Club Rules

Checkered flag indicating that the session has finished.
Checkered flag indicating that the session has finished

General

PURPOSE
These rules (Rules) set out the requirements to be observed by all members participating in, and guests of members attending, High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) events operated by Performance Drivers Club (PDC).
OBJECTIVE
To facilitate HPDE, with an objective of the member developing the skills required to drive at the best of his or her ability.
COMPLIANCE
Every member participating at an event is deemed to have read and understood the Rules and agreed to abide by them.
CONDUCT
If, at any time during an event, the Track Marshal and the Chief Driving Instructor determine that a participant is demonstrating unsafe conduct, the participant will be removed from the event and will not be entitled to any refund.
WAIVER
All members participating in, and guests attending at, events are required to sign all Insurance liability waivers required by PDC, the motorsports facility at which the event is being held, and their respective insurers.

Permitted Vehicles

All vehicles must be equipped with two front seats and equal safety restraints. Aftermarket safety restraints must be installed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

Acceptable Vehicles
Street legal sedans, coupes, targas, sport wagons and convertibles (with fixed roll bars or factory equipped pop-up roll bars) are permitted to participate.
Prohibited Vehicles
Purpose built race cars, motorbikes, trucks, vans, buses, sport utility and similar vehicles are not permitted. Vehicles exceeding 1.5 metres in height are not permitted.
NO VEHICLE INSURANCE
Neither the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) nor PDC provide any insurance coverage of vehicles participating at events. PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING AND OBTAINING THEIR OWN VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE, IF ANY.

Vehicle Safety & Tech Inspection

Members participating in their first PDC hosted event of each season must prove their vehicle complies with PDC’s safety requirements by producing a completed, stamped and unconditionally approved Vehicle Inspection Form (112KB PDF) confirming inspection by any government registered workshop or dealer. Vehicles less than six months old and with less than 5,000 kilometres are exempt from vehicle inspection.

Completed inspection forms must be presented on arrival at the track. Inspection is valid up until the end of each season.

In all cases, members are responsible for the condition and safety of their vehicle. Members will be liable for clean-up, damage and other costs incurred from accidents and fluid leaks on the track.

An on-track Tech Inspection will also be conducted on the morning of each event. Failure to meet the requirements will result in exclusion from the event. See ‘Local Events – 1. Tech Inspection’ below for details.

Driver Eligibility

  1. Participant must be a current member of PDC.
  2. Participant must possess a valid driver’s license. A British Columbia L (Learner) or N (Novice) licence is not sufficient to participate unless the Chief Driving Instructor has pre-approved the driver's participation.
  3. Participant must have paid the event fees and their vehicle passed the annual and event tech inspection.
  4. First time participants without prior formal HPDE must have attended PDC’s mandatory “Ground School & Program Briefing" before participating in their first PDC event.
  5. Participants must attend mandatory Drivers Meeting on the morning of the event.
  6. A member must successfully complete one PDC event as a ‘First Timer’ before being eligible to participate in away events (held in the United States).
  7. Participants 70 years of age and over must pass a medical examination by a physician and provide a Medical Examination Form (available from PDC) completed and signed by the physician.

Event Payments & Refunds

Local Events (Mission Raceway Park)

  1. Entry Fees must be paid through the PDC website.
  2. Entry Fee for each event will be posted on the Club’s website and is subject to change without notice.
  3. Five dollars will be deducted from each participant's Event Entry Fee and donated to a charity organization nominated by PDC.
  4. Entry Fee (less a $25 administration fee) will be refunded when PDC is given seven or more days notice from scheduled date for the event.
  5. No Entry Fee will be refunded or credited if less than seven days notice from the scheduled date for the event is given to PDC.
  6. Event Fee will be refunded in full if PDC is unable to accommodate a participant’s application for registration.

Away Events

  1. Payment and refund policies are in accordance with the rules of the associated club hosting the event.

Driver Grading System

Explanation of Grading System

  1. The grading system is intended to prevent or reduce the risk of an incident occurring at an event which may result in damage to vehicles or injury of participants.
  2. It is the intention of the system to group drivers of similar capabilities so they may obtain the maximum benefit of training without undue interference from faster or slower drivers.
  3. The grading system seeks to allow each driver to progress safely and competently to the next skill level through demonstration of his or her ability in advanced driving techniques. PDC’s Checklist for Run Group Assessment & Advancement Form is used to assess drivers.
  4. The grading system also allows for regression of drivers to lower skill groups if determined appropriate by the Chief Driving Instructor.
  5. Re-qualification of a driver at his or her current level may be required upon a switch to a manual transmission vehicle from an automatic, semi-automatic or sequential shift transmission equipped vehicle.

