What is the biggest mistake that drivers make before attending an NNJR DE event?

They skip the Track Pack! 

The Track Pack isn’t just a suggestion—it’s essential. It is your complete guide to NNJR DE events, outlining the crucial rules and procedures that govern everything we do. We expect every driver to master this information. Yet, far too many arrive unprepared.

The Track Pack comes in two sections:

• Track-Specific Details: Your event playbook—schedule, driver roster, officials, gate hours, parking logistics, and more.
• Season-Long Procedures: The core rules that apply to every NNJR DE event throughout the season.

While reviewing the event-specific Track Pack seems like a no-brainer, the season-long section is arguably even more critical. It arms you with the knowledge you absolutely must have:

• Tech Inspections: Ensure your car is track-ready and safe. This section tells you how.
• Event Operating Procedures: Understand how the event flows and what’s expected of you.
• Event Safety Rules: Learn the critical safety protocols that protect everyone on track.
• Aggressive Driving: Know the boundaries and maintain a safe and courteous driving environment.
• Flags: Master the language of the track—understand what each flag means and how to respond.

Don’t be the driver who shows up unprepared! Take charge of your track experience. Know the Track Pack!

 

Run group assignments are crucial for safety and enjoyment, and the registrar takes this responsibility very seriously. Drivers are placed based on experience to minimize speed and experience differentials.

For student (instructed) groups, past instructor evaluations in DrivingEvals are key. For other groups, the registrar considers the driver’s event history, check ride/instructor ride feedback, and input from home region Chief Instructors (for PCA members from other regions). For large, multi-region events, balancing diverse experience levels requires careful judgment based on years of experience in making run group assignments.

Run group placement isn’t static. For example, a driver could be in White at one event, Black at the next event, then back in White (the same between Black and Red) because the registrar has to balance numbers between run groups. Also note that NNJR run groups tend to be faster than some PCA regions; as a result, a driver could be in Red in their home region and Black at an NNJR event. 

In all groups, the registrar tries to avoid large speed differentials. That said, not all differentials can be avoided, so drivers should always expect that there will be faster drivers, and slower drivers, in their run group.

During each event, the Chief Instructors look for large speed disparities and make adjustments as the event moves along, typically after the first two or three sessions.

How do drivers “move up” from one run group to the next?

NNJR has clear, written expectations that a driver in each run group must meet. You can read them here. 

Drivers in student groups move up primarily based on feedback from their instructors, as documented in DrivingEvals. 

Drivers in other groups move up based on their experience, demonstrated ability to meet the expectations for the next group and based on observations/feedback from NNJR Chief instructors.

It is important to note that any driver can request an evaluation ride by contacting the Chief Instructor during an event. Moving from White to Black or Black to Red typically requires at least two evaluations. That said, an evaluation does not automatically mean a move up. All drivers in White, Black and Red are encouraged to have an instructor ride with them to provide suggestions and feedback, at least once per event. At some events, an instructor will be assigned to each driver in White and/or Black for one session.

 

NNJR DE events are priced to provide high value track time. NNJR is a not-for-profit organization and we run the DE program to break even, with some events at a deficit and some a small surplus. Our prices are highly competitive with other PCA events (often lower) and significantly lower than commercial HPDE events. 

The three tiers of prices (student, driver, instructor) provide incentive for instructors while keeping driver and student prices as low as possible. 

The primary driver for recent price increases is the soaring cost of track rentals. Tracks are experiencing unprecedented demand, allowing them to dramatically raise their rates. It’s also important to note that NNJR events include one and often two ALS ambulances (many other DE events have only a BLS ambulance), an extra tow truck and/or rollback and other “behind the scenes” support.

Why does registration close two weeks before each event? Can I sign up later?
We urge all drivers to register for events early. The two-week registration cutoff isn’t arbitrary—it’s essential for creating the best possible track experience. This deadline allows our registrar to craft student-instructor pairings and finalize run group assignments and to clear any wait lists.

Unfortunately, too many drivers wait until the last minute to sign up or cancel. This makes extra work for the registrar and means that student-instructor assignments are issued only a few days before each event. 

That said, our registrar goes above and beyond to accommodate late entries, especially from NNJR and other PCA regions. We understand that unforeseen circumstances like family or health emergencies can necessitate last-minute cancellations.

While we always try to help, registering early guarantees your spot and helps us create a top-tier track experience.

National PCA insurance rules require a signature for each event when registering and again at the track. 

Note: each track has its own waiver at the front gate; that is not the PCA waiver. In other words, you should always expect to sign two waivers at each event.

It is obvious that driving on the track at high speeds places many stresses on the car. Pre-event tech’s are designed to assure that your car is safe, both for you and for other drivers. 

One Tech is not acceptable for multiple events because the condition of the car can obviously be very different after two or three days on track and all drivers expect that every car on track is as safe as possible.

Yes! If you have limited track experience, you will be fine in the student groups. In Intermediate and Advanced groups, some drivers of older cars don’t feel comfortable with the pace of the newer cars. For that reason, NNJR is exploring a Classic Porsche run group and/or event. 

All drivers and their guests are invited to every social hour and dinner at our events. In fact, we encourage you to bring your family and friends. Many drivers find that social hours are a big part of the DE experience. There is no extra cost. 

FOR INSTRUCTORS
When can I expect to get my student assignment?

Student instructor assignments are typically emailed one to two days before “travel day”, i.e. two or three days before the event starts.

NNJR never assigns more than one student unless the instructor has specifically agreed to take two students (we occasionally do ask for volunteers to take 2 students at events with many students; volunteers get a credit toward a future event). However, we do often assign a White driver in addition to a student. In this case, the request is to ride with the White driver once during the event, ideally the first day, for some or all of one session.

Important note: the email with your student assignment also shows all of the other instructor student pairings in Green, Yellow and Blue run groups, with car numbers. Therefore, if you wish to find out who is instructing in car XX that you saw on track, you have the information to do so. 

Assignments are not sent sooner because inevitably there are late additions and cancellations for both students and instructors. If they were sent earlier, the result would be a large number of last minute corrections which cause a great deal of extra work during the instructor meeting and, worse, many students confused about who their instructor is.

 

FOR INSTRUCTORS
I am an instructor with another PCA region, and have my national PCA number. Can I automatically instruct at my first NNJR event?

No, not automatically. NNJR follows a protocol similar to many other regions and requests input from your home region Chief Instructor. In the vast majority of cases, the reference is positive and you will be assigned a student. 

Also note that you will probably be placed in the Black run group at your first event; NNJR has many instructors driving in Black. Our Black run group is “fast” and Red is “faster.”