[ SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 9, 2002 by Capital-Journal

SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA

SCCA will be a great asset to Topeka and already is helping promote the city and the Heartland Park complex.

Off and running

He hasn't been in town long, but already Steven D. Johnson has a vision for Topeka. He would like to see it become one of the motor sports meccas of the United States.

Johnson heads up the Sports Car Club of America, which just recently moved into its new headquarters at Forbes Field. The 66,000- member nonprofit organization moved to Topeka after more than 30 years in Denver, bringing about 20 employees with it and hiring another 20 locally.

When it went looking for a new home, SCCA chose Topeka over places like Atlanta and Birmingham, Ala., because of the area's longtime support of racing and the quality of life here.

It didn't hurt that Heartland Park Topeka and sprawling Forbes Field offered perfect venues for some of the club's events, including the Solo II National Championships. That event has been bringing about 1,500 race families to Topeka every fall for several years.

SCCA also holds some smaller events at Heartland Park, which is for sale. Johnson has been involved in helping find a buyer for the motor sports park. He sees Heartland Park as being the key to Topeka's reputation as a motor sports capital, much like Indianapolis and Daytona are.

Before becoming SCCA's president and chief executive officer, Johnson was vice president of sales for the National Hot Rod Association, which sponsors Heartland Park's biggest event each year. Johnson said it's vital that HPT continue to host that NHRA event.

SCCA keeps busy organizing about 2,000 amateur and professional races each year. With 109 regional chapters around the country, SCCA coordinates and administers rules, licensing, insurance and member benefits from its headquarters in Topeka.

It's a pleasure to welcome SCCA to Topeka and to have the interest and expertise of Johnson to help promote not only SCCA but also Topeka and Heartland Park.