Last Updated: 11/10/2025, 12:47:24
To ensure our participant's highest level of safety and fun, the most important rules of our Driver's Education program are:
Rule 1: No Racing
Rule 2: No Racing
Rule 3: No Racing
Rule 4: See Rule #1
The safety of all our participants is our foremost concern. Therefore, we insist that all rules be followed to ensure a safe, pleasant, uninterrupted learning experience. If you do not conform to the written and verbal rules of this event, you will not be permitted to drive on the racetrack and asked to leave the event. Additionally, you will forfeit your registration fee - no exceptions. Peachstate Region Porsche Club of America wants all participants to have a safe, rewarding, and enjoyable weekend. Erratic, unsafe, or at-fault driving incidents on the track will not be tolerated, and will serve as grounds for immediate dismissal from the event, plus registration fee forfeiture, at the sole discretion of the Event Chairman.
In case of rain, slow down to a speed below which you know you can drive safely in the wet. Check the condition of your tires and brakes after every session. Check your oil level before every session. Keep an eye on your schedule and always be on time!
Concentrate on being smooth and taking the correct line. Do not focus on improving your speed - instead focus on improving your consistency and accuracy in driving the racing line, and a commensurate increase in speed will naturally follow.
If you are about to run off the track surface, it is always best to drive off in a straight line. Do not make a futile attempt to hold the car on the track, as this usually creates a more dangerous situation. If you err in judgment and lose control (i.e. spin), the best rule is: "both feet in" (brake totally depressed, clutch totally depressed) until the car comes to a complete stop.
If you suspect that your car is experiencing mechanical problems while on the racetrack:
Any make of car delivered with factory installed roll-over protection meets the minimum standards for PCA DE events. In these cars, the soft-top must be placed in the up position or have the hard top installed. If, however, the restraints have been changed to 5 or 6 point systems, an approved seat and a rollbar meeting the "broomstick" rule will be required.
If a car does not have factory installed roll-over protection, a roll bar must be installed, which meets the "broomstick" rule (the driver's helmeted head is below a bar placed atop and across the rollbar and windshield). All targa tops must be installed unless there is additional roll-over protection in place. All sunroofs must be placed in the closed position. The windshield alone is not considered to be factory roll-over protection.
Both, you and your passenger must have and use the same type of restraint system. For instance, if a harness is used on the driver’s seat, a harness must be used in the passenger’s seat.
If you choose to install driving harnesses of five or more attachment points, several changes to the automobile must be made to create a safe occupant restraint system. The systems must follow these standards: SFI or FIA-approved competition harnesses of five or more attachment points are required and must be properly mounted in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions, including harness attachment points and shoulder strap mounting. No Y-type shoulder harnesses are allowed.
When using a head and neck restraint device, it is recommended that you 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.
Four-point systems are not allowed in Porsches because of the integrated headrest supplied by the factory, EXCEPT as noted below. In addition to the standard SFI and/or FIA-approved five- and/or six-point system, a four-point system is allowed in non-Porsches that meet the following requirements:
Four Point Belt Exception: Schroth has developed a four-point harness for specific vehicles. These vehicles must be fitted with the original factory seats with which the cars and belts were tested. The belts must also be installed per the Schroth instructions. The belts are Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 209, and as such they are deemed street legal and approved by federal seat belt safety regulations. These belts also have labeling confirming the intended use for these specified vehicle models. They are ONLY allowed in the vehicle with which they were tested. [Current information from Schroth may be found here: https://www.schrothracing.com/item/schrothquickfit/].
Porsche GT Seats with an existing factory anti-submarine belt punch-out on the passenger seat, it is acceptable to remove the punch-out for installation of an anti-submarine belt per the equal restraints rule. This is the only permissible way to implement an anti-submarine belt for these seats. For Porsche GT seats, the lap belts of the harness system may be attached to the carbon seat stock mounts. The harness shoulder belts shall be attached to either a properly mounted harness bar or to the roll bar.
A technical inspection must be completed in writing, usually by a qualified Porsche dealer or service center prior to the event. This inspection is your responsibility and it is for your safety! Please have your car totally prepared for the event on Saturday prior to the driver's meeting, which usually occurs under the chalet in front of the front straight at around 7:30-8AM. For this preparation, remove all loose objects from the trunk and passenger compartment, including the driver's floor mat, have a sufficient amount of gas for the day, properly inflated tires, lug nuts properly tightened, and your car number affixed.
