GGR Members receive 10% off parts & service!
 |
 |
From the Wurst Wing
|
 --by John Celona, GGR President
The New Year is at SPEED
For last month's issue we were enjoying the last little bit of respite before the new year got into high gear, but this month we are THERE. Club members have been busy working on getting this year's events rolling and we even had our first event already. Here's the news on what's going on!
Annual Awards Banquet January 10th
Good to see all the folks who made it to our annual awards banquet, held at the Blackhawk Auto Museum. Kudos to Mark Powell for organizing the event and to Bill Dally for acting as master of ceremonies.
This event is our annual opportunity to recognize the people who've turned out and driven well in the time trial and autocross series and, more particularly, to recognize the club members whose contributions over the past year have been outstanding even in the context of the many dedicated volunteers who put the events on. I'd like to recognize these winners of our special club awards for this past year:
- The Family of the Year Award goes to the family in which everyone pitched in and contributed to the club the most over the past year. For 2009, we were pleased to award this to Mark, Bernadette & Jordan Gersh.
- The Enthusiast of the Year was our concours and rally chair (for us and also AX for Zone 7) Larry Adams.
- The Competitive Event of the Year was awarded to Warren Walker and Mike Cullinan for the club race at Thunderhill.
- The Social Event of the Year was awarded to GGR social director Mark Powell for the 2008 awards banquet.
- The Don Lang Award is presented annually to the GGR member who
most exhibits the spirit of good sportsmanship and service to the Club as shown
by Don Lang, in whose memory the award is presented.
This year, we were pleased to award it to Ross and Paulette Johnson.
- Lastly, GGR's greatest honor is the Perc Bliss Award, named in honor of GGR's first president. It is awarded annually to the member(s) who made the greatest contribution to the club over the past year. This year, we were very pleased to present it to Mike Cullinan and Warren Walker for their outstanding work in adding club racing and revitalizing the time trial and drivers' education series.
If you missed this great event, don't worry! There will be another one next year. Pitch in for a club event and maybe you'll be one of the winners!
GGR 50th Anniversary Update
The organizing committee has been hard at work figuring out the where and when for this event and we are presently locked in bare-knuckles negotiation with potential venues. We should have some details next month.
Mark your calendar, though! September 11-12. 2010 you'll want to join us for the big celebration!
Calling for Missing Nuggets
Over a year ago we signed up GGR member Ralf Dossman as the GGR Historian to take on a very special project: creating an online archive of all The Nuggets since The Beginning of Time. This archive will be available through the web site and launched as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.
As you may have seen from the columns past Nugget Editor Jim Bauman wrote, looking through old issues of The Nugget is just a hoot. More importantly, they provide the collective printed memory of the club as its been written over the last 50 years.
A number of members have already kindly donated past issues and Ralf has been hard at work tallying the collection and researching scanning options.
To complete the collection, we're asking members to loan or donate the following issues we are looking for: - 1960-61: all issues
- 1962: all but August
- 1963: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Aug
- 1964: Jan, Aug
- 1965: Mar, Apr, Jun, Aug, Nov, Dec
- 1966: all issues
- 1967: all issues but Nov
- 1968: all issues
- 1969: all but Dec
- 1970: Jan - Oct
- 1971: Sep
- 1974: July
If you have one or more of these issues and could lend them to us: please click here to send Ralf an email. Thanks in advance!
I think that will do it for February. Happy Valentine's Day and see you at an event!
John
|
  |
Track Primer #2: Risks
|
--by John Tavernetti, DE Communications
The Golden Gate Region of the PCA hosts roughly half-a-dozen
weekend Driver Education (DE) events at various racetracks in Northern
California each year. If you have never attended one of these events, you are
missing out on a marvelous experience. Not only are these events a fun and cathartic
escape from the routines of daily life, they offer a relatively low-cost way of
improving your driving skills. Our crew of instructors is among the best
you'll find anywhere short of the four-figure entry fees charged by professional
racing schools.
