From the Editor's Desk

Autocross Returns to Hershey Park!

The Susquehanna Region autocross program makes its return to Hershey Park for a double header weekend this weekend, March 25th and 26th and it's gonna be a good one! The weather is set to be a gorgeous 70 degrees on Saturday. Sunday will be a little chillier with rain showers in the afternoon. A far cry from the worst weather we've seen for our spring Hershey events!

Registration closes at 8:00pm tonight (Thursday, March 23), but we are already sold out for Saturday with several people on the waiting list! 

Heat Order for both Saturday & Sunday
Run 1, Work 2: BS, DS, ES, GS, HS
Run 2, Work 1: CS, STF, STS, STX, STR, STU
Run 3, Work 4: SS, AS, All SP, SSR, All CAM, BML
Run 4, Work 3: FS, STP, All Prep, All SM, All Mod 

Also, keep in mind since it's the beginning of the season, it's important to review any changes that SCCA National may have made to classing using the 2017 rule book and that some of our AX Supplemental Rules have changed this year. 

Rallycross... SOON!

Rallycross is less than a month away as well! We'll be holding a Rallycross school on Saturday, April 22 and the first event of the season on Sunday, April 23. Both at the Elmerton Farm Show lot. 

Motorsports, Susquehanna Style

With the motorsport season ready to go full swing, Tracy Holmes is back at it with Member Moments and Puttering Around PA posts on the website. Thanks, Tracy!

March Regional Meeting

Tuesday, March 28 • 7:30 p.m.
Our next meeting will be held in the private dining room at Gilligan's Bar and Grill, 987 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111.  All members are encouraged to attend. Come early for dinner (and a drink) with other members. 

Meeting Agenda

• Discussion and vote on adoption of revised bylaws — Kristen Poole
• Review and discussion on the first two autocross events — All
• Update on timing trailer progress — Chris Benfer/Geoff Craig
• Update on costs for possible new tow vehicle — Markus Houser
• Update on possible event at Penn State Harrisburg — Doug Austin
• Update on possible new rallycross site — John Roscinski
• Review of sponsorship packages — Kristen Poole
• Discussion surrounding the possibility of giving back to our autocross and rallycross chiefs

Touring 4 Shows Diversity

Photo: Oscar Jackson taking Touring 4 win at Runoffs, courtesy of SCCA. 

by Alan Lesher
The Touring category is set aside for real cars; no tube frames, no slicks, no racing engines.  That does not mean the cars are slow, nor does it mean they are boring or cheap.  Class 4 is where the former Showroom Stock cars landed, plus a bunch of new cars.  I sometimes drive a former SSC Neon in regional T4 with some success, but it is no longer competitive at the national lever.   So, if I wanted to replace the Neon, what car looks like a winner?  Here is an analysis of the cars that competed in the 2016 Majors and Runoffs in T4.  

There were 188 Majors entries nationwide in T4 in 2016.   By far, the most popular car was the Miata with about 120 entries.  The RX8 and Mustang V6 were tied for second.  These 3 cars made up the bulk of the fields with a few of the Acura RSX,  Pontiac Solstice, Cobalt SS, Camaro V6 , BMW Z4, Honda Civic SI, Scion FRS, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla mixed in.  

Not too surprising, there were 18 wins by Miata.  The RX8 came alive on the west coast with 15 wins, many by Tom Wickersham.  The Mustang scored 5 wins.  Acura showed 3, BMW 2, Scion 1.  Honda, Pontiac, Chevy and Toyota did not show any Majors T4  wins in 2016.

The expectation going into the Runoffs was that Wickersham was the driver to beat.  Oscar Jackson, Jr. had other plans.  He finished preparing a Scion FRS just a few weeks before the big race and took the pole and the win in September.  The moral?  The popular car is not always the best choice.  It helps  to have talent and drive (and a father who operates a tuning shop).  Congratulations to Oscar and Scion.   For 2017, don't be surprised to see more FRS/BRZ/GT86 on track in Touring 4.  

2017 News Flash!  After 6 races (4 in the southeast & 2 in the west)  Mustang V6 has 2 wins and the RX8 has 4 wins (all 4 by long time racer Don Knowles).  There are some FRS on track, but no wins to date.   Oh yes!  No Neons!