The Coastalaire - June 2023

Coastalaire

California Central Coast Region Porsche Club of America

Cover

Story

Editor

California Central Coast Region

of the Porsche Club of America

Contributors

Alfred Abken

Bob “Kit” Kitamura coastalaireeditor@gmail.com

Creative Editing and Layout

Chris Kitamura

The Coastalaire is available on the CCCR website at http//ccc.pca.org/.

The Coastalaire is published online every month and printed in January, April, July and October

Member Services

Classified Ads

Chuck Jennings

This month’s cover shows a graphic and creative look at Chuck’s center console of his Porsche Cayman. We take for granted how nice the interior of our Porsches look sometimes.

Classified ads are posted in the CCCR PCA website at http://ccc.pca.org. Submit your text and photo (if required) by email to: Joe Shubitowski at joseph.shubitowski@gmail.com

The editor reserves the right to edit the ad if it is over 40 words. The ad is Free To Members.

CCCR Name Badge

Pedro P. Bonilla

Scott Burns

Bob Bruington

Bill Chadwick

Ron Green

Gil Igleheart

Chuck Jennings

Joe Shubitowski

Bern Singsen

Carol Walker

David K. Whitlock

Photography

Alfred Abken

Bob Bruington

TB1

Mark Englert

Bill Gibson

Chuck Jennings

Roger Katz

Joe Kuntze

Dave Low

Carol Walker

CCCR / PCA Mailing Address: California Central Coast Region of Porsche Club of America (CCCR/PCA) 3030 Johnson Ave. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

California Central Coast Member Name Badges. Cost for your beautiful 5-color CCCR standard badge with pin, swivel clip or magnet closure: $20.00. First Name, Last Name, optional 2nd line, for example, your club office within the club, your Porsche model. To order contact Joe Shubitowski at joseph.shubitowski@gmail.com

Coastalaire is the official publication of the Porsche Club of America, California Central Coast Region. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the California Central Coast Region of the Porsche Club of America, its officers or members. Permission is granted to charter regions to reprint if appropriate credit is given to the author and Coastalaire, with the exception of copyrighted material. Any material appearing in the Coastalaire is that of the author, and does not constitute an opinion of the Porsche Club of America, the California Central Coast Region, its Board or Appointees, the Coastalaire Editors, or its staff. The Editorial Staff reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. The deadline for submission of articles is the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Photographer

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Joseph Shubitowski

joseph.shubitowski@gmail.com

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

Gil Igleheart

gil.igleheart@gmail.com

OFFICERS

VICE-PRESIDENT/ DRIVERS EDUCATION

Bob Bruington

aircooled911sc@gmail.com

TREASURER

Bill Chadwick

treasurercccr@gmail.com

DIRECTORS

AUTOCROSS DIRECTOR

Chuck Jennings

concourschuck@gmail.com

WEBMASTER

Scot Burns

sburns43@att.net

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Mark Schilling

mrkschilling@gmail.com

SAFETY DIRECTOR

Jeff Bartel

jeffbartell00@gmail.com

COASTALAIRE EDITOR

Bob “Kit” Kitamura

coastalaireeditor@gmail.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Joe Kuntze

k708388@aol.com

SECRETARY

Carol Walker

glcarwal@yahoo.com

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Sanja Brewer

sbrewer@eyesonly.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Andy Winterbottom DIRECTOR AT LARGE

awinterbottom@sbcglobal.net

Ron Green

greenron1949@gmail.com

The Prez’s Corner .......

Wow…..where did June go?? Oh, I remember… half the month I was sick despite being vaccinated and boosted as much as possible. Then we went to Porsche Parade in Palm Springs (well, La Quinta). So, this column is being written in retrospect. I’ll have a lot more to say about Porsche Parade in the July Coastalaire.

The Porsche 75th Anniversary Celebration at Porsche San Luis Obispo was a great afternoon. Gil Igleheart and Porsche SLO staff should be commended for all their hard work in organizing and presenting. The array of special colored Porsches was quite marvelous and included some very rare Porsches. A paintto-sample 993 Turbo along with a pristine 914-6, were just two of the very special cars on display. The adjacent parking lot over by Target had its own impromptu gathering of magnificent Porsches as well! Good food, conversation, and lovely weather made it all the better.

