June Letter from the RE

JUNE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE REPORT It’s been a little while since I have written one of these, and to be honest, I’ve missed it. Thankfully, though, the hiatus from the RE report and Pit Talk was a short one. You hold in your hands (if using a phone or tablet) the most recent iteration of the famed and renowned Pit Talk magazine, the official publication of the New England Region of the SCCA. Although it was a long and difficult process, all those involved with creating this new version are very happy with the outcome. We feel this fresh start brings us up to current standards for digital publication and carries NER and Pit Talk fully into the digital age. Fret not if you prefer the tried and true paper publication! As an NER member, you are entitled to receive the Pit Talk Annual in your good old fashioned mailbox. This issue, sent once a year, will have season results, top stories from the year, photos, and even fresh new stories. Think of it as a sort of yearbook for the club. All you need to do in order to receive this paper-and-ink version is be an NER member. Start [...]

By |2018-06-23T10:10:26-04:00June 22nd, 2018|Region News|
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Lime Rock Park Paddock Crawl

Perfect Race Weather The forecast was for picture perfect weather for the annual Paddock Crawl regional at Lime Rock park over Father's Day weekend. And the weathermen did not disappoint. While there were a few drizzles and sprinkles sporadically through the day on Friday, overall, it was the ideal setting for a great race weekend. Cooler temperatures on Friday led to sun and comfortable warmth on Saturday. With 7 groups on the schedule, more than 150 competitors showed up to compete in the NERRC Regional, a good representation from all classes.  Friday was plagued by unexpected radio issues between race control and the corner stations which caused a few minor delays. But hats off to all the stewards, chiefs and workers for managing the hiccups and keeping the races running. Friday had the first Qualifying session in the morning followed by a Qualifying Sprint race in the afternoon. The best time from those two sessions would determine the grid for Saturday morning's race. Finishing position from the morning would then set the grid for the afternoon race. Race Highlights Kicking off each morning in Group 1 was our favorite Spec Racer cars. [...]

By |2018-06-22T19:25:47-04:00June 21st, 2018|Featured, Road Racing|
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The RallyCross Learning Curve

In SCCA® Rallycross®, the shortest path to success runs through the driver seat, not the garage. Most RallyCross competitors agree that better performance is easier to find through driver preparation and education than it is through vehicle upgrades. Preparing your car is still beneficial, but driver development should always be the first priority. While learning how to find speed is part of the fun, the learning curve can be shortened through more formalized and planned education. For most, this means attending a novice school put on by your local region. These are classes that are taught by experienced racers and they’re usually done during the first or second race weekend of the year. These classes not only teach racing knowledge and skills, they also explain the workings of a race day so new competitors feel more comfortable at their first few events. For those seeking an even higher level of education, there are schools such as DirtFish that are specifically dedicated to teaching the art of driving fast in rally conditions. If such classes are not available, there are still other options. The first is the use of a simulator. While some may scoff at learning through what is [...]

By |2018-08-03T17:50:06-04:00June 21st, 2018|Rally|
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Father’s Day Cone-A-Thon

After three cold and rainy events to the start of the 2018 Autocross season, a beautiful Father's Day  brought gorgeous, tropical like weather for all the participants. 164 drivers, including 25 in the Novice class and 11 in the Junior Kart classes, arrived at Deven's Field for the Speedway Slalom on June 17 -  Points Event #5 for the 2018 season.  The Father’s Day event always seems to bring out some friends we have not seen in a while, and this year was no different with Elliot Shanabrook and his son Reid with the 2018 F-Street Ford Mustang GT.  Additionally, it seemed like quite a few regulars brought their fathers or sons along to enjoy the day as well. Russ Siggelkoe received the surprise of the day. His son and daughter, who had not attended an event in some time, arrived at the course to surprise him for Father's Day. He was beaming! The youngest visitor to the track was CeCe Kean, who will be 1 on July 1st. The oldest will just have to remain anonymous! Competition Highlights A few highlights on the competition for the day: A Street - The top 4 were within a second, [...]

By |2018-06-21T14:08:10-04:00June 21st, 2018|Autocross|
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RESULTS: NERRC Paddock Crawl @ LRP

Official results from all Qualifying and Race events from this weekend are now available. Select your race group, then view or download the final Timing and Scoring results as PDF files. Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Friday Qualifying Friday Qualifying Sprint Saturday Race 1 Saturday Race 2 Read the full recap of the weekend's festivities here!

