Important Minor (under 18) Waiver information
Dates are subject to change depending on AVRG races and MidDiv Divisional Solos.
All dates and sites are subject to change. Solo, (formerly known as Solo II), also called autocrossing, slalom or gymkhana, is rapidly becoming one of the hottest and most popular amateur motorsports in the country. The courses, usually set up on large parking lots or unused runways, are a diabolical collection of turns and straights marked by orange rubber traffic pylons. Under Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) rules, you compete by yourself against the clock at speeds that normally do not exceed typical highway driving speeds. Since it is very safe, you should feel comfortable driving a Solo, but you've probably never had a rush like the courses produce. With very few exceptions, almost any type of car or pickup can enter a Solo. You don't need to worry about competing against that Porsche 911 in your family station wagon because cars are divided into classes with similar abilities as yours. For example, a stock Camaro will be grouped with stock Firebirds and Mustangs. Your Civic is in the same class as a Sentra. You don't have to have a racing car. SCCA has classes that cover everything from Formula racing cars to, if you can find one running, a Yugo. The registration folks can find someone to help you determine which class you should be in. Solo Pre-Registration: If you plan to compete in the next Solo event, please take a moment to pre-register. Pre-registration for each event is usually open two weeks prior to the event date, and closes the Friday evening before the event. Things you will need for a Solo:
Tire Rack Solo II Novice Handbook "OK, Now What?" You've heard everybody talk about Solo and decided to try it. Like everyone else driving for the first time, you probably feel a little lost. "What am I supposed to do now?" Below are some tips to help you get started. But be forewarned; if you do it once, you'll be hooked! If you're still totally confused, just look around at any event and try to find someone who looks like they might know what they're doing. They will be more than happy to help, even if they're lost too! One of the first things to be addressed is safety. SCCA and the Wichita Region are very proud of their safety record. That's probably because people are thinking about it all the time. The course has been designed following stringent safety rules directed by SCCA to protect both people and property. Please follow all these rules. One thing of special note is to always keep vehicle speeds below 5 MPH when you are not actually on the course. "I'm here at the right place and the right time. Now what?" Hopefully, you got to the event site before the first car went out around 10:00. This gives you a chance to go out and walk the course to figure out where it goes, pick your driving lines, etc. And yes, after your first time around the course, you'll know what I'm talking about. You'll be saying, "If I take that curve about four feet to the left of that cone I can take a half-a-second off my time." The first thing is to get registered. See all the people congregated around the white trailer? That's where you need to go. The registration process is fairly simple, and is open from 8:30am to 12:30pm at Hawker Beechcraft, and 8:30am to 10:30am at all other sites. Sign the waivers. The Sports Car Club of America has a form to be signed, and if the event is at Boeing, they also have a separate form. Everyone must sign the waivers, including guests that have come to watch you have all this fun. You'll each get a wristband to let the event officials know you have signed the waivers. Fill out a "TECH INSPECTION" sheet. Please fill out the top portion LEGIBLY and completely. If you don't know the class of your vehicle, have the Tech Chief find someone that can get you classed properly. More on the tech sheet later. Pay your entry fee. 2008 fees are $20.00 SCCA members / $35.00 non-members. Special events may be slightly higher. "What do you mean work?" While you are handing over your hard-earned dollars, the registrar will want to know which heat you want to run and which heat you want to work. Yep, that's part of the bargain. Since we are an all-volunteer organization, we need lots of help. Work usually consists of going out on the course and picking up cones that everybody else knocks down. Just come to the trailer right before your assigned heat and someone that looks official will let you know where you're supposed to be. Not working results in disqualification, but working more than one heat is greatly appreciated and gets you out where the action is going on! If you're not into chasing cones, or just want to do more to help out, ask about helping with Registration, Timing & Scoring, Announcing, Tech Inspection or Safety. We can always use more help in these areas, and you'll get to know a lot of great people. But, be aware that working any of these special jobs instead of working the course means that you'll be working at least two heats, usually more… but it's some of the most fun "work" you'll ever do. Some of these jobs also require a bit of training, skill and/or talent. We have people who are willing and able to teach. "What am I supposed to do with this tech sheet?" After you register, they'll give you your tech sheet. Open your hood and put the sheet under your windshield wiper. Someone else official looking (or not) will come along and "tech" your car. Here is what we look for:
