Despite a heavy downpour just as the first run group was getting settled in, and threat of rain throughout the day, the PCA Grand Prix Region put on a successful and fun Time Trial and Driver’s Education event at the Auto Club Speedway Infield Course on November 1.  The Infield Course at ACS is great place for drivers who are learning their craft to make a first step to a real race track.  Besides being easily accessible from just about anywhere in SoCal, the facilities at Auto Club Speedway are fantastic, and the infield course is an interesting track that’s a safe place to learn and progress.  With a wet track, it’s a fabulous place for everyone – even the most experienced pilots – to practice their car control skills.  For those of us who failed to rent a garage, we also got to practice our keep dry skills.

The PCA Grand Prix Region did a nice job getting the event started on time despite the changing weather conditions.  Driver’s Meeting and orientation safety briefing held, first timers and other students paired up with experienced instructors, the track went hot just as really dark clouds were rushing in from the west.  Even though the track was often quite wet with a big puddle in the ‘playground’ section of the track (in this track map, the area between Turn 5 and Turn 7), there were few off track excursions or other incidents.

In addition to being PCA Grand Prix Region event, the Time Trial portion was a PCA Zone 8 event, which meant it contributed to the overall Zone 8 Time Trial championship.  Zone 8 is composed of 13 Porsche Club of America regional clubs in SoCal, Southern Nevada, and Arizona.

An excellent event left smiles all around, especially the beginners getting acquainted to a real race track and those who improved their positioning the Zone 8 championship.

Many more pics are available here.

For those who spend time at the track, I found a great new product that is the best I’ve ever used for cleaning up my car after an event: MOTHERS 09224 R3 Racing Rubber Remover – 24 oz.