With 1,300 people competing at the 2023 Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships, we’re guessing there’ll be a few people on site that you’d like to put in the hot seat if, say, a dunk tank were to appear at this year’s Homecoming Welcome Party, which kicks off around 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4.

Well, we have some good news!

For just $1 a throw, you can show your appreciation for – or take out your frustrations with – some of your fellow competitors. The deal is simple: Volunteer to take a dunk in the Welcome Party dunk tank while your friends take literal shots at dropping you into a bucket of cool water. Or, for $100, you can “volunteer” a fellow member to take to the dunk tank. There’s no pressure for the so-called volunteer, either – if they don’t feel like taking part in the festivities, they don’t have to, and the $100 will be returned. But keep in mind, proceeds from the dunk tank will be donated to Hawaiian wildfire relief.

So no pressure, right?

Someone’s gotta be first to get dunked, and we already know who: SCCA’s Senior Director of Rally/Solo and Experiential Programs Heyward Wagner will kick off the fun.

The Homecoming Welcome Party takes place at the Tire Rack Event Center (colloquially called the TREC) that’s located in the paddock just north of the East Course – and the dunk tank’s just the beginning.

That Ain’t All

There’s a lot going on at the Sept. 4 Homecoming Welcome Party. Like the dunk tank, the annual car show put on by Lincoln’s own Rebels Auto Club and Midwest Rollers will fire up around 4 p.m. Last year’s car show featured more than 270 rides that included a 1928 Ford Model A, a modern Lamborghini, an immaculate Ford Pinto, a Yenko Chevy Nova, and much more.

On tap starting at 5:30 p.m. is a photo booth. That source of Solo Nats mischief takes place alongside DJ (and perennial Kart Modified trophy finisher) Ryan Lower, who’ll be spinning digital vinyl deep into the evening.

Will there also be games, trivia, and other assorted whatnot? You betcha! What about food and drinks? That’ll be there, too!

But what if you don’t like the food, and the adult beverages aren’t to your taste? Show your displeasure by ponying up $100 to put Heyward back in the dunk tank.

Can I Come?

Yes! And bring your friends – everyone’s invited! Admission, food, and drinks are all free!

The car show and dunk tank kick off the action around 4 p.m. in and around the TREC, with food and more entering the equation at 5:30 p.m. The party’s slated to run through 7:30 p.m. – but we’ll keep going if you do.

Photo by Philip Royle