There are as many reasons to go to the Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals as there are people who go.  Most of these can be filtered into Howard Duncan's three Cs of Competition, Camaraderie and Community, but each of us has our own perspectives.  To gain a bit more on those perspectives, we asked for the thoughts of celebrated champions, embattled trophies chasers, past event organizers, cone shaggers, announcers,  first timers, retuning veterans and even Dick Berger.  Feel free to add your own Nationals perspective in the comments at the bottom and tell us, why do you go? Dick Berger I go to nationals (now) for the social side – having competed all over the country, I know people in a lot of areas.  My SCCA family has been the only constant; when we moved to the Atlanta area for my wife’s job – she knew her co-workers – I knew no one. Wearing nationals shirts always gets comments from newbies or novices. I miss the dash plaques that were given out (does that peg my age???) Still have all the d/plaques that were given out, plus a few other items from later years. Having a car that is no longer nationally competitive has removed the “gotta win” from my thinking, but going to nationals is the first priority when scheduling vacations or even family events (I have missed BOTH of one sister’s weddings as they were on divisional weekends) And the CP party is (do kids today say it’s sick or the bomb?) a “don’t miss” event within the event… That said, owning a car that has won 5 national championships (even if I have NEVER won a nationals trophy) will keep me bringing the blue car back again…(my entry is already in – is yours?) Jeff Kiesel For me Nationals is the single most important event besides family events.  Our family plans everything happening that time of year around Nationals.  I often find myself counting down the weeks/months till the next Solo Nationals in preparation for this amazing event.  I take each and every autocross I race at very serious but the fact is they are just practice events for the Big Event.  Not only is it the best competition but it is great to see our friends from other regions.  Some of my closest friends have come from this amazing sport, I love it and I am hooked for life. Roger “The Real” Johnson I go to Nationals to spend some time with my 1,200 closest friends. While I am there I will compete in my car, but for me it is more the social aspect of things.  Even the trip up to Lincoln from Houston is more fun when I travel in a caravan of Houston hardcores.  I look forward to seeing the creative things that my peers do – the tent in paddock full of couches from last year, or the Austin Beer Gardens, or the CP Party/Parade/antics, gas powered margarita blenders, etc.  I really enjoy rooting for my friends when they are competing – and it is truly incredible when I get to compete in a class of 60 cars.  I can say I truly miss going to Nationals when I cannot.  Nationals can be a lot of work for me, but it is work I enjoy.  Designing courses, chairing the event, serving as an event Chief, creating the artwork, working on the committees, laying out site maps for the new grids, impound, paddocks and test n tune courses would be seriously hard work for my regular paying job – but somehow these tasks are just easier when it is work benefiting 1,200 of your closest friends… Tom O’Gorman Six thousand and ninety two. That is the number of miles I traveled last year across 13 states to compete in SCCA National Tour and ProSolo events. Now, let me be the first to tell you that 6092 miles is enough to stretch a college student’s budget pretty thin, and every single one of those miles was traveled to prepare myself for Solo Nationals. Nationals represents a gateway into a future of motorsports for me, so in the weeks preceding, my mind is spinning with the possibilities of glory and failure. But, oddly, when I arrive on site, all of those thoughts of heated competition and the grandeur of victory evaporate. Not because I lose hope in the competition or because I realize I’m stuck on this slab of concrete in the middle of a cornfield for the next 10 days with the hot sun or pouring rain beating down on me. It’s because I show up and literally hundreds of people are there to greet me and share the same passion for this sport that I have. It’s often the only time in a year that I will see many of these people, some of them who I consider my closest friends, and somehow that takes over everything else that may have been in my mind. So I tell myself, ‘I traveled 6092 miles last year so that I was ready to show up Nationals and be a contender,’ but I think the community is real reason any of us make the pilgrimage to concrete Mecca. Andy Hohl Since the first time I attended Nationals back in the 90's, I find myself drawn back to the event every year. 1200 kindred autocrossing souls, the friends I get to see once a year, the great displays of driving/sportsmanship and workmanship on the vehicles plus the chance to compete against the best are but a few of the reasons I attend. Though since 9/11, during the years that the anniversary of that horrific, historic event occurs during Nationals, I find comfort in being at Nationals with the other autocrossers as much as the other reasons I attend this event. Charlie Davis 30 appearances so far.  