Alabama Region PCA 2021 October Fest HPDE, 10/2-3/2021
The Alabama Region held their annual Octoberfest High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. There were 160 cars entered in four classes, and a half dozen Smoky Mountain Region folks made the trek. We loaded our cars, and Rick’s motorhome and trailer, and hit the road Friday. Upon arrival we set up camp (one of us literally) right along pit road so we could watch and hear all the action up front.
For those that do not know, an HPDE is a “driving school” event held on dedicated race tracks designed to teach drivers proper high-speed driving techniques. This HPDE was held by a PCA region under PCA guidelines, at a world renowned road-course track, Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The track is a 17-turn, 2.38-mile (3.83 km) road course, designed to be run clockwise, and the layout is compact, with a number of elevation changes. The track hosts numerous motorsport races, and also serves as the home of the North American Porsche Driving School.
After setup, tech inspection, drivers’ meeting, and “class time” for the Group 1 novices, we hit the track. Saturday was a beautiful day, not too warm and dry, and we had a blast. Sunday, the sky fell out, and we learned speed on wet. Some of us cared not for this, one of us went bonkers for it. After the last session on Sunday afternoon, we packed it up and headed home.
So, if you ever want to really see your Porsche in its element, consider a HPDE. They are a hoot!
And Todd shares a couple laps… Hot Laps!
Five of the Six Amigos 
Loaded for Bear 
But first, attending to some business 
On the road again… 
Luckily not us! Although… 
WE MADE IT! 
The Track 
The Porsche Experience 
Offloading the GT4 
The stable 
With drivers 
“So let me get this straight…” 
“Yeah, I’m camping here!” 
Burger Machine! 
On track fuel 
DECISIONS! DECISIONS! 
Tag free and ready to roll 
Tech inspection!!! 
Rise and Shine, Drivers!!! 
The Neighbors 
These are the Porsche Experience Cars 
Ode to Hurley 
The Track. Know it like the back of our hands now! 
Sunday PM rains cleared the paddock of the lightweights 
Running wet! 
You know you at a track when the restroom has GoJo by the sinks!! 
Jamie’s favorite pic… 
SC2s gripping some gravel 
G-forces! 
Back after a run 
Between runs, catching up on Football 
The Barber Museum… Another day. 
Saturday night burger and football! 
Got a giggle watching a stubby car before we “full screened” it 
Storm Drain Troll says “Thanks for stopping by!” 
Annnnnnnnnnnnnd… Another on for the rear windscreen!
