Sep 21 RMR PCA Time Trials

RMR PCA Time Trials – Sunday September 21, 2025

RMR PCA will hold Time Trial laps instead of the last (4^th) HPDE track sessions on Sunday of the combined Club Race and Advanced DE event at High Plains Raceway on September 21, 2025. Only drivers who have been cleared to drive solo by the RMR CDIs are allowed to participate in the Time Trials.

What are Time Trials

Time Trials bring a competitive aspect to the HPDE program. After all the regular/untimed sessions of a HPDE are finished, there is a final session that is timed for the purpose of official scoring. During this Time Trial portion of the event, cars are sent out one at a time on to the track to have two timed laps. These laps are run continuously and there shall be no passing. Cars will be released with enough spacing to avoid catching one another. This means that only 3 cars can be on the track at a time during timed runs. Cars will be gridded in order by the driver’s predicted lap time, sending the fastest cars first.

The purpose of Time Trials is to give the Entrants a clear track with no distractions, to get an impartial lap time, and potentially have rankings among the drivers. As always, safety is the primary concern during PCA track events. All standards that apply to a Driver Education will apply to the Time Trial portion of the event except as noted in this document. NOTE THAT THE PCA LIABILITY INSURANCE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS WHEEL-TO-WHEEL COMPETITION IN THIS CONTEXT.

Time Trials Procedure

Drivers interested in participating in the Time Trials must sign-up on the entry sheet prior the end of the lunch break on Sunday, providing their name, car number and expected lap time.
Laps will be timed to the nearest 0.001 second using a timing light beam across the track at the start/finish line, like autocross timing is done. No transponders or other equipment will be attached to the car.
Each Time Trial driver will be assigned a grid number indicating the order in which they will run their laps. When called to grid, drivers will place their car to the right of the orange cone with their assigned grid number written on it.
Time Trial drivers will be signaled to enter the track by the grid marshals in groups of 3, with a 30 second time gap between cars.
Drivers will complete 4 laps of the track (2 partial laps + 2 complete laps), passing the start/finish line 3 times.
- A warm-up lap begins immediately upon entering the track. It should be run at a brisk pace so as to not significantly change the gaps to the other cars on track.
- Timed lap #1 begins on the first pass of the start/finish line. [Green flag]
- Timed lap #2 begins on the second pass of the start/finish line. [Green flag]
- A cool-down lap begins on the third pass of the start/finish line. [Checker flag]
- Once again drivers should proceed at a brisk pace to and through the corkscrew (T1-15) and exit the track at the first opportunity.

6. Once all cars in the group have exited the track, the grid marshals will launch the next group of drivers.

Time Trials Rules

All drivers must attend the Time Trials drivers meeting that will be held during lunch on Sunday at 12:20PM in the pavilion or as otherwise announced over the PA.
Cars must not pass another car on track unless that car is clearly disabled and the overtaken driver has signaled for the overtaking car to go around.
Drivers will be granted a rerun of their Time Trial session only if their timed laps have been impeded by another car or a catch-up situation has occurred.
Drivers who spin (more than 90 degrees) or who leave the track surface (2 or more wheels off) on anyof their 4 laps will be disqualified and their times will not count.
If your car becomes disabled during any of your 4 laps, indicate this to the other drivers by raising a fist out of the window (as is done when exiting the track) and pull off the track in a safe location. Reruns will not be granted to drivers of disabled cars.
Runners (drivers who continue to circle the track after their designated cool down lap) will be disqualified and their times will not count.
Drivers must not use any form of lap timing during their timed laps to attempt to match a target time.

Time Trial Awards

After all Time Trial laps have completed and the track is cold, awards will be presented in the pavilion during Beer :30. Award categories include:

Fastest – Driver with the fastest single lap time
Most Consistent – Driver with the smallest percentage difference in their 2 lap times
Most Accurate – Driver with the smallest percentage difference between the average of their 2 lap times and their predicted lap time on the sign-up list

Doug Bartlett

Chief Driving Instructor