If you have not registered yet for the Drivers Education event at Laguna Seca (or the Parade Lap session) on August 25th – you absolutely should do so. The entire track surface at Laguna Seca was torn up and replaced with brand new pavement, so this is your

by Joseph Shubitowski, President

chance to experience a world class race track with as perfect a track surface as you are ever going to see! We have instructors ready to drive with you and get you up to speed. Don’t worry about lack of experience. There is no better time to get that experience than at Laguna Seca on August 25th!

Drive N Dine’s and other social tours are quite frequent now that the weather has stabilized. Our first evening tour and dinner will be in early July! Look for email blasts with details and head out on some great back country roads – and experience good food and camaraderie.

Stay safe and healthy and get your Porsche out and drive it!

Hope to see you at an event soon!

If you missed it, here is our article in the May Panorama, in the From the Regions section. PANORAMA - From the Regions

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

Hello all of you Porsche fans out there. If you’re wondering what I am doing stuck at home most of the time ….. I have been spending time updating and changing my Porsche shrine in my loft office with the many current and past Porsche related items I have accumulated over the last 48 years. Other than my exercise room and garage, I figure I am pushing my luck displaying this much Porsche paraphernalia in our house! .... and yes that is a vintage Disneyland stroller license plate you see.

The other thing I have been doing is watching all of the Porsche-related YouTube videos on my iPad. It has surprised me how many sites there are now from all over the world. The other thing that has surprised me is the climbing prices for used Porsches. Yes, I came to a conclusion many years ago I should have kept all of the Porsches I have owned, for that matter, it goes the same for many of the cars I have owned.

If any of you that attended the 2023 Porsche Parade at Palm Springs / La Quinta have any good stories with photos that you would like to share please share them

by Bob Kitamura, Editor

with me. There is no promise you will see it in the Coastalaire but you might be surprised!

All of you stay well and cool during this warm summer! We will see you out on the road so........

Get Out and Drive Your Porsche!!!

Bob “Kit”

CCCR Events Calendar

http://ccc.pca.org

JUNE 10th DRIVE N’ DINE TO HARBOR HUT @ 11:30am

JUNE 11th TESTSTRECKE 59 (AutoX) @ Santa Maria Airport

JUNE 18-24 PORSCHE PARADE 2023 - La Quinta Resort, Palm Springs

JUNE 24th BROOKS BURGERS @ 11am

JULY 8th DRIVE N’ DINE TO LONGBRANCH SALOON @ 6:30pm

JULY 15th TESTSTRECKE 60 (AutoX) @ Santa Maria Airport

JULY 29th BROOKS BURGERS @ 11am

AUGUST 12th DRIVE N’ DINE TO CYPRESS RIDGE

AUGUST 11-20 MONTEREY CAR WEEK & WERKS REUNION 2023

AUGUST 19th TESTSTRECKE 61 (AutoX) @ Santa Maria Airport

Zone 8 Event

AUGUST 25th DRIVERS EDUCATION @ Weathertech Laguna Seca See page 15 for more details.

SEPT. 28-OCT. 1 PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION VII - LAGUNA SECA 2023

OCTOBER 21st TESTSTRECKE 62 (AutoX) @ Santa Maria Airport

Please note, these activities are planned subject to “clearances” from all PCA, Federal, State and local authorities.

Gil Igleheart, Activities Director

Chuck Jennings, Autocross Director - Bob Bruington, Driving Events Director

Example of Track Layout at Santa Maria Airport for AutoX

WEATHERTECH LAGUNA SECA DRIVERS EDUCATION UPDATE

It certainly was disappointing to hear that our June Driver Education event at WeatherTech Laguna Seca was canceled, but we have a new date of Friday, Aug 25th. We still have the upgraded 92db sound limit, a Friday not a Monday. Hopefully the new date works better for everyone. Registration will open May 1st, at MotorsportsReg.com under CCCR Laguna Seca Aug 2023. An email will be sent out to everyone in the club and the drivers that were registered for the June date prior to the cancellation. The track should be well worn in by August, plus the weather could be better in August than the June “gloom” date we had.

