Sun, May 17, 2020

Letzte Minute '20

Ridge Motorsports Park, Road Course

About this event

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: This event is quite different compared to our typical HPDE events.

Audi Club Northwest (ACNW) presents Letzte Minute to take place Sunday, May 17th at Ridge Motorsports Park (RMP).

On May 14th, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee issued additional guidance for outdoor recreation in phase 1 and phase 2 to include participant-only motorsports.  The ACNW board believes the club is well prepared to meet and exceed state guidelines for track events and therefore has decided to pull together a last-minute event for this Sunday.

Of special note: PLEASE make sure and read the requirements on the next page, including the linked driver’s handout. You will be expected to bring many things that are not usually required for our normal events.  In addition, you will be expected to comply with the requirements that will be provided in documentation prior to the event.  It is imperative that you read and follow these requirements so we can conduct a safe and successful event.  This is a difficult time, and ACNW is going to be hyper-responsive to both the state and the track requirements regarding the spread of COVID-19.  We all must take responsibility for making this a low risk event.   

We are structuring the event as follows:

  • Only solo drivers that have previously driven solo at an ACNW event may register. There will be no in-car instruction. Only the driver will be allowed in the car.
  • The number of participants will be limited to 50. No guests will be allowed. If the number of registrations is too small to make this event financially viable, we will cancel the event.
  • We will NOT be renting helmets at this event, so you will need to bring your own helmet that meets the minimum requirements. See next page for details.
  • The format will be open lapping. Each day will start with half the participants driving for the first 30 minutes of the day, and the other half will drive for the second 30 minutes of the day.  After that, anybody may drive whenever they want, for as long as they want; but we will meter the total number of cars on track to about 25. The track will be hot from 9:00AM-12:00PM and then 1:00PM-5:00PM both days.
  • Everyone who registers will first be placed on the waitlist, as we have been doing for the past year or more. We will then confirm up to 50 people into the event in order of registration time but prioritizing people that had registered for Matt Ammon Memorial Lapping Days at the beginning of the registration window.  In other words, don’t wait to register.

Driving fees for this event are $325 for one day. Note that these fees are roughly 10% more than our usual fees, but you will get substantially more driving time than our typical event. As always, it is the Club’s intent to structure fees so that, on average, we break even financially for a given event. Our calculations show that we should be able to (barely) break even for this event provided that we fill it at 100% capacity.

Lunch is not included in these fees.  We recommend that you bring your own lunch or drive off facility for a drive-through option in town.

If you have any questions about registration, your qualifications or anything else, send a message to the registrar or the event master Pat Martin.

Event requirements

Please read the 2020 Letzte Minute Driver Handout and ACNW HPDE Event Information for Drivers documents posted on ACNW's Driving School Materials page.

All participants must follow the Ridge Motorsport Guidelines regarding COVID 19.This information is included in the Driver Handout but also can be found here.

In addition:

  • DO NOT come if you are sick or in a high-risk group
  • Bring own helmet
  • Bring a cloth mask or other and wear it unless you are in your car / hauler / RV
  • Bring own water and lunch.  You can leave the facility to head to the nearest drive-through establishment and eat in your parking area.  No groups of people eating together (even with 6’ distancing) will be permitted, unless all are members of your household.
  • There will be a mandatory driver meeting on Saturday night at 7PM via Zoom.  Zoom meeting details will be send to participants on Saturday. Attendance will be taken at the end of the meeting. 
  • No congregating in the paddock.  You are to be in or around your car or driving. 

By registering for this event, you are accepting compliance with the guidelines provided by the Ridge and by ACNW.  Anyone operating outside of those guidelines will be asked to leave.  NO REFUND will be issued if you are asked to leave.

You need to be a member of Audi Club North America to drive at this event*. If you’ve not yet joined the club, you can get in the club by clicking here.

All participants must be at least 16 years of age.

*Reciprocal instructors from BMWCCA Puget Sound Chapter and PCA Pacific Northwest Region may instruct and drive without an ACNA membership

Release and Waiver of Liability:

Everyone must print out and sign the Release and Waiver of Liability form for Audi Club Northwest’s insurance coverage prior to coming into the facility.  The full text of this Release and Waiver of Liability is on the last page of the registration form, and can also be found on the ACNW's Driving School Materials page, under Adult Waiver. Two Minor Waiver options are posted there too. Please read it and contact the Event Master or Registrar prior to the event with any questions about these important documents.