But perhaps driving your Porsche around a racetrack sounds
risky? A bit too far outside your personal comfort zone? Ask yourself this:
How many times in the past year have you found yourself travelling at speed on
the freeway alongside a large car whose driver was either: a) talking on a
phone, b) eating, c) texting, d) balancing a hot cup of coffee in one hand or e)
loading a DVD into an entertainment system in order to stop their kids from throwing
various plastic objects at them from the back seat? More than once I bet. Me
too.
Compared to what we all experience on today's busy public
roads, a well-run DE event is actually a more-controlled environment. It's
true. Consider this: Every car at a DE has just passed a basic technical
inspection. Every new student driver has an instructor alongside them
constantly communicating proper actions to take. Usually less than twenty-five
cars are allowed at a time, spread out over three miles of track. Every corner
of the track is watched by workers who, using variously colored flags and a
radio, can warn you in advance of any unusual condition ahead. Other cars cannot
pass you unless you stick your entire arm out your window and point them by on
the side of your choosing. No drivers are eating, drinking, texting or talking
on the phone. Every driver is a Porsche owner who wants to bring their car
home safely at the end of the weekend. There's more... but you get the idea.
Of course, I cannot tell you that DE events are without
risk. There are risks. Things can and occasionally do go wrong, despite everyone's
best efforts. Statistically however, incidents of vehicle damage are rare and,
thank goodness, actual injuries are nearly unheard of.
In exchange for stepping a bit outside your comfort-zone you
may find yourself having more fun than you ever thought possible. And while
you're at it, you'll be developing valuable car-control skills and situational
awareness that may help you avoid an accident on a public road someday... you
know, when that SUV driver in the next lane watching a video on his i-phone
spills twenty ounces of boiling coffee on himself. Possessing the sufficiently-practiced
skills to instantly (i.e. subconsciously) extract maximum handling and braking potential
from your Porsche at that moment might make all the difference.
For more details about upcoming track events, including
complete event rules and safety requirements, please visit www.pca-ggr.org.
I'll see you at the track!
John Tavernetti, PCA Instructor
|
Letter from the Editor
|
--by John Celona, Nugget Editor
Porsche Pets Rule!
If you have a pet (or pets!) of your own or perhaps have seen the amazing "Pets Rule!" show at Sea World, you already know what a remarkable addition to your life a companion animal makes. They truly are one of the family. The difference, of course, is that no matter how awful or frantically busy your day, a pet is still there wanting their day to be made utterly wonderful with a few pats, a little play time, and perhaps a treat. What a wonderful gift to make someone else's life just great so simply.
Carol and George Grialou, the godparents of the Boxster Brunch, help us kick off our "Porsche Pets Rule!" feature with photos of their baby Abbey. Send in a photo and short blurb on your pet! They can be next month's "cover model"!
Thanks for reading.
|
Porsche Pets Rule!
|
I am sending you a picture of our baby girl. She's 7 1/2 years old and a Black Toy Poodle. When Abby was born she weighed 5 oz. We picked her up when she was 7 weeks old. Then she weighed 1 1/2 lbs. Now at her age she tops the scale after eating at about 8 lbs. We have noticed that she has trained us very well. We have always had bigger dogs, like labs, so Abby is our first very small dog. We have made an excellent choice and hope she lives a long life.
George and Carol Grialou and Abby too!
Whoa! Little girl! Our CoCo Giselle tips the scales at 13 lbs. Guess we won't get them together soon!
--Ed.
|
| Competition Corner |
--by Wayne Van Norsdall, Competition Director
The DEC meeting went off without a hitch and the new points
system / rules have been adopted for the 2010 season. Unfortunately, we have a
few small technical changes to discuss at the Feb 2nd board meeting
before I can publish them. I am expecting to have the new rules and points
system published no later than Feb 6th on GGR's web site. I will send an email
blast announcing the rules have been posted.