By the time you read this article our first DE at Buttonwillow will have been completed. Be sure to read the article detailing how the event went in the Coastalaire. Our second date at Buttonwillow still has not been set. The track management will not schedule any track dates for the new track until the pavement is completed. At this time the paving is not started, or according to management, even scheduled to start. It is very disappointing, but hopefully we will hear soon that construction has started. If we do not have positive news in the next month, we will look for another venue for our third DE of the year, maybe sometime in the late fall. We are always looking for new drivers for the track events. If you have not tried driving on a racetrack at least once, you should. It is not Formula 1, Grand Prix or even NASCAR, it is just a group of people like you and me testing our skills and our cars. PCA is by far the safest car club to track with.

If you have any questions about the driving events. Be sure to contact me at Aircooled911sc@gmail.com or call 805 431-0919.

Thanks, Bob Bruington

A Gathering of Friends

Story by Bob Bruington

California Central Coast Porsche Club held a fantastic lunch and gathering Sunday, April 30th at the Baywood Inn, in the little town of Baywood on the shores of Morro Bay. Some of the participants had not been to Baywood in years or even explored the area before this gathering. To everyone’s amazement, the sun actually came out for a few hours. Short sleeves and shorts in Baywood? In April? Hard to believe.

We had the vacant lot sectioned off to park 33 beautiful Porsches and one lonely Corvette. A total of sixty nine lunches were served by the La Palapa Restaurant situated right next door to the Inn. Jose, the owner, served lunches including rice , beans, carnitas enchiladas, shredded beef or chicken tacos and chili verde burritos, along with several sauces and grilled jalapeno peppers, chips and salsa. It was a feast for the taste buds for sure.

The Baywood Inn, located at 1370 2nd Street, donated one of their two conference rooms and the surrounding patio area for our enjoyment. They also opened several rooms for the lunch guests to tour. Favorable comments from everyone with how well they are decorated, many with full wall width sliding doors open to the bay. The staff headed by Curtis and Todd were very accommodating and professional. If you are interested, the web page is baywoodinn.com.

At three o’clock, about twenty or so of us, went over the infamous Merrimaker Bar for live music and a refreshment or two. The Merrimaker had set the band up outside in the nicely situated beer garden. The weather cooperated for awhile but the cool breeze came in around 4:30 or so.

All and all it was a great time for everyone. It is always nice to meet old friends and make new ones. I am amazed how good the conversations are, how everyone is open and friendly at these social events. Be sure to keep track of all of the events CCCR organizes, from social events to track events, through our web page or the Coastalaire. If you haven’t attended an event, try the next one, you will have a fantastic time!

Photos by Chuck Jenniings

LUFTGEKUEHLT

Story by Alfred Abken

I hope the Tech Session at Rock Chip Armor went well on April 29, and the Meet in Baywood on the 30th. The 29th was my sister’s birthday, and although she has come down here several times to go to San Simeon in the past for her birthday, this year she had surgery on the 25th, and was not up to the drive down here. So, before sunrise on the 29th, I was up and heading north to Mountain View. That is not what this is about though. Early in March, the folks at Luftgekühlt had announced that their 9th event would be in the San Francisco Bay Area, at Mare Island. In addition to their normal air-cooled event, Saturday, April 29th they scheduled to hold an air/water event on Sunday, April 30. As luck would have it, I was planning on being in the Bay Area for the 29th, so I got a ticket to attend the event on Sunday. Sunday, April 30 dawned overcast, with the occasional bit of mist thrown into the mix. I had a nice drive up to Vallejo. Although I had lived in San Francisco from 1973 through 2007, I had been to Vallejo, but never to Mare Island, where the event was held. It turned out to be a remarkable location for the event. It being a Sunday, I could not spend the amount of time there that I would have liked to, so I did a quick walk through. Cars were lined up waiting to get in when I arrived. There were cars along the docks, and in several of the buildings lining the docks. This was in the area where the Mare Island Ferry docks. It eventually cleared off, and although not overly warm, it was a very nice day, indeed. There were a LOT of Porsches there! And the venue was exceptional. All in all, well worth the drive.

Photos by Alfred Abken

Luftgekuehlt

Drivers Education - Buttonwillow Raceway

Story by Bob Bruington

The Drivers Education track event at Buttonwillow Raceway, held, May 5th, is completed and according to the participants, was a success! It’s not very often we have cool weather this time of year at Buttonwillow, we have had temperatures over a 100 degrees in previous years. The Raceway located near Bakersfield, surprised us all this year with cool weather all weekend. When we arrived Thursday afternoon, the temperatures were in the sixties with a little light rain falling. Friday morning, the day of our event, started cloudy and cool, but warmed to about 75 in the afternoon, delightful for driving on the closest race track to our area.

