FAQ's

The Roadrunner Region of the Porsche Club of America is proud to present Fiesta del Porsche 2007: Cowhands on the Rio Grande. This year, we will have some new venues and we will use some of the same venues from last year, since they proved so popular. Hopefully, some of the questions from people who are new to Fiesta will be answered here, and Fiesta veterans will also find answers to their questions. If you have further inquiries, don’t hesitate to drop us an e-mail or give us a call and we’ll try to make it easier to attend our great event. Here’s a smattering of questions that are already being asked with some answers designed to help your attendance.

1. Where is Hotel Albuquerque located and what kind of facilities does it have for us and our cars? Answer: We've used The Hotel Albuquerque as our host hotel for the past few years (it used to be known as the Sheraton Old Town). It has lots of great, secure parking in the rear where we can stage up for all of our events and meet at the end of the day. Last year, the management did impose a new rule, which will also apply for this year: no pets allowed in the rooms, except for service dogs.
2. If the Host Hotel is overbooked or if we’re looking for alternative types of lodging, what are our options? Answer: We do have a large block of rooms being held for our event, so please try to call and reserve your room early. Make sure to mention that you’re with the Fiesta del Porsche to get our rate. But if it’s already full or if you’re looking for an alternative, we’d suggest is the Bottger Mansion, just a few blocks to the south and very close by. It offers beautiful Victorian rooms and a great breakfast and ambiance. If that doesn’t fit your taste or budget, we’d suggest looking at the Albuquerque buttons on our main menu for a variety of other lodging options.
3. We noticed that this year’s Concours d’Elegance is going to be held at the Albuquerque BioPark. What’s a BioPark and what goes on there? Answer: The Albuquerque BioPark is the home to Albuquerque’s Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, its traditional farm museum, and its Butterfly Pavilion. That means that besides having all of those great cars to look at during the Concours, family members will have access to the park to wander around and enjoy all the great facilities. And, if that’s not enough, all the Concours participants and their co-registrants will be able to eat lunch (included with your registration) at your leisure in the air-conditioned restaurant just yards away from the Concours site.
4. Where is Route 66 Casino and what will the autocross venue be like? Answer: Just go west on I-40 and you’ll see it along the south side of the highway. The casino has several very large and smooth parking lots and has again agreed to host us for the event. Besides being just outside the air-conditioned casino, there are two award-winning restaurants just inside, only yards away from the autocross course. Included in your registration will be lunch tickets for you and your co-registrant to use at either Johnny Rocket’s or at the Hungry Cowboy. The autocross will be a traditional parking-lot style autocross with lots of fun challenges laid out amongst a sea of cones. Without any threatening walls, it should be fun for both novice and expert drivers alike.
5. I really liked the shopping and scenery we encountered in Old Town in previous years. Will we be able to visit there this year? Answer: Old Town is the heart of Albuquerque's heritage. The first families settled near the banks of the Rio Grande in 1706. Albuquerque was a colonial farming village and a military outpost along the Camino Real between Chihuahua and Santa Fe. The village formed in the traditional Spanish pattern of a central plaza surrounded by a church, homes and government buildings. Some of the old homes are still standing and many have been renovated into businesses. Old Town features an amazing array of shops and historical settings, beautiful and quaint adobe buildings, and interesting walk ways. And, it's only a five minute walk from our host hotel, the Hotel Albuquerque. Located right near by are several great restaurants and some of Albuquerque's best museums. To find out more about historic Albuquerque Old Town visit www.albuquerqueoldtown.com
6. What’s the best way to register for Fiesta del Porsche 2007. Answer: Just print a copy of the registration form and mail it in to our registrar. You can get a copy of our registration form by clicking here. Then send it to the address listed on the bottom with your check made out to RoadRunner Region, PCA. On the subject line of  your check write in “Fiesta.” Be sure to fill in the form carefully and make sure to check all the boxes you’ll need to for this year’s Fiesta. There will be a lot of great events this year and we wouldn’t want you to miss any of them. On-line registration will be available soon.
7. What about checking in? Answer: Fiesta check-in will be located in the Fireplace Room, just off the main lobby of the Hotel Albuquerque. Both entrant and co-entrant must register together and must show a valid driver's license. All attendees at Fiesta will be required to wear an identification badge and sign insurance waivers at registration. At registration you will receive your goody bag,  name badges, meal tickets, event sign-up, the Fiesta Program, and a special gift from the Roadrunner Region. Registration will be open Thursday evening, Friday morning, and Friday evening for your convenience. Consult the schedule for times. If you need special service, contact the registrar or the Fiesta chair.
