The partnership between the Sports Car Club of America™ and Tire Rack is one of the most visible and enduring relationships in amateur motorsports. Built on a shared commitment to motorsport enthusiasts, a collaboration that began in 1995 has grown into a comprehensive support system that touches nearly every level of SCCA® driver and competition.
In 2000, the partnership got more serious. That year, SCCA and Tire Rack brought together three of the Club’s premier Solo® disciplines (the Solo National Championships, Solo National Tour, and ProSolo® Series) under a single banner: the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo program. This move created a cohesive identity for autocross competition at the National level, while cementing Tire Rack’s role as a central supporter of the sport.
For Tire Rack, the partnership was a natural extension of its origins. Founded more than four decades ago, the company built its reputation by serving the Solo community with a carefully curated lineup of tires, wheels, suspension components, and braking systems. By stepping in as SCCA Solo’s title sponsor, Tire Rack built itself into the definitive place for SCCA members to fulfill their tire needs.
In 2013, the relationship deepened once more when Tire Rack was named the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. That designation expanded its presence beyond Solo competition and into broader programming.
“Tire Rack’s support of the SCCA has enabled the Club to grow its offerings throughout the years far beyond what would have been possible otherwise, giving enthusiasts more opportunities to have fun with their cars,” said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. “Year after year, this multi-decade partnership continues to deliver value for all involved, helping expand motorsports participation and enhancing experiences.”
The relationship between Tire Rack and SCCA continues to this day, with Tire Rack recently extending its agreement to continue to support a multitude of programs within the SCCA.
“Tire Rack and the SCCA have always been a perfect match,” said Woody Rogers, Tire Rack’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and an SCCA member since 1989. “We’re proud to help people have fun with cars, and SCCA members are the heart of our loyal community. There’s no better way for us to give back than by fueling the incredible events and activities this partnership brings to life.”
Elevating Solo Through Event Sponsorship
Tire Rack’s influence is perhaps most visible across SCCA’s Solo landscape, where it serves as presenting sponsor for a wide range of autocross programs.
The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour brings autocrossers to venues across the country, offering a proving ground for drivers seeking elevated events and competition. Alongside it, the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Series adds a unique twist with its head-to-head, drag-race-style starts, blending precision driving with reaction-time intensity.
Complementing these flagship competitions is the Tire Rack SCCA Shootout, which showcases top talent in a high-stakes, bracket-style format.
At the pinnacle sits the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships, where more than 1,000 of the nation’s best autocrossers converge to compete for top honors and a highly coveted SCCA National Championship jacket.
Equally important is Tire Rack’s support of entry-level participation through the Tire Rack SCCA Starting Line® Schools. This program introduces newcomers to autocross fundamentals, helping grow the sport by lowering barriers to entry and building driver confidence from day one.
Expanding into Time Trials and Track Night
Tire Rack’s involvement extends into SCCA’s Time Trials and Track Day ecosystem. Events like the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge and the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack National Championship give drivers the opportunity to push their limits in a controlled, competitive environment.
Furthermore, Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack continues to serve as one of SCCA’s most accessible track programs. Designed for drivers of all skill levels, Track Night offers a low-pressure environment to experience road courses without the intensity of lap timing. Tire Rack reinforces this partnership by providing SCCA members with a $25 coupon toward Track Night events as part of their SCCA membership renewal benefits.
Road Racing Recognition
In SCCA’s Road Racing arena, Tire Rack’s presence is highlighted through the Tire Rack Pole Awards at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs®. These awards recognize top qualifiers across all Runoffs classes, celebrating excellence in one of amateur racing’s most prestigious events.
Beyond the recognition, Tire Rack also presents Tire Rack Pole Award winners with prizes for use at tirerack.com.
Investing in Safety and the Future
Tire Rack’s commitment goes beyond competition into community safety and driver education.
While not exclusively an SCCA program, some SCCA Regions choose to host Tire Rack Street Survival program events, which focus on teaching young drivers car control and hazard awareness in real-world scenarios. Supported in part by the SCCA Foundation and local SCCA Regions, the initiative reflects a shared investment in safer roads and more informed drivers, showcasing how Tire Rack’s and SCCA’s priorities perpetually overlap.
