PorschePatter
Content Contributions
Henry L. Becker, Jr.
Ellen Beck
Aniano Arao Steve Buss
Stephanie Reuer Rich Ehrlich
Photo Contributions
Henry L. Becker, Jr.
Steve Buss Aniano Arao
Editor
Henry L. Becker, Jr.
EDITOR’S
Henry L. Becker, Jr.
Editor, Porsche Patter
For some Porsche enthusiasts, these are the tough months. Although my 996 is a daily driver, it still does not get the miles it does in better (no salt on the road) weather.
The winter months are the time I get caught up on my reading. I do get behind on reading 000 Magazine, Panorama and, Christophorus. Like many of you, dear readers, I enjoy learning everything about the brand
and its history. There are times when I think about how lucky I am to have found and explored my interest in Porsche.
There are many people that never explore their interests and dreams. For me, I never stop exploring. I’m what you call a lifelong learner. No, I’m not permanently enrolled in college degrees. I’m always learning something new from software to car repair to different cultures. It’s what keeps me young at heart.
To tie this altogether - these winter months should not be wasted. I encourage you to learn something new. Heck, if you have children or grandchildren in their teens or twentys, scroll through TikTok or Instagram with them. You will learn a whole new culture and vocabulary.
Prost, Henry
If you have an article to submit, send us 300 - 1,000 words (and some pictures). Email your story and pics to editor@pcachs.org
CLUB LEADERSHIP
PPRESIDENT
Steve Buss president@pcachs.org
S SECRETARY
Ken W ilmers secretar y@pcachs.org
Executive VP
Steve Wood executivevicepresident@pcachs.org
Autocross
Greg Hartke / Mark autocross@pcachs.orgHubley
Historian
Bob Rassa historian@pcachs.org
Driving Instructor
Ellen Beck instructor@pcachs.org
Community Service
Open comunityservice@pcachs.org
Concours
Paul Koenigsmark, Phil Andrews Dan Zadra concours@pcachs.org
Chesapeake Chlng
Kristen Allen chesapeakechallenge@pcachs.org
VICE PRESIDENT
Mar k Miller vicepresident@pcachs.org
TREASURER
Andy Powell treasurer@pcachs.org
Committee Chairs
Insurance
Wayne Nelms insurance@pcachs.org
Membership
Rob Carter, Jessie Sanchez membership@pcachs.org
R Marshaegistrar Buss msregistrar@pcachs.org
N ewsletter Editor Open editor@pcachs.org
PCA License
Laurie & Bruce Tarsia pcalicenseplates@pcachs.org
PCA Zone 2 Rep
Phil Grandfield zonerep@pcachs.org
Photography
Jim McKee / Ryan Boxler
Jim Orrell photography@pcachs.org
Publicity
James Beavan III publicity@pcachs.org
Saf ety
John Jensen safety@pcachs.org
Social
Stephanie Reuer and Randy Bruscup social@pcachs.org
Sunshine
Doug Ehmann sunshine@pcachs.org
Webmaster
Mark Richburg webmaster@pcachs.org
Tour & Rally
Rich Ehrlich tour@pcachs.org rally@pcachs.org
Tech
Jim Earlbeck / Randall Richter Rick Hawver tech@pcachs.org
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings Everyone,
I a happy to say the 2025 Chesapeake Region season has officially kicke off with our annual an always entertaining After Holi ay Party. Everyone enjoye the selves as we ha a terrific evening of frien ship an laughter an so e serious Yankee Swap gift stealing. There were any terrific gifts this year inclu ing so e valuable artwork pieces. Thanks to Porsche Owings Mills, our value sponsor. Thanks to Bob an Manny for being Master of Cere onies. An thanks to all the volunteers who showe up early to help set up an anage the registration table an thanks to those who staye late to help with cleanup. I a always a aze an grateful at how well we all work together to put on these won erful events for our e bers.
Steve Buss
President Chesapeake Region, PCA
One week after we belate ly celebrate the holi ays, we belate ly welco e in the New Year at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, which is quickly beco ing a tra ition. We ha 60 e bers in atten ance, an as evi ence by the s iles, laughter an ca ara erie, everyone ha an enjoyable afternoon.
