About this event
Porsche Club of America Diablo Region Track Day at Thunderhill Raceway
2-Mile Circuit
Friday, March 3, 2023
Limited size run groups, lots of track space, tons of track time
"Have Fun, Be Safe, Drive Fast"
THIS EVENT IS FOR PORSCHE CARS ONLY - All event details can be found at www.diablo-de.org
Updates:
1/4/2023: Registration opens on Friday, January 6, 2023
General Event Information:
This event is open to all Porsche drivers. Only Porsche cars are allowed at this event.
We are a Porsche club, not a driving school or a driving business. We run several safe, fun, and friendly track events each year. We do not race, time trial, or time laps. We limit this event to 25 cars per run group so that we can offer plenty of room on track and lots of track time.
The DE team will review all registered drivers and will confirm the run group classification for each driver based on overall track experience. During the event, the DE team will work to accommodate drivers wishing to change run groups, subject to approval by our Chief Driving Instructor (CDI).
We expect to run four run groups: Beginner w/Instruction/Beginner-Solo, Intermediate, Advanced, and Instructor. The Beginner group is expected to fill up quickly.
Drivers Who Require Instruction:
If you have not been approved to drive solo on the track you will need to register as Beginner w/Instruction where we will provide an instructor for you. We are planning to offer in-car instruction for consenting vaccinated individuals (student and driver). Reservations for drivers who need instruction are on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are a limited number of Beginner w/Instruction slots available. If registration for Beginner w/Instruction is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. Registrants on the waitlist will be confirmed on a first- registered/first-cleared basis dependent on Instructor registrations.
We expect to finalize the Beginner Instruction participation list by Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
IMPORTANT: Helmet Rating Requirements:
Helmets are required at this event. Helmets must meet Snell SA 2015 or newer standards. Motorcycle helmets are not allowed. You may bring an approved helmet to this DE event, or you can rent one on the day of the event from Thunderhill Raceway.
COVID-19 Related Changes:
Due to Covid-19 restrictions and requirements, this event will be run differently than pre-Covid-19 Diablo PCA DE events:
- All participants may need to read, sign, and return specific waivers that will be provided before the event and also at the entrance of the race track.
- Event details, such as the DE 101/201 class, meals at the event, and general event logistics, will be communicated to registered participants as we get closer to the event date.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Passing will be with mandatory point-by in all groups:
We take safety very seriously, and will “black flag” any participant who disregards passing protocols or consistently fails to give point-bys, including denying access to the track with no refund of registration fees if deemed necessary by the Safety Officer.
Safety Inspection Information:
Per PCA guidelines, all drivers must certify that their car passed a safety inspection by an authorized person within 30 days of this event. The safety inspection form can be downloaded from our DE website (http://www.diablo-de.org/home.html). All drivers must complete this safety inspection form to verify that the condition of their car is ready for the track. Well-maintained Porsches should have no problem passing tech inspection if they have good brakes, tires, no oil leaks, and no defects. If in doubt, have the experts look at your car.
The following sponsor is offering free tech inspections:
- Kahler's in Dublin – by appointment. only
- Contact them at service@kahlers.com or by phone at 925-829-2050
Pre-Event Meeting
Drivers are invited (strongly recommended) to attend our DE Introduction briefing called DE 101/201 scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM via Zoom. A link to the Zoom event will be sent to registered participants. There will be a discussion on driving Thunderhill Raceway and an opportunity for drivers of any level to share their experiences, ask questions, etc.
Instructors
All instructors will need to drive their car on the track and must have been certified by a PCA Region to provide instruction. The Diablo Region DE team will review all Instructor sign-ups.
We are also allowing non-driving instructors to register for this event.
Private Instructors/Coaches:
Private instructors/coaches are welcome to attend our events once approved by our Chief Driving Instructor (CDI). If you are bringing a coach to provide you instruction, please be aware that your instructor will need to:
- Contact our CDI to discuss their participation and obtain approval.
- Need to register on MSR as an ‘Instructing Only’ instructor, and also list your name in the ‘Are You Sharing a Car’ section of their registration form.
- Will not drive their own cars on the track (unless they have registered as a Participant and paid the Participant fee).
- Adhere to all Diablo PCA and track operator requirements.
Private instructors/coaches who show up on the day of the event without following the pre-registration requirements are not guaranteed to participate in this event. Please contact the CDI if you have any questions.
Two Drivers Sharing One Car:
If two different drivers are planning to drive the same vehicle, BOTH drivers must reside in the same household, per COVID-19 requirements, AND must be qualified to drive in different run groups (i.e., one driver must have enough DE experience to run in a higher run group than the other driver). Both drivers will not be allowed to drive in the same run group.
No passengers or guests are allowed in cars during hot lap sessions.