Only 3 trophies.  No Championships.  Isn't the Nationals about trying to win a National Championship?  Sometimes.  Other times it's about the challenge of driving something you've never driven and trying for a trophy.  At one time in the '80's, I was one of the guys whose name sometimes showed up as a contender in CSP or DS.  I'm now one of the darkest of horses. Competition has gotten much tougher.  Programs across the country have started producing incredible talent.  I know that I'm not an "A" driver. I can instruct people, help them to go faster, and I know what to do on the track.  But I can't always make it happen in my own driving.  I can't jump in anything and immediately go fast in it, and I can't make the most out of any ill-handling beast.  I need to learn a car, and I need to like the way it handles.  I need my sleep, I need to be in a good mental place and all the stars have to align properly for me to trophy.    That doesn't come together very often.  But through divorces, broken hearts, job losses, low paying jobs, health issues and anything else that comes my way, autocrossing is there for me and most of the time it's one of the most enjoyable parts of my life. I love the humor.  From dry to sarcastic, self-deprecating to slapstick, the humor in and around autocross, and especially the Nationals, is a joy.  There have been talent show skits, I was second one year and won it the next.  There have been "Joke-offs" where we just kept 'em coming one after another.  There was a lazy morning on September 12th, 2001 where we sat in a pancake house in Topeka with Grady Wood and told racing stories because there was nothing else to do.  We had no idea whether we were going back to Forbes Field that week, or packing up and going home.  We were saddened by the losses of thousands of lives, but stories of autocrossers' and racers' antics over the years kept us smiling and laughing.  And when we went back to Forbes to finish it off on Thursday and Friday, we all pitched in and "got 'er done."  Cars were leaving the line every 15 seconds.  Announcers were giving the times at auctioneer pace.  I got into a "lining the course race" where the guy on the inside would go into the lead, then the other would.  We ended up laughing hysterically.  The camaraderie and humor.  Yeah, that's a big part of it... Scott Minehart Nationals is the one week of year where nothing else matters.  The one week when I get to be with my friends from all around the country that share a deep passion for cars, competition, grilled food, and beer.  I see more of my own family at nationals then I do at Christmas or any other holiday.  This just tops off the fact that we get to drive on the best courses against the best drivers.  EM is such a rare breed in the southeast that it's the one time I get to truly go head to head with competition.  Even after you add up all the hard work in preparation, tires, gas, hotels, and food, it's always worth it. Per Schroeder 2011 will be my 17th consecutive Nationals—once I started going in 1995, I've never stopped. Since I started working at Grassroots Motorsports in 1999, I have been the face of GRM at Nats, with varied responsibilities—writing, marketing, photography, manning the subscription booth—but the trip always seems to transcend work.  It's like a class reunion, Christmas and a birthday rolled into one.  I measure years passing by my nationals trips, and so do many of my friends. The trick for me is always to relax.  It's so easy to count the days up to the event, make lists of everything that you need to bring and do, and generally get totally stressed out about the whole process—only to get to my six short runs and drive like an idiot.  I've made that trip back from Kansas and Nebraska with a dark cloud over my head more than I care to admit.  You simply can't treat it like a local event—but if you don't drive it like one—you'll always psych yourself out.  Don't worry about the weather, the wind or the competition—just drive your best. Hilary Anderson SCCA Solo Nationals, some people go for the party, some people go for the competition. My first year, I went because I thought I could win.  The result was blood, sweat and tears. I left nationals with two thoughts, this is tough and I need to get better. My old horse trainer told me "To be the best, you have to lose to the best". When I was younger I didn't know what she meant by this. I always told her to be the best I had to beat the best! She blew this comment off every time. I later learned that losing is an essential part of competition; it helps you manage how you deal with it, when it does happen. Which I still have yet to figure out. It gives you something to strive for. It also teaches you who is skilled, so when you do manage to finally come out on top it feels that much better. Although I would like to amend her comment to "To be the best, you must run with the best". With that being said, I run as many national events that I can and I will do my best to run Nationals every year.  