GGR Members receive 10% off parts & service!
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From the Wurst Wing
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 --by John Celona, GGR President
This Year's Events are IN GEAR
Hopefully, you were able to attend at least one of the events we put on in March. Your member dues make them happen! If not, here's what's coming up.
The April Boxster Brunch
The next Boxster Brunch will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 3rd at its usual spot: Alice's Restaurant at the intersection of Highway 84 and Syline Boulevard. February was packed despite the rain. Come on by and say hello to Porsche club members from all sorts regions!
First Autocross is History; Next one on April 10th
On Saturday, March 20th we kicked off the autocross season at Alameda. Andrew Blyholder designed an outstanding course and the weather was just perfect. We were really pleased to see a big turnout. The timing system was giving absolute fits to our two new autocross chairs, Joe Lee and Chris Hamilton, but they are working hard to iron out all the bugs for the next one and promise lots of timed laps!
There was a very interesting assortment of cars at this event. Bringing truth to the prediction that Boxsters are going to be "the next 914," folks are beginning to show up with stripped down and spec Boxsters. Come see what one looks like with all the interior and roof removed. Plus there was an Audi R8 zipping around. Very BAD looking with those strips of LED lights.
Here's a link to photos from the event taken by Ron Breeze, and here's the rest of the schedule for this year:
- 4/10 GGR Alameda
- 5/15 GGR Alameda
- 6/12 GGR Alameda
- 6/13 GGR Alameda
- 7/24 GGR/LPR/Zone 7 Marina
- 7/25 GGR/LPR/Zone 7 Marina
- 8/14 GGR/LPR Marina
- 8/15 GGR/LPR Marina
- 9/11 GGR Alameda
- 10/16 GGR Alameda
- 11/13 GGR Alameda
Get to work on wearing out your tires before it starts raining again!
First Track Weekend is History; More coming
By the time you read this, GGR's first track weekend will be history: a 3-day event at Thunderhill including a club race. Mike Cullinan and Warren Walker have been working very hard putting the series together. As of right now, sign ups are looking good so we're looking forward to a great event.
If you missed this one, here's what's coming up the rest of the year: - May 22/23 - Buttonwillow - Club Race/DE/TT, co-hosted with Grand Prix Region from Long Beach. Central Coast Region will have their annual DE on the Friday before our event
- July 31/August 1 - Thunderhill - DE/TT
- Sept 18/19 - Thunderhill - Club Race/DE/TT
- Oct 8th (Friday) - Infineon - DE-only
We work hard to offer very competitive prices for track driving and the best track instruction in the west. Come learn how to REALLY drive your Porsche!
GGR 50th Anniversary Update
The 50th Committee (myself, Mark Powell, Louise Sousoures, Susan Smith, Lou Felsher, Jim Mirowski, Scott Miner, and Bubba Gong) have been hard at work nailing down a venue for the Sunday event. Next month, we hope to announce final plans and when registration will open.
We'll also begin selling commemorative t-shirts (at below cost!) to help publicize the event. This is made possible by a sponsorship from Carlsen Porsche, who will be our lead sponsor for the event.
Thanks very much to Carlsen Porsche for the support! Please go there and buy a car!
Mark your calendar, though! September 11-12. 2010 you'll want to join us for the big celebration!
Have some fun and come join us for an event. YOUR DUES are what helps put them on!
John
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Letter from the Editor
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--by John Celona, Nugget Editor
Thanks to Contributors!
It's great to see a continuing stream of contributions. We'd like to thank
Andrew Chisholm
of the First Settlers Region for sending in an article on Parade, and our own Vice President Rob Murillo for expanding our repertoire of pets to include fine feathered friends. Keep the Porsche Pets coming!
Articles too! We'll be pleased to run things in the following month.
Thanks for reading.
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Porsche Pets Rule!
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Senna a.k.a. Piña
--by Rob Murillo, Vice President
Pina is about 2.5 years old and occasionally goes to the track where she takes on her pseudonym of Senna.
Pina is a pineapple conure (hens the name). She can say Pina, happy, hola, cookie and a couple of other partial words. Of course she likes to go in the car, co piloting from the drivers shoulder.
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| Competition Corner |
 --by Claude Leglise, GGR past president
The competition season is
underway and promises to bring new excitement to all participants. Many GGR members
have used the winter break to build new cars, buy new toys or improve their
existing rides. Competition will be good-natured, yet intense.
The first autocross was
held at Alameda on March 20. The weather was beautiful and the turnout was very
large, with over 100 drivers. Unfortunately, the event suffered from major
issues with the timing system, as well as some unrelated teething problems.
Anyone who has had a computer crash in the middle of important work will
understand the predicament. 113 drivers had timed entries, but the results were
erratic, so this event will not count towards the season totals. Chris Hamilton
and Joe Lee have analyzed in detail what went wrong and are hard at work
developing fixes. The next autocross is April 10 at Alameda. Mark your
calendars.