Onsite technical inspections ("Tech") will be performed in the Road Atlanta Tech Shed (located in a white building/garage in the center of the paddock along the front straight of the track) at the time published in the Event Schedule. If you miss tech, your car will not be certified as inspected until after the run groups go out on the track and an inspector is available between their own runs. It is imperative that you bring to tech both your Pre-Event Technical Inspection form filled out and signed, along with the Technical Inspection Certification and Indemnity Form. Also, please have your assigned car numbers affixed to your car when presenting it for onsite technical inspection for processing your car as quickly as possible.
Use of a SNELL SA2015 approved helmet has been extended to June 30, 2026. After that, you must use a SNELL SA2020 or newer helmet for our events. You will not pass onsite technical inspection unless you have a helmet which meets this safety standard - no exception. Motorcycle or "M" rated helmets are authorized for Students only.
We strongly recommend proper clothing for track driving. This means:
Due to hot weather conditions, we allow you to wear what makes you comfortable i.e. short sleeve shirts. You must wear close-toe shoes.
All drivers are required to display their pre-assigned car number on both sides of their car, in a color which contrasts with the car color so that they can be easily readable from the Road Atlanta Control Tower. (No checkerboard numbers, please.) The numbers must be at least 8 inches high, and 1 inch wide. The numbers must be affixed to the car at the onsite technical inspection. Without numbers, you will not be allowed on the track! If your numbers blow off, you must replace them before going out on the track again. Numbers on the windshield are deemed not acceptable. Approved numbers can be pre-ordered from Discovery Parts, 20 Duck Thurmond, Building E-2, Dawsonville, GA 30534, 1-888-748-RACE (7223) or 706-579-1607, here.
Staging will be in the Pit Lane (the grid area directly in front of the chalet overlooking the front straight) for the next Run Group to be organized and safety-checked before going out on the track. All other cars will be located either on the track, or in the Paddock (large parking area). Drivers must wear closed-toe shoes in the Hot Pits.
For safety purposes, in the event of an accident in which driver or passenger access is required by a Corner Worker, all cars are to be driven with the driver and passenger side windows down. Drive with sunroof closed. Always drive with you and your passenger's hands and arms inside the car, except to signal a car to pass or your intention to enter pit lane after Turn 10b. During extreme weather conditions, the event chair may opt to use turn signals instead which will be discussed in a drivers meeting.
Pull your car up to the end of Pit Lane. Follow the instructions of the Pit Marshall and stay to the left of the track as you accelerate up to a safe speed. Use your mirrors to see if you are being overtaken before you attempt to leave this lane.
Passing will be allowed based upon the individual event supplemental regulations. All passing shall be done with the car being overtaken remaining on the racing line. Be sure that you have plenty of time, space and horsepower to complete your passing maneuver. Never pass another car until they give the appropriate clear signal allowing a pass.
Be sure that you have plenty of time to complete your maneuver. Never pass another car until they signal you by! Do not tailgate. Do not group together. If you find yourself too tightly grouped, slow down for a lap and let the pack get away from you. Alternately, come into the pits to give the pack a few moments to get far ahead and then reenter the track with lighter traffic.
Watch your mirrors for cars that want to pass. You must signal to let another car pass by pointing over the top of the car, or out the window to your left, signaling the side they should pass you on. Do not move off the racing line. Do not try to out-horsepower an overtaking car by accelerating - let them by safely! Do not block faster cars. Do not group together. If you find yourself too tightly grouped, slow down for a lap and let the pack get away from you. Alternately, come into the pits to give the pack a few moments to get far ahead and then reenter the track with lighter traffic.
Failure to comply with the passing rules will result in you being Black Flagged and directed off the track, missing your Run Group track time.
If you spin your car, or leave the track surface with all four wheels, on the second incident of spinning or leaving the track surface, you will be required to leave the track for the remainder of the day. If you spin or leave the track surface three times over the entire event, you will be finished for the event.
The procedure will be as follows:
To safely signal your desire to exit the track into the pit lane to other drivers, extend your left arm upward, out of the window, in a fist, prior to your exit from the track. At the Road Atlanta Course, the pit road exit begins at turn 11 (The Bridge Turn). The lane is on the left but is not visible until you have passed under the bridge. Extreme caution should be used in locating the Pit Lane entrance. Once you have completed the 90-degree turn at the bottom of the Pit Lane entrance, you must reduce your speed to 10 M.P.H. while in Pit Lane.
Road Atlanta can be hot and humid in the summer. In order to prepare for this, read this information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety here.
Classifieds