W2W racing

[ShawnO]

Seems like the forums are dead but I'll give it a shot...

I'd like to get into W2W racing.

I wouldn't mind jumping in with someone on a Champcar or maybe buying a Miata to run SM.

However, where and when are there SM races in the Southeast? Or do you have to travel the entire country to race SM? I honestly couldn't figure it out.

The SCCA and NASA websites take you all over the place and tell you about some track events but it's pretty confusing.

What other places do people congregate online or in person to talk racing in the Southeast?

I'm in Hoover - TIA

[rodhx]

Welcome

You're catching most organizations in between their 2019 & 2020 schedules, so that likely isn't helping your hunt.

For SCCA in the Southeast you can visit the Southeast Division site www.sedivracing.com. Under "Road Racing" you'll see the 2019 schedule but there is a link to the proposed 2020 schedule.

Birmingham is kinda between two NASA regions. NASA Southeast really doesn't like to come this far west, but the NASA Midsouth guys are based in Memphis and run there regularly.

On the endurance side LeMons, Champcar, & WRL all visit Barber once a year.

One of our members, Ritamarie Thomason, has just gone through the process to build a SM and has recently gained her full racing license. She would be a good resource.

Another great local resource is Possein Hall Motorsports Development in Pelham. The race Miatas from the pro ranks to endurance events. I know Ritamarie has worked extensively with them.

[ShawnO]

Thanks Rod - Exactly what I was looking for. I've heard about a Miata shop in Pelham but didn't know a name. They seem pretty high end. I'll check them out and see how deep it gets.

Do you know of any networking around Hoover to get into a Champcar or Lemons team?

I've done the HPDE several times and it just gets to where I feel like I'm driving in circles or having to push the car past it's limits to "get a thrill" if that makes any sense. I'm at the point where I need to step up or move on to another hobby...

Thanks again for your response

[nicktcr]

Do you know of any networking around Hoover to get into a Champcar or Lemons team?

The best networking I've personally come across is at the track. When you attend these HPDEs and whatnot, look for the teams there practicing and get to know them. YMMV

[rodhx]

I believe Lemons & Champcar both have forum sections for "drivers looking for team" & "teams looking for a driver" so you can check those.

Nick's suggestion is a good one.

Champcar was just at Barber two weekends ago but Lemons is coming up at the end of January I think. Find a Lemons team and offer to crew for them. Most teams can always use another hand on pit stops and it might open an opportunity to drive. Working/meeting teams in paddock/pit boxes to find potential rides is another way.

[ShawnO]

So I talked to the guys at Possein-Hall. Nice people and nice facility. I plan to run a race with them sometime this first half of the year. You guys should check them out. You can buy a seat with them for an endurance race. Arrive and drive. You'll need a license for their races and I'll need a license for W2W anyhow.

I'm gonna hit the Skip Barber 3-day school in February to speed up the process and hopefully learn a few things.

A quick way to get it is Skip Barber or some other schools. I can get a novice comp license from SCCA from Skip Barber for $5,000 if I pass. Full comp license with the additional 2-day school for $4,000.

Porsche at Barber's can do it but it's more than twice as much money. Probably an awesome school but I don't want to spend $17,500.

Email from Porsche:

"Thank you for your interest in the Porsche Track Experience. You can receive your SCCA driving license when you go through our program. Here is the succession of the classes
First you take either the 1-day Precision ($1900) or the 2-day Performance ($3400) course
Next you take the 2-day Advanced Masters class ($5,200)
Then you take the 3-day Masters RS class which is Pass/Fail for the license ($10,400)

We are located on a true racetrack here at Barber Motorsports Park. All of our instructors have previous racing backgrounds. So you will learn a lot along with obtaining your license. If you book more than one class at a time, you receive 10% off of each of your registrations. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best regards,

Denise Mayberry
Event Coordinator
Porsche Track Experience
6075-B Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds AL 35094

https://www.porschedriving.com

770-290-7000"

The NASA license works like this (email excerpt from NASA)...

