Driver's Education Team

Select the image for their contact information

DE Chair

DE Registrar

Chief Instructor

Pam and Dennis Mascetta - Operations Manager

Lisa Roche and Joe Kraetsch - On Site Registrars

If calling please do so BEFORE 9:30pm

Send general DE questions/comments to DE Chair

Send all registration questions/comments to DE Registrar

2018 Events

Select Host Column entry to go to the registration sites.

Date Location Host Event

March 3 HMS NER Ground School

April 20-22 NHMS NCR Season Opener

April 21 NHMS NCR Car Control Clinic

May 18-20 Watkins Glen Zone 1 48 Hours at the Glen

May 25-27 Thompson NER

June 8-10 Palmer NER

June 25&26 Limerock NCR Limerock Fun Days; Paddock Party

July 4-7 Mt Tremblant NER/NNJR

August 10-12 WGI NER/NNJR

August 14-16 Calabogie NER/NNJR

September 7-9 Tamworth NCR

September 21-23 Palmer NER

October 6&7 NHMS NCR Spring is a Long Time Coming; Make-A-Wish

HANS Device Required for multi-point harness (in 2019)

Details: Published: 28 April 2018 28 April 2018; Hits: 49 49

PCA Chief Driving Instructors and Region Officials,

The number one priority of PCA's HPDE Program is track safety. A core belief in the DE program is that a person can purchase a stock Porsche and take it to the track for an HPDE weekend, after an appropriate tech inspection of course.

Some people choose to modify their cars to increase performance and others to increase safety. A popular modification made to track cars is the addition of a multi-point harness system. Starting January 1, 2019, the DE Minimum Standards will be expanded to state that if a driver uses a harness system, he or she will ALSO be required to utilize a head and neck restraint system, commonly referred to as a HANS device.

A head and neck restraint device is an integral part of the harness system. Because the rule of equal restraint always applies, if a driver uses a harness system there must also be a harness system available and used by the passenger. Thus, both the driver and passenger will be required to use a HANS device. We highly encourage all DE participants to not wait until 2019 to comply with this new minimum standard. Head and neck restraint system devices are now more affordable and easily purchased online.

The DE Committee's decision was made over the course of two years after careful review of options, conversations with DE participants and discussion of a variety of perspectives. Please pass on this information to your DE drivers and instructors as soon as possible to avoid any confusion.

As a reminder, members of the DE Committee can be found here: https://www.pca.org/national-driver-education-committee

Thank you for all your time and effort to make your region’s DE program a safe and successful one. If you have feedback, please let me know!

Catch you in the Curves!

John Krecek
Great Plains Region – Porsche Club of America
Chief Driving Instructor
PCA National DE Committee Chair
402-995-1470
johnkrecek@gmail.com

Wow, what a weekend!

Details: Published: 11 September 2018 11 September 2018; Hits: 73 73

A wicked big THANK YOU to everyone that attended the Club Motorsports event:

Thank you to the staff and management of Club Motorsports Incorporated for helping us plan and execute a great event;
Thank you to those with worker assignments for arriving early and performing your duties with enthusiasm;
Thank you to the instructors for guiding the new and not so new drivers on this challenging track;
Thank you to the students for your attention and questions before, during and after each session;
Thank you to the advanced drivers for managing the highest on track car counts ever at an NCR event;
and lastly, thank you to the weatherman for three perfect track days.

We look forward to doing all this again next year.

Don't forget to register for our final event of the year at NHMS on October 6th and 7th. It's our Make-A-Wish weekend. Let's see all those great smiles again.

Gallery Home

September 7, 2018

Photos by David Churcher

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Rating: /5 ( Votes)

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Driver's Education Run Group Promotions

Details: Published: 02 May 2018 02 May 2018; Hits: 254 254

The following drivers were promoted during our Spring Opener.

White to Black

Drew Kenney Northeast Region
Don Kelly Northeast Region

Blue to White

Jim Daley North Country Region
Felipe Miranda North Country Region

Yellow to Blue

Sam Lin North Country Region
Gary Gammans Northeast Region
Roland Morin Downeast Region
Bob Hollis Northeast Region

Green to Yellow

Tracy Hutchins North Country Region
Ben Chiel Northeast Region
Thomas Rohlfs North Country Region
Jim Liotine North Country Region

Congratulations to all.

Club Motorsports Parking and Registration

Details: Published: 30 August 2018 30 August 2018; Hits: 368 368

Parking Lots

In the annotated photo below you will see the four designated parking areas for this event (Kart, Welcome, Main, West).

The West lot is restricted to track cars and temporary parking for registration.

The Main lot is to be used for trailer and tow vehicle parking.

