Sponsored by:

 

Chad Morris is please to present the "Moab Off-Road Scenic Tour".

“ATTENTION  911 DAKAR, MACAN, AND CAYENNE MEMBERS”

We are hosting our first IRPCA off-road tours on the best-off roads in Utah.  Our goals are to provide a relaxing, slow pace, noncompetitive atmosphere for our members to enjoy the great outdoors and to learn off-road driving techniques within the capacities of your four-wheel drive Porsche SUV.

Unlike Thelma and Louise, we will stay on the trail.  Our 1st picturesque view will be the famous Thelma and Louise Point.  Then on to conquer the Mighty Shafer Trail - known as the most iconic dirt road in the Southwest.  At the top, we will stop at the overlook and compare stories about this engineering marvel.  Lastly, on to Gemini Bridges. 

Gemini Bridges is a twin natural arch geological wonder.

Back in the cars, we will finish off the off-road tour and end the afternoon in the Apache Pool.

Our Tour Leader for this great adventure has sufficient experience in off-road on the types of planned road surfaces and will be relied upon to keep the group safe, including inclement conditions. 

TECHNICAL INSPECTION -

Off-road driving experience is not necessary as we hope to aid new drivers to help manage any situations that may be uncertain.  And thanks to the Porsche off-road programming and control systems, challenging terrain can usually be passed with only careful slow driving and good vehicle placement.  The group will be led along the trails by a lead car, so following the vehicle ahead of you will facilitate avoidance of obstacles and help you recognize where to go, if this is all a very new experience for you.  Overall, the trails can be handled by any version of Cayenne or Macan that is carefully driven with good condition tires that have decent tread remaining.

The driver should have a working knowledge of the Off-road programming features specified on your Cayenne or Macan.  The owner's manual is the best place to familiarize yourself with the suspension settings, Off-road programming settings, and other features like Porsche Hill Control/Hill Descent.  Read up before the event or email the event organizer and ask any questions you might have.  Since we are traveling off the road, we will want to be using our Porsches' Off-road mode.  In a Macan, that means just pressing the off-road program button on the console.  The Cayennes have more capable and complicated off-road systems and depending on the trail conditions, we will likely be using the maximal level of off-road features to make the drive easier: that includes off-road mode, locking the center differential, and if equipped, locking the rear differential as well.

A well-maintained vehicle is essential, which includes:

1. Tires in good condition with tire pressures set at the lower partial load setting; the full load setting may work but will be less comfortable on the bumps and have a tendency to slide off or launch loose rocks and may have reduced traction compared to the lower pressure setting of the partial load range.  Make sure valve stem caps are installed and if you happen to have a full-sized spare tire, please bring it just in case!
2. Fluids at proper levels, as steep grades will angle the vehicle and if fluids are low, this may cause issues or distract warnings at a minimum.
3. No known suspension or chassis control faults: we will be utilizing and possibly needing the traction control wizardry of your Porsche, so properly functioning vehicle systems are important!  If you have a suspension or chassis system fault, get it rectified prior to the event as you do not want to be stuck with no way to get home.  This is especially important for vehicles with air suspension.
4. Due to the bumps and ruts, remove or restrain all loose items, inside and outside!

While there is no "technical inspection" requirement to participate in this event, the following self-inspection must be performed so that any problems can be addressed before showing up at the event:

