BOTH STREET AND TRACK FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WRITTEN BY: NILS MUSEAUS

of Tasmania). We were in the Tour section, a group of about 25 cars that once the 00 car had cleared the course, we were sent out in groups of 5 to sweep the line for the full-blown rally cars to follow. Again, we were fortunate, first to be chosen to participate but then experiencing the best weather week the event had had in many years. We didn't have a drop of rain for the entire week and the only time the top was not down was during the nights. The Tasmanian event is an annual tradition with specialized event license plates for every car and an opportunity to see the entire island "at speed". Like all rallies, there are transit stages but on the race stages...even for the cars in the tour section, it was 9/10's and as fast as you dare. It was a liberating and bonding experience with my wife who had followed my progression from SCCA worker, to karter, to SCCA road racer...here Mindy was planted in the left seat (the passenger seat...remember we are in Australia so the steering wheel on the right) and we are driving essentially flat out on closed roads, taking the apexes left and right with no chance of oncoming traffic...any drivers dream...that was one of my absolute greatest Porsche experiences to that point...shared by my courageous wife.

Well, one Porsche experience leads to another...influenced by more Aussie Porsche fanatics, I get much deeper into motorsports by buying a full-blown 944 race car to compete in '944 Challenge Australia'. A one-make series founded by Dennis O'keef, owner of one of Australia's major used Porsche part suppliers. We had a blast racing for one and a half seasons at those Victorian tracks mentioned earlier but also Eastern Creek near Sydney (now called Sydney Motorsport Park) and to Malala in South Austria where I had my first pole position of my Porsche racing career.

Another great piece of advice Dennis had around 2012 was "if you want a 993, they will never be cheaper". I took that advice literally ...after trolling the internet, I found a low-mileage Arena red 993 at a dealership in Melbourne...but that dealership was halfway around the world...Melbourne Florida...I bought that car and basically put it in storage for the next many years. It's a prized car that has had a better return than the stock market and is a great ride to boot!

All good things come to an end when you are an expat and my next job was in Papua New Guinea where I wasn't even allowed to drive!

Jump forward another few years and we are now headed to UAE (United Arab Emirates). Another place where folks are into cars...lots of exotic machinery and of course another Porsche for me, this time a 987 Cayman S. Many more opportunities to connect with Porsche fanatics in Porsche Club UAE. In UAE we participated in road trips and "drive fast" events at Yas Marine (home to the UAE F1) and Dubai Autodrome, both tracks that are worldclass and built to the highest FIA standards.

At the end of 2017, we finally returned to the US and had an opportunity to go road racing again…finally. I have been actively involved in SCCA first in Spec Miata and then Spec Racer Ford 3 for the last 5 seasons.

In 2018, we attended our first Rennsport at Laguna Seca in our 993 truly seeing the American passion for Porsche and even getting to reconnect with the Gulf Colored 917s of my childhood, the full sized version! There is another Rennsport this year at Laguna and we will attend again in our newest Porsche, a 2023 718 Spyder.

Last year, race Porsches once again entered the picture. In 2018 we prepared a Miata for WRL (World Racing League) endurance racing. Along with some great friends and drivers, we had several wins in the Miata. However, after our last Miata grenaded at COTA in 2021 which resulted in a small fire, we hooked up with Overnight Motorsport out of Louisiana driving nothing less than a 986 Boxster in GP3! After having immediate success with a win at Barber...we have been to Mid-Ohio and put it in the winner's circle for them at the 14 hrs of Daytona... aren't Porsches fantastic! Street or track, you cannot go wrong.

Hope you have enjoyed my Porsche story. J

A Concours d’Elegance is a judged event celebrating the history and provenance of the Porsche marque. PCA members show their cars and judges deduct points from a maximum possible value based on vehicle condition and cleanliness. The Parade Concours is an event favorite. Parade is a great time to give it a try!

June 18-24, 2023

La Quinta Resort & Club Palm Springs, California www.porscheparade.org

In early 2022, Porsche Club and Princess Cruise Lines partnered to create new opportunities for Club members. Princess was present at various Club events through the year and showed their specially painted Taycan which was to be given away later in the year.

Princess and PCA organized a new Zone 12 event, called Zonefest at Sea, and kicked it off with an eight day Porsche themed cruise from Ft. Lauderdale on December 10, 2022. The cruise combined the best of the cruise experience with numerous PCA events, including a Concours and racing! (More about these later.) In addition, the cruise was filled with the social activities that the Club is known for. Participants met old friends and made new ones; once again, showing that it’s not just the cars, it’s the people.

Greatly exceeding expectations, 600 Club members registered for the cruise. The ship, the Regal Princess has a capacity of about 4000 passengers and about 2100 total were on board. Princess extended a high level of hospitality to Club members, starting with special rates and a special line for Club members to board the ship. Of course, Princess provided high quality food and beverage service throughout the voyage. The Captain, and his staff, made numerous visits to Club activities.

The ship, the Regal Princess, is the ship that the recent reincarnation of The Love Boat television show has been filmed on. As we left ports, the ship’s horn would play the “Love Boat” theme rather than a simple toot.

Leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, the ship stopped in St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Grand Turk where Club members enjoyed the various available activities at each port.

Onboard Club activities for PCA Members also included welcome and closing cocktail receptions, PCA giveaways and prizes, PCA seminars, culinary experiences, a PCA Club dinner, Q&A sessions with leading Porsche experts, and special hats for all guests. Princess also graciously donated free cruises as door prizes. On shore activities at the destination ports included a Cars and Coffee on the dock with the Puerto Rico Region and special beach activities for PCA Club Members at Grand Turk.

Princess showed car related movies on the giant screen on the top deck, including Risky Business, Top Gun and Gone in 60 seconds. There was also the Princess Casino and the Lotus Spa for members to enjoy.

At major events, the Club sponsors a Concours and Porschef- est was no exception. Recognizing the difficulties of bring cars onboard, the Concours involved diecast 1:18 scale models. Expecting only a handful of cars, PCA Club Members brought 118 models onboard and showed them in three categories: Vintage (Pre 996), Racing and Street. Princess actually closed one of their shops and allowed the models to be displayed in the display cases for several days. Judges, including Porsche experts and Club officials, carefully inspected all of the cars and determined the best. As in all Concours, tensions ran high as the winners were announced with Princess providing crystal ship trophies for the winners.

Racing is always a topic at Club events and this cruise was no exception. One evening, Princess provided a grid in the Piazza (the central area of the ship) and six model cars. Teams were chosen. Dice were rolled and cars advanced. The crowd cheered and, eventually, cars made it to the finish line. No tire smoke. No gasoline smell. Just simple fun for participants and spectators. At the end of the voyage, with everyone sadly departing, PCA Club Member were already excitedly looking forward to the next PorscheFest at Sea. J