Run Group Selection (Run group classifications may change depending on the number of cars registered for the event):
- Beginner - Drivers with 5 or fewer track days, or who have not been cleared to drive solo, must register as Beginner w/Instruction. Drivers that have been cleared to drive solo may register as Beginner-Solo.
- Intermediate - Drivers with 19 or fewer track days who have been cleared to drive solo may register as Intermediate.
- Advanced - Drivers with 20 or more track days or Instructor experience may register as Advanced.
- Instructor - Drivers with Instructor experience may register as Instructors.
Registration Fee: $450 for Beginners Requiring Instruction, $400 for Solo approved Beginners, and $350 for Intermediate and Advanced Drivers.
- Registration will close when the maximum driver count is reached, or at midnight on Thursday, March 2, 2023, whichever is earlier.
- All registrations are considered preliminary until confirmed by the DE Committee. You will be notified once your registration is confirmed, if you are waitlisted, or if we were not able to accommodate your registration for this event.
- All refunds are subject to a $100 cancelation fee. Sorry, no refunds after Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
- Instructors who will also drive their car are $175 / Instructors not driving are free.
Procrastination fee:
- Beginning on Thursday, February 23, 2023 a $100 procrastination fee will be added to the registration fees (Instructors excepted).
Event requirements
IMPORTANT STUFF
1. Registration is Critical – Priority for acceptance into this limited Event is decided by the date of registration. In the unfortunate event that you register and we do not have a place available for you, you will not be charged a registration or cancelation fee. Your credit card is not charged at the time of registration. It will be charged on a space-available basis as we confirm you into the Event and prior to the event taking place.
2. Final Event details, schedules, and instructions will be emailed to you about 1 week before the event.
3. Drivers are invited (strongly recommended) to attend our DE Introduction briefing called DE 101/201, which is typically held two weeks prior to the Event. Check back here for the time and location of the DE101/201. There will be a discussion on driving Thunderhill Raceway and an opportunity for drivers of any level to share their experiences, ask questions, etc.
4. A vehicle may only be shared if both drivers reside in the same household (per COVID-19 requirements). If you are sharing a car with someone with whom you reside, you both need to register separately and in different run groups. The registration form has a section where you can provide your car-sharing details.
5. Participants and guests must adhere to local and event location COVID-19 requirements (i.e., social distancing and mask-wearing requirements). Participants and guests must provide their own face masks if required by the event location.
6. Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, has exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms, or has had close personal contact with anyone else who is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms within two weeks of the event is not allowed to attend the event. The symptoms of COVID-19 may include, without limitation, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. Anyone who is not feeling well, or experiencing a cough or fever, is requested to stay home.
7. Helmets are required and must meet Snell SA 2015 or newer standards. Motorcycle helmets are not allowed. Helmets can be rented at the track.
8. On the morning of the event, you must present the Registrar with a completed safety inspection form (the driver certifies that their car has undergone a safety inspection by an authorized person within 30 days of the event). Please find our Tech Inspection form here http://www.diablo-de.org/home.html. You may be asked to show your valid Driver's License at registration or during the Tech Inspection on the day of the event.
9. We will supply disposable vinyl numbers for your car, which you can place on the glass of your windshield and rear window.
10. All drivers must attend the mandatory driver’s meeting which takes place before the track is opened. We will review important information, such as passing and safety rules, the flags used by corner workers, the condition of the track, etc. You will receive your run group wristband at the end of the morning meeting. No one will be allowed onto the track without a wristband.
11. If you arrive at the track after the morning meeting, you must meet with a Diablo DE team member to complete the registration process, turn in your completed Tech Inspection Form, review the items discussed during the morning meeting, and receive your wristband. You will not be allowed to go on the track until you have done this.
12. High-speed driving is inherently dangerous and all drivers and other participants in a PCA Diablo Region DE Event must accept and assume the risks associated with this sport. All participants must sign the PCA Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement. Before the event, members of the DE team will drive around the track to look for any unusual conditions on or around the track, such as mud, water or other debris, sandbags or other objects, uneven surfaces, etc., and we will discuss any such unusual conditions during the morning driver’s meeting. However, the PCA Diablo Region and our DE team members are not experts about track conditions and safety or about conducting track inspections, and you should not rely on us to spot or notify you about every potential hazard you might encounter during this Event. You are ultimately responsible for driving safely, which includes being aware of the track conditions. We encourage you to conduct your own inspection of the track and its environs in order to spot and avoid potential hazards on or around the track, such as walls, tire barriers, mud, water or other debris, sandbags, or other objects, uneven surfaces, etc.
Questions? Ask the DE Committee chair, Adam Cipriano (DiabloPCA.DEChair@gmail.com)
