And Away We Go -- The annual gathering of Sports Car Club of America® members at Lincoln AirPark in Nebraska is underway for the 46th running of the Tire Rack SCCA® Solo Nationals Championship! Back in 2015, the event reached a high-water mark of 1,223 entries. The following year, there were 1,302 participants from around the United States, Canada and even Brazil. In 2017, Solo Nationals set a new participation record with 1,317 entrants.  This year, with nearly 1,400 entries anticipated, the record could again be reset, further cementing Solo Nationals as one of the largest motorsport participant events in the world. From Sept. 4-7, follow the competition online with live timing and audio at http://sololive.scca.com/.  There will also be frequent updates at https://www.facebook.com/sccaofficial/ and https://www.facebook.com/solomatters/.

But First, We Party! -- You can’t start Solo Nationals without the Monday night welcome party, AKA: Tacos & Talent presented by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, BFGoodrich Tires and the Lincoln Visitor's Bureau.  A handful of hardy “chefs” braved scorching heat, generated by nearly 400 pounds of charcoal spread across four grills, to prepare 250 lbs. of beef and 250 lbs. of chicken to create nearly 4,000 soft tacos for the hungry throng filling the 40’x120’ Big Fun Tent.  Add in mounds of rice and refried beans and it’s safe to say the crowd didn’t walk away hungry.  And any food that was left over was donated to People’s City Mission. To top off the feast, revelers helped themselves to 80 cases of free beer, nearly as much free soda, and some free entertainment supplied by various talented SCCA members, and you can watch the entertainers again at the Grassroots Motorsports Facebook page. If you go to only one Tacos & Talent event a year, make it the Solo Nationals Tacos & Talent extravaganza.

The Opening Salvo -- The Tire Rack Solo Nationals is broken up into two halves.  One giant group of drivers competes across various car classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, then another giant group of drivers competes in a whole different set of car classes on Thursday and Friday.  That means the first group of 2018 Solo Nationals Champions will be named Wednesday night, and the second group on Friday night.  A list of car classes, and the days they will be competing, can be found here.

Photo: Tire Rack Solo Nats attendees load up on tacos Monday evening