Are you ready to go racing? Are you ready to dive into the corners with 8 other cars mere inches from from yours, all the while trying to hold your line at the very limit of traction? If you think you can handle it, then club racing may be just what you're looking for. It's real, competitive racing that doesn't require millions of sponsor dollars to get into. (Not that it would hurt any)
In this region, there are two major club racing programs where you can run your bimmer: SCCA (Sports Car Club of America), and your very own BMW CCA. These programs are fairly similar in their basic requirements and many racers chose to campaign one car in both series at the same time. Occasionally the CCA and the SCCA hold joint events taking turns on the same track, or even racing together. That said, there are some differences between the two series.
BMW Car Club of America Club Racing
BMW Club Racing is restricted to BMW Club members running any model BMW car (now including the BMW Mini). Cars are classed by model and modifications to try to make the playing field as level as possible. Everything from 2002's to E46 M3's run together, pushing it to the edge to win class honors.
In racing, there's always the chance of cars being damaged by running off the track or getting into accidental collisions. In fact, one of the first questions you get when you go racing is "aren't you afraid you'll hurt your car?" In order to provide, safe, clean, and fun racing, BMW Club Racing uses the same strict rules as the vintage race series. In the event of an incident, the driver at fault is put on probation for 13 months. If they have another incident in those 13 months, they will be suspended for 13 months.
SCCA Club Racing
SCCA club racing is open to almost every car type that fits into its class system. There are series for street cars, spec cars, homebuilts, open wheel formula cars, and just about anything else you can think of. This variety means more cars are the track at the same time, often with widely varied capabilities. More cars and different speeds can make for a much more challenging and entertaining race.
Though not bound by the same strict vintage rules as the BMW series, SCCA Club Racing is by no means a free for all. Every licensed competition driver knows the rules and the consequences involved long before they hit the track with other cars. No matter what series you chose, racing is inherently risky and you should be congnizant of that before making the leap.
Getting Started
Each series has its own set of rules when it comes to getting your competition license and what exactly has to be in the car, so it's best to research the specific series and class that you're interested in. The links on this page should help you find all of the basic information for getting started with both the BMW and SCCA Club racing programs. Good luck!