8. When should we get there and what should we do when we get there? Answer: The Concours is the first official event of the weekend, so be sure to be at the Hotel Albuquerque by early morning Friday, May 25, 2007. You’ll want to come to the Hotel to receive all of event tickets and your goody bag packed with all kinds of cool stuff. But if you want to avoid the rush and craziness of arriving in the morning, getting all of your tickets and then rushing over to the Concours, then come in on Thursday for early check-in. Then join us for a short walk to the St. Clair Winery for a leisurely social hour and New Mexico wine tasting with some of your fellow Porsche enthusiasts.
9. Is the continental breakfast only for those participants who are staying at the hotel? Answer: No, it’s for all Fiesta del Porsche participants. If you’re from Albuquerque and are staying at home, or if you’re staying with friends from the area, we still want you to come over and join us for breakfast and get to know your fellow Porsche enthusiasts from around the country. By all means, come over before the events begin and have something healthy to eat and meet a few people.
10.  Will you have a Goody Store this year for buying cool Porsche stuff? Answer: We will have a Goody Store with many of your favorite Porsche Goodies. We hope you will take a few minutes to browse, talk, and take home an additional reminder of your fun-filled Porsche weekend. The Goody Store will be located in the Fireplace Room, with the same hours as registration and breakfast.
11. Do we need to wear our badges all the time? Answer: Your name badge is your passport to all Fiesta Events and functions. Please wear it at all times! This will identify you as a registered participant.
12. Will you have cleaning supplies for  our cars to prepare them for the Concours? Answer: This year we will have on hand a car-washing truck for the use of our participants. However, be sure to bring plenty of your own cleaning and drying supplies. Room towels must not be used for preparing your car for the concours. The hotel will provide an area for car preparation (light rinsing, drying, and polishing). Only cars registered for Fiesta will be allowed to park in the Fiesta Concours area at the Albuquerque Bio Park.
13. What kinds of things do I need to autocross? Answer: A valid driver’s license, valid insurance, yourself to be in good health, and your car to be in good health. All cars must be tech inspected and we can help you with that part. If you have your own helmet, it must be rated Snell 2000 or newer (M2000 or SA2000). If you don’t have a helmet, don’t worry. We have loaner helmets available.
14. What other kinds of things will I need for Fiesta weekend? Answer: Though we think of late May as the beginning of summer here in the Southwest, the weather can be anything from swelteringly hot to bitter cold. So, bring  sunscreen, hats, shades, insect repellant, and some layers of clothing with you to all of our events. All of our outdoor events are exposed to the weather and although very nice most of the time, can be windy and cold or hot and dry. Be prepared. Also, it’s always good to have water or sports beverages on hand. Our humidity is often very low and it’s easy to get dehydrated in New Mexico. Bottled water will be available at the track.
15. Should I pay attention to the schedule? Answer: Yes! We have so many events going on that you won’t want to miss any of them. Check our website frequently to check for time or venue changes and be at your events on time. If you have any questions or special needs during the weekend, don’t hesitate to ask any of the Roadrunner Region members or other participants. We’re all very willing to help.
16. What’s the Ashley Carroll Overall Award? Answer: The Ashley Carroll Trophy for the Overall Award, began in 1983. It’s named for one of the earliest supporters of Fiesta del Porsche from the PCA. It’s presented to the participant in all three competitive categories – Concours, Autocross, and Rally – who finishes with the highest overall score. Scoring for overall placing will follow PCA guidelines. In summary: all points for overall must be earned in the same car, and that car must be the one for which the individual is registered. Duplicate points will be given to the entrant and co-entrant in the Concours and Rally, but Autocross must be driven individually by both entrant and co-entrant. All three competitive events must be entered to be eligible for the Ashley Carroll Award. The Overall award will be presented at the Awards Banquet Sunday night.
17.  Will I be eligible for an award if I’m not entered in all three events? Answer: Yes, we also have trophies available to the best placing participants in each of the individual events. All trophies will be given out at the Awards Banquet unless otherwise noted by the events sponsors.
18. Why should I come to the Awards Banquet if I didn’t participate in any of the competitive events? Answer: The Banquet is not just for competitors. It’s also our farewell banquet and a good chance to spend a few more hours with your friends from Fiesta del Porsche. Besides, we’ll have a number of great door prizes to hand out that evening. No one should go away empty handed. Don’t miss your opportunity to get some great stuff!