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Porsche Club of America
Golden Gate Region

 

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August 2008. Volume 48, Issue 8

In This Issue

President's Message

Letter from the Editor

Competition Corner

Board of Directors

Membership Report

2008 DE Schedule

The Power Chef

Porsche Roads

GGR Track Myths

Zone 7 AX #4 & #5

Bear Valley Autocross

Coyote Run VIII

Porcheplatz at Laguna

 

Quick Links

Event Calendar

Classified Ads

Join PCA Now
Nugget Archive
More About Us
Zone 7 web site
PCA web site
Great Links

 

Dear Porsche Enthusiast,


Welcome to The Nugget, the email newsletter of the Golden Gate Region, Porsche Club of America.
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If you have any trouble viewing this email, you can click here to go to the online versions of this newsletter. For comments or feedback, click here to email the editor.

Thanks for reading.

 

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Pawlina








Pawlina Paraskova CG
Executive Editor of The Nugget

 

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President's Message

Bill Dally--by Bill Dally, GGR President

Thank you Switzers for the new timing system.

Like many members of the club, I am extremely grateful to the many volunteers who work tirelessly to put on our events and to make them run smoothly.  All of these volunteers deserve our hearty thanks.

Of the many volunteers who make our club function, our autocross chairs, Carl and Matt Switzer, and our time trial chair, Andrew Forrest, deserve special thanks for the long hours they put in to put on an entire series of events.   They work tirelessly to put on one event and before it is over they are already starting preparations for the next one.

The Switzers deserve special thanks this month for their initiative and efforts in putting together a new autocross timing system.  As former autocross chair myself, I have painful memories of all of the difficulties caused by the old system - and in particular caused by failures of the timing cables.  Carl and Matt have acquired a new system that includes wireless links from the timing lights to the timing trailer - eliminating the troublesome cable.  The system also includes computer software that records each car's run directly into electronic timing cards - eliminating our paper timing cards and greatly simplifying trailer operations.  When the system is fully deployed, it will include a bar code system.  Bar code labels will be printed and attached to each car, and a bar code scanner will scan the labels to identify the cars as they approach the start.  This will further automate timing and scoring and make our events run even smoother.

Being personally familiar with Murphy's Law, I was amazed at how well the new system worked during its debut performance at the July autocross.  This was no accident.  In addition to the hundreds of hours Matt and Carl have spent researching the system and acquiring the pieces, Matt spent countless additional hours trying it out, debugging it, and entering data on 400 participants.  It was this tireless preparation that led to a smooth event.

At that autocross I did hear a few grumbles.  I have trouble understanding people grumbling on a beautiful day at Alameda with views of the city, the sound of Porsche engines exerting themselves, and the smell of exhaust - but, maybe some people aren't getting enough sex.  The grumbles I heard had to do with delays in the event and the number of runs.  The delays were largely due to people not following directions - and getting their data entered in the system at registration, and the number of runs was due to a course with a late crossover that slowed our tempo to half of its normal value (a car every 40 seconds vs 20 seconds).

Still, it's a free country, and people can complain if they want to.  However, they need to remember the first rule of complaining:  if you complain about something, be prepared to step forward and volunteer to do something about it.

Serve on the board

Four PCA/GGR board positions will become vacant at the end of this year: vice president, competition director, social director, and membership director.  The board is currently looking for individuals to nominate for these positions.   Nominees will then be voted on by the membership.   If you are interested in getting more involved, here's your chance.  Send an e-mail to the board to volunteer or for more information.

The Allure of the Older Car

Enough with club business.  Now I can get down to what I like to do as club president - writing a column about my passion for Porsches.

As a bicycle commuter, I don't drive every day.  However several days a week, when I have occasion to drive, I face a tough decision: which Porsche should I put through its paces that day.  More often than not, I pick my 1964 356 SC. 

Why do I pick the 64 with its 1.6L four over my Boxster S with its 3.2L six, A/C, and heated seats? Its hard to pin down, but on many days I'm drawn to the 356 because its just fun to drive.  (I have to confess that on nice sunny days, I often opt for an open car - and not having an open 356 I choose either my 1973 914 or the Boxster).

Part of the allure of the older car is simplicity.  The Boxster is a complex car with lots of systems, ECUs, PSM, etc....  The 356 is a very simple car. The only transistors in the car are in the Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio.  There is something refreshing about driving a car where you understand every part (and have removed and serviced most of them).

bill car

Nostalgia is another factor in choosing to drive the older car.  Driving the 356 brings back memories from days long past when I rode in similar cars.  The memories are triggered not just from the sight of the car and its interior, but also from the feel of driving it and the sounds the twin Solexes make.  The large thin steering wheel, the austere instrument panel, and the feel of the shifter all add to the vintage driving feel.

