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Myths

There are several "urban legends" about Autocross and Time Trial events that need to be "de-bunked"...     Myth: As a PCA Region, you can't hold AX-type events and allow non-Porsches to enter.     Fact: There is no requirement to limit either Porsches or PCA members at ANY event, other than Club               Racing, which is a Porsche and PCA only series. If your Region is a non-profit organization, there               are rules about the percentage of income that comes from non-members. Check with someone               financially knowledgeable (such as Bob Knight, the PCA Finance Chair) for help with this one. But               usually it's not a problem for about 20% of the entrants to be non-PCA members. Any percentage               of non-Porsches can enter.     Myth: PCA does not allow Regions to call events "Time Trials".     Fact: PCA has no restriction on naming events. Regions can call any event any name they want to.               There is a discussion of Time Trials in the RPM, available on the PCA web site. There is a check               box on the insurance order form for "Time Trial". There may be repercussions for some names,               but PCA will not be knocking on your door, insisting that you change the name!     Myth: PCA discourages Regions from holding Time Trials.     Fact: PCA discourages Regions from holding unsafe events. Time Trials are by design less safe than               some other events, so PCA has stricter event guidelines for these events. It is good and proper               that they do this. But these are only guidelines for the Regions to use as a basis for establishing               their own event procedures, that are tailored specifically to local venues and formats. PCA               understands that it's impossible to write "Rules" that would work for all events at all locations,               so they don't try.     Myth: It costs more for PCA event insurance if the event is a Time Trial, than if it is an Autocross.     Fact: From an insurance perspective only, by telling PCA on the insurance order form that the event is a               "Time Trial", your Region will incur the same fee structure as for an Autocross, which is free to the               Region at the moment. A parking lot Time Trial can be called an "Autocross" on the insurance order               form, but that will have no affect on the insurance. The actual event format is of little importance to               our insurer. Parking lot Time Trials can be described as "Time Trials" w/o penalty.     Myth: The PCA Event Liability coverage covers damage to entrants vehicles.     Fact: It does not. It also excludes coverage of many physical objects on or around the event site, like               fences, guard rails, curbs, and light poles. Entrants are personally responsible for damage they               cause. The PCA policy DOES cover Regional members and officers if the owner of the site sues               to recover damages.     Myth: The PCA Event Liability policy is available for you to read.     Fact: It is closely held by a few people and has NEVER been released to lay members for inspection.     Myth: If you damage your car at a Time Trial, your insurance company will not be liable for the               damages.     Fact: It depends. Normally, personal collision policies DO cover damage to your car, but if they conclude               that you are likely to repeat the incident, they will drop your coverage. Only if they conclude that               it was a "one-time" incident will your coverage continue. These policies say nothing about the               venue, the name of the event, or the term "racing", but it depends where the policy was written.               Occasionally, there are exclusions for events on "race tracks". Mostly, the answer to this question               is NOT written down. Check with your insurance agent for the details of their "claims" process.               Often, your agent will not know the answer and will have to talk to someone in their "claims"               department. Go as high as necessary to get a knowledgeable answer. In contrast to the collision               coverage, if there is a liability claim as a result, they normally do NOT cover that. Again, ask your               agent for details of YOUR policy and YOUR underwriter's policies.     Myth: If you damage your car at an Autocross, your insurance company will not be liable for the               damages.     Fact: It depends. See the above section about TT's. Calling an event an "Autocross" does not normally               solve any personal insurance issues.     Myth: An Autocross is very destructive of tires.     Fact: It depends on your driving style, the pavement surface, the design of the course, and the tires. A               smooth driving style is faster and does less damage to tires. Old concrete (as found on airports) is               quite abrasive and will wear tires rapidly. Courses that involve lots of long corners where cars can               pull big "G" forces for a long time will heat up the tires, thus wear tires more quickly. Several               manufacturers sell "special" Autocross tires, with very soft rubber compounds and light               construction, which heat up quickly on short Autocross courses. These type tires are DESIGNED               to wear out quickly...and do. But at an Autocross, the total running time is normally small,               compared to other events, so the tire wear is normally low. Bottom Line: There is nothing endemic               to AXing that would make tire wear excessive.