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Driver Education Policies

RSR Driver’s Education Policy

These minimum standards are used as a common set of safety based rules upon which we run our DE programs. These Standards were designed to be basic in nature, with an emphasis on proven safe practices. These Standards may be modified at any time to support changing safety practices.

Definition

A Driver’s Education (a.k.a. Driver’s Ed or DE) is an instructional speed event that is characterized by continuous lap driving with passing to be permitted as allowed by these rules. A DRIVER’S ED IS NOT RACING. There shall be no official timing as the event is intended as instructional only, with no competition. There are no award points assigned and no trophies associated with DE events. While non-competitive, safety equipment is still required as outlined in these rules. All cars entered in the event must have fenders attached to the vehicle body at all four corners.

Cabriolet/Convertible Cars

Any make of car delivered with factory installed roll over protection meets the minimum standards for PCA DE events. In these cars we recommend the soft-top be in the up position or the hard top installed. If the top is in the down position, restraint system must be used (e.g. An SFI and/or FIA approved arm restraint).

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).

All targa tops must be installed unless there is additional roll over protection. 

All sunroofs must be in the closed position. 

The windshield alone is not considered to be factory roll over protection.

Equal Restraints

Both student and instructor shall have the same restraint system. All vehicles must be equipped with a properly installed lap and shoulder restraint system.

Harness Systems

If the participant chooses to install a five- or six-point driving harness, several changes to the automobile must be made to create a safe occupant restraint system. Harnesses must:

  • Include an antisubmarine strap.
  • Have all harness attachment points secured/mounted in an approved manner consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Be used in conjunction with a seat that has the supplied routing holes for the shoulder and antisubmarine belts.
  • Have the shoulder straps mounted at 90 degrees to the axis of your spine or at most 40 degrees down from horizontal.

The participant should BE AWARE that the addition of such a seat and harness system results in the occupant being fastened upright in the vehicle. Therefore, in order to have a COMPLETE SYSTEM, a properly padded roll bar or roll cage and an approved Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS) device are strongly encouraged and highly recommended. The use of such a harness system without roll protection and HANS may result in an unsafe environment and is not a COMPLETE SYSTEM.

When using a head and neck restraint device, it must meet the standards of either SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858. It is recommended that one follow the SFI Recertification process for the head and neck restraint device. The instructions for this can be found on the device. Additionally, it is recommended that the straps be replaced every five years.

Due to UV degradation and wear, the harness webbing should be replaced every five years.

Four-point systems are not allowed, EXCEPT as noted below, in Porsches because of the integrated headrest supplied by the factory. In addition to the standard SFI and/or FIA-approved five- and/or six-point system, a four-point system is allowed in non-Porsches that meet the following requirements:

  • Meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 209.
  • Attaches to the factory seat belt mounting points.
  • Each belt is designed to work in a specific vehicle and that vehicle tag must be attached to the belt system.

Four Point Belt Exception: Schroth has developed a four point harness for specific newer Porsche models only. These models are the 918 Spyder, 2015 GT3, 2016 Cayman GT4, 2016 Boxster Spyder, and 2015 GT3RS. These models must also be fitted with the Full Bucket Seat Option P11 as provided by Porsche. The belts are Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 209, and as such they are deemed street legal and approved by federal seat belt safety regulations. These belts also have labeling confirming the intended use for these specified Porsche models.

Insurance

Everyone entering the event location must sign the insurance waiver.

Driver’s License

All entrants must have a valid driver’s license (state, country, or province as appropriate).

Car Occupancy

If two people are in a car, one must be an approved event instructor and the other must be a registered entrant in the event. There are no exceptions to this rule. Registering people for the sole purpose of “thrill” rides is not acceptable. A registered entrant is defined as a person who will be participating in substantially all appropriate aspects of the event (on track, classroom and exercises, any corner working). This does not mean, however, that a registered entrant must attend the event full time, or participate in classroom sessions or exercises that are not scheduled for such entrant (e.g., instructors and advanced students need not participate in classroom session or exercises developed for novice drivers; corner working is not necessary if there are professional corner workers).

Run Groups

The grouping of drivers into run groups shall be assigned in terms of their track driving experience and capability, as well as speed potential of the cars. All novice drivers shall be assigned an event-approved instructor to ride with them for in-car instruction.

Clothing

All car occupants must wear a Snell approved helmet, which has the current available Snell rating or the one previous Snell rating. Other helmets are acceptable if they are approved for PCA Club Racing. Footwear must be enclosed, non-slip, with a relatively smooth sole. Hiking type deep lugged soles are not acceptable.

Eye Protection

If the car does not have a windshield, the driver must be equipped with eye protection.

Drivers’ Meeting

All events must have a drivers’ meeting prior to putting cars on the track to review event procedures and policies.

Car Safety Inspection

The car owner must certify that the car is safe to run on the track and that the car has been inspected by an regionally approved person or shop within thirty days prior to the event.

The participant is responsible for the safety of his/her automobile and should know the condition of all items on the inspection list. The inspector will not be held liable for the safety of the vehicle.

Final Safety Inspection

A final safety inspection of the car shall be performed at the event facility. This should include inspection of the helmet, the restraint system, all loose objects to be removed, gas cap must be tight, and any other items deemed necessary by the event chairman. The car is identified with a sticker or some other means as having passed the final inspection.

RSR reserves the right to refuse entry to the event based on the condition of your brake fluid.

