Chesapeake Region Autocross Rules

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

Table of contents

• Schedule
• Conduct
• Scoring and Awards
• Car Classification
• Safety
• Procedures

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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

7:45-8:45 AM Registration

8:00-9:00 AM Tech

8:45-9:00 AM Late Registration

9:00-9:15 AM Mandatory Driver's Meeting

9:15-9:30 AM Novice Drivers meeting as required

NO CARS or DRIVERS AFTER 9:00 AM

9:30 AM First Car off

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Conduct

Any conduct at an Autocross event considered by Chesapeake Region PCA to be either unsafe or inconsistent with the spirit or purpose of the Chesapeake Region PCA Autocross Program will not be permitted. The Chesapeake Region PCA Officers, Board of Directors and the Autocross Chairman reserve the right to immediately suspend driving privileges or refuse entry to any participant that cannot abide by the rules whether stated herein or otherwise implied.

Any driver that cannot adhere to the rules will be disqualified and asked to leave.

Any driver disqualified more than twice will be banned from participating for the remaining duration of the series.

The rules, guidelines and procedures are intended to promote safe and fair competition within the ideals of good sportsmanship and are based upon PCA Parade 2001 rules. The attached rules are subject to revision at any time at the discretion of the chairman. Revisions, if any, will be discussed at the drivers meeting.

GOOD LUCK and BE SAFE.

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Scoring and Awards

Points will be awarded to all PCA members. Points shall be awarded as follows:

All PCA participants will receive at least 1 point for entrance into an Chesapeake PCA autocross event.

Ties will not be broken. In the event of a tie, the drivers will be awarded equal points.

Points will be awarded for the top finishers in each class up to five places deep within a class minus one car (i.e. two cars in a three car class will trophy) or at the discretion of the Chairman or Autocross Committee.

Autocross Series Class Awards (trophies) shall be awarded to Chesapeake members at the end of the season by class as follows:

• 1-2 drivers 1 trophy; 3-5 drivers 2 trophies; 6 or more drivers 3 trophies
• Awards are given to the points leaders.
• Awards are given to drivers who participate in four or more events.

If you are not a Chesapeake member, you can join as a dual member or join PCA. Information on membership can be found here.

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Car Classification

Car classification is broken out by stock and street prepared. A modified class is available for cars that have been heavily altered.

Modifications to Cars

Suspension: Aftermarket shocks, struts, bushings, sway bars, springs and torsion bars are bumped to SP – Street Prepared. However, stock mounting points are required. No machining or Camberplates – these place a car in Modified.

Exhaust: The addition of a performance exhaust is permitted in stock class. However, all cars must pass noise restrictions for the event to compete. All CHS PCA events are muffled events, the Chairman reserves the right to reject or disqualify any noisy vehicle.

Lightening: The removal, exchange or replacement of any part for the purpose of light- weighting a car will put a car into modified class. This includes the removal of rear and passenger seats.

Wheels/Tires: All DOT approved tires are allowed in stock (P) classes, and must have tread visible at two spots 180 degrees apart at the end of an event. Competition tires must have visible tread depth indicators. All non-DOT approved tires put a car into modified class. At no time may a tire with visible belts showing be allowed to run in any class. Any size tire and wheel combination is permitted as long as they fit within the stock wheel wells without rubbing. Cars with rubbing tires will not be permitted to run during an event. Modifications beyond ‘rolling’ the fender lip to accommodate larger wheels and tires will put a car into modified class.

Engines: Modifications between the exhaust manifold and airbox will place a car into modified. Increase of boost pressure via mechanical (spring or modification to turbo unit) or electronic (chip) methods will place a car into modified.

NOTE: **** Cars with Motor Replacements larger than stock displacment are bumped 1 class up from class that displacement would normally reside. IE. 1970 911 with 3.0L would be bumped to 6SP (1 higher than 5).****

CAR CLASSIFICATION
Vehicle Types – CHS PCA autocross events are open to cars only. Trucks, Vans, SUVs and other types of vehicles will not be permitted unless authorized by the Autocross and Tech/Safety Chairman on an event-by-event basis.

