To get started this week, its good to know just what I’ll be writing about. Some may know, others may not but I’ll try and explain what SCCA is as best as I can. So, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has regions all over the United States dedicated to racing enthusiasts. Whether it is Autocross (racing around a track made of cones), Rallycross (racing on a mixed surface of sand, dirt, pavement, etc.), or even Wheel to Wheel racing, they provide it. It allows for people of all ages and driving abilities to get out there and push the limits in a safe, controlled environment. I have been a part of the Idaho region SCCA and then after moving to Utah, I transferred my membership down here and raced for the last few years.
Me back in 2017 with my 13’ Scion FR-S
Having raced my supercharged 2013 Scion FR-S for a few years I always loved when someone else was behind the camera and able to get some photos of me. With a family and countless hobbies interfering with one another, the choice to sell the car was made in 2018 to pursue my other passions (camping, hiking, photography, and anything else outdoors). While the decision was not an easy one at first, it has been worthwhile in the long run, allowing for more time doing what we like to do as a family and with our dogs.
Now, fast-forward to this past weekend where the Utah region SCCA was having its’ second to last race of the year, PE24. A group of over 50 cars and drivers showed up to partake in the Sunday events held at the Legacy Event Center. A chilly morning started the day off, but with clear blue skies and the sun coming up over the mountains, it was looking great for perfect racing weather. Safety is paramount, so before every event they hold a drivers meeting ensuring that anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle (brand new or veteran) knows the rules and signs to look out for an accident if one were to occur. Also, hitting a cone or 7 is bound to happen when you are pushing your car to the limit. Luckily, most of the time they just bounce out of the way but I have seen them leave a small dent on a car, or knock out a corner light if hit just right, nothing that can’t be fixed since you’re having the time of your life.
After the run groups were setup with a split of the cars it was time to start. As I put on my bright orange safety vest, I met my spotter and we headed to the first area trying to capture some good shots of the drivers coming through a chicane before the long sweeping left turn to the finish line. I managed to get some decent shots here, but wasn’t quite what I had in mind since a lot of them lost a ton of speeding coming to a near stop on the course to go through, so I told my spotter I wanted to go to the slalom area.
When we got there, I knew that this was the spot. I was able to get dead on with the cones that split the slalom up, ultimately letting me see just how close some of these drivers were getting. This is also where a spotter is very important. I am standing in the middle of this lot where cars are coming at you in the top of second gear (speeds in excess of 50mph) with nothing between us. So it is the spotter job to basically tackle me out of the way if I were to be zoned out while looking through the camera.
After the first run group I decided I was enjoying the spot I was shooting so went back there again for the second group. This time slightly off center from the cones, which was another great choice. As the drivers entered the slalom, they go over a crest and nearly every car had between one and 3 tires off the ground before settling and cutting the wheel to the right to make it through the first slalom cone. Not only that, but as they leave the slalom them cut right and head almost straight towards me and really allows you to capture their facial expressions as the look further down, anticipating the next turn.
After both run groups they all cut to go to lunch. Seeing how I had filled up a 64gb card with over 1,300 photos and having plenty of housework to get done before the week, I decided to call it there and head out. While going through all the photos it was awesome to see the joy in the drivers and passengers eyes as they raced. It is something that I miss, but I will, without a doubt get back into at some point in my life. I am just happy that I am able to take these photos and share them with the members of the Utah region SCCA to bring the same joy and memories that others have done for me in the past while I was still racing. If you have a car that you want to get out and race safely and LEGALLY, check into your local SCCA club and go see what it’s all about. I have never met a better group of people who are so willing to help one another out whether it be with driving, car problems, or to just bs with.