A Partnership That Drives the Community
The result is a partnership that fuels passion, fosters skill development, and keeps the spirit of amateur motorsports thriving.
“From National Championships to first-time driving experiences, Tire Rack’s involvement with the SCCA is broad and deeply integrated,” Cobb added. “Through its commitment to the sport and the SCCA, Tire Rack helps sustain and grow amateur motorsports in the United States. This partnership has brought far more to the table than we could have ever anticipated, and we’re excited to see where the future takes us.”
For more information about Tire Rack, head to tirerack.com.
Photo by Chris Yoder
An impressive 153 people are celebrating a milestone anniversary with the Sports Car Club of America™ this month! That means there are 153 people who are celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65 years with the SCCA®. That’s a lot of #funwithcars. Let’s take a look at what was happening 60 and 65 years ago, when seven of those milestone anniversary members first joined the Club.
The year was 1961, and during the same month that now-65-year member Alan March joined the SCCA, the Club hosted the Cumberland National Races in Cumberland, MD. There, Mark Donohue won the E Production race piloting an Elva Courier – this was the year that Donohue won his one and only SCCA National Championship title. It could be said that 1961 was the year that put Donohue on the map.
Who else was at that May 1961 race? Don Yenko! He (of course) was piloting a Corvette, which he took to victory in the B and C Production race group. Back then, Yenko-edition cars didn’t exist, though customers of his family’s Chevy dealership could certainly buy cars modified by Yenko and his mechanics.
Onto 1966, when members Bruce Brunner, Penny Choice, Carl A. Liebich, Forrest Louden Minor, Robert G. O’Connor, and Orval R. Turley joined the SCCA. That same month, appearing in the May 1966 issue of SCCA’s SportsCar® magazine was an extensive feature celebrating the life of Walt Hansgen, who had passed away just the month prior during testing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Later in that issue appeared coverage of the Marlboro Nationals, hosted by Washington DC Region. That pictorial of the race weekend included images of Bob Tullius on his way to victory in his (of course) No. 44 D Production Triumph.
Now that’s a trip through history! But don’t think for a moment that the glory years aren’t still taking place. Today, during every SCCA event, we compete against tomorrow’s motorsports legends – we just don’t necessarily know who those legends are yet.
The anniversary listing below notes each member’s name, Region of record, Division, and join/rejoin date. It’s important to point out that join dates for 1981 and earlier may list the first of the month rather than the actual day of membership.
25-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Alan Bloom, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/1/2001
George T Bonafede, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/10/2001
Robert J Bradley, Steel Cities Region, NE, 5/22/2001
Andrew C Buck, Central Kentucky Region, GL, 5/1/2001
Thomas M Cindrich, St Louis Region, MW, 5/21/2001
Philip W Cornell, Glen Region, NE, 5/1/2001
Austin Cripe, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/25/2001
Jeffrey T Cripe, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/25/2001
Susannah Cripe, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/25/2001
James R Crum, Southern West Virginia Region, GL, 5/8/2001
Stephen Curtis, Utah Region, RM, 5/8/2001
John G Daly, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/3/2001
Julie Dormandy, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/24/2001
Steve Eftimiou, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/30/2001
Phil Eglin, Arizona Region, SP, 5/9/2001
Don Eisinger, St Louis Region, MW, 5/21/2001
Kevin Elion, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/29/2001
Austin Fairfield, Chicago Region, CN, 5/8/2001
