Autocross

ATTENTION:  Sound Requirements

For the 2025 season, at this time sound requirements will be the same as last season at Devens. We nearly lost Devens for the 2024 season and it took a collective effort from all the club chairs to show the positive impact autocross makes on the local community. MassDevelopment, who manages the use of the airfield and the redevelopment efforts in the area, will be issuing new regulations for all clubs with regard to sound. Further, they have reserved the right to change those regulations as the year progresses. All efforts will be made to communicate these changes to participants far in advance.

Sound restrictions require that we test from two locations throughout the entire event.  Measured noise levels of each car must not exceed 87 decibels (db) from a distance of 75 feet as measured at a designated location on the course, and must not exceed 8 db over the ambient noise level as measured at usual location at the end of the main runway. 

As you prepare for the season, please consider adding additional muffling or changing up your exhaust system – especially if your car’s exhaust system has been modified. Cars that previously passed may NOT pass with the new regulations and those regulations may change as the year evolves. Bring turn downs, bring steel wool, bring whatever you need to quiet down your car. NER will have discretion to remove a car even if that car is not violating the meter but still produces noticeably high sound levels. Please think twice before bringing a car with a very loud exhaust. If your car exceeds the noise limits, we can’t allow you to drive it at the event.

Autocross is a sport of navigating your car through a defined course of pylons faster than your competition. Cars are assigned to different classes depending on model, the runs are timed, and you compete with others in your class. Autocross courses are set up using soft orange traffic pylons. Events are run at speeds usually between 40-65 MPH, usually in second gear. Unlike some other venues, we are extremely fortunate to have access to one of the premier autocross venues in the Northeast. Where many clubs are consigned to parking lots, we are privileged to be able to design courses that regularly exceed a mile in length with runs lasting about a minute, plus or minus, depending on your speed. You’d be amazed at how much excitement can be packed into 60 seconds.

Our Autocross events are all held at Moore Airfield at the former Devens Army Base in Ayer, MA. Every weekend from April to November, the Devens folks rent the place out to eight local car clubs for their events. Although drivers compete for season points, the “competition” is extremely friendly, and everyone helps each other learn whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer. It is also a very social event and a great way to become more involved with the Porsche Club as well as the local Autocross Community.

If you like spirited driving and are new to the sport, we encourage you to try it out this season. For our first event  we run an Autocross School. This popular event is open to anyone new to Autocross and is set up to provide some basic instruction as well as a chance to take a few practice runs on an actual autocross course. We will have a series of car control exercises set up where veteran autocrossers will ride with you to teach you the basics. In the afternoon, we will have a full course set up, and you’ll be able to take runs with your instructor (or without if you are comfortable) and really experience the thrill Autocross has to offer.Registration and event details will be posted on this website, in Club email blasts, our facebook page, and on www.motorsportreg.com as the dates get closer. In the meantime, you can learn a lot about how the events work, what to expect, what to bring, how to prep your car, etc. by checking out the 3-part Video Series right here on our Autocross page.

Autocross is a great way to exercise your driving skills in a safe environment. For anyone that would like assistance, there will be instructors available to work with you. Each autocross has a different and unique course design and will undoubtedly provide you with a fun driving experience. Finally, Autocross is a social gathering of new and old friends and LOTS OF FUN!!!

As a Porsche Club, our car classifications are mostly based around PCA’s autocross rules. However, we welcome anyone interested in Autocross to attend our events – you do not have to be a PCA member, or even a Porsche owner. We have a non-Porsche class which is now PAXed into two groups – one for lower and one for higher PAXes, and a Novice class which has also been split into two groups – one for Porsches and one for non-Porsches. PCA members receive a discounted rate. All drivers participating in an event must be at least eighteen years of age.

There are a number of items its wise to bring with you to each event. If you don’t have a set of vinyl numbers, a roll of painter’s tape or some white shoe polish is your best bet, just be sure that the tape color contrasts with your car color. You may want to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a lawn chair and something to eat. If you’d rather buy food at the event, you can order submarine sandwiches for $8 when you register. If its sunny, bring an umbrella for shade. We always have a good stock of water and soda on hand for free, so while its fine to bring a cooler stocked with Pelegrino, if you are less particular, we’ve got you covered.

We strongly encourage those new to autocross to look through our Autocross School page information (and to sign up for the school!). You will learn more driving skills in a day with our instructors than you ever thought possible.