We had sixty-five drivers for our event on Friday, a little smaller field than what we would like, but there is an advantage to driving on a racetrack with less cars around you. Our beginner group had only eleven drivers, the intermediate only fourteen. Everyone had plenty of open track to play with. Thanks to the stringent safety standards required by PCA and the cooperation of the drivers, I am grateful to report, we had no incidents on or off the track.

The instructors for our beginner group were fantastic as always. When I started instructing, years ago, most students had older, less powerful cars, very few with traction control and other aids. It was fairly easy to get in a car with a novice driver on a track going nine or ninety miles per hour. At today’s events, students come in with four hundred plus horse powered cars with driving aids, going hundred and fifteen on the track. To have confidence in your student staying on track, driving under control, takes a lot of bravery to say the least. Without these dedicated people, we would not be able to introduce new drivers to the sport of day tracking. Thank you instructors for your time and expertise!!

We did have one snafu for the weekend. CCCR had a dinner planned at the track for Thursday evening, with 31 people signed up to attend. The Café had the wrong date scheduled. I did not catch it, so we had thirty one people who had to find another place to eat dinner that night, not easy at the Buttonwillow truck stop. Everyone was very understanding and gracious. We did have a buffet lunch set up Friday to make up for the error. The Cafe put on a fantastic spread, I think everyone was happy with the result. Sometimes even the best laid plans go off track! Give me a Black Flag!

I always am grateful for the support we get from our members and outside crews at the track. The corner workers we hire, are major contributors to a safe and a timely event. They are responsible for telling the drivers on the track what is happening behind and in front of them on the track, using a dozen flags and signals. They also run the schedule we give them, putting cars on and off the track in a specific time schedule. To that crew, we supply a Black Flag Station chief. Alfred Abken of our club, voted

Photos by Alfred Abken

the Enthusiast of the Year by PCA Zone 8, has been our Black Flag Station Chief since I started to run the DE. For those who do not know, if you as driver do something wrong on the track, you will be given a Black Flag by one of the corner workers. You are required to see Alfred at the Black Flag Station, where you will explain what you did wrong and how you will correct the problem. In some cases, if you have driven off track into the dirt, Alfred will check your car for damage and debris. Other members who give their time freely, are our Region’s President, “Get here early” Joe Shubitowski, the ever-present and most helpful Bill Deviny, our Grid Master John Beccera, and his Grid workers, CCCR Board members Mark Shilling, Andy Winterbottom, Chuck Jennings, Bill Chadwick, Jeff Bartel and volunteers Mark Torcaso, Sonny Brown, David Mellish and Bruce Morgenthaler. Driving and working the event makes for a very full day. Thank you all for your time and efforts!! If anyone ever wants to help with the driving events, please contact me, we would love to add you to the list of volunteers.

A few of our drivers stayed for the next day or two for the Golden Gate Region DE and Club race on Saturday and Sunday. GGR always runs a fantastic event and it is fun to watch the Club Racers go wheel to wheel. We do have support for our event from GGR. This year we had fourteen drivers from GGR run in our event. Many drivers come from the Club Racers, who want to practice during our event on Friday. This relationship between our two regions has been going on for at least 10 years at Buttonwillow every year, we hope to continue with that relationship for years to come.

Our next DE will be on the newly renovated track at the iconic Laguna Seca on August 25th. We are looking forward to seeing the improvements and testing out the new track surface. This is a Friday with a 92db sound limit. You can register now at MotorsportReg.com, type CCCR Laguna Seca DE Aug 2023, in the search bar. If you want to experience dropping in on the Corkscrew or driving though the Andretti Curve at a slower more relaxed speed, we will run the Parade Lap at Laguna Seca at noon again. This has become very popular the last few years. You can register at MotorsportReg.com, just type in CCCR Laguna Seca Parade Lap in the search bar.

We are still waiting on the new second track at Buttonwillow for our Fall DE. The track work is moving along, but very slowly. Cross your fingers that it will be completed late this summer.