NOTE: Training in advanced driving techniques is provided by Qualified Instructors. The grading system is NOT INTENDED to make participants a race driver. Any racing of another vehicle will result in expulsion from the event.

General Categories / Identification

  1. Driving / Run Groups are identified by colour
    • First Timer - White  
    • Novice - Red  
    • Intermediate - Yellow
    • Advanced - Green
    • Instructor - Blue
  2. A coloured sticker corresponding to the driver's group must be displayed at the top centre of the windshield.
  3. The allocated car ID number must be clearly displayed (at least 15 cm (or six inches) high) on the car's front windshield top passenger side corner.

Group Placement

  1. Drivers who have not previously attended any PDC event shall be classified as "First Timers" unless otherwise directed by the Chief Driving Instructor. All First Timers and first time participants at a PDC event must attend a mandatory Ground School & Program Briefing before the scheduled event.
  2. Drivers with previous formal advanced driver training or HPDE may submit particulars at time of registration to be notified of the appropriate Run Group in which to register.

Driver Checklist for Run Group Assessment & Advancement

  1. White Group Assessment:
    • Driving position and mirrors adjusted for optimal vision
    • Demonstrate smooth “hand and eye” coordination
    • Understand instruction – shift, brake, turn-in, apex, exit
    • Drive within two feet of correct line
    • Use of vision – Track awareness
    • Identify and acknowledge flags and flag marshals
    • Overtake slower cars safely at approved let-by (overtaking) zones
    • Observe let-by rules and allow faster cars by safely
    • Use correct hand signals for overtaking vehicles and pit entry
  2. Red Group Assessment and Criteria for Red to Yellow Group Advancement
    • Demonstrate smooth operation of controls
    • Apply and release heavy braking smoothly
    • Execute correct heel-and-toe downshifting technique
    • Apply power smoothly and at correct time
    • Change direction smoothly with correct hand position
    • Drive within one foot of correct line consistently
    • Consistent turn-in, apex and exit
    • Level of vision and track awareness
    • Up-shift at 5,000 rpm consistently during test/upgrade session
    • Demonstrate mature approach to track driving and respect for other drivers, whether faster or slower

Drivers must achieve an overall EXCELLENT rating on this criteria from two Instructors to be upgraded.

  1. Yellow and Green Group Assessment and Criteria for Yellow to Green Group Advancement
    • Demonstrate consistent threshold braking capabilities
    • Demonstrate consistent and precise heel-and-toe downshifting
    • Demonstrate consistent trail braking techniques
    • Drive consistently on approved line
    • Demonstrate accurate turn-in, apex and exit of each corner
    • Able to react and correct Understeer and Oversteer
    • Level of consistency during session
    • Up-shift at 6,000 rpm consistently during test/upgrade session
    • Demonstrate mature approach to track driving and respect for other drivers, whether faster or slower

Drivers must achieve an overall EXCELLENT rating on this criteria from two Instructors to be upgraded.

  1. Blue Group Driver - INSTRUCTOR. Only drivers in the Green Group may qualify as candidates to be trained as Driving Instructors. Please contact the Chief Driving Instructor for details.

Note: ONLY Instructors are permitted to take students or passengers in a vehicle on the race track

Driver Safety Equipment

Requirements for all run groups

  1. Helmets - An automotive Snell SA 2000 or better rating is required. Motorcycle helmets are not permitted.
  2. Seat Belts

Requirements for first timer, red group & yellow group

  1. Clothing - Full length cotton pants and long sleeve shirts. No shorts. Natural fibre clothing, such as cotton and wool are recommended – avoid synthetic fabrics. Drivers with driving suits are encouraged to wear them.
  2. Footwear - Full shoes are required. Open toe shoes, sandals and high heeled shoes are prohibited.
  3. Balaclava and Gloves - Balaclava and driving gloves are required for Yellow Group Drivers. First Timer and Red Group Drivers are encouraged to use them but it is not mandatory.

Requirements for green group & blue group

  1. Clothing - FIA / SFI (3.2A/5) certified driving suit rated a minimum of nine seconds of fire protection.
  2. Footwear - FIA / SFI approved driving boots.
  3. Gloves - FIA / SFI certified driving gloves
  4. Balaclava - Minimum single layer Nomex.

Local Events

Tech Inspection

    On-track tech Inspection will be conducted at all PDC hosted events. Failure to pass the inspection will result in exclusion from the event.

