By Stephen DiCato 

I’ve always wanted to drive on a proper race track, and in November of 2019 I achieved that goal. Earlier that year, I purchased my first Porsche - a 1979 911 SC. I purchased it with one goal - attend High Performance Driver Education events with the PCA. I spent the summer sorting my car, preparing for my first HPDE, and talking to experienced club members. Hopefully sharing my experience encourages others to attend HPDE events. There’s a ton of resources on this topic and I suggest you spend some time on both the NCR and NER website. The presentation from the 2022 DE Ground School is particularly useful.

“BE SAFE-HAVE FUN” is the North Country Region’s Driver Education motto.

TL;DR? Watch this short video.

As the proud owner of a Porsche, you're already experiencing the thrill of driving a precision machine—but why not take it to the next level? We’re offering a unique opportunity to improve your driving skills in a safe, controlled, and structured environment, all while discovering the true capabilities of your Porsche. Whether you're looking to refine your driving technique, dive deeper into vehicle dynamics, or just enjoy the pure joy of driving on a track, this event is for you.

NCR's PCA waivers are completed entirely online using these three steps. 

Children must continue to using the Minor and Parent Form at this link.

Use this link to initiate your online PCA waiver process. Everyone attending the event (including guests) must complete and sign the waivers.

Please have the Speedwaiver ready to show on your phone at onsite event registration. 

The HPDE minimum standards have been revised.

You can view the document at this link.

ambassador: a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity

Thank you for volunteering your time and effort to help our new drivers enjoy their first day at our event. What you are doing is an important component of our Be Safe and Have Fun approach to HPDE.

Can you remember your first day at an HPDE event? I can. I was nervous and questioning my decision to put my newly  acquired Porsche on the track. I had many questions, but there was no way I was going to be that guy and ask them in front of a hundred people at the drivers meeting. My instructor was great but very busy and after our in car debrief he was off to his next assignment.

That's why we've asked individuals who aren't instructors to answer questions from our first day drivers. Your role is to answer their questions and make them feel comfortable. Everyone has questions in the beginning; you have been there and most likely asked those questions or at least heard the answers. You may not know the answer to every question, but you know who does know the answer.

An excellent resource for the new driver are the links in the event information email. The information in those links was developed over the last fifteen years. Hundreds of hours have been spent discussing and documenting what the requirements are for a safe and fun event. 

You will receive contact information for your novice driver shortly. Please contact them via email and ask them to read the documents referenced in the event information email then set up a short phone to call to answer any questions that they have after reading the documents. Schedule a place and time to meet them during the morning of the first day of the event and finally, check in with them in the afternoon to see how their day is going.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions for improvements, please contact paddockreporter@ncr-pca.org.

Thanks again!

The PCA National Drivers Education Committee has updated the Driver Education Minimum Standards.

All DE participants must review this update as it may affect your car and equipment preparation for the upcoming DE season.

The section of the Driver Education Minimum Standards document to take particular attention to is the use of a Head and Neck restraint system commonly known as a HANS device, is now mandatory for both student and instructor when a five, six or seven-point harness are being used. Exceptions and detail for some Four-point systems are also listed in the document.
"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 is recommended, and an approved head and neck restraint device is required. A head and neck restraint device certified as meeting the standards of either SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858 or its successor is required.  The use of such a harness system without roll protection and a head and neck restraint device may result in an unsafe environment and is not a COMPLETE SYSTEM. Roll bars or cages and their installation must meet PCA Club Racing Standards.
When using a head and neck restraint device, 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."

NCR Chief Instructor and DE Committee comments:

• A Head and Neck restraint system commonly known as a HANS device, is now mandatory for both student and instructor when a five, six or seven-point harness is in use.
• A suitable roll bar or roll cage is Strongly Recommended when race seats and harnesses are in use but is not mandatory.
  A suitable roll bar or roll cage along with a Race Seats and Harnesses provides the driver and instructor with a complete safety system.
• It is recommended that sedans and coupes with racing seats and harnesses without a roll bar or roll cage have *functioning factory provided three-point seat belts in the car.
• Sedans and coupes with racing seats, harnesses and *functioning three-point factory belts that do not have a roll bar or roll cage, are allowed to use factory *functioning belts with an instructor but both occupants must use the same restraint method.
• Students and drivers that utilize racing seats and harnesses without suitable roll protection and do not have *functioning factory provided three-point seat belts in the car, will not be provided an instructor; this includes check-out rides.

* Functioning three-Point belt requires the same fitment as provided by the stock seat.