For racers, it’s all about weight and power. Optimize the two and you win, right? Yes...and no. There are many other components that work into the “winning” race car equation, with quite possibly the most prevalent being brakes. But with so many brake parts manufacturers on the market, how do you decide which is right for you? The easiest way is to stroll the paddock and check out the competition. In a paddock filled with race cars, stickers abound – and a fantastic thing about those stickers is they largely reveal what everyone is using on their cars. So next time you’re at the track or autocross course and it’s lunch time, rather than chowing down in your paddock spot or the track eatery, grab your grub to go and have a walkabout.
Not feeling up to the exercise? We’ve already done the math.
According to SCCA’s 2023 survey data, most brake products in SCCA® paddocks carry the Hawk Performance name – and not by a little, either. Some 22.5 percent of members who responded to the survey use Hawk Performance brake pads on their competition vehicle. The second most-used brake brand for competition use comes in at 7 percent.
When it comes to street vehicles, Hawk Performance continues to stand above the rest, with 11.9 percent of survey respondents using Hawk. The second most popular street brake pad comes in at roughly half that.
Beyond this, Hawk Performance supports the SCCA via its involvement through the Hawk Performance Novice Experience at Track Night in America® events. New to driving on the track? The Hawk Performance Novice Experience gets drivers up to speed fast – then presents them with a $40 discount coupon for Hawk products after the Track Night Weekend.
On the competition side of things, Hawk Performance offers a robust contingency program for SCCA Autocross, Road Racing, and RallyCross, with contingency details for the 2024 season coming soon.
Is this to say that Hawk Performance makes the best brake products that you should definitely use? That’s an impossible question for someone to answer for you, as so much goes into dialing in a brake setup for each vehicle. What can be said is that Hawk Performance is not just the “Official Brake Products of SCCA” since 2003 – it’s also proven to be the choice brand for SCCA members.
Photo by Philip Royle / Staff
