It’s Official: Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals Sets New Attendance Record
TOPEKA, Kan. (September 14, 2016) – The 2016 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals, presented by Garmin VIRB, has set a new attendance record. Officially, a total of 1,305 drivers crossed the timing lights September 5-9 at Lincoln Airpark this year in Lincoln, Nebraska. That makes the 2016 event the largest in Sports Car Club of America history, and most likely the largest annual motorsports event on Earth.
A total of 70 different car classes took part in the 2016 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals presented by Garmin VIRB. There were 37 winners named after the first two days of racing, and another 33 titles handed out after the final two days of competition.
Howard Duncan, SCCA’s Senior Director of Solo, said the previous record of 1,228 competitors was set in 2015 at the Tire Rack Solo Nationals. Before that, the record was 1,185 drivers on hand for the 2014 Solo Nationals.
“We’ve broken the attendance record three years running,” Duncan said. “That stands as a testament to the health of the SCCA’s Solo program and shows just how much the Solo community enjoys the annual pilgrimage to Lincoln, Nebraska. The week always features fantastic competition and is a chance for people to reconnect with friends from around the country. It’s truly an amazing event.
“From a competition standpoint, Solo is a very important portion of the SCCA,” Duncan continued. “It’s an affordable entry point for people interested in getting involved in motorsports. Instead of potential members needing to invest money and time to transform a production-based car into a fully vetted, safe racecar for track events, they can compete in Solo with a car driven daily on streets. By lowering entry barriers, the SCCA gets people behind the wheel in a cost-effective, competitive and safe environment that helps guarantee the long-term health of our sport.”
Months of preparation go in to the annual Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals. It is a massive undertaking to smoothly guide 1,305 racers from start to finish over a week, as well as organize paddock operations and banquets that go along with the event. Planning is already underway for the 2017 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals, presented by Garmin VIRB, which will be held September 5-8, 2017, again at Lincoln Airpark in Lincoln, Nebraska. The annual ProSolo Finale is also set to take place September 1-3 next year at the venue.
Photo: Some of the 1,305 racers at this year’s Tire Rack Solo Nationals walk a course before competition begins.
Photo Credit: Rupert Berrington