Eric Fairfield, Chicago Region, CN, 5/8/2001
Nicholas Fairfield, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/8/2001
Tamara Fairfield, Chicago Region, CN, 5/8/2001
Brian S Hagler, Neohio Region, GL, 5/22/2001
Dennis Hand, South Jersey Region, NE, 5/22/2001
Robert Jacobson, Oregon Region, NP, 5/3/2001
Don Jaynes, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/29/2001
Mike Kelly, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/9/2001
Matt Kessler, New England Region, NE, 5/22/2001
Todd Kunze, Northwestern Ohio Region, GL, 5/11/2001
Michael S Lacombe, Buccaneer Region, SE, 5/3/2001
Deborah Langdon, Finger Lakes Region, NE, 5/14/2001
Thomas Langdon, Finger Lakes Region, NE, 5/15/2001
Bob Lindsay, Chicago Region, CN, 5/25/2001
Edward C Morfe, Houston Region, SW, 5/1/2001
Phil Munoz, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/9/2001
Suzi Munoz, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/9/2001
Catia Olson, Oregon Region, NP, 5/22/2001
Mindy Pang, Northern New Jersey Region, NE, 5/8/2001
Mike Pepitone, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/10/2001
Donna M Porter, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/30/2001
Chris James Puskar, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 5/8/2001
Daniel R Puskar, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 5/8/2001
Theresa C Schneiderheinze, New England Region, NE, 5/1/2001
Dennis Sirois, Ohio Valley Region, GL, 5/9/2001
J.R. Smart, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/10/2001
Eric J Smith, Mohawk-Hudson Region, NE, 5/29/2001
Richard A Spencer, New England Region, NE, 5/10/2001
Alan Steel, New England Region, NE, 5/15/2001
Jerry D Strope, Indianapolis Region, GL, 5/21/2001
Rich Teal, Mohawk-Hudson Region, NE, 5/30/2001
John D Waldbaum, Nebraska Region, MW, 5/31/2001
Natha A Waldbaum, Nebraska Region, MW, 5/31/2001
Kenneth O Walters, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/16/2001
30-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Rudy W Avalon, Oregon Region, NP, 5/9/1996
Jennifer Bradford, Neohio Region, GL, 5/2/1996
John A Cerini, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/2/1996
Tom Daly, Land O’Lakes Region, CN, 5/14/1996
Cliff A Ebben, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/29/1996
Sherman I Egge, Oregon Region, NP, 5/9/1996
Donald R Elzinga, Jr., Detroit Region, GL, 5/9/1996
Michael K Grady, Chicago Region, CN, 5/9/1996
Douglas Harvey, Saginaw Valley Region, GL, 5/9/1996
David L Hedderick, Houston Region, SW, 5/20/1996
Karin Hornkohl, Arizona Border Region, SP, 5/29/1996
Patrick Kernahan, Detroit Region, GL, 5/9/1996
David B Mailhot, New England Region, NE, 5/7/1996
Lisa McCaulley, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/16/1996
Scott Petersen, Kansas City Region, MW, 5/15/1996
Owen T Schefer, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/2/1996
Scott T Schmidt, Kansas Region, MW, 5/23/1996
Charles S Stratton, Buccaneer Region, SE, 5/29/1996
Kevin K Taylor, Detroit Region, GL, 5/23/1996
Jim Zeisler, Cincinnati Region, GL, 5/22/1996
35-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
April Gnadt, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/16/1991
Renee Gnadt, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/16/1991
Gary M Godula, Detroit Region, GL, 5/16/1991
Jimmy Griggs, Land O’Lakes Region, CN, 5/16/1991
Steven R Hays, Arizona Region, SP, 5/16/1991
Mark E Langren, Land O’Lakes Region, CN, 5/23/1991
David Larson, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/20/1991
Robert P Logsdon, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/31/1991
John Mustonen, Blackhawk Valley Region, CN, 5/16/1991
Robert Newberg, Blackhawk Valley Region, CN, 5/17/1991
Joseph C Parsons, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, NE, 5/9/1991
Lisa E Pitarresi, Oregon Region, NP, 5/16/1991
G Hayden Reynolds Jr., New England Region, NE, 5/15/1991
Ian Ronshausen, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/23/1991
