Novice Program

Any person 18 years of age or older who holds a valid state or provincial driver's license may apply to the ICSCC for a competition license. Also required is a current membership in an ICSCC Member Club or Affiliate Club.

Prior to applying for your competition license, you must take a Race Driver Training course. These are offered several times each year by Conference clubs: see the schedule for information on this year's dates and venues. Other racing schools may be recognized as well; if you are considering one and aren't sure whether it will earn you credit toward an ICSCC license, ask the License Director.

You can use your own car for Driver Training, provided it passes a basic technical inspection, or you can rent or buy a racecar. Students are advised to do their school in a car they are familiar with, and their first few races in a variety of cars so that they have an idea what class appeals to them most before buying their own racecar.

Once you have successfully completed your race training, you may apply for your ICSCC Competition (Novice race) License. As a Novice driver you will compete with other Novices in either the Novice Open Wheel or Novice Closed Wheel class, depending on what type of car you own, rent, or borrow.

Novice races are intended to be primarily learning experiences, with emphasis on flagging, safety, and driving technique over speed. They are observed by senior drivers who give feedback on such things as line, cornering, shifting, use of mirrors, observation of flags, and safety in traffic.

A significant aspect of the novice program is getting to know ICSCC and the folks who volunteer their time to ensure we can race. This is accomplished through volunteering to work at ICSCC race weekend. You will spend at least one half day working on a turn station. Where you will observe several senior sessions from various corner stations, learning about the duties and concerns of the Safety and Communications workers. You will also spend another half-day in Technical Inspection OR Pre-Grid. These experiences will help you learn what is involved in putting on a race event. It's also a great way to get to know some fine people!

To validate that your novice experience has indeed had a lasting impact on your knowledge of the sport and prepared you to race wheel-to-wheel with experienced drivers, there is a multiple choice exam that will be given.

If:

  1. After three completed races (this may be reduced under special circumstances)
  2. Successful completion of volunteer work
  3. Passing the multiple choice exam

the License Director is satisfied that you have the skills, knowledge, and attitude to handle competition in a field of senior drivers, he or she will upgrade your license to International Road Racing (IRR or "Senior"). An IRR license allows you to enter races in the senior groups. Also, with the License Director's permission, you will still be able to enter Novice races for additional track time and training.

8 Steps to Becoming a Novice Racer in the ICSCC

  1. Join a member or affiliate club of Conference (ICSCC). A list of clubs can be found on this website - here: Club Contacts

    You have to belong to a Conference member or affiliate club in order to get an ICSCC competition license. Your club membership is how your voice is heard through our competition rules change process. Send a copy of your club membership card, MotorsportReg receipt, or email verification from your club with your competition license application.

  2. You should get acquainted with the Competition Rules. In particular, you must read and know Section 3 on licensing requirements. Also see Section 11 on required technical inspections and safety gear.
  3. Download/Print the appropriate forms (Competition License Application, Medical Exam, and Medical History form).
    1. The application and medical history forms must be completed and sent in at time of license application and renewal (every year or every other year depending on if you choose a one or two year license).
    2. The medical exam form (form that requires Doctor’s signature) is required for your first license application and at varying frequencies based on your age during license renewal. Please see Comp Reg rule 302C for more information.
  4. Schedule a physical examination with your doctor. Take your Medical Exam for she/he to sign.
  5. You also need a copy of your driver's school certificate from one of Conference's Drivers Training programs or a comparable school. Note that you must be signed off by your instructor on your certificate as being ok to race. You can register for Driver's Training events on MotorsportReg.com. If you don't have an account with MotorsportReg.com, you will need to set one up.
  6. Pay for your competition license through MotorsportsReg.com. Search for “ICSCC competition license”. Follow the instructions to pay. You may be prompted to give your 4 digit ICSCC competition license number. Ignore this your first year registering. Your 4 digit competition license number and your guaranteed car number will be assigned by the License Registrar as part of the first time licensing process.
  7. Complete the printed forms and gather all items listed on the checklist of the application. (club membership card/receipt, medical history form, driver’s training certificate, picture, etc). Once completed, send to the License Registrar (via mail or scan/email) - who may be contacted at: license_registrar@icscc.com
  8. GO RACING! Have Fun and see if you have what it takes to win ICSCC’s G.B. Sterne award for Novice of the Year.

