TOPEKA, Kan. (May 10, 2005)- Sports Car Club of America is teaming up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for the "Get In Gear" Road Rally program, in support of MADD's mission to stop drunk driving, support victims and prevent underage drinking.

"Get In Gear" Road Rallies are a collection of local events aimed at raising local corporate and community awareness through sponsorships and donations. Events are run in a family-friendly, 40-mile, non-competitive format that bring road enthusiasts together to have fun by figuring out clues and solving puzzles in order to identify landmarks and use them to navigate a course route.

The first of two SCCA/MADD events will take place Saturday, June 4, in St. Louis, Mo., at the St. Louis Mills Mall in Hazelwood, followed by another road rally Saturday, July 23, in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the Roger Dean Stadium & Abacoa Town Center in Jupiter.

"We are pleased to partner with MADD for these unique events," SCCA President and CEO Steve Johnson said. "The 'Get In Gear' Road Rally is not only a fun and interesting new fundraising concept, but is also something that will focus attention on MADD's core road safety message like no other type of event can." Local SCCA Region staff will handle event logistics, provide officials and offer other similar support in conjunction with MADD representatives at each location.

Teams that participate in the event can be comprised of two or more members, with each person asked to raise at least $250. According to MADD, people who get involved and the money that they raise are the crucial elements to benefiting the organization's lifesaving mission.

"Drunk driving impacts everyone in our community," MADD West Palm Beach Chapter Executive Director Lynnsey Eakin said. "We need community support in order to make our roadways safer for everyone and to provide youth the tools they need to protect themselves from underage alcohol use."

Krista Mallette, MADD St. Louis Chapter Manager of Development, said that getting involved in the event is the perfect option for those who want to contribute, but aren't sure where to start.

"I can think of no better way for businesses and individuals to come together and help keep our community safe than by participating in the 'Get In Gear' event," Mallette said.

For team registration information, visit www.maddroadrally.org or call your local MADD chapter. Participation is not limited to actually driving or navigating in the events. People can also be a virtual member of the pit crew from anywhere, 24 hours a day, or make a charitable donation to the "Get In Gear" events online.

MADD is a 501(c) 3 charity with approximately 600 chapters and 2 million members and supports nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD is celebrating its 25th anniversary year and helping to save 300,000 lives. For more information, visit www.madd.org.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (May 5, 2005) - Sports Car Club of America, Inc. has announced that the 2006 The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Championships and The Tire Rack® SCCA ProSolo Finale will be held at Heartland Park Topeka, utilizing its paddock areas and road course. Additionally, the event dates move back one week and will be contested in late September.

"We're very happy to partner with Heartland Park to create nearly a month of SCCA Championship competition in 2006," SCCA Director of Solo Tasha Goodale said. "The new facility will provide ample room and amenities for the competitions and an improvement in the course surface. We're also able to move the events a week later without stepping on the Club Racing Runoffs®, which will also be held at Heartland for the first time."

The 2006 events will begin the weekend of Sept. 23-24 with The Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Finale. Following the traditional Monday off, the four-day The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships begin Tuesday, Sept. 26, concluding Friday, Sept. 29.

"We hope to continue the tradition established by David Stremming and the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority of hosting a wonderful Solo event," Heartland Park Topeka Owner Raymond Irwin "With the Runoffs and now the Solo event coming to Heartland Park Topeka in 2006, we are thrilled to be hosting the two largest amateur motorsports championships in the world in the same month."

"Forbes Field has been a wonderful host for the last 10 years and will host this year's events as well," Goodale added. "We have to extend a special thanks to Dave Stremming and the entire MTAA for being a strong supporter of the Solo program for so many years. "That said, we're excited to move 'down the road' to begin the next chapter of National Solo history."

SCCA sanctions more than 1500 regional and national Solo competitions each year, including The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Tour and The Tire Rack® SCCA ProSolo National Series, as well as the annual The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Championships held each September in Topeka, Kan. That event hosts more than 1100 competitors, making it arguably the largest amateur motorsports championship in the world. SCCA's version of autocross, Solo has not only been a part of the motorsports ladder system for many of today's top sports car racers, but also remains a competitive destination in itself, featuring some of the closest grassroots motorsports competitions in North America.

For more information about SCCA and its Solo activities, please visit www.scca.com. For more information about Heartland Park Topeka, visit www.hpt.com.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (May 4, 2005) - Sports Car Club of America, Inc. has announced the dates for the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, taking a page of its own history and returning the 43rd running of the classic to a more traditional October date for the first event at Heartland Park Topeka (Topeka, Kan.).

The 24 National Championship Runoffs races will be held Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15. As has been tradition, the event officially commences on Monday, Oct. 9 for practice, followed by three days of qualifications Oct. 10-12 to set the starting lineups.

Heartland Park Topeka will give Runoffs participants a first look at the Runoffs-only track configuration during the promoter test week, Oct. 1-8.

"Eastern Kansas weather is normally very cooperative during this time of the year, and we've got the opportunity to extend the time between the final National events of the season and the Runoffs," SCCA Club Racing Director Terry Ozment said. "This will give competitors more time to prepare for the Runoffs as well as potentially boost participation in the late-season events."

In addition to the date announcement, SCCA, with assistance from the Topeka Convention and Visitor's Bureau, has arranged special "SCCA" rates from Oct. 1-15 with many area hotels. The downtown Ramada Inn has been selected as the Official SCCA Event Host Hotel, offering rooms and a complimentary breakfast for a standard rate of $75 plus tax per night. Executive Rooms ($85) and suites ($135) are also available. Reservations may be made at any time through the hotel (800) 432-2424, and rates are guaranteed through Sept. 1, 2006.

Several other area hotels have locked in an "SCCA" rate, although some offer different packages with each rate. A list follows this release, and hotels should be contacted directly for complete details.

In addition to hotel accommodations, Heartland Park Topeka will also provide racers, workers and spectators ample family-friendly camping opportunities during Runoffs testing and competition.

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs® is the annual championship event for the nation's top amateur road racing drivers, and is regarded as the "Olympics" of motorsports. Featuring more than 700 participants annually, the weeklong event marks its 42nd running this September, with the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Kohler at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

For more information about the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, please visit www.scca.com. For more information on Heartland Park Topeka, log on to the track's website at www.hpt.com.

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Additional hotels offering SCCA rates for the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. All listed prices are per night and do not include tax. Links to all area hotels are available through the TCVB Web site at www.topekacvb.org.

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