BY
MAVERICK REGION PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA
This holiday season, discover the true meaning of luxury performance with 355 allelectric horsepower that takes you from 0-60 in under six seconds. Paired with a rapid 21-minute charging time and customizable design options, this reinvented icon is a gift that can’t be topped. Best of all, it comes with the personalized service and attention to detail that make Park Place Experts in Excellence.
By Bill Kruder, Region President
It’s hard to believe, but, yes, once again, I will be the Maverick Region’s President effective January 2025. Yes, this is my sixth term, and, yes, I still enjoy, more than anything, serving as your President.
I’m still asked why I do it. Two reasons come to mind: one, you the member. We have the most enthusiastic group of people you could ask for. That makes it easy because we enjoy similar things and love being out with people and our Porsches. Second, it’s the team I get to work with, without whom I could not do any of this, from the one-off volunteer, the chairperson for your events, and, of course, the MRPCA Executive Officers.
Every year, we look for opportunities to improve our membership experience. Let’s start with our board meetings. We adopted a virtual meeting process in 2020 and, basically, two of every three meetings are virtual, with the third meeting being in-person, using that meeting to celebrate
recent accomplishments.
Then, how about Founders’ Day? It has grown from one event to five events, and members can choose which to participate in. Our registration grows every year by nearly 500 members. Now, if you missed Founders’ Day 2024, you missed a couple of things. One, some incredible food, including In-N-Out Burger, Pizzeria Testa, and José’s food truck, a Maverick EBOD favorite! Two, the recipient of the 2024 James Shoffit Award: a Maverick Member who served nearly five years as Treasurer, Chris Flaugh. Be sure to look for the recap in our upcoming Slipstream in February.
Then, let’s talk about our All Member Party. Debi Kruder, our Special Events Chair, has already been planning this year’s event which will be held Sunday, March 23, 2025, returning to Oak + Ivy in Aubrey. Registration will open in the New Year. Lots more to be shared in the weeks ahead.
Let’s talk about membership. This past year was another record, as we surpassed 4,100 total members. Based on primary member numbers, we are now the THIRD largest Region in PCA. Let’s not forget we won LARGEST GROWTH award in all of PCA in 2023. A big thank you to Beckie and Tom Gomer, our Membership Chairs, for all they do for our club.
So, as we begin to think about 2025, we will continue to keep the safety of our members a top priority. I thank you for your kindness to one another as we look forward to another great year. Debi and I are honored to serve you, and we look forward to seeing you all soon.
FEATURE / Most Valuable Maverick
By Pat Carmichael
Our most valuable maverick this month is Patty Champion. She organized the "pop-up" PCA Mavericks cars and coffee and breakfast event we had recently in Red Oak at the Gravy and More restaurant.
It was very well attended thanks to her and Michael Hays' efforts and offered a unique chance to participate for Porsche minded individuals down in the south east area of Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Patty and her husband have been Maverick members for years, but with a P-car for just the last few years. Her love affair with the Porsche brand started with her dad’s Porsche years ago and is now her and her husband’s passion!
She recognized an opportunity to nurture the Maverick community down in her neighborhood and went about making it happen. Thanks to a very valuable Maverick.
President William Kruder 214-497-0711 president@mavpca.org
Autocross
Equipe Rapide Liason
Mark Schnoerr ax@mavpca.org
Coffee Meets Co-Chair
John Cuyler coffeemeets@mavpca.org
DE Co-Chair
Keith Olcha de@mavpca.org
Marketing, Social Media Chair
Chris Low marketing@mavpca.org
Motorsport Journalist
Mike O’Hare motorsportjournalist@mavpca.org
PCA Tours Co-Chair Sam Bryant tours@mavpca.org
Registrar, Club Race Wendy Shoffit crreg@mavpca.org
Slipstream Executive Editor Carey Spreen 817-422-3480 editor@mavpca.org
Special Events Co-Chair Lisa O'Hare social@mavpca.org
Trivia Chair
Tom Martin trivia@mavpca.org
Women Behind the Wheel
Lisa Ward MWBTW@mavpca.org
Vice President Michael Hays vp@mavpca.org
Charity Chair
Dave Harness charity@mavpca.org
Coffee Meets Co-Chair
Mike McHorse coffeemeets@mavpca.org
DE Co-Chair
Tom Snodgrass de@mavpca.org
Marketing, Web Chair
Maggie Mertzlufft webmaster@mavpca.org
PCA Junior Ambassador The Tate Family pcajr@mavpca.org
Photography Chair Alan Nusbaum photo@mavpca.org
Safety Chair Michael Hays safety@mavpca.org
Slipstream Mailing Andy Mears 214-394-5857 mailing@mavpca.org
Special Events Co-Chair Kim Turner social@mavpca.org
Tub Club President George Maffey tubclub@mavpca.org
Youtube Chair
Kenin Fenster
Secretary Olga Taylor secretary@mavpca.org
Club Race Chair
David Hodges cr@mavpca.org
Communications Chair
Patricia Gouldy email@mavpca.org
DE Chief Driving Coach
Craig Janssen cdi@mavpca.org
Membership Chairs
Beckie & Tom Gomer membership@mavpca.org
PCA Tours Co-Chair Arjay Cando tours@mavpca.org
Rally Co-Chair Daniel Dallacasa rally@mavpca.org
Slipstream Advertising Dana and Susie Jones ads@mavpca.org
Social Co-Chairs Tom Minnella and Lana Mangold hh@mavpca.org
Tech Sessions Co-Chair Michael Baynton 214-641-2848 techsessions@mavpca.org
Volunteers Chair Pat Carmichael volunteers@mavpca.org
Treasurer Jim Falgout 9 72-345-3009 treasurer@mavpca.org
Coffee Meets Co-Chair
Rishi Burke coffeemeets@mavpca.org
Concours Chair
Scott Kellogg concours@mavpca.org
DE Medical Chair
Dr. Jeffery Komenda demedical@mavpca.org
Merchandise Chair
Chris Cuyler goodiestore@mavpca.org
PCA Tours Co-Chair Chris Chilton tours@mavpca.org
Rally Co-Chair Bob DiRienzo rally@mavpca.org
Slipstream Content Editor Doug Jacobson editor@mavpca.org
Special Events Co-Chair Debi Kruder social@mavpca.org
Tech Sessions Co-Chair Rob Turner techsessions@mavpca.org
Women Behind the Wheel
Patricia Gouldy MWBTW@mavpca.org
By Carey Spreen | Photos courtesy of Barb Kent
Long-time Maverick Region member Steve Kent passed away on September 29, 2024, at age 80, after a brief illness. Steve was a wellknown and very active member of Maverick Region in the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and beyond, including serving as Membership Chair in 1980, Region President in 1981 and Region Treasurer in 1982 and 1984. He filled many roles in our HPDE program over the years as well.
This past September, Steve was diagnosed with pneumonia, which did not improve with medication, and ultimately succumbed to a blockage in his airway at the UT Southwest ICU in Clements Hospital in Dallas. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 51 years, his daughters Tricia, Linda, and KC, and his granddaughters Emily, Talah, and Phoebe. You can see Steve’s full obituary here: https:// tinyurl.com/3kmjxjff
Steve joined Maverick Region in 1974, and soon became a customer of the Zim and Mayo Independent Porsche Service organization, and continued to be a customer of Ed Mayo after Zim and Mayo went their separate ways. By the early 1990s, Ed was ready to stop renting his shop and purchase a building, while Steve had left Houston General Insurance and was looking for an independent business venture. Steve was instrumental in working to get a loan to purchase the building that now houses Mayo Performance Specialties, and became part owner. In about 2010, he decided to retire and sold his share of the business.