One also gets a lot of attention driving an older Porsche.  You get many envious glances and lots of people come by as you park at the bank or the grocery store to ask questions and leave compliments.  This is even true of my 356 which can best be described as a "driver" in need of new paint.

Perhaps the allure of an older car is a lot like the allure of an older woman.  Familiarity, comfort, sophistication, and stability win out over energy and the promise of vicarious youth.

Bill

 

Jerry WoodsSmart Racing

 

Letter from the Editor

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--by John Celona, Nugget Editor

Two-Year Anniversary Bonus Issue!

This issue actually marks the close of the second year that we've been publishing The Nugget as an email newsletter rather than a printed, mailed magazine. I hope the progress since those early issues has been evident. We must be doing something right: there is a steady stream of new people subscribing to The Nugget each month. New subscribers receive a welcoming email and an invitation to join GGR. Hopefully, some of them will.

Of course, we couldn't afford to offer a free subscription to The Nugget if we were still printing and mailing. Actually, we couldn't afford printing and mailing to members, either! Perhaps this isn't widely known to the members, but the change to an email newsletter happened to come just in time to avoid what would have been a severe financial problem for the club with dropping attendance at the Drivers' Ed and Time Trial Series (a problem Andrew Forrest has been resolutely working to remedy. See his article in this issue).

Some members still opine that they would prefer a printed Nugget. Most Porsche Club members seem to feel otherwise, as evidenced by all the regions in Zone 7 going to some sort of electronic distribution, with a few still printing and mailing for those willing to pay extra for that. GGR was the first, as in many other things. From my perspective, what we're now able to do with The Nugget in terms of content, color, links, and instant delivery simply isn't possible with printing and mailing.

Then there's this bonus August issue. Traditionally, The Nugget didn't publish two months out of the year (August being one of those months) to save money and give the editor a break. But doing The Nugget this way, we can publish an issue every month without wrecking the club's budget or my free time.

Such a deal.

As always, thanks for reading.

Cheerios,
John

 

CommCovRennwerks

 

Competition Corner

Thompson
--by Dan Thompson, Competition Director


Dan is up to his cones this month with setting everything up for the two days of autocross at the Marina Airfield near Monterey this weekend. He'll be back next month. -Ed.

 

European Autotech

 

BPS Repro

 

Board of Directors

Celona--by John Celona, GGR Secretary

GGR Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes for July 23, 2008


The meeting was held at the residence of the President, Bill Dally. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. Present were Matt Switzer, Bob Murillo, Bill Dally, Dan Thompson, Andrew Forrest, Larry Adams, Mark Powell, Jeff Kost, Claude Leglise, and GGR member Kevin Webster.

Call for agenda changes: none

Call for calendar changes: none

Approval of May minutes: already approved via email.

Postmortem of events

5/24-25 DE/TT 3 Buttonwillow: weather was great and turnout was good.
6/7 Boxster Brunch
6/15 Beginners auto X school at Monster Park: it was a lot of fun.
6/20 Friday Night Social
6/21 Alameda Autocross #4: there were difficulties with the trailer arriving late, which made for a late start, plus a course layout issue which required rerouting that part of the course. Add these to the lessons learned.
7/18/08 Friday Night Social
7/19 Alameda Autocross #5: first tryout for the new timing system. There were a few glitches, but it basically worked. The system does require accurate data: correct numbers on cars, all cars in the system, etc. Turnout was really good for this event and people liked the course.

Directors' Reports

President: nothing to report.

Vice-President

Upcoming event status report:
 
7/26 Ground School: moved to the time trial venue at Thunderhill on 8/16
8/2/08 Marina Autocross #6
8/2 Boxster Brunch 10am at Alice's Restaurant
8/10 Carlsen concours
8/15/08 Friday Night Social
8/16;8/17 Driver's Ed & Time Trial #4 Thunderhill & Ground School
8/30 Ground School

Certificates are ordered for the following events:

9/6 Bear Valley Auto X and Wash and Shine, Picnic
9/13 Auto X at Alameda have been requested to be added to the existing certificate.

Certificates are in place for the following events:

7//27 Vasona Picnic and Wash and Shine
8/2/08 Marina Autocross #6
8/16-17DE/TT #4 Thunderhill

Treasurer

Bill Benz is somewhere in Lake Huron (hopefully above water). Bank balances are stable and Motorsports Reg is back to working the way it should be.

Secretary: nothing to report

Social

7/27/08 First Annual Family Picnic / People's Choice Wash and Shine Concours

  • We have 19 cars, 43 adults and 8 children registered ($860.00)
  • Armadillo Willy's confirmed for 50 people ($1,230.09). Need to order some extra side dishes to accommodate vegetarians attending the event.
  • Awards plaques purchased ($106.63)
  • Party favors purchased ($34.98)
  • Insurance in place (thanks Bob!)
  • Vasona not classified as "Special Event" ($231.00)
  • Still need to purchase picnic supplies, snacks, games.
  • Need volunteers to help
  • Need to be reimbursed for expenses.  

