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With the SCCA National season well under way, eyes move to Bristol, TN as the warmth of spring begins to transition into the summer doldrums. A new site on the Tour circuit, Bristol Motor Speedway brings to many competitors, a new challenge and an unfamiliar lot. Want some good reasons to attend? How about...

1. Speed. Course Designer John Brown has categorically stated that this course is going to be FAST. With a large course area to play with, Bristol should prove to be a test of skill and bravery, where the ability to negotiate a slalom will go hand in hand with the need to place a brick on that right pedal to get the best times. Early estimates suggest that a typical course should be on the order of 60+ seconds, so be prepared for a tall challenge.
2. Smooth. Part of the reason that the lot will be fast is a recent repaving of the site. In years past, Bristol has been known as a rather rough lot. Suspensions have been tested to the limit, and riding on the bump stops wasn't the way to go. However, this year, over half of the course area has been newly repaved, providing a much smoother site to stretch those legs.
3. Car Independent. Given the layout of the lot, the eventual course should not favor any particular style of course. It's wide on one end, narrow in the middle, and egg shaped on the other side. Every slalom will be offset by its own sweeper, which should serve to eliminate any advantages from narrowness or power. Every car will have its elements that will challenge it, which should serve to tighten up the competition at the top of every class.
4. Fun Runs. No, not extra autocross runs, but for $40, word has it that the NASCAR track will be open for lapping! Ever wanted to see just how fast your car is on the World's Fastest Half Mile? Now's your chance! Just try to keep it out of the SAFER barriers; we'd hate to have to fill out extra paperwork and reshuffle the run order...
5. Match Tour! Need we say any more? Match Tours are the biggest bang for the buck in terms of National level Solo competition. Every driver has a minimum guaranteed 8 runs (six on Saturday, two on Sunday), so if seat time is in question, Match Tours are your answer. Put your foot down and break into the challenges, and one might see as many as twelve runs for a driver over the weekend. Where else can you get that much fun in 12 minutes?!

The summer heat just means we're another month closer to Nationals, so come one, come all. As always, keep your eyes and ears on sololive.scca.com for up to the second live timing updates and color commentary from the best announcers we could find... hanging around a small parking lot... on a May afternoon... in Tennessee... Needless to say, they are the cream of the crop. As we wrap up, the focus shifts to Grenada, Mississippi, for the next installment of the SCCA Match Tour, as we move ever closer to the Solo National Championships.