Autocross #1 at Alameda; Another Beautiful Day!  |
Thunderhill saw the start
of the race track event season on March 26-28. 16 students joined 72
experienced drivers for three days of Driver's Education and Time Trials. If
cold air increases horsepower, then all the cars must have been operating at
their peak levels, as the ambient temperature was 42 degrees when the first
yellow group was released to the track on Friday morning. Mike Cullinan, Warren
Walker and their crew organized a flawless weekend, and all participants
enjoyed a great many laps. Cindy and I were both driving; we added well over
500 track miles to the odometer of our faithful 911.
The club racers were also
at Thunderhill for two sprint races and the first GGR enduro race. Carl
Switzer, in his first PCA Club Race weekend and in a new car, took first place
overall in the enduro race. Way to go, Carl! After the last race, I overheard
one of the National stewards say that in the 10 years he has been working races
for PCA, this was only the second incident-free race he had ever seen. Kudos to
all the drivers and the club volunteers.
The Saturday evening
dinner speaker was Cass Whitehead, Chief Driving Instructor for the Porsche Sport Driving School, based
at Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama. Cass entertained the audience with
stories from his racing career, how a Panamera Turbo was keeping up with a GT3
at Firebird Raceway, and how to use the electronic driving aids to improve
one's technique. Cass also answered myriad questions from the audience.
The Drivers' Meeting at Thunderhill for DE/TT/CR #1  |
The next DE/TT/Club Race
weekend is May 22-23 at Buttonwillow. Registration is open on MotorsportReg.
A big thank you goes to
John Tavernetti for updating and publishing the competition rulebook this month. It was a big job that had been delayed far too long
and desperately needed to be done.
One final note: All the AX
and TT car classifications from previous years were removed from the system to
clean up the database and accommodate the changes. Don't forget to class or reclass your car if you have not already done so.
See you at Alameda and
Buttonwillow.
Claude
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May 22-23 Drivers' Ed / Time Trial / Club Race
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Board of Directors
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 --by Bill Benz, GGR Secretary GGR Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes for February 2, 2010
Call to Order
President Celona called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm at
his home.
All members of the Board except for the Membership Director
and the Competition Director were present. The Board was joined by Sharon
Neidel (Zone 7 Representative), Chris Hamilton and Joe Lee (GGR AX Chairs),
Andrew Forrest (Webmaster) and Past President Bill Dally.
Agenda
Changes - None
Calendar
Changes - None
Postmortem of Past Events
The Boxster Brunch organized by George Grialou packed the
back half of Alice's Restaurant in Woodside.
Many members continue to enjoy the Friday night socials
organized by Shirley Neidel on the third Friday of each month at Harry's
Hofbrau in Redwood City.
Directors' Reports
President
- Deposits are being laid for the Venues for the 50th anniversary
festivities. The President is continuing to negotiate with one venue.
Arrangements are being made to facilitate payment of Zone 7
fees for Zone-sponsored events.
Vice
President - Insurance has been ordered for all of the autocross events
presently on the calendar for 2010 as well as the March 26-28 Driving Event and
Club Race at Thunderhill.
Treasurer
- Several bank accounts have been consolidated to save extra fees. A very
comprehensive report was delivered and accepted
Secretary
- Nothing to Report
Social
- Nothing to Report
Membership
- The President furnished the Membership Report that he had obtained from PCA
National. New Members listed therein were approved
Competition
- Permits are being obtained for the first autocross at Alameda. Showroom
stock classes were discussed.
Webmaster
- Website activity levels were reported. The Social, Autocross and Driver's
Education pages have been updated.
Topics for Discussion
Tax
Returns for 2009 were discussed and approved for filing.
The
Zone 7 Representative provided a report of Zone 7 and PCA National news, which
was appreciated by the Board.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at 9 p. m.
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Membership Report
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 --by Jeff Kost, Membership Director
Some good
news to start out the year! The primary membership level and the associate
membership numbers were up in both January and February, a nice change of
events after 2009. Both new memberships and renewals were strong and transfers
in/out were in GGR's favor. Let's keep it up, make sure you mention the club to
Porsche owners not already involved. Even better, let's see you at an event in
the VERY near future!
