SCCA & Talons......wtf

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

Ok, So I'm over here on the east cost, so SCCA is who I got my lisence through. So now I'm trying to race my talon in road racing events. However, I don't think it is possible. There isn't a catagory that it(the car) fits in. I don't want to do Solo, and time trials. Does anyone have any knowledge about this? I scaned a couple threads but didn't see what I was looking for. Any input would be great.

There is a catagory for non-turbo talons/eclipses but that isn't me.

 

[Ludachris]

I can't speak on SCCA but I know NASA has some options for you. And they'll likely work with you to transfer your SCCA license over. Check for the NASA region in your area in the Regional section.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

Actually I was already looking into that.
I'm also looking into getting a new class for SCCA. I think it is time that they get up to date that there are cars that come with turbos and maybe just maybe the drivers want to road race those cars.
If not I will have to find a way to get another car to race with. That is looking like a good idea for me.

 

[drivemusicnow]

... Scca doesn't have a place for any modified turbo AWD cars. NASA is a MUCH better organization for many cars, and is gaining popularity by the day. I would suggest going that route, rather than buying a spec car to race in SCCA. (that's what scca has turned into. Almost everything they have is a spec class)

 

[Zero Bar]

NASA started that "Performance touring" category which gives us a fair place to play, I don't know if SCCA is planning on the same or not but I hope so.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

I guess before I make too many big steps toward getting a car that suits SCCA or converting to NASA, I really need to see how far I want to go with road racing. Or really how much I can afford on my own. . I really just want to race, the car doesn't matter. But since I have two DSM, I figure I should race the ballz off of one. Not buy another car.

 

[Defiant]

A bit off-topic.
I always wanted to race. I never could afford it, so I used to hang around with other guys who raced, and did whatever I could to get close to their racing.
I made the mistake of asking one of them about SCCA one day. God, the dressing-down I got for that. Tale after tale about how poorly they were running things out here, and how much so many were doing for nothing.
The capper was a tale of driving down to Willow Springs to run, trailering the car, paying fees, volunteering, and then after winning the race, the wooden plaque with the $4 sticker on it for an award had a beer can tab nailed to it for a hanger. Not as a joke, because it wasn't to be seen.
So my thoughts toward the Sports Car Club of America got skewed, early-on.
Apologies for the interruption.

 

[Ludachris]

I guess before I make too many big steps toward getting a car that suits SCCA or converting to NASA, I really need to see how far I want to go with road racing. Or really how much I can afford on my own. . I really just want to race, the car doesn't matter. But since I have two DSM, I figure I should race the ballz off of one. Not buy another car.

NASA's Pro Touring class is setup so that people can race stock cars or modified. You don't have to do much to get your car "set up" to race in that class. You just have to figure out how modified you want your car to be to see what you'd be competing against.

SCCA doesn't really want to deal with turbocharged AWD cars like ours, the Evo, or the WRX. NASA fills a void that SCCA leaves in classing cars like ours. That's why they're doing so well with the grassroots folks like us. SCCA Club Racing is great for serious racers that have a ton of money to spend. NASA is far better suited for the weekend racer that is on a budget and wants to learn and have fun along with being competitive. A lot of people race in both orgs just to get more track time.

I like to support the people who support our community - that's why I push NASA as much as I do for track events. They've shown the most willingness to welcome our community. As far as racing your DSM or another car, there are probably a few good reasons to race another car. But I'd ask that you try and race the DSM if you can. We need more people racing these cars to show the world what they can do.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

Trust me, I want to race my car and support our DSMs. So as soon as I find out how to convert my lisence you can count on me for the next season. I think I know power wise I will stay where I'm at, just put in a cage and more safety things. I will ride out. , man that was a stupid line.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Where are you on the East Coast, I can provide you with some contacts at NASA to get you in the right class and for transferring your license over. A lot of people do it as "NASA" race license takes more time than an SCCA one so they go get their SCCA and just transfer.

 

[Microrcdude]

Whats the year of the car and the mods done to it?

