Media Contact:
Jim Llewellyn, PR Manager
SCCA Track Night in America
323.810.7685, Jim@TrackNightinAmerica.com
It’s Official: SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack
Back in 2016 to Grant Track Access to Everyday Drivers and Cars
TOPEKA, Kan. (Jan. 25, 2016) – During this year’s annual Sports Car Club of America National
Convention the official announcement was made that SCCA Track Night in America Driven by
Tire Rack will indeed be back in 2016 to provide everyday drivers in everyday cars access to
REAL race circuits across the United States. A rundown of motorsport facilities to be visited in
2016, as well as an event calendar will be announced later in February.
A concept launched last year by the SCCA’s Experiential Programs Department, the very
popular Track Night in America was created as a non-competitive, no-stress, entertaining, easy
and inexpensive way for nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a real
racecourse in their own vehicle during weeknights. All that is required is that participants be at
least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and have access to a helmet and street car in
good working condition.
The price in 2016 will again never be greater than $150 per event, and no previous on-track
experience or SCCA membership is required to join in the fun. Every driver gets three 20minute sessions on course, as well as feedback from SCCA driver coaches on site. Admission
is free for people who just want to stop by and watch the fun, and leisurely circuit parade laps
are provided for all Track Night in America guests.
Heyward Wagner, SCCA Director of Experiential Programs, said this year’s participants will
again be divided into Novice, Intermediate or Advanced groups so on-track activities remain fun
for all. Novices get extra attention from the start, including help removing loose items from a
vehicle, paced lead-and-follow laps, and tutelage throughout. To make life easier for
Intermediate and Advanced participants, drivers can fill out tech sheets and complete a Track
Night drivers’ meeting online prior to events.
“The inaugural season of SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack was very well
received, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Wagner said. “At its heart, Track
Night in America is a get-together where people can share their passion for cars. From rookies
to track veterans, the SCCA loves being able to open up motorsport venues to everyday people
and eliminate hurdles frequently encountered in getting out on real racecourses.”
Wagner said the goal in 2016 is to fine-tune on-track activities while also developing Track Night
in America into an exciting car-culture carnival. The SCCA Experiential Programs Department
is working with SCCA Regions to turn Track Night in America dates into automotive and
motorsport showcases with participation from race teams, race drivers, car clubs and
automotive manufacturers. Ultimately, the vision is to produce fun, weekday gatherings at highenergy motorsport facilities with everyone welcome from local Girl and Boy Scouts to the brands
that drive the automotive industry.
Lisa Noble, SCCA President and CEO, noted that Track Night in America set some impressive
marks in its first year. In 2015, almost 4,200 thrill seekers ventured to nearly 90 Track Night
events at more than 15 challenging locations to grab 500 hours of track time. More than 40
percent of participants registered as “Novice” for racetrack activities, and more than 60 percent
were not members of the Sports Car Club of America. Of the people that rolled on track for an
adventurous evening, 44 percent were 35 years old or younger. Another 24 percent were
between 36 and 50 years old, and 32 percent were above 51 years old.
“The SCCA is constantly looking for new ways to connect with automotive enthusiasts and
racing fans, and Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack has proven to be an excellent way
of achieving this goal,” Noble said. “None of this would be possible without Tire Rack’s backing.
For more than two decades, Tire Rack has been involved in a wide array of SCCA activities,
and we’re proud to claim Tire Rack as the ‘Official Tire Retail Partner of the SCCA.’ By
supporting entry programs such as Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack, The Tire Rack
SCCA Starting Line Performance Driving School, and the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo
Program, the company has done a lot for motorsports and racing fans in the United States.”
Matt Edmonds, Vice President of Tire Rack, believes Track Night in America provides a great
pathway for the curious to follow as they explore their desire to become car enthusiasts.
“With guidance from many SCCA members, these car owners can see what it’s like to become
drivers and experience the rush that comes with time behind the wheel at speed on some of our
country’s great motorsports venues,” Edmonds said.
More information about SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire rack can be found at
www.TrackNightInAmerica.com. Additional press releases can be found at the Track Night in
America press page; and FAQ, logo and photos are located online at the Track Night in America
media kit.
-###About SCCA Track Night in America:
Driven by Tire Rack with support from the FIA Sport Grant Programme, SCCA Track Night in
America is “The Fastest Way to Get on Track” for automotive enthusiasts. Launched in 2015,
Track Night in America was developed by the SCCA Experiential Programs Dept. as a way to
make on-track experiences at race circuits more accessible to the general public. The Sports
Car Club of America, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 65,000-member motorsports organization that
incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. It
annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 regions and professional subsidiary. For
more information, please visit www.scca.com.
About Tire Rack:
Tire Rack, family-owned and headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is America’s largest
independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance
accessories. Their team of over 100 test drivers (their sales\ team) tests tires from every major
tire manufacturer on the company’s state-of-the-art, 11.7-acre test facility. The findings are then
posted on the company’s website, www.tirerack.com, where consumers can make an educated
decision on a tire, wheel or performance accessory purchase. Tire Rack has also collected
results from more than 135,000 consumer surveys representing over 2.4 billion miles of realworld tire data, the largest known cache of such information anywhere. In addition various
testing and informational videos are available online in their Video Center at
www.tirerack.com/videos. Since 1979, Tire Rack has grown from a single-point retail store in
Indianapolis to encompass over 2.2 million square feet of space in seven distribution centers
across the country. A diverse and broad in-stock inventory from 18 major tire and 50 wheel
brands can be delivered anywhere in the country, most in one business day. A national network
of over 8,000 independent Recommended Installers are available to assist customers with
installation of their purchases.