Dbltime

Most of my racing has been with PCA club racing. The PCA rule of coming in contact with anything, regardess of how minor, ends your race is a bit irritating so I decided to branch out a bit. Today was my first day of SCCA racing.

Typical PCA CR. 3 30 minute practice sessions, practice "fun" starts race, next day 20 or 30 minute warm up, qualify and a 40 minute sprint race. Thats a lot of track time and fun.

My SCCA day was scheduled for 2 15 minute track sessions. I drove 8 laps out of a 13 laps in the first session (black flagged for exhaust noise being over 103 in 2 of my laps). That was 10:30 in the morning. At 3:30 we are up again for a 15 minute session that has a delay as the storm clouds build. By the time we are released the rain has started and we are all on slicks. I complete .75 laps and thats my first SCCA race day.

Since I was black flagged SCCA rules are your lap times are thrown out. So I start dead last for a 16 lap race tomorrow around 11:00 AM. Starting dead last will make a great video but thats it. Total track time less than 1 hour in two days including the race!

Point being PCA has greener grass. Not only that but in PCA I am in a group of 30 to 60 cars and I am in the slowest third. The SCCA had 30 cars with only 5 turning sub 1:21 lap times (summit point) Plenty of 1:25/35 cars in our group

Nice people but I dedicate these weekends to practice and compete not sit idle.

Bill L Seifert

Bill

Sometimes the grass is always greener somewhere else. I started in SCCA, moved to PCA when I felt the SCCA was not meeting my needs, then moved back to SCCA when there were few PCA races in my area.

Both clubs have their good and bad points. I like both clubs, and would race in PCA but my car is set up for SCCA ITS, and even though it is not at the top of ITS, I have no chance in PCA Gt4. I race SCCA mainly at Memphis, and St Louis, and I get plenty of track time for a heck of a lot less money, I have also raced at Road Atlanta, Sebring, Daytona, Nelson Ledges, Gingerman, Blackhawk, IRP, etc, and I have always had plenty of track time. Not as much as PCA but the entry prices have been almost half.

In my opinion they are both good clubs.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race Car

aeshultz

Counterpoint:
In PCA you are in a specialist/elite situation- in SCCA, you are just another tin-top run group. Different situations, schedules, fees, rules work for different people. Hope you have fun regardless.

MJR911

Bill,
I feel you. I have run SCCA in a spec miata and a good friend is BIG into SCCA on the formula ford side, runoffs every year and full national schedule. With SCCA if you want track time, you run a private test day before. I love SCCA b/c I won't get sent home for a rookie unable to co-exist (13/13). If you're running a high dollar car at the regional level I can see your frustration, ITE is really hit or miss. (or did you run gt-2?) Anyway, I wish I was at that MARRS race in a SM instead of beating up on Gettysburg today in tennis. But both my Dad and I felt really spoiled running a PCA schedule than SCCA. He won't go back to SCCA.

Did you catch any of the spec miata show?!

mm86911

I won't even bother with SCCA as my car is out-classed and not competitive. Besides, not interested in the car-to-car contact that I've seen occur. PCA runs a great program as well does NASA. What I like about NASA is that they typically run a sprint race both Sat and Sun plus you compete for points towards a season championship. Same for PBOC in the SE.

Dbltime

Back to Summit Point today for my first SCCA race. Oh Boy. Arrive at the track nice and early and wait until 1:00 for my 16 lap race. Starting dead last out of 30 or so cars. I turned my exhaust tips in order to get the sound within SCCA/track limits. By lap 5 I had passed 18 cars. Black flagged for excessive exhaust. Loaded up the trailer and came home. 2 days, 10 laps. Very cheap way to go racing! You use no fuel, tires or brakes. Made for a fun 5 lap video though. Only 4 cars made contact going into turn 1. Fun group

seege

Bill,

Are you going to try again? If not, is it because you were black flagged,
track time, or because of the contact you saw?

I ran a double national this weekend, I paid $175 for friday testing and $320 for a 25 minute practice, (2) 30 minute qualifiers and (2) races. Overall I was on track for about all the tires I could afford and 2 great races.

There was some contact in each race, but it was fierce competion. It seems like many of these incidents at SCCA are 2,3 or 4 cars that just won't back down from one another. Each car fighting for the line that only one will get. Many of them have been racing each other for years, in evenly prepped cars,tenths of seconds apart(and they're friends). I've been in that position as well (fighting for that spot early on), mostly I've backed off and given up position to try again later. But not always. I suppose I want them to know I'm not afraid of the contact. One funny thing about all the contact I've seen: it's not the rookies banging, but the old timers. Seems there's often a Miata nearby as well. No offense intended to the Miata guys.I like their competition level in spec and SSC.

I like the SCCA but I wouldn't run my TT there - but its not a race car either. My Z06 is and If I have to make body repairs then that's just another cost of competitive racing - to me. So I suppose it boils down to your personal risk/comfort level.The motto is "Remember, this is supposed to be fun" and I think it is. I hope you run with SCCA again - we need racers like you.

-CJ

ngoldrich

Bill,

I have raced a reasonable number of SCCA races in ITE. They have been a fun group, but as you noted, the track time is quite a bit less than PCA or NASA. Plus in the double regionals, you better know the track already since your first session is practice&qualifying.

With SCCA I ran about 5 weekends in my old E stock turbo 944 and 2 weekends in my GT2. I saw way fewer incidents in the SCCA races than PCA. I cant tell you why, but that was my observation.

I have not been running more of them only due to the limited track time. In the races I was at there were so many groups running that is what limited the time.

It was still fun though...

Norm

Dbltime

My disappointment was with the scheduled 2 15 minute sessions and one 16 lap race in two days. What do you do with the other 14 hours you are at the track, wax the car trailer?

The racing was loads of fun. Since I started dead last I saw the turn one crashes but after that the driving was great. Blocking seems to be more common. The lack of track time encourages risky driving on cold tires. 2 laps into the first session we had 3 cars off.

The exhaust noise black flag was irritating but I may have had that experience with any race group. In looking at the 3 DQ's at the bottom of the time sheet they were all 3 Porsches. There was also a 964 turbo and '04 Cup in the first few rows.

NASA, HSR & PCA is plenty of racing.

ngoldrich

I agree on PCA, NASA & HSR, also SVRA is fun too..

Norm

billlynes

I ran my first SCCA races this weekend at Roebling.

Two first in class finishes in GT2.

Loved it.

DOUBLE XL RACING

GREAT JOB BILL!!!
WE'LL SEE YOU AT ROAD ATLANTA!! AND WE'LL HAVE A SPOT FOR YA!!

APKhaos

NASA GTS Challenge is calling, Bill. 20-25 minute practise and qualifying sessions and a 30 minute race both days for around $250. Great racing, great value.

Dbltime

I agree Tony. Have not raced with NASA this year but will look into their schedule.

924RACR

Well, you're already missing races!
http://www.gtschallenge.com/Schedule/schedule.htm

Watcha doin' next weekend? CMP?

I've still gotta add the new GTS West Region to the schedule... they started a couple weekends ago at Buttonwillow... Announcement to come shortly