Most SCCA Regions have a class called "ITE" which is basically run what you brung(as long as its safe) and same with the Super Production classes. Both classes are tons of fun. Check your local region's site and see what you need to do to your car.

BTW if its a N/T 1st G you can run it in ITA

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

D_Eclipse9916: I'll be racing out of the Atlanta area, my hometown when I'm in America. I didn't plan on having to convert my license but that is just what is happening to me. Sad. I would have rather just done one way (less money).

Microrcdude: LoL why would I want to race with a non-turbo if I have two turbo cars. LoL Anyways, I looked into a lot of things with the SCCA and running an Eclipse/Talon AWD turbo. There isn't a class for it, and the only other thing is Time Trials....but that doesn't count for events for the license. So SCCA07& TalonAWD is a no go this year.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

A bit off-topic.
I always wanted to race. I never could afford it, so I used to hang around with other guys who raced, and did whatever I could to get close to their racing.
I made the mistake of asking one of them about SCCA one day. God, the dressing-down I got for that. Tale after tale about how poorly they were running things out here, and how much so many were doing for nothing.
The capper was a tale of driving down to Willow Springs to run, trailering the car, paying fees, volunteering, and then after winning the race, the wooden plaque with the $4 sticker on it for an award had a beer can tab nailed to it for a hanger. Not as a joke, because it wasn't to be seen.
So my thoughts toward the Sports Car Club of America got skewed, early-on.
Apologies for the interruption.

I don't think that is off topic, seeing how I'm kind of complaining about SCCA as well. ^^

 

[Slow old poop]

D_Eclipse9916: I'll be racing out of the Atlanta area, my hometown when I'm in America. I didn't plan on having to convert my license but that is just what is happening to me. .

Be careful on converting that SCCA license. It may not be as easy as you think, because NASA is hip to SCCA "driver's schools."

Never been to one myself, but from what I hear, it's similar to running a one-day HPDE without an instructor. The instructors don't ride with you. Instead, they watch from the sidelines, write critiques, and then issue a license after as little as one day on track. You can literally buy a legal race car, take it to a school, and run an SCCA regional race, all in a single weekend!

I was at a BMW Club HPDE a couple of years ago when an SCCA-licensed driver showed up, so they put him in Advanced class. He was so slow and dangerous, they moved him back to novice class and gave him an instructor. He'd been to one of those one-day-wonder SCCA schools, had a regional license, and was a moving obstacle out there.

You probably don't fit into that category, but I bet NASA at least gives you a check ride before they issue a NASA race license. Don't think a license swap is automatic.

Rich

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Typically it is a one session of ride-along before you are allowed to convert your SCCA license to NASA. And yes NASA is wising up. Last year they were so pissed at this guy racing they kicked him out and got a damn good talking to in the pit lanes in front of everybody.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

Seems funny, I didn't know that they gave one day license. It was definately alittle more than that. Either way, I will do what I got to do. Other wise, I won't be racing...and that will be bad for me.

I think that is would be best if they looked into all of the schools that issue SCCA license and then rule out the ones that won't just transfer over. This would be an idea to fixing the problem.

 

[RonJeremY]

The simple fact that the SCCA pulled out of Pro Rally in the US last year proves two things:

1. They are DEATHLY afraid of AWD turbo cars
2. They suck

 

[Ludachris]

The simple fact that the SCCA pulled out of Pro Rally in the US last year proves two things:

1. They are DEATHLY afraid of AWD turbo cars
2. They suck

I think it has more to do with how they were going to make their money, and I don't think Rally was going to make much for them compared to their other programs.

 

[Ludachris]

Seems funny, I didn't know that they gave one day license. It was definately alittle more than that. Either way, I will do what I got to do. Other wise, I won't be racing...and that will be bad for me.

I think that is would be best if they looked into all of the schools that issue SCCA license and then rule out the ones that won't just transfer over. This would be an idea to fixing the problem.

Yes, but they need to see for themselves how much you know. That's why a ride-along means more to them than SCCA credentials. They can't depend on an outside organization (like SCCA) to get you ready prepared for their racing programs. The only responsible thing for them to do is to evaluate you on their own. And they're pretty good at it.

