COO, said the Silverados will be trusted with hauling three National Solo equipment trailers essential for the implementation of nearly 30 events this year, including the year-end Tire Rack Solo Nationals, presented by Garmin VIRB.
“We’re thrilled to form this new relationship with Chevrolet, and can’t wait to get the new Silverados on the road and to our top events,” Prill said. “The SCCA is not solely about sports cars. Trucks play a huge role in our members’ lives, whether it is towing a racecar, helping their business operate or serving as a family vehicle. We look forward to our partnership with Chevrolet.”
Each year, the National Solo program covers nearly 70,000 miles hauling equipment trailers to Championship Tour, Match Tour, ProSolo and RallyCross events. Those trailers, ranging from 20-feet to 28-feet long, weigh in between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds. Silverado is more than up to the task: with the 5.3L V-8, Silverado offers up to an EPA estimated 23 mpg highway, more than any V-8 pickup, ever; with the 6.2L V-8, Silverado offers 420-hp and up to 12,000 pounds of trailering capacity — both the highest of any V-8, light-duty pickup. That should come as good news to the more than 8,000 racers that compete at SCCA Solo and RallyCross meetings over the course of a year.
“Chevrolet is proud to partner with the SCCA as the Official Truck of the Sports Car Club of America, and are proud that the SCCA is counting on Chevrolet to haul its important equipment and vehicles from event to event,” said Jim Campbell, vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Chevrolet has a long history in performance and racing, and supports the efforts of SCCA racers from all over the country. Chevrolet also has a long history and tradition of building durable, long-lasting trucks that get the job done when pulling a trailer full of race cars, parts and equipment, which is why we’re excited about this partnership.”
About Chevrolet: Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks per year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at http://www.chevrolet.com.
About SCCA: The Sports Car Club of America, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 65,000-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. Headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and professional subsidiary. Learn more at http://www.scca.com.
If Texas ever secedes from the Union, autocross will still thrive in the Lone Star State. The Texas regions have come out in force to support their local Champ Tour in College Station. A majority of the 162 competitors are coming from the Texas regions.
As with most events, STR is the largest class based on participation with 17 drivers, and is dominated by the Honda S2000. Drivers who will be competing for trophies will include Ricky Crow, Kerry Coughlin, Landon Thompson, Michael Willman and Jeff Goji.
This season CS is shaping up to be a battle between the Scion FR-S and the new MX-5 Miata. It will be difficult for a FR-S to come out on top this weekend as some of the top drivers are in the Miata. Daniel McCelvey and Tyler Kvetko both have national level wins this year in CS. On top of that, Andy Hollis will be driving the new MX-5 as well.
In AS, everyone should be chasing David Hedderick, who had the largest margin of victory in class competition at the Mineral Wells ProSolo. But Hedderick is a cone magnet and that could leave the class wide open come Day 2.
The front runners in STS should include John Clark, Gerald Terranova, and Barry Booker. But Kim and David Whitener have registered in separate STS vehicles after being just .023 seconds apart in class competition at the Mineral Wells ProSolo in their usual STF Acura RSX. This weekend could provide some separation between the two and put pressure on the other STS competitors.
CP always has a good showing at College Station, this year 8 drivers are registered, but event organizer Todd Farris and co-driver Jeff Stroh suffered engine trouble and may need to find rides in other classes. Without Farris and the “Silver Mullet”, a 1979 Chevy Camaro, that will leave multi-time ESP National Champion Mark Madarash as a clear favorite. But don’t count out Chris Cargill and Wayne Adkins who are capable of putting down some quick times and taking the class this year.
BS is the home class for course designer Vivek Goel. Goel always seems to do well on his own courses and will likely take 1st in BS, as long as he can hold off Jerry Centanni and Jermey Foley. Look for him to really put his name on the course.
The only thing hotter than the forecast high temps this weekend in College Station will be the competition, so be sure to tune in and follow your favorites.
Who doesn’t love free tacos, free tires, and world class entertainment? The answer is “nobody, and once again at the 2016 Solo Nationals, Grassroots Motorsports magazine, The Lincoln Visitors Bereau, the SCCA and BFGoodrich team up to provide the Solo community with at least two of those things.
The Grassroots Motorsports Tacos and Talent show, with prizes by BFGoodrich once again takes to the outdoor stage on the concrete beach Monday evening September 5th to officially welcome everyone to the world’s largest motorsport event.
SCCA volunteers prepare delicious south-of-the-border cuisine and hand out the free beer and soft drinks, while JG Pasterjak from Grassroots Motorsport magazine takes the stage to showcase some of the hidden talents of the members of the solo community in an open-mic format. In addition to individual acts, there’s also game-show style competitions where SCCA Regions face off for prizes and bragging rights. BFGoodrich provides the swag for the evening, including a full set of tires for the audience’s favorite individual act.
Tacos and Talent is free to attend for any SCCA member, and it’s a great way to kick off everyone’s favorite week of autocrossing.
If you have an act you’d like to add to our list of talent, please email JG Pasterjak at [email protected]. We welcome any and all sorts of acts to the stage, but remember this is a family environment (not the Manson family).
Tacos and Talent takes place Monday evening, September 5th, 2016 at the community tent on-site at the Solo Nationals at Lincoln Airpark in Lincoln, Neb.
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