If you’ve been around the SCCA® for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard the story about seven car enthusiasts meeting in a Boston brownstone on the corner of Mt. Vernon and Brimmer Street on Feb. 26, 1944. That evening, Chapin Wallour opened his home to Everett Dickinson, John Duby, Arnold Engborg, Theodore Robertson, George Schulz, and Robert Townsend; the result was the formation of the Sports Car Club of America. Eighty years later and sporting an unbelievable history no one saw coming and few clubs can match, the SCCA is running strong, with more than 50,000 annual members and another 20,000 weekend members. Yet while the Club’s 80th anniversary is something to celebrate, this wouldn’t have been possible without SCCA Regions – many of which have hit or surpassed significant milestones themselves.
In 2023 over the Labor Day weekend, Washington DC Region hosted its Labor Day Weekend Road Racing and Charity Event. The event raised money for a good cause and attracted a healthy entry count in the process. Washington DC Region is actually the Club’s oldest Region, with the first Regional Executive’s appointment coming on Dec. 16, 1944, during the Club’s first Annual Meeting, and recorded in the November-December 1944 issue of The Sportwagen (later becoming SportsCar magazine).
“Lt. (j.g.) S. Hempstone Oliver, USNR, has accepted the appointment of Regional Executive for the Washington, D.C. Region. He will represent the Club in that region, and will handle all Club affairs therein,” it said in The Sportwagen. “Hemp needs no introduction, as he is one of the best known and most active of our members, having sponsored no less than twelve members into the Club.”
DC Region doesn’t stand alone in the Club’s success. The following Regions all date back at least 75 years with the SCCA: Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, New England, Ohio Valley, Tennessee, Detroit, San Francisco, Western Ohio, Western New York, Milwaukee, Florida, New York, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis.
We would list all of the SCCA Regions that have celebrated (or are currently celebrating) 50 years with the SCCA, but even excluding those Regions named above, the list is still 87 strong.
All of this is to say that yes, the Sports Car Club of America is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2024, but none of this would have happened without the hard work and dedication from volunteers in all of the Club’s 115 Regions.
Thank you to every volunteer, driver, crew, and fan – and happy birthday SCCA!