Rock Chip Armor

Story and Photos by Gil Igleheart

On Saturday April 29th 11 die-hard California Central Coast PCA Porsche owners descended on Rock Chip Armor in Santa Maria. Tony Torres and his wife, Victoria, welcomed us as we all admired his over clean shop! Will speak more on this later.

Everyone arrived around 9AM to some pastries from Costco and donuts from Krispy Kreme! We also had coffee and water.

Tony started off by telling us that the car he was doing was our own club member, Guy Ober. Tony left one of his fenders with the old (10 year old) wrap still on. He showed us how to apply the new film and some mistakes that some shops make in trying to cut down on installation time. The machine that computer cuts the material (Xpel) and how to peel it off the backing.

He applied the front hood material and after he was 90% or more done, discovered a defect in the wrap material…he quickly peeled it off! He said, “I won’t allow anything like this to leave my shop.” Some of us couldn’t even see the problem. Tony is a perfectionist! He used a steam cleaning tool to remove the old wrap from Guy’s car.

Tony also told us of the need to keep the shop spotless, as the wind might pickup outside and foreign matter might get blown inside and on the car…and this is a no-no!

We spent about 3 and a half hours talking and watching his skills…he comes from a background in automotive painting and detailing. At one point in his career even worked for another one of our sponsors, Vintage Auto Body.

Story and Photos by Panorama

For 75 years, Porsche has been a leader in innovation, design, and engineering. Throughout that history, color has played a significant role and continues to have a profound impact on Porsche design. To celebrate 75 years of Porsche Sports Cars, we created a special limited-edition Porsche paint palette. This collection reflects our shared commitment to meticulous quality, an appreciation for color, and exceptional design. Porsche’s iconic car colors, now for your home for the first time in limited-edition premium paint

PORSCHE IRISH GREEN

Dark Hunter Green

Irish Green, a color as timeless as the sports car itself, has been a part of Porsche’s legacy since the early 1960s. Irish Green also has the distinction of being Wolfgang Porsche’s favorite. First seen on the 356C in 1964, it quickly became a favorite among Porsche enthusiasts and adorned the original 911. Classic and elegant, Irish Green has remained a constant in the Porsche palette, even gracing the millionth 911 produced in 2017, further cementing its place in Porsche’s storied history. Now, this distinguished color is available to bring a touch of timeless elegance to any Porsche model or room.

PORSCHE RIVIERA BLUE

Bright Electric Blue

Porsche Riviera Blue is an electric and audacious color developed in 1994, seen on the 911, 928, and 968 models. Its vibrant and head-turning appearance adds a modern touch to the classic Porsche design, capturing the essence of dynamic performance. With its boldness and uniqueness, Riviera Blue truly embodies Porsche's commitment to innovation.

PORSCHE RUBY STAR

Deep Magenta Red

Ruby Star holds a significant place in Porsche’s history, dating back to 1991 when it appeared on models like the Porsche 911, 928, and 944. This rare and iconic color has become synonymous with Porsche, known for its distinct, bold, and joyous deep magenta red hue. Originally named Rubystone Red, it was later renamed Ruby Star, adding to its allure. Its vibrant and eye-catching appearance makes it a favorite among Porsche collectors and enthusiasts, further solidifying its iconic status.

Story

Photos by Alfred Abken

Saturday, May 13 was the date of the latest autocross held at Santa Maria Airport. Our intrepid Autocross Chair, Chuck Jennings, was not feeling up to snuff, and was not present. He missed what turned out to be a gorgeous day in Santa Maria.

Although the morning started out foggy, by the time the first run got underway shortly after 9AM, the fog was beginning to clear.

With only 36 drivers taking part, each driver got 6 runs in the morning sessions, and 7 in the afternoon sessions. The track was a straight forward design, heading east along the southern end of the area, and back west along the northern section of the layout.

I feel compelled to mention this. With this event taking place is such close proximity to an active airport, there is a remarkable variety of aircraft taking off and landing close by. In the past, I have seen anything from ultra-lights to military fighter jets taking off. Saturday, however, I did not see this take off or land, but I saw something pass overhead I had never seen before. After I got home, I discovered what I had seen was the Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch. This is a twin fuselage aircraft with the biggest wingspan of any aircraft created, so far, of 385 feet. It is powered by 6 Boeing 747 Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines. Its first flight was in April 2019.

