INTERVIEW WITH TREY HUTCHESON

ALSCCA member and club sponsor, Trey Hutcheson, shares with us how he combined a software engineering background with a passion for motorsports to create the new app, BUILDS.

Number of Years in the club:
Two. Well, two active. I resumed autocrossing locally in September of 2023, but I attended ALSCCA events sporadically from 2005 through 2012. I know I have been a forum member since like 2005. So ... I don't think there's any single answer.

What are your first memories of driving, or wanting to get involved with cars and SCCA events as a hobby? Who or what initially inspired you to get started?
I've always been into cars. When I was younger my Dad always liked cars, and over the years he had several older Corvettes. When I got my driver’s license at 16, I was always moving. But my first involvement with cars began in 2005 when I purchased an Infiniti G35 and found a local community of G and Z owners. That's when I discovered autocross, drag racing, canyon drives, car modding, cruise-ins, and dyno days. I did everything in that car, except for actual track days.

What is (or was) your favorite car you've owned and why?
My favorite car is a sister to my current car, a 2018 Camaro SS 1LE in black. I never had the opportunity to autocross that car, and it should be functionally identical to my current Camaro, but I had a deep emotional attachment to that car. Not to mention it was the prettiest car I've ever owned. Unfortunately, I had to sell it in 2021 for financial reasons, but was able to get back into another one just two years later.

What are your favorite club events and why? (Example: autocross, road rally, time trials, track days, etc.)
I've been doing autocross inconsistently for 20 years, but consistently for the past 2. I am still in the love-affair stage with autocross, and would do it more frequently if my schedule was more flexible. I've done a few organized rallies and they are very enjoyable. I'd like to do more of those. And ultimately I'd like to move up to full track days, but autocross is definitely better for my budget.

What car(s) are you currently using for ALSCCA events?
I regularly drive a 2023 Camaro 1LE. At the last event, I co-drove a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 with my partner. She occasionally drives my 2016 Focus ST for autox, and we've used the Focus for a couple of rallies.

Tell us about any helpful / favorite car modifications, car products you like or recommend for car performance, detailing, or safety / repair.
One word: tires. I don't care if it's track days, autocross, spirited street driving, or drag racing. Tires. Tires. Tires. If I had the budget, I'd have dedicated street, autocross, and drag racing wheel+tire setups for all three of my cars.

Do you have a favorite moment or memory of your time being active in the club?
This one is easy - my very first autocross run. In 2005 I had attended a few events as a spectator, and I was so excited to get out there and drive my own car. I read all kinds of personal accounts online, and did my best to prepare for the event. A lot of experienced drivers online recommended that for the first couple of runs, take it slow, leave traction and stability control on, and just learn the layout and focus on how your car responds to inputs. When I finally attended my first event, that was my plan - leave all the nannies on. Before my first run, I rode with an experienced driver in his E46 M3. As a passenger, I couldn't tell what he was doing; all I saw was a sea of cones, even though I had walked the course twice. When I got out of the car, I thought to myself there was no way I could push (or abuse) my car like he did. I remember how nervous I was waiting to start my first run; my whole body had the shakes. When I was given the go ahead, I launched the car hard and went into the first corner too hot. Three things happened - ABS kicked in, the front pushed, and the car completely cut the throttle. I immediately pressed the button to turn off traction and stability control as I exited the first corner. I learned a lot from that first turn, including the fact that I naturally drive with perhaps too much aggression.

You recently launched the app BUILDS and began sponsoring the club through BUILDS. Tell us a bit about it and how members can access and get the most from it.
Builds is a social media app for car guys. I'll admit I've built it for myself and just hope that other people get the vision. Use it to talk about cars and events, track all the things you do in your car, and see what everyone else is doing. Use it to track your mods, your maintenance history, look for events, participate in discussions, share your activities, share pictures of cool cars you see out in the wild, and plan group drives. Builds is in continuous development with a steady release of new features. It is available for both iOS and Android, and I encourage anyone to contact me with feedback. I truly want to make it useful for other car enthusiasts.

Any tips or words of advice for those who may be thinking about doing their first ALSCCA event, or those who are in the Novice class?
I have several suggestions. The first is simple, just get out there and do it; don't be afraid. You will learn so much about yourself and your car, and it will make you a better driver. Don't worry about being competitive or comparing your times to anyone else. Get a feel for how your car responds to different situations. And be sure to ride with as many people as you can. Riding with others is one of the fastest ways to learn.