Get Out & Drive ........

Well, we started off 2023 with a big bang! The monthly drive and lunch at the Longbranch Saloon was a great success, starting off with a great visit to the Porsche San Luis Obispo dealership. A big thanks to them for hosting us and providing the “goodies”!

Another highlight was the annual Zone 8 dinner and awards program last month held in Riverside. Our very own, Alfred Abken, was awarded the Zone 8 Enthusiast of the Year! A very well deserved award to a great guy. The best part was that he was completely surprised. We also found out that Chuck Jennings placed 2nd in the Zone 8 Autocross CC12 division for 2022.

I realize that there are many Porsche events to chose from every year but this year there is one that only comes around when there’s a blue moon. The Porsche Parade is actually happening in Palm Springs, California this year. Yes, it could be 100 degrees during the day but it is a beautiful heat! I have signed up and will be on site for at least the first few days. If you have never attended one then this could be the one you should go to.

The other major Porsche events happening this year include Rennsport Reunion 7 at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway and the Werks Reunion in Monterey during Car Week. I hope to see some of you at one of the major Porsche events, please introduce yourself if you see one of us there.

If you are a new member or have not had an opportunity to participate in one of our track driving events then this should be your year to do it. Our autocross events at the Santa Maria Airport, are among the best there are at a great location, and is not too far away. For the first timers, the autocross class is a great way to learn about what

by Bob Kitamura, Editor

your Porsche can do and how safe it is on the track. Our Drivers Education events are a little higher speed events and are a great way to see what you and your Porsche are capable of doing. For the first timers you have some very experienced teachers riding with you to help you with the ins and outs of driving the track. Whether it is at Buttonwillow or Laguna Seca you will have a great time.

In the last few months I have received 6 inquiries as to the Porsche 997.2, wanting to know how good a car it was. I did not know any of them and they had not previously owned Porsches. They had seen that we publish a Porsche magazine so we must know the answers. I told each of them that we love to drive Porsches but most of us do not have the technical knowledge to speak to the 997.2’s level of quality as experts. I said that I own one and love it....and I check the oil level, actually the car does that for me too. I pointed all of them towards Guy at The Stable, not sure if they ever called him. When I asked why they were looking at the 997.2’s they all said they had seen a video by PCA and that they were the most recent and reasonably priced Porsche 911’s available right now and were the best looking. So I finally looked at the video the other night. And sure enough there was Vu and Nathan talking about the 997.2. Here’s that video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g11dz2hIxzE . It inspired me enough to Get Out and Drive my Porsche!