San Diego SCCA Solos @ Qualcomm - 10/20/2013

So here is the deal, I went down to Qualcomm Stadium for a few hours on Sunday and watched the SCCA Solos. Sadly I have to admit it is not very exciting from a spectator point of view, but really, that is not the point. SCCA Solos are all about taking what ever car you have and pushing it and yourself to the limit. It really is that simple, but there is beauty to be found in this simplicity.



These are normal everyday people, bank tellers, grocery clerks, small business owners, engineers, mothers, fathers, husbands & wives, hell.. I am sure there is even a dentist in the mix. One thing they all have in common is the joy of driving.. but not just your every day trip to the store, really driving. I could hear them talking about each corner, discussing how to improve, how it felt, and all with a smile. These people, at least the ones I listened to, do it for themselves. Not to be cool or to compete.. just to enjoy that one minute alone with their car and improve.



The variety of vehicles driven at these events is quiet stellar. So if you just strait like cars, there are some interesting vehicles to see. You can also get a good idea of how they handle by asking the owner. Some of them will even offer you a chance to ride along with them, though I hear chances of getting a ride along are better on practice days.







Understandably, the most common car found at these events is the Mazda Miata. Relatively low cost, quick, and great handling. There are much "faster" higher cost vehicles out there that can't touch a properly driven Miata on a track, or in this case, a parking lot.





I personally did enjoy watching people drive their muscle cars around. Never driven trailer cars bug me to no end. Who cares if your ride is pristine, or has a motor built that put out 650HP readings on the dyno, if you don't drive it, it is just a pretty hunk of metal. This lot shows what cars are made for...



Wheel to wheel track racing is definitely more my thing and I can't see giving it up for solos, but I am for sure interested in bringing the Spitwad down to the Solos next year to have some fun. That is, if we don't destroy the hooptie first.



So if you have a car, no matter what it is, and always wanted to see what you could do with it, look into the SCCA solos. It is for sure a great place to get started really driving...