It was also during the 1990s that Steve became involved with the nascent PCA Club Racing series with his 911S, and later helped develop the Maverick Region Driver Education program in 1999 with Bryan Henderson. Steve also was active with the Corinthian Vintage Auto Racing Club (CVAR).
Here are some personal memories of Steve from Barb Kent:
At an early age, Steve was fascinated with cars; driving around Des Moines in either his mother's Oldsmobile convertible, or later in his Studebaker, made his day. Along with a few high school buddies, they dismantled and reassembled a Cadillac engine in a friend's basement. To this day he never knew what happened to it, or how that engine left the house.
He was proud of all the Porsches he owned: our first 1970 914, the Brown 911 Targa, the Champagne Yellow 1968 911L Concours car, “Little Orange” 914/6, “Big Orange” 911 RSR, the Red #9 Brumos 911S, and a couple others I don't know anything about.
He often reminded me, as I was adding my two cents about his driving around town, that he was the one in the family with the competition driving license. He had a baseball cap that read "The Older I Get, the Faster I Went."
Being placed on blood thinners in 2015 made a big impact on Steve's Porsche racing and teaching activities. He thrived in PCA Club Racing, CVAR racing, and DE events. He had older Porsches that were built and tuned just right for a high performance driving on the track. Remember the saying, "I want to be like Mikey"? Well, many racers wanted to “drive like Stevie,” who was usually at the front of his class. He was successful in teaching and coaching many guys and gals how to get around the track or road course and helped them improve their time. Having him ride in your right hand seat, grabbing your steering wheel and pushing you safely beyond your limits, was an honor.
Linda Bambina recalled a memory of Steve that she shared with me. “He was one of my very first driving instructors. He called me a ‘wuss’ several times until I finally started getting on the gas as to his liking!”
In a couple of years when his ashes are returned, a few ashes will be scattered in the wind as I ride around Eagles Canyon with one of his cherished buddies.
Farewell Steve, and thanks for the memories!
By David Hodges, Region Club Race Chair
Photos by Wendy Shoffit, John Sandusky, and Eagles Canyon Raceway
Maverick Region hosted the penultimate PCA Club Race in 2024 at Eagles Canyon Raceway over the weekend of October 12-13. We basically had a three-ring circus of fun with Club Racing, High Speed Driver Education, and the Tour Group on track at ECR.
The race group enjoyed a solid weekend of mixed class racing with 14 classes of cars on track. Saturday afternoon’s Sprint 1 had three classes of factory-built cars sweeping for overall and their respective class wins: P1 Raymond Davoudi GTA3, P2 Maria Mejia GTD2, and P3 Marc Hausman GTD1.
Sunday’s racing action had overall and class winner Francisco De Jesus in GTC7, followed by Raymond Davoudi GTA3, and Marc Hausman GTD1. Wrapping up the race weekend in the Super Sprint had the top three positions of Darren Fenz GTC7, Raymond Davoudi GTA3, and Mark Poling GTC7.
A highlight of the weekend was Rick Donoghue #47 in his first wheel-to-wheel PCA Club Race. Rick progressed through the HPDE program and decided it was time to put his driving skills to the test in his first race weekend at ECR. Rick ended up 7th overall in his first race and was selected by the Corner Worker team as the winner of the highly coveted “Workers Choice Award.” Well done, Rick!
Jeff Wilson is the latest in a phenomenal lineup of Maverick Region Spec Boxster PCA National Champions. Congratulations to Jeff for his efforts in 2024! SPB quickly became the largest and most competitive class in PCA Club Racing. The top pointsscoring SPB driver has been a Maverick Region Club Racer for 15 of the last 17 years. The PCA National Championship, which began in 2012, has had a Maverick Region racer winning 11 of 13 SPB National Championships. Who is next?
Top SPB points-scoring Mavericks:
Jay Walker II, 2008
Rocky Johnson, 2009
Steve Watkins, 2010
John Gladwill, 2011, 2014
Thomas Jones, 2012, 2013, 2015 (also an SCCA National Champion)
Chris Drake, 2016, 2017, 2018
Seth Higgins, 2021
Livio Galanti, 2022
Daniel Shofner, 2023
Jeff Wilson, 2024
Maverick Region also has a contingent of local racers winning PCA Club Racing 2024 National and/or Mid America Championship podiums:
National Champions Mid America Champions
SP Boxster SP Boxster
P1: Jeff Wilson
P1: Steve Watkins
P2: Earl Herrington
P3: Jeff Wilson
SP Cayman SP Cayman
P3: Steve Coomes
SP1 (944)
P1: Pat Heptig
P3: Bill Miller
SP 996
P1: David Hodges
P2: Steve Coomes
P3: Perry Lowery
SP1 (944)
P1: Pat Heptig
SP 996
P1: David Hodges
The 90-plus-car-strong Maverick Tour group arrived at ECR on Sunday to watch the events on track and get a few laps around ECR in their own cars. That was a fantastic group of cars and drivers having a blast on track.
I’d like to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work:
Grid: Dave Moser, Wade Ledbetter, Bill Ballent, Scott Hart, David Lindner, Thomas Riedel, and Chuck Lutz.
Registration and Hospitality: Wendy Shoffit, Tom Snodgrass (HPDE Co-Chair), Rose Gohlke, and Rose Beunier.
National Team Assistants: Angie Janssen, Keith Olcha, and Jeff Komenda.
Race Control: Jo Jacobson, Amber Stice, and Sarah Elliott.
Pace Car Team: Ginger and Bret Gabriel.
Without our generous sponsors we could not host these races. A big-time Thank You to our Premier ECR II Dealer Sponsor, Porsche Plano. Porsche Dallas is our May ECR I race dealer sponsor.
Our other Premier sponsors:
• LSA Burger | Barley & Board
• Universal Retail Display
• Elite Garages McKinney
• de Boulle
Next-level sponsors:
• Aubrey Healthmart Pharmacy
• Corsa Werks
• Buda Juice
• Plan T
• Thee Road Service
• Heptig Law
• Agency Eighty-six
• Fifth Gear
• mc2 autosport
As we look forward into 2025, whether you are a spectator, volunteer, HPDE driver, or racer, please save these dates for our next races at ECR: ECR I on May 24-25 and ECR II on Oct 11-12.
Please contact any of our local PCA National team if you are interested in learning more about PCA Club Racing. We have something for everyone, but it’s not for everyone.
By Rick Donoghue, #47
Photos courtesy of the author
I had never been a car guy until my mid-50s, when I bought my first, a Porsche 991.1 Turbo S. My best friend talked me into doing a local High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) event in North Texas. I was so scared, but fell in love with driving this Turbo S on a racetrack. I received an email from the Maverick Region PCA that they were having an HPDE, so I signed up as a complete beginner. They put me in a beginner class with an instructor for the day, and I was hooked. I realized that weekend that the Turbo S was not the car for me on a track, so I ended up trading it in on a 991.2 GT3.