This year I am giving everything I have on course, because what I keep will be lost forever. Dale Seeley This will be my first trip to Nationals, I've been an SCCA member and Solo participant off and on for about 15 years.  Attending Nationals this year, this particular year, will happen because I will be able to crew for four different classes (FJB, FJA, F125, and E-Mod) over the week, for people who I believe really deserve/need the help.  Three of them will be Nationals newbies like myself, the fourth an experienced participant who can help me out. This year, the event began as the desire to see my son compete with the fastest driver in FJA, Julian Garfield.  That quickly expanded to the opportunity bring Michael Hernandez Jr to his first Nationals, ensuring that one of our local drivers, Aditya (Deech) Madhaven finally made it to Nationals with his new F125, and to also crew for Jim Murphy at his millionth Nationals on his new to him 914 V8 Porsche. It's my hope that in addition to actual competition, the road trips and week of living in the Atlanta Region paddock with my son, getting reacquainted all of our Solo friends from around North America, will leave us with memories that we'll cherish forever, and stories that we'll hope Mom never finds out about. Julian Garfield Nationals is by far one the best weeks of the year. Nationals is definitely a huge privilege to me, and all the other formula juniors. Being allowed to go to nationals has been great because now we can follow through with the points we have earned at Pro Solos throughout the year, and we really have the chance to compare against the best kids across the country. I meet new friends that I would never see in DC, Ohio, and the rest of the Mid Atlantic. Nationals is what brings the whole Solo community together. It can also be pretty hectic for us as well though. The schedule doesn't usually work out, where my parents may be working while my brother and I are competing, or we may all be scheduled to run at the same time even. We have to work to make changes so it all works out. Last year I didn't really get to help or watch my mom because I was racing as well. We always make the best of it and have a great time. My brother and I will take school work to work on so we aren't behind when we come back. It all usually works out. I'm always excited for nationals because we always hear about certain kids in other parts of the country performing well. Nationals is our chance to see who comes out on top. Nationals is a great experience for me, one I think I will always remember. Bob Tunnell Initially my motivation was primarily to see where I stacked up against the nation's best drivers and car builders -- to prove to myself and others that I was one of the nation's best at both.  I soon reached a performance plateau and became frustrated.  Fortunately Roger "The Famous" Johnson and BFG's Herb Johnson who may actually be twin brothers of different mothers, pulled me aside and shared their "secret" for success: "Concentrate on having fun at events and success will follow."  It worked like a charm. Constantly setting new goals has kept the sport fresh over the years with new competitive challenges ahead of us at all times.  It has also introduced us to a broad cross-section of competitors that helps us make new friends every year.  Over the last five years we've cut back our racing program by about 75% and have replaced race weekends with time for family and friends in Afghanistan and all across America.  But we still put the Solo Nationals dates on the calendar first and schedule our year around it. Our goals for Nationals this year?  Be sure to have FUN, reconnect with old friends, and still maintain a high level of competitiveness.  And thanks to Del Long's generosity, we're hoping to achieve all three. Tara Johns Nationals is the one place that I get to truly use my competitive nature in a very healthy way.  I look forward to it every year and think about it for months on end before it is even time to go. We have a strong, competitive group that travels from our region and I enjoy traveling with them as well as cheering them on when they take their runs.  I go to Nationals because of the level of competition that is there, it is the best of the best from all over the country.  You don't get to see how you truly stack up until you run at Nationals. The people that we have met over the years that we see each year at Nationals makes it worth the trip (some that we miss now, Tracy Ramsey).  The amount of people who are willing to help if you break something or if you break down going to and from the event is amazing.  