There were also a group of folks parachuting and landing just west of the Central Coast Jet Center. I tried watching their plane take off to see when folks jumped out, but after taking off to the N.W., the plane would disappear from view to the west, only to see about half a dozen folks floating to the ground shortly after that.

Back to the autocross. Our own Tom Dobyns ended up with Top Time of Day with a 35.049 second run. Things ran smoothly, and by 2:30, I was on my way back home.

Remarkably, the wind that usually blows was barely present. Nothing like Friday when we set the course up. Who could have asked for a better day?

Well, Chuck could have been present…

and

A Side Trip to the Sea Shanty

A few of our members went on a run to the Sea Shanty in Cayucos on a beautiful Saturday morning for a nice lunch. We need to ask them why they didn’t invite us!

A Jaunt to the Longbranch Saloon

OnSaturday May 27th, California Central Coast PCA members fired up their Porsches and headed out on some San Luis Obispo north county back roads winding their way to the Longbranch Saloon in Creston. Fellow CCCRPCA member and owner of Longbranch Saloon, Brian Pritt, had a great place outdoors set aside for us to have a great lunch and drinks! The weather was warmer than when we last visited the Longbranch in January!! Don’t miss the next drive and visit to Longbranch Saloon!

Story by Bob Kitamura

Photos by Alfred Abken & Tony Brizzolara

A Jaunt to the Longbranch Saloon

The Safety Helmet

by Pedro P. Bonilla - Suncoast Florida PCA

One of my first Tech Articles, when I started writing, was “The Safety Helmet”. That was 9 years ago, and I think it’s time for an update. The development of the safety helmet has been quite dramatic. The first racers (around the 1900s) wore leather caps mostly for protection from the wind, if anything else.

adjustable, similar to how construction hats are fitted. As time passed, polystyrene liners replaced the ones made of cloth. These were the first helmets that we could call safety helmets. From that point on, helmets provided increasingly better protection but also added weight. By the 1980s helmets were approaching the limit of what a racer might be reasonably expected to wear.

in the last three decades. The system tethers the helmet to the driver’s upper torso, so in a frontal crash, the inertial load of the head and helmet combination is managed by the tethers, rather than by the driver’s neck muscles and cervical spine. By the beginning of this century, HANS (Head And Neck Support/System) devices started being required for pro racing. Today, just about every single form of racing, whether amateur or professional requires its use and every Snell-certified helmet must include hardware compatible with these tether systems, integrated into the helmet.

Hans Helmet

By 1912 a few were using inflatable rubber head covers derived from aeronautical use. From the 1920s through the 1950s protective helmets were made using compressed media, such as cork or paper and these slowly replaced the original leather contraptions. By the late 1950s and early 60s, fiberglass helmets, also derived from aeronautical practice began appearing at major events such as the Indy 500.

Cork/Leather Helmet

These early fiberglass helmets in-

Fortunately for us now, advances in materials, in construction and in testing during the last 30 plus years have made safety helmets lighter, stiffer and much better at impact-absorption. They are also more comfortable to wear since the materials used for the interior (liners) have also greatly improved. But the biggest change from the design standpoint has been the transition from open-face to full coverage. The vast majority of racers today use a full-face helmet.

The other major significant advance was the incorporation of frontal head restraints systems. This was the most significant advance

Consumer awareness has improved as well. Enthusiasts and racers alike understand what they are purchasing and why, and there’s no question that buyers are more educated and safety conscious than ever before.

1970 Fiberglass Helmet

1970.Full-Face Helmet

1910.Leather Helmet

corporated cloth liners that were size-

In our original Tech Article from 9 years ago, we detailed the different standards that the Snell Foundation recommends for different applications. Snell still tests every helmet and those that meet their strict standards get their stamp of approval. Snell’s current competitive or SAtype standard is: SA2020. This is what the Foundation recommends for all levels of auto racing which is almost identical to the FIA 8859-2020 standard.

than the DOT (Department Of Transportation) standards, but there is even a higher standard than the SA2020. Snell’s Elite Standard EA2016 which is similar to, but more demanding than the FIA 8860-2015 standard. Helmets meeting these (Elite) standards provide more than 20% better impact protection than a Snell SA2015 helmet. Because of the exotic materials used, such as carbon fiber, these are complex and very expensive to manufacture. They are generally used by drivers at the highest levels of competition, such as Formula1, Indy Car and IMSA.

