Potomac Region Autocross Rules

Updated January 2009

The mission and purpose of the Potomac Porsche Club of America Autocross Program is to provide a safe, structured environment in which to promote the teaching and improvement of driving skills. The Autocross Program is designed to teach each participant advanced car control techniques, so that they can improve their driving abilities, better understand the handling and dynamics of their vehicle in a real world environment, and become better, safer drivers.

Potomac Region's event and car classification rules are based on the 2009 Porsche Parade Competition Rules (PCR). The rules, guidelines and procedures are intended to promote safe and fair competition within the ideals of good sportsmanship.

Change Summary

This update includes the following significant changes from Potomac Region's 2009 Autocross Rules:

Table of contents

• Schedule
• Conduct
• Scoring and Awards
• Car Classification

•  
  • Model Classification Table, Appendix A
  • Category Allowances Table, Appendix B

• Safety

• Procedures

Junior Participation Program (Link)

Schedule

Participants must arrive on time and register prior to the published close of registration time. Please check the web site for the autocross schedule. Below is a sample schedule that most events follow.

7:00 AM Site opens

7:15-9:00 AM Registration

7:30-9:00 AM Tech Inspection   

8:15-9:00 AM Course Open for Walkthrough

9:00 AM Registration & Tech Closed

9:00-9:15 AM Mandatory Drivers' Meeting

9:15-9:30 AM Novice Drivers' Meeting

9:30 AM First car off

Conduct

Conduct that is unsafe or inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the Autocross Program will not be permitted. The Potomac Region PCA Officers, Board of Directors and the Autocross Chair reserve the right to suspend driving privileges or refuse entry to any participant that fails to abide by the rules stated herein or otherwise implied.

Any driver disqualified more than twice for reasons of misconduct will be prohibited from participating for the remainder of the series.

Scoring and Awards

Event points will be awarded to the top finishers within class minus one car (i.e. two cars in a three car class will win points). All Potomac PCA members who do not place will receive 1 point for participation (competing or working). Drivers who do not work at the event forfeit their points for that event.

Points shall be awarded as follows:

1st Place 12 pts 4th Place 5 pts

2nd Place 9 pts  5th Place 3 pts

3rd Place 7 pts  6th through Last Place 1 pt

Autocross Series Class Awards shall be awarded to Potomac PCA members at the end of the season as follows:

• Scoring is to be based on a driver's total accumulation of points earned in a single class (transfers are not permitted) in the number of events that are counted. Scoring will be based on counting a driver's best finishes according to the following schedule:

• Number of awards per class: 1-2 drivers = 1 award; 3-5 drivers = 2 awards; 6 or more drivers = 3 awards.
• A driver must compete in at least 50% of the season's events to qualify for a series award.
• Series awards are within class (drivers competing in more than one class during the season cannot combine points from the different classes).

Model Classification

Model Classification Tables are at Appendix A.

Competitors are responsible for the policing of and adherence to the car classification rules. The Autocross and Tech Chair shall handle all Classification and Modification protests. All decisions are final.

Class Bumping

One participant makes a class. There is no class bumping.

So is your Porsche Stock, Street Prepared, Improved or Modified?

Compare your Porsche against the Category Allowances chart at Appendix B:

• If your Porsche is listed in a Stock class but fails to conform to each item in the Stock column, then it bumps to its corresponding Street Prepared class.
• If your Porsche fails to conform to each item in the Street Prepared column, then it bumps to the Improved class.
• If your Porsche fails to conform to each item in the Improved column, then it bumps to the Modified class.

If you are unsure about the placing of your vehicle, please check with the autocross staff for guidance.

Protests

All classification and modification protests must be presented in writing to the Chairman within 20 minutes of the last run. The decision of the Chairman is final. The decision need not be made at the event.

Safety

General

The addition of safety equipment such as roll bars, roll cages, fire extinguisher, safety harnesses, harness guide bars, etc., is permitted and recommended.

• Roll bars are recommended for cabriolets.
• No drugs or alcoholic beverages are permitted at the event.
• No Passengers are allowed.
• An adult must accompany children at all times.
• Dogs must be leashed, where permitted.

Tires

Cord may not be visible before, during or after official timed runs. Recapped or regrooved tires are not allowed. Street tires (Stock classes) must have visible tread across the entire tread surface.

Helmets

All drivers and instructors must wear helmets. Helmets must be Snell 2000 approved or newer (M or SA rated). SA rating is recommended. DOT helmets are not permitted. Face shield is required if vehicle is not equipped with a full windshield. A limited number of loaner helmets are available for the day. Drivers should invest in their own helmet.

Clothing

Open toed shoes, sandals and bare feet are not permitted. Rubber soled shoes (sneakers, etc.) are recommended. Driving shoes and gloves, as well as fire resistant clothing, are recommended but not required.

Seat belts

All cars must have metal-to-metal seat belts, securely anchored. All drivers must wear belts.

Windows

The drivers side windows shall remain fully down during a run, passenger windows may be fully up or fully down.

