Draft:Track Night in America

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  • Comment: needs to be completely rewritten ToadetteEdit! 07:39, 29 April 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: Close primary sources do not establish notability per WP:GNG. DoubleGrazing (talk) 16:47, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

SCCA Track Night in America[edit]

Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) introduced its Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack (TNiA) program in 2015 as a means of offering motorsport fans an easy and inexpensive way to drive on road racing circuits around the United States.[1]

SCCA developed a program allowing automotive fans to be part of motorsports by using their personal street vehicles on the racetrack.

At launch, TNiA participants only needed to be at least 18 years old with a valid state driver’s license and have access to a racing helmet and street car in good working condition. No pure race cars were allowed, and no previous on-track experience or SCCA membership was required. At the time, the cost was never greater than $150 per entrant, and that often included three 20-minute track sessions, as well as feedback from onsite SCCA driver coaches. The entry fee has increased through the years, and in 2023 was roughly $170.[2]

TNiA participants are encouraged to drive within their comfort zone and be considerate of others on course. Entrants are divided into novice, intermediate or advanced groups so on-track activities remain safe and fun. As a non-competitive activity with no official timing or records, coaches instruct participants to focus on having an enjoyable experience. To accomplish this, safety passing zones are set up at circuits, and drivers are instructed to point others by who are quicker.[3]

Most TNiA events are conducted on weekdays and usually begin in the late afternoon. This allows people to put in a half day at work before heading to their local racetrack. TNiA was envisioned as a unique activity that could serve as a substitute for golf outings, bowling leagues, softball games, etc. This also left weekends free for other activities or parental obligations.

Thanks to support from Tire Rack and the FIA Sport Grant Programme, TNiA hosted a total of 4,200 entrants across 90 events at 15 race circuits in its first year. By 2020, TNiA put a total of 40,000 cars on racetracks. The close of 2023 saw TNiA reach the overall mark of 71,000 entries.[4]

For tracks, TNiA fills calendar dates during the week so venues maintain fiscal viability. That helps ensure racing circuits stay open to support the motorsport community for years to come.

TNiA visits far more than 15 sites each year, some of those circuits include:

·       Atlanta Motorsports Park

·       Blackhawk Farms Raceway

·       Carolina Motorsports Park

·       Charlotte Motor Speedway

·       Dakota County Technical College

·       Daytona International Speedway

·       Dominion Raceway

·       GingerMan Raceway

·       Harris Hill Raceway

·       High Plains Raceway

·       Lime Rock Park

·       Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

·       MotorSport Ranch

·       Nashville Superspeedway

·       NCM Motorsports Park

·       Nelson Ledges Road Course

·       New Hampshire Motor Speedway

·       New Jersey Motorsports Park

·       NOLA Motorsports Park

·       Palmer Motorsports Park

·       Pikes Peak International Raceway

·       Pittsburgh International Race Complex

·       Pocono Raceway

·       Portland International Raceway

·       Ridge Motorsports Park

·       Road America

·       Sebring International Raceway

·       Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

·       Thunderhill Raceway Park

·       VIRginia International Raceway

While TNiA is designed to be a fun, non-competitive outlet for automotive enthusiasts, some drivers have utilized TNiA as a gateway to competitive motorsports. SCCA Solo, SCCA Time Trials and SCCA Road Racing routinely include entrants today who began building performance driving skills through TNiA events.[5][failed verification]

References[edit]

[citation: https://www.scca.com/articles/1994644-scca-opens-tracks-to-car-enthusiasts-with-track-night-in-america-driven-by-tire-rack]

[citation: https://www.tracknightinamerica.com/pages/what-s-track-night-in-america]

[citation: https://www.scca.com/articles/2016930-track-nights-2023-schedule-is-a-thing-of-beauty]

[citation: https://www.tracknightinamerica.com/pages/what-to-expect]

[citation: https://www.scca.com/articles/2018023-track-night-big-numbers-big-savings-big-fun]

[citation: https://performanceracing.com/magazine/featured/03-01-2024/creating-pathway-competition]

  1. ^ SCCA (2015-03-17). "SCCA Opens Tracks to Car Enthusiasts with Track Night In America Driven by Tire Rack". Sports Car Club of America. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  2. ^ SCCA (2023-01-25). "Track Night's 2023 Schedule is a Thing of Beauty". Sports Car Club of America. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  3. ^ "Start Here - What to Expect". Track Night in America. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  4. ^ SCCA (2023-12-11). "Track Night: Big Numbers, Big Savings, Big Fun". Sports Car Club of America. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  5. ^ "Creating a Pathway to Competition". Performance Racing Industry. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
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