George Ferris Jr. built his career in Pittsburgh, PA, during the late 1800s as a civil engineer with a passion for bridge construction. In 1893, he designed and built a wild, daunting, 264-foot tall amusement ride that seemed implausible. Countless similar spinning contraptions have been reproduced for more than 130 years, and most still bear his name: The Ferris Wheel.
What does that have to do with the upcoming Aug. 24-25, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA® Time Trials National Tour at PittRace Powered by Hagerty (TTNT)? Frankly, Pittsburgh International Race Complex is one heck of a thrill ride. The circuit – located in Wampum, PA, about 40 minutes northwest of The Steel City – makes the most of undulating terrain designed by Mother Nature herself.
If you want a ticket to ride PittRace during TTNT, get in line (and online) and register today. As usual, there’s a cap on the number of participants, so click the button below. But as hinted at by this story’s headline, the TTNT is just the beginning for this spectacular weekend.
Will Jurassic Park’s Jeff Goldblum Be There?
While fabulously talented actor Jeff Goldblum grew up in Pittsburgh, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be at the TTNT PittRace weekend. But for a moment, imagine just how glorious it would be if he was MC of Sunday’s KONI Podium Celebrations. He’d certainly jazz things up – you know, because he’s also a jazz musician.
Who will be there are a bunch of SCCA members all taking part in a variety of activities during what has come to be known as the End of Summer Spectacular hosted by SCCA’s Steel Cities Region. Included over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are two Solo® events, a Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack, a Drivers' School, and an SCCA Road Racing competition, as well as the TTNT.
Registration for the different events opens at various times over the next two months, so click the link below that best describes your idea of #funwithcars.
- Time Trials National Tour (register today)
- Saturday Solo (register today)
- Sunday Solo (register today)
- Track Night in America (registration opens June 1)
- Drivers’ School/Road Race (registration opens July 31)
An Amazing Racetrack
Anyone who’s driven (or even just seen) PittRace knows what a thrill the track is. The Full Circuit is 2.78-miles in length with 19 corners, with that layout being able to be separated into two different tracks, both of which can be used simultaneously. There’s the North Track, which is 1.6 miles in length with 12 corners; and the South Track, which is 1.2 miles in length with eight corners.
The Full Circuit includes two long straightaways, each measuring more than five football fields in length. That gives drivers plenty of space to put the hammer down. Plus, there’s ample elevation change to make participants feel like they’re riding a rollercoaster.
TTNT participants will be on a track segment Saturday morning for the TrackSprint portion of the competition. The rest of TTNT’s event will then take place on the Full Circuit.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get on track (or autocross course). Get registered for your specific activity (or, ideally, multiple activities) and have some serious #funwithcars.
Photo by Michael Berchak
