SCTA is considered the oldest racing organization and still operates today. This year, SCTA is celebrating its 61st anniversary and is hard at work more than ever to keep the land speed racing tradition alive.

The association hosts several events a year in El Mirage. The season kicks off its first speed trial on May 17th, 2014 as a two day event. Spectators and racers are welcome to camp with a few simple guidelines. Other dates include:

• June 22nd
• July 13th
• September 14th
• October 19th

Finally, SCTA brings the season to a close with another killer two day event on November 8th and 9th.

Relocations And Backstory

Every so often, a diehard hot rodder drifts off into the reverie of going as fast as his machine can possibly go. These dreams were finally met November 29th, 1937 when a body of seven California car clubs including the Roadrunners CC and the Sidewinders CC decided to hold a meeting for speed trials and to set guidelines for dry lakebed racing.

The guidelines were set in order to insure the safety of drivers, crews, and spectators. Thus began the birth of the Southern California Timing Association, otherwise known as SCTA.

The first official trials were held at Muroc Dry Lake on March 15th, 1938. This dry lake would eventually become NASA’s Edwards Air force Base. This moment in history has become one of hot rodding’s most iconic dates. Interestingly, the SCTA strayed away from associating itself with the term hot rodding in order to avoid getting shut down. Nowadays, the SCTA is synonymous with heyday hot rod culture.

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Muroc was a classic stomping ground for some of the biggest names in the industry–Vic Edelbrock Sr. and Jr., Wally Parks, and Ak Miller are just a few individuals who fell in love with a way of life on the dry lakes. After Muroc was bought out, the SCTA was forced to move its location. Past settings included Harper and Rosamond before eventually settling in El Mirage.

El Mirage is located nine miles west, northwest of Adelanto, California and 30 miles east of Antelope Valley. Due to its location in the high desert, its six mile spread, and absence of speed limits on the lakebed, El Mirage became the prime location for exerting every bit of power that the heart desires.

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Race classes include–streamliner, lakester, roadster, oval track, coupe and sedan, modified sports, classic, grand touring, and truck. There are also brackets for motorcycle classes ranging from 50cc up to 3000cc. If you’re looking for the adrenaline packed event of a lifetime that showcases the baddest and meanest builds, the SCTA organizes an extremely memorable experience that the whole car club, family, and friends can enjoy.

Stay up to date and get the latest information on the upcoming 2014 season by checking out SCTA’s homepage. See you on the flats.