I continued doing every PCA HPDE that was offered and eventually joined Eagles Canyon Raceway as a member. The MRPCA HPDE trained me from driving in the Green instructed class to driving in an actual PCA wheel-to-wheel race. This organization has such a high priority on teaching safe driving while still having fun. During my personal journey, I worked my way from the Green run group to earning my Blue solo qualification. This was a huge accomplishment for me, and yet not enough. So, here came the Yellow run group, and, then, the White run group. Somewhere along the way, a local Clubsport race car would be racing at Eagles Canyon Raceway in the spring and fall. I thought, “Man, I need to try that.” So here we go: I ended up buying a 718 GT4 Clubsport MR and started learning how to drive this factory racecar.
I reached out to David Hodges to see if he would be interested in helping me become a better driver and see if I was prepared to do a wheel-to-wheel race. As everyone within MRPCA, he was very supportive and dedicated to helping me achieve my personal goal and said, “Heck yea, let’s get to work.”
David put me in contact with the key folks at PCA and assisted me in submitting everything I needed, as well as doing my check-off drive to be a rookie racer. The race was three weeks away, and all I needed to do was register. David would call me every couple of days and asked if I registered, and I said “Well not yet but I will.” I was terrified inside and didn’t want anyone to know! I put it off until the deadline of registration, but I got registered.
Friday was here, and it was a test and tune day, as well as all the technical and gear inspections, and a one-on-one meeting with the Race Steward Frank Pray. Just to remind you, I was so nervous I could hardly swallow. Saturday consisted of two practices and qualifying, then the first 30-minute sprint race. I was fully prepared for practice and qualifying, so it was off to the grid for the first sprint challenge. Waiting in the grid, I thought someone put glue in my mouth because I could not swallow, and my stomach started
feeling like I ate something bad earlier in the day. Off we went –out of the grid, in line, green flag, first turn, and we are all good and off racing. I entered the Sunday Sprint, as well, and finished both races.
Reflecting back: this was an incredible experience, and I am so proud of myself for not backing out because of fear. I set a personal goal and accomplished it. I’m a better, safer driver than I was prior to the race, and I hope I never miss a PCA Club Race at Eagles Canyon Raceway. This all could not have happened without the Maverick Region PCA, PCA Clubsport Racing, and the MRPCA HPDE. I am so honored to be part of the PCA family. Everyone within this organization, from the corner workers and grid workers, to the instructors and event leaders, are dedicated to safety, learning and having fun!
By Bob DiRienzo, Region Rally Co-Chair
by Alan Nusbaum
Our second Gimmick Road Rally of the year, “20 Questions to Sanger,” was held on Sunday, October 20. Rally registration was limited to 25 vehicles, with a portion of the registration fee being donated to the North Texas Food Bank. Of the 25 cars registered for the event, 21 showed up bright and early at Trio Coffee in Flower Mound (home to the now-famous FLOMOPOCO weekly gatherings). Rally participants checked in, were given their route instructions, and were treated to coffee and donuts to boost their energy levels before heading out on the road. The first car out departed at 9:15am, piloted by Sue Crimm and Carey Spreen.
The 70-mile rally route meandered northwest through Denton, Wise, and Cooke counties. Participants were asked to answer a series of 20 questions that required them to use their observational skills to find signs along the route that would provide the information needed to answer each question correctly. A few additional questions were added to provide a “tie-breaker” in the event multiple rallyists answered all 20 questions correctly.
The end point for the rally was Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Sanger. After turning in their answer sheets, everyone gathered at Babe’s to enjoy some grub (the fried chicken is fabulous) and await the results. Babe’s was very accommodating, reserving their private dining room and garage area for our use.
As scores were tabulated it became apparent that the use of a tiebreaker would be necessary. Eight of the twenty-one teams had answered all 20 questions correctly! In fact, even the lowest scoring teams had 17 out of 20 correct! By 12:30, the scoring was complete, winners were announced, awards handed out, and group photos were taken by the giant chicken. Judging by the number of smiles I observed, everyone had an enjoyable time.
Many thanks go to Rally Co-Chair Dave Harness for assisting with rally planning and registration, to Bill Kruder for helping us out with logistics on rally day, and to Alan Nusbaum for taking photographs of this event. Lastly, a very special thank you to all the participants who helped make this a safe, successful event and helped us support a good cause. See you in the Spring!!!
RESULTS: (Driver / Navigator)
1st Place: Mike Duman / Jennifer Duman
2nd Place: Richard Ryder / Renee Ryder
3rd Place: Sue Crimm / Carey Spreen
Dead Last But Finished: Victor Verissimo / Zeza Verissimo
M&M Raffle Winner (1,037 M&M’s reserved as a “last resort” tie-breaker): Ron Arnold
The Maverick Women Behind the Wheel filled their fall calendar of events by creating, learning, caring, and giving. In less than a month, we met many objectives by holding unique events within several areas of the Maverick Region, enjoying activities in Fort Worth, Decatur, Allen, and Frisco.
I happened to be standing next to Pat Gouldy on Friday, August 16, at Roy Pope Grocery in Fort Worth when Amy Howell from Autobahn Porsche in Fort Worth walked in and invited our members to their September 26 event called Sip, Dine & Design. Fort Worth artist Ginger Ray Walker, who specializes in painting abstracts inspired by nature, travel, and emotion, led a group of about 50 people in creating unique watercolor artwork. From 5:30-7:30 pm, guests enjoyed light bites by Magdalena’s while sipping wine or the evening’s signature cocktail – a peach lemon drop martini. Several MWBTW members relaxed while creating 16” x 20” watercolors that night.
Three days later, on a clear and warm Sunday, 18 ladies showed up bright and early to learn more about their cars and themselves at our third annual Ladies’ Track Day. How fortunate are we to partner with Eagles Canyon Raceway to hold this event each year? This time, we welcomed two new sponsors: Fifth Gear Automotive and Stuart’s Paint and Body. We thank them for their generous support.
Irene Yuan led two informative classroom sessions. The learning continued on track with five 20-minute runs aside knowledgeable coaches. I recalled the abundance of encouragement I received as a first timer at the track many years ago and can confirm that it never ends. With plenty of ladies giving the track a whirl for the first time, positive vibes flowed all day. So what if you kicked up some dust on a turn you took too fast? As long as your car returns home in the same shape it arrived, you had fun, and you learned something; you did well.
We wrapped up the afternoon with an awards presentation. Allyson Amond was named Most Improved and Valerie Swope won Most Enthusiastic.
Six days later, we headed northeast to Allen, where Pier and Glenn Burgess opened their stunning garage to host Andy Kay and 12 Mavericks for a car care class. Andy’s passion for detailing and the Griot’s product line is unrivalled. Andy covered several products, beneficial dos and don’ts, and ways to save money. Three useful tips that stood out to me include:
• Men’s Wearhouse carries the stickiest lint rollers for cleaning seats, mats, and soft-tops
• To see if you missed something on the inside or outside of the windows while cleaning, clean in different directions – use a vertical motion on the outside and a horizontal motion on the inside
• Search Temu and Dollar Tree for inexpensive buckets, yellow sponges, mitts, white microfiber towels, shoe brushes, swabs, mascara/shadow applicators, foam paintbrushes and more
Still going, we gathered again a week later. On October 12, the most giving souls convened at the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Headquarters Mavs & Mochas. Ten white Porsches took center stage as we munched on bagels from Einstein Bros and sipped coffee from Nest. Last year, the weather was unseasonably cold, so the perfectly pleasant weather satisfied everyone.
