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
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
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.
Scoring
and Awards
Points
will be awarded to all PCA members. Points shall be awarded
as follows:
| Place |
Points
Awarded |
| 1 |
12 |
| 2nd |
9 |
| 3rd |
7 |
| 4th |
5 |
| 5th |
3 |
| 6th |
1 |
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.
Car
Classification
Car classification
is broken out by stock and street prepared. A modified class
is available for cars that have been heavily altered.
| Class |
Abbreviation |
Model |
Notes |
| 1 Stock |
1S |
356
912
914/4 |
all
all
all
|
| 2 Stock |
2S |
924 / 924S
944
944 S |
all |
| 3 Stock |
3S |
944 Turbo & Turbo S
944 S2
968
|
|
| 4 Stock |
4S |
914/6
911
|
up to 2.7L
|
| 5 Stock |
5S |
Boxster
911SC
911Carrera
928 |
2.5L & 2.7L
To 3.2L
|
| 6 Stock |
6S |
964 c2/c4
Boxster S
930 Turbo |
3.6L
3.2L
3.0-3.3L
|
| 7 Stock |
7S |
964 Turbo
993
996
997 (except S)
Cayman S |
3.4-3/6L
|
| 8 Stock |
8S |
993 Turbo
996 Turbo
997 Turbo
997 S
GT3
GT2
|
|
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.
| Class |
Abbreviation |
Model |
Notes |
| 1 Street Prepared |
1SP |
356
912
914/4 |
all
all
all |
| 2 Street Prepared |
2SP |
924 / 924S
944
944 S |
all |
| 3 Street Prepared |
3SP |
944 Turbo & Turbo S
944 S2
968
|
|
| 4 Street Prepared |
4SP |
914/6
911 |
up to 2.7L |
| 5 Street Prepared |
5SP |
Boxster
911SC
911Carrera
928 |
2.5L & 2.7L
To 3.2L |
| 6 Street Prepared |
6SP |
964 c2/c4
Boxster S
930 Turbo |
3.6L
3.2L
3.0-3.3L
|
| 7 Street Prepared |
7SP |
964 Turbo
993
996
997 (except S)
Cayman S |
3.4-3/6L
|
| 8 Street Prepared |
8SP |
993 Turbo
996 Turbo
997 Turbo
997 S
GT3
GT2
|
|
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.
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.
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.
Porsche Club Cheaspeake Region PCA
|