INSERT EA2016.decal.JPG HERE

As carbon fiber and other super materials become more affordable, Snell’s EA test demands will be written into their SA standard and the EA designation will disappear.

in race car drivers as well as improve their performance by relieving some noise fatigue. Better air flow could also improve performance as well as it can reduce the dangers associated with overheating.

Some auto racing series and tracks allow racers to wear a minimum DOT or Snell M-rated motorcycle helmet. These helmets are not fire-retardant, they are not reinforced for head-andneck restraints, and most importantly, they are not designed to withstand impact with a roll cage. Snell SA helmets are designed for auto racing, so that’s what a racer should wear. Tracks that allow motorcycle helmets think they are helping the racer save a few bucks, but they are putting the racer at risk.

Keep your chin strap tight and ...

Happy Porsche’ing,

SA2020.decal

These standards are set much higher

Snell issues a new standard every five years and these standards are the most common helmet requirements for auto racing in the US. Most sanctioning bodies allow helmets meeting the two most recent Snell standards, i.e. SA2015 and SA 2010. NASCAR allows only the most recent Snell rating. The next Snell Foundation standard is due in 2020 and at that time the SA2010 will be deemed obsolete. Looking into the future, we can expect to see more and better insulation to reduce decibel levels inside the helmet, lighter weight overall, increased air flow inside the helmet, better perspiration absorption and improvements in visor retention. Adding hearing protection to the helmet shell could greatly reduce the hearing loss so common

Stuttgart Market Letter

Written by David K. Whitlock

at $1,450,000 and $1,060,000 respectively.

On the top end of the modern 911 market, we saw the 997.1 GT3s start to dip a little bit with an average sales price of $134,000 and two out of the five cars on offer failing to sell. 992 GT3s also continued their slide with new market lows at $224,000 and $235,000 and not a single 6-speed GT3 Touring selling for over $300,000 as that ship has sailed. GT3 RS variants on the other hand climbed with the sale of a 2010 RS at a strong $242,000 and three 991 GT3 RS’ selling for an average price of $211,000.

Cayman GT4s were a hard sell this month with a 10,000mile 2016 GT4 selling for below $100k at $94,000, which is a trend I’d love to see for personal reasons, and a 2020 GT4 selling about $5,000 light at $122,000. And then there is the GT4 RS market… Two more cars failed to sell at bids of $266,000 and $245,000 proving that huge overs for the GT4 RS aren’t in the cards as they were for their 911 brethren.

~ “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May” ~ William Shakespeare

And we had rough winds in the Porsche market for the month of May. Despite offering the most cars we’ve seen all year, there were 585 Porsches offered on the various online and legacy auctions throughout the month. However, the lowest sell-through rate year to date was 70% and the second lowest dollar volume was just over $31 million. But not all markets were shaken by the winds of May as some, like the 356 markets, fared well while others, like the 992 GT market fell apart.

The 356 markets remained strong with an 88% sell-through rate off of 8 sales with an average price paid of just over $112,000. Now that might seem low for an average price, however, it should be noted that the offerings consisted of runof-the-mill coupes and cabriolets, not a special car in sight. But that’s ok considering we didn’t have any legacy auctions taking place this month. The top 356 for the month was a 1958 356A Cabriolet finished in a lovely shade of Meissen Blue and coming off of a recent, extensive restoration. Had the car had its original engine the price would have been much higher, but this sale for me is an indication of the strength and interest still held for Porsche’s original.

Classic 911s (1976 & earlier) on the other hand had a difficult time finding new homes with only 59% of cars on offer selling. No one series of 911 stood out as sales were hit or miss but the top end of the market seemed to suffer the most with two notable no sales; one being a 1967 911 Soft-Window Targa 5-speed that was bid to $226,000 and the other an original 1970 911 S/T bid to $385,000. The S/T was a surprise as one would think that with Porsche’s imminent announcement of the new 992 911 S/T, at least a collector or two would want to bag one of the only 33 cars produced to complete the set in their garage. But it wasn’t just the top end of the classic 911 market that suffered from wind burn either as three cars capable of topping the $1m sales mark failed to sell leaving a highly optioned Chromaflair 2019 GT2 RS as this month’s top sale at $585,000. The first was a very rare 1996 993 GT2 Clubsport that remained unsold at $1,605,000 against a probable $2m reserve price. The other two were models we’ve seen trade hands earlier this year, a 1988 959 Komfort and a 2005 Carrera GT which failed to sell

As I stated at the beginning though, it wasn’t all gloom for May. We had a number of record sales such as $123,000 for a 120,000-mile 1994 911 Coupe finished in Amazon Green Metallic, and $81,000 for the lowest mileage 2002 996 Carrera 4S we’ve seen in five years. We also saw a 928S sell for a record price of $108,000, about 4x the average for these cars, and a “normal” 987 Boxster S achieved $52,000.