Lisa Ward and Becca Epperley, Director of Fundraising, began planning this event during the summer. They updated the virtual store with more options this year to allow club members more of a shopping experience. Becca and the development team took the virtual store concept to other groups to help boost their fundraising. Many people worked hard to make this event special. Deborah
Gaspar arrived from Florida despite uncertainties from Hurricane Milton. This cause is near and dear to her, since a friend who attended the event is currently going through treatment. Hurricane and all, she was there to support NBCF and donated more than $300!
At the MWBTW booth, ladies distributed commemorative bucket hats (styles available for both women and men) to those who preordered them for $35. Five dollars from each hat was donated to NBCF. Ladies who ordered hats may pick them up at one of the remaining events this year.
The staff from NBCF shared self-examination brochures, spoke about their organization, and encouraged attendees to spin their prize wheel. Kevin Hale, President and Chief Operating Officer of NBCF, thanked the club for our participation and generosity. At the start of the event, we were only halfway to our goal of $10,000. Donations grew as the event progressed, and thanks to generous donations of more than $1,500 each from three households, we surpassed our goal, raising $11,100.
As always, you can find the Maverick Women Behind the Wheel on Facebook to learn about our upcoming activities, or you can contact Co-Chairs Pat Gouldy and Lisa Ward at MWBTW@ mavpca.org to have your name added to the mailing list.
By Joann Talty
By Mark Schnoerr | Photos courtesy Robert Kirby, Lightspeed images
The ninth event of the 2024 Autocross season – hosted by Equipe Rapide, our Autocross Connection – took place once again on the expansive parking facility at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie on September 22. The course this time was a very fast layout with a few changeups to keep it exciting. Carey Spreen and Doug Edney were to two quickest Porsches this time.
Everyone got six timed runs and the weather was beautiful. Event 10 will close the 2024 season at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie on November 10. Event details can be found at www.autocross.com
Contact Mark Schnoerr for questions, classing information, etc., at AX@MAVPCA.ORG
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Yvette Artis (Rommel) (Waxahachie) 2018 Panamera
Dane Bailey (Cathy) (Colleyville) 1983 911 SC Cabriolet
George Briggs (Dallas) 2024 718 Boxster
Brian Chandler (McKinney) 2021 911 Carrera S
Jason Clark (Haltom City) 2023 911 Targa 4 GTS
Gregory Cole (Dallas) 2009 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Kenny Dority (Paris) 2024 911 Carrera 4S
Todd Doze (Colleyville) 2019 911 Targa 4S
Heather Fairburn (Northlake) 2023 Taycan GTS Sport Turismo
Justin Goosen (Dallas) 2018 718 Cayman
Andrew Guo (Allen) 2024 718 Cayman GT4 RS
John Hymes (Camille) (Southlake) 2021 Macan S
Thomas Isaksen (McKinney) 2017 911 Carrera
Muhammed Ismail (Irving) 2023 911 Carrera Cabriolet
David Johnson (Heartland) 2020 911 Carrera S
James Jones (Lewisville) 2019 911 Turbo S
Dan Keller (Granbury) 1989 911 Speedster
Michael Kruger (Dallas) 2024 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
Lawrence Leblanc (Dallas) 2003 911 Carrera
Christiaan Lohler (Southlake) 2024 718 Spyder RS
Alex Mahboubi (Kimberly) (Garland) 2020 911 Carrera 4S
Scott Ahrens (Crystal) (Justin) 2018 Macan S
Alex Alcocer (Plano) 1984 944
Alfred Allen III (Graham) 2018 911 Turbo S
Robert Barvais (Brenda) (Plano) 1980 911 SC Targa
Danny Blackburn (Priscilla Lara) (Dallas) 2017 911 Carrera
Binu Chandrika (Frisco) 2019 Panamera 4
Frankland Clarke (Plano) 2013 Panamera GTS
Victor Colon (Arlington) 2018 911 Carrera T
Tony Cox (Dallas) 2017 911 Carrera S
Todd Dawson (Crowley) 2009 911 Carrera S
Brad Garrett (McKinney) 2008 911 Carrera
Justin Goosen (Dallas) 2015 911 GT3
Michael Huberty (Flower Mound) 1985 911 Carrera
Steven Kapinos (Aubrey) 2021 Cayenne GTS
Anoop Mathew (Lewisville) 2014 Cayman S
Keith Mcdaniel (Double Oak) 1977 911S
Rodney Lee
Tony Nguyen (Plano) 2006 911 Carrera
Jason Nield (Oak Point) 2011 Cayman
Bill Owen (Julie) (Arlington) 1965 356
Sam Power (Plano) 2019 911 GT3 RS
Jason Pruismann (Colleyville) 1977 911S
Quincy Pulliam (Copper Canyon) 2024 911 Carrera S
Chris Rakowitz (Dallas) 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
Prakash Rikhilal (Garland) 2009 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
Tyler Rogers (Dallas) 2018 911 Carrera 4 GTS
Sawyer Salling (Fort Worth) 2018 718 Boxster S
Adam Salyards (Keller) 2016 Cayman GT4
Matthew Smitz (Prosper) 2025 911 Carrera
Rodrigo Topete (Hernandez) (Frisco) 1978 911 SC
Jeff Van Matre (Plano) 2024 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet
Manoj Varughese (Seetal) (Frisco) 2016 911 Carrera
Larissa Velez (Fernando Benitez) (Dallas) 2016 911 Turbo S
Ann Viola (Fort Worth) 2024 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Brian Walls (Quade) (Plano) 2019 911 Turbo
Brandon Webster (Flower Mound) 2006 911 Carrera 4S
Roy Williams (Shanta) (Cedar Hill) 2024 Macan
Mark Mcwhorter (Erin) (Justin) 2025 718 Boxster S
Christopher Menchaca (Sachse) 2009 Cayman S
Randall Messman (Fort Worth) 2018 718 Cayman
Isaac Pagan-Munoz (Celina) 2018 911 Carrera
Jeff Park (Fort Worth) 2018 718 Cayman GTS
Leonard Pussinen (Argyle) 2022 911 Turbo S
Grant Reid (Leisa) (Richardson) 2020 Taycan Turbo
Markus Schoen (Cluxton) (Dallas) 2024 Taycan
Jeremy Sutter (Kayla Manthey) (Joshua) 2007 Cayman
Neel Tucker (Frisco) 2000 Boxster S
Blake Van Vleet (Fort Worth) 2012 Panamera 4
Boyd Wallace (Dallas) 2008 911 Carrera
Robert Weis (River Oaks) 2015 911 GT3
Alex Williams (Dallas) 2006 911 Carrera
Jesse Xiong (Sandy Lo) (Plano) 2013 911 Carrera
Transfer From: Peachstate (PST) 2019 718 Boxster S Adam & Jodi Allman
Transfer From: Schones Land (SL) 2013 911 Carrera S Beige
Naz & Hanifa Haji
Bill Ryan
David & Chris Wruck
Hayden & Jonquil Hill
Jon Venverloh
Transfer From: Hurricane (HUR) 2021 911 Targa 4S
Transfer From: Mid South (MSO) 2024 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
Transfer From: Chesapeake (CHS) 2014 911 Carrera Beige
Transfer From: Lone Star (LST) 2016 Cayman GT4
Transfer From: Golden Gate (GG) 2000 911 Carrera 1979 911 Turbo Beige
If you have any changes that you would like to make to the MRPCA membership guide, contact Tom or Becky at membership@mavpca.org
As most of you know, we live in a very small world. So, this month’s meeting was truly a chance meeting. Some seven to nine months ago a few of us were having coffee at my “office,” aka 1418 Coffee in Prosper, and we saw this black Boxster park, and its owner, Ryan Miller, walk inside. Well somehow, I think Ryan has put two and two together and figures we are the guys with the Porsches in the lot. So as time passes, Ryan is telling me about some friend of his in Dallas who owns a 996. Well, that could be any one of thousands, right? He goes on to tell me how he and his friend would meet all the time at “City Tavern” and smoke a cigar and enjoy a beverage. Again, sounds fun! So, one evening I get an IM from Jason Oliver, who says “Hey, I see you met my buddy from Prosper.” Now that’s the small world. I have known Jason and his 996 for some time now and never knew that he and Ryan were best friends. Think this is like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, or close to it.
