Here is a short list of what you will need for yourself and your car before coming to an event. This list covers the major items, but every situation is a little different.  Please join our forum or visit the PHA Facebook page to talk to some of our members, which include technical inspectors and drivers.  Technical inspectors in particular are a great resource that can help you avoid some of the mistakes they have seen (and made) over the years.

Driver Licensing and Eligibility

To get started, you’ll need to join the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).  It’s possible to do this at your first event.  However, you’ll be busy enough,  so it’s much better to take care of it ahead of time!  Note that SCCA Memberships and Licenses will no longer be renewed at an event, and we can only support first time novices.

In addition to an SCCA Membership, you’ll need a valid government-issued driver’s license and the appropriate license or novice license for the event.

Finally, you will need to be able to handle the physical and mental demands of competition for the length of a session for each session of the event.   Driver Physical Fitness Requirements

Please visit the following page for details:  SCCA Hillclimb Driver Eligibility

Driver Safety Equipment

The minimum amount of personal safety equipment you will need in order to compete is listed below. Keep in mind this is a dangerous sport and safety gear is not a smart place to save money. 

• SA Rated Helmet
• Balaclava
• Fire Suit
• Nomex Socks
• Leather (or fireproof) Shoes
• Gloves
• Head / Neck Restraint required starting 2024

Please visit the Main Rules page for a link to the PHA Supplementary Rules document, which contains a complete list of required driver safety equipment.

Car Preparation

When talking about Car Preparation, there are two different categories — modifications that determine your car’s class, and required safety equipment.  Because PHA events are open to (1) all classes listed in the current SCCA GCR, (2) the Street Prepared and Street Modified Solo classes, and (3) PHA Supplemental classes, it can be confusing to figure out what rule set to look at.  And it can be even more confusing to determine what safety equipment is required, since some of it depends on the car’s class.

A basic rule of thumb is that when you are looking at car preparation rules for a particular class, refer to the SCCA GCR for GCR classes, SCCA Solo rules Solo classes, and the PHA Supplemental Rules (aka PHA Supps) for PHA supplemental classes.  Then, once you determine which class your call falls into, use the PHA Supps to determine what safety equipment you’ll need.

Links to these documents can be found on the Main Rules Page.

NOTE:  Due to the extensive reorganization of the Solo Street Prepared category in January 2023, PHA has temporarily frozen the Street Prepared category to the Solo 2022 Rules while we work on a permanent solution for 2024.  So for Street Prepared, refer to the 2022 Solo Rules.  See the Main Rules Page for the link.

For example, if you want to know if you can change the size of your rotors, whether you can run non-DOT tires or  non-stock wheel sizes,  whether an engine swap is legal for your class, etc., refer to the appropriate car preparation document (i.e., GCR/Solo Rules/PHA Supps, depending on class). 

But if you want to know if you need a full roll cage or just a bar (and the specs for the bar or cage), or even something like whether or not you need a master off switch, refer to the PHA Supps.   Note that if a safety requirement is listed in both the PHA Supps and the car preparation rule set for a class, the PHA Supps definition takes precedence.

Clear as mud?  Please take the time to talk to our technical advisors listed on our Contacts page, or post a request for help on the PHA Forum or Facebook page.  Our technical advisors can guide you through what you need.  If you are building a car, they can help you learn how to avoid being placed in a non-competitive class for a minor modification.

Here are some minimal car safety equipment requirements:

• Roll bar or roll cage depending on class
• 5 or 6 Point Seat Belts
• Arm Restraints or Window Net
• Fire Extinguisher or Fire System