[h=2]SCCA: Western Conference 2017 U.S. Majors Tour calendar set[/h] Monday, 07 November 2016


SCCA/ Image by Dennis Baer

The Western Conference has set its 2017 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour competition calendar. A total of six weekends, 12 races in all, make up the schedule that runs from January to June.


Three Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour events are contained within the 2017 Western Conference schedule. One will take place at Willow Springs International Raceway, another at Buttonwillow Raceway Park and the third at Portland International Raceway. The calendar is subject to change, but the 2017 U.S. Majors Tour Western Conference calendar consists of the following:
- January 13-15: Auto Club Speedway; Fontana, California
- March 11-12: Willow Springs International Raceway; Rosamond, California
Hoosier Super Tour
- April 1-2: Thunderhill Raceway Park; Willows, California
- April 28-30: Buttonwillow Raceway Park; Buttonwillow, California
Hoosier Super Tour
- May 19-21: Portland International Raceway; Portland, Oregon
Hoosier Super Tour
- June 17-18: The Ridge Motorsports Park; Shelton, Washington
The Southeast Conference calendar has already been announced. Schedules for the remaining four SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conferences will be published as they are finalized. But drivers competing in the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour can now apply online for Series Registration at MotorsportReg.com. Those paying the $50 Series Registration fee can reserve a single or two-digit number in a Conference of their choosing with payment deferred until January 1, 2017. The same number can also be reserved in other Conferences for an additional $25 per Conference. A Series Registration fee of $100 allows drivers to register a three-digit number, with the leading digit required to be "1," for all Conferences.
Only SCCA Full Competition and SCCA Pro Racing License holders may register for the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour series. Series Registration allows drivers to prepare number graphics for their cars that will be good for the season. Registered participants also receive a special Hoosier SCCA Super Tour hard card and series decals for car placement prior to events. Where available, Series Registration also provides access to a special registration line for express registration and tech. Additionally, a $25 coupon will be supplied to registrants for merchandise at SCCAGEAR.COM.
Reserved numbers will be honored until two weeks prior to an event. In-Conference reserved numbers will be given priority over out-of-conference reserved numbers for event registration. In the case of a dual-conference event, any duplicate reserved number requests will be resolved by earliest event registration. The word "reserved" does not mean "permanent." If class run groups for any event differ from a norm, then number assignments for that event will give preference to the in-conference drivers who register first, then further duplicate requests will be resolved by earliest event registration. The reserved number program does not apply to the SCCA Runoffs.
The SCCA U.S. Majors Tour will see some changes next year with a focus on cost containment and providing greater control of non-Super Tour events to Regions and Divisions. One such change is the expansion of racing conferences from five to six. The newly-formed Southern Conference, which includes Texas and Louisiana, was created to reduce travel costs in what was the largest geographic area, the Mid-States Conference, and provide more racing opportunities in Texas.
For non-Hoosier Super Tour events in the U.S. Majors Tour program, also known as Conference events, Regions will have greater flexibility in planning and event structure to meet local needs. While annual calendaring will be approved by the central office to avoid conflicts wherever possible, host Regions or race groups will have sole management responsibility of events, leading to potentially lower costs for racers due to a reduction in series staffing and services.
Hoosier Super Tour dates offer a heightened experience for both competitors and racing fans. Race weekends include segmented timing and scoring, and have a dedicated "Super Tour Radio presented by Hoosier Racing Tire" team of announcers capable of providing consistent insight and entertainment heard at tracks or online at SCCA.com. Dedicated staffing with a series race director, administrator and technical inspector working in conjunction with local event personnel is an additional feature of the Hoosier Super Tour. Up to three static cameras will broadcast races live online at SCCA.com, and onsite SCCA public relations staff will provide weekend media coverage. Hoosier Super Tour dates will also have enhanced weekend social activities.
Both the U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Super Tour serve as paths to the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs with race days being Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. More information is available here regarding Runoffs qualification.