So here is the next in my series of “conversations” I would like to share with you . . .
Ryan Miller, member since 2023 Owner 2010 997.2 (badged 911)
Bill Kruder: So, where are you from?
Ryan Miller: I was born in a small town of Parsons, KS, in the Southeast corner of the state. Matter of fact it’s only about an hour northwest of Joplin, MO. I lived there until I was about five. My parents divorced; my dad is still there, while my mom moved to Texas.
BK: Whereabouts in Texas did you move to?
RM: We moved to the small town of Southmayd, just north of Gunter, and south of US 82, where SH 56 and SH 289 meet.
BK: So, did you live there long?
RM: I did, attending grammar school thru high school in the S & S School District (Sadler & Southmayd) located near Whitesboro.
BK: What did you do after high school?
RM: After I graduated in 1998, I left Texas for Wichita, KS, working for Raytheon. I eventually attended IKON Technologies, receiving my certification, and did contract work for many years.
BK: Tell me though what you are doing now. It’s a far departure from that I hear?
RM: I work for a contract manufacturer in the health and nutrition space. I sell the company’s capacity to manufacture supplements.
BK: When did you come back to Texas?
RM: I was only gone I think three years, moving to Pilot Point in 2001.
BK: Why Pilot Point?
RM: My mom had started a Western store. She had three locations and I joined her, handling her IT and the web side of the business.
BK: So, I have to ask. How does a guy that lives in small towns end up where you did in 2003?
RM: Ha! So, very true, as up until then, other than Wichita, I had lived in towns with populations under 10,000. I got a job offer in Dallas, and as it worked out, my office and apartment were in the same building.
BK: Very nice set up; did you live there long?
RM: I did, actually, from 2003 until about 2018. So yes, it was 15 years between downtown/uptown and a stint in Oak Cliff.
BK: Was after this that you moved back north?
RM: I moved to Prosper in January 2018 after living in and around downtown Dallas. The booming area and great schools are what brought us up here.
BK: So, when and how did you and Misty meet?
RM: Well as luck would have it for me (better ask her if she feels the same way), we met the day I moved to Dallas. A mutual friend set us up.
BK: How long did you two date then?
RM: We dated for four years beginning in 2003, and we married in 2007.
BK: And kids?
RM: Oh yes, we have two boys: Gaston is nine and Dax is seven.
BK: Let’s talk cars now. What was your first car?
RM: I hope first truck is OK (smiling). It was a 1984 Chevy pickup that I drove through high school.
BK: I haven’t ever asked this but heck, why not. What was your first NEW car? This is like your second chance. (laughing)
RM: (laughing) It was a 1997 Chevy S10 pick-up truck. I wanted the SS but could not afford it so I had the whopping 120-hp engine, but I did change out the wheels and trim to make it look more like an SS.
BK: Fair enough, but years later, why Porsche?
RM: In high school I would often have to do errands that would take me south to Plano and Frisco. Well, it seemed to me everywhere I turned I would see these spectacular cars. Guess you could say they
caught my eye. Then, once I moved to Dallas, I was into sports cars. A guy I knew in my building had a Boxster S, and he told me if I ever wanted to take it out I could, and that the keys were with the valet. So, one day I took him up on his offer and the experience was like none other.
BK: So, how many years later was it that you bought your first?
RM: Oh, geez a life time (smiling) but it was 2023. I bought a 2007 Boxster base model, black on black. It just needed a few cosmetic things and we were set. Well, at least for the next six to seven months.
BK: Yes, and that’s when we met but then one day, I saw it for sale and I thought “well that was short lived.” (smiling)
RM: I know right? Well, I wasn’t really looking but I found the 2010 and fell in love with it so the Boxster had to go.
BK: Let’s back up to 2003-04 when you say you had gotten in the sports car scene?
RM: Yes, about the time I moved into Dallas I was really into Audi, driving a TT and several others over the years. At this time there was a “club” called DallasImports.net that I was involved in, and had lots of fun meeting new like-minded people.
So, there you have it once again. It may take longer than expected, but sooner or later, you will be Driving Friendships.
By Bill Kruder
Mavs & Mochas, Innovative Autosports, Carrollton, Dec 7
Mavs Toy Parade, Walmart, Plano, Dec 7
Founders' Day Celebration, Porsche Grapevine, Grapevine, Dec 7
Christmas Lights Tour, Location TBD, Dec 12
MWBTW Cookie Exchange, Classic Wine Storage, Frisco, Dec 14
Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Mayo Performance, Euless, Dec 21
MWBTW pop up holiday lunch, Dumpling House, Plano, Dec 28
JANUARY
Board Meeting (virtual), Jan 8
Mavs & Mochas, location TBD, Jan 11
Happy Hour, Harwood Arms, Dallas, Jan 16
MWBTW Paint-Your-Porsche at Painting with a Twist, Plano, Jan 17
Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Mayo Performance, Euless, Jan 18
Board Meeting (virtual), Feb 5
Mavs & Mochas, location TBD, Feb 8
Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Feb 15
Board Meeting, Mar 5
Werks Reunion, Amelia Island Concours, Florida, Mar 7
Mavs & Mochas, location TBD, Mar 8
Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Mar 15
All Member Party, Oak + Ivy, Aubrey, Mar 23
DEPARTMENT / Editors' Notes
Doug Jacobson, Slipstream Content Editor
As you are aware, the club runs on the efforts of volunteers, and Slipstream is no different. We’ve been fortunate to have several regular columns to provide the content that chronicles the activities of our club, and Carey and I have appreciated the unsolicited content we have been able to include as well.
Additionally, photography helps to bring the articles to life, and we want to thank Alan Nusbaum for his work as Photography Chair as he steps down from that role. Alan is a fantastic photographer who has shared pictures from many of the Porsche events he has attended over the years. He has been generous in sharing his wonderful photographs in this magazine as well as on our Facebook pages, and I feel like I attended Luftgekült, Werks Reunion at Amelia Island, or the Sports Car Together Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to name a few. I did meet up with him at the WEC event at the Circuit of the Americas, and some of his photographs illustrate the Motorsport Mike column. Our gratitude to you, Alan, and we look forward you continuing to sharing your work on Facebook.
