You will need a helmet to drive in an SCCA Time Trials, and that helmet will have to meet certain specifications.
What Is It
Time Trials is all about the quest for speed. Your competition is the clock. Push your individual limits, connect with driver development teams, and measure your progress. Doing it all within a community intentionally designed for the experience to be highly engaging, easily accessible, and inclusive for a wide range of drivers and vehicles.
Yes, there are classes and yes, we give trophies to those that do well, but at the end of the day, the ultimate challenge is: did you go faster than you have before, did you learn more about driving than you knew before, and did your car perform better than it did before? Time Trials events unite everyone on site into a collective pursuit of driving, coaching, facilitating and witnessing #funwithcars.
Events & Series
SCCA® hosts Time Trials events at racetracks throughout the United States. Local events are open to everyone, offering a motorsport program where drivers compete against the clock on a closed road course, rather than racing directly against other cars door-to-door. The goal is simple: learn your car, go fast, then go faster. It is designed to be easily accessible to a wide range of drivers and vehicles, with active on-site coaching to facilitate continued driver improvement between every session and every event.
Time Trials Events come in two formats: Time Attack with lapping sessions where the fastest single lap is scored, and TrackSprint with standing starts and point-to-point courses on a track.
Regional Events
- November 13 to 14, 2026
- Thornburg , VA
Washington DC Region HPDE/TT # 11
- November 21, 2026
- Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, SCCA Time Trial 3
- December 4, 2026
- Decatur, TX
Texas Region Time Trials, Track Day, HPDE #9
A nationwide series where drivers chase personal bests and battle each other at some of the best racetracks in the nation. This is a straight-up, unbridled, and unapologetic Time Attack competition. The fastest flying lap around the circuit is king. Simple as that.
Each weekend event drivers are given a practice session and multiple timed opportunities to set their best lap time. Quickest lap from day one is added to the quickest lap from day two to determine class winners.
Starting in 2026, there is an East and West points series, each crowning their own champion.
Challenge Events
- November 13 to 14, 2026
- Buttonwillow, CA
2026 Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge at Buttonwillow Raceway Park
Claiming an SCCA National Champion title is a big deal, like – really big deal. Just ask Bobby Rahal, Scott Sharp, Skip Barber or Paul Newman. Now that honor is offered to Time Attack Challenge competitors. With the high-stakes “winner-take-all” format SCCA uses to crown the best-of-the-best, the Tire Rack Time Attack Challenge National Championship is a three-day competition at the end of the season.
Partnered as a sister event to the Grassroots Motorsports Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge (UTCC), the two events will work hand-in-hand with each other to put on the premier time trial and lifestyle car show experience in the country.
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Targa is SCCA’s multi‑day, multi‑track experience that blends elements of road trips, road rallies and performance driving into a points-driven challenge. Participants drive their own street-legal vehicle along a planned route, stopping along the way at racetracks to compete in driving competitions. These can include Time Attack Challenges, Time Trials Sprints, and Autocross courses. Points might also be offered at various social activities throughout the journey.
Targa is open to solo drivers, duos, and even teams (as long as everyone has a seat-belt and fits in one car.) Most events last four days and visit four different racetracks.
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Overview
Time Trials is one of the most accessible and well-structured track motorsport programs in the US, where you will see everything from a stock daily driver to a built track weapon, all chasing their best lap time. But competition is only one aspect of the Time Trials experience.
Every event is designed to include social elements, personal challenges, partner engagement, food, media, photography and fun. Each of these elements is crafted to create an experience where every participant has the opportunity to enjoy the event, regardless of finishing position.
Most importantly, the on-track experience is facilitated. Each group has a coach and each session has a debrief. The coach’s job is to make sure everyone approaches the event from the perspective of “Same Team,” with shared goals of clean laps and safe, fun and fair competition.
Announcements
- Posted: October 16, 2026
- Posted: September 16, 2026
- Posted: August 18, 2026
- Posted: July 10, 2026
- Posted: June 4, 2026
- Posted: May 26, 2026
Got a car? Got a driver’s license? Great – you’re ready to go. Show up and we’ll take care of the other requirements when you arrive, if needed.
Driver Requirements
- Weekend or Full Membership of the SCCA. Full Membership required for National events.
- Valid government-issued driver’s license.
- Be able to handle the physical and mental demands of competition for the length of a session for each session of the event. See below for a detailed description.
- A Time Trials License from the SCCA/recognized sanctioning body or a competition license from a recognized sanctioning body.
Fitness Guidelines
SCCA Time Trials Drivers should be able to participate in competition in a car at high speeds for extended periods of time. This form is a guide and tool for you to determine if you are medically qualified to participate in a Time Trials event. Failure to be able to deal with the stresses of automobile competition may jeopardize the driver or others while attending a competitive event.
Drivers entering an SCCA Time Trials Event should be able to handle the physical and mental demands below for the length of a session for each session of an event.
The functional suggested requirements of a driver in a competition automobile are:
- Ability to rapidly operate acceleration, braking, and steering mechanisms/systems.
- Vision: distant vision correctable to 20/40 each eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, and peripheral vision to 70 degrees in the horizontal median for each eye.
- Should have minimal chance of sudden incapacitation from any disease process.
- Ability for rapid mental activity, problem solving, and decision-making.
- Ability to maintain an aerobic level heart rate for more than 20 minutes.
The environment the driver may operate in is:
- Temperature extremes from 0 degrees (F) to 120 degrees (F) for long periods of time.
- Smoke, fumes, vapor, caustic chemicals, and dust.