01/11/2009 GGR Year End Banquet

  • Hiller Aviation Museum reserved for Sunday January 11, 2009 from 11 AM to 3 PM
  • Check for $500.00 deposit submitted (thanks Bill!)
  • Zone 7 has now scheduled their Awards Banquet for Saturday January 10th.


7/??/09 Second Annual Family Picnic / People's Choice Wash and Shine Concours. Request authorization and funds to reserve Vasona for next year and have classified as a "Special Event". ($331.00). Motion to approve this passed unanimously. And, if we decide to cancel, there's only a $6 cancellation fee.

Membership

Membership remains stable at about the same number. Jeff also wants to survey non-renewing members to inquire about that. Motion to approve the new members was unanimously approved.

Competition

Proposed rules changes should already have been communicated to the membership director (Dan Thompson). Please get yours in if you have one. Some work is still being done to write up actual wording for proposed changes, so a summary would do at this point.

The Marina autocross will include a 914 shootout, with about 35 914's showing up, including a number of Parade winners and some SCCA national guys. It should be quite a show.

The next time trial at Thunderhill August 16 and 17 is at close to break-even, which means it's not full and is a great opportunity to get some good driving time in. Plus, there are not a lot of students, which means instructors would get good driving time also.

Webmaster: not present

Topics for discussion

Nomination of officers for 2009: next year, we'll need membership, competition, and social directors, plus a vice-president. Jeff Kost (membership) and Bob Murillo (vice president) both agreed to run for a second term. The President will call for nominees for all positions in the next issue of The Nugget.

Friday Night Social: motion was passed to remove the Friday Night Social from the calendar due to low to nil attendance. Folks are still free to show up, of course, as they like.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

 

Club Sportiva2

 

June Membership Report


--by Jeff Kost, Membership Director
Jeff Kost

Total Members:  2524
Primary:            1476
Affiliate:             1047
Life:                        1

New Members: 21
Transfers In:      2
Transfers Out:    4

 New Members

Bob Baron

Millbrae

1999 996

Eric & Valerie Brown

Morgan Hill

2005 911

Marc Buehlmann

Mountain View

1997 Twin Turbo

Grady & Dee Carter

Vallejo

2002 Boxster S

Eddie Chan

San Jose

2008 Cayman S

Alison Drury

San Francisco

 

Mary Heacox

San Jose

 

John & Mary Lee

San Francisco

2008 911 S

David Miller

Danville

1995 911 993

Pilar Miranda

Morgan Hill

2004 911 GT3

Jon Moss

Palo Alto

2008 997 S

Soninha Petri

Oakland

 

Lamar Potts

Los Gatos

2008 Cayman S

Elliott & Brad Roberts

San Francisco

2004 996

Hamed & Ameen Sajjadi

San Jose

2007 997 GT3

Mark & Shirley Schneckloth

Cupertino

2008 Cayman

Ash & Victoria Shaalan

San Jose

2008 4s

Scott & John Stocker

Santa Cruz

1996 993 C4S

Paul Tan

San Francisco

2003 Carrera 4S

Kelly Thompson

Los Altos

2005 996 T S

Andy Tzelepis

Redwood City

1980 924

Robert & Sean Woods

Alameda

1972 914

Jon Yap

San Jose

2002 Carrera

 

Anniversaries

 40 Years

Terry Zaccone

Saratoga

1968 911

 25 Years

Norma Ong

San Francisco

 

Danielle Ringen

Los Altos

1978 911

 20 Years

Rebecca Harwell

Los Gatos

 

Dan Lofgren

Milpitas

1987 911

 15 Years

Dora Brown

San Mateo

 

Lyn Mehl

San Jose

 

 10 Years

Douglas Ambrisko

Mountain View

1987 911

Jan Coon

Clovis

 

Andrew Fulgham

Pacifica

1996 993

Barbara Grimm

Piedmont

 

Kathy Hutchinson

Oakland

 

Michael Ingegno

Oakland

1996 911

Vanessa Owyang

San Jose

 

Susan Smith

San Jose

 

Emily Williams

Cupertino

 

Ronald Davis

San Jose

1989 930

Steve Nakajima

San Francisco

1998 986

Jack Puls

Burlingame

1993 911

Ronald Seger

Mountain View

1997 993

5 Years

Peter Bruce

San Francisco

1958 Speedster

Thuy Curran

San Carlos

 

Pierre De La Rocha

Saratoga

1999 996 Coupe

Chris Depuy

Hillsborough

2003 Boxster

Martine Hoefnagels

Novato