By Bill Middleton | Photos courtesy of the author
A good friend of mine and I used to go to Dallas from Arlington for what's called “the Saturday sale” - bunches of vendors selling all kinds of used and salvaged computers, electronics, military surplus, and just miscellaneous technology stuff. For many years it was in the parking lot adjacent to the old Dallas downtown YMCA on the east side, right next to US-75.
We met up as usual at the Waffle House on Collins just north of I-30 in Arlington, right across the street from Don Davis' used car lot. While we were eating, I noticed a couple of guys putting a car up on their elevated platform in the corner of the lot – a red Porsche. It was like I went into some image-induced trance.
I had owned performance cars when I was younger, and had raced in SCCA H Production with a jointly-owned Fiat 850 Spyder. My last performance car was a 1976 Datsun 280Z that I'd spent tons of time (and money) getting it tuned to the max: suspension upgrades, engine performance parts, wider tires, etc. - it was a real hot little car.
As we were leaving breakfast, I told my friend I was going to take a look at that Porsche up on the blocks and was seriously thinking about it. I'd lost my Z to an accident a number of years before, and the siren song of again driving a high performance car down winding hill country roads was singing in my ears. My friend, ever the practical person, told me I was nuts - the car was going to be much more expensive than I could afford, and the upkeep would put me into bankruptcy. I, of course, ensnared by the sight of that beautiful little red car sitting there in the morning sun, didn't hear a word.
Worth. He had bought it from Ryan Motors (now Autobahn) in March of 1986. The car had been built in mid-January of 1986, and was just the 103rd 930 built for US delivery after the five-year USA ban on the car was lifted.
Carson had wanted to get something else, so he was just going to hand the keys to this amazing little red machine over to his teenage granddaughter. Talk about a high school girl driving the ultimate guy magnet! However, she decided she didn't want it; she wanted something she could haul herself and her friends around in, and so asked for a Dodge Durango instead. So Carson took his baby over to Don Davis and traded it title for title for a Dodge Durango, on a Friday afternoon. The next day - Saturday - was when I saw the car going up on the display platform in front of the dealership.
The following week, I drove it to work. The day I pulled into the lot with this bright red street screamer, I walked into the office and got more surprised looks than I'd ever seen. Questions like "Is that yours?" and "Ok, what bank did you rob to buy that thing?" were the conversation starters of the morning. As for the rest of that week and the next, I was taking work associates for rides when we'd go to lunch.
That was in April of 2001. Not long after that, I heard about PCA and the Maverick Region, and went to my first Happy hour - and have been here ever since.
We went to the Saturday sale, but the whole time we were there, I only noticed enough to keep from tripping over stuff or falling down. On the way home, I said to my friend "I'm going to look at that car - wanna come along?" He laughed, but said sure - someone had to keep some semblance of sanity in this discussion.
We went, looked at the car, drove it for about fifteen minutes, and a little over an hour later, I drove it home. Suddenly there was this bright red beauty sitting in the driveway, with a halo around it (in my imagination at least) like a miracle had occurred. I again owned a sports car, but not just any sports car, a Porsche. And not just any Porsche - a screaming beast of a Porsche: a Turbo.
I found out from the dealer that the car had belonged to Carson Thompson, who founded Bombay Furniture Company in Fort
One notable adventure: just two weeks after buying it, I was late leaving for a meeting in Elgin, TX. I hopped on I-35W south out of Fort Worth, being still unaware of just how easily this car could go REALLY fast, and collected a speeding ticket for 105 in a 55. The officer told me that if he hadn’t been so busy, he'd have taken me to jail right then - but he didn't. After that I got an attorney, who started getting things set up to handle the ticket. He had the ticket number from my copy, but every time he called to check on processing status, they couldn't find it in the system. After about two months, they had to admit they'd lost the ticket, and I was off the hook for what would have cost me a pretty penny in fines and insurance premiums. I chalked it up to divine intervention giving me a one-time “get out of jail free” card with a warning. I also immediately bought a good radar detector!
Unless some other medical thing comes up between now and then, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Founders’ Day events.
In August, the Maverick Tours team learned that the Hula Hut Restaurant in Little Elm was going to be closed due to construction the week of our tour. With some quick thinking and a lot of help from Maverick Region Race and DE groups, the tour vibe was changed from “Hawaiian Leis” to “Hold-on!” with a drive to the magnificent Eagles Canyon Raceway where tour participants would get to drive the 2.7-mile FIA-specification road course. David Hodges, the Maverick Region’s Club Race Chair, and Keith Olcha, Tom Snodgrass, and Irene Yuan of the Maverick Driving Experience welcomed us and agreed to help coordinate our arrival and get us to the grid on time.
While we were sad to miss the annual end-of-tour party at the Hula Hut Restaurant, we were bolstered knowing that we would be able to drive the Eagles Canyon road course for a series of parade laps. News of the tour change resulted in brisk registration. By September 15, the tour was full with 80 cars, and was actually extended to 89 cars with 122 participants.
A slight kink in the new plan occurred on the Friday before the event when we got word that a key road on our route was closed due to - yes - construction (ever heard that before?) Quickly, route wizard Sam Bryant went back to his maps and put together a new (and faster) route to the racetrack.
At 8:45 am, Sunday, October 13, people began gathering in the middle school parking lot in Aubrey, Texas. Also there was Irene Yuan, the Maverick Region’s DE marketing person, making sure everyone signed the tour waiver and signed the required Eagles Canyon track waiver.
At 9:30 am, eight groups of ten cars filed out of the parking lot for the rather quick, 45-minute drive to the racetrack. Thanks to the new route and to Irene’s pre-signing initiative, our cars arrived early. Half the participants went to the racetrack’s cafe and half went to the track overlook to view the last race of the morning. At noon, our Tour groups made their way to the grid. After a brief delay for track cleaning, we got the green flag and were off. Led by Maverick racer Tom Snodgrass, we had five laps of followthe-leader style driving, hitting all the proper apexes and turnin points. From straightaways, off-camber turns and hairpins, the track was a fun challenge even at slower speeds. The experience was over all too quickly but ended with a chorus of smiles. After talking to some drivers, it certainly looks like our Maverick Driver Experience group is going to gain some new members.
Thanks to all those that helped. We hope to see you Thursday, December 12, for our Christmas Lights Tour.
Q: Who says, “Oh, Oh, Oh?”
A: Santa Clause walking backwards!
By Chris Chilton, Tours Co-Chair
Chris and Davis Cole
The Nürburgring (a.k.a. The Ring) is the legendary motorsports complex located in the quaint European town of Nürburg, Germany. Its long Nordschleife ("North loop") track is 20.8 km (12.9 mi) long and contains more than 1,000 ft of elevation change from its lowest to highest points as it winds around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is considered by some as the most demanding race track in the world.
In June, Maverick members and Father/Son Chris and Davis Cole had the special opportunity to rent a 718 Cayman S and a GTS and drive The Ring as well as attend and photograph the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Series Race, featuring 165 super sports cars from professional teams competing for victory. Porsche was represented well in the different classes with a variety of models including Cayman, Cayman S, Cayman 718, and 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport in addition to 911 GT3 and GT3 R, GT4 RS, GT3 Cup.
