The intrinsic value of land spiked this morning in Lexington, Ohio, as competitor registration opened for the 2016 SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, presented by Garmin VIRB, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
When dawn broke, the paddock within Mid-Ohio was just peaceful, open land. But at 9am Central Time when Runoffs online registration opened, that space was suddenly segmented into plots no larger than 80’X50′ — and became the most valuable acreage anywhere in the United States to many SCCA Club racers who will call that square “home” for a week or two later in September.
Within the first 90 minutes of registration being open, 300 drivers had already made their intentions clear that they would be competing in the 2016 Runoffs at Mid-Ohio. By sunset, that number had grown to almost 400 competitors. That is a marked increase to the 310 racers that registered on the first day for the 2015 Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway. As of Tuesday, July 26, registration has bloomed to almost 500 competitors overall. And for those that haven’t yet registered but plan to compete in this year’s Runoffs, there’s still plenty of time to file entries online.
This year’s 53rd running of the annual SCCA National Championships marks a return to Mid-Ohio’s 13-turn, 2.258-mile road circuit that twists its way through Central Ohio. The Runoffs were last held there in 2005 when the SCCA closed a 12-year Runoffs residency at the venue. But the winner-take-all National Championship is back, and all 28 Runoffs-eligible classes will have 23-lap races from Sept. 23-25, rain or shine, to claim victory and bragging rights.
Make plans now to attend the 2016 SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, presented by Garmin VIRB. Racing fans would be hard pressed to find a better weekend of motorsport competition anywhere in the world.
Beautiful Pittsburgh International Race Complex was the location this past weekend for the final SCCA Match Tour event of the year, the Tire Rack Heavy Metal Showdown. The sterling venue, which has had a major makeover in the last few years to update both the racing surface and infrastructure, played host to more than 120 soloists over three days.
Classic American Muscle Sport witnessed intense competition as John Laughlin went into Saturday afternoon runs with a target on his back. Laughlin showed up to the event in a bone-stock car, having just bought the vehicle. But by his first run Saturday, he had an almost fully prepped car due to help from competitors. He was sitting in first with a .3-second lead over Larry Casey. The afternoon runs flipped the story as Casey crossed the finish on his final run with a 48.4, .7 second faster than Laughlin and enough to seal the win in CAM-S.
In Super Touring Xtreme, the Saturday morning runs revealed a battle between Matt Jones and Kyle Herbst, two drivers very familiar with one another. Jones laid down an early lead over Herbst, only for the standings to switch after second runs. On Herbst’s third run, he extended his lead to .6 seconds after a 49-flat turn at the wheel. Afternoon runs in STX had a similar outcome and Herbst claimed victory.
C Street Prepared showed another tight battle for trophy spots. The Saturday morning runs shuffled positions throughout with many drivers nicking cones with front splitters. Joseph Brennan nabbed an early lead and held it for his second run at 47.3 seconds. But Danny Kao cleaned up his drive on a final run and grabbed a 47.1 in his ’99 NB named “Oscar.” During the afternoon runs, Kao was able to retain his morning lead, ultimately claiming the win.
With Saturday’s competition wrapped up and more than 20 winners crowned, focus shifted Sunday to qualifying and the Challenges. Sam Strano laid down a 46.2 to take the top qualifier position in heat one, but decided to pass on competing in the challenge, thus bumping the following 16 drivers into the brackets. In heat three, Martin Valent managed his infamous MR2 to a blisteringly quick 45.5 to take the top qualifying spot.
As Top Dog bracket racing began, times began to drop and drivers were breaking out past their dial-ins from earlier. In heat three, Danny Kao was able to fend off all others to move on to the final, three-way battle. Heat two’s bracket winner was Gregory Vincent driving his yellow, B Street Honda S2000. Matt Jones was the victor in heat one. In their three-way battle, tensions were high. The timing displays were switched off and the announcer did not share times as each competitor crossed the line. The first one to cross was Matt Jones. He had been consistently going faster with each bracket pairing, but also steadily decreasing his dial-in. He powered across the finish with a clean, solid run. Next across was Vincent, and like a crisp bolt of lightning, also finished with a clean run. For the final run, all eyes were on Danny Kao. On the second-to-last turn, Kao got on the power heading towards the finish and spun. The announcer then declared aloud that Matt Jones had won the Top Dog Challenge with a 48.2 run.