The Executive Council ha its first Boar Meeting of the year on January 22n . The first or er of business was to review an approve the 2025 co ittee bu gets. Our co ittees are in the process of finalizing their agen as for the year. Autocross, Tours an Social have their sche ules up an running. Keep your eyes on the calen ar as events are being a e as the co ittees finalize the etails. All e bers are invite to atten . My only ask is to let e know so I can assure you a seat at the table for you. The next Boar Meeting will be on March 12th at Kecco’s Woo fire Kitchen in Reisterstown. Doors open at 6p , eeting starts at 6:30.
February upco ing events inclu e our next pre ier event, the fa ily frien ly Super Slot Cars Race an Chili Cook Off on February 1st. This year’s event is another sellout. Thank you, Dan Za ra an all the volunteers helping set up, tear own an coor inate all the races. Thanks to the chil ren for their i portant job of putting the race cars back on the track after they go flying off!
Our other February events inclu e a Social Breakfast on the 8th at Eggcellence in Annapolis an a Social Dinner at LoonAsea in Essex on Feb 19 at 6:30. Registration is still open.
PCA National has the following events/registrations in February: Treffen Ho estea in Hot Springs, VA registration is February 5th, 3p Tech Tactics East will be hel on February 22n an the 23r Porsche Para e Phase 1 registration is on February 26th.
Porsche Silver Spring is hosting our first New Me ber Party of the year on March 1st. Please join us to welco e our new e bers an try your luck with winning one of our terrific raffle prizes inclu ing a valuable gift certificate fro our value sponsor, Porsche Silver Spring.
Our upco ing Social inners will be at Kelsey’s Irish Pub in March, The Lo ge in April, an Fisher an’s Inn on the eastern shore in May.
Our first Tour/Lunch on March 23r sol out in about 18 hours. We have a waitlist – if you are intereste in this tour please a your na e so we can a you to the confir e registration when we receive a cancellation. The waitlist helps us track e ber interest. If there is a long waitlist we’ll repeat the event or consi er a larger venue next ti e.
Registration is still open for the Treffen at Sea 2025 PCA 70th Anniversary Cruise eparting fro NYC on August 30th. Over 850 PCA e bers are registere an if you have not hear , the Te ptations will be joining us.
This year’s PCA Open House is Septe ber 13, celebrating PCA’s 70th anniversary, registration opens July 23 at noon. An the 2025 Chesapeake Challenge will be hel on Satur ay Septe ber 20th. Save the Date! An stay tune for ore infor ation.
So yes, there are fun events planned for the Winter
months. Keep your eyes on the calendar as events will be added fast and furious as they become firm. If you have ideas or suggestions, please email president@pcachs.org.
Thanks to all of you for making Chesapeake Region so much fun!
It’s the cars that bring us together, but it is the people that make it special.
Be well and safe travels,
Steve
UPCOMING EVENTS
PROST!
Anniversaries by: Rob Carter
55 Years
Bach Nguyen
45 Years
Justus Garman
25 Years
Richard & Cynthia George
15 Years
David & KerriAnn Schenk Clement & Evie Hathaway
10 Years
Drew Kellog
Pete & Katherine Newman
Steven Katz
Barry & Miriam King
Jeanmarie Richardson
Ricki Thomas
5 Years 1 Year
Ken Ward
Mark Strickland
Denis Lefrancois Blair Jennings
Sean LeVere
Tom Griggs
*** Please excuse us for any inconsistencies in reports as PCA HQ continues to improve the system. See CHS PCA website for full Membership Committee Report***
It’s not just the cars, it’s the people.
Zachary Zomoida
Fredric Nelson III
Hien Nguyen
David Terech
Walter Hussey
Nick Kraft
Craig & Cindy Marhefka
John & Margaret Gower
Scott Tallman
Michael Demos
Glenn Beares
Ann Pettijohn
Collin Wirick
Gregory Sharpe
Leslie Hilliard
Kim & Rob Barnes
Richard & Heather Kilcoyne
Keith Kinsley
Cyrus Ballo
Suzanne Dayton
Danielle Zadra
Rick & Pam Morris
Nicholas Yanchik
Dennis Allen
MEMBER NUMBERS
New Members
Jason Wooten 2002 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Jody L. Richardson 2025 911 Carrera Christopher Koh 1994 968
Keith2017Walmsley 911 Carrera
Kent G. Krejci 2021 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Granville Templeton 2021 Taycan 4S
Steve Odenwald & Manjiri Didolkar 2022 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet
Greg H. Gifford & Kimberly Gifford 2007 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet
by: Rob Carter
FEATURED STORY
Origins of the Yankee Swap
An annual Chesapeake Tradition
Bob – “I got the idea to do it from Hill Country Region, incredibly enough. I was assigned to Fort Hood from 1979-1984, and Hill Country was my first Porsche Club Region. For their Christmas Parties in the early Eighties, they ran a madcap gift exchange not unlike our ‘Yankee Swap’ every year at a member’s house. My first one was 1982, I believe, at a member’s home outside of Austin, TX. The attendance was smallmaybe 15 members participated around a large living room. But it was fun - I had never experienced gift stealing in this manner before and loved it.