Total
Members: 2378
Primary: 1387
Affiliate: 990
HQ Life: 1
GGR Life: 3
New Members:
16 Jan / 22 Feb
Transfers
In: 9
Jan / 2 Feb
Transfers
Out: 2 Jan / 2 Feb
New
Members
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Carolyn Beach
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Moss Beach
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Michael Bonner
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San Francisco
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Karra Canum
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San Jose
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2010 Targa 4S
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Mateo Carr
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San Francisco
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2000 911 C4
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Winston Chou
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San Francisco
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Gene Cook
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San Jose
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2006 Cayman S
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Cecily Cullen
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San Jose
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Jessica Daker
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San Jose
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John & Jessica Daker
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San Jose
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2006 911
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Doug Ferrari
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Monte Sereno
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2009 Carrera
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Mark & Stephanie Fleishman
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San Mateo
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1987 Carrera
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Martin Fong
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San Francisco
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1987 Carrera
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Ryan Frazier
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San Jose
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Krista Gatlin
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San Francisco
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2000 Carrera
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Kris & Kit Halvorsen
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Los Altos
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2010 GT3
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Nicole Hamilton
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Redwood Shores
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Steve Hill
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Campbell
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1959 RSK
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Sue Hoeschler
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Tiburon
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Idrivefast Hollister
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Redwood Shores
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2009 Cayman
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Mark & Nina Homnack
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Palo Alto
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2007 911 4S
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Vincent Huey
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Fremont
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Todd & Yunju Jacob
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Union City
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2010 911Carrera
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Bill Jump
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Morgan Hill
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2006 Cayenne S
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Judy Keeley
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Saratoga
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Lar Kerila
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San Jose
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2010 GT3
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Vincent Lai
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Santa Clara
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2006 Boxster
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Craig Largent
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Menlo Park
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2010 911 4s
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Marc Libarle
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San Francisco
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2002 BOXTER S
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Mathias Linz
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Rheinland-Pfalz
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1989 3.2L Carrera
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Vani Man
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Santa Clara
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Stephan McKeown
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Saratoga
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2010 Cayman S
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Payam Mirrashidi
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San Francisco
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2009 Carrera S
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Insaaf & Malalai Mohideen
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Santa Clara
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2009 911 S
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Scot Montagnino
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San Francisco
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1996 993 c4s
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Kurt Neimann
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07545 Gera
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1971 Porsche 91
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Oguz Olcay
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Sunnyvale
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Trac Pham
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San Jose
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1997 911
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Steven & Michael Poitras
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Mountain View
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1999 Carrrera 4
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Ross Poole
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Boulder
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1969 911
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Michael Praisner
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Atherton
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2008 Cayman
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Michael Prospero
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San Mateo
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2008 911
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Andre Robinson
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San Jose
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2006 Cayman S
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Francis Rodriguez
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Santa Clara
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2007 997 GT3
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Allison Rolling
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San Jose
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Jaime Smith
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Santa Rosa
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1988 911
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Jessie Stanshaw
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San Francisco
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Jonathan Strausburg
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San Mateo
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2002 911
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Danny & Kelly Terrones
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Campbell
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2009 Boxster
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Roger Wise
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Alameda
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2002 Carrera 4
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Kipp Zenger
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Morgan Hill
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1987 911
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Anniversaries
35 Years
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Allen Henderson
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Los Gatos
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1999 BOXSTER
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Robert & Carolyn Paterson
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Redwood City
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1977 924
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25 Years
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Tom Amon
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Campbell
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1979 911
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Chuck & Rosemary Davis
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San Carlos
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1976 912E
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Ralf & Candi Gester
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Alamo
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1986 911
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20 Years
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Ann Hammill
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Los Gatos
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Robert Mattei
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San Francisco
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1978 930
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Janice Slusser
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Los Altos
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15
Years
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Fred Campbell Campbell
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Redwood City
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1975 911
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Laura Enander-harris
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Saratoga
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Lisa Fanslau
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San Jose
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Charles Krause
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Palo Alto
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1991 911C2
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Louisa Ward
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Napa
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10
Years
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Erich Bauer
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Berkeley
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91 911
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Clemson Chan
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San Jose
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1974 914
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Christopher Culp
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San Carlos
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1984 911
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Virginia Dugan
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Sonora
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Christine Dunn
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Menlo Park
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Charles & Karen Gayraud
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San Jose
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1998 C2S
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Ryan Madson
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San Jose
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80 911SC
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Mark Slauson
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San Ramon
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2005 911 C2S
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Behram Soonawala
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Santa Rosa
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75
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Gregory Welch
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Alamo
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1970 914
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Michael Banic
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Los Altos
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2000 911
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Robert Coe
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Santa Cruz
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2003 996
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Nancy Battaglia
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San Jose
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Pat Lynch
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Millbrae
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1985 911
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5 Years
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Novita Aryani
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West Bloomfield
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William Bares
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Los Altos
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1974 911
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Gregory Chiocco
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San Jose
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Hans Cullen
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Burlingame
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Toby Fernandez
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Sunnyvale
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1978 911
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Ermanno Gallegioni
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San Francisco
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2005 997 S
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T & Harmin Grewal
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Belmont
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1966 912
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Ronald Hill
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Livermore
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1986 911
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Matthew & Linda Kellett
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San Jose
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1987 911
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Bella Lindell
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Oakland
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Carol McNamara
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San Mateo
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1988 911
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Sharyl Montague
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Los Altos
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Nella Pellegrini
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San Francisco
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Michael Riyanto
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San Francisco
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1999 911
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Ken Schroeder
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Los Altos
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2005 911
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Ernest Selander
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San Francisco
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1987 911
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Michael & Katherine Sherman
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Half Moon Bay
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2005 Boxster
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Carl & JoAnne Swirsding
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Los Altos
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2005 Boxster S
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Patrick & Margaret Wong
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Sacramento
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1993 911
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Michael & Laura Evanchik
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San Mateo
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1980 911 SC
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Elizabeth Murphy
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Hillsborough
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Robert Stiffler
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Oakley
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1974 914
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Rodger & Arita Toliver
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Fremont
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1989 911
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The Power Chef
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Knowing when you're DONE!