Convertibles:

Convertibles lacking rollover protection are not permitted in ACNA High Performance Driving Schools (HPDE, lapping, or any events held “at speed”). Vehicles with removable hardtops or retractable hardtops lacking a rollover protection system are also not permitted at high-speed events. Convertibles with factory-installed rollover protection (either fixed or deployable) meet the ACNA minimum requirement for high-speed events and are acceptable, subject to approval by chapter leadership and event staff. We strongly recommend driving with the soft-top up or the hard top installed; otherwise, SFI and/or FIA approved arm restraint system(s) must be used.

High Center of Gravity Vehicles:

High center of gravity vehicles (truck, van, SUV-Sport Utility Vehicle, CUV-Crossover Utility Vehicle, SAV-Sport Activity Vehicle) are not permitted in Audi Club Driving School events held “at speed” (DE-Driver Education, HPDE, instructed or non-instructed lapping, track days), except those models included in the ACNA Vehicle Participation Exception List found in the "ACNA 2019 Driving School & Event Guidelines" document. These exceptions include Audi Q3/Q5, BMW X1/X3/X5, Porsche Macan, Cayenne, for example.

Audi Club North America policies for convertibles and high center of gravity vehicles are posted on the ACNW's Driving School Materials page under ACNA Driving School and Event Guidelines for your review.

Helmets:

Approved helmets are required to be worn when on track at this event. Approved helmets include only Snell SA2010, M2010, SA2015, EA2016 or later.  Except for Snell M2010, the M (Motorcycle) and K (Karting) designators have lapsed.

We will NOT be renting helmets at this event, so you will need to bring your own.

Safety Inspection Policy:

For every event, ACNW requires two (2) signatures on your Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form. View this form here.

  • The signature at the bottom is yours. It is your car and we need you to take responsibility for its safe condition and operation.
  • It is ACNW’s expectation that your car will be inspected per the areas of emphasis on the Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form, by someone in addition to you. This should be a dealer, a local automotive shop, or any other person you believe has the technical knowledge and experience to properly inspect your car for safety. Ultimately it’s your responsibility to confirm that your car is safe to operate at the event, and ACNW strongly encourages you to be honest with regard to your own mechanical abilities/knowledge. Should you feel capable and confident in inspecting your own vehicle, it is permissible for the second “Inspected by” signature to be your own.
  • View the entire Safety Inspection Policy and Procedure here.

On the morning of the event, you will hand in your signed and completed Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist to registration before getting a wristband and car numbers. You will need your driver’s license to complete this process.  Completion of the Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form, including the second signature, should be completed PRIOR to the event. There will be no forms supplied at the facility. 

*NEW for 2020* Vehicle Safety Inspection Process:

Morning of event:

  • Visit registration:
    • Bring your signed and complete Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form
    • Bring your signed Adult Waiver
    • Bring your valid driver license
    • Check in and get your car numbers and wristband.  This will be done where the club feather flags are placed near the southeast corner of the paddock.  There will be a volunteer to check your ID and walk you through the process.  Please maintain 6’ social distancing while in line for this process.  
  • Ensure your vehicle meets all areas of the Vehicle Safety Inspection Checklist form, particularly removal of all lose items from the cabin and trunk
  • Apply the two larger event car numbers to car exterior on both sides; rear windows are recommended, if possible.
  • Apply the smaller 4" event car number sticker to the top center of the windshield
  • We will no longer have a tech inspection line; instead, a brief inspection will happen while in pre-grid prior to your first session on track

Pre-grid, prior to first session on track:

  • Drive your car to pre-grid, with car empty of loose items, helmet on, restraints fastened securely. Please arrive at the pre-grid 10 minutes prior to the start of your first on-track session.
  • A volunteer will inspect you and your car to make sure that:
    • Your car's tow hook(s) are installed (if available)
    • You have equal restraints installed (i.e. both driver and passenger, if there is one, have the same type of harnesses or OEM 3-point seat belts), and that 4-point harnesses are of the anti-submarine (ASM) style
    • You have a helmet with a valid ACNW helmet inspection sticker on and buckled securely
    • If you have a forward head and neck restraint (e.g. HANS, Simpson Hybrid, etc.), that it is positioned properly under the shoulder harnesses and connected to your helmet
    • Your car is empty of loose items
    • If you are driving a convertible, that it passes the broomstick rule for driver and passenger, and if you're running with the top down that you have approved arm restraints
  • If everything checks out, you will receive an additional inspection sticker on your vehicle windshield; otherwise you will be required to leave the pre-grid area to fix the safety concern

Please reach out to David Kelley with any questions on this policy.

Ridge Motorsports Park, Road Course

Shelton, WA
Download track map
Download track map

Organizer

HPDE organized by

Audi Club NA - Northwest Chapter

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Event over!