Randy Pobst has done it all. It’s true; give him a quick google if you don’t believe it. He’s won more championships than most of us could ever dream of in SCCA Solo, Club Racing, and Pro Racing, won Rolexes (the real ones, Solo Street Tourers) and he was recently inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame. So what does someone so decorated and accomplished do for fun in his off-time?

Have fun driving cars, of course. That’s why he’s an SCCA member.

This summer season he’s been seen at a few Track Night in America events, taking some laps and meeting others who love driving just as much as he does. Most recently, Pobst participated in SCCA’s Bracket Enduro program in Florida.

“I happened to be in Florida and I knew about the event, so went over there and a couple of friends of mine let me drive their cars. That’s so easy for me. You can just walk up and race,” Pobst said of his experience.

To be clear, it’s not that exceptions were made for the SCCA Hall of Famer. It’s always that easy for anyone to participate in Bracket Enduro, Track Night, and now SCCA’s Targa as well. You know that mobile phone company commercial where the celebrity thinks they’re getting a deal, but they say it’s open to everyone? It’s that, except we actually mean it.

So, what does it take to hang with “regular guy” Randy Pobst? Sign up for SCCA’s inaugural Targa Southland, August 11-14.

Targa is a three-day SCCA motorsports extravaganza comprised of autocross, track, and road rally events in three different states in the southeast.

Never one to back down from a challenge, especially an endurance challenge, Randy Pobst grabbed a buddy and signed up.

“I’m excited because it’s a brand new thing,” Pobst said. “I’m doing it with a good friend of mine, Jason Owens. Jason and I have partnered up for a lot of these endurance races in a Volvo I have that’s called the Happy Moose. (editor’s note — yes, it has a Prancing Moose decal on it.)”

What aspect of Targa is the do-it-all most excited for? Not surprisingly, the element he hasn’t yet participated in.

“There’s a rally element and neither Jason nor I know anything about that,” Pobst said. “We’ll just try to wing it and see what happens there. It’s going to be an adventure and a challenge. It’s going to be difficult because we’re doing it in little car with minimal creature comforts.”

Minimal creature comforts, like no heated seats or cup holders, which will be standard in this three-day activity for licensed street cars? Not exactly.

“This car is called an Exocet. It’s basically a tube frame that you bolt Miata running gear to. There’s no top, windows, or doors… There’s a minimal wind screen.”

He’s got his motorcycle rain gear in case some weather comes his way, and the helmet he plans to wear the whole time should keep at least some of the bugs out of his face. It’s all part of what’s sure to be a great story.

After all the awards and trophies, Pobst seems to value the experience and camaraderie of these events the most.

“It’s the whole endurance aspect of doing all these car events all together over the whole weekend. It’s the variety, the challenge of doing and event, packing up, and heading off to do something else. It’s like an obstacle course for driving cars. To me, it sounds like a lot of fun!”

Always one of the last to leave the paddock, Pobst loves the social aspect of event almost as much as driving. Events like Bracket Enduro and Targa bring people who love not only watching motorsports, but experiencing them together. Pobst always leaves events having made many new friends from all over. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone having a better time on the track and in the paddock than Randy Pobst.

If you want to hang with Randy, the upcoming SCCA Targa event is a great opportunity. Just grab a partner and sign up for Targa Southland August 11-14!

Register here: https://www.scca.com/targa-registration-open/

Learn more here: https://www.scca.com/pages/scca-targa

Blytheville Competitors

With just a week separating Wilmington and Blytheville Pro Solos, the heat will be on again soon. Those competitors braving the summer heat and participating both events may have the edge with more seat time. Although registration numbers for Blytheville are less than half of last weekend’s event; the fun factor will certainly be as high.

The Street Tire classes are stacking up nicely with most competitors shoeing Bridgestone tires. In B Street we can expect some excellent driving from Brian Johns, Ed Fisher and Vivek Goel. C Street has ten entries with a good mix of seasoned and newer drivers. Chris Sparks has been on a roll but there’s a sleeper waking up to grab the wheel in Arnold Fuller. Eric Peterson and Stephen Lee will be back on line in E Street after both trophied in Wilmington. Look for more fireworks in that class. F Street also has two competitors from last weekend’s event; Dick Rasmussen and Matthew Grainger will be looking to improve their results this weekend.

Street Touring classes will have outstanding representation. STF will feature David and Kim Whitener in their Acura Type-S. STR is a healthy class and Jed Peterson will be trying to win again after taking that class last weekend. Mark McKnight is another returning competitor who trophied in STS but watch for Lee Chhit to challenge in that class.

What kind of action can we expect in SM and SSM? Look no further than Eric Hyman in his 2012 Nissan GT-R in SM and the twin threat of Randall Wilcox and Eric Anderson in the screaming SSM Miata. Fireworks indeed!

Entries in Street Prepared classes are a bit light except for SSP with a strong showing. Again, two competitors are doing back-to-back Pro Solos with Andy Hohl and Eric Stemler bringing their Corvettes to the tarmac.

Don’t forget the Ladies classes with some premier Pro Solo talent like Donna Marx, Jordan Towns, Tara Johns, Laura E. Harbour and Hilary Ann Anderson Frank. But the safe money is on Laura Campbell to take it all like she’s done so often this season.

All-in-all it’s a fine showing of the south’s best Soloists and promises to be super fun. Catch your breath! Hold on tight! Blytheville Pro Solo is on in just a few days!

If you’ve bought aftermarket wheels, you’ve probably used hub centric rings. They tend to inspire some extreme feelings among gearheads though. On All Cylinders, Summit’s Automotive Blog, investigated the when and why for using then.

As general rules, Summit recommends using hub centric rings with all aftermarket aluminum wheels. You should not use them with factory wheels, steel wheels, any wheel with a push-through center cap, or any wheel with a non-machined center bore.

Plastic rings are ideal for street cars that tend to see harsher weather while metal rings are better for race cars and other vehicles that see higher operating temperatures.

To read the full story and get all the facts on hub centric wheels, click here.