--by John Celona, The Power Chef®
In life as in the kitchen, it's important to know when you're done. Muhammad Ali had to know when he was done boxing. Mario Andretti had to make the call to end racing. Sylvester Stallone had to bring down the curtain on playing Rocky (er, forget that one!). And, even for extremely desirable and hotly contested prizes like being the Nugget editor, after a few hundred years of turning out issues it will be time to turn the reins over to a new generation, if for no other reason then because members will tire of hearing me talk about when Porsches had tires and rolled on the ground. "Geezer!" I can hear it now.
Thankfully, it's much easier in the kitchen than in life to know when you're done--and infinitely easier to practice! And it's one of the most immediate ways to improve your cooking because folks often get it wrong--for a variety of reasons. The main reasons I've seen are tradition, worries about getting sick, not enough patience, and not realizing what heat does.
Tradition usually involves cooking things like your (momma) (grandma) (great great aunt of your uncle Vinny's ex-wife) (etc.) used to do. This usually involves cooking things to death, like vegetables or the Thanksgiving turkey. Broccoli does not have to be cooked until dark green, soft, and falling apart into little pieces. Save that for when your teeth are gone and you've misplaced your dentures. I like it bright green and still crisp! Most people seem to agree when I surprise them by serving it this way.
The turkey situation gets us into the issue of food worries. Fears of salmonella and triccinosis have people cooking poultry and pork until any semblance of moisture has left the meat. Actually, this is literally what happens: as meat is heated, the water bound up with the proteins separates and comes out as juice. More heat; less water, until mummified meat is all that remains.
Certainly, fifty or a hundred years ago food safety was a major problem. Today, if you're careful about buying fresh poultry or pork and carefully rinsing the poultry in cool water, both can be safely eaten with just a hint of pink remaining in them. Possibly you've had it this way in restaurants. Cooked this way, the meat has so much more moistness and flavor you'd scarcely know it's the same thing. And it's safe. I've cooked this way for decades and never made anyone sick. Nor is this my idea; the New Professional Chef published by the Culinary Institute of America prescribes this.
Of course, getting the degree of doneness right does require realizing what heat does, which is actually very simple. Heat cooks things! And when you get something hot, the heat continues to cook it after you've turned off the source of heat, until the food starts to cool down. This continued-cooking effect fools a lot of folks.
For example, when cooking beef, you need to remove it from the heat (out of the oven or off the grill) when it's less done than you want it. If you like your beef medium rare, you need to take the steaks off the grill or the roast out of the oven when it's rare. The heat from the hot outside of the meat will continue penetrating to the cooler interior and finish cooking it. Like the heat that continues to radiate out or your engine after you shut off the car (no more combustion).
Turkeys work this way, too. I take them out when there's still a hint of pink to the juices when pierced. The heat on the outside will finish cooking it. Plus letting meat rest helps keep the juices in it. When I'm making a smoked turkey to take over the relatives, I'll take the bird off the grill, plop it in a covered pan, and it will still be hot (but ready to be carved!) an hour later.
Perfectly Pink Pork  |
Vegetables work this way, too. Turn the heat off when they still seem underdone, let them sit a spell, and they'll be perfectly cooked and still crisp and hot. If I oversteam my broccoli, I'll take it off the hot burner and leave the cover off so it cools off faster and doesn't get overdone.
This brings us to the last issue: not enough patience. Some things actually need to go longer than most folks let them. Marinating, for example. Meat I like to marinate at least overnight in the fridge. Marinating a turkey (dry rub or brine) takes a good three days in the fridge for the flavors to penetrate. Likewise soups and stews. Getting the main broth boiling with all the flavorings, cooking the meat till tender (an hour or more), adding the last of the fresh vegetables and letting it sit with the heat turned off does wonders for the flavors. Gives everything a chance to get acquainted, so to speak.
Sometimes, there's an added health benefit, too. Take bacon for example.
Many folks like their bacon just fried for a few minutes, just till it's a little cooked but still soft. I like it cooked until really crisp, which takes maybe 20-30 minutes for medium heat (high heat will burn it). This gives it a wonderfully concentrated flavor along with that crisp texture and an added health benefit: a lot of the fat melts off. You can then remove the bacon, drain it on paper towels, and--though still a high-calorie food--it's a lot less fatty than it started off.
So, in the spirit of knowing when things are done, I present my recipe for super-crisp bacon.
Then I will stop--knowing it's time this column is done!
Bon appétit!
The Power Chef
Super-Crisp Bacon
A little extra time makes the bacon super-crisp and tasty-and gives you a chance to drain off a lot of the fat!
The Gist
Cook bacon slowly over medium heat until very crisp, then drain on paper towels.
