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Welcome to the 2023 Palm Springs Parade AutoX
(Held at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262)
New and experienced AutoX drivers alike will appreciate the fast flowing course layout that was designed to enhance two key AutoX-University driving skills, “Vision” and “Weight Transfer”. Your eyes will be drawn ahead with the help of neon-green cones that mark each apex and big neon-green corner arrows to turn your gaze through the 180 degree turns. Weight transfer skills will be sharpened on the integrated 200 foot diameter skid pad and the many wide open corners, with plenty of room to refine your throttle-steering and trail-braking and pick your own line that unlocks the speed. Adrenaline packed fun that’s easy on your car and makes you a better driver!
See Green at Palm Springs!
Many Parade firsts and refinements will help make this event better than ever:
* Site Map: HERE
* To-scale course map: HERE
* In-car video: HERE
* Birds eye video: HERE
AutoX Event Information and Rules:
* Registration will be limited to 110 cars per day. A wait list will be established.
* Car classes S1-S8 will run on Wednesday. All those drivers must arrive by 7:00am
* Car classes: S9, P1-P7, all Improved, all Modified, will run on Thursday. All those drivers must arrive by 7:00am
* Arrive between 6:00-7:00am for extra time to walk the course in the cool morning. It takes about 15 minutes to walk a lap so no walks will be allowed to start after 7:00am.
* All participants must attend the 7:15am Driver’s Meeting the day they run. Roll-call will be taken to comply with PCA Insurance requirements. The meeting will end by 7:45am, first car will launch promptly at 8:00am. Last runs of the day should finish by about 12:30pm, and Impound for each car class should end 12:30-1:00pm.
* You must run with your car class group. To keep it fair, there will be no exceptions made for those who have personal conflicts or conflicts with other Parade activities. Open and women’s classes run together. Dual-driver cars must alternate drivers every run.
* Each driver must also work the AutoX that day. The “Relax/Drive/Work” rotation sequence means that you never have to drive right after you work. Each session will be about 90 minutes and your work session counts for the Parade Worker’s Party. Sign up for your preferred AutoX work assignment at Parade Phase 2 Registration. Actual assignments will consider: when you signed up, prior experience, accommodation of physical abilities.
* Only fully muffled cars in compliance with local ordinances will be allowed to run.
* Impound will start after each “Group” completes both their Drive and Work sessions and returns to their parking space with trunks/lids opened. It ends after each driver in a class signs the protest waiver or after 30 minutes.
* The AutoX site is located in the East parking lot of the Palm Springs Convention Center (PSCC), about 45 minutes North of La Quinta and 2.2 miles West of the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Please see driving direction suggestions and check for traffic updates on your navigation system or phone app to arrive on time.
* N. Avenida Caballeros will be closed for our use (Tuesday-Thursday). Access is only from the E Tahquitz Canyon Way side (not the E Amado Rd side). Show your Parade Badge to the PCA worker at the “Road-Closed” barricade to check-in and gain access to the site (see overall site map).
* Trailer Parking on-site must be reserved. Email the Parade AutoX Chair (Paul Kudra, AutoX@pca.org ) for a spot on a first-come and size-required basis.
* Competitors must park in their assigned number parking space. Workers will help guide you to it. Upon arrival everyone must prepare their car for Tech Inspection (unload loose items from your car, open the hood and trunk, and place your Snell 2010 or later approved helmet on the seat for Snell sticker inspection). It is recommended that you bring your own plastic bin or bag to store your loose items at your parking space. After presenting your car as “Tech ready” you may walk the course if it’s before 7:00am, or go to the Driver’s Meeting in the PSCC. Roving Tech will inspect your car in run order.
Autocross Schedule Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Group "Car Classses"
Run Sequence
Group 1: S1, S2
Group 2: S3, S4, S5
Relax / Drive / Work
Work / Relax / Drive
* Class split between Groups may be adjusted based on actual registrations but all these classes will remain on Wednesday. Thursday, June 22, 2023
Group 1: S9, P1, P2, P3
Group 2: P4, P5, P6
* Class split between Groups may be adjusted based on actual registrations but all these classes will remain on Thursday.
