Last we met, you might recall that we were chatting about how registration for the Oct. 24-27, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA® Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty at NCM Motorsports Park was coming up…fast. As in, super-fast. As in, we were nearing the 300-foot marker and it was time to start planning your next move. As in, you needed to mark your calendar for Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. CT, because that’s when registration for the 2024 Time Trials Nationals was going live.
Guess what? We’re now at the 100-foot marker – it’s action time.
You’ll also recall that we teased what’ll be going on during the pre-Halloween thriller at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, KY. Well, we’re here with the details – and you’ll note that change is in the air.
Let’s Get On Track
Time Trials Nationals (TTN) is on the calendar as a four-day event, but that doesn’t mean the same thing will be going on all four days. Here’s what you can expect once your GPS dumps you at NCM’s front gate.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
While TTN is on the books as Oct. 24-27, Wednesday afternoon is actually load-in for drivers and crew. Here’s when you claim a paddock spot and prep your area.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Thursday is the Expo and Hagerty Welcome Party. But before we get to checking out TTN’s equivalent of “parc fermé” while shoveling down backyard BBQ and brew, there’s on-track action to take care of. This year, TTN dives straight in with drivers seeing one practice session followed by two timed sessions around NCM’s 3.15-mile, 23-turn Grand Full Course.
Alongside this, the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge (UTCC) will kick off. If you’ve wanted to see pro-level time attack cars in action, you’re in the right place.
Friday, Oct. 25
You’re back on the Grand Full Course for three timed sessions. And while TTN competition is just heating up, GRM’s UTCC will be concluding, with their podium celebration taking place that evening.
Saturday, Oct. 26
If you want to succeed on Saturday, you’ll need your head in the game.
Today, drivers will experience a TrackSprint (on the 1.1-mile, 10-turn east course), with the 2.0-mile, 13-turn west course offering competitors two lapping sessions consisting of three flying laps each. Considering TrackSprint is a standing-start to flying-finish competition (ala HillClimb), Saturday will offer a multi-discipline, rapid-fire challenge that ups the TTN ante.
Winding down after an adrenaline-filled day of competition is important, so we’ve got something special planned for this evening that leans into the fact that TTN is taking place just a few days before Halloween. Stick around and join the fun!
Sunday, Oct. 27
It’s back to the big track, with drivers tackling the Grand Full Course once again. But because “more” seems to be this year’s theme, we’ve added a third lapping session to the day, packing the event with more seat time than ever.
With track time finally completed, the scores will be added and the KONI Podium Celebrations will kick off.
The Times That Count
Scores? Yes, scores! All that track time wasn’t for nothing – and here’s how it works.
Combined, Thursday and Friday offer five opportunities for you to land your first timed score. Then, we add in your fastest of Saturday’s TrackSprint runs on the east course plus your best lap time from the flying laps on the west course. Your fourth and final score comes from Sunday’s on-track sessions. Tally those top times, and the driver with the lowest cumulative time per class takes the cake.
But First…
All of that said, right now you need to register for the event – because, you know, that’s how things work. Registration for the Oct. 24-27, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA® Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty at NCM Motorsports Park opens Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. CT – then as soon as you’ve signed up, you’ll want to hit this link to let everyone know that you’re going.
But first, here’s the link to register:
Photo by Philip Royle
