The Site

The 2006 Parade Portland Michelin Autocross will be held at Portland International Raceway over a two-day period. PIR is a five minute drive south of Parade Headquarters on I-5. Turn off I-5 at exit #306. There will be workers and signs as you enter PIR to help you find your way to the autocross site and related areas. See attached map.

Course Walk

Formal time for the course walk is on Tuesday afternoon, August 8, from 3-6 pm. This is for all entrants driving on either Wednesday, August 9, or Thursday, August 10. Multiple track users and city curfews limit the course walk times.  DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY AS THERE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ANOTHER ONE. There may be other opportunities to walk the course, particularly if drivers get to the track well before first car out and your run group is later in the day. There are in excess of 400 autocross entries at Parade this year-we anticipate that the course will be in continuous use the entire day.

What to Wear

In August we generally see daytime temperatures in the 70-90 degree range. Nights can get into the 50’s on occasion but usually stay in the 60’s and 70’s. Shorts and short sleeve shirts will work fine for people watching the event. Make sure you bring sunscreen, hat/visor and bottled water as you will need it.

The Course

The main road course, with autocross style cone placement, will be used for this event. Drivers will arrive, pre-stage, and stage in the north paddock, which is the infield at PIR. Drivers will enter the actual course from the western most part of the north paddock, and proceed through the road course to the finish at turn 8.

Parking

PIR is a city park, and is maintained by their parks department. There are a number of parking areas, and unless posted otherwise, you can park where you please, on the south side of the track, including most of their lawns and grassy areas. Common sense should prevail here. There is a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the road course from south to north to allow spectators access to north paddock areas.

Parking-Tow Rigs/ Trailers/Support Vehicles

Parking for these vehicles will marked with signs and volunteers will be able to assist you.This area allows support vehicles to leave at any time. This same area can be used to establish a “base camp” for your Porsche, allowing you to unload all non-essentials prior to proceeding to the pre grid area.

Security will be provided from 5pm to 6am On August 9/10. There will be no other security provided at PIR for this event.

Unloading Your Porsche Prior to Staging at Pre grid

If your transport vehicle is parked in the area mentioned above, you can park your Porsche there until it is time to take it to pre grid. After your run group has been released from impound, you can drive back to this area.

After Unloading

At this point, there should be no non-essential gear in your Porsche. Proceed to the pre-grid area immediately.

Other Parking Areas for Autocross Drivers

The area behind turn 3, east of the north paddock can be used for competing cars both before and after completion of their run group. Support vehicles will not be allowed in the north paddock or this area.

Parking-Spectators

We are requesting that spectators park their vehicles on the south side of the race track, due to the large volume of vehicles/ drivers that will be in the north paddock area. The pedestrian bridge, located part of the way down the front straight, can be used to walk over the track and into the north paddock area(s).

Spectators

There are thousands of grandstand seats surrounding the road course at PIR. The optimum seats will be in the grandstand area at turn 3, just west of the north paddock area. Walking to the top of the grandstand should allow spectators to see most of the course

Event Times

The morning run groups will begin at 7am each day. The afternoon run groups will start at 11:30. We must have completed all runs and have exited the track area at PIR by 4pm each day.

Support

A Michelin support truck will be parked in the north paddock area to provide tire related service(s) and sales.

Arrive Time

Again, due to multiple track users, we must be off of the track area of PIR not later than 4pm each day. This means we will be starting early. 7:30 am early. All drivers will need to be in the north paddock area 1-1 ½  hours prior to commencement of their run group. We may enter the PIR facility no earlier than 6am.  There will be two driver groups each day-one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The morning group is required to attend the 7:00 am drivers meeting. The afternoon group is required to attend 11am drivers meeting.  Arrival time is critical. Plan to be parked and waiting to enter PIR at 6am.

Run Group Schedule

Wednesday, August 9

Morning Session-Men’s and Ladies Classes S01 thru Class S07

Afternoon Session-Men’s and Ladies Classes S08 thru Class P05

Thursday, August 10

Morning Session-Men’s and Ladies Classes P06

thru Class P11

Afternoon Session-Men’s and ladies Classes P12

thru Class M06

This is the run group schedule at this time. We will adjust the schedule as necessary and issue a final run group schedule that will be available at registration.

First Car Out

First car on course at 7:30 am.

Classification

The PCR’s define your class in great detail. You have already declared your class in your registration. If a class change needs to be made, it must be done 24 hours prior to the start of the event.

Pre Grid

All Porsches must be “course ready” prior to entering pre grid. Pre grid will be closed prior to the drivers meeting. Any Porsche not in pre grid prior to the drivers meeting will not be allowed to compete.