The highest class that fulfills the description of a car shall determine classification.
Classing - To make a class, 2 participants (minimum) are required. All cars will be bumped upward (progressed) until a class can be formed. Proper classing is the responsibility of the participant.

Competitors are responsible for the policing and adherence to the car classification rules, not the Autocross or Tech Chairman. The Autocross and Tech Chairman however, shall handle all Classification and Modification protests. All decisions are final.

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Safety

General

The addition of safety equipment including but not limited to roll bars, roll cages, fire extinguisher (2.5 lb min. ABC or BC type) with metal bracket mounted to a metal surface and accessible from belted seating position, seat belts/safety harnesses, harness guide bars, steering wheels, aftermarket seat 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.

Helmets

All drivers and instructors must wear helmets. Helmets must be Snell ’95 approved or newer (M or SA rated). SA rating is recommended. DOT helmets are not permitted. A limited number of loaner helmets are available for the day. All drivers should invest in their own helmet.

Clothing

Long sleeve shirts and long pants are suggested. Acceptable fabrics are natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk.) 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 is 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 ‘called’ due to inclement weather based upon the judgment of the Chesapeake PCA Officers, Board, Autocross Chairman or Committee. Once an event is underway, if all cars have competed a run, placing will be awarded on best score based upon completed run groups. (If two runs have been competed by all cars and the low evens have started their third run, the placing shall be determined based upon the first two runs only.)

Events may be cancelled prior to the commencement of an event due to inclement weather. If you are in doubt of the status of an event, please check the Chesapeake web site for up to the minute details.

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Procedures

Entrants

A participant may only enter (1) one car per event; with a maximum of (2) drivers per car. Participants can only compete in (1) one car per event. Swapping or switching of cars or drivers is not permitted.

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. Instructors are permitted as passengers only.

Work Assignments

Mandatory work assignments are allotted at registration to each driver. Work assignments include flagging, tech and registration. 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 ‘mic’ 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 waived immediately. Do not put yourself in harms way when waiving 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 clearly marked on at least 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. Drivers should attempt to preregister to use the same number during the season, however no guarantee is made that ‘that’ number will be available at the time of registration. The number(s) 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, when provided 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 cone in a gate you cannot be declared off course at that gate.

Official Runs

The Autocross Chairman 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, 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) ö except for pre-approved instructors as passengers only. Runs taken with an instructor will not be scored, but will count towards the total number of runs for the day and will be scored as a DNS.

All cone penalties for each run and its associated reruns) will be recorded. The final cone penalty assigned to a "run/rerun(s)" will be the larger of the cone penalties accrued during the run and the final rerun.

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.

Reruns should be taken as soon as practical, but no later than the end of the run group. To avoid ‘hot laps’ (5) five cars must run prior to a re-run. If there are less than (5) five cars remaining in the run group the driver may be held at the start line for the equivalent of (5) five 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 upto 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 (did not finish) 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 cone and gate must be properly executed, to avoid penalty points. Each downed or standing out-of-the-box pylon (cone) shall count as an one 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 cone in a gate you cannot be declared off course at that gate.

Timing

The timing device will be automatically started and stopped by a 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 offical results will be posted to the autocross section of the Chesapeake web site. If there are issues with your time's, please contact the autocross chair. Tim can be reached 7x24 at 410-xxx-xxxx (Tim, we need your number), or email at autocross@pcachs.org.

Protests

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

Pre-runs, fun runs and exhibition runs

Any driver that previews the course either as a passenger or driver on the day of an event will be disqualified; no score or points will be given. A driver at the direction of the Chairman, Autocross Committee or Timing for the purpose of addressing course layout and safety may preview the course.

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.