The Kart and Welcome lots are to be used for tow vehicles, trailers, and track cars.

Registration

Enter the facility via the West entrance and stop at Roy's Dog House for your parking assignment.
Use the temporary parking area in the center of the West lot for Registration (park side by side facing Roy's Dog House.
Register with Club Motorsports and NCR in the Classroom trailer.
Move to Main lot to unload vehicle from your trailer.

Pam Mascetta - Not Just Another Woman Driver

Details: Published: 01 February 2018 01 February 2018; Hits: 991 991

I have always loved to drive, beginning with my little red pedal car when I was 5. My love affair with Porsche began in my late teens. A friend of mine had an adorable 911 he called “The Silver Bullet”. I loved the way it sounded, the way it smelled and the way it felt out on the road. One day we were zipping around when we came up behind a very slow Cadillac on a wide exit ramp. He said “Hang on!” and neatly proceeded to execute a pass. I was momentarily terrified but thrilled at the same time.

Lisa Roche - Not Just another Woman Driver

Details: Published: 01 March 2018 01 March 2018; Hits: 226 226

Lisa If you have been to almost any NCR event, you have probably seen this smiling face. Perhaps it was at a car show, or autocross, or DE, or at a banquet or rally. Meet Lisa Roche and her favorite car.

Lisa began her Porsche odyssey doing car shows with her ex-husband and his 914. When he refused to autocross his car, she bought her own ‘89 944. Starting out, she claims they were the slowest on the course, but she couldn’t get the smile off her face. Now, 20 years later, still loving it, Lisa and her partner Joe have fun battling for the fastest run times. She has won many Autocross Class Champion awards, including multiple National Porsche Parade events, Zone 1 Autocross events and a LFT (ladies fastest time overall) award at the 2009 Zone 1.

Lisa’s autocross experience shaped her excellent driving skills on the track. She drives in the Black (Advanced) Driving Group for DE events and especially loves to drive in the rain. With the rain being a great equalizer, Lisa has been known to pass much faster cars with her smooth car control skills. You go, girl!

An Introduction to Driver's Education

Details: Published: 20 April 2007 20 April 2007; Hits: 2069 2069

Driver Education track events are intended to provide a basic foundation of knowledge which become building blocks to advancing skills as you continue with track driving.

Students are taught to drive safely around the track in a non-competitive environment under the supervision of a track instructor riding in the car.

Students can expect (and are expected) to learn the following:

How to drive the basic line of the track.
How to use turn-in cones, apex cones and track-out cones as track markers.
Braking, shifting and turning techniques and sequence for turns.
Names of turns and straights of the track and other track vocabulary
Safety
Being comfortable and having fun!!!

Driver's Education Prerequisites

Details: Published: 29 December 2017 29 December 2017; Hits: 305 305

1	Participants must be at least 18 years of age, must have a valid driver’s license, and be a PCA member or affiliate. A current driver’s license and PCA membership card must be shown at registration.
2	Non-participants are not permitted in either student or instructor cars. Non-participants under the age of 18 are allowed only in spectator areas. Instructors riding in student cars and students riding in instructor cars for instructional purposes are permitted. No student may ride with another student.
3	Participants must wear rubber soled, natural uppers shoes, long pants, and a long sleeved shirt (natural, not synthetic fibers), or wear an approved fire resistant driving suit.
4	Drivers must have completed registration and be through the tech line prior to the driver’s and instructor’s meetings (approximately 8:15 am).
5	A Snell rated 2010 or newer helmet is required. An SA rated helmet is preferred. M and K rated helmets are acceptable. Limited loaners may be available.
6	All participants must fill out the NCR tech form (at this link). It must completed and signed by one of the approved NCR tech inspectors (at this link) within two weeks of the event The tech inspection is a free service to PCA members unless otherwise noted.
7	R-rated track tires are not allowed in green & yellow run groups unless OEM fit or the car is also driven in an advanced run group. Chief Instructor approval required.
8	All open top cars (including targas) must run with tops installed or up, unless arm restraints are used by each occupant. All sunroofs must be closed or entirely removed while on track (arm restraints required if sunroof is removed).
9	All open cars must have a roll bar installed, with the following exceptions: Targas, 914s, Boxsters and 996/997 cabriolets (except at Lime Rock) are acceptable as delivered from the factory & must run with the top up or have a hardtop installed.
10	Lime Rock Park will enforce rules which require all open cars to have a roll bar that is fixed and visible at all times (not pop up) plus allows the driver to pass the “broomstick rule” (top of helmet under a line drawn from the top of the windshield to the top of the bar).
11	Tracks will be enforcing sound limits at their tracks. You will be expelled from the event after your second offense during any given day.
12	Driver’s side windows must be fully down (rain or shine), passenger side optional (fully up or down). Window nets are not allowed.
13	Students should expect that their instructor will drive their car for several laps at each event.
14	All participants must obey all passing rules set forth in the driver’s meeting.
15	There is a mandatory Black Flag pit stop for all spins or 2 (or more) wheels-off. Two Black Flags for these or other driving infractions in a day are grounds for expulsion from the event.
16	No illegal drugs are allowed and no alcoholic beverages may be consumed by anyone (participant or guest) during the event.
17	Events in the rain and cold weather. No refunds for an event canceled after cars have been on the track, or for participants who do not come to the track when an event is not started. Partial refunds may be available to those who come to the track when an event is not started/canceled.

