With the recently warm spring weather upon us, thoughts may be shifting towards the first Driver Education event on May 11th and 12th. Now is the perfect time to finalize the preparation of your Porsche for the upcoming track season. Over the years of attending Porsche DE events I’ve seen a lot of first-timers fret over tire compounds, suspension, and a host of other performance enhancements ahead of their first sessions. Fear not, the engineers at Porsche have provided you with some of the best stock vehicle platforms upon which to learn and develop your driving abilities.
Have your technical inspection completed at a PCA-approved shop within 21 days of the event you’re attending. Follow the rules outlined on our website regarding helmets, numbers, and other recommendations/requirements – and look forward to your upcoming weekend. One of the often overlooked aspects of the weekend is the weather and the fact we are outside at the track the entire weekend. A lesson I think we’ve all learned the hard way at some point during our visits to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park is the weather patterns are seemingly random. You should bring clothing suitable for a fairly large deviation from the forecast. It is often colder than the forecast says it will be – and yes we’ve seen snow in May before.
When showing up to have your car checked-in at Tech Line (which runs 7am to 8:15am) have your car prepared as though you are ready to drive out onto the track. Pulling in off the street with a car packed full of loose items like coolers, chairs, bags, tires, and boxes of donuts (unless you’re going to share with the tech line workers, then that’s acceptable) only makes the Tech Line’s job more difficult. They need to be able to see inside your car to ensure you and your car are prepared to head out on track when the day begins. This also helps ensure items aren’t overlooked or missed.
Here’s a quick checklist of items you should have done PRIOR to pulling up to the tech line:
• Remove all loose and unnecessary items from the vehicle. Bags, coolers, water bottles, chairs, etc. This includes compartments within the car. You do not want the distraction of a loose item causing the glove box door to pop open and have an item rolling around within the cabin while trying to concentrate and negotiate the track.
• Remove the driver’s side floor mat. This is to avoid a bunched up mat from becoming wedged within your vehicle’s control pedals.
• Ensure your approved fire extinguisher is installed and accessible to the driver.
• Have your approved (SNELL 2015+) helmet sitting out of its bag accessible on your passenger seat.
• If you have a cage and 6-point belts, have your HANS device along with your helmet.
• Make sure all vehicle drivers have signed and dated the Tech Inspection form, which is to be submitted to the tech line. This is a common issue that bogs down the line looking for a pen. When you receive the form back from your inspection, get in the habit of signing it then.
• Apply your assigned number to the exterior of the car. Your car must have an unobstructed number visible on each side as well as the rear of the car. Side numbers must be a minimum of 6” tall, as well as a number visible from the rear of the car that is a minimum of 4” tall. Please be mindful when selecting placement and colour combinations. These numbers need to be visible at a distance from the track’s control tower and the marshalls in their stands. If you choose to make them out of painter’s tape, they must be legible.
• No suction cups are permitted on the window. Accessories/cameras must be mounted metal to metal to prevent distraction from loose items in the cabin.
• Have your tow hook installed prior to arriving at the Tech Line. This can be found in the trunk with the spare tire or accessories kit and simply threads into the hole in the front bumper. The reason for this is if there is a mechanical issue or flat tire we are able to hook the tow truck up to the vehicle quickly and reduce downtime.
Having all of these items taken care of will expedite your time in Tech Line as well as that of your peers making for a smooth morning and ensuring the staging area doesn’t have to hold you back for any violations prior to heading out on track.
Your track team is excited to get started on the 2024 Driver Education season. We look forward to seeing you out there! </>