  1. Brakes - minimum 50% brake lining on pads.
  2. Brake Fluid - must be clean and full.
  3. Tires - DOT approved, 3/32" min tread depth, not below wear bar, no cuts or cracks and no repairs to sidewalls.
  4. Wheel nuts - properly torque according to manufacturer's specs.
  5. Fuel cap must be securely fastened and leak free.
  6. Hood and deck lids must be securely fastened.
  7. Headlights and Brake Lights operating properly.
  8. Windshield - no cracks longer than four inches.
  9. Safety Belts - in good operating condition.
  10. Batteries - securely fastened with no visible leaks or corrosion.
  11. Throttle - smooth uninterrupted release.
  12. Helmet - Snell (automotive) rating according to current regulations.
  13. Driver Safety Gear - in accordance with Run Group requirement.
  14. All loose items (inside passenger, luggage, glove and engine compartments) must be removed from the car.
  15. Car ID number decals - displayed clearly.
  16. Exhaust - must not exced 90dB at 60 feet as measured by Track Manager.

Track entry and exit

  1. The track shall be entered at the end (exit) of the hot pits only.
  2. Exiting the track to the hot pits or paddock (at the end of the hot pits) is on the right at the end of Turn 9. Drivers exiting the track must extend his or her arm vertically out of the window before Turn 9.
  3. Entry speed to the hot pits or paddock is maximum 10 km/hr.

Driving / Let-by (Overtaking)

  1. THERE SHALL BE NO WHEEL-TO-WHEEL RACING.
  2. Doors must remain unlocked when on the track. Windows must be fully down unless it is raining.
  3. A driver can ONLY overtake another car when signal (point) is given from the driver in front.
  4. A participant will sit out the balance of an event if he or she spins their car twice whilst driving.

Let-by (Overtaking) Zones

ZONE A – Between Turn 9 and Turn 1 
ZONE B – Between Turn 2 and Turn 3 
ZONE C – Between Turn 3 and Turn 4
ZONE D – Between Turn 6 and Turn 7

  1. WHITE and RED GROUP - Zones A and B
  2. YELLOW GROUP - Zones A, B and D
  3. GREEN GROUP - Zones A, B, C and D

Let-by (Overtaking) Instructions

  1. OVERTAKING IS PERMITTED ONLY IN THE DESIGNATED ZONES ACCORDING TO THE RUN GROUP.
  2. OVERTAKING IS ON THE LEFT ONLY !  
  3. OVERTAKING IS PERMITTED ONE CAR AT A TIME ONLY
  4. ALL OVERTAKING MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE “GATE” SET FOR EACH ZONE.  
  5. A COMPLETED OVERTAKING MEANS THE OVERTAKING VEHICLE MUST HAVE ITS BUMPER IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN.
  6. EASE OFF SPEED ONCE YOU SIGNAL (POINT) THE VEHICLE BEHIND TO OVERTAKE YOU AND ENSURE YOU PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR THE OVERTAKING TO BE COMPLETED SAFELY.
  7. THERE SHALL BE NO OVERTAKING IN ANY CORNER.

Flags

  1. Knowledge of flags is mandatory. The following describes the meaning of flags used by PDC at Mission Raceway Park.
    Green
    Track is clear.
    Yellow
    Caution, slow down, no passing.
    Blue with diagonal yellow stripe
    Check mirrors. Be aware that faster traffic is approaching or behind you. Point driver behind to pass in appropriate let-by zone.
    Furled Black
    Rules infraction. Continue driving and don't do it again.
    Unfurled Black
    Rules infraction or mechanical problem. Complete lap (drive off-line) at reduced speed, return to hot pits
    and report to Chief Instructor and Track Marshal.
    Red
    A serious incident has occurred on the track. Slow down immediately and park your car safely by the track side. Await instructions.
    Checkered
    Session finished. Complete cool down lap(s) as indicated and return to paddock.
  2. A driver failing to acknowledge the Blue Flag for two laps will be shown the Black Flag at Start/Finish. Failure to acknowledge the Black Flag (unfurled) will result in the session being terminated.

Corner Stations

Turn station workers are located at the Start/Finish, Turn 1, Turn 3, Turn 6 and Turn 7

Track clean-up & damages

The cost of track clean-up for fluid leaks and repairs for accidents may be charged to the participant(s) responsible.

Away Events

Members will participate in accordance with the rules practised by the associated Club conducting the event.

Performance Drives Club (PDC) Rules are subject to change without notice.

Members are required to update themselves with the latest version (published on the PDC website) prior to participation in PDC events.

Motorsports are risky and participants can suffer personal injury or death. The Rules set forth herein are designed to provide for the orderly conduct of driver education events and to further participant safety. No express or implied warranty of safety or fitness for a particular purpose shall result from publication of, or compliance with these Rules. They are intended as a guide for the conduct of events and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to participants, spectators, or others.

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