SCCA Time Trials

With the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty moving back to the fall at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, KY, expect records to do the same (fall, get it?)– and that’s just one of the exciting things we’re looking forward to during the Oct. 12-15, 2023, event.

For the sixth time, the fastest and most fun (often, but not always, one and the same) time attack cars in the country will head to the Bluegrass state for four days of on-track activity.

And we’re bringing friends! The Grassroots Motorsports Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge (UTCC) is woven into the fabric of the event this year, bringing the possibility that the winner of each event could be you!

Choose Your Own Adventure

For SCCA members of a certain age, a popular elementary school series of books were “Choose Your Own Adventure,” where the story changed depending on choices you made along the way.

Time Trials Nationals (TTN) operates on a very similar concept. The event features some of the fastest time trials cars in the country, but there are classes available for your stock or modified car at any performance level. Yes, someone is showing up with the singular goal of winning overall, but someone else is there to hang out, enjoy the parties, or beat their time from a year ago.

Here's the best part – no matter where you fit into that spectrum, it’s an adventure you can be a part of.

It’s the Ultimate!

Speaking of an adventure, what’s this about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? It’s an exclusive search for the best track car in America, complete with write-up and coverage from our friends at Grassroots Motorsports. A very select 30 folks have already gotten their UTCC invites, but here’s a fun twist: The top 20 TTN participants will be handed a golden ticket to Hollywood (sorry, wrong show) and automatically entered into the UTCC.

How does that work? Remarkably easy, considering the schedule. Let’s break that down, whether or not you’re a part of the UTCC.

Thursday is TTN practice – and it’s a lot of practice. Thanks to Holley, Thursday is a full day of TTN practice on NCM’s Grand Course, included in the entry. Use Thursday to figure out the track.

Things heat up on Friday. Three sessions of TrackAttack (which is lapping on the Grand Full Course) take place. These times count – your best lap of the day will go in the scoring column.

Saturday introduces TrackSprint, which lines up two sections of the track and dares you to knock out your best time from a standing start on each. Each TrackAttack segment is a combination of autocross, HillClimb, and road racing rolled into one.

But Wait, There’s More!

For those who are only a part of the Ultimate Track Car Challenge, it’s time to get serious. UTCC competitors who are not part of TTN get two practice sessions on the full course on Saturday afternoon. (Those who are competing in both have already completed three full days on the track.)

Which brings us to Sunday. Both UTCC and TTN competitors get two sessions on the full course – then comes the twist: At the end of the day, UTCC competitors will head back on track for one last session, as will the 20 TTN drivers holding that golden ticket.

That’s right – there’s a chance the winner of the UTCC may have shown up to run for an SCCA Time Trials Nationals win, but walked away with a second crown as well.

Make The Most Of Your Time

The fun of an event like Time Trials Nationals is that you get the opportunity to pick the brain of experts – which, it turns out, are just like us.

Take Hawk Performance, for instance. Several employees and brand ambassadors are attending TTN, and being that they’re all-in on motorsports, they know what you need to make your weekend a success. That means if you’re having an issue with your braking, you can wander by and ask questions. We’ve even seen them assist in bleeding brakes a time or two, but let’s not take advantage of their kindness.

Likewise, Lee Grimes will be there in an attempt to stand on the top of the box during the KONI Podium Celebration. But Grimes is also a longtime KONI employee and product expert, and may be able to help with your shocks. (Go easy on the man, though – he’s trying to perfect his setup so he can beat you.)

That doesn’t count the TTN Coaches (all of whom know how to wheel a car), and your competitors. Sure, Joe Burrow probably isn’t going to ask Patrick Mahomes for tips in the middle of a game, but Time Trials doesn’t operate that way. If you see a competitor who’s quicker than you, or there’s a corner that just isn’t adding up, ask someone who seems to have it nailed. You’ll be surprised at how helpful TTN drivers can be.

And don’t forget about SCCA partner Blayze, which offers remote professional driver coaching. By signing up for a one month subscription, selecting Chris Nunes as your coach, then uploading your in-car video as a one-lap analysis to get your video reviewed overnight, you can improve your lap times by the very next day. Considering a Blayze trial membership is only $29, there’s little reason not to take this service for a spin.

The Chalice of Greatness

New for 2023 and Time Trials Nationals is a yet-to-be-named “Cup” that will remain with the SCCA but travel to the event each and every year for display. On that trophy will be the engraved names, class, year, and time of the fastest competitor from each edition of the Time Trials Nationals, starting at the beginning and moving forward in perpetuity.

And More!

Look, we can’t list it all here. We haven’t talked about the Thursday evening Expo Party thanks to Holley, or Saturday’s Social Party from Hagerty. We haven’t talked about the most fun of all, which is hanging with people who understand your passion. We didn’t discuss the friendly faces and the satisfaction of improving – whether it’s day-to-day or year-to-year.

The point we’re trying to make is this: No matter the skill level, no matter the car prep, no matter the anxieties holding you back, we promise the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty is for you. It’s fun; it’s cool; it’s entertaining.

Gather as much information as you can on the event page here, and then register – it’s four days of track time and four nights of fun, all for $550.

 Register Now!

Photo by Philip Royle / Staff