Club Racing - Groups and Colors ?

ErVikingo · 05-21-2008, 09:49 AM

OK Guys, Could you explain to me what is the differences between groups and colors on PCA?

With the new rules, I'm contemplating doing some races with PCA and looking at the results page I see (for example) Sebring's results are by color and Road Atlanta by group.

I will be GT6S or perhaps GT5S which color or group will I be then?

Cheers, Juan

RaceProEngineer · 08:40 PM

Juan,

Just like with SCCA, many of the PCA sanctioning regions use "Race Groups" as a way of leveling the number of cars on the track at any given time. Rather than a fixed grouping, it is more ad hoc, depending upon how many entries there are in each Class.

For example, at any given PCA race, the entries in the Super (purpose-built) classes are usually few, so they might be combined with GT1S & GT1R to create a Race Group, since they have somewhat similar speed potentials. Likewise, GT5s, because there many not be many at a given race, will frequently be combined with (the old) E-Stock or G-Stock classes, whichever Stock class had the lower number of entries, and assigned a Race Group name = Group 3 (or whatever).

I suspect the Color coding is just another way of accomplishing the same thing.

Ed LoPresti

Brant · 05-21-2008, 08:37 PM

agreed, no way to tell which run group or which color group you would be in until you get to the event.

small races only run 2 groups.
from year to year you could be in either group
they move things around to balance out the number of cars on track at one time

usually most tracks have a limit of how many cars per a mile of length are safe
if one group gets a heavier registration than the other, then they may bump a class into the other.

example...... the fast group is overloaded, so they bump gt6 into the slower production run group.

ErVikingo · 05-22-2008, 05:13 AM

Thanks guys. I'm used to HSR's structure which is very clear (groups and then classes for the enduros and sprints - since more than one group is included).

still2slow · 05-24-2008, 05:16 AM

Juan,

Is PCA as competitive as HSR?
Why not throw slicks on and run with SCCA? I would think top level vintage cars would kick booty there.

ErVikingo · 05-24-2008, 04:31 PM

Frank,

That sounds interesting but what I've seen at SCCA events is not the kind of potential abuse I want to put my car through. The thought of the slicks and kicking booty does sound good

I don't know how it will be with PCA though. Any experience ?

I wish I could go to The Glen...

still2slow · 05-25-2008, 09:12 AM

No experience with PCA.
Also I have to recant my statement about "kicking booty" in SCCA. Knowing how competitive SCCA is one could only hope to surprise quite a few people with just how far vintage 911/ 914 cars have evolved. While I can't blame you for not wanting to get your pretty car damaged, is SCCA that much of a bash fest?

RaceProEngineer · 11:55 AM

Juan,

If you leave tonight, and tow straight through, you MIGHT get some sleep before practice and qualifying for this weekend's PCA race. I just came from the track where the Niagara Region is sponsoring a "DE", with an exceptionally high number of PCA racers who might be practicing just a little. The Metro New York Region (John C. are you coming this year?) arrives tonight for a similar "DE" covering tomorrow and Thursday. On Thursday afternoon and evening, the rest of the gang gets here.

------------------------------------

There is a distinctly different "mind set" between the PCA club racer and SCCA club racer; and equally different from HVRA. I am certain to catch a bunch of flack from both (all) camps on this, but here goes anyway -

The Porsche club racers, as a group, place great value in their hardware (and rightly so!) The infamous 13/13 Rule bears witness to how much "offs" and any metal-to-metal is discouraged, and penalized. The cars are chrisp and shiny, wheels polished. As a result, the Porsche drivers are a little more reluctant to explore the true limits of car and driver.

The SCCA racer, in general, places great value on competitiveness, and being able to run at 100%. His time will be spent prepping the car for every last ounce of grip and horespower. And when one is running at 100++%, even slight mistakes are frequently not recoverable.

The number of times when amateur racers (Porsche of SCCA or ???) actually (intentionally) run into each other is very, very rare indeed.

Ed