diff --git a/rowers/courses.py b/rowers/courses.py
index 8a2b07df..58085405 100644
--- a/rowers/courses.py
+++ b/rowers/courses.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as et
 
 import pandas as pd
 import numpy as np
+from timezonefinder import TimezoneFinder
 
 import dataprep
 from rowers.utils import geo_distance
@@ -38,6 +39,24 @@ class InvalidTrajectoryError(Exception):
     def __str__(self):
 	return repr(self.value)
 
+def get_course_timezone(course):
+    polygons = GeoPolygon.objects.filter(course = course)
+    points = GeoPoint.objects.filter(polygon = polygons[0])
+    lat = points[0].latitude
+    lon = points[0].longitude
+
+    tf = TimezoneFinder()
+    try:
+        timezone_str = tf.timezone_at(lng=lon,lat=lat)
+    except ValueError:
+        timezone_str = 'UTC'
+
+    if timezone_str is None:
+        timezone_str = tf.closest_timezone_at(lng=lon,lat=lat)
+        if timezone_str is None:
+            timezone_str = 'UTC'
+
+    return timezone_str
     
 def polygon_to_path(polygon):
     points = GeoPoint.objects.filter(polygon=polygon).order_by("order_in_poly")
diff --git a/rowers/models.py b/rowers/models.py
index 131a4ce7..1a53c612 100644
--- a/rowers/models.py
+++ b/rowers/models.py
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ class VirtualRace(PlannedSession):
     contact_phone = models.CharField(validators=[phone_regex], max_length=17, blank=True) 
     
     contact_email = models.EmailField(max_length=254,
-                                      validators=[validate_email])
+                                      validators=[validate_email],blank=True)
         
 # Date input utility
 class DateInput(forms.DateInput):
diff --git a/rowers/plannedsessions.py b/rowers/plannedsessions.py
index da26d0a5..76b4b8ec 100644
--- a/rowers/plannedsessions.py
+++ b/rowers/plannedsessions.py
@@ -86,6 +86,30 @@ def timefield_to_seconds_duration(t):
 
     return duration
 
+
+def get_virtualrace_times(virtualrace):
+    geocourse = GeoCourse.objects.get(id = virtualrace.course.id)
+    timezone_str = courses.get_course_timezone(geocourse)
+
+    startdatetime = datetime.datetime.combine(
+        virtualrace.startdate,virtualrace.start_time)
+    enddatetime = datetime.datetime.combine(
+        virtualrace.enddate,virtualrace.end_time)
+
+    startdatetime = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+        startdatetime
+    )
+    enddatetime = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+        enddatetime
+    )
+
+    return {
+        'startdatetime':startdatetime,
+        'enddatetime':enddatetime,
+        'evaluation_closure':virtualrace.evaluation_closure,
+        'registration_closure':virtualrace.registration_closure,
+        }
+
 def get_session_metrics(ps):
     rowers = ps.rower.all()
     rscore = []
diff --git a/rowers/templates/virtualeventcreate.html b/rowers/templates/virtualeventcreate.html
index e325c146..d55afb53 100644
--- a/rowers/templates/virtualeventcreate.html
+++ b/rowers/templates/virtualeventcreate.html
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@
 
 <div class="grid_12 alpha">
   
+    <h1>New Virtual Race</h1>
 
 
   <div class="grid_8 alpha">
-    <h1>New Virtual Race</h1>
     <form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="{{ formloc }}" method="post">
       {% if form.errors %}
       <p style="color: red;">
@@ -28,10 +28,21 @@
       </div>
   </form>
   </div>
-</div>
-  <div class="grid_6 prefix_6" id="id_guidance">
-
+  <div class="grid_4 omega">
+    <p>
+      <ul>
+        <li>All times are local times in the race course time zone</li>
+        <li>Adding a contact phone number and email is not mandatory, but we
+          strongly recommend it.</li>
+        <li>If your event has a registration closure deadline, participants
+          have to enter (and can withdraw) before the registration closure time.</li>
+        <li>Participants can submit results until the evaluation closure time.</li>
+      </ul>
+    </p>
   </div>
+</div>
+
+
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block scripts %}
diff --git a/rowers/views.py b/rowers/views.py
index 06600dbd..20cb75ea 100644
--- a/rowers/views.py
+++ b/rowers/views.py
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from rowers.emails import send_template_email
 
 from pytz import timezone as tz,utc
+from timezonefinder import TimezoneFinder
 import dateutil
 import mpld3
 from mpld3 import plugins
@@ -13324,7 +13325,28 @@ def virtualevent_create_view(request):
             contact_phone = cd['contact_phone']
             contact_email = cd['contact_email']
 
+            # correct times
+
             geocourse = GeoCourse.objects.get(id= course.id)
+            timezone_str = courses.get_course_timezone(geocourse)
+
+            startdatetime = datetime.datetime.combine(startdate,start_time)
+            enddatetime = datetime.datetime.combine(enddate,end_time)
+
+            startdatetime = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+                startdatetime
+            )
+            enddatetime = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+                enddatetime
+            )
+            evaluation_closure = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+                evaluation_closure.replace(tzinfo=None)
+            )
+            registration_closure = pytz.timezone(timezone_str).localize(
+                registration_closure.replace(tzinfo=None)
+            )
+
+            
             
             vs = VirtualRace(
                 name=name,