Whether they’re located in a tent, shed or garage, “Tech” workers are a dedicated group of volunteers that play a very, very important role over the course of SCCA race weekends.

Matt Wojtkowiak, a member of the South Jersey Region who is Tech Chief at this weekend’s SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at New Jersey Motorsports Park, has been a member of the SCCA for nearly 20 years and working Tech the last seven.  He said Tech is responsible for vehicle rulebook compliance for the various classes, and driver compliance when it comes to personal gear.

“We make sure drivers are compliant for their safety, and that the car is compliant for the class where it’s running,” Wojtkowiak said in summation.  “Some drivers think we’re out to disqualify them or keep them out of the race, but my attitude is to help drivers figure out what they need to do to race.”

As an example, Wojtkowiak — who has operated an auto repair shop for more than 40 years — said there have been times when members of his Tech team, called “Men in Black” for the dark clothing they wear head to toe, have gone out into the paddock and helped drivers work on cars so they are compliant and can enjoy their race weekend.

“We’re not looking to find out why you can’t race, we’re looking to find reasons to keep you in the game,” Wojtkowiak said. “Our mantra is that we’re here to assist the drivers.”

Joseph Hall, an SCCA member for more than 20 years from Cal Club, is actually working his first-ever weekend with Tech at New Jersey Motorsports Park.  He has a long history racing cars and has his own reasons for working Tech.

“I’m involved for the safety aspect of the whole thing,” Hall admitted.  “Safety all starts in Tech.  Racing can be dangerous.  But at Tech, we do things to make this a safer sport.  It’s up to the Tech family to make sure the drivers out on track are safe.  Plus, this Tech family here is the coolest.”

Part of that Tech family is, literally, family. Karl and Marge Iochum are a married couple who have been part of the SCCA for nearly 30 years, are proud members of the Philadelphia Region, and been working Tech since joining the Club.  But this duo actually fulfills two different roles within the Tech discipline.

“It’s a lot of fun using your thought process to solve problems.  You don’t grow stale and stay active,” Marge said. “Plus there’s friendship, comradery and it’s fun getting to meet people.”

Karl chimed in and added, “She handles the management side of Tech.  I just know cars, basically.  I’m into the engineering part of cars and addressing safety issues since I’ve been a racer.”

And in a racing family, Tech can also be an escape.

“Our son road raced,” Marge said.  “Sometimes he and his father would argue about the racecar.  When that happened, I’d just tell those two ‘I’m going to Tech.'”

Follow the racing action Saturday and Sunday from New Jersey Motorsports Park at http://www.scca.com/live.

This article first appeared in the November, 2015 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.

Stephanie Andersen
Milwaukee Region
SCCA member since 2010

“My first exposure to wheel-to-wheel racing was attending the June Sprints at Road America 10 years ago. I was there supporting my friend and didn’t know anything about SCCA Club Racing. That exhilarating moment of watching more than 60 Spec Miatas race into Turn 5 on the first lap really sparked something. The fact that every driver had to fight for position — even those at the back of the pack — was inspiring! Standing trackside, I never imagined I could be one of those drivers.

A few years later I had the crazy idea of borrowing a racecar and doing a track day. At that point I understood racing lines, what the flags meant, and felt comfortable on track. I didn’t, however, know how to drive a manual transmission, but I still completed the day in my fiancé’s Spec Miata. I was one of the slowest on track since I stayed in third gear the entire time. He held his breath in the passenger seat, as my instructor, probably more nervous than me! After that day, the idea of being a racer was starting to become real. I immediately started searching for my own Spec Miata. Within a few months, I owned my own racecar, learned how to drive a manual, and had a few more track days and autocrosses under my belt.

I received my competition license five years ago and competed at Regional races in Wisconsin, Illinois, South Carolina, and Alabama. After some podium finishes, racing door-to-door with the person who got me involved in racing, and earning the respect of many of my competitors, I decided to move up to competing in the U.S. Majors Tour.

It’s sentimental to me that my first Majors race was at the track that inspired my passion for racing, and this is why I decided to compete in the 2015 June Sprints. I was surrounded by so many racing friends and familiar faces, and I realized how great it is to be a part of this huge racing community.”

(Editor’s Note: Andersen has since progressed to the next phase of her racing career, behind the wheel of the isellmiataparts.com/Black Armor Helmets Mazda3 in Pirelli World Challenge’s TCB class. She is pictured in her debut weekend in the series at Road America.)

This Wednesday, July 27th at 3:00 PM Central we’ll be opening registration for Test and Tune sessions at this year’s Solo Nationals. Links to the individual test days will show up on the Solo Nationals event homepage. For any specific questions, please email the Solo Team.