About SCDA

SCDA – High Performance Driving & Track Events (HPDE)

Founded in 1995, the Sports Car Driving Association (SCDA) provides the driving enthusiast the opportunity to experience high performance driving in a safe and controlled environment. SCDA events are strictly driver educational events, and are non-competitive. SCDA welcomes everyone from novices with no track experience, as well as seasoned track drivers. We invite you to explore our www.SCDA1.com website to learn more about us and our events at some of the best tracks in the East Coast.

About the Sports Car Driving Association

The Sports Car Driving Association (SCDA) was founded in 1995 by veteran sports car racer and driving instructor William Prout. In 1999 he was joined by his son, and talented driver, Ian Prout. Ian would go on to take the wheel of the SCDA in 1999 and continue to grow the SCDA by adding visits to new tracks and provide services otherwise not available to drivers.

In the early 1990’s, William recognized the need for a safe road to getting on the racetrack without engaging in risky competition in purpose built racecars. Prior to the founding of the SCDA, drivers had few ways to experience driving on a race track but to compete in a wheel-to-wheel environment, such as the Sports Car Club of America. Today, owners of high performance cars who want to experience their capabilities and develop their own driving skills recognize the SCDA as the best way to make their dreams a reality.

In 2016, following the untimely loss of Ian Prout, SCDA Vice President Elivan Goulart took on the group’s leadership and continued to grow and expand its offerings. As a racer, Elivan is one of the most successful young drivers on the United States racing scene. Starting in karts at the age of 12, Elivan graduated to Formula 500 (2001 and 2002 SCCA National Runoff Champion). In 2004, the new Formula SCCA and Cooper Tires Championship was formed and it’s first champion was Elivan. Continuing to compete in amateur and professional series, Elivan clinched the ultra-competitive 2011 SCCA National Champion in Spec Miata and 2011 SCCA Presidents Cup winner. Two years later he was the 2013 SCCA STU National Champion followed by a TCA championship in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge. Elivan has won over 45% of all his career races entered since the start of his career.

The Sports Car Driving Association Difference

In the decades following the creation of the Sports Car Driving Association, other organizations have entered the market offering safe and affordable ways to get on the racetrack. While many groups provide quality services to their drivers, there are substantial differences that make the SCDA stand out as the best.

Benefits of driving with the SCDA:

• The SCDA has been in the business of getting drivers on track since 1995.
• Driver safety is paramount at SCDA events. Decades of experience and discretion have made SCDA events the safest and friendliness possible.
• The SCDA offers a unique event format serving all skill levels from Novice to Instructor.
• All Novice drivers will have an instructor who will work to develop their skills at no cost.
• Valuable classroom sessions are tailored to drivers of all skill levels.
• Instructors with the SCDA are the finest available and receive continuous training as well.
• No memberships are required at the SCDA. All drivers and all marques of car are welcome.
• Clients, not club members. The SCDA takes pride in treating every driver as a client and providing the finest customer experience available.
• SCDA Clientele includes drivers of all skill levels and the highest driver retention.
• Flexibility is what allows the SCDA to make decisions during an event to provide the best experience to clients.
• Punctuality is a hallmark of an SCDA event. Driver’s know when and where their next session will be at every event.
• Hear what SCDA clients have to say on the Testimonials page.

High Performance Driver Education Events (HPDE)

What is a High Performance Driving Event? What does a day at an SCDA event look like? Is it safe?

With every passing year new cars get faster and more powerful. More driver’s want to experience the thrill of high performance driving on a closed course. New drivers want to learn car control skills that go beyond driver’s ed. And everyone should realize that driving quickly on public roads is incredibly dangerous. The Sports Car Driving Association offers a safe and fun environment to explore the limits.

A High Performance Driving Event is not a race. Lap times are not logged and there are no winners. Attending an HPDE is a structured way to begin the process of driver development and vehicle enjoyment. SCDA Events go beyond open track by providing different skill levels their own run group so they can develop their abilities while being on track with others with the same level of experience. By providing a ladder system, the SCDA lays out a road map for skill development and increasing speed on the track. Learn MORE about the run groups here.

A Day with the SCDA

The Sports Car Driving Association stands out among other groups by our strict adherence to the event schedule while also willing to be flexible in the face of challenges. Out goal is that drivers get the most track time at the time it was scheduled. Please keep the schedule in mind before leaving for the track. A firm schedule for every event is published here. Daily Schedules

Important times are:

• 7:00 Event Registration Opens: All participants must check in at Registration in order to sign our waiver and receive your wristband and your personal packet including your specific vehicle numbers, daily schedule, track map, instructor evaluation, decals and tech form. NOTE: Every racetrack has their own waiver which you will need to sign to enter the property which is NOT the SCDA waiver. 2-Day events require a new signature of the SCDA waiver on the second day as well.
• 7:00-8:30 Tech Inspection Open: All Cars must be brought to Tech Inspection prior to entering the track. Participants should bring their completed Tech Form and have their helmet and numbers applied to the car. NOTE: Please visit Registration to get the event packet with the vehicle numbers in it. We cannot inspect a car that does not yet have the tech form and numbers installed provided in your event packet at check in.
• 8:30 Driver Meeting: All participants are required to attend the driver meeting each track day. The meeting is typically held close to the registration area but will be announced prior. Important track and event specific information will be discussed as well as important track day policies will be explained including the important Point By procedure.
• 9:00 Classroom: Novice drivers will head to the classroom for the first of several informative discussions with our SCDA Pro Driver. Other groups will also have classroom sessions. Your day will alternate between classroom and track sessions with built in breaks.
• 9:00 to 5:00: On Track Driving on track at SCDA events typically begins around 9:00 and is broken into blocks of 20 to 30 minutes. Participants will get 4 sessions on track. Novice driver’s will have an Instructor with them during every session. Drivers should arrive to the staging lane before their run group 10 minutes early. Novice drivers should arrive at staging 15 minutes early to meet their instructors. Please note that instructors are not pre assigned.

The SCDA works hard to stick to the schedule so please rely on the printed schedule provided at registration. Not all racetracks have public address systems so it will be up to participants to be on time to their run group. In the unlikely event that the schedule is adjusted during the day, drivers will be informed by PA or an SCDA representative.

Click here for the schedule of events and specific daily schedule for each event: Daily Schedules. Also take a look at our full Season Schedule.

Contact the SCDA

Please Contact the Sports Car Driving Association and speak directly to one of our staff about joining the excitement or getting involved in corporate sponsorship or group events.