Autocrossers are a different breed, a breed that I am proud to be a part of. Each time we pull onto the site for Nationals week, I immediately get butterflies in my stomach, ready to kick some butt and try my best to repeat the experience of winning again. Matthew Leach Intensity both on and off course. Uniquely pure in almost every aspect. It's the Baja 1000 of autocross. Friends new old and otherwise. It's summercamp for adults. Karl Shultz To me, Nationals has come to mean a week of fun with my friends, surrounded by frustration with my driving. My first trip to Nationals was in 2008. On day two, my brain stopped working in the middle of my first run. I got lost, DNF'd, and stalled the car, bringing out the red flag. I was mortified, and decided to not take my last two runs, but my codriver talked me out of that. Ever since, when I approach the start line at a big event, all I can think of is, "don't screw this up like you did at Nationals in 2008." Once it's in my head, I can't shake it. Nationals, of course, brings it out more than any other event. I get nervous enough that I sometimes skip breakfast, or even lunch, fearful I won't be able to keep it down. I'm not coming to Nationals this year. I need a break, and whether or not I'll return is uncertain. But, ask me the same question next year, and I might answer differently. Because, strange as it sounds to say this, I'll miss being there. Jan Rick I came to Nationals in 1979 for the cars, for the glory, for the turns, for the pylons, for the trophies and the jackets.  A lot of pylons have been hit, the cars changed, and a lot more pylons have been hit.  The trophies are a bit dusty and the jackets are getting worn but the people I met are in my heart and filed dearly under friends.  I go back to pick up a few more for my file every year. Bill Bounds What I really enjoy most about autocross is the purity of my focus when I'm actually driving. I don't do anything else that puts me in "the zone" like racing does, and autocross is so condensed that I don't have a choice but to find that zone and stay in it while I'm driving. Since I feel like I'm a contender, Nats is the place where my intensity goes up. For an entire week my only goal is those six runs. That puts me in a mental state and gives me a level of clarity that I can't get anywhere else. That's what I'm addicted to. But Nationals is more than that, it is the people. If the focus is why I race, the people are why I can tolerate driving 20 hours and spending serious money to get it. Any way you slice it, standing in a parking lot for an entire week is pretty low on my priority list. But knowing that forty of my friends from my region and many more from all over the country will be there makes it all worthwhile. I can catch up with people I haven't seen in a year. I can celebrate my friends' victories and defeats with equal enthusiasm because, ultimately, everyone is there to have fun. That's why people embrace the party just as much as they do watching a tight race. It's all in the pursuit of a good time, and for that I will always come back. India Bounds Anyone with an older sibling knows what its like to always be known as "______'s little sister/brother". It used to bother me because Bill and I were so different growing up.  College gave me a break from the constant comparisons and it allowed me to appreciate what he did.  Bill had been racing for a couple years and let me come to a few events. Autocross looked like crazy amounts of fun, so of course I wanted to do it too.   What I didn't expect was the racing family I got along the way.  I suddenly had tons of brothers to celebrate with me all the memorable firsts of my career.  I think it took some time for the guys to get used to my sorority girl squeals of celebration after quality runs, but they always made me feel welcome and equal. I was honored when given the opportunity to race at Nationals after only a few months of racing.  I was determined to do well.  After a mediocre first day, I knew I had to make that car fly the next morning.  As I prepared, I remembered a time Bill was in the car with me during a run at another event. He reached over and pushed my knee hard so the accelerator hit the floor and I flew.   Channeling that moment, I proceeded to haul through the 2nd course and after taking slalom impossibly fast, I missed my break point for the following 90-degree turn and lost control. Defeated, I got out, threw my helmet down and started to cry.  I was upset and angry that I blew my last run, and embarrassed that I was such a girl to cry about it.  What will the guys say?  I was quickly met with smiles and hugs from my Solo big brothers.  They were encouraging and proud of my run.  What surprised me were all the stories I got about how just about everyone cries at their first Nationals.  I felt better, but still like I disappointed Bill.  When I got a chance to  talk to him, I let him know what I thought.  He laughed at me the way wise older brothers do when they think you're being silly and said, "You've only been racing for a few months and you competed with the best and didn't place last.  That's awesome and of course I'm proud of you!"  