Like homecomings? Love autocross? Live for a party? We have what you need!
The 2023 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships in Lincoln, NE, is the title event’s 50th celebration, making this an autocross homecoming of epic proportions. Whether you’ve been to ‘em all, only have a few Solo Nats under your belt, or this is your very first autocross, the place to be on Sept. 5-8 is Lincoln Airpark for SCCA’s gargantuan autocross celebration that kicked off all the way back in 1973.
While the event takes place over four days, your competition takes up only two – although you’re encouraged to hang out the entire week. (Find out which days your class will be running.)
There’s a lot planned for the 2023 Solo Nats – like, A LOT. Beyond the competition on course, friends and parties in the paddock, and the traditional mid-event celebration on Wednesday evening under the big tent onsite at Lincoln Airpark, this year’s Solo National Championships kicks off with a party like no other at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed on Tuesday, Sept. 5, with those purchasing the special 50th Solo Nats package getting admission to the gathering.
Whether you make the Sept. 5 gathering or not, you should check out the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed for free on Thursday, Sept. 7, between 5pm and 9pm. Also, admission to the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed between Aug. 31 and Sept. 9 will be just $5 for those presenting their SCCA membership card (note: this applies to the museum’s normal operating hours between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., with the museum being closed on Sunday).
Hold tight for more details on all of that.
Today, we’re here to remind you to register for the Solo National Championships and event Test n Tune, because registration is about to “click” into high gear – and the early bird has the greatest chance of getting the car number they want.
Which Tier Are You?
Being that the Solo National Championships attracts nearly 1,200 autocrossers, registration is divided into three tiers, with vehicle numbers being on a first come, first served basis. Here’s how it works:
Tier 1: June 13 at 3 p.m. CT
Tier 1 registrants include 2022 National Champions, 2023 Solo Nationals event chiefs, and those in the 100 Percenters club (this is a group of members who have competed at every Solo Nationals ever held).
Tier 2: June 20 at 3 p.m. CT
Autocrossers belong in Tier 2 if they finished on the podium at last year’s Solo Nats (that’s the top three – not all trophy winners qualify), were winners in supplemental or undersubscribed classes and didn’t officially win a National Championship, or are members of the Silver Circle with 25 or more Solo Nationals under their belts.
Open Registration: June 27 at 3 p.m. CT
If you don’t qualify for Tier 1 or Tier 2 registration, Tuesday, June 27, at 3 p.m. Central Time is when you’ll want to click the Solo Nats registration button.
Other Dates and Times of Note
The Solo Nationals entry fee will increase on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 12:01 a.m. CT from $224 to $325. This is also the date that the cancellation fee increases to $100 for those who register before Aug. 2 (those registering after this deadline cannot receive a refund). Online registration closes on Monday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. CT, and Sept. 1 is the final date to cancel and receive any refund (for those who registered prior to Aug. 2).
Test Your Tune
No competition is complete without a shakedown run to ensure your car’s up to snuff and your head is in the game – but at the Solo National Championships, there’s no practice day. Fortunately, there’s a Test n Tune course that runs simultaneous to the event elsewhere on the site.
Registration for the Nebraska Region-hosted Test n Tune course opens on June 13, at 5 p.m. CT. Each Test n Tune time slot comes in one-hour increments, with that period beginning at the top of the hour. The cost is $50 for a one-hour slot, which includes four runs, and there’s a cap of 35 vehicles per hour. Competitors may purchase more than one block of time, although they may not purchase multiple entries within the same hour. Also – one of the best parts – the Test n Tune does not involve any work assignments.
The most up-to-date information about the 2023 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships can be found on the event page.
Photo by Rupert Berrington