What is PDX? A Whole Bunch Of Fun.
PDX is Professional Driving Xperience. The event is broken into two sessions, each usually lasting about 20 minutes. You have a professional SCCA driver riding shotgun with you. As you drive the track, he (or she) instructs you on braking, acceleration, track line and handling. Though you are out there with a big mix of all makes and models of vehicles, it isn't a race. You can only pass in designated portions of the track and with the consent of the driver you're overtaking. There are no pace cars and you're supposed to be restricted to 95 MPH, but I exceeded that without any problems from the track officials or my instructor. At the end of the first session, you come into the pits and are critiqued by the corner workers and other officials and instructor. Then you go back out for another session to practice what you've learned from the on-track experience and the critique.
There are strict rules. Among them, no racing exhausts, you can't hit the rumble strips in the curves, you can't squeal tires in the curves, you can't get out of shape, you can't leave the track and you can't pass unless in the designated areas and signaled by the car you're passing and no stop watches. If you violate these rules, you will likely be black flagged and sent home. Any cameras must be solidly mounted in the vehicle. If open top, you must have a crash bar and when seated, the top of your helmet cannot come within 3 inches of a line from the top of the crash bar to the top of the windshield frame. You must drive with the windows down. It's a rain or shine event.
Taking the PDX is the beginning of getting your SCCA license. Once you are capable in the instructor's opinion, for the average person 3 to 4 sessions, you are given your SCCA license as a driver so you may drive on the track without an instructor and to enter races.
The total event including track entry and parking and safety helmet rental usually runs about $150. That usually includes entry to the track for 2 or 3 days so you can watch the races.
Anyone not going to this one, there is another in November. It would be great if a bunch of us got together and made it a weekend group event.
