How to start racing: SCCA Time Trials

There exists a world between SCCA Solo and Club Racing – a world where speeds rise but don't ever quite reach wheel-to-wheel racing. That world is Time Trials. While part of the Sports Car Club of America's Club Racing program, the SCCA Time Trials program is exactly that – a driver against himself, against the clock. This isn't wheel-to-wheel racing – but it's as close as you can get without moving to Club Racing.

The SCCA Time Trials program has four levels. The first, Performance Driving Experience (PDX), is akin to a standard track day: There is instruction and driving time on a real racetrack, but no times are taken and no awards given. The next level in the Time Trials program is Club Trials – this is where competition comes into play and participants run laps around the track while being timed. The third level, Track Trials, elevates the speeds and commitment higher than Club Trials.

While being listed as the fourth level of the Time Trials program, Hillclimbs is really a unique competition. Hillclimbs take competitors away from the track and onto closed public roads, usually roads that climb mountains.

Each level has different requirements for car preparation, safety equipment and driver licensing. As the speeds and risks climb, so does the level of safety equipment and required driver training.

The Time Trials program is designed to have a level for everyone, and offers a sensible progression from one to the other. If you need more speed, but aren't quite ready for the commitment of wheel-to-wheel racing, then Time Trials may be for you.

Some Time Trials take place at the racetrack during a Club Racing weekend, while others are their own event. Because of that, the structure of the weekends may vary from area to area. Generally, you will have a technical inspection of the vehicles, a drivers meeting and, depending on the event, you may have one or more instructors there to help you. Similarly, Hillclimbs can vary greatly from each other depending on the location and the facilities available at the location.

Many SCCA regions will release information prior to the event explaining how the weekend will be structured. If not, we highly recommend contacting the host region prior to the event with any questions or concerns. As with everything in the SCCA, it never hurts to ask questions.

Performance Driving Experience (PDX)

The main purpose of PDX events is instruction in driving technique. That means classroom time before track time, and the availability of licensed instructors. Students may choose to ride with instructors during a session, or have an instructor ride with them. This program is designed for beginners, and no competition license is required.

As the main purpose of PDX events is instruction, no timing is allowed. That means none is conducted by the organization, and students shouldn't be timing themselves, although videotaping and data acquisition are allowed for instructional purposes.

The drivers are generally divided into groups based on experience, so those who have a lot of track time aren't sharing the asphalt with those who are new to performance driving.

The track itself may be a permanent circuit or a temporary one laid out on an unused airfield. If it's on a permanent circuit, the circuit may be modified from its usual configuration, or speed limits may be implemented in places to keep the risk level in check. Ideally, courses for PDX events don't allow long, wide-open runs.

The requirements for drivers are minimal. The only documentation that you might need, aside from a valid driver's license, is a Time Trial Participation Log Book, which a first-timer will receive at registration.

For drivers, the only required safety equipment is long sleeves and pants, closed-toe shoes and a helmet that meets certain Snell Foundation or SFI standards (more details on that can be found in the Time Trials rules on www.scca.com under the "Programs" tab). For cars, nothing more than stock seat belts are required for any street-legal vehicle, with the exception of targa or convertible topped-vehicles, in which case a roll bar may be required.

Non-street legal cars are required to meet the rules of certain SCCA Solo or Club Racing classes, such as Solo Stock, Street Touring, Street Prepared or Street Modified categories; or Club Racing Showroom Stock, Spec Miata, Touring or Improved Touring classes.

If you're looking for your first taste of on-track driving on the same courses the pros and Club racers compete on, PDX is the starting point.

Club Trials

When you're ready to test yourself on the racetrack against the clock, move up to Club Trials. Often conducted on similar courses as PDX events, Club Trials differ mainly by the reduced level of instruction, the introduction of timing and opening up the competition to any car prepared to one of the Solo or Club Racing classes, along with vintage and other local classes as offered.

Club Trials may be conducted as either single timed laps, where a driver will have a set number of attempts at single laps to set their best time, or continuous lapping, where a driver circles the track during a session and the best lap time is used for competition purposes.

The safety equipment requirements are similar to PDX, and each driver must have a Time Trials Participation Log Book.

Track Trials

Club Trials move the entire program up another notch. Whereas courses for Club Trials may feature straights shortened by a chicane at the beginning of the straight, Track Trials usually use the track configuration as it sits – this means that the speeds are higher.

It also means the licensing and safety requirements go up a notch as well. All drivers must hold either a Time Trials novice permit or Time Trials competition license (some events require a full Club Racing competition license). Competition licenses from other organizations may also be accepted. A Time Trials Novice Permit can be obtained from the SCCA National Office. Satisfactorily completing three Track Trials Events on a Novice Permit will earn a driver a time Trials Competition License.

All cars that meet current GCR classes, both Regional and National, are eligible. Solo Street Prepared and Street Modified cars may be accommodated with the proper safety equipment, which means, at minimum, a roll bar constructed to SCCA standards.

More driver safety equipment is specified as well, including a higher level of head protection, fire suits, fireproof gloves and shoes. An onboard fire system is also required.

Track Trials requires a higher level of commitment to meet the demands of the higher speeds involved.

Hillclimbs

Hillclimbs were once a staple of automotive competition in the U.S., and it's still very popular in many parts of the world. However, finding an SCCA Hillclimb event near you may prove challenging. Part of that is the trouble finding suitable locations for events. But if there is an event near you, it's a must attend.

Gone are the pristine conditions of racetracks. There are no gravel traps, no tire walls. It's all-out driving on what is usually a public road, and the quickest person from point A to point B wins.

The rules are essentially the same as Track Trials, in the classes of cars, driver licensing and safety equipment arenas. Drivers are expected to understand there may be a greater level of risk to go along with this unique form of motorsport.

Hillclimbs, the ultimate level of Time Trials, is one of the last forms of the sport that truly harkens back to racing's roots. They offer a level of excitement not found anywhere else.

Track Night in America

We've run a variety of stories on SCCA's Track Night in America, but the basic gist is to think SCCA's PDX, but during a weekday evening, at a reduced price. Track Night in America emphasizes experience over speed, so there is no lap timing or coaching to go faster – it's all about having a fun experience. This is a relatively new program to SCCA, but it has grown incredibly in popularity, and it even has its own website: www.tracknightinamerica.com.

• This story originally appeared in magazine, the official publication of the Sports Car Club of America. For more information on this topic or the SCCA, head to www.scca.com.