Now that David has had a chance to explain his arguement, I'd like to do the same.
My opinion of X cars is probably equal to most competitive drivers in the Porsche Club, I like them. Variety is a good and entertaining thing. One of the highlights of the year, for me, is running an X-car autocross. It is fun and enjoyable to see non-Porsches going through the course we design. Some are faster, some are louder, some are hanging it out there sideways. It's all good, and safe.
When David presented me with the request for an X-car at the DE, my initial reaction was ..... SAFETY FIRST! So I asked David the important and salient safety questions: Who's the driver? What kind of car? Preliminary information was given and I felt, initially, that it would be okay. I told David as such.
After spending most of the night and a bit of the next morning (the request was made less than a week prior to the event) researching the rules and regulations about the event, the expected safety considerations of a typical QDE, and reviewing the specifications of the driver and the vehicle, I came to the very difficult conclusion that the driver and the vehicle may not be an appropriate safety fit for this particular event. I had to do what I hate most; reverse my decision.
The basis of my final decision, based on safety, include:
1. The majority of the event drivers are newer or novice drivers who are looking to step up to faster courses, multiple laps, and passing conditions not experienced at an Autocross. It is fair to say that many of the participants are near the top of their comfort level of driving at QDE's. Some may be slightly above that level ... ie, a little "nervous."
Having an unkown car that is reported to have unbelievable sprint speed driven by an as-yet unkown driver to the PCASDR driving squad, in the mirrors of novice drivers is not a condition that I am comfortable with. I have to take into consideration the level of comfort of the
least capable driver on the course. An agressive driver in a very fast car in the mirrors of a novice driver travelling faster than they, the novice drivers, may have driven their car before sounds extremely risky, and may significantly lower the educational and enjoyment level of the Lower-Level driver. Also, under the confines of a parking lot where light stantions and concrete K-rail barriers are unprotected, rattled or frightened lower-level drivers with a very fast car and unknown driver on their tail could potentially be the perfect formula for a catastrophic, car destroying, possible-bodily-harm-inducing "mishap."
2. Except for the information provided by research and word-of-mouth information gathering, I have no direct knowledge of the capabilities of the X-car in question.
Most specifically, how good are the brakes, how reliable are the fluid lines, tanks, pumps, etc? Could there be a fluid leak on the track? How appropriate is the suspension for a parking lot event that will see possible triple digits with cars in front, behind, and at times along-side? I have no way of knowing how safe the vehicle is to both its occupants, and the cars it will share the track directly with. Because we in the Autocross Team haven't seen this vehicle at any of our events, the vehicle is an unknown vehicle.
3) The person in question has not, to our knowledge, participated in a PCASDR event before.
Qualification to participate in the QDE includes a minimum of 4 Autocrosses or equivelent. And, by the way, when we say equivelent, we're talking about equivelent PCASDR driving events. Part of the reason is self-evident: we want the participants to be familiar with the fundementals of performance car-driving. In addition, we want the drivers to be familiar with the way PCASDR events are run. How do we approach safety? How do we coordinate run groups and Student-Instructor pairing? How is communication delivered? What are the responsibilities of each individual at the events? These and many other issues are learned by participants who attend 4 events prior to the QDE's. It is important that the participants know the ins-and-outs of our events. This knowledge helps to make the events run smoothly, on time, and with little or no incedents. Knowledge by the participants improves safety.
To the best of my knowledge, the X-car driver is a PCASDR unkown.
4) The QDE's are a program intended, developed, designed, and implemented for the education and advancement of PCASDR drivers who have an interest in developing skills above that of Autocross driving, in a safe environment.
As such, first consideration is targeted at the developing driver. The Autocross team works diligently with the CDI's and Safety Team to ensure the maximum amount of learning is available to the Novice and improving drivers. This concept was universally endorsed by the CDI's, Time Trial, Autocross, and Safety Chairs, along with the Board of Directors.
Comments from CDI's and Safety Team members indicated that my decision to prohibit the X-car and unkown driver from participating at this particular event was sound, and that I had the best interest of safety and education for the developing drivers firmly in hand. As a proponent of safety, and as facilitator to the CDI's for driver education, I feel I've done the right thing.
As much as I'd like to see exotic cars sharing the track with Porsches, I want to maintain an atmosphere of Safety and Education at Qualcomm Driver's Education Events.
After review of all the data, my conclusion was: there are too many unknowns, and the appropriateness of an X-car at an educational event is suspect.
If, in the future, anyone wants to participate in PCASDR events they are welcome to become a member, learn about our programs through appropriate participation (4 autocrosses for QDE, 6 for TT), and have a vehicle best suited for our events. Obviously, a Porsche would be a very good start.
If you have issues and points of view about this, I'm all ears. Please feel free to contact me via email (
DWChambers@hotmail.com), phone: 619-889-9331, or talk to me this weekend. I'm open to all relevent points of view.
Thanks for your time.
See you at the Q!!