SCCA Bracket Enduros Back in 2016 with Sebring Club Course and Atlanta Motorsports Park On Tap
TOPEKA, Kan. (April 7, 2016) – After conducting a single, exploratory, groundbreaking Bracket Enduro in 2015, the Sports Car Club of America has added two such events so far to the 2016 calendar.
The first event will be hosted July 23-24 by the Central Florida Region on the Sebring Club Course of Sebring International Raceway. The contest will be made up of 210-minute sessions each afternoon Saturday and Sunday, resulting in seven total hours of running time on the 11-turn, 1.68-mile road course. Registration for this activity will be handled by the Region.
The second event will be put on by the Atlanta Region on August 13-14 at Atlanta Motorsports Park. That challenge will consist of two segments, one taking place Saturday afternoon and the other all-day Sunday, for a total running time of 10 hours on the 16-turn, 2-mile circuit designed by Hermann Tilke. Registration for this event is scheduled to open July 1 at SCCA.com.
Heyward Wagner, SCCA Director of Experiential Programs, said the Bracket Enduro concept was fashioned as a way for budget racers to overcome barriers, real or perceived, and get more involved in SCCA Club Racing. A less restrictive rule set for both drivers and cars, and a unique scoring method to balance the field, is what makes Bracket Enduros unique.
“Bracket Enduros are open to either full or weekend SCCA members, and no cumbersome license paperwork is required,” Wagner said. “SCCA Club Racing Experience rules guide Bracket Enduro events. While there is legitimate, wheel-to-wheel racing, the competition itself is designed to be less aggressive than traditional Club Racing, which makes it a perfect entry point for those looking to get more involved in motorsports.”
No doctor’s physical or racing license is required to take part in a Bracket Enduro. Drivers must only have an SCCA Racing Experience Participation Log, which is handed out at the event by Stewards or Registrars. Helmet, head-and-neck restraints, driver’s suit and other personal safety gear requirements are the same as SCCA Club Racing.
A unique timing system is utilized at Bracket Enduros that allows competitors to compete in various classes without cars being prepared to any particular Class. There is an Open Class, as well as three different Bracket Time Classes. Vehicles are limited to production-based cars with a performance level equal or less than Improved Touring R, E Production, GT3 or Touring 3 Classes in SCCA Club Racing. Spec Racer Fords may also participate.
Cars need to meet SCCA Club Racing safety standards. According to SCCA Bracket Enduro Manager Dick Patullo, cars do not need to have an SCCA logbook, but those without will have to be inspected to make sure they meet minimum safety standards. But generally speaking, there are no illegal cars. And if it’s safe, it’ll race.
“Competitors can choose the Class they want to run in,” Patullo said. “In Bracket Time Classes, each Class will have a pre-determined ‘delta’ time based on qualifying times of similar cars from past SCCA events. Drivers that turn a lap under that delta accumulate time in a ‘bank’ which they must pay back with longer pit stops. The length of each stop is monitored automatically by the timing system and tracked directly by teams on their smartphones.”
Time differences from the delta are multiplied by 1.5 and placed within a team’s bank. After the minimum pit stop time has elapsed, additional time in the pits is deducted from the bank. Teams can manage their banking and spending of time as they wish, and any time remaining in the bank at the finish is multiplied by 2 and applied as a penalty at race’s end.
Eric Prill, SCCA VP and COO, also noted that Bracket Enduros can be used as a Club Racing License opportunity. The Track Participation Logbook sign off procedure deployed at Bracket Enduros can actually be used to satisfy SCCA Drivers School requirements even for those who have not yet obtained a Novice Book.
“Exploring the world of endurance racing is something the Sports Car Club of America has talked about for a few years,” Prill said. “SCCA Bracket Enduros allow the Club to introduce itself to another passionate portion of the motorsport community and lets fans of these events get signed off with the SCCA while participating in a preferred activity. Most importantly, this program is fun and a great way for more people to get involved with our Club.”
For more information, visit the SCCA Bracket Enduro webpage at https://www.scca.com/pages/bracket-enduro.
Photo: SCCA Bracket Enduro events welcome production-based cars with a performance level equal or less than Improved Touring R, E Production, GT3 or Touring 3 Classes in SCCA Club Racing.
Credit: MrPhotoman.com