Douglas Leroy Ruthroff, Arizona Region, SP, 5/30/1991
Charles Rutter, Detroit Region, GL, 5/7/1991
Joanna Rutter, Detroit Region, GL, 5/7/1991
Susan J Ryan, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, NE, 5/20/1991
Scott Segers, Texas Region, SW, 5/13/1991
Virginia Smith, Cal Club Region, SP, 5/30/1991
Wayne W Smith, Cal Club Region, SP, 5/30/1991
Dick Sorenson, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/23/1991
Jill Sugar, Cal Club Region, SP, 5/16/1991
Fred Van Wagenen, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/9/1991
40-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Michael Ahrens, Misery Bay Region, NE, 5/2/1986
Sarah Bonnier, New England Region, NE, 5/13/1986
Jessie J Broadway, Atlanta Region, SE, 5/15/1986
Dominic Cagliostro, Rio Grande Region, RM, 5/14/1986
Augustus T Dorman, Blue Mountain Region, NE, 5/7/1986
Patty Doughty, Arizona Region, SP, 5/22/1986
John W Dubbs III, Chicago Region, CN, 5/12/1986
James A Eslaire, Western Michigan Region, GL, 5/7/1986
Kerry Foote, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/30/1986
Ricky Freeman, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/5/1986
Charles W Friend, Pan American Region, RM, 5/30/1986
Liz Gauper, Oklahoma Region, MW, 5/1/1986
James H Heine, St Louis Region, MW, 5/12/1986
Karyn Culligan Hudson, Atlanta Region, SE, 5/14/1986
Lynne Humphrey, Ohio Valley Region, GL, 5/5/1986
Mark W Irwin, Eastern Tennessee Region, SE, 5/1/1986
Jon Jamieson, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/29/1986
Gail C Ketchie, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 5/7/1986
Shirley M Klutsenbaker, Buccaneer Region, SE, 5/7/1986
Dan I Kraft, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/29/1986
Thomas J Ragonetti, Colorado Region, RM, 5/14/1986
Jim Roberts, Blackhawk Valley Region, CN, 5/29/1986
Robert R. Silvestro, San Diego Region, SP, 5/13/1986
Daniel G Soiney, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/1/1986
Nancy Urso, Atlanta Region, SE, 5/30/1986
Karen S Walke, Chicago Region, CN, 5/5/1986
Gurdon S Wattles, New England Region, NE, 5/30/1986
R James Welz, Central Florida Region, SE, 5/13/1986
David L Whikehart, Florida Region, SE, 5/14/1986
Eldon John Zacek Jr., Central Carolinas Region, SE, 5/14/1986
45-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
James Michael Bradley, Fort Wayne Region, GL, 5/1/1981
James D Brown III, New England Region, NE, 5/1/1981
Nadine Camicia, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/1/1981
Paul Derov, Neohio Region, GL, 5/1/1981
Theresa L Dobbs, Glen Region, NE, 5/1/1981
Frederick A Greenland, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/1/1981
Patrick Jeffords, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/1/1981
Ruth Wolf, Philadelphia Region, NE, 5/1/1981
50-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Al Berardi, New England Region, NE, 5/1/1976
Donald C Caldwell Jr., Washington DC Region, NE, 5/1/1976
Nancy Osolkowski, Western New York Region, NE, 5/1/1976
Gerald Sheehe, New England Region, NE, 5/1/1976
Steven C Soenke, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/1/1976
55-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Jonathon R Becker, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/1/1971
Mark H Brakke, Land O’Lakes Region, CN, 5/1/1971
Peter F Brohl, Northern New Jersey Region, NE, 5/1/1971
Stephen C Butz, Indianapolis Region, GL, 5/1/1971
Tom M Dickmann, New York Region, NE, 5/1/1971
Helga Meyer, Chicago Region, CN, 5/1/1971
Jim Taylor, Northern New Jersey Region, NE, 5/1/1971
60-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Bruce Brunner, San Francisco Region, NP, 5/1/1966
Penny Choice, Chicago Region, CN, 5/1/1966
Carl A Liebich, Milwaukee Region, CN, 5/1/1966
Forrest Louden Minor, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/1/1966
Robert G O’Connor, Washington DC Region, NE, 5/1/1966
Orval R Turley, Detroit Region, GL, 5/1/1966
65-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Alan B Marsh, Chicago Region, CN, 5/1/1961
