SCDA Driving & Track Event FAQ

The Sports Car Driving Association is non marque specific group. At any given Sports Car Driving Association event, there is a broad selection of automobiles represented: BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen, Ford, Lotus, Audi, Corvette, Mini Cooper, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Ferrari are just some of the types of cars that show up at our events. We welcome everything from Dodge Neons to Porsche Turbos. The brand of car is not important, a desire to improve one’s driving skills in a safe and fun environment is!

In the event that you do not have a car that is track worthy, the SCDA would like to remind you that we offer Race Car Rentals at SCDA events. After market modifications are permitted, but not required. All automobiles participating in SCDA events are required to participate in a Tech Inspection on the day of the event. Convertibles are required to have a roll bar and/or factory hard top.

IMPORTANT: Sound limits are strictly enforced at all tracks. The limits are as followed:

• Lime Rock Park, 86db
• Palmer Motorsports Park, 95 db
• New Hampshire Motorsports Park, 99db
• Watkins Glen International, No Limit
• New Jersey Motorsports Park, No Limit
• Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, 103db
• Virginia International Raceway, No Limit

Drivers of cars that exceed the specific sound limit will be given one chance to muffle the car before parking for the day.  Please understand that these are track zoning requirements and are 100% out of  SCDA’s control.  Please make sure that your car in compliant.

Safety Equipment and Dress Code

The Sports Car Driving Association’s number one priority is safety.  There are certain types of clothing and safety gear that are more appropriate when driving at speed on a racetrack. Before heading to the track, make sure you have packed the right equipment.

Helmet Requirements for all SCDA events.

Helmets with a SA-2015 or SA-2020 rating are REQUIRED for all SCDA Events

Helmets with an M-rating are not Acceptable.   Motorcycle helmets do not have the proper safety requirements for car use, specifically a rollbar multi-impact test.

Helmets MUST have one of these two labels on the inside.

Helmet Suppliers:

• Driving Impressions
• HMS Motorsports
• TMI Racing Products

Dress Code:

• Long sleeve shirts are suggested
• Long pants are required
• Driving Shoes/ Sneakers (no boots or open toe shoes)
• Driving Gloves are suggest
• No tank tops
• Proper Head and Neck restraint system is HIGHLY encouraged
• If driving a competition car, a flameproof suit and other gear is required at some tracks

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

Season Schedule

For safety reasons, all convertibles (Boxster, Miata, Corvette, BMW Z4, Honda S2000, Pontiac Solstice etc.) are required to have a roll bar that meets the following two criteria in order to be eligible to run during any event.

1. The roll bar must be in the fixed position and visible at all times. This means that roll bars which are designed to automatically deploy are not acceptable unless they are in the full upright and locked position at all times.
2. The roll bar must allow the driver to pass the “broomstick” test which means that the top of the drivers helmet must be below the line from the top of the roll bar to the top of the windshield if structural.  If the windshield is not structural, then to the top of the dashboard.

There are aftermarket roll bars and/or seats which can be used to help meet these requirements. If your convertible meets these standards, then you are welcome to participate!

Most retractable Factory hard tops are acceptable at SCDA events, please verify.

All Novice drivers and any other more advanced driver will have access to a skilled instructor throughout the day.  The Sports Car Driving Association prides itself on having the finest instructors anywhere. Our Instructors have countless years of high performance driving experience. Many of our Instructors have a competition background and are overseen by SCDA President and multi time Club and Professional series champion, Elivan Goulart.

All of our Sports Car Driving Association Instructors have a very solid resume of non-competitive and/or competitive track experience to offer clients.  Our Instructors take their duties very seriously and are committed to the safety and improvement of their students.

In addition to on-track training, classroom sessions are required for all drivers in every group.  The classroom sessions are tailored to each run group and will include a very detailed presentation covering such topics as vehicle dynamics, threshold braking, and line theory as some examples.  It should be noted that if you bring a guest to an SCDA event, they are welcome to sit in on the Classroom Sessions as well.  To learn more about the topics covered in the classroom session, check here.

“S” is for SAFETY

Safety is our first priority. Sports Car Driving Association events are for educational purposes. This is NOT A RACE and NOT A RACING SCHOOL, nor are SCDA events competitive in nature. Wheel to wheel racing is not permitted and laps are not timed.

SCDA takes great pains to make sure the events are safe and rewarding. Learning more about Safety Gear and Vehicle Preparation is important

For the sake of safety and improvement, Novice students are required to drive with an Instructor in the passenger seat at all times. Under certain circumstances and at the discretion of SCDA Staff, it would be possible for a passenger over 18 to ride with an instructor. TO TAKE A RIDE AROUND THE TRACK WITH AN SCDA INSTRUCTOR. THE PASSENGER MUST COME TO REGISTRATION AND SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE GETTING ON THE TRACK.

Not all cars are going the same speed on the track. Passing is allowed on designated straights only, with a Point-By signal. The Point-By is an important part of on track driving with the SCDA.

Point-By: When racing, passes can be attempted anywhere. At Sports Car Driving Association events, passing is ONLY permitted with an indication from the car being overtaken.  The Point-By procedure is what helps SCDA events run smoothly and ensures all drivers get plenty of clear track to focus on their driving.  Please keep these Point-By rules in mind:

• Every Pass Requires A Point-By
• The slower driver must indicate on which side they would like the faster driver to pass by pointing in that direction with arm out the window. Drivers being overtaken should stay on the regular driving line and not move out of the way for faster drivers.
• Passing drivers MUST NOT pass a slower car without a Point-By.
• When pointing several cars by, the slower car must give one point for each car that he or she is letting pass. If the driver intends to point two cars by, they should indicate so with two distinct points.  Any car(s) behind that did not specifically get a point should not pass.
• Vehicle’s turn signals MAY NOT be used for Point-By’s.
• Each track has many specific passing zones which are the only places passing may happen. The passing zones are explained at the Drivers Meeting
• Not getting a Point-By?  In the event you are caught behind a group of slower cars and want to get some clear track?  Come in to the Pit Lane and let our staff find you a stretch of clear track for you.