Remember that our first autocross is March 20th
and our first track weekend is March 26th/27th/28th.
There will be a track orientation day Thursday 25th for those who
sign up for all three days and Friday 26th for those who choose the
two day event. So bleed your brakes and get ready for another exciting season!
Wayne
|
 |
Board of Directors
|
 --by Bill Benz, GGR Secretary GGR Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes for January 6, 2010
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Celona at 7:00
pm at his home.
All members of the Board were present. The Board was joined
by Sharon Neidel (Zone 7 Representative), Mike Cullinan and Warren Walker (GGR
TT/Club Race Chairs), Chris Hamilton and Joe Lee (GGR AX Chairs), Andrew
Forrest (WebMaster)and Past
President Bill Dally. Agenda
Changes
The draft meeting agenda was agreed upon with the addition
of a discussion of the upcoming awards banquet Calendar
Changes
Calendared dates for Board meetings were reviewed.
Postmortem of Past Events
Dent-Pro day was a success with a turn out similar to last
year.
The final autocross of the 2009 season had expected
attendance
Over 30 cars were present at the Boxster Brunch organized
by George Grialou
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
- Nothing to report
Vice
President - Insurance is being ordered for the autocross events presently on
the calendar for 2010.
Treasurer
- Outgoing Treasurer Bill Benz reported that the transition to incoming
treasurer Linda Adams was progressing on schedule. Estimated income tax
payments and Franchise Tax Board taxes have been paid. As expected, the end of
the year bank balance was down about $10,000 as compared to a year ago. This
was consistent with the budgets and the less-than-expected attendance at
several driving events during 2009. The Treasurer's report was approved.
Secretary
- Nothing to Report
Social
- Past Events were reviewed. The upcoming year-end banquet was discussed.
Final payments have been made, the schedule for the event was discussed.
Seventy six people have signed up.
Membership
- The slight decrease in membership noted throughout 2009 appears to be
slowing. Sixteen new members were accepted.
Competition
- The Driving Event Committee will meet on January 16, 2010. Any rule changes
the Committee proposes will be sent to the Board. The Board approved an
e-mail vote for or against the rule changes to be proposed by the Committee.
Webmaster
- The transition to Andrew Forrest has been completed.
Topics for Discussion
Budgets
for the 20010 Autocross series and 2010 Time Trial/Club Race Series were
presented, discussed and approved.
A
$60.00 payment to assist the set up of the Zone 7 website was approved.
The
GGR 50th anniversary was discussed. An event Committee has been
organized. A preliminary proposal for a two-day event to be held September
11-12 was put forward. The Board authorized the payment of deposits to reserve
facilities for the event.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at 9 p. m.
|
 |
November & December Membership Report
|
 --by Jeff Kost, Membership Director
The primary membership
level held flat thru November and December, similar to what we have seen over
the last six months. New memberships remained strong relative to recent
history and transfers in/out were relatively balanced. I hope that all had a
Happy New Year and wish you health and prosperity in 2010! Just a suggestion,
how about as a resolution for the New Year, each of you looks for one new
member to add to GGR!