Ingredients
1 lb. bacon
1/4 cup water
Method
Add about a 1/4 cup of water to a large fry pan with a cover. Turn the heat on high. When the water is bubbling, spread the bacon out across the whole bottom of the pan. Cover, leave the heat on high for another minute or two, then turn the heat down to medium. Every five minutes or so, arrange and flip the pieces of bacon so they crisp evenly.
When the bacon is really crisp, remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. If needed, you can keep it warm in a low oven. Save the melted fat in a jar in the fridge for frying other things (like oatmeal pancakes!).
Notes
Starting with a little water in the pan helps speed up the process of melting off the fat and helps the bacon not to stick. If your slices do stick, add a little more during the cooking process to help deglaze the pan.
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Say it ain't so, Jo.*
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--by Bill Benz, GGR Secretary
Johannes van Overbeek in a Scott Sharp Patron Ferrari 430!
Competing AGAINST the Flying Lizard GT3 RSRs in ALMS this year!! No...no...say it
ain't so...
After the initial shock it's fairly hard to feel sorry for
anyone.
Johannes gets to drive a Ferrari. That's really cool. He
gets to keep his Porsche Cup recognizing him as one of the greatest
non-professional drivers in all the ranks of Porschedom. Post race festivities
probably will be a lot better when the theme is Patron Tequila rather than
air-borne reptiles.
Porsche and the Flying Lizards shouldn't miss many beats.
As great as Johannes has been for the Lizards, Porsche should be fairly long
in replacement drivers now that it seems to be slowing down its prototype
racing efforts.
We GGR Porsche folks come out OK, but probably melancholy.
As much as we all love Zuffenhausen machinery, there is something about the
look and sound of a Ferrari that's hard to beat. It's not like Johannes is
going to be in a Corv....Corv..... (Sorry. Like you I'll bet, I just can't even
mutter that name... Now, that would be terrible.)
Loosing Johannes to the dark side has another benefit. It
reminds us all how heady the Porsche driving standards are in Northern
California. We have Kevin Buckler and the Racer's Group who periodically do
things like win the Daytona 24 Hours outright in a 911. We have Scott Neiman
and his Flying Lizards who act as a sub rosa factory team and win just about
everything they enter. Going back a generation there was Bob Garretson and his
team of "made in Mountain View" 935's which together with Paul Newman, Bobby
Rahal and the like carried Bob to a World Endurance Championship. This also
gave a group of GGR members like Jerry Woods and Bruce Anderson the chance to
crew on the best cars in the world at the highest level of motorsport. Let's
not forget Jon Milledge and Walt Maas and their Charlie Burton (Carlsen Porsche) -
sponsored 944 Firehawk-winning team.
There are also individual Bay area performers, past and
present, who have set winning standards at PCA diving events. Tom Provasi and
Garry Walton have at least eleven or twelve Top Time Of Day results at Parade
autocrosses, (and Garry has something like twelve SCCA National solo titles to
his name.) Terry and Judy Zaccone have racked up an obscene pile of Parade
autocross class wins. Let's think go a moment. Marcel in 43 years old and has
been to almost all the Parades over that span. Terry and Judy each win their
respective classes every year that that there is not a fluke event such as a
monsoon hitting as they are preparing to go on course after all their
competition had finished their runs in full sun, dry conditions That has to
mean 75 or 80 individual victories. Similarly the big news in Parade rallies
was the few times in a generation when the late John Clever (usually with one
of the Toneys) was not the overall winner.
All of these folks were approachable and enthusiastic.
Certainly their brilliance rubs off on the rest of us in some small way.
Their presence and their accomplishments make doing Porsche stuff extra fun.
Johannes has always been in the forefront when it comes to
sharing his enthusiasm with us. He has been our most open door into the big
time of racing. He'd better watch out, however. As much as it's fun to see
him driving a Ferrari, let's not forget what happened at Sebring, last week.
You know - car running great - suddenly bursts into flames. No one has
confirmed a lightning bolt from on high but the old testament is full of tales
of divine retribution for sins a lot less serious than leaving the Porsche
fold.
* With apologies to Shoeless Joe Jackson and his Blacksox
team mates.
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A Novice View of the 1971 Sun Valley Porsche Parade
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--Andrew S. Chisholm, First Settlers Region
As a young rookie Porsche owner, I discovered the benefits of PCA
membership after joining in 1969. What really got my attention was this
wonderful Panorama magazine that
appeared in my mailbox each month. In the days when there were no electronic
means of communication (as we practice today), and Porsche ownership was
somewhat rare, this magical Porsche-only publication was a real treat to
receive.
Panorama's pages
included lovingly written articles about Porsche cars and the people who drove
them. It featured advertising of Porsche stuff to buy, upcoming events to
attend, Porsche factory news and stories of Porsche racing from all over the
world. One event that caught my eye was the annual PCA convention, referred to
as the Porsche Parade. In 1971, Sun Valley, Idaho would be the location. I
just had to attend.