Safety Inspection

Your car must have had a safety inspection by the designated Parade officials prior to this event and you must supply proof. This inspection will include each driver’s helmet, which must be Snell approved and not older than Snell 2000. See PCR’s for additional information. There will be a final, abbreviated safety check done in the pre staging area, prior to the start grid.

Deal Breakers

The following items must be presented before the driver can proceed to final grid: A completed safety inspection form, Parade furnished, legible numbers affixed where they can be seen by the autocross officials, approved helmet that the driver will be using for the autocross, and clothing suitable and safe for this event. See the PCR’s for clothing do’s and don’ts. Don’t even think about sandals and bikini bottoms.

Driver’s Meeting

Starts ½ hour prior to first car out time and should last about 15 minutes. This meeting will be held twice each day. Once for the morning drivers, and once for the afternoon drivers. It’s mandatory. You’ll be checked. Be organized. Be early, as we will be taking attendance. The meeting will cover all of the elements necessary to keep this event safe and enjoyable. Included will be safety, rules and regulations, flags and what they mean, and a few comments about the course itself.

Non-attendance at the driver’s meeting will result in being classified as a non-driver. The protest committee must attend all drivers meetings to understand what all drivers were told. As soon as the driver’s meeting is finished, return to your Porsches immediately, as we will be directing you to the starting grid.

Flags

Three flags will used in the autocross event. A green flag will be used at the start. A red flag will be used when a course related incident makes it necessary to stop cars on course. If a red flag is waved while you are on course, pull over and wait for instructions from a course worker. A checkered flat will be used to indicate the end of the timed run.

Penalties

If one or more cones are hit; moved out of it’s box, or tipped over, a two second penalty will be assessed. Any cone in the start, course, finish, and post finish areas will be assessed this penalty.

Start Grid

You will be directed to drive to the start grid upon attendance of the drivers meeting. Once in the start grid, do not leave your Porsche, as your run will start shortly. Failure to be ready when called to the start grid will result in disqualification for that run.

The Start

A green flag will be used to indicate that you have permission to start/enter the course. The timing lights will not start until their light beam is interrupted by your vehicle.

Runs

Each driver will get three timed runs. The first run is not a warm-up run. All runs will be timed.

The Finish

The finish lights are located at turn 8. Stop immediately after passing through the finish lights and exit the course on the right. You will enter a service road that will return you to the starting grid for your next run, or to the impound area if you have completed your third run.

Reruns

A rerun will be allowed if a driver did not get a fair run. Reruns will not be granted for mechanical failure. If you are stopped during a run for a condition you did not create, you will get a rerun. If you observe a condition that interferes with your run while on course, such as a corner worker or another car in your way, or a cone (not a directional cone) on it’s side or outside of it’s position due to a previous competitor, stop immediately and point out the problem to a course worker. Do not complete your run- follow the course workers instructions, then follow the course back to staging at a reduced speed. You will be given instructions for an official rerun when you return to staging. Failure to stop for a condition that would entitle you to a rerun means that you have forfeited your chance for a rerun. Stopping for a perceived condition that did not, if fact, exist, does not entitle you to a rerun.

Results

Each driver will be given a timing slip upon exiting the course. The slip will indicate run time and any applicable penalties. Times will be posted as soon as possible in impound and the scoring area near the grid.

Multiple Driver Porsches

Multiple driver Porsches will be assigned their own specific lane in the starting grid area. Regardless of the size of the run group, no Porsche will be allowed on course without a minimum of a five minute cool down period. Repeated runs without this cool down period give the competitor an unfair advantage and will not be allowed.

Impound

Upon exiting the course after the third run you will be directed to the impound area. You will need to open your Porsche’s compartments for inspection. Only personal items such as helmet, keys, and gloves may be removed at this time. Failure to report to the impound area immediately after your last run, or stay the required time, will result in disqualification. Impound affords you the opportunity to inspect your competitors Porsche, and to verify that the official results are correct. The protest committee will be located in the impound area.

Awards

Class awards will be given out 15 minutes after impound has released your class. Awards will be given out in an area adjacent to the Michelin support vehicle, which will be located in the north paddock grassy area. Major awards, such at top time of day for ladies and men’s stock, prepared, improved, and modified classes will be given out at the Thursday evening banquet.

 Driver Departure  After Runs

 Drivers may exit the north paddock area and/or PIR upon release from impound and determination of class standings. If you win a class award, please stay and receive it. You are then free to leave the area and the track, or stay and be a spectator. Should you choose to stay, please remove your Porsche and possessions from the north paddock area so other competitors who have yet to run will have adequate room.