SCCA Driver School 2009 Review

[ninjabones]

Yonk-hole and I just got back from the WDCR SCCA Driver School at Summit Point this weekend.  I can speak for both of us... that was the most fun either of us has ever had (period)!

We both had SSM-prepped miatas. Our group included 31 miatas and two ITB cars (including a blue VW driven by Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame).  Needless to say, it was some very close and exciting racing going on throughout the entire weekend. 

The school is designed to prepare drivers for actual SCCA racing, so the expectations were high (as many of the students will by fighting for position against the instructors in races later this season).  There was tons of track time and very good instruction (two students per instructor).  Essentially, you were either in the classroom getting critiqued (Socratic method) or you were on the track. Race rules applied through every session and the instructors were lined up at every corner assessing performance. 

It rained all day Saturday. Consequently, there were a ton of offs and many body panels dented through the course of the weekend (but then again, that's why we were in Miatas and not Porsches).  SCCA really had their acts together (I think there were 300 volunteers), they'd do hot pulls in the middle of a session, black flags, yellow flags, white flags, red flags (sometimes all at one flag station).  Cars fighting for position 3- or even 4-wide going into turn 1 during the practice starts.  You really had to be on your toes constantly to stay out of trouble. 

Things dried out by Sunday morning and that's when things got really interesting.  Adrenaline started to pump a bit more, comfort levels rose, and the competition got a bit more fierce.  People were defending positions a bit more aggressively, and some guys were attempting some very interesting and non-conventional passes (and learning the hard way why they are not conventional). 

Sunday culminated in a 5 lap race.  Qualifying position was determined by lap times during the previous sessions.  Unfortunately, they created an inverse grid (apparently for the instructors' entertainment).  So, the fasted guys were put in the back of the pack.  Yonker and I actually did quite well (I qualified 4th and Dan qualified 5th).  Consequently, we started in 28th and 27th position respectively out of 31 cars.  We did two practice starts with racing to the black-flag station on the uphill after turn 3.  We then were gridded according to our position at the end of the second practice start. 

Just before the first practice start, it started to deluge. Unfortunately, most of us had dry tires mounted (shaved RA1s are the spec tire).  By the actual race, the track was a complete mess.  The carnage, dirt, smoke, sirens, flags, and chaos were mindblowing.  Fortunately, I was pretty safe at the rear of the pack as I watched about 10 cars planted in the gravel traps and noses burried in tire walls on the first lap.  Dan and I moved our way up the pack, picking off one car at a time.  We managed to get to 5th and 6th position by the last lap (making up more than 20 positions).  Unfortunately, I had a little altercation in the carusel that cost my 7 positions on the last lap.  Dan kicked serious ass and won the Hard Charger award by moving from 27th to 5th in the 5 lap race.  I ended up finishing 14th (and I was very happy to have finished essentially mid-pack). 

So overall, we had a blast and survived our first race. Both of us are changed men, and will likely be seeking more adrenaline fixes with SCCA or NASA in SSM miatas later this season.  Anyone interested in getting real wheel-to-wheel racing experience should definitely consider this school.  I have to say that it was the most bang-for-the buck racing experience I've ever had (including two skip barber schools that paled in comparison).  Kudos to Dan for agreeing to go with me on a whim and congrats to him for kicking ass in the race. 

[ninjabones]

Unfortunately, I didn't bring my video camera... but if any of you wanted to take a look at some action from the event, there's already a bunch of good video on youtube.  Here's some in-car from another driver to give you a flavor of the action during one of the 9 track sessions during this weekend.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqSUFH-64...re=related

[Phokaioglaukos]

Having done Skip Barber and the WDCR SCCA race school, I'll second what Glen says. On a smiles per dollar basis the WDCR school wins hands down. I did SB at Laguna Seca with clients and it was a great bonding experience and a beautiful track. Dinners in Monterey were great, too. SB was not, however, preparation for W2W racing with the SCCA. The WDCR school was.

WDCR hosts the MARRS series of ten races, one each this year at VIR, Lightning and Thunderbolt and the rest at Summit Point. There are regularly 45 or more SSM cars in a race. We "voluntarily" dyno and seal our engines, and of course we all have spec suspensions, tires, weight and the like and a full cage. The cars are VERY evenly matched, so it's the driver that makes most of the difference. As administered by the WDCR, the rules for SSM in the MARRS series favor the first generation Miatas, the 1990-93 1600cc cars that are cheaper than the later Miatas.

Unlike PCA, BMW and Vintage racing, the SCCA does not have a 13/13 rule. Contact can be and is punished, but unintentional or inadvertant contact, even when metal bends, does not generally result in a penalty. Because Miatas are relatively inexpensive, lots of people start their racing career in them. Optimistic pass attempts and large fields do create contact--some call it Spec Piñata. In 10 races last year I had minor contact twice (donuts on the side of the car) and significant contact once (bent rear quarter panel).
 
The SCCA sponsors an amazing race. The big difference with NASA, PCA and other club racing is that SCCA is an all-volunteer organization, and there are a LOT of volunteers. Each race weekend has about 300 volunteers who flag, handle the radios, time and score, work the grid, drive tow trucks and ambulances and the like. Every flag station is fully staffed and they do "hot pulls" on the track. It's very exciting. I'm a great believer in the SCCA, and SSM in MARRS.

[KennyB]

Sounds like a ton o' fun!  I'll def have to do this next year.  Glen, Dan - I'll get the skinny from you guys when I see you next.

 

KB