SCCA National Sports Car Championship


The SCCA National Sports Car Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Sports Car Club of America from 1951 until 1964. It was the first post-World War II sports car series organized in the United States. An amateur championship, it was eventually replaced by the professional United States Road Racing Championship and the amateur American Road Race of Champions, which continues to this day as the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

History

The championship was created in 1951 from existing SCCA events. Until 1953 a single championship was awarded, with points paid based on finishing position within each class. Beginning in 1954 champions were named in each class.
Following the 1962 season, the professional USAC Road Racing Championship collapsed, leaving many competitors looking for a series. The SCCA created the United States Road Racing Championship as a professional series for 1963, moving focus away from the amateur National Championship. For 1965, the SCCA dropped the national championship series and awarded national championships to champions from each region. Top drivers from the regions were invited to the American Road Race of Champions at the end of the season. For 1966, national championships were awarded only to winners at the ARRC, a system which continues today as the Runoffs has become the most prestigious road racing event for club racers.

Champions

Overall (1951–1953)

Modified classes (1954–1964)

Production classes (1954–1965)

YearA ProductionB ProductionC ProductionD ProductionE ProductionF ProductionG ProductionH ProductionI ProductionJ Production
1954 Charles Wallace
Jaguar
William Kinchloe
Austin-Healey
Bob Salzgaber
Triumph
Dick Thompson‡
Porsche, MG
1954 Charles Wallace
Jaguar
William Kinchloe
Austin-Healey
Bob Salzgaber
Triumph
Art Bunker‡
Porsche
1955 Charles Wallace
Jaguar
Paul O'Shea
Mercedes-Benz
Gaston Andrey
Morgan
Bengt Söderström
Porsche
George Valentine
MG
1956 Harry Carter
Jaguar
Paul O'Shea
Mercedes-Benz
Bengt Söderström
Porsche
Lake Underwood
Porsche
Emil Pupulidy
Porsche
1957 Dick Thompson
Chevrolet
Harry Carter
Mercedes-Benz
Fred Moore
Austin-Healey
Bob Kuhn
AC
Lake Underwood
Porsche
Templeton Briggs
Alfa Romeo
1958 Jim Jeffords
Chevrolet
George Reed
Ferrari
Dick Thompson
Austin-Healey
Harry Carter
AC
Emil Pupulidy
Porsche
Bob Grossman
Alfa Romeo
Howard Hanna
D.B. Panhard
1959 Jim Jeffords
Chevrolet
Bob Grossman
Ferrari
Fred Spross
Austin-Healey
Pierre Mion
AC
Harry Blanchard
Porsche
Chuck Stoddard
Alfa Romeo
Ray Heppenstall
D.B. Panhard
Paul Richards
Fiat-Abarth
Ed Wright
Berkeley
1960 Bob Johnson
Chevrolet
Bruce Jennings
Porsche
Elliott Pew
AC
Duncan Black
Daimler
Douglas Diffenderfer
Siata
Vince Tamburo
Sunbeam
Chandler Lawrence
Fiat-Abarth
1961 Bob Hathaway
Ferrari
Dick Thompson
Chevrolet
Pierre Mion
AC
Chuck Stoddard
Alfa Romeo
Mark Donohue
Elva
Howard Hanna
D.B. Panhard
Al Weaver
Alfa Romeo
Rod Harmon
Austin-Healey
1962 Dick Thompson
Chevrolet
Don Yenko
Chevrolet
Dave Clark
Lotus
Bert Everett
Porsche
Bob Tullius
Triumph
Howard Hanna
D.B.
Lynn Blanchard
Alfa Romeo
Ed Astri
Fiat-Abarth
1963 Bob Johnson
Shelby
Don Yenko
Chevrolet
Duncan Black
Daimler
Bob Tullius
Triumph
Lake Underwood
Porsche
Robert Shaw
Alfa Romeo
Pete Van der Vate
Austin-Healey
Donna Mae Mims
Austin-Healey
1964 Bob Johnson
Shelby
Frank Dominianni
Chevrolet
Bruce Jennings
Porsche
Bob Tullius
Triumph
Hans Zereis
Porsche
Don Sesslar
Sunbeam
Pete Van der Vate
Morgan
Carl Truitt
Austin-Healey
1965ShelbyJerry Titus
Shelby Mustang GT350 #5R001

‡Tie