I must admit being somewhat intimidated at attending such an
extravaganza. Some of those famous people mentioned in the "Pano" would be there. No one from my region was going
to attend. How would I do competing against all of those experienced and
accomplished Porsche drivers? Maybe I should sit this one out. Or just attend
and take pictures. I decided to enter the autocross and the hill climb
competition. At least I had some local autocross experience.
After a wonderful trip in my 1969 912, I drove into the parking lot of
the Sun Valley Lodge. It was a beautiful place, but my first fear had come
true. There I was in the midst of hundreds of Porsches and I knew no one.
However, no sooner than I had switched off the ignition, I was approached by an
official-looking guy in a Castrol Oil hat. Uh oh, I must be parked in the
wrong place. He had spotted my Virginia license plates and came over to
introduce himself. Turns out he was Dan Rowzie of the Potomac region. Dan and
I had met at a couple of PCA events back east, and he was one of those famous
people with his name in the Pano,
as he served as the National Public Relations guy for PCA. Dan introduced me
to the members of his group and invited me to park with them in the concours
prep parking lot. So much for not knowing anyone 2000 miles from home!
Tuesday was concours day with over 100 Porsche cars displayed for
judging. It is hard to explain the impression that spectacular scene had on
me. I used all of the film for my camera that I had brought with me and wished
I had more. I went from Porsche to Porsche, taking notes and pictures and
talking to most anyone who would listen. What a wonderful day! The owners of
the Porsches displayed all seemed to have a special story about their cars and
were anxious to tell the story. Back at the Lodge late that afternoon, I
thought that this sort of gathering was not just about the cars, but the very
special people who drive them. Maybe there is a slogan brewing there.
I was real nervous about the autocross. If there is any event where I
can display my skills, the autocross is it. On Wednesday morning, I showed up
early to make sure that I was prepared. First, the 912. Just take all movable
items from the interior and trunk, take off the hubcaps (yes, hubcaps) and
adjust the tire pressures. For a "stock" class Porsche, that is about it and
not much has changed over the years. As for driver prep, walk the course and
make sure you know exactly where you want to go. One main thing about the
autocross game is not to hesitate while you wonder where the course goes.
The Sun Valley autocross was held on public streets, some of which were
roads in front of houses and condos not yet built. This made for kind of a
"road cross", fun to drive and safe for the drivers. The 912 class was well
represented, with 23 cars entered as four cylinder Porsches were pretty common.
As the 912 group lined up for the start, I thought I should have a pretty good
chance to do well. Lots of different colors and years of 912s were staged, but
all seemed somewhat the same, making it close to a "spec" class.
The flagman waived the green and I was off on my first Porsche Parade
autocross. This was big time for me and I wanted to make a good showing. I
did OK following the course, made a couple of mistakes in the "turn around"
area where I thought I should shift to first gear and ultimately finished 7th
in class. I was kind of disappointed with my performance, but only 2.34
seconds from the first place time of 1:51.69. At the autocross banquet, I was
awarded a trophy for my efforts and received applause from those in attendance.
Wow, I was one notch down from the Indy 500!
Upon arriving home, I had all of my pictures developed and thought that
I sure would like to have one of my 912 in action during the autocross. A
great idea would to be to put a request in the Mart section of Pano, so I sent in an advertisement to the Wanted
section. After all, lots of people were there and maybe someone would have a
picture that they would share. I never got a response from my ad, but the Pano editor took note of my request and published a
picture of my 912 and me in action at the Sun Valley autocross.
There, in the September, 1971 issue of the Porsche Panorama, for all the world to see forever, is a picture of
me autocrossing with the windshield wipers on full blast. It was not raining.
Be careful of what you wish for.
In the minds and memories of all who attended the Sun Valley Parade, it
has always been known as one of the best ever, especially for it's time. I was
fortunate to have been there. I have that 7th place trophy around
here somewhere, but the memories of the folks who were there remain today.
People such as Dan Rowzie, Walt Woodhead and Bob Harper and their friends and
family of the Potomoc Region made my first Porsche Parade a neat experience.
My attendance at 28 Porsche Parades since has added many more lifetime Porsche
friends as the years have gone by. Check out the next Parade, where ever it
may be held, for lifetime memories of your own.
Oh, one more thing. I have been practicing at this autocross thing and
want you six guys who beat me in Sun Valley to know that I want a re-match!
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Register for the 2010 Porsche Parade
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The Marin Sonoma Concours
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--by Kurt Fischer, Redwood past president
http://www.marinsonomaconcours.org/index.html  | I am only fixated on one thing now
until after May 16, 2010 and that is the Marin-Sonoma Concours d' Elegance and
the Redwood Region's participation in the biggest Porsche event in all of Zone
7 for 2010.
We have three categories of events
that you can partake in...
1. We are still looking for the best
of the best in Porsches for the Concours itself. We will be using the PCA Zone
7 Concours rules for "street" class, which covers everything except
the chassis and underpinnings in these classes; 356, 911's to 1973 and newly
added 912's and 914's to 1976 along with Porsche race cars of any year! If you
have that fine car or know of someone who has one...please go to this link!
