This year’s big election is nearly upon us. No, not THAT election, the election for the SCCA® Board of Directors. This year, five of SCCA’s 13 Areas are up for election, with voting within those Areas commencing on Oct. 15, 2024, and concluding on Nov. 15, 2024. Per the SCCA Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors are elected to three-year terms, with Directors allowed to serve a maximum of two terms (whether concurrent or not). Director elections are then staggered to manage turnover, so this year, five of SCCA’s 13 Areas are up for election.
This year's election process will once again include online voting via the Member Account Portal (MAP) at my.scca.com, and an email notification announcing such will be sent shortly to eligible voters. For those on a Family Membership, each family member will need to log in with their unique SCCA Member ID to cast their vote. A first-time login requires a valid email address on the member account, and family members may use the same email address. Those that experience any difficulty should contact the Member Services Department for assistance at membership@scca.com.
The SCCA National Office assumes members are “opted in” to electronic delivery of ballots unless they have specifically “opted out.” Those who opted out should receive physical ballots in the mail shortly so they may vote on Area Director candidates – if their Area Director is up for election this year. Ballots are mailed to addresses on record with the Sports Car Club of America. Completed ballots should NOT be returned to the SCCA office. Instead, votes will be tallied by Mize CPAs Inc. A postage paid return envelope is included with the ballot for your convenience.
Ballots must be received at Mize CPAs Inc. between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. Central Time. The same deadlines apply to online voting.
Voting is only open in contested areas, so only members in Area 7 will be able to vote online or should expect to receive a ballot if they’ve opted out of electronic delivery.
If you feel you did not receive a ballot and should have, please contact SCCA Member Services at membership@scca.com.
SCCA Area Director Seats up for Election
Area 5: Encompasses the Central Division, including: Badlands, Blackhawk Valley, Central Illinois, Chicago, Great River, Iowa, Lake Superior, Land O'Lakes and Milwaukee Regions.
Peter Jankovskis is concluding his final term as allowed by SCCA Bylaws.
Hello! My name is Joe Helser, and I am running for the position of Area 5 Director. For those of you who do not already know me I want to share some information about myself.
First, I am a 51-year member of SCCA and Blackhawk Valley Region. I am currently on the Board of Blackhawk Valley Region. I spent over 15 years as a driver competing in Showroom Stock, Formula Vee, and GT-2 and held National licenses in Pit Lane and Tech. I currently hold a National Steward license, Certified Regional F&C license, Regional Race Data Tech license, and am a Certified Track Reviewer.
On the personal side, my wife, Wanda, and I reside in Rockford, Illinois. I worked in manufacturing in Rockford, retiring in 2019 from Ingersoll Cutting Tools where I was a Quality Engineer. I managed the warranty returns for Cutting Tools and provided Customer Service for warranty issues.
One of the main reasons that I am running for Area 5 Director is the importance of Customer Service in every aspect of our club. We must work together to give the best experience to our customers. One of my favorite sayings is, “DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING UNLESS YOU’RE PREPARED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.” I will listen to our members and the concerns they have working as a team to improve what we have and where we are going. For those who already know me, you know I care very much about this Club and the people that make up its membership. That is why I agreed to run for this position. I will always be available to discuss any situations that arise and what we can do to correct them to make things better for everyone. “MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.”
Joe Helser
Member Area 5
Area 7:Encompasses the Southwest Division, and the following Regions: Central Louisiana, Delta, Houston, Lone Star, Red River, South Texas Border, Southwest Louisiana, Texas and West Texas.
KJ Christopher is concluding his final term as allowed by SCCA Bylaws.
My platform is Transparency and information. I will as the SWD Director make sure each member of the SWD is kept informed on what is happening in the club. I will let you know when the SEB, CRB and the BOD is meeting and what is on their agenda for that meeting so you as a member can stay informed. I will attend every SWD annual meeting. I have attended the annual meeting for years and know from that experience how to help the SWD needs. I will see that SWD members are given the fastest most update information of what is happening. I will listen to each and every SWD member and deliver a quick and positive answer to all questions. I will do my best to contribute significantly in making the SWD a top priority in Topeka. I have the leadership experience to serve you. Thank you for voting.
Larry Svaton
My name is Kim Whitener and I am one of your nominees running for Area 7 Director. I would first like to thank those who have already been supportive of my nomination, and if we do not yet know each other I would like to introduce myself.
