WINTER SERIES EVENT:
SCCV Winter Series is the collection of any Wintercross & Ice Time Trial events each season. The classes are the same across both formats and points are accumulated by participating drivers each event. Each driver drops their lowest 25% of the total series event finishes. There needs to be a minimum of 4 events held by SCCV to initiate the minimum of 1 dropped event. Awards are given to 1st-3rd place finishers in each class championship at the end of year Annual Banquet.
WHAT IS WINTERCROSS?
Wintercross is a time trial based driving event on a primarily frozen surface that involves the use of traffic cones to make a mini-road course in a large parking lot, racetrack or unused open space. The main focus is to improve driver skills on frozen surfaces, as well as a competitive aspect to see who can drive it the quickest without hitting any cones or going off course. Using a digital timing system with laser gates (or stop watches as backup), vehicles and their run times are sorted into classes where you can compete against other drivers for the quickest time of the day. Results are compiled and published after the event, with a driver’s fastest run being what counts.
Wintercross is a great way to get introduced to winter based motorsports. It is the most accessible type of winter motorsport with the lowest barrier to entry, and relatively speaking the lowest risk. Many cars of different types can be used at these events and are separated into classes. The main vehicle restrictions to participate are a maximum roofline height requirement of 68” to avoid risk of rollover, as well as other factors of safety. This includes trucks, SUVs, and other high center-of-gravity vehicles). A full list of restrictions and requirements for vehicles to enter can be found in the Wintercross Rules & Classing. Please follow the link in the event description on MSR.
EVENT PRICING
SCCV uses MotorsportReg.com where drivers can pre-register ahead of time and get a discount on event cost. The MSR fees for entry are $40 for SCCV/SCCNH/KSCC/CMC members and $50 for non members which includes a one day SCCV membership to be used on event day. The cost of a year long 2023 SCCV membership is only $20. Membership will give you member pricing for all future SCCV/SCCNH/KSCC/CMC events you wish to participate in during that entire calendar year.
A link to purchase a membership will be provided in the event description on MSR.
On-site (day of) event registration is also available, but limited. Please try to pre register on Motorsportreg if possible please.
NEW TO WINTERCROSS
First time wintercross participants often are excited but equally nervous to get involved. This is understandable considering the fast pace and many working parts in play during an event. Read over this section to familiarize yourself with the registration process and fundamentals of wintercrossing with SCCV. Have no worries as we are a very open and welcoming organization for newcomers – ask any questions before and during the event for a smooth, fun experience!
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
A valid driver’s license and a SNELL rated helmet is required (see Wintercross Rules page for specs). Some loaner helmets may be available for newcomers, but everyone should try to provide their own.
It can take up to 1-1.5 hours standing in the elements while in worker’s groups. Suggested items to make your event pleasant include: Warm, dry clothes and footwear, sunglasses, hydration, masking tape (Blue painter’s tape works best), and prepared lunches/snacks are helpful. Clean and dry protected space outside your car is a good place to keep your belongings during the day. Plan to use bags, tarps, etc that are easy to work with in variable winter elements. Tools and equipment to make minor/major repairs are important to prepare as well. A good rule of thumb for event preparation is, “Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”.
All loose gear will need to be removed for tech inspection and timed runs, so please plan accordingly.
HOW TO WINTERCROSS
Wintercross courses are composed of cone layouts to serve as the body of the track. The track layout is subject to change throughout the day based on conditions. On course you will see a few variations of cones that mean different things. All of the information below will be covered in depth at the driver’s meeting prior to event runs start.
Please try to drive within your abilities to avoid hitting cones on course. Hitting a cone adds a 10 second penalty to your time, as well as potentially slowing/stopping the event for reset which can contribute to less runs for everyone overall. Going off course (missing a gate or cone) will result in an “OFF”, which is an invalid time (will be recorded but will not count).
GATE: A very common cone setup of two upright cones that are approximately a car and half width of distance apart. This configuration requires the driver to simply pass in between. Both cones count for penalties when knocked over or out of place.
DOUBLE GATE: The double gate operates the same as a regular gate but requires a driver to pass through it twice (used in figure-8 style layouts). A double gate is visually different from a standard gate as it will have two cones on each side rather than a single cone.These gate types are not common depending on course design.
POINTER: Another very common setup, consisting of one upright cone with another cone laying down on its side aimed at the standing cone. The laying cone acts as a pointer, indicating which side you should pass around the standing cone. Only the standing cone counts for penalties.
LAYDOWN CONES: A set of several cones laying down, used only for visual cues to aim the driver in the direction the cones are pointing. Laydown cone sets count toward penalties. These are not to be confused with the single laydown cone in a “pointer cone” configuration, in which the laydown does not count toward penalties.
EVENT DAY FORMAT
ORGANIZER PREP (7:00AM – 8:00AM)
Organizers will have access to track and paddock for setup related responsibilities and prep. If you would like to learn how to become an organizer for SCCV we would love your support. We are a volunteer club, so the more of us working together for putting on events the better!