By |2018-06-22T11:11:13-04:00June 20th, 2018|Road Racing, Road Racing Results|
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2020 SCCA Runoffs Returns to the Midwest and Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 15, 2018) -- Continuing the recent tradition of moving the Sports Car Club of America® annual National Championship to a different region of the country each year, the SCCA® announced today that the Runoffs® will return in 2020 to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and Road America's beautiful 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit. The 57th SCCA National Championship Runoffs is scheduled to take place Oct. 5-11, 2020, at the storied track located midway between Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Runoffs last visited the Midwest in 2017 during a record-breaking event that included nearly 1,000 entries and took place on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Previously, the Runoffs called Road America "home" from 2009 to 2013, noted SCCA Vice President/COO Eric Prill. Since the last Road America Runoffs, the facility has continued to develop in multiple ways. "Some of the most memorable races in SCCA history have occurred at Road America, a track that requires a blend of car performance, skill and courage," Prill said. "We look forward to returning in the fall of 2020 to beautiful Elkhart Lake. From the new Paddock Shop to new restroom and shower locations, and a new trail allowing access to fantastic [...]

By |2018-07-17T16:20:39-04:00June 17th, 2018|Racing Life|
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Welcome to the New Pit Talk!

Pit Talk set the standard for region communications when it first debuted almost 75 years ago. Repeatedly recognized and awarded for its coverage of region events and a way to share the stories and adventures of racers throughout the Northeast, it is with pleasure that the New England Region is now launching the next generation of this historic and classic publication. Welcome to the new PITTALK.ORG! A New Digital Format As media outlets across the country have realized, the new face of communications is digital. Traditional printed publications are on the decline as readers and viewers transition to screens and mobile devices to obtain, view, and share news. It is with this eye on the current and the future that the region made the decision to re-create everything NER members love about the traditional Pit Talk, but in a new digital format. Additionally, by utilizing a web-based platform, the editors of Pit Talk will now have greater functionality at our fingertips to offer more interactive and engaging content. From video clips to social-media sharing, the new Pit Talk is no longer limited to simply a printed page. What to Expect PitTalk.org will not be a static site. Far from [...]

By |2018-06-17T20:17:48-04:00June 17th, 2018|Featured, Region News|
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First 2018 CRE at NHMS

The 2018 season’s first DialedInRacing.com Club Racing Experience at NHMS is in the books and we have three more on this year’s schedule: September 08-09, 2018 – Palmer Motorsports Park – Pig Roast + CRE October 05-06, 2018 – Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park – NERRC Championship Weekend + CRE August 04, 2018 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Cheap Date + CRE If you’ve tried wheel-to-wheel racing in one of the budget endurance racing series or become addicted to track days (HPDE) and want to take your skills to the next level, participating in the CRE is perfect for you!  Sponsored by DialedInRacing.com in 2018, CRE events are a fun and safe place to learn and enjoy the thrill of wheel-to-wheel racing. Participating drivers attend mandatory classroom training to learn the rules, study the basics of race craft, and understand the framework of racing events. Interspersed with their classroom sessions, novices drive on track in a lower risk, less aggressive form of wheel to wheel racing to gain experience. The first step in any exciting new adventure is always the most difficult one, but it’s easier to start than you might expect. CRE participants must wear all the safety [...]

By |2018-06-14T16:51:24-04:00June 14th, 2018|Racing Life|
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SCCA – It’s a Lifestyle

"SCCA, it's a lifestyle." Ain't it the truth! Childhood is special when one never grows up, but accrues all the wisdom and experience of adulthood, tempered with a child's reverent wonder. SCCA membership can foster that. And that never-ending childhood is particularly wonderful when you can engage in a pastime as a relatively young person -- and rapturously fall in love with it... And then carry it on, and on, and on -- as long as you can walk, talk and think. SCCA can definitely enable that. And even if you get torn asunder from this passionate activity for 20 years through an inevitable passage through the harsh realities of adulthood... Only to revert back, with that patented childlike glee -- but this time truly fortified with an adult's wisdom, well, that's akin to perfection. As strange as it sounds, it's true -- because it's exactly what I've experienced. And as you might've figured, the SCCA was an integral part. Ancient history is always relevant because 1) it should've taught us lessons and 2) it's the foundation on which we currently rest. Thank God SCCA is part of my good ole days. My racing history started in 1960 at what we today [...]

By |2018-06-17T20:13:58-04:00June 5th, 2018|Featured, Worker Specialties|
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