"Yes, after ~3 weekends at each level (of HPDE) you request a checkride to the next level. Once you complete the checkride with an Instructor they will sign you off to move up. Once you have 3 weekends in HPDE 3 or 4 then you can apply for the Competition License School. Complete the Comp School and you'll be fully licensed and ready to race!"

That's a lot of HPDEs and money. I've done plenty of HPDEs already so I'm going a different direction.

Looks like a good series in our area is the SAARC ww.sediv.com.

http://sedivracing.motorsportreg.com/

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xRFqeBZ5G8BcsJK3j94AERALarXc8Uap

Anyhow...hope that's helps someone else. I'm going to try and make it out to the Road ATL race in March and see how things work.

Thanks for the previous replys and hit me up if you need a ringer for your endurance team - haha.

[rodhx]

We are part of SAARC & SeDiv. Those are SCCA entities and Alabama Region is part of the Southeast Division.

[ShawnO]

We are part of SAARC & SeDiv. Those are SCCA entities and Alabama Region is part of the Southeast Division.

How are "we" part of the SARRC? I generally think of this site as the Birmingham autocross site. I'm probably mistaken about that but it seems to be the main vibe.

The SARRC is the South Atlantic Road Racing Championship. Isn't that just W2W racing or does autocross and/or HPDEs fall into SARRC somehow?

LAStly, while looking at SARRC rules for championship it says you have to race a some tracks outside your region. What is our regions track(s)?

And BTW - thanks for you help and all....

[nicktcr]

You have SCCA National, Divisions, and then Regions. SARRC is comprised of regions that are members of the Southeast Division of SCCA. The Alabama Region SCCA (ALSCCA as it is commonly referred to) is a member of the Southeast Division and also part of the SAARC group. You are correct, SAARC is strictly a W2W championship. The only W2W approved track in the ALSCCA region is Barber, so anything else would count as a track outside our region.

I hope my tone doesn't come across as condescending, I'm just trying to make sure the language is clear.

As far as the "this site as the Birmingham autocross site" comment goes, "alscca.net" as a whole is for our entire region's club activity. This includes other activities, such as Time Trials, HPDE (or whatever we're calling those now), Club Racing (W2W), and obviously autocross. The bulk of our active users are primarily involved with the autocross program, and the demographics of our region as a whole skew largely to being made up of cone punters But there are members of most all activities SCCA offers, and most of them visit this forum from time to time.

[ShawnO]

You have SCCA National, Divisions, and then Regions. SARRC is comprised of regions that are members of the Southeast Division of SCCA. The Alabama Region SCCA (ALSCCA as it is commonly referred to) is a member of the Southeast Division and also part of the SAARC group. You are correct, SAARC is strictly a W2W championship. The only W2W approved track in the ALSCCA region is Barber, so anything else would count as a track outside our region.

I hope my tone doesn't come across as condescending, I'm just trying to make sure the language is clear.

As far as the "this site as the Birmingham autocross site" comment goes, "alscca.net" as a whole is for our entire region's club activity. This includes other activities, such as Time Trials, HPDE (or whatever we're calling those now), Club Racing (W2W), and obviously autocross. The bulk of our active users are primarily involved with the autocross program, and the demographics of our region as a whole skew largely to being made up of cone punters But there are members of most all activities SCCA offers, and most of them visit this forum from time to time.

Not condescending at all. It's difficult to understand how to get to where I want to go with all the acronyms. I needed clear and concise direction or I'd just keep plunking around confusing websites. NASA and SCCA site's points to dead weblinks many times. NASA, HPDE, SAARC, SEDIV, and then there's the Hoosier Super Tour. I haven't even bothered with trying to figure out NASA's racing circuits...

We're all just car junkies and BTW I wasn't trying to be a crapper by calling this an "autocross site".