So how did this idea germinate to become our
AHP? Manny’s right about the Region’s old-school holiday parties, post Doc Sullivan (who used to open up his offices downtown to the Region for spirts and light hors d'oeuvres at Christmas time every year.) When Doc Sullivan’s parties faded away, the standard banquet venue parties were not well received. They were awkward, lightly attended, and at times costly.
So, in 1993 when Manny was President, I persuaded him to go with the HCR gift exchange concept at a nice venue before Christmas. We chose Savage Mill- our room was fully decorated WITH a tree. 33 brave Chesapeake members participated that year, and yes, the gifts were put under the tree. (Now you know where the expression came from.) We ran that gift exchange pretty much as we do now, with three steals per round. Probably the most infamous gift in Region lore was opened that year- it was an anatomically correct Santa that popped his member every time you pressed his button. (I am not making this stuff up.) The party was a hoot- people loved it, and we knew were onto something. (I have a DVD of this first party, by the way.)
We decided to hold the next year’s party after Christmas, so technically we did not have one in 1994the next party occurred in January 1995. The parties
Reprint from Patter 2019
have been held every January since then. By and large, Manny and I have always been the Emcees. The party has grown steadily in popularity and legend to the point now where we have upwards of 70 gifts to steal through the evening. The term ‘Yankee Swap’ originated from Ellen’s write ups for the event (her words are still used for the write ups) when she was running them about 10 or 12 years ago. Prior to that, the AHP was known as the Chesapeake Region Gift Exchange. Ellen told me that our party was not a gift exchange- that in New England it was known as a Yankee Swap- so she used those words in the writeups and they stuck. So, Ellen should get credit for the ‘Yankee Swap’ portion of the title.
Manny – “For the longest time, it was never called Yankee Swap, because as anyone from Baltimore will tell you, having the name Yankee is a sure fire way to create a failure. We called it Steal A Gift. Some folks would call it white elephant, Nasty Christmas or Yankee swap, but for a very long time, it was simply called Steal A gift.
Bob had the idea of introducing it at our Holiday party back when I was President. I think he read about it in another region's newsletter. The holiday party or after holiday party as sometimes we moved the date around, was a boring dud. A night of suspect food, an agenda of speeches and awards and voila, we were done. Pretty much your typical holiday party as repeated throughout PCA land.
As with most of Bob's ideas, I thought it would be a disaster. As it turned out, it was a lot of fun. That first time I think we had people open the first 15 gifts and not steal any. Everyone was too intimated at the thought of stealing a gift. I told Roxanne that no matter what was out there, when her name was called, she had to steal a gift. She did, we walked her and everyone around her through the process each time and by the end of the night, people were telling us to do it again next year. The hot ticket that first year was Porsche crest valve stem covers. Simpler times.
For the longest time, we also had a Christmas tree (this is why Bob, after he's had a few shots of Jager, always tells people to come up to the tree). Funny, but I don't think we had planned to emcee the event so long or for that matter, be the people that ran it. I guess it was just one of those things that the Chesapeake region board or President would ask and of course, since we were coming to the event anyway, we agreed to do.
I do remember after the first or second event, a mem- ber of Potomac region came up and told me how much fun they had. But he lamented that this could never happen in Potomac because by the end of the evening, there would be several lawsuits. Mind you, there had been quite a few sore losers at our steal a gift. Most no longer come though. Which, as you can see, hasn't hurt attendance.”
And that is the way I heard it...............
by Ellen Beck
2025 - So you want to drive on the track?
