What Is Solo? 

Solo, also called autocrossing, 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 Registration:

If you plan to compete in the next Solo event, please take a moment to pre-register. Registration for each event is online only and usually opens two weeks prior to the event date. We will NOT run your credit card until we have comfirmed you completed a run on event day. If something comes up and you can't make it, don't worry, you won't be charged.

Please register before the day of the event, no walk up entries.

2024 fees are $30.00 for SCCA members / $50.00 non-members.  Special events may be slightly higher.

Things you will need for a Solo:

A car. While they don't have to be street-legal, every car must pass a safety tech inspection before being allowed to compete. The inspection covers things like making sure your battery is tied down securely, your brakes and steering work, everything that can fly around inside the interior or trunk is removed, etc.

A Snell approved helmet (SA2015, SA2010, SAH2010, M2020D, M2020R, M2015, M2010). If you don't have one, we have loaner helmets available.

A willingness to use up your tires.

All persons in attendance must sign an SCCA Waiver Tips for the novice Solo driver
 

"I'm here at the right place and the right time. 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.

The first thing is to check in for registration and sign the SCCA insurance waivers. Registration opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 9:00 AM, so best not to be late. The Sports Car Club of America has a form to be signed for liability insurance purposes. Every adult on the site must sign the waivers, including spectators 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. Anyone who will be riding in a vehicle on-site who is not an annual SCCA member must also fill out a Free Trial Membership form.

After getting your wristband, you will drive through tech inspection. Tech will run from about 8:00 until 9:00 (while registration is open).

NOTE: for insurance and safety only registered drivers and waivered passengers in active grid. No minors in the grid unless driving in the event and no spectators in the grid. Please use the marked spectator area or paddock/parking area. NO smoking or vaping on site anywhere, this is to protect the fields, farms and animals in the area.

"After Registration, Now What?"

Line up for tech inspection, please hang around your car. The inspector will check your car and helmet (if you don’t have one, no worries, we have loaners). Here is what we look for:

Battery: make sure your battery is tied down securely.

Brakes: brakes work well and don't lose pressure when held down.

Exhaust (noise): must not be excessively loud.

Helmet: helmets must be certified Snell M2010 or SA2010 or newer and must fit properly. If you don't have one, don't worry - we have lots of loaner helmets.

Seat Belts: must work properly.

Steering: must work (obviously!) and not have excessive play.

Tires: must not have any cord showing.

Trunk: must have anything not firmly attached removed.

Spare tires and/or jacks can remain if they are secure.

Wheels: must have 4 (duh). Actually he'll be checking that all lug nuts are on and secure, wheels are not cracked, missing studs etc. Other things: General condition of the car (no major oil leaks, stuff like that).

The interior of the car must be completely empty - including floor mats which are not fastened to the floor. This is to make sure that there is no chance of anything getting stuck below the brake or accelerator pedals.

When the technical inspection of your car is complete you will get a Tech "Dot" (sticker), affix this to the upper driver's side of the windshield and you're ready to go!!

"What do you mean 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.

How the day goes:

Some event chairs choose to set up the course the morning of the event. If this is the case, expect setup to start between 6:00 and 7:00 (Yes, you're invited to help if you want, and you can learn a lot by doing so!). Otherwise, the regulars and people with access to the trailer will generally arrive just before 8:00 AM. After you have registered and Teched in, you can walk the course. We usually have a guided Course Walk given by one of the experts at 9:00 starting from the trailer. Registration closes at 9:00, the driver's meeting is usually around 9:20 and the first car on course is around 9:30. Depending on the number of entries and how smoothly things go, we'll run until anywhere between 1:00 and 5:00.

The actual driving part:

Each heat consists of a maximum of about 30 cars. Running in the first heat, go ahead and park in the "Grid" area, just not in the first few grid spots unless you are a two driver car. Be sure your number and class are clearly marked on your car. 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), live timing is typically available here. 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!

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. Don't get panicked trying to figure out which class your car fits in, below are some general outlines:

Street Classes: for almost showroom stock cars. Minimal modifications are allowed.

Street Prepared Classes: for somewhat more prepared cars

Prepared Classes: for actual race-prepared cars, with racing slicks.

Modified Classes: for people that have WAY too much time and money.

Street Touring Classes: Got aftermarket coilovers? You might belong here.

Karts: Racing Kart

Xtreme Street: Have a modified car but don't think it fits a typical class? XSA/XSB are for you.

If you have a question about classing, don't worry, we're here to help! Just reach out to us before an event and we'll help you class your car.