About this event
The morning session is a special 1/2 day High Performance Driver Education ("HPDE" or "DE") track event for drivers WHO HAVE NO PRIOR TRACK EXPERIENCE. The 1/2 day will begin at 7:30 am Saturday July 27, 2019 and conclude at 12:00 noon. There will be classroom sessions, and 3 track sessions in which you will drive your car on the road course at Gateway Motorsports Park. You will be assigned a Porsche Club National HPDE experienced, trained, in-car instructor for "real time" instruction using in car intercoms during all track sessions.
YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE TO DRIVE ON THE TRACK
No special car preparations are needed other than passing a pre-event tech inspection by a qualified mechanic who will complete our tech inspection form (form linked below). Registration includes a limited number of complimentary loaner helmets which you must reserve during registration on this site or by email in advance. Free car tech inspections are available by appointment from:
Porsche St. Louis (Porsches only) 314-312-1900 https://www.porschestlouis.com/
ET Tuning 636-583-9191 www.ettuning.com
Reid Vann 314-968-4100 www.reidvann.com
OR, by any qualified, professional automotive mechanic employed by an automobile dealer or repair center.
So, don't miss the excitement, the fun and the opportunity to improve your driving skills during this special half-day on-track high performance driver education event with the St. Louis Region of the Porsche Club of America ("PCA") on the 1.65 mile road course at Gateway Motorsports Park just minutes from downtown St. Louis.
PCA and non-PCA members are welcome. Most makes and models of sports cars and sports sedans are eligible to participate, as well as Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan SUVs (no other SUVs permitted).
The afternoon session (1:30 pm to 5:00 pm) is "open track" for PCA Instructors and Advanced/Intermediate (Group 1 or 2) drivers who do not need an Instructor AND who have driven solo with us for an entire weekend DE. Standard DE passing rules will be in effect. There is no charge for Instructors who instruct during the morning Intro to HPDE sessions.
Important Note from PCA National regarding vehicles equipped with "automatic (autonomous) braking systems" which apply the brakes without driver input:
Because it is presently not known how “Automatic Emergency Braking Systems” will react at speed in a High Performance Driver Education environment, PCA will NOT allow affected vehicles to run with our group at HPDE events UNLESS the system can be and is turned off whenever such a vehicle is on the track. While this feature is beneficial for street driving, we cannot risk endangering drivers, instructors and their vehicles at our on-track driving schools.
If you have installed a 5 or 6 point driving harness (four point systems are subject to special rules) several changes to the automobile must be made to create a safe occupant restraint system. Harnesses must include an antisubmarine strap and be mounted in an approved manner consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions. The Harness system must be used in conjunction with a seat which has the supplied routing holes for the shoulder and anti-submarine belts. All pieces of the restraint system must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Every driver and any passenger using other than a factory installed 3 point safety belt MUST also use a "HANS" device and the restraint system used must also be equal for each occupant.
YOUR REGISTRATION IS NOT CONSIDERED COMPLETE AND YOUR SPACE WILL NOT BE HELD UNTIL YOUR REGISTRATION FEE IS PAID IN FULL AND YOU HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.
Event requirements
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU COMPLETE REGISTRATION
If you cancel your confirmed registration, a $15 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. There are no refunds or cancellations after July 14, 2019 unless your spot can be filled from our wait list.
1. If you will be driving a convertible, before registering please read the following PCA Rules:
Open Cars: Any make of car delivered with factory installed roll over protection meets the minimum standards for Porsche Club of America Driver Education events. In these cars the soft-top must be in the up position or the hard top installed. If the top is in the down position, an SFI and/or FIA approved arm restraint system* must be used. If a car does not have factory installed roll over protection, a roll bar or roll cage must be installed, which meets the "broomstick" rule (the driver's helmeted head is below a bar placed on top of the roll bar and windshield). Design, installation and materials of roll bars or cages and their installation must meet PCA Club Racing specifications, contained in Appendix A-Roll Cage Specifications of the PCA Club Racing Rules. All targa tops must be installed unless there is addition roll over protection. All sunroofs must be in the closed position. The windshield alone is not considered to be factory roll over protection. If you have any questions about whether or not your convertible has factory installed roll over protection that complies with the Rules, email us before you register.
2. If your car does not have factory installed seatbelts for both the driver and passenger, you must email for instructions BEFORE YOU REGISTER.
3. All participants must be at least 18 years of age and must present a valid US state issued driver's license at track registration. Only 1 HPDE student may be in the car on the track. Other than a PCA Instructor, you may not have any passengers on the track. If you are sharing a car with another driver, both of you must be registered.
4. Helmet Requirements: You must have a helmet that has a manufacturer's sticker indicating a Snell "SA 2010" or "M2010" compliance rating or newer. The sticker can be found easily and is affixed inside the helmet under the padding. Approved helmets are available through a number of internet sites as well as at some motorcycle shops. SA helmets provide flame resistance and greater protection from multiple impacts. M helmets generally provide a wider field of vision. Full face helmets may provide more protection than open face models, but either type may be used. WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF FREE LOANER HELMETS AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. PLEASE RESERVE (SPECIFY HELMET SIZE) DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS OR BY EMAIL TO geoff.baltz@gmail.com IMMEDIATELY AFTER REGISTERING, IF YOU WILL NEED A LOANER.
5. SUV Rules: Porsche Cayennes and Macans are allowed. No other SUVs or trucks are permitted on the track.
6. Safety "Tech" Inspection: Your car must be inspected by a qualified technician no more than 30 days prior to the event. A car safety inspection is required for all participants. No vehicles will be inspected at the track – you must have this done beforehand. All vehicles must be certified by a qualified technician and meet specific safety requirements outlined by the St. Louis Region PCA. Exact technical requirements are detailed on the event tech inspection forms (2 pages) which you can download at this link: stl.pca.org/drivers-education. However, it is the ultimate responsibility of the individual owner/driver to insure the safe operation of his/her vehicle and to maintain the vehicle’s safe operating condition over the course of the event.