The desire to drive your Porsche as it was intended, with joyous abandon, “liebe zu ihm” (for the love of it) - dicing and slicing corners at speed, the wind in your hair, and all that… doesn’t really cut it on the public roads of Maryland, sadly enough. BUT, you can experience this amazing rush of driving better, faster and more safely than you ever could before by participating in a PCA Drivers’ Education event.
Held on racetracks all over the US and Canada, PCA regions provide an organized educational on-track experience called Drivers Education, or DE. Entrants bring their own vehicles (primarily Porsches, but other marques are typically accepted) and spend one or more days participating in classroom sessions on safety rules, vehicle dynamics, driving techniques, etc. and driving on track with an instructor in the right seat; typically for four 20 to 25 minute sessions per day. Drivers are divided into “run groups” with others of similar experience and speeds, starting as complete novices, and moving into more experienced, faster groups over time. There are many benefits to participating in DE events, but one of the best parts is learning from the cadre of experienced volunteer PCA member/instructors, who go through lengthy training and practice to give back to the program by helping
others learn (and become addicted) much as they themselves began. Many friendships begin at the track - “bench racing” over a beer at day’s end, swapping stories and telling tall tales!
How to get started: Summit Point, WV is the closest track to most Chesapeake members. Although Chesapeake Region does not host our own DE events, various PCA regions hold events there from March to November, which are open to all PCA members. Other single marque clubs like BMW and Audi also hold similar events, Summit Point itself also runs an excellent program called Friday at the Track (FATT) and there are also other independent driving schools available. It is an excellent idea to take a drive over to check it out before committing to a full event. Many events have “Touring Laps” at lunch time, where for a modest fee, generally donated to charity, you can take your car out at moderate highway speeds to enjoy a “Taste of the Track”.
Most PCA regions require some kind of experience with high performance driving prior to your first DE event. This ensures that participants have some familiarity with this type of driving activity, and car control in their own vehicle. A few Autocrosses would be a great idea to get some background experience and will fit this requirement. Chesapeake offers an excellent Autocross (AX) series, with free instruction from experienced region autocross instructors.
Autocrossing allows you to “feel” and learn your car’s handling characteristics while driving through a designated course marked by cones (at speeds which will not get you into trouble) where you learn to “look and think ahead” as you are driving – skills you will need on the track. AX is a lot of fun on its own, and also much less of a commitment of time and money, so it really is a perfect way to get into performance driving. This year Chesapeake’s AX events will take place at Ripken Stadium’s large parking lot. One of the biggest differences between AX and DE, beyond the location, is that AX is a competitive timed event with placings and trophies while DE is not racing and is not intended to be competitive.
Our neighboring region Potomac offers a full day High Performance Driving Clinic (HPDC) each spring and fall, which is an excellent investment and prepares you well for your first track day. (Check their schedule because events sell out fast.) HPDC’s are also a great way to learn to control your own vehicle in varied situations (braking, avoidance maneuvers, etc.), through a series of exercises and on track practice, with an instructor with you at all times. Our children and a whole series of family friends have taken this clinic, and it really has made a difference!
Many of Chesapeake’s members who are “track junkies” drive at Summit Point with Potomac (and other regions) at their DE’s. Chesapeake has over 20 members who are nationally trained PCA Drivers Ed instructors. Many of them instruct for Potomac, since we are close geographically, and at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Watkins Glen, Pitt Race, VIR, MidOhio and so on. Many members also drive with and/or instruct for other regions such as Riesentoter, Northern New Jersey, and Schattenbaum. There are many choices for DE events hosted by PCA and others, and many people plan their calendar of events when they can attend with friends.
What you need to know: Safety first. DE events require you to wear a helmet, but before you purchase one, clubs often have loaners or rentals to try before you buy. The proper fit of a helmet is very important for comfort, concentration and safety. Helmets are rated for safety by the Snell Foundation and must be replaced every 10 years by date. The 2025 rated helmets are not widely available yet, so there is a grace period until October of this year; if you are buying a new helmet be sure to purchase a 2025 SA model (not Motorcycle) which will last you the full 10 years.
