PDS INFORMATION
PRE-EVENT CHECKLIST
1. Discounted hotel rooms are available to any PDS student, friend or family member. Due to the pandemic, we have moved up the start times to allow you additional time to drive to the BIR PDS the day of your event. If you would prefer to arrive the night before, please take advantage of our hotel discounts. Whether you arrive the same day or stay overnight at a hotel, it is important that you are well rested for your event.
2. We would suggest not consuming alcohol at least 12 hours prior to the start of class. There is a ban on alcohol at the school until after your performance driving day is complete.
3. If driving your own vehicle, please remove any/all loose articles inside your vehicle and trunk prior to any event.
4. If driving your own vehicle, please insure your tires are inflated to the proper levels and your brakes are operating at peak efficiency.
5. For safety reason, convertibles are not allowed on the track unless they have a qualified ROP (roll-over protection) system or steel roll cage installed. We reserve the right to inspect any ROP system or roll cage prior to allowing the vehicle on the track.
6. We recommend that you wear thin soled flat shoes while driving. Helmets, driving suits and gloves are provided by the school. If wearing BIR PDS helmets, a full face balaclava is mandatory. A face mask is also mandatory during the entire event day. Your face mask can be made of cloth but must cover BOTH your nose and mouth.
7. Due to new COVID-19 regulations, food and beverage will not be made available at the track. Please bring your food items and beverages with you and keep them in a private and controlled area.
8. All BIR PDS event participants must have a valid drivers license and must be 16 years of age or older.
9. An outdoor classroom safety session the morning of every event is MANDATORY prior to driving on the track.
10. You can arrive and register the same day for this event starting at 8:30 a.m. If you have pre-registered online, please arrive no later than 9:15. Mandatory safety sessions begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.
11. All event dates are subject to change due to severely inclement weather or pandemic updates at the track and may be rescheduled. For the latest information, please contact us toll-free at: 1-866-511-7606.
PREPARING YOUR CAR
Tires: Everything that your car does – acceleration, braking and cornering is done through the tires. Because of this it is very important that your tires are in good condition. Your tires should not have any cord showing and because the events will run in almost any weather (rain or dry) they should have good tread on them.
Brakes: Your car should have adequate brake pads, good condition rotors and fresh brake fluid. Different tracks and driving styles will create different demands on the brakes so you may realize later that you can get a few events on a set of brake pads, but for your first time, they should not be worn down more than 50%. If you are not sure, it is recommended that you stop by your preferred shop and have them do an inspection.
Fluids: Your car will run at higher speeds generating more heat and stress so you want to make sure that your oil, power steering fluid, coolant and other fluids are all fresh and topped off.
Suspension: You will want to make sure that all of your suspension is in good working order. Ball joints should not be worn out and shocks and struts should not be leaking or “blown out.” Nothing should be loose or clunking. A great test is to pull and push on each wheel and see if anything moves or if you hear any clunks or bangs.
Engine: You do not need to add racing parts or to be concerned with horsepower, but you do want your engine in good condition with no fluid leaks. If you have gotten regular maintenance concerning tune-ups and replacing any needed seals and gaskets your engine should be ready to go. While you’re looking under the hood (or maybe in the trunk depending on your car) you will want to make sure that your battery is secure and cannot slide or flop about. Factory hold down are best – flexible or brittle items like bungee cords or zip-ties are not acceptable.
General Items: You should make sure your car is cleaned out – loose items under your seat or sliding around the trunk can be distracting and dangerous. Your driver’s side floor mat should come out. It is a great idea to bring a plastic bin or two to put your loose items in while your car is on track, especially if there is a chance of rain.
Important note: If you do not feel comfortable or have experience checking the items yourself, bring your car to a reputable auto shop to have a qualified mechanic inspect your car.