Total Members: 2343
Primary: 1365
Affiliate: 977
HQ Life: 1
GGR Life: 3
New Members: 16
Nov/16 Dec
Transfers In: 3
Nov/5 Dec
Transfers Out: 8
Nov/2 Dec
New Members
|
Roger Allas
|
Santa Clara
|
2005 Carrera S
|
|
Tom Atkinson
|
Petaluma
|
2000 911
|
|
Peter Barrett
|
Palo Alto
|
2001 Carrera 4
|
|
Phil Bazell
|
Lafayette
|
2006 Cayman S
|
|
Laura Brock
|
San Jose
|
|
|
Mark Buchanan
|
San Francisco
|
2009 Carerra S
|
|
Tony Cerami
|
Emerald Hills
|
2002 911 Turbo
|
|
Jim Cihla
|
San Jose
|
2004 Boxster
|
|
Greg & Yvonne Fisher
|
Kentfield
|
2006 Carrera997
|
|
Keith Gillum
|
San Jose
|
2000 911
|
|
Lisa Gonsalves
|
Walnut Creek
|
|
|
Mike & Donna Greenberg
|
Atherton
|
2007 911
|
|
David & Megan Gutelius
|
Menlo Park
|
1991 964
|
|
Greg Hoff
|
Orinda
|
1996 Turbo
|
|
Eric & Shie-Rei Huang
|
Saratoga
|
2004 911 GT3
|
|
Brette Hudacek
|
Palo Alto
|
|
|
Kevin & Veysiye Johnstone
|
Mountain View
|
2007 997
|
|
Danny Jump
|
San Jose
|
2001 Boxster S
|
|
Barry Klawans
|
San Francisco
|
1979 924
|
|
Shane Knapp
|
San Jose
|
1986 944 turbo
|
|
Richard & Noriko Law
|
Mountain View
|
1987 Carrera
|
|
Ken Lee
|
Livermore
|
1981 911sc
|
|
Nicole Mitchell
|
San Bruno
|
|
|
Tiffany Montague
|
San Jose
|
|
|
Alan Muschott
|
Menlo Park
|
2008 Carrera
|
|
Daren Okada
|
Menlo Park
|
2006 997S
|
|
Darius & Zamira Oravec
|
San Jose
|
2009 Cayman S
|
|
Katherine Prescott
|
San Carlos
|
|
|
Vijay Raghavan
|
San Francisco
|
2000 Boxster
|
|
Kimberly Rooks
|
Boulder Creek
|
|
|
Stephanie Roston
|
San Francisco
|
|
|
Joan Secoquian Clark
|
San Jose
|
2008 Cayman S
|
|
Nima & Reza Shams
|
San Jose
|
1984 944
|
|
Lili Stiefel
|
San Francisco
|
1967 911
|
|
Robert Superko
|
Portola Valley
|
2006 carrerra S
|
|
Ted & Nadine Tevis
|
San Jose
|
2002 996 TT
|
|
David Venuti
|
Los Altos
|
2007 Cayman
|
|
Allen & Teresa Wilt
|
Carson City
|
1998 Carrera 2S
|
Anniversaries
35
Years
|
Gerhard Georgi
|
San Bruno
|
1974 914
|
|
Sharon Neidel
|
Redwood City
|
1994 968
|
30
Years
|
Norman Steward
|
Hayward
|
1955 550 SPYDR
|
25
Years
|
Joseph Berube
|
Apo
|
1985 930
|
|
Aaron Howe
|
San Geronimo
|
|
|
James & Jean Ohl
|
Vancouver
|
1997 BOXSTER
|
|
Claudia Fleming
|
Phoenix
|
|
|
Roger Sheridan
|
Paso Robles
|
1970 914-6
|
20
Years
|
Curt Hammill
|
Cupertino
|
1969 911
|
|
Martin Wu
|
San Francisco
|
1983 944
|
|
Linda Sheridan
|
Paso Robles
|
|
15
Years
|
David& Linda Carman
|
San Jose
|
1990 944S2
|
|
David Clark
|
St Helena
|
1960 356 S90
|
|
Kris Moore
|
Los Altos Hills
|
|
|
Mark Shattuck
|
Woodside
|
1970 911E
|
|
Stuart Ward
|
Napa
|
S 78 911SC
|
|
Kate Cavell
|
Chico
|
1972 911S
|
10
Years
|
Mark Bennett
|
Hampshire
|
1988 944
|
|
Claire Eason
|
Hampshire
|
|
|
Boris Elpiner
|
Sunnyvale
|
2000 BOXSTER
|
|
Julia Erlandson
|
Palo Alto
|
|
|
Roxanne Graas
|
San Jose
|
1996 993
|
|
Barbara Kelly
|
Moraga
|
|
|
George Koster
|
Crystal Bay
|
2005 CAYENNE TU
|
|
Kenneth Owyang
|
Belmont
|
1997 911
|
|
Pam Park
|
Alameda
|
|
|
Judith Reding
|
Dallas
|
|
|
Harlan Spiva
|
San Jose
|
2001 911
|
|
Lisa Wicker
|
Rutherford