You must also get a Tech Inspection done on your car, typically within the month prior to the event date (check each event for regional rules). There are a number of shops and individuals who offer this service, and usually opportunities to get it done for free at a club tech day. I am including a sample form in the links below. Ensuring that your brakes, tires and fluids are in top condition makes the day safer for you and others. While high performance driving is an indidual
sport, DE’s are a group activity, so everyone needs to be able to count on the others to have a well prepared vehicle to be as safe as possible. Everyone wants to drive home with their car in the same excellent condition as it arrived at the track!
What you need to do: Besides having a helmet, a novice driver does not need to do anything to their Porsche besides basic maintenance (per the Tech Inspection Form). You do not need special brake pads, a harness, a Hans device, sticky tires, improved suspension or anything fancy or expensive to get started. Modern Porsches are built for performance driving, and at the novice, beginner and intermediate levels, you will definitely not be able to overdrive your Porsche. Your instructor, and all the management systems (sometimes called “nannies”) will do their thing to keep you on the pavement and going in the right direction. Your classroom sessions will teach you what you need to know, and your instructor will guide you through the day. DE is called Drivers Education (not racing) because the goal is for you to learn how to safely drive your Porsche at speed, in a controlled manner, and within your comfort zone (ok, maybe just a little beyond it!). This will make you a better driver on the streets every single day, and if after a while you find yourself addicted, take your money and put it into driving more track days. Your best investment is in yourself, improving your driving skills through “seat time” - now onto the cost for all this fun.
Costs: DE’s can quickly turn expensive but definitely cost much less than for-profit Driving Experience type schools. Most 2-day PCA events cost $450 and up for registration. Add gas, tech inspection, routine maintenance, then the hotel room and meals out, and it becomes an investment. However, events often sell out and have waiting lists, so it must be worth it! And it definitely is. Luckily, you can also get started, practice and have a lot of fun by Autocrossing first, for a fraction of the price!
Overall, PCA DE’s offer an excellent value for a safe, fun weekend where you really learn a LOT about driving. Summit Point is close enough that some members can drive from home each day. A new participant can bring their daily driver and with simple preparation can have a tremendous amount of fun, meet great people and go home smiling so much your cheeks hurt! Invest in seat time, go to as many events as you can, get experience in all conditions, and learn from all your instructors. Resist “improving your car” right away and learn how to be an accurate, consistent and smooth driver first. It will pay dividends, and you will soon be driving faster and moving up the run groups.
The following are links that will help you get started. There is a lot of material to digest, so grab a cup of
coffee and get started learning! At your next CHS event ask around for those of us who drive on the track and ask questions. As we instructors say, there are no dumb questions. If you don’t understand, just ask. Everybody wants to be safe out there and have fun!
I recommend starting on the Potomac website, where they have thoroughly documented all aspects of their program, and covered much more than I can in this short article. Be sure to visit the FAQ page which will answer all your questions and more.
POTOMAC REGION DE
https://pcapotomac.org/activities/drivers-education https://pcapotomac.org/index.php/activities/driverseducation/drivers-education-faq#what-are-thebenefits-of-drivers-education
TECH INSPECTIONS
https://pcapotomac.org/activities/tech-inspection https://pcapotomac.org/images/ PCA_PotomacTechForm.pdf
MOTORSPORT REG Events Calendar sign up for a periodic email of Upcoming Events (sort for DE’s in a specified radius from your home) https://www.motorsportreg.com
PCA NATIONAL DE INFORMATION https://www.pca.org/drivers-education https://www.pca.org/drivers-education/tips-andtechniques-de-participants https://www.pca.org/drivers-education/hpde-linesponsored-by-pirelli
Friday at the Track (FATT) https://summitpoint-raceway.com/
RACE TRACKS:
Summit Point, WV (1.5 hours west of Baltimore)
Main Course
Shenandoah Circuit
Jefferson Circuit
New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ (2 hours north of Baltimore)
Lightning Circuit
Thunderbolt Circuit
VIR, Alton, VA (5 hours south of Baltimore) Watkins Glen, NY (4.5 hours north of Baltimore) PittRace, Wampum, PA (4.5 hours northwest of Baltimore)
Mid Ohio, Lexington, OH (7 hours west of Baltimore)
Track it!
FEATURED
words by Stephanie Reuer
Social Round Up 2025 is setting up nicely!
Hello from your new Social Chairpersons –Stephanie Reuer and Randy Bruscup. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the many social events that are in the works for 2025.
