SCCA sanctions the following types of racing, which are usually production based (but not always):
1. Solo II or AutoX, low speed class timed competition on courses layed out on a large lot or airport surface. Local, Regional, National / Pro Solo levels. Governed by Solo Rules. Many and most cars are dual use, ie street driven race cars. Classes are Stock, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Touring, Prepared and Modified
2. Club Racing which includes:
A. High speed on (race) track, class competition against other cars. Governed by General Competition Rules (GCR's). These cars are mostly production based dedicated non-street driven race cars. However a few Touring class cars can still be legally street driven, but usually not. Touring preperation in this class is different from Solo II Touring classes.
B. Time Trials - 4 increasing levels of speed on prepared courses or race tracks and closed road Hillclimbs. Levels are: 1 - Performance Driving Experience (PDX), 2 - Club Trials, 3 - Time Trials and 4 - Hillclimb.Time Trials use their own Time Trial Rules.
3. SCCA Pro Racing. which is dedicated road course events such as World Challenge. Some of these cars qualify for ALMS or FIA European Touring Championship as well
4. Vintage Racing which is club racing for vintage cars. Vintage rule book.
5. Rally. Rally Rule book. Usually dedicated race cars
SM and SM2 are in fact Solo II classifications.
In fact Time Trials use the Solo II classifications.
Time trials allow participation of cars from Solo II, Club Racing and Vintage Racing.:
- Solo II prepared cars including SP, SM & SM2 prepared to Solo II Rules AND the addition of car and driver safety equipment and TT driver licensing per the TT Rules.
For example:
- SM/SM2 Solo II rules ALLOW the use of a harness bar or a roll bar (4 point) but are NOT mandatory AND a helmet minimum.
- SM/SM2 cars used for Level 4 TT Hillclimbs are REQUIRED to have at least a 4 point roll bar, 5/6/7 point driver restraints, fire ext/supression system and driving suit & helmet minimum; be prepared to Solo II Rules AND any additional TT safety equipment required and driver licensing (safety and drivers licensing increases with progression throught Level 1 - Level 4)
- Club Racing cars prepared to GCR rules are allowed to compete in TT (Level 1-4) and are also allowed to compete in Solo II Street Prepared class. They MUST use ONLY the GCR Touring Rules.
- Vintage racing cars prepared to Vintage rules.
When switching types of events it is wise to understand the following:
- A car is either a SOLO car, a CLUB car or VINTAGE car. it MUST be prepared to the Rule set it is intended. It cannot swap rules or pick and chose which rules it uses. For instance a CLUB car prepared to GCR rules must adhere to those ONLY rules and the modification choices allowed on Its specfic Tech Line in the Touring Regs. An allowance is made for it to participate in Solo II ASP but it cannot use any of the Solo rules in preperation.Club racing cars prepared to the GCR's and Touring Specs adhere to all TT requirements at level 4. A Solo II car MUST adhere to the SOLO Rules of its classification and the appropriate Solo Appendix AND MUST add additional safety equipment when competing in TT, if necessary.
Bottom line is when competing in Club the GCR's take precedent. In Solo II the Solo Rules take precedent. In TT the TT Rules take precedent.
You basically have 2 options:
- My suggestion is to start wiith a dual use; production based, street driven, Solo II Stock -> Street Prepared -> SM/SM2 progression car. Enjoy Solo II and add the necessary safety equipment to participate in TT thru the PDX -> Club Trial -> TT -> Hillclimb progressions.
- Of course if money and time is not an object then you could prepare a non-street driven dedicated race car prepared to GCR Touring Rules and participate in T1/T2/T3 Club racing, SCCA Solo II SP/SM/SM2 and TT.
NOTE: Besides the normal progessions as listed above you can also progress vertically if the "Need for Speed" is overwelming. ie a street driven dual use car can always be turned into a dedicated racer later....its harder to go back.
It is also usually more effective time wise and economically to either buy a dedicated race car or have some one prepare one for you...rather than do it your self. Your main concern should be to improve your driving skills
The basic questions to consider are: Do I want to drive the car on the street? How fast do I want to go? How much money can I budget? How much time do I have? What are my skill levels as to preperation and driving?
ALWAYS check and understand the rules before you modify a car. You can download the GCR Club Racing Rules and/or the Solo Rules and/or the Time Trial Rules in PDF format from the SCCA web site www.scca.org. Select the appropriate tabs on the top menu, then "Cars and Rules" in the left margin. TT Rules are included on the Club Rules page. The TT Rules link does NOT work in the Club Rules menu BUT if you scroll down to the bottom of the Club Rules section a TT section will appear and that link does work.