Cleaning out your car, glove box and trunk

Loose objects inside the trunk, passenger compartment and glove box must be removed from the car. Loose objects include cell phones, change, paper, garbage, cups, floor mats, etc. In other words everything must be removed from your car.

The spare tire need not be removed if it is securely fastened. The battery must be securely fastened as well.

Pit & Paddock Area

All cars are to be parked within the designated pit & paddock area, except for vehicles used by timing, safety, and the Autocross Committee.

There is no speeding in the pit & paddock area. Any driver speeding in the pit or paddock area may be disqualified from the event at the discretion of the Chairman or Committee. Please, no speeding in the general vicinity of the event.

Tire warming is not permitted.

Inclement Weather

An event may be postponed, delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather at the discretion of the Potomac PCA Officers, Board, Autocross Chair or Committee. If an underway event is terminated early, placing and points will be awarded on best time for the lowest number of runs completed by all entrants within class.

Procedures

Waiver of Liability

Driver/Spectator Insurance Waiver. Each entrant and spectator must sign the event waiver form.

Parental Consent and Waiver. Each driver under the age of 18 must have the special Parental Consent and Waiver form completed and signed by both parents, and must have at least one parent in attendance during the event. A downloadable copy of this waiver is available on the Potomac PCA website. If both parents will not be attending the event, the form must be brought with the required signatures.

Entrants

A participant may enter and compete in only one car per event.

Instructors

The instructors for the day will be announced at the drivers meeting. If you require an instructor please notify the grid worker. Timing will assign an instructor to you for your next run.

Work Assignments

Mandatory work assignments are allotted to each driver. If you are unsure of your work assignment, please ask. You must complete your work assignments to run. If you do not complete your work assignments you will be disqualified, (your runs will not count and no points will be awarded.) You will also be disqualified from entering the next autocross event.

Timing, Radios and Flagging

Each flagging station will have a radio and red flag; a fire extinguisher will, at minimum, be located at Timing. Chairs, cameras and other distractions (to the course workers and drivers) are not permitted at flagging stations for safety reasons. Do not stand with your back to any car on the course.

It is the responsibility of the flaggers to maintain safe conditions on the course as well as the location and status of the cones for the purposes of scoring. We cannot have a good event without precise flagging. Please pay attention and be accurate with your calls.

All communications shall be addressed through Timing. No cross communication between flagging stations. Please speak slowly and clearly into the radio If a car hits a cone please notify Timing, "Timing, this is station 3, one cone, car 43" timing will acknowledge. If you do not know the car number describe the car "black 914."

The red flag indicates an emergency or an unsafe condition. If there is a dangerous situation on the course or you are if directed by timing to use the red flag, the red flag should be waved immediately. Do not put yourself in harms way when waving the red flag at a car. Any driver that continues to run the course at speed, after the red flag has been waived, will be disqualified from the event.

Car Numbers

Each car shall have its official number and class clearly marked on the front of the car (upper passenger side of the windshield is OK). Additionally, the number will be clearly marked on both sides of the car. The number on the tech inspection form from registration will determine the official number of the car for that event. The numbers shall be at minimum 5" tall, clearly visible, and legible. Two driver cars require two numbers; numbers from different heats will need to be selected.

Course Map

A course map shall indicate entrance and exit area, the general course layout and course boundaries. The map is not drawn to scale.

Walking the Course

It is strongly recommended that all drivers familiarize themselves with the course by walking it prior to the drivers meeting. No wheeled or motorized devices are permitted on the course; this includes bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, "go-peds" and the like.

Cones, Pylons and Penalties

Each autocross event is run on a unique course laid out by cones and is designed with the safety of course workers, participants and their cars in mind.

Each cone and gate must be properly executed, to avoid penalty points. Each downed or standing out-of-the-box pylon (cone) shall count as a two-second penalty. All chalked cones count, including those before and after the timing equipment. Helper cones are not subject to penalty. If you hit a standing cone in a gate you cannot be declared off course at that gate.

Official Runs

The Autocross Chair and Committee will determine the official number of timed runs for an event. The quantity of runs will vary depending upon number of cars, length, difficulty and complexity of the course, weather conditions, etc.

Each run taken will count towards the total number of runs for the day. Runs not taken within your assigned run group will not be scored; they will be entered as DNF (did not finish), but will count towards the total number of runs for the day. Please take your runs with your run group unless you are directed otherwise by timing.

No passengers are allowed at any time (due to our insurance regulations) except for pre-approved instructors as passengers only. Runs taken with an instructor will be scored.

All cone penalties for each run and its associated re-runs will be recorded. The final cone penalty assigned to a run/re-run will be the larger of the cone penalties accrued during the run and the final re-run.

If the driver observes a cone out of the box, missing or knocked over by someone else, or if the driver was not at fault in hitting the cones, e.g., swerving to avoid collision with something/someone on the course, the driver should come to a safe, immediate and complete stop and indicate the problem to the course worker so as not to be charged with the penalty. Cones prior to the unsafe condition; however, will carry over. Follow the instructions of the course worker/timing. You may be instructed to exit the course via the timing lights or to return directly to staging. The return to staging should be completed off course.

