About this event
Saturday May 20, 2023
PCA-SDR Cayenne Off-road Adventure Tour
Join the Porsche Club of America San Diego Region to enjoy a half day of off-road driving just outside of Ramona, CA, with a meetup for a no-host lunch in Ramona following the drive. This event lets you learn and experience the capable off-road abilities of your Cayenne while enjoying the beautiful back country roads of San Diego. Unfortunately due to the significant weather this season, the area trails are still fairly beat up and so this event will be for Cayennes only due to higher clearance being needed - sorry, no Macans.
The event will have about 2 hours of off-road driving, and required equipment includes a mechanically reliable Cayenne with all-season tires at a minimum. The purpose of this event is to permit any well maintained Cayenne to participate without needing any special off-road equipment or preparation. And off-road driving experience is not required, either!
The plan is to enjoy your Cayenne on a route that results in a very dusty and possibly muddy Porsche SUV, where a healthy car wash session should be all that is needed to return it to its garage queen status. This is not an event designed to beat up and/or break your beloved Cayenne. It's designed to safely let you exercise its capabilities without harming its daily driver and family hauler dependability!
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 Cayennes which have limited ground clearance and street/road focused tires and wheels. The route specifics will be provided the evening before the event, but due to trail conditions and possible closures, the actual route might change. Please register for the event as soon as possible, since attendance will be limited, and the week prior to the event date you'll receive further information via email about car preparation. If you have any concerns about the event and/or your Cayenne, please contact the event organizer to discuss.
Event requirements
A Porsche Cayenne 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 regardless of the tires you have, 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 should be handled by any version of Cayenne 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. 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 that may significantly angle the vehicle, remove or restrain all loose items inside and outside.
***PCA requires performing a self-inspection of your Cayenne prior to the event to help assure its readiness: please download the Self-Inspection Checklist here. Regarding the form, this event is NOT considered a CAT 3 event.***
This is a special kind of PCA SDR event since the whole family can come along for the drive. Adults will need to sign the paper waiver at the drivers meeting held before departing. Please note, only the main registrant needs to register for the event, but everyone needs to sign the waiver the morning of the event.
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.