Recently, we welcomed the New Year with our annual, belated celebration at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery on January 18th – and we had a tremendous group luncheon with over 60 people attending. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon of beers and food and lots of lively conversations. Since everyone finds Guinness Open Gate so enjoyable, we will plan more socials at this brewery.
Upcoming Social Events:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – 6:30 pm We’re excited to gather for the first time at LoonAsea in Essex, MD for our Social Dinner in
photos by Steve Buss
February. Rob and Grace Carter did the “recon” for this restaurant and enthusiastically recommended it for our calendar. We understand the place is fun and the view is special. Located on the banks of Hopkins Creek, LoonAsea is Maryland’s newest casual waterfront restaurant. The menu includes staple favorites and offers a selection of “totally different, seafood-based and local items. Seating is limited to 60 people – sign up to ensure your space. If we exceed 60 registrants, please know that we will place you on our waitlist and we’ll contact you if someone cancels and there is availability.
Saturday, March 8, 2025 – 8:00 am We’ll gather again for a Social Breakfast at Eggcellence in Annapolis, MD. There’s great food and great service at this restaurant, so we keep coming back! We’re limited to 32 people, so please do make sure to register early.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – 6:30 pm It’s a tradition! We return to Kelsey’s Irish Pub in Ellicott City, MD for our After St. Patrick’s Day Party. This restaurant features Irish Classics and American food. Seating is limited to 36 people.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – 5:30 pm Cocktails/6:30 pm Dinner
PCA Chesapeake Member Steve Shuh welcomes us back to his restaurant in Annapolis, The Lodge. We enjoyed our gathering at The Lodge in 2024 and we definitely wanted to make sure to return once again to experience “where rustic dining meets farm freshness.” Seating is limited to 42 folks, so please sign up early!
For this Social Dinner, we’re trying out a bit more relaxed approach to Happy Hour. The Lodge’s bartending staff will be ready and waiting for us at 5:30 pm. Feel free to “roll in” and hang out in the bar anytime between then and dinner at 6:30. Arrive on the early side and have a bit of a leisurely wind-down from your hectic day. But if you must arrive just in the nick of time, don’t worry, The Lodge will have a cold one ready for you as well.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – 5:30 pm Cocktails/6:30 pm Dinner
We’ll make our way across the Bay Bridge to Fisherman’s Inn on Kent Island. We have a number of active club members who live on the Eastern Shore and we thought it was high time to gather in their neck of the woods! This iconic Eastern Shore landmark, established in 1930, specializes in presenting the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, along with other traditional and contemporary favorites. The original owners sold the restaurant to their children about ten years ago, so it continues to be owned and managed by family. Randy’s family has been visiting there for important family events for decades. His mother Myrtle loved the crab imperial, Aunt Audry always snapped up the softshell crabs (when on offer) and Randy always went straight to the crab cake. The fresh Rockfish is served blackened, broiled, imperial style (topped with crab imperial) or Tidewater style (topped with lump crab, country ham, corn, cream and fried green tomatoes.) There’s also a great selection of chicken and beef dishes and lighter fare. Leave room for homemade desserts, like their bestselling Coconut Cream Pie. It’s an easy on/off Route 50, with plenty of parking and great water views. Please join us!
Looking Forward:
Starting in June, we’ll head back to Howard County and then further North to Hunt Valley/Cockeysville for Social Dinners. Your Social Chairpersons are committed to creating events throughout our broad membership area, featuring familiar favorite gathering spots, and bringing in some new experiences that we hope will become favorites. If you have an idea for a wonderful establishment that we should visit, please get in touch with us at Social@pcachs.org.
Upcoming Events - A Closer Look
Wednesday, February 19th
LoonASea Social Dinner
Saturday, March 8th
Social Breakfast @
Eggcellence
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:30pm at LoonASea in Essex, MD. Located on the banks of Hopkins Creek, LoonAsea, is Maryland's newest casual waterfront restaurant, and the menu features staple favorites while also offering a selection of “totally different, seafood-based and local items”.
All participants will need register for the dinner on https://www.motorsportreg.com. Seating is limited to 60 people (you will be placed on the waitlist if the limit is met but may be contacted should anyone cancel and there is availability). There is no registration fee for this event.
Check out their menu here.
