About this event
Saturday December 3rd, 2022
PCA-SDR Off-road Adventure Tour
The PCA-SDR's Cayenne/Macan Off-Road Adventure Tour will head off the pavement in the Cleveland National Forest for an exciting mix of higher speed dirt roads, some slow technical sections, with climbing and descent obstacles to try. The Tour's plan is to enjoy a half day of off-road driving along a route just outside of Ramona, California, where you can learn and experience the very capable off-road abilities of your Cayenne or Macan.
The event will have about 2 hours of off-road driving, departing our meeting point in Ramona, around 9:00AM. The drive will include a couple stops for pictures, and hanging out to enjoy the views, with friends and family. Required equipment includes a mechanically reliable Cayenne or Macan, with all-season tires, at a minimum. The purpose of this event is to permit any well maintained Cayenne or Macan to participate without needing any special off-road equipment or preparation.
The roads are a mix of wide graded dirt roads, narrow rutted loose dirt roads, and some loose rocky terrain. If there have not been recent rains, the trail should be dry, and dusty. If all goes as expected, at the end of the route, having a very dusty Porsche SUV is expected, which a healthy car wash session should be all that is needed to return it to its garage queen status and remove any evidence of its off-roading adventures, with only your pictures and memory of the experience remaining!
We will communicate with each other during the drive using FRS type radios/walkie-talkies. If you do not have an FRS radio, please consider buying some of these handy radios, as they are used at other PCA driving tour events as well. Inexpensive versions (two radios under $50) as well as fancier versions, can be purchased on amazon; just search for "FRS Radio" on amazon's site to see what's available that can use Channel 7 with CTCSS Privacy Code settings.
The event is rain or shine, but if heavy rains have been occurring in the days leading up to the event, the trails will get muddy and slippery and may limit passage of Macans which have limited ground clearance and street/road focused tires and wheels. The route specifics will be provided a few days prior to the event, as the route is weather dependent, and the trail conditions can change even the day of the event. So register for the event now, since attendance is limited, and in the week prior to the event date, you'll receive a packet with further information about the route, and preparation and driving tips. If you have any concerns about the event and/or your Cayenne or Macan, please contact the event organizer to discuss. This event is for PCA members in any Region, and is limited to members driving Porsche Cayennes, and Macans.
If you are coming from out of town, or even out of California, staying in the town of Ramona, CA would put you nearest the start and finish of the event.
Event requirements
A Porsche Cayenne or Porsche Macan with no mechanical issues, with at least all-season tires, a full tank of gas, and a careful driver. The drive should not take more than a third of a tank of gas.
All-terrain tires on smaller diameter wheels are preferred for decreased puncture risks, but good condition all-season tires, even on 20-inch diameter wheels will be adequate. Old tires, with little to no tread depth may get you stuck in the loose dirt climbing portions of this drive, or result in a flat tire if you hit a big rock, so please check your tires, and plan to drive carefully. Tire inflation at the lower "partial load" setting is recommended, as airing down to a setting lower than "partial load" should not be necessary for this drive, but may help if the roads have developed a bumpy washboard type of a surface. Low-profile summer street type tires and wheels 21" or larger in diameter have a higher risk of punctures, and/or expensive wheel damage.
Off-road driving experience is not necessary as the purpose of this event is to permit new drivers learn how to use the off-road features of their Porsche SUVs. The plan is to also aid new drivers to help manage any situations that may be uncertain, with on-the-fly tips during the route. And thanks to the Porsche off-road programming and control systems, challenging terrain can usually be passed with little effort and minimal risk. Overall the trails are not difficult and should be handled by any version of Cayenne or Macan that is carefully driven with tires that have decent tread remaining, set to the partial load pressures.
The driver should have a working knowledge of the Off-road programming features specified on their Cayenne or Macan. The owner's manual is the best place to familiarize yourself on 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. Using the FRS Radios during the drive, recommendations will be given regarding which driving mode to try, and when to try it, so you can experience these capabilities that you would be unlikely to utilize anywhere else.
A well-maintained vehicle is essential, which includes:
- Tires in good condition with tire pressures set to 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 rocks, and would have reduced traction compared to lower pressure setting of the partial load range. Make sure valve stem caps are installed, and if you have a full-sized spare, bring it. The collapsible spare is not off-road capable.
- Ensure fluids are at proper levels as steep grades will angle the vehicle, and if fluids are low, it may cause issues, or warnings at a minimum.
- No known suspension or chassis control faults should exist: we will be utilizing the traction control functions of your Porsche, so properly functioning vehicle systems are necessary.
- Due to the bumpy terrain and ruts, remove or restrain all loose items inside and outside.
This is a special kind of PCA SDR event since the whole family can come along for the drive. Adults will need to "e-sign" the waiver using the SpeedWaiver system. Please note, only the main registrant needs to register for the event, but all adults that are coming as passengers, need to "sign the waiver" using the SpeedWaiver system, accessed with this link:
https://pcasdr.speedwaiver.com/zbuiw
Once the above link is clicked, follow the instructions to "e-sign" the waiver. And again, all adult passengers should click that link and e-sign the waiver; they do NOT need to individually register for this event separately using motorsportreg.com.
If minors will be attending the event, which they are absolutely encouraged to do, a Waiver for Minors must be signed by both parents. If only one parent will be actually attending the event, download the waiver PDF, print it, and have both parents sign the waiver, and bring it to be turned in at the morning tour briefing. Both parents need to sign the waiver for any minors in attendance.