GATES OPEN & REGISTRATION (8:00AM – 9:00AM)
Wintercross events begin for participants at 8:00am, at which point registration opens. If you’ve registered online, please check in upon arrival with organizers at the registration/timing set up. You will find on site new registration services there also, and is often underneath a large awning. If that area is not visually set up when you arrive, please seek out an organizer for instruction.
To participate in an event, individuals must do two things:
I. Register for the event online via MotorsportReg, then check in with the registration crew at the event. A link to each specific event will be provided on our Facebook page announcement. Registering on MSR will include establishing Driver’s name, Car Make/Model/Year, Car Number, Car Class and emergency contact information. You can also register on site via paper if needed, but MotorsportReg is heavily preferred due to winter weather elements. At capped events (limited entry), MotorsportReg will be necessary to guarantee a spot day-of, and some events may be restricted to MSR pre-registration only.
II. Any driver OR passenger must sign an event waiver. Read this thoroughly at the event. All drivers AND passengers must possess a valid driver’s license. If the licensed participant is under 18 years of age, the participant will require both parent/guardian’s signature of a minor liability waiver at the first event, and at least one parent/guardian present at all events (whether driving or riding as a passenger).
TECH INSPECTION (8:00AM – 9:15AM)
Once registered, all drivers must affix visible car numbers to each side of their vehicle on the body or windows . This can be done with pre made number stickers/magnets or with masking tape (blue painters masking tape recommended to minimize residue left afterward; best to go on windows and not paint). Remove any loose objects in your vehicle including in the cabin and trunk. Prepare car and driver(s) for tech inspection process.
Participants will drive to the Tech station for the Tech Inspector to review safety-related concerns. This includes a variety of checks including inspecting for play in steering components (bearings, steering rack, etc), safe tires and tire pressure, secured battery, and proper helmet specs. Review your vehicle before an event as failing these checks may result in withdrawal from the event. Below is a link to the wintercross rules page where the full tech inspection requirements can be found: (LINK)
DRIVER’S MEETING (9:15AM – 9:45AM)
All event drivers will meet typically by the registration area for the Driver’s Meeting. Once the meeting is about to begin, an organizer will announce it to the paddock of participants. Here the basics of wintercross driving and worker’s stations will be reviewed, as well as rules regarding the venue/community. Please pay full attention as there are many details that get covered.
DRIVER’S GROUPS AND WORKER’S GROUPS
Wintercross events are typically split into two groups of drivers. One group is on the track taking their runs while the other group is in their “worker’s station” nearby on track. Workers are responsible for track safety, as well as watching for hit or out of place cones, replacing them in the correct spot, and calling cone hits over radio. Typically each station will have a seasoned member if possible to operate the radio and coordinate that workstation. Workers also may be required to stop cars on course with a red flag for safety concerns and will be found in the nearby workstation bucket (accompanied by a fire extinguisher for emergencies). Remember your run group and which worker’s station you are at. If you forget, the worker’s station assignments can be found at the computer with the people at timing.
Wintercross events are typically split into two heats in the morning (Group A driving with Group B working, then Group B driving with Group A working) followed by lunch, then afternoon heats in the same manner.
REQUESTING AN INSTRUCTOR
Newcomers to wintercross have the option to request that an instructor ride with them on runs to assist with navigating the course. If you are new to wintercross, this is recommended. It is also highly recommended that you take your first few runs slowly to memorize the course before speeding up.
If you are curious about your times and/or whether you ran the course correctly, the best time to do so is during lunch break. You may also approach the timing workers during a run group to view the handwritten times over their shoulder, but we ask that you do not ask the timers directly. It is difficult to manage timing responsibilities and find times for drivers at once.
GROUP COURSE WALK (9:45AM – 10:00AM)
Following the driver’s meeting, all drivers have the opportunity to walk the course as a group to get a sense of the overall layout and flow of the track. This is highly recommended especially for new drivers, as the cone layouts can be disorienting in the first couple runs.
TIMED RUNS AM (10:00AM – 12:00PM)
Timed runs will start for Group A and work assignments will start for Group B. The runs will vary in quantity from event to event based on entry numbers and event flow which will be decided on by organizers. Once Group A drivers have all completed their run quantity, the groups will switch where Group B starts their runs and Group A will resume the work assignment locations.
LUNCH BREAK (12:00PM – 12:45PM)
The course is closed down and everyone can break for lunch. Organizers will announce when Group A drivers should be preparing for PM runs and Group B should make their way to the workstations.
TIMED RUNS PM (12:45PM – 3:45PM)
Same structure as AM timed runs.
COURSE AND PADDOCK CLEANUP (3:45PM-4:15PM)
Everyone works together with cleaning up the course and paddock area as well as helping with cone removal and stacking near the SCCV trailer. If anyone has an issue with their car or equipment and needs to handle that instead, we just ask they tell an organizer.
ORGANIZER WRAP UP AND GATES CLOSE (4:15PM – 5:00PM)
Organizers will do a final sweep of the areas and assist with participants however needed to have everyone out safely and on time. There will be some flexibility for gate close time based on various circumstances.
Any other questions please feel free to reach out to an organizer of SCCV directly. Thanks and hope to see you out there!