|
|
|
George Buck
|
San Jose
|
1975 914
|
|
J Lynch
|
Millbrae
|
1985 911
|
|
Alexis Quiring
|
San Francisco
|
|
5
Years
|
Alger Chapman
|
Moss Beach
|
1985 944
|
|
Shannon Clemente
|
Oakland
|
|
|
Sherry Deats
|
Menlo Park
|
|
|
Lee Hamilton
|
Richmond
|
|
|
Pascal Lehmann
|
Potts Point Nsw 2011
|
|
|
Jeffrey Malone
|
San Francisco
|
1978 911sc
|
|
Yochiko Okamura
|
San Francisco
|
|
|
Gary Reis
|
Menlo Park
|
1986 911
|
|
SirAndy Schmidt
|
Oakland
|
1970 914-4
|
|
David Shapiro
|
Sausalito
|
1996 911 C4S
|
|
Silvia Spiva
|
San Jose
|
|
|
Elizabeth Sweeney
|
Portola Valley
|
|
|
Albert Yue
|
San Francisco
|
1965 356SC
|
|
Larry Blair
|
San Jose
|
2004 911 GT
|
|
Greg Brandeau
|
Los Altos
|
1983 944
|
|
Joe Eschbach
|
Los Altos
|
|
|
Glenn O'Dell
|
Napa
|
1987 930
|
|
Phil Turner
|
Pleasant Hill
|
|
|
Wayne Van Norsdall
|
Walnut Creek
|
1973 914
|
|
 |
|
The Power Chef
|
"The Importance of Being Earnest"...
--by John Celona, The Power Chef®
...is, of course, the title of a play by Oscar Wilde and later a movie. In it, a man by the name of Jack is a major landowner and justice of the peace, with tenants, farmers, and a number of servants and other employees all dependent on him. For years, he has also pretended to have an irresponsible black-sheep brother named Ernest who leads a scandalous life in pursuit of pleasure and is always getting into trouble of a sort that requires Jack to rush grimly off to his assistance. In fact, Ernest is merely Jack's alibi, a phantom that allows him to disappear for days at a time and do as he likes (synposis courtesy of SparkNotes).
Through a tangled series of events, "Jack" learns that his name is, in fact, Ernest, and this rather remarkably proves to be the key to winning the heart of the woman he's already fallen for. In the end, Jack admits "I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest."
I rather think that developing a regular exercise habit is akin to discovering "the importance of being Earnest." We all lead very busy and full lives. It is all too easy to let work, family, work, social duties, hobbies, and work squeeze every bit of extra energy and ambition out of you. Then, on those rare occasions when you can take a breather, it is all too tempting just to relax with a movie or a magazine--all too easy, in other words, just to be the entirely serious "Jack."
Lurking within you, though, is a fit person struggling to get out. Perhaps you're lucky enough that your inner "Ernest" is already out and he sneaks off for exercise regularly. I must confess to finding it rather easier to keep "Ernest" a secret until I get to know people better. Much easier to say I'm "not available" from 11:30 to 1:30 than to say I'm dashing off to do the noon masters' swim workout.
Immediately after the New Year I see a great many would-be Ernests at the gym. Being a regular, it's quickly evident when a newcomer arrives, usually confirmed by their looking around in bewilderment. Men typically grab dumbells for a few bicep curls, then resume wandering.