But while May might have been a bit of a disappointment, I am looking forward to June’s auctions with the 75th Anniversary Porsche sale hosted by Broad Arrow Auctions at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta and the sale of the Gruppe P Col-

https://www.stuttgartmarketletter.com/

David K. Whitlock is a writer for The Stuttgart Market Letter, a daily market update for Porschephiles, by Porschefiles, delivered to your inbox.

lection on Bring a Trailer that includes a 1967 Porsche 910. Will we finally see an important Porsche race car sold next month? Stay tuned.

PCA-CCCR Anniversaries

1 Year

Tim Bojorquez

Raul Rojas

Brent Wingett

2 Year

Marcos Gonzalez

3 Years

Gregory Baker

Michael Bonner

Frank Lindsey

Marc Nelson

4 Years

Doris Kanemura

Ron Little

5 Years

Kitrina Bryant

Gary Johnson

George Tindall

6 Years

John Bell

7 Years

John Teixeira

9 Years

John Catania

Jerry Alexander

21 Years

David Dietderich

10 Years

Robert Koegler

22 Years

Michael Levin

11 Years

Thomas Goerlitz

26 Years

Norman Hollinger

Bernard Jones

13 Years

James Major

31 Years

Alfred Abken

38 Years

Stan Florentino

17 Years

John Green

18 Years

John Becerra

Total CCCR Membership

742 Members

19 Years

Bruce Smith

Craig Smith

JUNE 2023

Advertiser Index and Rates

Ad Page Location

2........ Porsche San Luis Obispo

8.........Adara

8.........Pedro’s Garage

9 ........Baywood Inn

9.........Vintage Autobody

11........Porsche Santa Barbara

12........The Stable (formerly SGS)

12........Rock Chip Armor

13........Butler Hotel

38........German Auto

38........The Tire Store

Advertising Rates

All rates are for 12 monthly issues from the date started.

Full Page.....$ 950 / year

1/2 page.......$ 600 / year

1/4 page......$ 400 / year

1/8 page or Business Card $ 300 /year

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS and SPONSORS

Their support of our club is greatly appreciated, so you are encouraged to make your first call to those advertising in the Coastalaire. Let them know that you saw their ad in our newsletter. We also encourage you to advertise your business in our newsletter.

If you are interested please contact Bob Kitamura at coastalaireeditor@gmail.com

Zone 8 Contacts

2023

Zone 8 Officers

Lori DeCristo

Zone 8 Representative California Inland Region

Monica Asbury Secretary Orange Coast Region

Linda Cobarrubias

Trreasurer

Grand Prix Region

Zone 8 Chairs

David Witteried

Concours Judge Administartor

Cal Inland Trgion

Vinita Khinani

Social Media & Communications Chair

Los Angeles Region

Tom Brown

Rules Coordinator / Webmaster San Diego Region

Russel Shon

Rules Technical Advisor

San Diego Region

Werks Reunion

Schedule

7:00 AM Event Check-in Opens

7:00 - 9:00 AM Registered Judged Cars placed on judging field

All Day Porsche Corral open to registered cars Spectator Parking Lot open ($40 cash)

7:00 - 10:00 AM Coffee and breakfast items available for purchase*

9:30 - 12:00 PM Judging

10:00 - 4:00 PM Bars open with beer & wine for purchase*

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Youth Judging sponsored by Hagerty

11:30 - 1:00 PM Lunch available for purchase from onsite Food Trucks*

Monterey

Pines Golf Course

1250 Garden Road

Monterey, CA 93940

August 18, 2023

2:00 - 3:00 PM Awards Ceremony

Werks Monterey registration will open Wednesday May 24, 2023 at 3:00 PM (ET).

The link for registration will be available on Motorsportreg.com