Sports Car Club of America
The Guide to Road Racing, Part 1: Getting Started – SCCA vs NASA
So you want to get started in competitive road racing, but you don’t know where to begin? Fret not, as this is the first chapter in our ongoing series chronicling my journey toward the goal of becoming a bonafide race car driver from a background devoid of previous motorsport experience. Accordingly, I’ll be starting this process with nothing more than the desire to challenge my fellow man in the arena of amateur motorsport and a vehicle to do it with. So, where to begin? Well, above all else, I knew there was one simple question I needed to answer: What do I need to do in order to get involved?
Race Class Profile: Formula 1000
Formula 1000, also known as USF1000, is an open wheel SCCA race class. Powered by 1000cc motorcycle engines and utilizing full racing aerodynamics, chassis tuning, suspension and brakes, the single seat USF1000 cars are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. While the 190 horsepower generated by these motors might not immediately grab the attention of some racers, when it’s installed in a race-ready car that weights 1000 pounds (with the driver in it), some quick math should indicate that Formula 1000 cars have a fairly impressive power-to-weight ratio. As one of the fastest growing formula car classes in the United States with more active car builders than any other open wheel class in the world, the Formula 1000 series attracts experienced amateur racers who’re serious about going fast.
Race Class Profile: Spec E30
For those looking to get into some Bavarian wheel-to-wheel racing action, the Spec E30 race class is a fantastic option. Focusing on spec-built, second generation BMW 3-Series coupes and sedans, the Spec E30 class offers an alternative to Spec Miata and Spec Racer Ford classes for those looking to try something a bit different. With relatively low costs to build and run, along with the spec build requirements, Spec E30 rewards driver skill above all else
Track Decal of the Week: Road America
As auto racing was beginning to gain popularity in the United States in the 1940s and early 1950s, most events were held on public streets. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin’s open road course was among many across the country that played host to numerous SCCA events throughout the era. After legislation brought a ban to racing on public roads due to safety concerns brought on by a crash at Watkins Glen in 1952, a man by the name of Clif Tufte brought together members of the Chicago Region of the Sports Car Club of America to develop plans to build a permanent private road course in Elkhart Lake.
Flip This Car: 1994 Buick Roadmaster—Part Four
Entering the small dirt oval at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, I was the subject of some attention. Situated among a host of Japanese runabouts and numerous other cars that could fit in the trunk of the Beast, I had no hope of being inconspicuous. In retrospect, signing this car up for a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Rallycross event likely wasn’t the best use of the Buick’s ability, but from the moment I spied this car sitting on gigantic truck tires, I knew it was destined for an off-road adventure. That adventure materialized on Saturday December 4, as the Beast and I made a 200 mile round trip to compete in Round 10 of the Detroit Region SCCA Rallycross—the season ender—in Marshall, Michigan. If you’ve already spied the destroyed orange cone in the photo gallery, you’ve likely deduced that things didn’t go so well. In that assessment, you would be correct.
List: Top Ten $5K Rallycross Cars
Getting involved in rallycross racing doesn’t have to mean being part of a factory-backed team with piles of cash. The Sports Car Club of America offers rallycross racing at very little cost to participants. To get started here are ten cars that fit the bill for $5000 or less.
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