I do wish them all the best, and hope they can continue. Fitness has a wonderful way of enhancing the entire rest of your life, whether you're autocrossing, working in the yard, playing with the kids, or just unloading the car. It is a wonderful feeling to be fit enough to move and do what you like without worrying about imminent injury.
Sadly, almost all New-Year-Ernests revert to Jack all too quickly. They've shown up, perhaps worked hard enough to get sore, not noticed a lick of difference after a week or two, become discouraged and go back to the office and the Blackberry--neither of which has notable fitness benefits.
Equally regrettably, though the messages on the importance of fitness and exercise seem loud and clear in media and culture, acceptance of making allowances for fitness seems the exception rather than the rule. The attitude seems to be "It's great that you work out. Just don't let it interfere with your work."
I think giving in regularly to your inner Ernest to exercise has huge benefits in work productivity which are largely unrecognized. I am highly motivated to work hard and get my work done so I have time to work out, too. The Jacks of the world show their mettle by scheduling all-day meetings. I'd rather compress it to 2-3 hours, fit in the workout, and maybe even make dinner, too. Call me an incorrigible Ernest. I rather think of it as a daily escape for the sake of ME, aside from all the time I devote to other people and things.
Maybe there's an angle here: if more people thought of exercise as a guilty pleasure they surreptitiously indulged in rather than drudgery, they might stick with it!
Besides, think of the benefits of not having time for a big lunch! And, if someone asks where you've been for the last two hours, just say "Working earnestly." (wink!)
Bon Appetit,
The Power Chef
If you're living "earnestly," you may have to munch lunch at your desk when you get back to the office. Here's a truly great sandwich that waits very well in the office fridge until you return!
An Easy (but "Ernest"!) Tuna Sandwich
The Gist
Make an easy tuna salad with drained, canned tuna, equal parts mayonnaise and yogurt, minced red onion and celery. Have on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato. Eat along with a can of corn for a complete meal.
Ingredients
2 cans tuna in water, drained (white or chunk light)
1 tbs. mayonnaise
1 tbs. yoghurt
2 tbs. minced red onion
2 tbs. minced celery
4 slices whole wheat bread
4 slices tomato
4 pieces lettuce
1 can of corn
Method
Combine the tuna, mayonnaise, yoghurt, onion, and celery and mix thoroughly. Distribute onto the 4 slices of bread. Put 2 slices of bread together with the lettuce and tomato in between. Enjoy with the can of corn on the side.
Notes
I prefer chunk light tuna to white because it seems to have more flavor and is less dry. Mixing equal parts yoghurt and mayonnaise gives the right creaminess while halving the fat content.
Spreading some tuna salad on each slice keeps the sandwich moist and eliminates the need for extra mayonnaise on the other slice of bread.
This produces a very tasty tuna salad with far fewer calories than the usual variety. I eat it regularly and without hesitation.
Variations
Tuna Mexicana: skip the celery and instead add a small can of drained, mild green chiles. Black olives would also be good.
Thai Tuna: combine the tuna with 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 tsp. thai fish sauce, 1/2 tsp. lime juice, a small can of mild green chiles, and 2 finely minced kafir lime leaves (I get them off my tree.) Exotic and very tasty.
|
|
Good Will or Not so Good Will
|
--by Bill Benz, GGR Secretary
Companies like to talk about the value of their "good will".
One way to look at good will is to ask "how much TOO MUCH are you happily
willing to pay?" When I'm buying $6000.00 purses for Ruth at the San Jose
fleamarket I always look for the Looey Vooton name. I want to see it on the
bag, on the flaps and on each and every one of the straps. I know that my man
Looey knows how to make a great $6000.00 bag. I want everyone to know that Ruth
and I are persons of attainment and dignatude. Looey locks that in even
without the price tag showing. We ain't taking chances with anyone else like
that Goochy fella. Looey's got this good will thing nailed. So does our
favorite German car company.
