AZPCA Autocross Event No.1

CONTRIBUTED BY KENNETH MITCHELL PHOTOS BY KIM KEMPER

The 2022-2023 Autocross Season was scheduled to get underway on Saturday, October 15, 2022, but unfortunately, there was no chance that the weather would have cooperated and be AZPCA Region perfect or even near perfect. With the possibility of local street flooding in the area and a half-inch to an inch of rain, including severe lightning storms, in the forecast, the Autocross CoChairs felt it was best to cancel the event in the interest of safety. The weather would have presented unsafe conditions for both the course workers and the drivers, and the logistics for operating the event would have been very difficult. The chalk lines around each cone would have been erased which would have made it very difficult in properly replacing the cones back in the cone box. It would also be difficult for the drivers to see the course boundaries and no doubt there would have been a gazillion Did Not Finish (DNF)/Off-Course Excursions.

The weather conditions would have made the event very miserable and substantially reduced the fun-factor out of the event. There would not have been any chance for camaraderie amongst the members to discuss the “What ifs” and “Should haves”

because everyone would be hunkering down in their cars to escape from the rain. Workers would be standing in the rain and electronic equipment exposed to risk of failure or malfunction with the rain. The Autocross Chairs made the right decision to cancel the event and they will be exploring a possible replacement date for this season. Please continue checking the AZPCA Region calendar on the website and any information published in this newsletter.

The course, designed by the newly created AZPCA Region Autocross Course Design Team of the Autocross Co-Chair, Kim K. and AZPCA Region member William P., would have been a fantastic course to drive. The course with a series of slaloms and sweeping turn elements that would have required the drivers to concentrate on the placement of the inside rear tire at the slalom cone and maintain their speed. Hopefully, the Autocross Co-Chairs will plan to use this course design in the near future.

The Region was going to welcome one transferred-in PCA member, and a member who recently purchased a 2022 Porsche Cayman 718. Eric K. transferred-in from the Northeast Region and Eric has been a PCA member since 1995. Eric has been participating in both autocross and driving education events with his 2009 Porsche Cayman S. Eric’s main focus will be autocrossing and teaching his son, who is a Junior in High School, the driving techniques of autocrossing.

This event would have been the maiden voyage for Dave Y’s new 2022 Porsche Cayman at a PCA Autocross. Dave has been an AZPCA Region member for about a year and has autocrossed with the Region in the past in a German Group “X” car.

You will be able to read about Dave and Eric when they are featured in the “Meet A Member” section of the Region’s Going Places Newsletter in the near future.

Last year, the average number of Group “P” drivers was 18 for each event. The event with the greatest number of Group “P” drivers was the month of September with 26 drivers. This event was going to be just above average, and it is predicted that this number will increase as more and more members elect to join in on the fun and the Porsche car becomes more popular with the sports car aficionados.