Over the May 31-June 1, 2025, weekend, Atlanta Region hosted an event at Atlanta Motorsports Park that included the norms for an SCCA® track-based experience, namely a road race and Time Trials – but there was another element not all SCCA Regions or members might be familiar with: Race Experience.

SCCA’s Race Experience (made up of sprint races, aka Club Race Experience and Endurance Races, or Endurance Experience) allows drivers in race cars that match the basic safety requirements of a roll cage, racing seat, harness, etc., found in the GCR to try wheel-to-wheel racing with fewer barriers to entry – namely, a physical nor a Drivers’ School are requirements to participate.

“The Race Experience is an incredibly flexible program geared towards regions with Road Racing programs, but could also be done by Regions specializing in Time Trials or Track Days,” explains SCCA’s Senior Manager of Regional Track Program Development Jon Krolewicz. “Race Experience sits between Drivers’ Schools and Regional Road Racing and allows a range of enthusiasts to go road racing in a safe and controlled environment, and depending on the driver or the event’s needs, it can be a school, a chance to casually race, or a way back into the sport after a hiatus.”

A vital feature of Race Experience events is that they are a path to an SCCA Competition License.

“In the past, SCCA Regions hosted up to 60 Drivers’ Schools annually; in 2025, that number will be less than 10,” Krolewicz adds. “Obviously, this isn’t a model that will sustain SCCA’s wheel-to-wheel racing program.”

There are other paths to achieving an SCCA Full Competition License. Pro schools are options for those new to road racing, and alternative schools offer those with some track experience the ability to get signed off by the Divisional Licensing Administrator. Race Experience events welcome everyone who may have gone one of these other routes, and directs them to their local Region, where the driver enters an event and gets first-hand experience in a real wheel-to-wheel road race.

“The Atlanta Region Club Race Experience was a robust event,” Krolewicz says. “There were six sessions during the weekend – two practice, one qualifying, three 20-minute races.”

This comes in addition to classroom time, plus coaches that are on hand for post-session debriefs – an equation that has been transformational in SCCA’s Tire Rack Time Attack Challenge and Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack programs.

Atlanta Region’s Race Experience brought 12 entries. Of those, six held Competition Licenses, two had Novice Permits with a Drivers’ School credit, two had attended other Race Experience events, and two had never raced with SCCA.

There was also significant diversity with the race cars. The tally was six Spec Racer Ford Gen3s, three Miatas, one old Chrysler, an SPU Mini Cooper, and a V8-swapped RX-7.

“Some have voiced concern that placing people in road racing situations with no school can be dangerous, but that once again proved not to be the case at Atlanta Motorsports Park,” adds Krolewicz. “While we have had offs, the rate and severity tend to be less than what we see during GCR-governed events which require all drivers to be licensed. At the Atlanta event, we had five total offs, and three of them were from licensed competitors.”

Race Experience events can take place during a regular SCCA Regional road race weekend – it’s its own group in the weekend’s schedule. While that may mean other race groups need to contain more classes to make room, the end result is more drivers being on a path to receiving a Full Competition License, while giving the Region more entries in the process.

“I encourage every Region to at least consider hosting a Race Experience event,” Krolewicz says. “If anyone has any questions, reach out to me directly and we’ll work together to add Race Experiences to your Region’s weekend offerings.”

Learn more about SCCA Race Experience events by clicking here.

If you’re a Region leader and want to know more about Race Experience, complete the form on the Race Experience webpage (linked above), or email Krolewicz directly at jkrolewicz@scca.com.

Photo by Philip Royle