Come out and join your fellow PCAers for a morning of fun in Annapolis. We ll meet Saturday morning, March 8th, at 8am in Annapolis. Eggcellence Brunchery features comfort food for breakfast including waffles, pancakes, build your own omelettes, benedicts and more.
Check out their menu here.
All participants must register for the breakfast on www.MotorsportReg.com by March 6th. Seating is limited to 30 people. There is no registration fee for this event.
Get more info here.
Sunday, March 23
Baltimore Horse Country Tour
Tuesday, March 25th
Social Dinner @
Kelsey’s
Join us on Sunday, March 23rd, for our first tour of the year. We will pay a return visit to Baltimore County Horse Country. Our route will take us through 50 miles of some of the better backroads that Maryland has to offer. Wake up your Porsche for the spring and polish up your car (or not) and come and join us for the start of a brand-new tour season.
We look forward to seeing you on this tour but register soon, as there is limited capacity for this tour.
WHEN and WHERE
Assembly Point: The Hunt Valley, MD, address will be sent to confirmed registrants by March 22nd
When: March 23rd, Sunday, at 11:00 am Driver’s Meeting: 11:15 am
Registration Link Coming
Let’s have an After St. Patrick’s Day party! Please mark your calendars for Tuesday night, March 25th, at 6:30pm at Kelsey’s Restaurant located in Ellicott City, Howard County. The restaurant features Irish classics and American food. Check out their menu here.
All participants must register here by March 21st. Seating is limited to 36 people
Get more info and Register here
TOUR &
The Chesapeake Region Tour and Rally Committee will be hosting many events this year, including some old favorites and some brand-new tours. Registration will open several weeks in advance and will be announced via email, www.pcachs.org, The Porsche Patter, and www.motorsportreg.com.
(1) - March 23 Travel Back to Baltimore Horse Country
(2) - April 5 Tour Lead, Sweep, and Development Academy at Porsche Silver Spring (3) - May 3 Drive to the Porsche Swap Meet (4) - May 10 Safeway to the Bay, Guest Tour Master Hank Lucas (5) - May 18 Poker Rally, Guest Tour master Marsha Buss (6) - June 1 Just Retired, Let’s Drive Route 26 (7) - June 22 Baltimore County Tour, Guest Tour master Steve Graham (8) - July 20 Tour by Guest Tour master Craig and Linda Davidson (9) - July 26 Pending (10) - Aug 9 Wings, Wags, and Wheels, in Cambridge, MD, Guest Tour master Tom Divillo (11) - Aug 24 Off-Road Tour, Guest Tour master Jim Hemig (12) - Sept 14 Pending (13) - Sept 27 Chesapeake Challenge 56 Gimmick Rally (14) - Oct 11 Allegheny Mountains Fall Colors, Guest Tour master Ron Farb (15) - Nov 8 Pending (16 - )Dec 6 Kindertime/Linda’s Legacy
Send questions to tour@pcachs.org. – Rich Ehrlich Tour & Rally
Socials Review
The always spectacular and never duplicated After Holiday Party was held at The Turn House at Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club in Columbia on January 11th. The sold out event began with hors d’oeuvres and a happy hour followed by a delicious steak and salmon dinner. The infamous Yankee Swap began while dessert and coffee were served. As always, the Bob and Manny Show was the highlight of the evening. There were many terrific gifts this year but none more than a Kelly Tefler signed Apple 935 print, a Porsche Classic Battery Charger and a 963 Champions poster signed by all the drivers. Thanks to all the volunteers that helped make the evening so much fun for all the members.
words & photos by Steve Buss
words
& photos by
Aniano Arao
Shortest-Distance Gimmick Rally
Among the 18 events planned and the 16 held by PCA Chesapeake’s Tour & Rally Committee in 2024, the Nov. 3rd Shortest-Distance Gimmick Rally was the second to the last. Scheduled slightly beyond the usual fun-driving season, it attracted 19 people in 11 cars. It was designed and hosted by guest rally masters Craig and Linda Davidson. They had served as PCA Potomac’s rally masters for 13 years, until recently.
The morning rally started and concluded at the lovely clubhouse of the Davidsons’ community in Urbana, MD. Competing were 16 people in 8 cars. Each of the 8 teams was given a road map of Frederick and Montgomery counties, marked with 8 dots. The dots represented the places that the competitors needed to visit. It was up to each team to develop, create and use the shortest route to those 8 locations and back to the clubhouse.