Moving to the Lucky Dog Challenge, Megan DePietro first fought off Matt Parson in his XP V8 Miata. The next competitor was Sara Odioso, who just nicked a cone on the back slalom. In the final bracket, DePietro faced off with Lloyd Willis in his MINI, but Megan prevailed and piloted her beautiful Nitrous Blue RS through to the finish closer to her dial-in, and winning the Lucky Dog bracket.
The final bracket on Sunday afternoon was the Under Dog Challenge. Kyle Herbst emerged victorious from the first heat bracket, Chett Wohlgamuth from the second, and Andrew Merrow from the third. Merrow went on to win the Under Dog challenge with a clean and fast run.
Full results can be found at the Tire Rack Heavy Metal Showdown webpage. On a weekend when even a spur-of-the-moment Class was created Saturday to accommodate five drivers competing in brand-new Ford Focus RSs, the 2016 Match Tour season concluded. Many solo drivers now set their sights on September’s Tire Rack Solo Nationals, presented by Garmin VIRB. For additional information about SCCA Solo, visit http://www.scca.com/solo.
Words: Daniel Gross
Image: Solo drivers ended the SCCA Match Tour season at Pittsburgh International Race Complex during the Tire Rack Heavy Metal Showdown.
Can you, your car and your friends join in on SCCA Targa? That depends — Do you like cars, driving, partying and having fun with people? If yes, then Targa is indeed targeted toward you!
August 11-14, the Sports Car Club of America will hold its first Targa shindig, named Targa Southland. This jamboree caravan will combine Track Night, Solo and Road Rally adventures with a roving party. The automotive festivity begins at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the party train travels along to Atlanta Motorsports Park, then Chattanooga, Tennessee, and finally on to NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
But perhaps you have a half-dozen questions. If so, then here’s a half-dozen answers:
Q): Can anyone do Targa?
A): Yes!! Anyone can do SCCA Targa!! Each “team” needs at least one licensed driver with a state-issued, I can drive on everyday roads, driver’s license. Beyond that, we’d suggest someone who could plausibly read a map and navigate. The rest of the “team” can be anyone. Your kids too old to leave at home or they’ll throw a raging party at the house? Yup, bring them — for sure — to SCCA Targa.
Q): Does SCCA Targa have a “social” aspect?
A): Yes! … SCCA Targa IS ALL ABOUT bonding with friends, a spouse, family members and complete strangers! We mentioned there was a welcome party and a car show, right? And there’s an option to participate in scheduled cook-outs for the supercheap, meal-plan price of only $40 that offers perhaps slightly burnt meats off a grill during lunches and dinners.
Q): Is SCCA Targa a team sport?
A): Why wouldn’t you haul party people along on the party train? Yes, this is a team sport! Rules and Regs require at least two people be on each team and in the car for the Road Rally and each transit. Team participants can split up driving per “specialists” across various automotive disciplines.
Q): Do I have to compete?
A): Nope, you don’t have to “compete.” SCCA Targa has seven competition classes, but there are also experiential groups (Novice/Intermediate/Advanced) for those that want to hammer down on fun and enjoy the ride without complications.
Q): I’ve never done anything like this before. Is that OK?
A): We’ve never done anything like this, either! That’s why this is the “first” SCCA Targa. But this Club has done a lot … I mean A LOT … of automotive stuff before. So, there’s no problem. Targa has a built-in “Novice Experience” just for newbies like you. Heck, since this is the first ever SCCA Targa, everyone is a newbie!!
Q): I’ve got a car and know someone else who has a car. Can we both do SCCA Targa?
A): As long as you have keys to the cars, legally, here’s the score: Vehicles must be street legal and wider than they are tall. Convertibles are a tad more complex, so check out the rules here.
Q): Do participants need to be SCCA members?
A): Nope, but they’ll be SCCA members before starting Targa. They’ll get a dirt-cheap membership at just $50, and the troublemakin’ teens get a free membership.
Targa Southland is just the beginning. Future Targa’s will be designed and adapted from this first event. If you want to help fashion future SCCA Targa events — while having a blast with cars and partying all along the way — we hope you’d join this first fun run.
Last one to sign up gets the burnt hamburgers and hotdogs!