It's interesting when a company or its marketing department
starts to doubt the value of the company's good will. Remember when Jack in the
Box made a big deal of getting rid of Jack . Explosives were involved.
Even more fun was when KFC decided that no one wanted to
hear about "Kentucky" or "Fried" or "Chicken" and instead ran a campaign
showing hard-hatted iron workers sitting on skyscraper girders excitedly
opening their lunch pails to savor Kitchen Fresh Cooking (Get it? "K" "F" "C")
in the form of humus wraps and nondairy yogurt parfaits...NOT-T-T-T-T!
In each case someone questioned the value of the good will
associated with the old mark and decided that a do-over was needed. These
advances were turned into hasty retreats. The first back to the established
comfort of clown heads and in the other to the happy world of secret herbs and
spices and a white-suited, bearded gentleman standing over a deep fat fryer.
The issue of goodwill value comes up in our world because of
a comment I read this Fall speculating on the future of Porsche and Audi
motorsport activities now that the two companies are more closely related.
(Unfortunately, I now can't find the comment or a cite to it so this has to
be taken as an urban legend.) The comment was to the effect that it might
make sense for the Porsche and the Audi racing efforts to be combined and this
would be a good opportunity to resurrect the "Auto Union" name.
For those of us who are way old "Auto Union" conjures up
images of Germany from the thirties and "Auto Union 1000" sedans in the late
50's. My recollection is that the "1000" was sort of a Deutschlandic "Humber
Super Snipe". I think I've seen three or four "Auto Union 1000s" on the highway
in my lifetime. Let's be honest. This does make it more poplar than lots of
other German cars of this era - Messerschmidt minicars, NSU Prinzs' and
Amphicars. But not by much. My guess us that for younger car buyers
(identifiable no pacemakers and almost no Depends) "Auto Union" comes up
essentially a zero.
It's hard to imagine that "Auto Union" would be more
valuable than "Porsche" in the sports car market place. To me, "Porsche" is
almost as good as Looey Vooton!
|
 |
2010 Proposed Rules Changes
|
--Here they are! Click on the photo and log in to the GGR bulletin board to really read them. --Ed.
|
 |
2010 Porsche Turbo
|
New 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Goes on Sale This Week
Porsche Icon Boasts 500 Horsepower, Delivers 25 mpg
ATLANTA - January 25, 2010 - Porsche Cars North America announced today that the 2010
Porsche 911 Turbo will arrive at its U.S. dealers this week and go on sale on January 30. This is only
three months after the debut of the highly acclaimed Panamera, Porsche's first Gran Turismo and
sports car for four.
Porsche traditionally has emphasized efficiency, but the new flagship 911 gives a new meaning to its
high-performance label. While its acceleration, braking and handling capabilities make it a true super
sports car, it goes about its business with a thriftiness that is equally remarkable and by no means
the norm in its class. With 20 more horsepower, and a 13 percent increase in fuel economy, the new
911 Turbo is indeed more powerful and more efficient.
"We are very excited to welcome the all-new 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo into the family," said Detlev
von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "More than ever, this supercar is a
technological tour de force, and the seemingly unanimous accolades from the media support what
we already believe; this is the best 911 Turbo ever."
The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo features the first entirely new engine in its storied 35-year history. The
new flat-six boxer engine now delivers 500 horsepower, 20 more than the previous power plant.
Maximum torque is up by 15 to 516 lb. ft. when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package
Turbo.
All of this means that the new 911 Turbo can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds when
combined with the new, highly acclaimed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) seven-speed dual
clutch transmission. Top track speed is 194 mph for both the Coupe and the Cabriolet models and
its EPA estimates are a best-in-class 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for the new Coupe when
equipped with the PDK transmission.
"The Porsche 911 Turbo has always represented the pinnacle of the 911 model line since it was first
introduced in 1974," said von Platen. "Now, 35 years later, the Turbo is still considered the standard
when looking for the perfect combination of supercar performance with everyday drivability."