Re-runs

Re-runs may be granted by timing for a variety of reasons including but not limited to a timing malfunction, unsafe condition, misplaced cone, etc. If the Red Flag is waved while running, immediately come to a safe and complete stop.

Re-runs should be taken as soon as practical, but no later than the end of the run group. To avoid "hot laps", five (5) cars must run prior to a re-run. If there are less than five (5) cars remaining in the run group the driver may be held at the start line for the equivalent of five (5) runs or held for the next run group, at the discretion of the Chairman/timing. A driver may elect not to go to the front of the line for a re-run.

Run Groups

The cars are generally split into two or three run groups; each group will have up to 30 cars. The run group shall determine your work assignment or driving time.

In the interest of fairness to all drivers, hot laps are not permitted. All drivers are to follow the directions of the grid workers. All attempts should be made to follow the grid. No car should start its next numerical run before the entire run group has completed its run.

Off Course/DNF

An off course or DNF will be entered as a score if a gate/cone is missed or if all four wheels (and the car) leave the course. A spin on course does not constitute a DNF if no gates have been missed and the car has not left the course boundaries.

DNS

A DNS (did not start) will be entered for any run not started. A driver may elect not to take all of the runs for the day.

Penalties

Each downed or standing out-of-the-box pylon (cone) shall count as a two second penalty. All chalked cones count. Helper and pointer cones are not subject to penalty. If you hit a cone in a gate you cannot be declared off course at that gate.

Finish Line/Stop Box Penalty

The hitting of any cones at and after the finish timing equipment, whether or not a stop box is used, constitutes a DNF.

Timing

The timing device will be automatically started and stopped by the competing vehicle. All recorded times will be considered official unless protested. In the event of a timing problem, the competing car will be waived off course (red flagged) and given a re-run.

Official Times

Times will be recorded per the timing equipment and will be considered as official time. Penalties for cones will be noted on the timing slip (if used) and will be added to the official time for a total score. The official results will be posted to the Autocross section of the Potomac web site. If there are issues with your times, please contact the Autocross Chair.

Protests

All protests must be presented in writing to the Chairman within 20 minutes of the last run. The decision of the Chairman is final. The decision need not be made at the event.

Pre-runs, fun runs and exhibition runs

In order to verify course safety, flow and clarity, the Course Designer or other designee of the Event Chair shall pre-run the course prior to the commencement of walk-throughs. The pre-run shall be made with a passenger whose duties are to assist in the verification and to adjust pylon placement as required. The pre-runner shall be permitted to fully compete in the event but shall be restricted to running in the 2nd or subsequent heat. No individual shall pre-run more than once per season. These pre-runner restrictions apply to the pre-run driver only.

Exhibition or fun runs will not be permitted until the official completion of an event and will only be permitted at the discretion of the Chairman.

The Chairman and/or Autocross Committee reserve the right to charge an additional fee per run for fun runs.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF ANY RULE OR PROCEDURE, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK THE CHAIRMAN FOR EXPLANATION OR CLARIFICATION.

Appendix A

Model Classification

The class structure listed below is adapted from the 2007 Porsche Parade Competition Rules (PCR) Section A-9.1, Recommendations for PCA Regions Running Less than 40 Entrants per Event.

Classes may be expanded for future autocross seasons based on actual participation, the intent being for the classes to be based on the PCR while addressing PCA Potomac Porsche model demographics. 

Cars are classified within four major categories, as follows:

• Stock (S) Category: Four (4) classes for a limited number of relatively recent automobiles as normally delivered and specified for use in the U.S. and Canada. Not all models have a Stock class.
• Street Prepared (SP) Category: Five (5) classes for automobiles that either exceed the Stock allowances delineated in the Allowances Table, or that are not listed in the Stock Category.
• Improved/Modified (I/M) Category: Two (2) classes for automobiles exceeding Stock and Street Prepared class allowances delineated in the Allowances Table.
• Non-Porsche Category: Two classes (Guest and Guest-R); one for cars using R-compound tires.

Appendix B

Category Allowances

The following table is adapted from the 2007 Porsche Parade Competition Rules (PCR), Appendix V Autocross Modifications Allowed List, to be generally consistent with the 2007 SCCA Solo II definitions of authorized modifications for Stock and Street Prepared classes (SCCA 2007 Solo Rules Sections 13 and 15).

• If your Porsche is listed in a Stock class but fails to conform to each item in the Stock column, then it bumps to its corresponding Street Prepared class.
• If your Porsche fails to conform to each item in the Street Prepared column, then it bumps to the Improved class.
• If your Porsche fails to conform to each item in the Improved column, then it bumps to the Modified class.

Chart Abbreviations:

• NCA = No Change Allowed. The listed item must be as was available from the manufacturer as a standard feature or factory option in the United States or Canada for the automobile's model and year. For Stock, even wear & tear items (excluding tires) must be comparable in construction and specification to the originally supplied factory components.
• F = Free. Modification, substitution, elimination is allowed without effect on classification.