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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

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|
Read More

2019 SCCA National Convention Dates and Location

For 2019, the annual SCCA National Convention will return January 17-19 to South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This year's National Convention will be very special as its theme is "Celebrating Our Legacy, Building Our Future" and serves as the official start of the Club's 75th Anniversary celebration. The Convention will again be a familiar format that encompasses leadership development and skills training for Club members. Details on times and a full schedule will be announced later this year. But as usual, the Annual Meeting and welcome reception will be held Thursday, followed by two days of training. Various fun social activities will certainly be included, too. The SCCA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet on Saturday night then caps festivities. Organizers are also seeking additional topics and presenters for Convention leadership and training sessions. Those who believe they have subjects of interest can submit a presentation proposal athttps://www.scca.com/pages/speaker-application. Presentations are usually done in one-hour blocks. Longer presentations are allowed under rare circumstances. The submission deadline is June 15, 2018, for presentation proposals. More information about the 2019 SCCA National Convention and special lodging packages will be made available at https://www.scca.com/pages/nationalconvention in the coming months.

By |2018-07-17T16:20:30-04:00May 31st, 2018|Events|
Read More

NER Grant Money Purchases New CRE Helmets

Check out these four new Pyrotect Safety Gear helmets we have available as loaners for participants in this year’s DialedInRacing.com Club Racing Experience (CRE)! Darius Trinka, experienced New England Region SCCAroad racer and proprietor of rabidwraps, graciously custom designed and wrapped the loaner helmets in different colors so we can better keep track of them. These helmets along with HANS devices were obtained using a grant from SCCA Inc. headquarters in Topeka and generous local sponsorship from Dialed in Racing. Providing a loaner helmet and head-and-neck restraint systems is just one of the ways we are helping reduce the cost of experiencing wheel-to-wheel road racing with the New England Region SCCA. The latest registration details show we have nine participants expected for the Memorial Day Weekend CRE at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but there is room for a couple more. If you’ve attempted wheel-to-wheel racing in one of the budget enduro racing series or become addicted to track days (HPDE) and want to take it to the next level, the CRE is a great way to learn to race and earn your competition license. This coming weekend is the first of four schedule CRE weekends planned for 2018. For more information about CRE you can look at http://www.ner.org/club-racing-experience/ and feel [...]

By |2018-06-22T10:25:22-04:00May 30th, 2018|Road Racing|
Read More

Stay up to date! Get PitTalk in your inbox!

Pit Talk, the official publication of New England Region, SCCA Inc., is published online and available free of charge to all members of the Region. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of either the New England Region, SCCA Inc., the National Organization of Sports Car Club of America, Inc. or the editors of Pit Talk. Articles appearing on this website may be reprinted without written consent provided credit is given to the author, the publication, and the New England Region, SCCA Inc.

© 2023 PitTalk | Contact Us