Updated January 8, 2018

NCR DE Mission Statement

Details: Published: 26 April 2007 26 April 2007; Hits: 538 538

Mission Statement

The mission and purpose of North Country Region – Porsche Club of America’s Driver’s Education Program is to provide a safe, structured and controlled teaching and learning environment. The NCR DE Program is designed so that participants can improve their driving abilities and acquire a better understanding of vehicle dynamics and driving safety. Participants will experience first-hand the capabilities of high performance automobiles in a controlled, closed-course environment and acquire skills that will enhance safer vehicle operation in all driving situations. NCR DE events are not racing, preparation for racing, nor a competition of any kind. No times or placings are recorded, and no awards or prizes are received by the participants of NCR Driver’s Education events. Any conduct considered by North Country Region to be either unsafe or inconsistent with the spirit or purpose of the NCR Driver’s Education Program will not be permitted.

Spring is a long time coming

Details: Published: 22 January 2018 22 January 2018; Hits: 1025 1025

This past October I decided it was time for me to spend a day driving at an NCR DE event. I had done the Car Control Clinic, and the Charity Laps for Make-a-Wish. Those experiences were nothing but positive, so I decided to give it a try.

From a distance the DE program looked to me like a place for “race car drivers”. Folks that wanted to take their car out and thrash it around the track. So I was a bit intimidated. Not trusting myself with my car at high speeds, not trusting my reflexes with such an expensive car. A car that I enjoy driving in its “present condition”. I had signed up for the Monday driving and watched the weather. As luck would have it Monday proved to be a rain day. In my mind I flip flopped back and forth. Should I cancel, or should I go anyway. If I cancel there are no refunds. But if I lose traction in the rain and smash my car, that would prove to be a huge loss. Crashing my car was the last thing I would want to happen. Knowing many of the people who produce the DE program for NCR, I decided to go for the day in spite of the rain. I had to trust that these guys would help me avoid a crash, trust that their instruction would prevent me from having a problem on the track.

It's starting! Are you ready?

Details: Published: 08 April 2018 08 April 2018; Hits: 198 198

Yes, spring was a long time coming this year and now it's here and the track is calling you!

This year we reached out to new drivers and we have signed up 24 of them for our First Timers Event on Saturday April 21st.

We need your help getting these new drivers started off with their right foot. Please check your calendar for Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 20, 21 and 22 and join us for three bright warm sunny days at NHMS.

No More Snow

NoSnow

We promise!

Thanks from all your North Country friends.

Bob Tucker

Chief Instructor

North Country Region - Porsche Club of America

Lime Rock Park

Details: Published: 01 February 2015 01 February 2015; Hits: 730 730

Come join us for an early summer DE at Lime Rock Park, the iconic road course located in the foothills of the scenic southern Berkshires.

North Country Region (NCR) is hosting a two day Drivers Education event on Monday, June 25th and Tuesday, June 26th at this well known and challenging track located in northwestern Connecticut. Both days will be full day sessions.

There will be a beer and wine social in the garage at the conclusion of Monday's sessions. Although not confirmed, I'm sure there will be a track walk for those that are interested.

Lee Carpentier will be hosting Car Control sessions both days on LimeRock’s well developed and highly rated skid pad and autocross facility. A no worries let it all hang out facility that allows you to explore the limits of your mettle as well your car. Who knows, you may enjoy driving your car looking out the passenger window rather than the windshield. This is an activity that is beneficial to all ability levels.

The skidpad will use half hour blocks and be able to accommodate two drivers per half hour (using two cars/instructors). Drive time per half hour would be just over twenty minutes with a few minutes in reserve for discussion and people running late or just needing a few extra laps.

This program is first come first serve. Interested drivers should contact Lee at Lee@advancemotorsports.racing. To confirm your session prepayment will be required by check or through Paypal.

Simon Kirby will be available for on track coaching sessions.

40 Years of fun!