About this event
Porsche Santa Barbara and Adara Med Spa presents the
California Central Coast Region - Porsche Club of America
Autocross (Teststrecke 57)
Registration is open to PCA Entrants on March 18, 2023 and open to all Entrants on April 1, 2023.
The California Central Coast Region of The Porsche Club of America (CCCR-PCA) is holding our 1st autocross of 2023 on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Santa Maria Airport. This is our 57th event since we started several years ago.
This event will be limited to 56 participants.
Eligibility (New)
The Porsche Club of America (PCA) has determined that Regions may follow local county and city COVID mandates. Currently, we will allow students and instructors to ride in the same car without proof of vaccination. But either students or instructors may determine their own health protocols by agreement between persons paired. We will be able to accept 5 students at this event, first requested, first served.
- Remember, even volunteer workers must sign up on MSR.
Waitlist
If the event is full, you will be put on a waitlist and you will not be charged until you qualify for an opening. If an opening occurs, the next person by original registration date and time on the waitlist will be notified that there is an opening. From that point on, it will be first-come, first-served for filling the vacancy, so if you want to compete, make sure you monitor your emails.
What is Autocross?
Our autocross is an all forward gear competitive driving event in which one vehicle at a time is timed for one or more laps on a clearly defined closed course on a hard surface with a defined start and finish line. An autocross is run in lower gears (typically 2nd) with an emphasis on handling and agility rather than speed and power. An autocross is not wheel-to-wheel racing, a time trial or a gymkhana. More than one vehicle can be on the course at the same time as long as vehicles do not run in proximity to each other and workers are not put at risk. There will be official timing of each lap with appropriate penalties for course deviations and awards will be given for finishing positions in class and/or overall at the end of the year.
CCCR Minimum Safety Standards for all Autocross Drivers
- Respect the limits of your car’s performance potential.
- Start well below your car’s performance potential and gradually increase performance to within your car’s limits.
- Know your tire’s tread wear rating and optimal tire pressure and drive accordingly.
- Tires more the six years old since production will not be allowed to participate.
- If you lose control of your car and spin, you will get a warning.
- Two episodes of loss of control, and you will not be able to continue the event.
- If you switch cars, or you are driving an unfamiliar car, you must inform us.
- When working on the course, spread out, pay attention, no photography, no cell phones, and watch in all directions.
- Do not try to outrun a spinning car. Always move to the side of its direction.
In 2023, if you have a helmet, which as of this writing must be Snell 2015 or 2020 certified SA, M, or K, bring it. We have a limited number of helmets for $10/day rent.
We will NOT have a caterer. Be sure to bring your lunch.
Water is free at the timing trailer, so stay hydrated.
The minimum age to participate in an autocross is 18 years.
If you have someone that you wish to accompany you, they must sign the waiver at the gate and sign up on MSR under Volunteer Worker so that for security reasons we know who is on the airport.
Minors 16 years of age and younger
Minors 16 years of age and younger may attend an autocross event as observers only, if the following conditions are met:
- Both parents should sign the "Waiver and Release of Liability and Indemnity Agreement for Minors as Observers Only"; however, one parent /guardian is acceptable. Friends/other relatives are not acceptable.
- Minors cannot be admitted to any "hot" or "restricted areas". This means the only area they are allowed in is the area of vehicle parking. Not grid, not near the track and no other place on the airport property, and they must wear an appropriate wrist band at all times.
- The minor must be under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. If a minor is found to be not under direct supervision, you will be asked to leave. NO EXCUSES - NO EXCEPTIONS - PERIOD
Contact Chuck Jennings with any questions. concourschuck@gmail.com
Airport Entry
- Our agreement with the airport does not allow us to enter the track or leave the track from the Jet Center. The only entry/exit is the gate on the north end of South Blosser Road. If you are late, you can try calling 805-459-7416, but we will be busy and may not hear your call right away.
- If you ignore this, you may be asked to leave the airport and/or may not be allowed to return to this or future events.
Event requirements
Event Requirements:
The gate will open at 6:30 a.m. and will be closed promptly at 8:00 a.m. DO NOT ENTER UNTIL YOU HAVE SIGNED THE WAIVER AT THE GATE AND RECEIVED YOUR REGISTRATION PACKET. Then find a parking spot and prepare your car for tech inspection.
Please pay attention to the revisions in red type.
We strongly urge you to arrive no later than 7:15 a.m. on April 16 to be sure you get checked in and for us to inspect your car. Do not walk the course until you have had your car inspected and received a green dot for your windshield.
There will be a dedicated time for lunch. The rotation of the 2 groups is RUN - WORK. Please get out to your work station without delay so we can get started.
Make sure you have everything you need, including enough fuel, as the gate will be closed until the conclusion of the event.
After entering the main gate and signing the waiver and receiving your registration packet, find your parking space, and take your car to tech inspection.
- Place your colored sticker on your windshield and your colored wristband on your left wrist. (There are instructions on your packet)
- There are no sound requirements, but generally we asked that your car is not over 92db at 75 ft. Infraction of the rules, unsportsmanlike conduct or gross negligence by an entrant and/or any crew or guests may be cause for expulsion from the event.
Car Classes - Porsches
- If you plan to compete in the Porsche points classes, you will need to classify your car on the Zone 8 classification system, found HERE.
- Car classification serves two purposes:
- The first is relative fairness in competition through grouping together cars with similar performance characteristics.
- Second is to determine the safety equipment required by the vehicle. Classifying a car is a multi-step process. First the entrant must determine which classes from the list in the Zone 8 Rules they are qualified to run in. If running in classes CC01 - CC18, the entrant then must check for Tire Size & Performance Equipment Points and add that point total to their Base Points to calculate the correct class.
