Photography Credit: Perry Bennett
What will the 2020 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals look like—and will the landmark championship event even happen at all?
That was discussed during the SCCA Town Hall held on Wednesday, July 8, a 2-hour Q&A hosted by SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb; Bob Davis, chairman of the Solo Events Board; and Heyward Wagner, interim director of Rally/Solo.
Traditionally, the SCCA Solo Department works with the staff at Lincoln Airpark, the event’s host. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, has become more involved with the planning for the event. Lincoln has more or less flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases, and city leaders are asking the SCCA for more screening as well as limits on gatherings.
What does this mean for the event? Any attendee would have to pass some kind of health screening to be allowed on site.
Then there’s the act of social distancing. The city has prioritized social distancing ahead of PPE, Wagner explained, adding that there’s a very real likelihood that paddock gatherings cannot happen.
Photography credit: David S. Wallens
“All options are on the table,” Wagner said, noting that it might be a two-day event with just 550 to 700 entries—about half the usual. Or the numbers might warrant the traditional four-day event.
Then he added a more sobering outcome: The event might wait until 2021. “There is a possibility that the event will not happen this year,” he said. “I don’t want to see bunch of people come to the center of the country and not have a great experience.”
The SCCA is not making that decision today, the panel emphasized. The final word hangs on two components: keeping the members happy and keeping those who control the site happy.
A survey will be sent out to current registrants as well as past participants. It will also be available to the general public via the SCCA site. Look for this survey next week.
Photography credit: David S. Wallens
“We want to make a call by August 5,” Wagner told GRM regarding the final decision for this year’s Solo Nationals. “We think we can, but we are giving ourselves to August 15 as there are a number of variables at the moment, not the least of which being the understanding that we don’t yet know what all the variables may be. Example: If Nebraska requires quarantine for people traveling into the state.”
A final note from Wagner: “From the comments last night, emails received today and some scanning of social media, I see three trends: appreciation for the transparency, meeting format, concept and communication; understanding that the event may need to be (and potentially should be) altered if not canceled; and a desire to do what is right for the sport as well as the city of Lincoln. In the end, the decisions will be made with consideration for our partners, members and hosts.”
Photography credit: David S. Wallens
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