SCCA Driver School 2009 Review

[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.