Day 2: Car Control - Practice What You've Learned

Day 2: Car Control - Practice What You've Learned, on Sunday, April 27, 2025 @ Alameda Point NAS sponsored by Porsche Redwood City

This event is brought to you by Porsche Club of America - Golden Gate Region (PCA-GGR) and Golden Gate Lotus Club (GGLC) and is intended for drivers ranging from those with a little sport driving experience (e.g., Students who attend the Novice Car Control Clinc on April 26, 2025) to those with considerable sport driving experience that are interested in learning how to get the best performance from their cars in the context of a welcoming, collaborative, supportive, fun, safe and non-competitive Autocrossing Experience.

• The Registration fee for this event is $120.  A $20 discount will be offered to PCA and GGLC club members.
• Registration closes at midnight on Monday, April 21st or when the limit of 100 participants is reached.  Register early to secure your spot! 
• The limit of 100 participants is subject to a possible small increase, depending on the level of participation by experienced drivers who will informally make themselves available within their assigned Run Groups to give ad hoc advice and do informal autocross course drives / rides to help less experienced drivers build understanding and confidence.    
• The event site is located within a restricted / gated area of Alameda Point NAS on the former Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) property.  Past attendees have greatly appreciated the surface quality and central proximity of this site in the Bay Area, the spectacular views of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland, and the proximity of several friendly places to relax, socialize and enjoy good food after the event.    
• This is an all-day event.
• Lunch and bottled water will be provided by the clubs for registered participants.   
• This is a NON-TIMED ‘practice what you’ve learned’ driving event – no live timing will be available.    
• Information on PCA-GGR Autocross can be found at:  PCA-GGR Autocross Website
• Information on GGLC Autocross can be found at:  Golden Gate Lotus Club

Event Schedule (tentative, subject to adjustment):

• 7:00 am: Gate Opens.  All registered participants and any guests must check-in at the gate prior to site entry.
• 7:00 - 7:45 am sharp:
  • Time window to get in through the security access gate.
  • Please leave ample time to get parked, empty and prepare your car for the day.
• 7:00 - 8:00 am: Car Preparation and Safety Tech
  • All cars are parked in paddock area, emptied of all loose items, and cars / helmets are safety-checked by assigned roving Tech Inspectors.
  • Registrants with PCA Zone 7 Region, PCA-GGR or GGLC permanent or pre-assigned car numbers use those numbers on their cars.  Note: It’s okay if there are a few cars of different makes, models or colors with identical numbers. 
  • Registrants who do not have permanent or pre-assigned club member car numbers will select a number from the pool of available temporary numbers during registration on MSReg and use that number for their car. 
  • Car numbers taped on should be 8” high on the doors on both sides of the car using high contrast painter’s tape readily visible from a 75-foot distance.
• 7:30 - 8:00 am: Registrant Check-in
  • All registrants promptly check in at the registration area.
  • Course open for informal walking.
• 8:00 - 8:30 am: Mandatory Driver’s Meeting and Safety Briefing
  • All Drivers promptly attend the meeting in the registration area.
• 8:30 am: Security Gate is Closed for the Day Until Event End
• 8:30 - 9:00 am: Course Walk
  • Drivers split into 3 pre-assigned A, B and C Run Groups and three leaders talk about driving strategies while leading their group on a course walk.
  • Leaders promptly get their groups back to the paddock or registration area.
• 9:00 am - Noon: Morning Session with Three Run Group Rotations
  • First – A runs | B works | C rests
  • Second – B runs | C works | A rests
  • Third – C runs | A works | B rests
  • Drivers Running – promptly move their cars to grid in the chevron formation and run the course in turn – follow directions of Grid and Starter.  Drive on the intended course line and always steer well clear of course workers – prioritize safety, building on prior learning and experience.  Drivers with greater experience should informally make themselves known / available within their assigned run group to give advice / rides to help less experienced drivers continue to build understanding and confidence. 
  • Drivers Working – promptly check-in at registration for work assignments, and quickly get to their work locations on course, stand off course in safe areas away from the anticipated driving line of on-coming cars, and when safe, quickly run out to reset hit cones and return to your off-course location.  Prioritize safety per instructions during the Driver’s Meeting Safety Briefing and Course Walk. 
  • Drivers Resting – Are free until the next rotation – stay ready to move promptly!  Qualified Instructors may be on grid to give advice / take rides to help less experienced drivers continue to build understanding and confidence. 
  • When time is called Drivers quickly move to their next rotation. 
• Noon - 12:45 pm: Lunch Break
  • Sandwiches from TOGOs and bottled water are available in the registration area.
  • Course available for ad hoc course walks.
• 12:45 - 4:00 pm: Afternoon Session with Three Run Group Rotations
  • Repeat of the morning session.  Drive course in the reverse direction.
  • When time is called Drivers quickly move to their next rotation. 
• 4:15 - 5:00 pm: Course Breakdown, Site Clean-up and Socializing at Local Venues
  • Everyone involved in planning, coordinating and executing this event is a committed volunteer.  Registrant assistance in packing up is greatly appreciated. 

What to bring:

• Painter's tape (1-2” wide) in a color that contrasts well with the paint on your car that you will use to tape on 8” high car numbers on the car doors (both sides) that will stay on in the wind and be visible from a 75' distance.  For Students sharing a car place the two numbers above / below one another on the car doors. 
• Sunscreen, hat, layers for cooler mornings and warm afternoons.  Avoid red outer clothing. 
• Folding chair for lunch. 

Please Note: 

• It is every Driver’s responsibility to bring a safe car to the event.  In preparation before the event, please self-confirm that your car and helmet meet the following standards PCA Autocross Safety Inspection Checklist
• HELMETS ARE REQUIRED with a 2010 or newer Snell certification.  If you do not own a helmet, please make every effort to borrow one from a friend.  Only a small number of loaner helmets will be available on site on a first-come first-served basis, and loaner helmets may require sharing among recipients.  A driver’s license will be held to ensure return of loaner helmets.   
• After entry through the security gate, all Registrants should park in the designated paddock areas (pull or back in, side-by-side, leaving 4+ feet between cars to open doors) and immediately empty cars of all loose items (place loose items on ground out of the way of car movement in/out of the paddock area).
• Drivers with PCA Zone 7 Region, PCA-GGR or GGLC permanent or pre-assigned car numbers use those numbers on their cars.  Note: It’s okay if there are a few cars of different makes, models or colors with identical numbers. 
• Those Drivers with temporary car numbers (selected during MSR registration process) immediately put 8” tall car numbers on the doors on both sides of their cars using high contrast painter’s tape easily visible from a 75- foot distance.  Every driver is expected to have a unique car number.  For Drivers sharing a car, place the two numbers above / below one another on the car doors.  Those sharing cars should put an extra piece of painter’s tape of sufficient length on the car door during morning car prep – that extra tape can be used during the autocross sessions to ‘cross-out’ the digits of the one of two car numbers not relevant for that run group. 
• Registrant cars / helmets will be safety-checked by assigned roving Tech Inspectors (experienced Drivers) who also confirm the adequacy / visibility of taped-on car numbers.
• All Students MUST WORK at an assigned worker position during the afternoon autocross course driving portion of the event.  Worker positions will require standing on pavement for at least 1-1/2 hours.  Dress appropriately with comfortable shoes suitable for driving, standing and running to reset cones that are hit during the autocross.
• No drones are allowed.
• No pets are allowed.
• No Alcohol, Drugs or Firearms permitted!!
• For questions, contact the PCA-GGR Autocross Director at autocross@pca-ggr.org