Here are a few photos of their trip to the Nürburgring, courtesy of the Coles.
One of the most exciting areas of scientific research is DNA research and understanding the genetic code. While scientists have discovered why some people hate cilantro, I have not read that they’ve found the genetic code for love of cars, racing, and the need for speed. Many of us have been playing with cars since we were infants, leading to a lifelong obsession that is now manifested in our love of Porsches. That is certainly true of Don Sebert, who passed that on to his son, Jeff.
Growing up in Kansas City, Don was in love with anything with wheels. His father was more practical about cars and lacked the skills that future Seberts would learn. Don’s father’s cars had curb feelers to aid in parking, keep from scraping the car, or running up on the sidewalk. At age 18, Don purchased his first car, a ’51 Ford convertible. This allowed him to drag race with friends on rural roads. As a car lover, the passion to use available funds for modifications and acquisitions led him to use a $75 tax refund to buy a ‘47 Oldsmobile. That may not have been the best move – the car burned a quart of oil a day, and once blew the oil filler cap up into the underside of the hood. Of course, cars in those days were built like tanks of thick steel, so no damage occurred.
Don was starting a family and a business, so his first sporty car purchase balanced his desire with the need to transport a family of four, and he purchased a Corvair Monza coupe instead of a Corvette. With a higher floor in the rear seat area due to the rear engine, Jeff could touch the floor with his feet at an earlier age than in a conventional car, so he had a fondness for it.
Corvettes were never far from Don’s mind, and he picked up a ’56 with a V8 in 1970. That model is credited with saving the Corvette – previous models used an inline six that couldn’t compete against the more exotic Ford Thunderbird. The Corvette was purchased for $1,200 rather than a ’58 Aston Martin DB4 that was being sold by Lawrence Marcus. While probably the better choice for racing, the Aston would be more valuable now. The Corvette wore a red and white livery, reflecting its sporty nature and use as a SCCA race car. In the Seberts’ garage, there is a picture of Don racing it in downtown Kansas City that was organized by Steve Earle, creator of the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca. Don competed against Phil Hill, Bob Bondurant, and many other luminaries. Don and Jeff raced in events against Brian Redman, Paul Newman, Hurley Haywood, Bobby Rahal, and Bob Aiken, along with other pro drivers.
Two more Vettes took their place in the racing stable alongside the ’56: a ’69 L88 big block that resembled a bass boat, white with green sparkly speckles, and a green ’70 LT1 coupe that was factory race-built but with power windows, leather seats, and an AM-FM radio. The ’69 was raced by both Seberts until it suffered a serious roll with Jeff aboard when it hit a curb and ended upside down (fortunately, no one was injured), and the ’70 was sold when they thought they would exit racing. When the ’56 was retired from racing in 1991, it was honored with a nut-and-bolt restoration. Repainted in its original black with silver coves, it earned the prestigious Bloomington Gold Standard and NCRS Top Flight for its originality and correctness, and is a prized possession.
In 1976, Don bought the first of many Porsches, a Copper Brown Metallic 911S coupe with a Cork leather interior, and he has always owned at least one Porsche since then. They trailered the 911S from Kansas City to Aspen in 1978 for the PCA Parade. Once off the trailer, they drove it from Twin Lakes, up and over Independence Pass and into Aspen, where Jeff took it on his first “official” track event.
While I was interviewing the Seberts, Jeff admitted that he purchased and raced his first car at age 14. He and three friends gave one of the boys’ older brother $50 to purchase a purple Dodge Valiant. Taking possession of the car, the boys learned how to operate the car with its 3-speed column mounted shifter (“Three
On A Tree”) and had hours of fun spinning in the dirt and racing it on a dirt bike motocross track. When its engine failed late in the day, the boys had as much fun disposing of the evidence, and felt they’d got more than the bargain for the $12.50 each paid.
After retiring from racing in the Corvettes, the bug to race was reignited, and this time, Don chose Mini Coopers as his steed. Jeff also purchased one, and soon they were pushing them hard and winning hardware again. There are a few idiosyncrasies involved in racing a Mini. First, they are momentum-based cars, so they have to be driven at full throttle throughout the race. That means getting up on three (or even two) wheels in a turn. As a result, one has to have a trailer full of spares, because the car will break down at least once per race, and it’s inevitable that the part needed is not in the trailer!
Don purchased a ’74 RSR IROC clone from Cox Motorsport that he and Jeff campaigned nationally with great success. While the trophies and hardware are out of sight in their garage, Don and Jeff stood atop the podium in very competitive races at many of the famed tracks one can name, such as Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Road America, Roebling Road, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen.
While Don was campaigning in the RSR, Jeff decided to try open wheel racing when father and son weren’t entered in an endurance race. He started in a Lotus 51, which was a very exciting platform due to its Ford engine. As every car was identical, driver skill and strategy was crucial to winning races. The Lotus was succeeded by a RALT Formula Atlantic car, which was more powerful and reliable, in addition to having higher-level drivers making their way to Indy Car and Formula 1 that ratcheted up the competitiveness of those races.
Don bought and sold over a dozen 911s and also a dozen 944s and 928s over the years. Having had so many cars pass through his ownership, Don would like to have a few back. First would be a ’54 bent-windshield 356 Cabriolet that he sold and was imported to Germany. It had a pull-out map light on the dash that was a unique and interesting feature. Others included his first Porsche, the ’76 911S, the ’70 LT1, and an ’80 928 5-speed that was offered to him many years later by the purchaser. Unfortunately, it looked like it had lived a hard life, with faded paint, worn and tattered Pasha interior, and lots of deferred maintenance.
It is always a great privilege to learn more from our members. If you would like to have your collection featured or know of someone that you would like to learn more about, please reach out to me at editor@mavpca.org.
By Doug Jacobson
“Box. Box. Box.” If you’ve watched Le Mans or a Formula 1 race on television, at some point in the race, you heard a radio transmission from the race director to the driver with that message to make a stop for service at the “pit box.” Gone are the days when pit crews were unkempt, pudgy men with greasy hands and parts scattered across the bay. Now, the members can be mistaken for the drivers – lean and athletic, wearing fireproof racing suits and helmets in the team’s livery – and, the service area is as clean, well lit, and organized as a surgical center.
During the FIA World Endurance Championship, or WEC weekend, August 30-September 1, a small group of Maverick Region members spent several hours touring the Porsche Penske pit boxes at the Circuit of the Americas. We were met by Urs Kuratle, Director of the Porsche factory racing teams. Based in Weissach, the factory racing department (officially known as Porsche Factory Racing LMDh) serves both Porsche-sponsored and privatelyfunded teams in all classes of race cars.
Teams begin their year spending from a few weeks to a few months in Weissach, where they learn the cars’ operating requirements, train on how to repair and maintain the car, train the drivers, and many other tasks to have a successful season. The cost to operate a Le Mans Hypercar (963) is $10 million per car per year, but extensive experience is required to partner with Porsche in that car class. So, if you just had an amazing liquidity event and don’t have
a team already, you’ll be directed to the LMGT3, GT-D or GT-Pro division which will cost you about $2.5 million per car per year. What do you get for your money? In addition to a race car and spare, there is a comprehensive set of three ring binders that span several feet, several tractor trailer containers full of spare parts to transport to your home base and each race, and amazing technical and logistical support.