The SCDA adheres to a two spin policy – any person that spins twice during an event, regardless of run group, will be done driving for the day. The SCDA reserves the right to black flag any driver that is not able to adhere to club rules, or that drives in an unsafe manner.

Several insurers offer HPDE Track Insurance to protect your car to protect your baby.  On Track Insurance and Lockton HPDE Insurance offer insurance for SCDA on track driving events.

SCDA Staff are always available to address any safety concerns and help make the event a safe and rewarding memory to last a lifetime.

SCDA Events are run at the finest racetracks in the East.  A blend of legendary tracks like Watkins Glen and Lime Rock as well as the newcomers such as Palmer Motorsports Park and New Jersey Motorsports Park offer drivers with beautiful circuits and top notch amenities.

Please see our Schedule for complete details on upcoming SCDA events.

Placing drivers in the proper group requires certain conditions be met.  Click here to learn more about the process.

Drivers must be at least 18 years of age, and possess a valid drivers license in order to attend.  Drivers 16-17 years or age may participate with a parental waiver and a valid driver’s license, except for Watkins Glen International which is 18 or over.  Please note that “SNELL SA2015” or newer helmets are required for all participants. SCDA events are offered on a first come first served basis and there is no membership fee.

Before attending an SCDA event, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that his or her vehicle is up to the added challenges of track driving. Here is a list of critical steps required before heading out on track for any SCDA event.

• Loose items should be removed from the automobile, take time to clean out the trunk, and empty the car completely.
• Brake lights must be functional.
• In the event of a rain event, treaded tires are required.
• Cars must be in safe running order and not leaking any fluids.
• The car must be muffled such that it will not exceed the racetracks noise limits.
• Numbers from other groups or clubs should removed or crossed out with tape.
• Furthermore, cars with body rot or rust will NOT be permitted to participate.

Here are some suggestions for preparing your car for a track event.

• Change the brake fluid on the car frequently. Every 6 months or several track days is appropriate. Old brake fluid will appear brown or even black in color. This is not acceptable. Brake fluid should be fresh and golden in color. If at all in question, have your mechanic bleed your brakes, and have him check the thickness of your brake pads as well.
• Fluids should all be checked prior to an event. Specifically, make sure that your oil is fresh and there are no leaks.
• Both passenger and driver side seat belts should be fully functional and the same restraint system must be used for both driver and passenger.
• Tires should be inspected closely, and air pressure should be set to the appropriate amount before the car goes on the track.

The SCDA reserves the right to inspect any car for any reason at any point during an event. Having your mechanic check over your automobile before the event is strongly encouraged. It should be noted that each participant will be provided with a Tech Inspection form on the day of the event. The Tech Inspection will be an on site process, we do not require that you tech your car prior to the event.

Before attending an SCDA event, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that his or her vehicle is up to the added challenges of track driving, but sometimes the unexpected can happen and damage may happen to a driver’s car.  There are several considerations any driver should understand before driving their car at speed on a racetrack.

**Facility Damages:  A reminder that any damage done to the facility/track will be the driver’s responsibility.

• Is this your street car?  Using your street car to participate in any high-performance driving event is the ideal way to experience the performance of your baby without taking dangerous risks on public roads.  Never drive excessively fast on public roads! In the event that you have an incident on track that leaves you stranded or damages your car, here are some suggestions.
  • Join the auto club or some or other service that will begin the process of recovering the car and may offer other assistance such as trip cancellation.
  • Check your insurance policy prior to the event to find out if your policy covers driver’s education, which is what an SCDA event is considered. SCDA Events are non-competitive and untimed driver’s education.
  • Several insurers offer HPDE Track Insurance to protect your car to protect your baby.  On Track Insurance and Lockton HPDE Insurance offer insurance for SCDA on track driving events.
• Is this your racecar?  If you have a racecar, you probably didn’t drive it to the racetrack, so our suggestion is simple.  Insure your racecar with SCDA partner Lockton Motorsports and make sure your machine is covered for any situation.

Event Cancellation Policy: All SCDA events are offered on a first come, first served basis. Our events run rain or shine. There will be a $25 processing fee for any entry that is refunded, if transferred to another event more than 3 weeks in advance, no penalty will apply. Cancellations between two to three weeks prior to event date forfeit 50% of total amount, remaining 50% will be stored as credit for 12 months valid towards another event. No shows on the day of the event, as well as cancellations within two weeks of the event date forfeit the total amount. No refunds, transfers, or credits will be issued. The SCDA reserves the right to cancel any entries and/or events for any reason for a full refund.

Multi Event Day Track Passes Cancellation Policy: All SCDA events are offered on a first come, first served basis. Our events run rain or shine.  Refunds are not available.  If transferred to another event more than 3 weeks in advance, no penalty will apply. Cancellations between two to three weeks prior to event date forfeit 50% of total amount, remaining 50% will be stored as credit valid towards another event, but must all be used in the current year. No shows on the day of the event, as well as cancellations within two weeks of the event date forfeit the total amount. The SCDA reserves the right to cancel any entries and/or events for any reason for a full refund.

Enrollment is easy. You can register online with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express).

REGISTER for an EVENT NOW