About this event
What is it?
SCCA Race School is designed to get you wheel-to-wheel racing with the support of driver coaches to guide, support and answer all your questions. No SCCA membership or physical required. Just you, a race car, a racetrack, a stellar coach and smiles for days. And, it gives you a leg up on your SCCA Novice Permit, if you want one!
How does it work?
Race School has two components — classroom time and on-track sessions. Classroom time is an intro to racing procedures and etiquette. Then, you’ll practice what you learn in on-track sessions. Combined, these give you a solid foundation for wheel-to-wheel racing — whether you’re preparing for an Endurance race or starting your journey to championship-level events. It’s also perfect if you just want to give it a go.
Who can Register?
In most states, if you’re over the age of 18, you just need a valid state-issued driver’s license. That’s it! In Alabama and Nebraska, that age increases to 19 and 21 respectively, since that’s their Age of Majority. For drivers under the Age of Majority in the event’s state, there are a few additional steps. You’ll find those details in the eligibility requirements.
How much driving time will I get?
Each day, you’ll get four sessions for a total of 90 minutes of on-track time:
- Session 1: familiarize yourself with the track and your car — 20 minutes
- Session 2: see the flags/signals used to communicate with you — 20 minutes
- Session 3: qualifying session to set grid for your last session — 20 minutes
- Session 4: practice race starts and short sprint race — 30 minutes
Who’ll be my coach?
SCCA Race School Driver Coaches have wheel-to-wheel experience in Endurance, Sprint and maybe even Pro Racing. They’re there to share both their racing knowledge and their passion for racing — and to make sure you learn and have fun along the way.
What do I get?
Once you’ve completed Race School, you’ll be better prepared for those events that don’t require a formal racing license (like low-buck endurance racing programs), or you can get your SCCA Novice Permit and start your journey into SCCA Road Racing programs.
How much does it cost?
- 2-Day Race School Entry Fee: $375.00
- SCCA Weekend Membership: $25.00
(This is required if you're not an SCCA annual member or are a minor driver. If you would like to become a "full" member, or are required because you're a minor driver, please click here: JOIN SCCA)
- Transponder Rental: $30.00
(Not required.)
Event requirements
What do I need?
Safety Gear. You’ll need all that cool driver safety gear. This means a proper safety rating from SFI or FIA for gloves, shoes, and a head and neck restraint device, as well as an appropriately rated racing helmet. We know you’re probably going to try it on at home and make some racecar noises. That’s ok… we do, too.
Race-Prepared Car. You’ll need a suitable car, prepared for racing with full roll cage, race seat, multi-point racing seat belts/harnesses, etc. Checkout the full requirements for vehicle safety, but if your car is prepared for SCCA Road Racing, an endurance racing program, or other racing clubs/series (including BMW/Porsche), you’re probably good to go. (Note: There is one popular low-buck endurance series which doesn't require a window net or arm restraints - we require one or the other on closed-top cars, and arm restraints on open-top cars.)
You... and the excited energy you have for racing. That doesn’t mean we’ll ask you to lead cheers (we won’t). While you’ll be racing each other, you’ll also be teammates working together to have the time of your life. There’s a good chance you’ll make some lifelong friends, and head home with some stories that start with, “This one time, at race school…”.
What can’t I bring?
Certain cars. We don’t have a group for open wheel cars like Formula 1600 or sleek sports racers like Radicals (yet). And since this is a learning environment, we want to avoid high closing speeds. That means no fast cars like Trans Am and GT1 or pro-level cars. A stock C5 Corvette Z06 is about as fast as we want to see. We’re here if you have questions.
What’s nice to have, but are not required?
SCCA Membership. We’d love it if you’d join, but you don’t have to (unless you’re 14-15 years old). For non-members, there’s a small charge for a Weekend Membership so you’re covered under SCCA’s insurance, but if you have an awesome time and want to join after the event, we’ll apply most of that fee to the cost of your annual membership. So, it’s a win-win.
Transponder. These are used for timing and scoring. They’re available as rechargeable units or ones hard-wired into your car. We’ll be using Westhold, but AMB brand will work, too. If you don’t have one, no worries — just rent one for $30 when you register. If you want to save that $30, that’s OK too — you just won’t get lap times and you’ll start at the back of the group.
Racing Physical/Medical Form. Racing is a high-stress sport with physical demands. You should know if you’re ready to be in the racing environment, but Race School doesn’t require you to see your doctor for a physical. If you decide to go on to get your SCCA Novice Permit, you’ll need to get one, but for this first step it’s not required.
A Luxury RV, Full-Size Hauler and Catering. OK, sure… it would be nice to have, but it doesn’t matter if you’ve got these or if you’re bringing your car to the track with a tow-dolly and using the shade of a tree in the paddock as shelter while you eat out of a picnic basket. All budgets, goals, and efforts are welcome.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Sound Limits: NCM Motorsports park has a strict limit of 103.0 db. Sound will be measured 50 feet from the track. Drivers found to be over the limit or deemed to be taking clear and evasive action to avoid giving a accurate reading must make a mechanical change to quiet their vehicle before returning to the track. Vehicles that are unable to operate under the limit may be excluded from the event.
Other Rules: Because tracks have different policies and facilities, each event has some extra details — like gate hours, rules about pets, kids, and track procedures, and reserving paddock space when available/required. You’ll find that stuff here — we call ‘em Supplemental Regulations. It’s always good to review these so you’re not surprised by one of these track-specific rules.