At a race, you will see many of the nearly 100 people supporting the Porsche Penske team, some of whom are employed directly by the Penske team, while others are employed by Porsche Factory Racing. In each pit box, there are people present that you typically see performing tasks during a race: wheelmen that change tires and wheels; fuelers; technicians; and race engineers who monitor the car’s performance; and the race director. There are lots of engineers – pitside and in the pit box whom you see on TV, and also in modular buildings behind the pit box and working remotely. It was amazing to learn that many engineers are located around the world working from home during a race (are they dressed like so many remote workers – business on top and pajamas below?). There were lots of support staff, too; some were moving spare parts between the pit box and the containers staged behind pit row, others handling logistics for the team, public relations, and every other function necessary to support the team.
Race On Sunday, Sell On Monday is still the mantra of car manufacturers. Looking at the 963 in the pit box suspended on special pneumatic lifts not found elsewhere and under the light fixture that would be more at home in a surgery, the car resembled a jet fighter more than a 911, Macan, or Taycan. The cockpit was small, full of glowing readouts and switches, and there were exposed parts throughout the car covered in sensors. Each wheel was corner balanced with computer aided precision, and the marks drawn on the floor to ensure consistent placement of the sensors were the only blemish on the painted surfaces. The movements of the crew changing the suspension and bleeding the brakes was ballet-like as each technician waited for their cue to take action, gracefully moving in and out to replace parts, moving the specialized equipment, and replacing the clamshell of the body. Throughout our tour, we heard and felt the thunderous roar of cars moving in and out of pit lane and on the track that made communication without a headset difficult.
Although the Porsche teams didn’t have the results that weekend that we were hoping, it was a thrill and great honor to get an inside view of the operations provided by a legendary race director. The team did bounce back at the following race at the 6 Hours of Fuji, where the number 6 car took the overall victory, and the two Hertz JOTA cars placed 5th and 6th. The series concludes with the BAPCO Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 2.
Congratulations to the following members!
50 Years
Hiram Saunders (Emily) Richland Hills
20 Years
Mike Barnett (Laurie) Plano
Andrew Blanchard (James) Murphy
Pete Schange (Sandy) Roanoke
15 Years
Chris Alkier (Bridget) Frisco
Michael Redenbaugh Argyle
10 Years
Ty Brewer (Shane) Trophy Club
Amir El-baghdady Flower Mound
David Hunt
Dallas
Jeffrey Komenda (Trevor) Plano
Maverick Mann (Winn Reese) Anoka, MN
John May Keller
Justin McMillin Fairview
Craig Nichols (Melissa) Quinlan
Martin Prinz (Jane) Weatherford
James Seay (Ann) Frisco
5 Years
Marcus Bohlemann Plano
Tom Buddenbohn (Rebecca) Arlington
Frank Conforti Sachse
John Harding Allen
Kevin Kim Prosper
David Kohl
Dallas
Manie Le Roux Rockwall
Clayton Mahone (Jessica) Sherman
Alan Massey (Jane) Denton
Everett Sanders (Lynette) Carrollton
Tanya Steele
Dallas
40 Years
Philip Guthrie (Beverly) Hideaway
30 Years
Michael De Jong (Michele) South Mountain, PA
25 Years
William Miller (Candy) Keller
Steven Patterson (Betsy) Kerrville
20 Years
Bill Campbell (Virginia) Lewisville
Peter Hatton (Jane) Lewisville
James Milton (Sharon) Lewisville
Thomas Spitzer (Annette) Wichita Falls
15 Years
Glenn Douglass (Susan) Dallas
Hank Gaines (Angie) Kaufman
James Hoyt (Angela) Watsonville, CA
George Walker (Amy Curtis) Garland
Mark Wilson Flower Mound
10 Years
William Ballent (John) Dallas
Brian Beckett Grapevine
Gabriel Chacin (Kimberly) The Colony
Peter Dauterman (Lynn) Dallas
Mark Doerner Allen
Jeff Kupp (Julie) Dallas
Brian Waheed Dallas
5 Years
John Dames Southlake
David Dils Benbrook
Matt Furlan (Julianne) Flower Mound
Frank Heidlberger (Elena) Denton
Justin Keller Fort Worth
Brett Miller (Tatiana Ganzha) Prosper
Craig Nagler (Marie) Fort Worth
Rickard Schmidt Allen
Russell Siebert Flower Mound
Carl Stutzman
Dallas
Bryan Thompson Pilot Point
Raman Valecha (Sanat) Dallas
Joshua Vu (Abygail Alvernaz) Carrollton
By Tom Martin
Care to test your knowledge (or Google Search ability) of all things Porsche? Play here for fun and find the answers below, OR take the latest quiz on the web at mavpca.org/trivia and play for a $25 gift certificate from Zims Autotechnik.
1. The street legal Porsche 968 Turbo S and the racing Turbo RS were the coolest 968s made. Where were they manufactured?
A. Liepzig
C. Weissach
B. Neckarsulm
D. Zuffenhausen
2. In 1992, Porsche introduced the Turbo RS, the rarest of the 968s. How many examples were produced?
A. 2
C. 7
B. 4
D. 11
3. What exterior color was the first production, non-prototype, Turbo RS?
A. white B. black C. yellow D. red
Answers: 1)d, 2)b, 3)c, 4)a, 5)a
4. How many Porsche 968 Turbo S models were manufactured with right-hand drive?
A. 0
C. 9
B. 4
D. 12
5. The 968 was available in 33 exterior colors. Which of the following was NOT an available color?
A. Aubergine
C. Speed Yellow
B. Iris Blue Metallic
D. Wimbledon Green Metallic
The winner this time was Joe Fierros, who answered all five questions correctly. Runners up were Ron Bailey, Tom Gomer, and Marshall Lawrence, all of whom also answered all five questions correctly; the winner was decided by a random drawing. Joe, please contact Aaron at Zim's to redeem your $25.00 gift certificate.
Twice a year, many PCA members get a surprise announcement! Discover an incredible benefit of PCA membership: the opportunity to take part in PCA’s semiannual raffle. Members can buy entries for a chance to win a brand-new Porsche. The fall raffle is on the horizon, with the anticipation of multiple winners. Stay tuned to pca.org for raffle dates and details!
Ÿ Delivering award winning service for 40+ years
Ÿ Rated “Best in Dallas” a record 3 times
Ÿ Rated “Best in Texas”
Ÿ Rated “Top 10 Shops in U.S.”
Ÿ Rated “Best in the West” by the ROBERT BOSCH Corporation
Ÿ A Better Business Bureau accredited business for 3 decades with an A + rating
Ÿ The first ASE “Blue Seal of Excellence” business in Dallas
Ÿ Racing background at Daytona, Sebring, and Riverside
Ÿ Master Certified Technicians
Ÿ BOSCH Authorized Service Center
Ÿ Air conditioned shop for technician efficiency and comfort
Ÿ We do not sell cars, thus we must survive on our 40+ year service reputation
Hiram Saunders, Slipstream
6044 Wessex St.
N Richland Hills, TX 76180
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
