(This article offers a look into the SCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Sports Car Club of America®. The column’s author, Jim Weidenbaum, is a member of the SCCA Foundation Board of Directors.)
The SCCA Foundation Region Development Grant program helps support SCCA Regions’ educational, safety, and charitable programs. Earlier this year, a grant was approved to help grow the Lake Superior Region’s RallyCross program through public outreach, education, and other initiatives. Jonathon Nagel is a member of both Lake Superior Region and the SCCA RallyCross Board – he shared the outstanding progress made in his Region’s RallyCross program thanks in part to support received from the SCCA Foundation.
Foundation Region Development Grants supplement a Region’s own funding for a project; think of a grant as a “force multiplier.” Lake Superior Region used its own money to purchase supplies needed to get its RallyCross program off the ground and added Foundation funding to support program outreach and education.
The Region put the grant immediately to work at their novice “RX101” school and event. Thanks to the additional funding from the Foundation, Lake Superior Region was able to partner with the Lake Superior Performance Rally (American Rally Association Stage Rally event) to host “rally night” on Michigan Tech’s campus, through which they were able to connect with members of the public interested in all things racing, rally, car control, and share fun videos (including the “What is SCCA RallyCross” video). This proved to be an excellent opportunity education the public and to recruit event participants and volunteers alike.
The first day consisted of a novice school, where experienced drivers volunteered as instructors and led students through several skill-based stations that focused on car control and finding their limits in a safe manner. In the afternoon, these skill-drill stations were linked together into a half-mile practice course where attendees had the ability to ride along with each other, with instructors, and with instructors riding alongside them. Day two was a traditional RallyCross event where most of the attendees from the novice school returned to compete side-by-side with their instructors.
(Lake Superior Region's "RX101" RallyCross event introduced many enthusiasts to RallyCross and the SCCA.)
In total, Lake Superior Region had 30 participants over the course of the weekend, the majority of whom had neither participated in a RallyCross event nor any motorsport event – ultimately, this led to 18 weekend SCCA memberships. In addition, attendee comments indicated a strong intent to attend a November RallyCross event.
Beyond that, the many volunteers and photographers in attendance made for a source of potential future participants.
RallyCross is responsible for large growth in Lake Superior Region membership. Nearly half of Lake Superior Region’s 54 members actively participate in RallyCross. With a more than doubling of RallyCross participants versus last year, which was prior to the Region hosting its first ever RallyCross event, it’s clear how the growth of RallyCross is driving the increase in Region membership and public engagement.
Jonathon expressed sincerest thanks for the boost SCCA Foundation’s Region Development Grant provided Lake Superior Region. The feeling is mutual, as SCCA Foundation wants to thank and congratulate Jonathon and Lake Superior Region for taking the initiative to apply for a Foundation Region Grant, then supplying the vision, positivity, and organizational teamwork necessary to host an outstanding event which provided SCCA members and non-members alike an opportunity to have #funwithcars – SCCA style.
As Jonathon states: “It’s giving us the opportunity to have an incredible weekend of learning and for giving us the jump start we needed to grow this program into the future.”
For more information on SCCA Foundation Region Development Grants, head to the SCCA Foundation’s website.
Photos by Thad Hallberg
