Went to a PCA autocross today

I had an interesting and pleasant experience today - my first-ever PCA autocross. Never having owned a Porsche, I never thought of going to one before, but today they had theirs at the site of our next SCCA event that I'm designing the course for. So I thought I would go just to see what they were doing with the site and try to get some ideas for my course design. Well, I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. Even though I was driving a lowly Sentra, I was welcomed honestly and cheerfully. The event was lightly attended (at least compared to a typical SCCA autocross), so we started at 9:30 and were finished before noon, getting 5 runs in that short time frame. The course was actually very well designed and made good use of the fairly constricted site. They even supplied lunch as part of the entry fee, which was not only less expensive than current SCCA events, but there wasn't even any extra charge for not being a member.

I wasn't expecting to know anyone at the event, but after 32 years of autocrossing in a town, one tends to make a lot of acquaintances. At least 10 people came up and shook my hand, most of them telling me stories about how I instructed them at their first autocross. In addition a couple that I've known since the mid-80's were there with their Cayman S, and we did some great reminiscing under a shady oak while eating our lunch. And to top it all off, I was embroiled in a terrific battle for FTD with the fastest Porsche, the final outcome of which I'm still not sure of. All in all, I really enjoyed the day. Thanks, Porsche club!

Similar to my experience with BMWCCA. I ran the WRX two full seasons with the local chapter, winning the "non-BMW" class both seasons and generally beating 95% of the BMWs there (many events were rainy for some reason). Nobody seemed to care that I didn't have a BMW, and I knew several people from running in other clubs over the years. I generally find the smaller clubs more laid-back than SCCA events - plus they usually have a less crazy classing structure, even for non-marque cars - which I like.

In my area PCA track days, known as DE's (driver education), are a blast and much more affordable than any other track time. Even when I owned a 911 I never drove a Porsche at any of their events and was always warmly welcomed.

The Porsche club here in Iowa is awesome. A few organizers run at a local go-kart track but everyone's event is packed and a clustercuss. Not theirs!

Shhhhhh Porsche Owners are sobby snooty and look down at all those "other" cars. We don't want people showing up at our events and making them crowded or god forbid actually "fun".

We are all a bunch of grumps and we don't play well with others! Back off! Stay away! Grrrrrr...

The first rule of PCA autocross. Do not talk about PCA autocross.

Type Q wrote: The first rule of PCA autocross. Do not talk about PCA autocross.

This is my biggest conundrum. Do I tell people how awesome it is, or do I keep quiet?

Don't even get me started on their Club Racing events

If you're anywhere in the SEPA/SNJ/NMD area, come play with us in Delaware. We're cheap ($30 a day), fun, friendly, guarantee at least 6 runs, and you'll be on the way home by 4:30. We used to run events for/with the local PCA chapter until their insurance regs changed. Now we're on our own.

www.brandywinemotorsportclub.org

That is the same experience I've had at the smaller clubs in the area, reasonable price, a ton of runs and free lunch and water. It's hard to choose SCCA when other clubs use the same site and offer more for the money.

You know, it just doesn't seem fair to be running my cheap, $10K Sentra against an entire field of 80-$100,000 Porsches.

Besides, one of them actually beat me! giggle

http://spc.pca.org/autocross/