Autocross and Nationals stopped being all about the trophies, and jackets, it was about the family I gained, and the awesome family I already had. Chris Hammond Why do I go to Nationals? I'm sure most people would say this, but it is for the people. One thing I have always done is had a good time at Nationals because of the people. Sure, one day, I hope to earn a trophy, but if I never do, if I end up the Dick Burger of my generation, so be it, I will continue to go! It has been two years since I was at Nationals, I've moved twice (west, and west), had a daughter, and have a new job. But I miss Nationals, I miss my friends, and I will be there this year for sure. Darren Darby I thought allot about NOT going to Nationals this year.  Gas prices are high, my driving has been sub-par, some of my closest friends are not competing, and I have had some not-so-positive experiences at a few tours/Pros.  My gut reaction/initial thoughts were to forego the drive and just listen on UStream.   But, I guess it’s sort of like child birth for women:  it’s the most pain you will ever quickly forget.  Or, to coin a phrase it’s:  “Because Solo Nationals”. To the outsider, it’s 48 hours (that’s my round trip drive) of driving for 6 minutes of racing.  But for those that have experienced it, it’s the un-paralleled competition.  It’s the sights, sounds and smells coming from the “Atlanta Big Top”.  It’s the walk through paddock taking in the automotive art show on display.  It’s seeing drivers offer co-drives to competitors who are down on luck.  It’s watching those last runs on day two when drivers are fighting for their chance at a title.  It’s watching a friend (or foe) cross the finish line, get their time and realize they just won a National Championship.  It’s “Because Solo Nationals” that I will be attending again this year. Mark Davis I am about to go to my eighth Nationals. My reasons for wanting to go have evolved over the years.  In the first few Nationals, I attended primarily for the competition.  That has slowly changed year after year, where now the main reason I go to Nationals is the camaraderie.  Where else can you go were you can hang out with a thousand of your friends, some closer than others, where you are all there for the same reasons? To have fun, tell stories, drink beer, and maybe race a little bit.  One of the goals will always be to try to do well and trophy, but the primary goal now is to spend time with friends and have fun. Annie Bauer Nationals to me is first and foremost about friends.  Without the awesome people in this sport, I doubt I'd do it.  Okay, maybe the competition is good too...  really good!  Nationals has actually taught me a lot - everything from how to not let pressure get to me on that last key run, to how to be there for others who struggle with exactly that.  I love seeing newbies flourish and experienced people shine, and everything in between.  It's an amazing mix of challenge and fun, something I've not experienced outside of autocross in quite the same way.  I get competitive, sure, sometimes TOO competitive, but I'm working on that :)  That said, there is nothing in the world better than charging through the last turn with my hair on fire, crossing the finish and seeing my friends smiling and cheering me on, even if it was the worst run I'd ever made... Perry Bennett After hearing for years how great the Solo National Championship is and how I should go-- I finally bit the bullet last year (2010) and went. The crazy thing here is that I didn’t go to compete like pretty much everyone else does, I went to hang out and photograph the event. I bummed a ride with some local region friends who were going, and although I really liked the two folks I went with- the drive out to Lincoln, Nebraska (and back) is probably -- no definitely-- the worst part about the whole event. Seventeen hours in a car in one day is not my idea of fun. And really? Does Missouri have to be so wide? I swear  we spent 10 of those hours just crossing Missouri. Hoping to negate this aspect of the event, I am flying in this year.  I am not competing, but coming again to hang out and to see all of the really cool cars that most people only see in pictures in magazines, various racing forums,  or on SCCA.com. The biggest reason to go to Lincoln is not for the two-three minutes of competition driving you get to do. You go to Lincoln and the Solo National Championships to spend a week with some fellow gearheads who like cars as much as you do, and to experience some of the closest, fiercest competition of the year. You go to Lincoln to eat Tom Shuman's Carne Asada, Mike Taylor's world famous hamburgers, drink with your buddies, and play FOUR SQUARE!! (and buy photos from Perry Bennett Photography... <grin>) Mark Pilson Looks like I am making another run at nationals this year.  The last time I went was 2008 so this will be my first time at Lincoln.  I am looking forward to getting on some nice, grippy concrete.  I'm not sure what to expect this year since we are still making changes to the car and we haven't been to the site before.  We will definitely be taking advantage of the Evolution School test and tune days to try to maximize our performance out there.  Any way it goes, it will be good to see old familiar faces that I haven't seen since 2008.