2. On Saturday, May 15, 2010, we have
"The Drive" which starts in Mill Valley with a continental breakfast
and after a 2 + hour spirited drive on the back roads of Marin and Sonoma
Counties ends up with a gourmet lunch at the Rockin H Ranch situated on the
Petaluma River. The cost for this event is $40.00 per person. We are allotted 75 cars or 150 people on the
first come basis! We already have over 60 people on this tour, so do not get
left behind. Get your application in ASAP. This is for any Porsche, regardless
of year! Here is the link for "The Drive".
3. On Sunday, May 16, 2010 for the
Concours, we have about 108 spaces in a special Car
Corral Area adjacent to the Concours field and not stuck out with the
rest of the "other" cars! Corrals are great places for socializing
and general tire kicking of our favorite marque. The cost for the corral is
$40.00 per car and that includes 2 admissions to the Concours! Here is the link.
Last year, the Marin-Sonoma
Concours d' Elegance had 180 cars on the field and thousands of visitors for
its first year and this year, the field has been expanded to 200 cars. You
will not find a better Concours on this side of the Golden Gate Bridge; you
name the car and it will be there!
Remember PORSCHE is the featured marque and we will have the iconic
Janis Joplin wildly painted 356 there on display along with many other
surprises! This Concours is in our own backyard...the Redwood Region and
benefits Hospice By the Bay. All events are tax deductible! Please reserve
your space now, as these events will fill up fast!
If you have any questions, please click here to email me.
Kurt
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Porsche 918 Spyder
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Porsche Reveals High-Performance 918 Spyder Concept
Highly Efficient and Ultra-Fast Plug-in Hybrid Super Sports Car Unveiled in Geneva
ATLANTA - March 1, 2010 - Today, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche unveiled an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive technology.
The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities. For example, it is planned to provide an emission
level of just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer on fuel consumption of only three liters/100
kilometers (equal to approximately 78 mpg U.S.), which is truly outstanding, even for an
ultra-compact city car. This car, however, is intended to offer the performance of a
super sports car with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2
seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph), and a lap time on the Nordschleife of
Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.
The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world
debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. This trio - made up of Porsche's new Cayenne S
Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric
drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery, and the two-seater high-performance
918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology - clearly
demonstrates not only the great bandwidth of this new drive technology, but also the
innovative power of Porsche as a genuine pioneer in hybrid drive.
The highly-innovative 918 Spyder concept car combines Porsche's Intelligent
Performance philosophy with the high-technology from motorsport, with classic but
modern design to make a truly convincing statement.
Innovative powertrain combines race-bred V8 engine with electric drive
This open two-seater is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500
horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm - as well as electric motors on
the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW).
The V8 combustion engine is the next step in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4-
liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned mid-ship, in
front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance and the right set-up for supreme
performance on the race track.
Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe
(PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle.
The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.
The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger
cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the
regular electrical network. A further point is that the car's kinetic energy is converted
into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing
additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.
Driver's choice of four distinct driving modes
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running
modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range
of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric
motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements,
offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.
The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance.
Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to
additionally improve the car's driving dynamics.
In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the
highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and
dynamic output. With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in
additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.
With the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and
applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of
a thoroughbred racing car, or the extremely low emissions and high fuel economy
figures of a plug-in hybrid.
Advanced body structure and design offer more than just good looks
Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the Porsche 918 Spyder also bears
out the car's DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its
monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) and liberal use of
magnesium and aluminum not only reduce weight to below 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb, but
also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.
Reminiscent of highly successful, legendary racing cars such as the Porsche 917 and
the current Porsche RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder, with its design concept so typical of
Porsche arouses powerful emotions. The combination of racing car dimensions, clearly
structured design with perfectly balanced surfaces, and innovative details throughout,
creates an ideal synthesis of form and function - following Porsche's design DNA.
The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the
road. Variable aerodynamics, typical of Porsche, ensures both visionary and traditional
highlights especially around the rear spoiler. The striking rear hoods extending out of
the headrests, in turn, not only fulfill an aerodynamic function on the 918 Spyder, but
also accommodate retractable air intakes with a ram air function.
High-tech interior provides glimpse into the future
The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but
also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and
ergonomic high-tech operation. Additionally, the cockpit offers a glimpse at the potential
interior architecture of future Porsche super sports cars. The three free-standing
circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right)
would appear to come directly from a racing car in the '60s, bearing out that unique
philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of Porsche.
The center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch
screen for intuitive control of the car's functions, serving to reduce the number of visible
controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.
The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke
multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented
by a switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs and serving as the
push-to-pass button for E-boosting. Instrument illumination, finally, varies from green for
the consumption-oriented running modes to red for the performance-oriented driving
programs.
The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as
the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager
uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to
cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate
choice of power and performance.
In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the
driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.
Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special
energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as
well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.
Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance
and long electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept represents an essential
milestone in Porsche's strategy on the way to genuine electric-mobility.