Friday June 23, 2023 Michelin AutoX Awards will be presented at the Michelin AutoX Banquet (6:30pm in Flores Ballroom, at La Quinta)
Other Parking, Trailer Parking, and General Information: Parking for PCA members not driving in the AutoX that day: Show your Parade Badge to the Worker at the Road Closed barricade (see overall site map). If primary space is full there is plenty of additional parking that is accessed from N Calle El Segundo (on the West side of the PSCC). Parking in neighboring business lots or in the Renaissance Hotel lot is subject to towing.
Trailer parking is limited and must be reserved in advance with the AutoX Chair. It will be prioritized for Modified class non-street legal race cars (which must be muffled). Overflow trailer parking will be on the West side of the PSCC.
Restrooms are located inside the PSCC doors, across the small “PCA lawn” at the AutoX site. Additional porta-potties will be available near the course for Workers. PCA members may use the adjoining PSCC air-conditioned meeting room and restrooms to keep cool.
Check-In & Safety Tech. Inspection You must complete Parade Check-In no later than Tuesday by 1:00pm and have signed the waiver to receive your Parade Entrant car numbers, which must be displayed on your car as instructed. “Walk-Up” drivers that have not completed Parade Check-in will not be allowed to run. You MUST pre-arrange any exceptions with the Parade Registrar and the Parade AutoX Chair. Final run schedules, work assignments, and reserved parking by class depend on your attendance and timely check-in so please do your part.
Safety Tech inspection will be performed in your reserved parking space the morning of the day you run. Your car must be parked “ready to run” with hood and trunk lids open, and with your Snell 2010 or later rated helmet on the front seat for inspection, and your Parade car numbers properly mounted, in order to pass. As a reminder, the safety of your car is the sole responsibility of each competitor and they must present a vehicle that is safe to operate in a competition event, and is in sound mechanical condition. Safety inspection by PCA volunteers does not relieve a competitor of their responsibility for the safety of the vehicle they entered.
Car Class Changes Changes to your car classification should be done as soon as possible before the Parade but no later than 1:00pm Tuesday of Parade. Only the AutoX Protest Committee can approve class change requests after that time. Entrants are encouraged to bring classification issues to the attention of the AutoX Chair, or a PCR committee member, for proactive correction, and class changes before the event, rather than impose penalties and delays to Impound release for the whole class after the fact. Also, see section G-8 in the PCRs. Note that even if you receive PCR Committee or AutoX Chair guidance advice, classification is still your responsibility.
Chalk Talk and Course Walk There will be three Michelin AutoX “Virtual Chalk Talks” held via Zoom in May and June. These will help newer AutoX drivers and experienced drivers alike prepare to do their best driving at the AutoX. They will also convey real life feedback and driving tips from the Parade AutoX Chair that designed and test drove the course (since he is not competing in the event). The talks will help simplify the course into easy to remember sections and help you stay on-course, and drive your best. Great AutoX-University driving tips will help refine driving skills of even advanced AutoX and Track Drivers.
An abbreviated “Michelin Chalk Talk Live” session is being scheduled for Tuesday from 4:00-5:00pm at the La Quinta resort (not at the PSCC) to go over assignments and schedules, and to answer any remaining questions.
Tuesday starting at 9:00am, the course will be open for course walks. Everyone is strongly encouraged to walk it several times at that opportunity to beat the heat, but you may do so any time on Tuesday. AutoX Instructors will lead guided course walks from 9:00-10:00am on Tuesday. For those that need assistance, a walking speed course ride (in a golf cart or equivalent ride) will be available.
Wednesday and Thursday mornings, the course will be briefly opened for course walks from 6:00am to 7:00am after you check-in and prepare your car for Tech Inspection. Walks will not be allowed to start after 7:00am, and you must finish any walk and be seated inside the PSCC room by 7:15am sharp for the mandatory Driver’s Meeting.
Questions? Feel free to contact the PCA Parade AutoX Chair, Paul Kudra, via email at AutoX@pca.org.
Autocross Chair
Paul Kudra
AutoX@pca.org