SCCA® might have the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to thank for Tim O’Brien’s involvement in Timing & Scoring – something that ultimately led to him being presented with the 2023 Timing & Scoring Worker of the Year presented by Mazda award.

His first experiences as a volunteer came in the Porsche Club of America monitoring sound levels at an autocross. Volunteering got him to an autocross, which led to his involvement in doing manual timing for a PCA race, and then thanks to a combination of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America and customs at the border, he was introduced to SCCA Timing & Scoring. Yes, it was a roundabout way to get to the Sports Car Club of America, but if it works, it works.

O’Brien had volunteered to help time a BMW Club track day at Watkins Glen International. The equipment was to come to the Glen after being used at Mosport (aka: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park), but it got held at the border. BMW Club reached out to the SCCA, and the Finger Lakes Region came through with a loan of equipment so the event could go on. O’Brien thought he might see if he could help at the next SCCA race, and, as he says, “the hook was set when I figured out that I could go to lots of events and do Timing.” That was around the turn of the century.

His time in the Club has been quite diverse, including running sound at Central New York Region autocrosses. He’s also worked grid and black flag, thanks to the Porsche and BMW clubs, but in SCCA, “Timing is what I know and do best” – so it’s there where he wants to stay.

He also says that the HVAC and weather protection that T&S offers is an incentive to remain in the specialty. Plus, “I get to be at the track with great people and play with computers.”

O’Brien has had some interesting assignments thanks to the SCCA. He’s the T&S person for the USF series, and he’s been able to visit many tracks. “Watkins Glen International is my home track, but, with SCCA, I’ve gone to and helped in Timing at many events. I’ve spent a lot of time with great people in T&S.”

Photo courtesy Tim O’Brien