TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 15, 2015) – A new high-water mark was set last week for the Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals Presented by Garmin VIRB, the largest motorsports event in the world. With each driver who turned a wheel on course accounted for, a new total of 1,228 competitors surpassed the record set in the 2007 event, held at Heartland Park Topeka, by 71 entrants.
Since 2009, the Tire Rack Solo Nationals have been held at the Lincoln (Neb.) Airpark with plans to keep it at that location through beyond 2020. Keeping the massive event at the same competition site and during the same time during the year has allowed the community of Lincoln to embrace it with open arms. The benefits are more than just circumstantial, and can be measured via hard evidence.
“This SCCA National Championship event is vitally important to the community of Lincoln,” Dereck Feyerherm, Director of Sales and Operations for the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau said. “When looking at the National Championships, and the ProSolo Finale that leads to it, we are talking about a $3 million impact throughout the week. That includes everything from competitors purchasing fuel, lodging and food to SCCA staff members who purchase items to support the event.
“While the National Championships are certainly the marquee event throughout the year, we also have a year-round relationship with SCCA where we have worked with them to bring a Solo National Tour event to the airpark during the middle of summer.”
While the community is pleased with the record attendance, SCCA is also very happy with the growth of one of its three National Championship events run by the National Office. The continued expansion of the program coincides with recent increase in membership of the Club.
“SCCA Solo is an extremely important part of the Club, from a competition aspect,” Howard Duncan, Senior Director of Rally and Solo, said. “It offers an affordable stage for those people interested in getting involved in motorsports in a hands-on way. Instead of a prospective member needing to invest the time and money to convert a production-based car into a car that can safely compete on a closed circuit, they can compete with a car that is driven daily on city streets. From there, a racer has the option to invest subsequent resources into their racecar.
“Lowering the barriers to entry in motorsports is one of the ways we can ensure long-term health of the industry. By getting folks behind the wheel in a safe, cost-effective and competitive environment, it becomes easier to explain why we do what we do.”
Aside from bringing SCCA members to the area, the Club has positioned itself as a strategic partner for the city of Lincoln. The experience with SCCA has opened doors to other facets of the automotive industry.
“If it were not for our relationship with SCCA, we would not have been able to bring one of three Formula SAE competitions to Lincoln,” Feyerherm said. “By utilizing our contacts and experience with SCCA, we were able to bring that highly-respected engineering competition to Lincoln. With that being such an important learning and development tool for students interested in a career in the automotive industry, it gives those of us here in Lincoln a chance to show off our top-notch collegiate institution, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as technological acumen of our community.
“In dealing with the SCCA staff members, including Howard , Deena , Sandi , Brian and Clancy , the experience has been nothing but positive. Having such an easy-going group has made for a very easy and open working relationship between our organizations.”
The closing event of the SCCA National Championship season is right around the corner. The SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB at Daytona International Speedway, will run Sept. 21-27. Four days of qualifying will precede three days of racing to crown 28 new National Champion drivers.
Image: SCCA Solo racers braved the rain to run for a National Championship at Lincoln.
Credit: Rupert Berrington