1. Check all surfaces of your tires to ensure you do not have a nail or screw, or other object piercing your tire's tread.  You may need a helper, as you need to check the visible area of your tires' treads, then roll your vehicle forward and repeat, to ensure you visualize all tread surfaces of all four tires to ensure there are no objects in the tread, and there are no visible areas of sidewall cracking or bulging.  Do this check the week before the event, and again the night before to ensure you're ready.
2. Ensure there are no fluid leaks, especially coolant leaks.  Cayenne's of various generations and models have their individual cooling system weaknesses and these need to be addressed so you are not stranded due to a preventable mechanical issue.
3. If you have air suspension on Cayenne, use the center console switch to ensure you can raise the vehicle to High Level 2/Special Terrain Level without any system faults.  On Macans equipped with air suspension, click the console button to ensure the vehicle can raise itself without any faults.
4. On Cayenne's, using the center console switch, engage Off-Road Mode 1 to ensure it engages without any dash warnings.  Next, on vehicles with this ability (Base, S, GTS, Turbo, TurboS), click the same center console switch forward again to engage the Off-Road Mode 2 (the center differential lock) to confirm it works, again without any dash warnings.  Drive straight forward for 10-20 feet, then turn off Off-road Mode 2, then Mode 1, and ensure no errors arise throughout this testing process. 

If you have any questions about the above, please contact the event organizer for assistance! 

MEETING POINTS -

The meeting point and time will be at the Apache poolside at 8:00 am, 8:30 am at the LATEST please.  After a driver's safety meeting, we will depart at 9:00 am.  

Please perform the Self-inspection before showing up at the event.

Tour Schedule:

8:00 AM – Meeting Point: Apache Motel, 166 Fourth E St, Moab, UT 84532

8:30 AM – Safety Meeting

9:00 AM – Departure

1:00 PM – Tour Ends: Apache Motel, 166 Fourth E St, Moab, UT 84532

Google Map:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/fVmRXreEUTJ4gGBCA

OFF-ROAD TOUR DETAILS: 

 North on 191, cross the Colorado River then your 1st left on Potash Road

-HUGE petroglyph panel about 5 miles down Potash on your right if you need to stop and "tighten up" the group (people missed stop lights in town, etc)

-Approximately 10 miles further is a huge parking lot for the Cataract Canyon boat ramp.  The pavement turns to dirt and there are bathrooms.

-Next stop is Thelma and Louise point.  Huge parking area, incredible picture opportunities, etc.

-Continuing, you will approach the "T" for the White Rim Trail.  Left would take you out onto the 100 mile White Rim - Don't go left.  Right will take you up the engineering marvel - Shafer Trail.

-At the top of the Shafer Trail, before you hit (or can even see) the pavement, there is a great dirt pullout / viewpoint.  This is a CAN'T MISS opportunity, one of the most incredible viewpoint and picture opportunities!

-Onto the pavement heading north (away from Canyonlands) to the Gemini turnoff.  Re-group and head down the dirt road to Gemini Bridges.

-Plenty of parking at Gemini, walking across the bridges, etc. 

-Then the fun part, sand and twisties back to Highwy 191

-Back on Highway 191 South to the Apache Motel

 

WAIVERS -

Every person in your car will need to have a fully signed waiver. Not just the driver.  ALSO, - if you have anyone under the age of 18 in your car, please drop me a note, as a separate waiver will need to be completed.

Waiver signing for newbies!

Clicking on the waiver request link: https://irpca.speedwaiver.com/uohfb, from either your computer or your phone, will open a file which will ask for your first and last name and the number of the mobile phone that you want the waiver sent to. Click the box that confirms that you are 18 years or old, and then click on "send waiver link". This will send the waiver "invitation" to your mobile phone as a text message.

The text message will have a box that says, "Tap to Load Preview". Tap twice to bring up the form. Then you will be asked to allow your current location. Click "Allow". This simply records when and where you signed. Then click the box that consents to use your electronic signature at the end of the process. Then click "next". Now you will be presented with permissions to allow the use of your phone camera to take your own photo. Follow the photo instructions to take your picture, then click next, accept the photo at the button on the top, then scroll to the bottom and sign with your finger. Finally click "next" and you will see a message that says "You're all set" with a big green check mark. Click continue and KEEP this text on your phone as you may be asked to show it to the tour leader on the morning of the tour.

Now repeat this process for every person that will be in your car. Note: you can choose to use the same mobile number for each waiver. But you do need to download a new waiver request for each person. This all sounds complicated until you do it once. After that the whole process should take no longer than 1-2 minutes. Thanks for helping IRPCA go fully electronic!