Passing Zones

Passing zones for all groups shall be well defined at the Drivers Meeting. All passing must be completed by the end of the passing zone as defined by the event organizer.

There shall be no passing in any other turns except as allowed by the Expanded Passing Program.

The Event Chairman shall take into consideration the areas of the track that are preferred for passing, and may restrict certain passing zones to advanced run groups. THERE WILL BE NO PASSING UNDER RED FLAG CONDITIONS. THERE IS ALSO NO PASSING UNDER YELLOW FLAG CONDITIONS EXCEPT FOR SLOW MOVING VEHICLES WHOSE DRIVERS HAVE SIGNALLED THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE DISABLED.

Passing Signals and Procedures

All passing in the designated areas will be with the use of hand signals to direct the passing car safely around the car being passed. It is preferred that the car being passed remains on line allowing the faster car to pass safely. In the event of drivers who, due to a physical impairment, are unable to use hand signals, the use of turn signals to signal passing will be permitted. It is recommended that such drivers and their cars, if any, be identified in the Drivers’ Meeting.

Expanded Passing Program

The Event Chairman may choose to implement the expanded passing program. With expanded passing, passing may occur on all portions of the track, including all turns. If expanded passing is allowed at an event, it shall follow these restrictions:

  • Expanded passing will ONLY be run in the Instructors run group which may include non-instructors.
  • All passing must be initiated WITH A HAND SIGNAL.
  • ll signals MUST BE demonstratively clear and there must be one for each car.
  • All signals are “real time.” If you initiate a pass with a signal, expect a car to pass at the time you give the signal, not at the next straight away.
  • All signals are a contract between two drivers. If you initiate a pass signal, let the car pass. If you are given a signal and decline, you must wave off the signal.
  • No more than two cars side by side in the turn.
  • When entering a turn with another car, NO ONE OWNS THE TURN. Each driver is entitled to 50% of the track as if there was a white line through the center of the turn.
  • The only passengers allowed in the expanded passing run groups are qualified instructors.
  • All drivers of the designated run group must participate in expanded passing. Any driver who does not care to participate must be moved to another run group.
  • This program is self-policed and any passing done without a signal or over aggressive driving may result in exclusion from the event.

Erratic Driving

Four wheels off, spin, and/or contact, the driver must come into the pits to have the car looked over and to be queried for the cause.

Entrant Age

The minimum age for any driving entrant is eighteen years.

Identification

All cars must be identified with a legible number. Either the car or the driver must be identified by run group. The use of colored wrist bands to identify the entrant and his or her run group is highly recommended.

Lap Timing

PCA DE Programs are not timed events. Any timing is done for instructional purposes only, and is not part of the operation of the event.

No Alcohol or Controlled Substances

NO ALCOHOL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CAN BE CONSUMED BY ANY PARTICIPANT DURING THE HOURS OF EVENT OPERATION, OR BY ANY PERSON AT THE SITE OF THE EVENT DURING THE HOURS OF EVENT OPERATION. This is not intended to prevent participants from taking medication as long as it does NOT have an effect upon the person’s ability to control a vehicle at speed.

Event Registration

Every entrant must complete a registration form which must include emergency contact information.

Accident Policy

In the event of any car-to-car contact or other contact resulting in physical damage to an automobile that cannot be buffed out, an incident report must be submitted to the individuals indicated on the current Incident Report Form within five (5) business days. (Damage caused by debris or to the wheels/suspension/under-carriage from an off-track excursion does not require a report.) The report form is available on the web site and is now part of the insurance packet received from the National Office when you submitted an insurance enrollment form. In case of bodily injury to any individual at the event, a report must be written and submitted to our National Insurance Chairman on the next business day.

Demonstration Rides

Our Driver’s Education (DE) program is based on the core assumption that these events are instructional in character. Our DE Instructors ride with students in their cars in an educational capacity. An Instructor is defined as a fully registered entrant who has signed all waivers and has successfully completed an approved PCA regional or national program. A Student is defined as a fully registered entrant who has signed all waivers, paid the regionally stated registration fee, and is driving a car that has met all required safety standards. There are no exceptions.

Demonstration Rides for DE Students

There may be times when a “demonstration ride” by an instructor is helpful to further enhance the educational process. A Demonstration Ride is defined as a student riding with an instructor in one run group higher than the student’s assigned group. For example, if a novice student would benefit from a demonstration ride, the ride would occur in an instructed beginner run group, not an advanced group. If the instructor has more than one student, the demonstration ride can occur in the lowest experience run group possible. The purpose of this ride is to demonstrate the proper driving techniques to help the student correct his/her issues, not to show how well the instructor can drive the facility. All DE event rules apply.

Track Tours (Parade Laps)

This program allows Non-Students the opportunity to experience the track in a comfortable low-speed session. Passengers are allowed.

Requirements for the Participant(s):

  • The participant will be driving his/her own vehicle.
  • The driver participant must sign the appropriate insurance waivers.
  • All vehicle occupants must sign the appropriate insurance waiver. Under age participants (minors) must have a responsible adult print & sign the appropriate waiver for them, and shall use DOT approved restraints appropriate for their age & weight.
  • All occupants will use at least DOT seatbelts. 
  • Helmets are not required. 
  • All vehicle doors must be securely closed and seatbelts securely fastened.
  • It is mandatory to keep speeds well below “track speed,” with a maximum speed of 60 mph.
  • No passing is allowed.