My husband and I first attended an SCCA event over 20 years ago and have been continuous Texas region members since 2008. I am primarily active in Autocross where I have won 20 Solo/ProSolo National Championships. I have also participated in Time Trials and Club Racing at the regional level with SCCA and other clubs.
SCCA has provided a place I could learn skills, practice, and push myself to perform my best - all while learning from my failures. However, beyond the competition, I have found a community and built friendships that go much further than the finishing position. These relationships that I have formed exist across regional areas and span all of SCCA’s program areas and I believe is not only my reason, but many of yours, for why we spend our weekends together.
The Board’s role is one of strategy, direction, and oversight as we consider the business aspects of SCCA and its future. This includes ensuring a positive member experience while fostering growth at each of the program levels in addition to the sustainability of the broader organization. I believe that I have the skills necessary to help guide the club in achieving its long-term goals and financial stability.
I am currently the CFO for a financial services firm and have 19 years of professional experience in finance and accounting. I have background in interpreting legal documents, ensuring appropriate controls are established and followed, and providing business recommendations.
With your support, I want to be part of SCCA's continued success story for not only the existing members, but also for the next generation.
Thank you for considering me to represent you as the next Area 7 Director.
Area 8: Encompasses the Rocky Mountain Division including the Colorado, Continental Divide, Eastern Idaho, Pan American, Rio Grande, Utah, and Yellowstone Regions.
Current Area 8 Director Clay Turner will retain his seat on the SCCA Board of Directors as the uncontested incumbent in the 2025 Board of Director Elections.
I’m running to represent Area 8 (aka Rocky Mountain Division) SCCA members for a second (and final) three-year term on the SCCA National Board. If re-elected, I’ve been asked to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board beginning Jan 1, 2025.
Over the last three years, the Club has achieved several milestones. Among them:
- Under the guidance of the CEO, Mike Cobb, the Club continues to improve its post-pandemic financial posture. We must always remember that the Club must be financially healthy to continue to exist and provide benefits and programs for its membership.
- Membership levels remain strong and stable.
- Innovative programming: Track Night in America events and attendance are booming, tapping a growing market for a safe and accessible track experience. SCCA Time Trials has given regions a powerful tool to attract new members and has drawn impressive numbers of participants to their events.
- Our largest mature programs continue to strive for growth and improvement. SCCA’s National Solo events are the envy of the motorsports world, drawing 1,400 entrants to the Solo National Championships (which we believe makes it the largest participant motorsports event in the U.S.). Our new Club Spec classes use simplified formulas to attract new and existing members. In Road Racing, a bold restructuring of our class structure will increase track time for drivers, improve the quality of their experience, and create new opportunities to appeal to new markets—all while retaining a place to race for classes nearing their twilight.
- Our partnerships are strong as SCCA continues to provide value to major motorsports brands.
- You may have noticed a lot more SCCA in your inboxes and social feeds. Additional marketing staff, funded in part with funds freed from SportsCar, are populating our inboxes and social media feeds with an increased volume of professional content that members and non-members find engaging. Additionally, national staff has launched new tools to support regions with their marketing efforts.
- SCCA continues to move forward with online education with new programming being added to the SCCA Academy.
And so many more. Despite our success, we have obstacles to hurdle in the coming years:
Members still need a better website experience; the staff is close to choosing a vendor to begin this work.
We must seek new sources of revenue to sustain, and improve, the SCCA experience.
Racetracks, Solo sites, and Rallycross venues are threatened, and we must keep searching for new opportunities.
We must tailor our programming to keep up with industry trends and shifting market forces.
To succeed, regions need more tools, training, and resources from us.
We can never rest on our laurels. As in competition, if you are not getting faster, you’re falling behind.
Lastly, I never forget that I was elected to serve members, not the other way around. Thank you for your support and
your hard work on behalf of your Club.
Clay Turner
Area 8 Director
Area 13: Encompasses part of the Northern Pacific Division, including: Arctic Alaska, Big Sky, Montana, Northwest, Oregon, Snake River and Southwest Montana Regions.
Jeff Zurschmeide is concluding his final term as allowed by the SCCA Bylaws.
Andy Howe is running uncontested for the SCCA Board of Directors in Area 13.
Members of the Board of Directors in the midst of their terms include:
- Area 2 – Robert Crawford, Jr.
- Area 3 – Lyn Hodges Watts
- Area 4 – Dayle Frame
- Area 6 – Mark Weber
- Area 9 – David Vodden
- Area 10 – Charles Dobbs, Jr.
- Area 11 – Peter Bollenbecker
- Area 12 – Steve Strickland