When the technical inspection of your car is complete, take the card back to the registrar and pay your entry fee. You're ready to go!! How the day goes: Setup starts between 6:00 and 7:00 (Yes, you're invited to help if you want, and you can learn a lot by doing so!). The driver's meeting is usually around 9:30. Depending on the number of entries and how smoothly things go, we'll run until anywhere between 2:00 and 6:00. The actual driving part: Each heat consists of a maximum of 20 cars. Shortly before your driving heat, the announcer may (or may not!) call to have the next drivers line up in the pre-stage area. Go ahead and line up in numerical order (be sure your car number is clearly marked on your car) just before the last car has run in the previous heat. You'll start out with one very low speed "parade lap" for course familiarization and come back to the staging area. Now the real fun begins! Make sure you follow the starters directions on when to enter the course and drive like you never have before (at least not legally). But stay away from those cones! Each cone you knock down is a 2-second penalty. Since we have had classes won by as little time as 1/1000 of a second, two seconds is forever! Also keep an eye out for course workers waving red flags. If you see a red flag, don't think, just STOP! (assuming you aren't being red-flagged due to a problem with your car, you will get to start the run over again) You will normally have a minimum of 3 timed runs (the number of runs will be announced at the driver's meeting). When you complete your last run, slowly exit the course and return to the paddock area. If you're wondering how you're doing against the competition (or who you have to beat), there are sheets posted (usually near the trailer) that have everyone's times posted on them. After the last car has run, course teardown begins. Most people like to help with the teardown because it helps us get to the trophies quicker! Yes, trophies (and door prizes). Trophies are given to the top finishers in each class. And don't assume that because your time may have been slower that a lot of cars, you won't get one. You don't have to beat everyone, just the others in your class! And make sure you check with the registrar to get the "yellow" copy of your tech sheet. This will have your times on it, so you'll want to have it framed! Entering a Wichita Region Solo event will also get you on the mailing list to receive the next copy of our monthly newsletter, "The Wail". This will have the complete event results in it, plus a lot more. But remember, if you're not a Wichita Region member, and we can't read the name and address on your tech sheet… we can't send you the newsletter. Car setup tips: Other than the above safety items, there isn't really a whole lot to it. Tire pressure is probably the most important thing you can do. DO NOT run your tires at a lower than normal pressure! This is extremely dangerous. With the way these courses are set up, you get better traction running somewhat higher pressures. Here are the pressures that some of our "old timers" run in their tires, but make sure you don't exceed the maximum rated pressure listed on the side of your tires: 3300 lb. RWD - 42 front / 40 rear 3600 lb. FWD - 42 front / 36 rear 2170 lb. RWD - 42 front / 35 rear 2100 lb. FWD - 42 front / 35 rear. One of the best setup tips is to find someone that has a car similar to yours. They will probably give you more tips than you ever wanted to know! We're a great bunch of people and everybody there will help you in any way they can. We're glad that you're going to join in the fun. With over 100 Regions and 50,000 SCCA members nationwide, you will be driving in some of the best motorsports available. And don't forget that the Wichita Region SCCA is not just Solo: we also have active road racing and rally programs. Just ask anybody about it. We'll be glad to help. Solo Classes: Wichita Region offers the full range of "standard" Solo classes as defined in the SCCA Solo Rule Book. These classes include: Street Prepared Classes for somewhat more prepared cars. Prepared Classes for actual race-prepared cars. Modified Classes for people that have WAY too much time and money. All of the above classes also have a complete set of parallel ladies' classes. In addition to those, we hope to allow a few people to have a little more fun by offering the following additional classes (details can be found in the Supplemental Rules): Karts - Racing Karts meeting the requirements of the Solo rules will be permitted at specified events. Look to the Supplemental Rules for specifics. Fun Class - This has been the class designation used for "fun runs" after regular competition runs over the past few seasons. This class may also be chosen by anyone who wishes to run, but not "compete" for whatever reason. It is a non-competition class, no car classification rules apply, and no trophies are awarded. Driver Indexed Class - This is a Wichita Region original class. The rules have evolved over time in search of the best method to ensure competition based purely on driver skill and not on vehicle preparation. It is intended for drivers who intend to compete the entire season in the same car against the same competition with the goal of self-improvement. Event Site Locations: Hawker Beechcraft (used to be Raytheon) - 10059 E Central Strother Field - South of Winfield KS Sunflower Aerodrome - Yoder, KS
Passengers - Minors:
Passengers - General:
Protests:
Regional Classes: Classing will be according to National Solo rules except for: Street Open (SO) - Any street legal and street-driven vehicle on street tires (treadwear 140 or greater). Street Classic (SC) - Any street legal and street-driven two-seat production vehicle built before 1981 on street tires (treadwear 140 or greater) with maximum wheel width of 6". Must have a piston engine with no more than 6 cylinders.
Formula Junior (FJR) - 5hp restricted Briggs karts, 8-11 year-old drivers. Formula Junior 4-Stroke (FJ4) - 5hp unrestricted Briggs, 12-15 year-old drivers. Formula Junior 2-Stroke (FJ2) - 100cc Yamaha karts, 12-15 year-old drivers. Formula 125 (F125) - Any legal kart, drivers 16 and older.
|