- Loud noise and vibration.
- Increased potential for exposure to fire.
Minors 17 and Under
Minor Drivers: All drivers 17 years old or younger must meet the requirements above and contact Event Officials before the event and get approval from the Event Lead. Additional requirements.
In addition the following items are required for participation by a minor:
- Completed Annual Parental Consent, Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement. (Note: forms vary by state and witnessing method.)
- Completed Minor’s Assumption of Risk Acknowledgment. (Note: forms vary by state and witnessing method.)
- A valid driver’s license which does not require a passenger in the vehicle, issued by state, province, territory or country.
- When applying for a Time Trials License, the minor must apply directly to SCCA Member Services.
Equipment Requirements
Driver Safety Gear
- Helmet: Snell SA-rated helmets. Snell M – motorcycle helmets are not permitted. Loaner helmets are usually on hand for Regional events.
- Apparel: Closed-toe shoes that cover the entire foot and long pants. Natural fiber/cotton shirts are strongly recommended.
- Advanced Gear: If your car has heavy modifications and advanced safety equipment, advanced driver safety gear is also required. This includes a fire-retardant suite (SFI or FIA-rated), fire-resistance gloves, shoes, and a Head & Neck Restraint (HANS device.)
Vehicle Safety Equipment
- Seatbelts: Minimum 3-point factory seatbelts are acceptable for stock classes, but race-prepared glasses require a 5 or 6-point racing harness.
- Secure cabin: All loose items must be removed from the vehicle’s interior and trunk before going on track.
- Convertibles: Must have a roll bar unless a factory-installed rollover protection is installed that SCCA explicitly approves.
Track Preparation and Tools
- Tires & Brakes: Both must be in excellent condition with plenty of life left and wear left.
- Timing Transponder: A suitable transponder to record lap times. These can often be rented during registration or at the track. The most common brands are MyLaps/AMP or Westhold.
- Support Tools: Basic toolkit, including a torque wrench, low-profile jack and a tire-pressure gauge.
Photos
Time Trials categories are structured to allow a wide range of vehicles, from daily drivers to purpose-built race cars. Consideration is based on performance modifications and safety equipment, with sub-classes for power-to-weight ratios and drivetrains. Whenever possible, like vehicles are classed with like vehicles, but ultimately classifications are based on a vehicle’s potential when prepared to the limit of the Rules.
Sports Category
Order from Tire Rack, grab a basic tool kit, a jack, and a set of jackstands from the local parts store, and you can have a fully prepared Sport car the day after the boxes arrive. Straightforward, accessible performance — real cars, real upgrades, minimal drama.
Turner Category
Take your platform as far as it can go without changing what it fundamentally is. Coilovers, upgraded intercoolers, bolt-ons, swaps — if it sharpens the car without rewriting its DNA, this is where it belongs. Same soul, significantly sharper edge.
Max Category
The upper limit of what can still live on the street. Engine mods, aero kits, the works — if it’s available and the car stays street legal, you can run it. This is where dream builds actually get built.
Unlimited Category
No ceilings. If you can imagine it, build it.
Safety + Interiors
Advanced safety equipment — cages and bars — is allowed in every category and required in Unlimited. And because we actually want you to install it, we’ve made it worth your while! Vehicles with bars may remove carpet, trim, and seats behind the driver and passenger. Vehicles with cages may remove all carpet and trim except the dash.
No advanced safety equipment? It’s a street car — and street cars keep their full interiors.
Videos
Drivers are grouped by experience, and in Time Trials there’s a place for everyone — whether you’re brand new to the track or you’ve already got laps around the best in the world.
Novice
Little or no experience. Required to have classroom sessions explaining the Rules of the Track and format-specific procedures, and will have communication with instructors at regular intervals. This makes it genuinely beginner-friendly.
Intermediate
Have successfully completed a minimum of four events and demonstrated proper Time Trials Rules of the Track knowledge.
Advanced
Drivers that have successfully completed, on an Intermediate license, six events and demonstrated proper Time Trials Rules of the Track knowledge.
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Latest News
FAQs
Do I need a helmet?
What kind of cars can participate?
Depending on the event, SCCA Time Trials are open to street cars, racecars, and some special-built cars like Legend/Dwarf cars or Formula Cars and Sports Racers. Different events may have different allowances for what they let run, so it’s always good to look closely to make sure your specific car will be allowed. Motorcycles, go-karts and 3-wheel cars like the Can-Am Spyder and Polaris Slingshot are not allowed.
What are “Supplementary Regulations”?
The “Supplementary Regulations” or “Supps” are the extra or special rules for an event. These are where you will find things like track and event-specific rules. They should be included with the entry form and schedule for an event.
Do I need a special license?
Basically – you need a valid state driver’s license which allows you to drive unaccompanied in a car. If it’s your first time, we’ll set you up with a Time Trials Novice License. As you get more experience, you can upgrade to an Intermediate or Advanced Driver. As always, read the Supplementary Regulations to see which license grades an event might allow.
Do I need to be an SCCA Member?
Depending on the event, you will need to be either a full SCCA member or have a weekend membership. It’s best to check with the organizers or “Supplementary Regulations” of the event you’re thinking of doing to see which you might need. Often, when an event allows people to compete as a “weekend member” the weekend membership is added to the event entry purchase.
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CONTACT US
We love all of you, and appreciate feedback and questions you might have. Use this form when you want to ask us to class a car, request a license, clarify a rule, request a part approval or any other question on your mind about Time Trials (we have it on good authority that the answer is “42”).
