Wednesday, the second of three qualifying days, is in progress at Road America for the 60th anniversary SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco, taking place Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, in Wisconsin between the charming hamlets of Elkhart Lake and Plymouth.
America’s National Park of Speed is showing its colors as trees all around the 4.048-mile, 14-turn course are in the process of changing colors for fall. It’s a thing of beauty for sure, although drivers across all 26 different car classes might not notice the scenery so much during 20-minute qualifying sessions taking place on track throughout the day.
Up-to-the-moment qualifying data, as well as archived results, can be found online at the Runoffs Timing/Scoring webpage. That’s where you’ll also find an audio-only broadcast during qualifying that features commentary from pro driver Tom O’Gorman, Road America announcer Eric Mueller, and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour broadcasters Larry “Lefty” MacLeod and Gregg Ginsberg.
An event schedule, facility map, and much more can be accessed at the SCCA Runoffs event webpage by clicking the button below.
It’s Hawk “Brake-Through Performer” Wednesday
Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA® since 2003, adds an extra layer of excitement to Wednesday’s qualifying with the Hawk “Brake-Through Performer” award.
The one driver from each of 26 car classes who makes the biggest improvement in qualifying position from Tuesday to Wednesday will win a free set of Hawk brake pads for a street car, race car, or tow vehicle. Winners must have posted Tuesday and Wednesday qualifying times to be eligible for this reward.
For more than 25 years, championship winning drivers and teams have demanded Hawk Performance motorsports brake pads. The company leverages its experience on the track, and technology used in aerospace and the military, to make first-class products in the USA.
Hawk’s advanced technology is also available for daily-driven cars, trucks, and SUVs thanks to Hawk Performance street products. With the LTS compound for SUVs and Jeeps, Super-Duty pads for tow vehicles, and brake fluids for both the street and the racetrack, Hawk has every braking need covered.
Hawk also stopped hundreds of Runoffs volunteers from hunger pains as the generous “Lunch Brake” provider of food and drink Wednesday.
Learn more about the Hawk Performance advantage by visiting HawkPerformance.com. And don’t forget to give Hawk a “like” on Facebook and Instagram.
The 5th Annual Charity Golf Cart Parade
Runoffs volunteers, teams, and drivers are all business during the day. That changes when the sun begins to set, as the paddock takes on a whole different atmosphere each year no matter where SCCA’s National Championship is held.
One highly-anticipated, annual Runoffs event gets rolling – literally – on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when creative, crazy, and colorful “floats” gather for the fifth annual Charity Golf Cart Parade. That activity also serves as a fundraiser for Lemons of Love – an organization with deep motorsports ties that provides care packages to people affected by cancer.
Anyone can join in the parade. All you need is some creativity and a golf cart – there being no shortage of either this week at the 60th anniversary SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Sunoco. Simply register your team online, then swing by the SCCA Staff Office in the Paddock Press room next to Sunoco’s fuel pumps at Road America to pick up an official cart parade number.
Parade crews will amass at the viewing tower located near the main tunnel in the North Paddock at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, then trundle off toward victory circle where expert cart announcers will make the parade call. It’s kind of like Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but without Al Roker.
The procession then winds its way around the paddock before ending up at a Runoffs Block Party destination.
We can’t forget to mention important info about the fundraising portion of this effort. As “floats” travel about, spectators are asked to visit the Charity Golf Cart Parade donation page and vote for their favorite cart by making a charitable contribution of between $10 and $100 – and be sure to enter the number of the golf cart you’re backing. Also, keep in mind you don’t have to be on site at the Runoffs to cast a vote through a donation.
The team that raises the most money will be crowned the 2024 SCCA National Golf Cart Champion – which will (technically speaking) be the first champion crowned at this year’s Runoffs.
Golf Cart Voting/Charity Donations
Wednesday’s Block Party is Back!
Every parade should end with a party, and that’s exactly what happens Wednesday evening at Road America during the annual Runoffs Block Party!
The Runoffs event schedule shows the Block Party commences at 6 p.m. local time along Main Street from the North Paddock up through the Competition Paddock, which is basically from Road America’s main entry tunnel to the Paddock Shop. Seven groups are official Block Party destinations this year, including: Mazda Motorsports, the Production Party, Central Division, SCCA Women on Track, Inside the SCCA, Hawk Performance, and the Super Touring/GT-3 Party.
There are lots of other unofficial gatherings, too, that occur throughout the paddocks.
Volunteers, drivers, team members, visitors, and everyone else is invited to shuffle on through to enjoy delicious food and beverages, as well as games and endless frivolity all thanks to a great group of people who all love having #funwithcars.
Technically, the Runoffs Block Party lasts until 8 p.m. Wednesday. Realistically, that timestamp is more of a warning as to when much of the free food has been gobbled up. The celebration, however, usually continues much further into the evening.
There’s no obligation to stay put at any one party locale. Put on some comfortable shoes, then peruse the paddock to see what experience the evening has in store. One tip: Bring a little cash with you. While the “official” parties are free to attend, some organizers ask for donations to raise funds for various charitable efforts or to help defray party costs.
Photo by Philip Royle