- Each entrant is responsible for correctly classifying his/her own car. All cars are subject to further scrutiny and reclassification at the discretion of the AX Chair at any time during an event. If a car is found to be misclassified, after timed runs begin, the event may be scored as if the car did not compete.
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Entrants may optionally compete in a higher points class. For example, a car in CC09 may run in CC10; but a car in CC10 may not run in CC09. Anyone electing to run in a higher class must have competition in that class in order to receive awards points for the event. If an entrant elects to run in a higher class, he/she must remain in that class for the year to accumulate championship points. If he/she elects to go back to the lower class, the points accumulation starts over in the lower class.
- Drivers and vehicles are required to have all necessary safety equipment as required for their level of performance equipment.
- If you normally compete in a Street Stock class in other Regions, you will need to classify your car in one of the Point Classes for this event. Your times will be sent to the Zone 8 AX Chairman for entry into the Zone 8 Final Results page for your Street Stock class.
Fun or X (Exhibition) Class
If you don’t wish to compete in a points class, you can run in the FUN class. Once a car is entered in the FUN class, that car cannot be driven by another driver to compete in a points class.
If your car is being driven by another driver, you still need to display the appropriate number of the driver to keep the timing in sequence. Failure to change your number causes problems for timers and will delay the event. If you forget to change numbers and we have to try to figure out who is driving, it will delay the event and the rest of the field will pound you.
SUV
This is an open class for street-legal Cayennes and Macans based on North American factory models. Exceptions may be granted based on suspension and tires. Performance modifications are allowed, however all tires must be covered by the fenders. Any modification that compromises safety may be disallowed at the discretion of the Safety/Tech Chair. Safety equipment shall be that required for the Street Stock classes. The vehicle must be registered for street use.
Car Classes - Non Porsche
- Unstable vehicles with a high center of gravity and a narrow track, including some SUVs, minivans, and 4WD pickups, must be excluded from participating in our event.
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To classify your car properly, you must know the mfg.’s shipping weight and advertised horsepower for your car in addition to your tire’s UTQG(treadwear) rating on the tire sidewall. If you run tires that are not marked, the UTQG is considered to be zero. If your car’s weight is less than stock and/or the power is greater (or less), you should use your best estimate. There are truck scales in Santa Maria at the Chevron Station on E. Betteravia Rd. that can weigh your car for a small charge. As for BHP, we will rely on your best estimate if your engine is modified.
There will be 5 classes.
Open A Greater than 50 points
Open B 40.1 to 50 points
Open C 30.1 to 40 points
Open D 20.1 to 30 points
Open E Less than 20.1 points
Points are calculated as follows: (500 – UTQG)/(weight/bhp).
Four wheel drive or all wheel drive cars add 5 points.
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Electric 4 wheel drive cars go up one class
For All Drivers
- Clothing (Helmet, Shoes, etc.): All vehicle occupants while on course must wear an approved helmet. Helmets built to Snell Foundation standards or other standards such as FIA 8860, SFI 31.1 and BS6658-85 Type A-FR are approved for use. Approved helmets must be manufactured to the current rating or the two prior SA (Sports Auto), M or K Snell ratings. For example, the current Snell standard is 2020 therefore helmets meeting Snell M,K or SA 2015 and 2020 are acceptable. Also, any helmet approved for PCA Club Racing is permitted. Footwear must be non-slip and NOT be open-toe or have heavy-duty soles such as those found on hiking shoes or work boots. We recommend a long sleeve cotton shirt, long cotton pants, thin rubber or leather soled shoes without lugs on the sole, cotton socks.
- We urge all regular competitors to obtain their own helmet.
- Check brakes, tire pressure, oil, etc. before arriving at facility. You are encouraged to run through our tech checklist before you arrive at the track to speed up the tech process.
- All entrants are assigned to work in groups when they are not running. Depending on run sequence, this will include working after your run group has completed for the day. Failure to complete your work assignment could result in omission from the results and possible forfeiture of future events. You must inform the Station Chief or Event Chair if you are unable to complete your work assignment.
- If you are sharing a car with another driver, please let us know when you sign up. That does not sign them up, it merely lets us know. They still have to sign up.
Competition
- CCCR has established a points system to be used for each event whereby a participant will earn points in each class for the Class Championship trophy at the end of the year. However, a class winner decal will be awarded for each event where a participant won, as long as there was competition in their class.
- The 1st place driver in each class will earn 100 points. All others in the same class will earn a percentage of the 100 points depending on how close they are to the class winning time. What this means is that everyone who participates, even the last place driver, will get points. Points Method: Percentage (Fast Time for Your Class/Your time)*100
- Drivers must participate in at least 3 events in the year that have competition in their class to be eligible for trophies. No more than 4 events can count for a trophy. If you have more than four, the four best results will be used for year-end results. This will be automatically calculated for you.
- If you are a single entry in your class, you will receive 50 show-up points. Those points, however, will not be used to calculate your total point unless you have had competition in at least 3 other events in your class for the year.
- It would be a good idea if you would run through our tech checklist before you arrive the track to speed up the tech process.
- All entrants are assigned to work in groups when they are not running. Depending on run sequence, this will include working after your run group has completed for the day. Failure to complete your work assignment could result in omission from the results and possible forfeiture of future events.
- Port-a-Potty’s will be on site, but now food caterer, so bring your lunch.
If you have any questions about the autocross, please contact the Autocross Chair, Chuck Jennings at concourschuck@gmail.com