In SCCA, it's fairly easy to get a license if you have money and some skills. Take an expensive two-day race course at Skip Barber and you got it. In NASA, it's fairly easy to get a license if you have the skills without shelling out much money. But you have to show the instructors that you're ready for it, not just that you passed a class.

 

[DSMunknown]

A bit off-topic.
I always wanted to race. I never could afford it, so I used to hang around with other guys who raced, and did whatever I could to get close to their racing.
I made the mistake of asking one of them about SCCA one day. God, the dressing-down I got for that. Tale after tale about how poorly they were running things out here, and how much so many were doing for nothing.
The capper was a tale of driving down to Willow Springs to run, trailering the car, paying fees, volunteering, and then after winning the race, the wooden plaque with the $4 sticker on it for an award had a beer can tab nailed to it for a hanger. Not as a joke, because it wasn't to be seen.
So my thoughts toward the Sports Car Club of America got skewed, early-on.
Apologies for the interruption.

Thankfully for Defiant's post, my views on SCCA are now also skewed.

 

[jtmcinder]

The simple fact that the SCCA pulled out of Pro Rally in the US last year proves two things:
1. They are DEATHLY afraid of AWD turbo cars
2. They suck

Oh, please. I have an AWD turbo and the SEB has done me without the courtesy of KY twice in five years, but I'm still not this naive.

Spectators got killed. It just wasn't worth the legal risk any more.

If they hated AWD turbos, why the heck did they start a RallyCross program?

- Jtoby

 

[Greg Collier]

Because SCCA is so frigging huge with so many members it was all about the Rally series being a financial burden. If you're losing money in one program you shouldn't pull money from another to keep it afloat. That's just good business practice.

And by the way, every race orginization has its good and bad...

Race licensing is a fairly easy process. You do a two-day approved race school with SCCA and or NASA to earn your provisional license. You wear a large orange "R" rookie sticker on 4 sides of your car for 8 races, and if you have no incidents you can get licensed.

With NASA if they feel that your participation during your race school track time is not up to the task, they will tell you that you need more experience before a provisional will be approved. They would prefer you participate in the HPDE program for a year prior to going for your license, although it's not mandatory. NASA also has a phone call oral exam, asking questions regarding flags and hypothetical track situations. You can fail the oral.

Bottom line is, if you feel uncomfortable driving wheel-to-wheel in a pack of 50 cars or more, at speeds in excess of 100 mph, with a bunch of cocky "I'm gonna take your line" racers, then don't apply for a license until you feel confident! I certainly don't want to be on the track with you...

 

[RonJeremY]

I should have qualified my previous post as being sarcastic

The Oregon Rally Group (oregonrally.com) puts on all of the local rallycrosses here. The SCCA is still the sanctioning body, but there have been rumors we might have to look elsewhere for our insurance in the future. We don't even have an SCCA steward at every event anymore.

I am actually going to join/support SCCA next year to do autocross. This is getting expensive, with four car club memberships next year

Rally doesn't make money in the US, but it is growing right now. Thank you X-Games and Travis Pastrana! My only hope is that it continues to do so in order to make it somewhat affordable for us workin' folk. It is unfortunate when anyone gets killed in motorsports. There always has and always will be inherent risk involved, and the sport needs to keep evolving as safely as possible. I love watching group B videos, but am glad people realised it was just something humans could not participate in safely. Those crazy eruopean spectators sure didn't help either. I mean who needs to get a picture from the driving line?

 

[Defiant]

Those crazy eruopean spectators sure didn't help either. I mean who needs to get a picture from the driving line?

Or from the grille. I don't know how the drivers can put up with all those people right there. I don't even like people.

 

[RonJeremY]

Our sometimes SCCA safety steward told me a story from his days of rallying in europe in the 80's about a guy who went to fill up with fuel and the tip of a finger came out when they opened the fuel door. Someone was trying to peel a sticker off the car as it was going by and it got stuck in the crack! It is close enough for me just to get hit by rocks while trying to read the tape at flying finish.