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Tarheel Sports Car Club
Time Trial Series
The Tarheel Sports Car Club is starting a two event Time Trial series
for the 2000 season. Not to be confused with a racing series, a typical
Time Trial event consists of morning practice sessions followed by three
timed laps. There is no wheel to wheel racing during the practice session's
or the time trial. The practice sessions, will be held under normal
driving school protocol, that is passing on straight's after receiving
a passing signal form the lead car. The Time Trial will have cars sufficiently
spaced out, so that they should not come within close proximity of each
other, with re-runs given in cases when they do. Events will be run
under current SCCA SOLO1 rules, with the exception that driving suits
will not be required, except for open wheel cars. Classes would include
current SCCA SOLO1, SCCA CLUB Racing, and possibly marque club racing
categories.
Time Trials provide the participant with an opportunity to run in an
competitive event without exposing themselves to risks greater than
that of a typical driving school. A Time Trial is not a driving school.
Participants must meet a minimum set of requirements and are issued
a licence. Novices, people with little to no track experience, will
be required to attend two CarGuy's Inc. schools before receiving a provisional
licence. With the number of marque clubs regularly holding track driving
schools and the success of organizations like CarGuys Inc., this state
has developed an impressive pool of highly competent drivers, many of
whom would like to be able to compete on track. Other than autocross,
the only available option, in this part of the country, is club racing.
Time Trials are the perfect venue to fill this gap, as it does not
require a dedicated expendable race car. It is expected that some people,
when exposed to Time Trials will move on to club racing, while some
may feel it "fills the need for speed" without the stress,
pressure, and associated risk of wheel to wheel club racing.
Time Trials or Speed Trials, are by no means a new concept. The SCCA
calls it SOLO1, and the south east has been running a successful SOLO1
series for many, many years. EMRA (Easter Motor Racing Association)has
had a successful Time Trial program since the 1960's to supplement their
club racing program. We feel this can be equally successful in North
Carolina.
The Tarheel Sports Car Club, is and has always been, an autocross club.We
do have a significant minority of members active in track events, and
have assembled an multi-club affiliated staff willing to run a series,
it will not be possible to kick off this series without the participation
of members from the various marque clubs. You know who you are, I'm
referring to the "Usual Suspects" or "Track Junkies"
out there. Ultimately, if the series proves successful, we hope the
Marque Clubs will get involved directly and host an event per year,
making this truly a multi-club state wide series.
We should have no problem keeping costs below $180 for the weekend,
our target is around the $165 range. However, we would like to include
a social dinner and something better than a plaque of wood for a trophy.
We are looking to secure an event at both Carolina Motorsports Park
(long course) and VIR (club course). If you are interested in participating
in such an event, please let us know.
Mark D. Vitacco
Tarheel Sports Car Club
919 790 7159 home
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