SCCA Membership Reaches All-Time High
11 August 1998
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. : Riding a wave of national and international interest in auto racing, the Sports Car Club of America is enjoying unprecedented membership and participation in its many motorsports programs, reaching an all-time record membership of 55,094 in June, 1998.Founded in 1944, the SCCA reached its previous high-membership mark in December, 1989, at 54,106, and has seen its membership rise continuously since 1995.
From its entry-level participatory program, Solo II, to Club Racing--long the cornerstone of Club activities--to SCCA Pro Racing, an SCCA subsidiary, participation levels and event numbers are increasing.
PRO Rally is experiencing a 13 percent growth in entries through three events in 1998, and license holders have increased 25 percent over last year. An ESPN2 program covering the series' events is in its second season and is generating considerable interest among manufacturers and participants.
Regional Solo II event numbers have increased by 11 percent over 1997. The six National Tour events run thus far have averaged 202 competitors and ProSolo2 is attracting an average of 162 entrants, the highest number since 1995. Additionally, the Tire Rack Solo II National Championships drew a record 927 drivers in 1997 and continues to be the largest event of its type in the country.
In wheel-to-wheel competition, National Championship racing sees participation levels up in 19 classes. Total entries have increased an average of 20 cars per event over last year, topping the 150 mark. Six of the eight Divisions are contributing to this growth with one Division exceeding 1997s numbers by over 50 cars per event. SCCA Spec Racer Ford, the largest class in Club Racing, is averaging 25 cars per event and Formula Mazda, the SCCA's newest national class, is already showing an average of 10 entries at each race weekend in only its first year.
The SCCA Valvoline Runoffs presented by NAPA Auto Parts continues to attract large numbers of participants. The 1997 event saw 521 drivers compete for the title of National Champion and '98 should see an even larger entry. Sponsor contingency support for the SCCA Valvoline Runoffs presented by NAPA Auto Parts topped $1.5 million last year and is also expected to increase for 1998. With 13 hours of live television coverage on the Speedvision Network, more and more race fans are being exposed to the thrill and excitement of road racing and the SCCA experience.
SCCA Pro Racing is also experiencing increased participation--adding the Motorola Cup to its roster of 1998 sanctioned series, which also includes the NTB Trans-Am Series, the World Challenge, the Spec Racer Ford Pro Series, the U.S. F2000, the Star Mazda series, the PPG Neon Challenge and the ACRL. Headlining SCCA Pro Racings: events is the NTB Trans-Am, which is averaging 28 percent higher car counts over 1997, including a series modern-era record of 43 starters at Waktins Glen International, August 8.