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The New Cayennes
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All-new
SUV debuts in Geneva with more room, technology, performance, and significantly
less weight and fuel consumption
ATLANTA -
February 25, 2010 - Led by a technologically advanced full hybrid model, the
all-new, next-generation Porsche Cayenne sport-utility vehicle will debut at
the Geneva motor show in early March. In line with the Porsche Intelligent
Performance philosophy, the entire range, from the entry level Cayenne with a
V6 engine to the 500-horsepower Cayenne Turbo, all deliver improved performance
while using less fuel and producing fewer emissions than ever before.
The New
Porsche Cayenne will make its North American debut at the New York
International Auto Show (press days: March 31 and April 1, public days: April
2-11). The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo go on sale in July as a 2011 model, and
U.S. pricing will be announced soon. Porsche dealerships will offer the Cayenne
and Cayenne S Hybrid in the fall.
The
performance of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6 The highlight is the new
Cayenne S Hybrid featuring a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive
system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6
combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the
performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.
The Cayenne S Hybrid
Through
continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric
motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving
conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The
47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the
333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds. With
peak torque at 427 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm, the Cayenne S Hybrid's performance
is on par with a V8- powered Cayenne S.
The
Cayenne S Hybrid's two drive units are connected by a decoupling clutch. A
hybrid controller constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and
intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving
modes seamless. Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short
distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or
almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra 'boost'
to the gasoline engine.
What
makes the Cayenne S Hybrid unique is its ability to cruise at high speeds on
electric power alone. The gasoline engine can be completely switched off and
disengaged from the drivetrain at
speeds
of up to 97 mph. Christened by the Weissach engineers as 'sailing' - or
cruising -- mode, the drag forces exerted by the combustion engine and their
braking effect are eliminated in the interest of lower resistance and fuel
consumption.
All
new-generation Cayenne SUVs set high standards for efficiency and performance.
Compared with the former models, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 percent
in the New European Driving Cycle and CO2 emissions are significantly reduced,
despite the increased performance. Actual EPA-certified fuel economy figures
will be available when the cars go on sale in North America in July.
Cayenne Turbo Says "Aahhh"
A new
eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with a wide range of gear ratios
and the Automatic Start Stop function (first introduced on the Panamera)
contribute to these improvements. So does efficient thermal management of the
engine and transmission cooling circuits, on-board electrical network
recuperation, variable deceleration fuel cut-off and the Cayenne's intelligent
lightweight construction.
New
Cayenne sheds weight, gains space, yet looks more sleek and compact Thanks to a
special combination of materials as well as changes in the overall vehicle
concept, such as a new all-wheel drive system, weight has been significantly
reduced on all models. Despite an even higher standard of safety, the Cayenne S
is 400 lbs lighter, which not only improves fuel consumption and lowers
emissions, but also boosts performance, agility, and handling.
The
completely new Cayenne design leaves no doubt that it is part of the Porsche
family. Its sporting character is evident from all angles, and its Porsche
shape and design highlights are more distinct than ever before.
The new
Cayenne is 1.9 inches longer than its predecessor, and an added 1.6 inches in wheelbase
ensures extra space and greater versatility. But despite larger exterior
dimensions, the new Cayenne looks far more compact and dynamic.
Luxurious Cupholders
Inside,
the luxurious interior features a high center console that, like the Panamera,
rises up at an incline to meet the dashboard center stack with high-quality
fittings and a touch-screen infotainment interface. Porsche's traditional set
of five round instruments in the drivers gauge cluster includes a
high-resolution circular TFT screen to the right of the tachometer. It can be
used to change radio stations, vehicle settings, or access the navigation
system or view the map. Rear-seat comfort is much improved, as well. The bench
slides fore-and-aft by 6.3 inches, while the backrest can be adjusted to three
different angles.
The
Cayenne V6 and V8 engines are more powerful and more fuel efficient The
entry-level Cayenne with its 300-horsepwer 3.6-liter V6 engine and mated to the
new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission consumes 20 percent less
fuel in the New European Driving Cycle than its predecessor.
Fuel
consumption is also down significantly on the high-torque Cayenne S. Its
4.8-liter V8 produces 400 horsepower, 15 more than the previous model.
When combined with the overall weight savings, performance is markedly
increased, yet fuel consumption is down by 23 percent in the New European
Driving Cycle.
The
Cayenne Turbo, with its 500-horsepower, 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 also
consumes 23 percent less fuel than its predecessor despite its improved
performance and acceleration.
Together
with the Cayenne S Hybrid, three of the new Cayenne models produce less than
200 grams of CO2 per kilometer. At 193 g/km, the Cayenne S Hybrid is not only
the cleanest Cayenne model, but also the cleanest vehicle in Porsche's entire
portfolio.
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Zone 7 Concours School
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Redwood & Zone 7 Autocross
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SVR Crab Legs Rally
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Yosemite Concours on Campus
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Mark your calendar! Otherwise you'll miss all the great stuff in April!
As always, thanks for reading.
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