Sincere thanks for your help. Good information :thumbsup:

[chuck schultz]

There is an alternative to the route you're thinking of taking, and it might be less expensive. In February, the Buccaneer Region SCCA should have a racing school at Roebling Road Raceway, near Savannah, GA, which you can enter either with your own race car or one you might be able to rent. I think it's a 2 or 3-day event, with classroom instruction, on-track activities, and a couple short races. Here's a page with contact info for that region - https://www.buccaneerregion.com/contact.html You should email them for more info. I'd try the Regional Executive or Registration, both listed on that page.

I'm definitely no expert on current license requirements, but these folks should be able to help, since they've been involved in running this driver's school for many years.

Edit: I just looked at the second link you posted of the proposed 2020 SEDiv Schedule. The schedule will be finalized at the division's annual meeting listed on Feb 1-2. The school I've mentioned is there, Feb 15-16. It's probably not listed on the MotorsportReg link because they want a more-personal approach to a novice school.

[JohnW8]

SCCA Racing school is wayyyyy cheaper than those schools listed above.

[Chuck Baader]

Even if you rent a car, driver's school at Roebling Road is much cheaper than any other. In addition, if you can go fast at RR, you can compete at any other race track in the SE. Note...tracks. Road Atlanta...3.5hrs. Roebling...5hours. VIR....10hours.
So you are mostly in the middle of the popular tracks in the SE...except Barber...18minutes.

[ShawnO]

There is an alternative to the route you're thinking of taking, and it might be less expensive. In February, the Buccaneer Region SCCA should have a racing school at Roebling Road Raceway, near Savannah, GA, which you can enter either with your own race car or one you might be able to rent. I think it's a 2 or 3-day event, with classroom instruction, on-track activities, and a couple short races. Here's a page with contact info for that region - https://www.buccaneerregion.com/contact.html You should email them for more info. I'd try the Regional Executive or Registration, both listed on that page.

I'm definitely no expert on current license requirements, but these folks should be able to help, since they've been involved in running this driver's school for many years.

Edit: I just looked at the second link you posted of the proposed 2020 SEDiv Schedule. The schedule will be finalized at the division's annual meeting listed on Feb 1-2. The school I've mentioned is there, Feb 15-16. It's probably not listed on the MotorsportReg link because they want a more-personal approach to a novice school.

Very interesting.... Thanks Chuck - I've seen you've always been a big help to all.

SCCA Racing school is wayyyyy cheaper than those schools listed above.

Thanks man. Maybe back to the drawing board or I may just press the "easy" money button. Telling you all that these programs do not do a great job communicating to outsiders on how to be an insider.

Even if you rent a car, driver's school at Roebling Road is much cheaper than any other. In addition, if you can go fast at RR, you can compete at any other race track in the SE. Note...tracks. Road Atlanta...3.5hrs. Roebling...5hours. VIR....10hours.
So you are mostly in the middle of the popular tracks in the SE...except Barber...18minutes.

http://www.roeblingroad.com/drive-ro...way-track.html

BERTIL ROOS RACING SCHOOL - About $4K for the 3-day school but the school is November 2020
https://racenow.com/schedule-pricing/

Buccaneer Region doesn't have anything posted but I'm gonna reach out via email.

I don't have a car that's caged right now. I'm going to go to a few races and see if spec Miata is the place to be or if something else sticks out before I blow a bunch of money on a car in a class that no one competes in.

As Always - Many Thanks and Merry Christmas

[DelanieC]

If you want to always have some competition, Spec Miata is what you want. You can compete in SCCA, NASA, or even SVRA (vintage racing), with the exact same rulebook, and it's easy to dip into other classes as well. And there's no cheaper car to run or repair.

And count me as another vote for the Race School at Roebling with buccaneer region. That's where I did race school as well as about everyone else who races SCCA in the southeast. Planet Miata and Panic Motorsports is usually there with rental cars. I'll probably be there that weekend racing with SVRA. They do a school that weekend as well and a Mazda Heritage Cup race (which is just Spec Miata).