Your First Race Weekend Guide

Congratulations, you’ve received your Novice competition license, it’s spring time, and you’re ready to go racing…. Now what?

  • Keep an eye on ICSCC calendar of events. Through the calendar you’ll find all events sanctioned by ICSCC (Driver’s training, Test N Tunes, Time Trials, and races). You’ll register for these events through Motorsportsreg.com, but for your convenience there will be a link on the ICSCC calendar to take you directly to the registration page.
  • At your first race weekend of the year, you’ll want to get an annual tech completed if you plan on running multiple races during the season. An annual tech for your gear and your car will decrease the amount of effort it takes to complete tech at each subsequent race you attend that year. Find one of the race stewards at the track on Friday evening before the race and they’ll assist you with an Annual. If your car has NEVER raced before (IE brand new build) they will also be able to do a technical/safety review, stamp your roll cage, and issue your car a Log Book
  • Next, head to registration with your:
    • competition license with annual gear tech sticker
    • drivers license
    • vehicle logbook with completed annual tech sticker
    • Cash, credit card, or check - if you don’t want to use the credit card you included on your MSR (Motorsportsreg) entry
  • At registration, you’ll fill out a Technical Inspection Form. Fill out the information at the top of the form, and show your proof of annual tech. At this point you’ll receive a small white “weekend tech” sticker. Place this sticker on the driver side of your car somewhere visible from the outside (upper corner of windshield, roll cage, etc). THIS STICKER IS YOUR PASS TO GET ONTO THE TRACK! Pre-grid will be looking for it before you leave pre-grid for the hot track.
  • If you have not had an annual tech, at registration they will still give you the Technical Inspection Form. Once you finish paying and registering, you leave the registration are and seek out Tech. Some clubs have a dedicated tech place where you can take your car, gear, and form to have tech inspection completed for that race. Other clubs will do “roaming” tech, where you can stay in your paddock space and a tech inspection official will come to you. You’re new and NOT EXPECTED TO KNOW which club does which method, that’s ok. Ask a fellow racer close to you how to complete tech if you are unsure. Either way, the tech official will give you the same white “weekend tech” sticker that needs to be on your car before you may enter the racing surface.
  • The “Weekend Tech” sticker is exactly like it sounds, your proof that you have passed tech for that race weekend only. You’ll need a new one of these every weekend your race with ICSCC. Super easy to get while you’re at registration if you’ve completed your annual car and gear tech.
  • Also at registration you will be able to pick up a weekend schedule and a copy of the supplemental regulation. Grab one of each and READ THEM! A good thing to do with your schedule is to tape it somewhere in your paddock area that you (and others) can quickly reference – side of your trailer, hang on a clipboard, etc. The track, stewards, license director will not wait for you… It is your responsibility to be on time to all required meetings, track tours, etc.
  • If the racers around your paddock area don’t introduce themselves to you, go introduce yourself to them. Amateur racing is as much about the fun as it is about the racing. Make some friends and have a good time.

Other Things to Know as You Get Started Racing

  • You will be assigned a four-digit ICSCC Competition license number. This is different than your car number. Your license number is assigned to you by the ICSCC License Registrar. This is your unique identifier number which will stay with you as long as you are an ICSCC licensed driver. This number will be printed on your Novice license. You may request "Guaranteed" car number(s) between 00 and 299 for your Novice license and any later Championship race group(s) you are planning to run in. It is recommended that you contact the ICSCC License Registrar prior to submitting your application to discuss your number options.
  • If you have prior school and/or road racing experience with sanctioning bodies other than ICSCC, please contact the License Director to talk about your background. Also read Section 3 in the Competition Rules for the license requirements.
  • If you have any questions regarding licensing or the licensing process contact the License Director.
  • If you have car classification questions contact the Race Steward.
  • Once you get your license you can register for novice races at MotorsportReg.com. As noted above, if you don't have an account with Motorsportreg.com, you will need to set one up.
  • New for 2020 is our Enduro license. The intent of this license to is to provide a quick path for experienced racers with other endurance racing series that don’t require a competition license (Lucky Dog, Chumpcar, Lemons, AER, etc) to come endurance racing with ICSCC. Contact the License Director for more information.

LASTLY, the ICSCC License Director is here to help guide you through the process. Please contact she or he for any questions you might have.