LINCOLN, Neb. (September 2, 2014) - The SCCA Board of Directors has, unfairly, been accused oftentimes of favoring one program over another. This week at the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships in Lincoln, the Board of Directors have grabbed their helmets and become an active part of the event.
Four of the 13 area directors 鈥� Chairman John Walsh, Vice Chairman Dick Patullo, Brian McCarthy and Terry Hanushek 鈥� are on the entry list this week. Most have been to Lincoln before, but haven鈥檛 participated, and all have experience in the SafeRacer Club Racing program.
鈥淲e were told that to really understand the experience, you have to compete,鈥� Patullo, who is co-driving in C Street with Mike Cavanaugh in the No. 74 Sally鈥檚 Riding Stable Nissan 350Z. 鈥淚鈥檝e never done a Solo in my life 鈥� I鈥檝e done everything else in the Club, I think, but I鈥檝e never done a Solo. They said people will appreciate it, and you鈥檒l get more of the experience. People do seem to appreciate it, they鈥檝e been really supportive.鈥�
It鈥檚 not that the Directors haven鈥檛 been interested in driving before.
鈥淭his year is a matter of opportunity,鈥� Walsh said. 鈥淲e had somebody wrangle us cars. I鈥檝e run exactly three autocrosses in my life, and it鈥檚 never been pretty.鈥�
And none of them knew what to truly expect before jumping in the car. Patullo took a turn on the test and tune course, but Walsh, Hanushek and McCarthy 鈥� the latter two co-driving in an H Stock Mini 鈥� have to wait until the Thursday/Friday sessions to test their mettle.
鈥淗eyward sent us an email and told us who we were hooked up with, and there was a sense of evil laughter when I got it because all of my experience is in small bore stuff 鈥� Spec Racer, Volkswagen IT cars, little Nissans 鈥� and I opened the spreadsheet up and I seemed to be firmly planted in a B Street Corvette,鈥� Walsh, who is co-driving with Matt Feeney, said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 revenge, or if I鈥檓 here to provide amusement, but I鈥檓 looking forward to it.鈥�
And though competitive as Club Racers, each of the Directors has been realistic about their chances this week 鈥� they know the Solo program at this level is a serious effort. But they also understand that being involved helps them understand the process at its鈥� core, from registration through the award ceremonies.
鈥淛ohn Walsh the driver wants to kick as many asses as possible, but reality says there鈥檚 not a chance that鈥檚 going to happen,鈥� Walsh (ed. note - he was answering the question as it was phrased and doesn鈥檛 make a habit of referring to himself in the third person) said. 鈥淛ohn Walsh the Chairman is here to really appreciate this program. I spent two years as liason to the SEB, and this is my fourth year here at Solo Nationals. My real goal is to better understand the program. 鈥�
Patullo understands that as well.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e coming here as a Director, you have responsibilities to go around and talk to people and gather information. I didn鈥檛 want me playing at something to interfere with that, but so far it鈥檚 working out. I have to get up a little earlier and my feet hurt a little more, but I could use the exercise. There鈥檚 still time between rounds to interact with people and maybe there鈥檚 a little more openness now that I鈥檓 not just some outsider.鈥�
There is an unofficial competition amongst the Board members, and, not surprisingly, every one of them picked a different person to do the best (ahem鈥� themselves).
Ultimately, along with President Lisa Noble, SCCA Pro Racing President Robert Clarke, and three other staff members that are not usual Solo participants competing this weekend, the takeaway is to just be involved and carry over some lessons to the rest of the Club.
鈥淎 lot of people in our Club, especially the side that I鈥檓 most active in, Club Racing, totally misunderstand autocross,鈥� Walsh said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 understand how difficult it is, and they don鈥檛 understand that it鈥檚 an entirely different social atmosphere than Club Racing, where everyone tends to be wound a little tight. This is a social happening 鈥� this is Woodstock, this is Burning Man, but with cars. It鈥檚 a very cool event, just because of the ambience and every one鈥檚 attitude. I鈥檓 here to enjoy the event.
鈥淪olo is where our numbers are, it brings us great members, and a lot of our Solo leadership feels like second-class citizens. We really don鈥檛 understand why, because on the Board we don鈥檛 consider Solo a second class program. If you ask any Board member what we need, it鈥檚 more members with a Solo background. Right now we have Tere Pulliam from the Atlanta Region, and we welcome that because we value her input and background. Marcus Meredith served in the same way. More than half of our members autocross, why is it such a small part of our Board?鈥� 聽
2014 Solo National Championship