The 2010 Turbo Coupe and Turbo Cabriolet prices are $132,800 and $143,800, respectively.
|
|
Porsche Driving School & Travel Club
|
Porsche Sport Driving School and Porsche Travel Club Offer a Wide Range of Activities for 2010
Special Driving Events Planned in Coming Year
Atlanta/Stuttgart, January 15, 2010 - Porsche is challenging its most passionate drivers in 2010 to
hone their performance skills on an array of new and established locations that include the renowned
Porsche Driving School at the scenic but challenging Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham,
Alabama, as well as other special locations around the globe.
Internationally, Porsche has plans for special hands-on driver training, as well as exclusive travel and
driving experiences at exciting locations worldwide. Interested participants can begin booking
immediately through Porsche Sport Driving School and the Porsche Travel Club 2010.
Most appropriately at this time of the year, the first event is Winter Training as part of the Porsche
Driving Experience. Two ideal events for beginners are Porsche's Precision Training Camp in Austria
and Camp 4 in Finland. For the more experienced winter drivers, on the other hand, Porsche is
offering snowbound tracks and ice lake driving courses prepared exclusively for the German
automaker at the Porsche Driving Experience Center in north Finland, which recently opened in 2009.
Here several Winter Training Sessions are being offered on this frozen tundra from January until the
end of April. The ultimate driving experience here is reserved for the Master Training Experience with
Porsches running on ice with spiked tires that promise the ultimate in severe winter driving fun.
As always, the Porsche Sport Driving School operates year round and offers numerous courses for
beginners, intermediates and advanced drivers, including special programs tailored to specific
groups of drivers. Porsche Classic Training with historical sports cars, for example, is now being
held for the second time. Super Sport Training, in turn, thrills drivers with the very high-performance
Porsche sports cars such as the Carrera GT, the 911 GT2, or the GT3. The "Women Only," program,
as the name indicates, is targeted specifically at women with a penchant for driving in truly sporting
style.
The Porsche Sport Driving School forms the heart of Porsche's performance driving events for most
of its customers and has been a part of Porsche's special events for many years. Here in the U.S.,
Porsche operates one of the country's top Sport Driving Schools anywhere. Guest drivers of all skill
levels receive personal instruction in Porsche renowned sports cars from 28 top professional drivers,
many of whom are highly accomplished drivers in their sport with historic wins in some of the world's
most renowned races. For example, the team is led by the great endurance racer, Hurley Haywood,
who among other accomplishments, has won five times at the 24 Hours of Daytona, three times at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and twice the 12 Hours of Sebring. Various programs include beginning,
intermediate and advanced race instruction. Programs can be booked for one, two or three days.
All in all, some 250 instructors working for Porsche the world over guarantee optimum support and
know-how for participants - on national and international race tracks, both offroad and on ice.
Participants even have the opportunity to acquire a motorsport license in order to join in customer
races such as the Porsche Sports Cup.
The wide range of activities offered by the Porsche Travel Club subdivided in 2010 into four specific
themes is both attractive and highly individual: Porsche Behind the Scenes, Porsche Weekends,
Porsche Adventure Tours, and Porsche Camps. Apart from day and weekend excursions to popular
destinations in Germany, Porsche Travel Club also offers exclusive tours to beautiful places both
nearer by and far away. Driving a Porsche sports car, a Cayenne or the Panamera, for example,
guests have the opportunity to discover both the Provence and the Côte d'Azur, the Alps or the
Pyrenees.
The various courses and sessions offered by the Porsche Driving Experience may also be booked by
companies wishing to give their employees a very special gift. For further information on both U.S.
and international programs, please visit Porschedriving.com or call 888 204-7474.
|
|
Panamera Test Drive
|
|
Time to start getting your car ready--only six more weeks till the driving starts!
As always, thanks for reading.
|
|