Each team was also given a set of 8 printed photos of specific landmarks in those 8 locations. Each navigator was required to photograph each of those 8 landmarks, using his or her phone’s camera.
Before departing and upon its arrival at the finish line, each car’s odometer numbers were recorded by Linda. After lunch, the 8 teams were ranked based on the mileage they had logged after visiting the 8 targeted locations. The shorter the distance traveled, the better. The teams that finished in the top 3 spots then had to prove that they had indeed visited the 8 required destinations by showing Linda the photos they had taken of the landmarks there.
Valerie Moritz and navigator Lori Brady won the rally in Valerie’s 2018 Macan. Ron Farb and navigator James Beavan III came in second in Ron’s 2011 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Glenn Cowan and navigator Kathy Cowan finished third in Glenn’s 2020 911 Carrera S.
Of the 19 people in 11 cars attending the rally, 17 are shown in the group photo headlining this article, joined by PCA Chesapeake President Steve Buss and wife Marsha.
STUTTGART MARKET
LETTER
January 2025 kicked off the year with steady, if slightly subdued, results in the Porsche auction market. The 69% sell-through rate across 561 cars brought in a total of $41,125,442, a dip from last January’s $44,026,566 off of 592 units. While the market’s cooling trend continued at the top end, there were still standout moments, including two 928s cresting the $100,000 mark, a rare feat for the transaxle model. Meanwhile, the GT2 RS market showed surprising strength, with multiple sales exceeding recent averages and reinforcing its position as one of the most sought-after modern Porsche models. That dollar volume, however, could have been significantly higher had a certain comedian’s race car found a buyer. Instead, it joined the growing list of high-profile nosales, a sign that while enthusiasm remains, bidders are getting more selective at the upper tiers.
The 928 market saw one of its strongest months in recent memory, with a 67% sell-through rate across 15 sales totaling $380,713. While the model line has historically lagged behind its air-cooled counterparts, two standout results showed that collectors are willing to pay for rarity and presentation. The star of the month was a 1980 928S 5-Speed finished in Lindgrünmetallic over Brown leather with Pasha velour inserts. With 82,000 miles, this example shattered expectations by selling for $142,069, well above the model’s twelve-month average of $34,000 and recent comps in the $40,000 range. The rare color combination appears to have driven the premium, a trend worth watching in the transaxle segment. Also noteworthy was a 1979 928 5-Speed in Silver Metallic over Cork leatherette with Pasha inserts, which had previously been bid to $68,000 as a no-sale in
November. This time, it found a buyer at $100,000, despite the twelve-month average sitting at just $27,500 and its nearest mileage comp selling for $45,100. These results reinforce that when it comes to 928s, spec and presentation matter more than ever.
The 991.2 GT2 RS market had a breakout month, further cementing its place as one of the most desirable modern Porsches. Although only three examples crossed the block, two of them delivered staggering results, far surpassing the model’s late-2024 average of $386,000. Leading the charge was a 2018 GT2 RS finished in Miami Blue over Black, equipped with the Weissach Package and showing just 103 miles. It sold for $594,000 at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale, setting a new high-water mark for a nonClubsport example. Not to be outdone, another 2018 GT2 RS in Red over Black, also with the Weissach Package and 172 miles, hammered at $605,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. With results like these, it’s clear that low-mileage, highly optioned examples remain in high demand, pushing values well beyond recent norms.
For 911s Reimagined by Singer, January told a different story. Historically, 4.0-liter Ed Pink-powered examples have commanded $1M-plus, while earlier 3.8-liter builds have remained sub-$1M. This month, however, two high-spec 4.0-liter examples sold below expectations. The 1991 "Step On It" commission, finished in Blue over Montecello square-weave leather, with just 68 miles, hammered at $966,000— strong, but short of the million-dollar mark. Likewise, a 1989 commission, finished in Green Blood Dark over Baseball Glove Connolly Monza leather, sold for $935,000. More Singer builds are currently available at auction and privately than ever before, giving buyers greater selection and reducing the urgency to bid aggressively. While 4.0-liter builds still command a premium, the automatic $1M floor may no longer be guaranteed, with buyers scrutinizing specs, mileage, and individual commission details more carefully.
The top end of the market struggled, with only two out of eight million-dollar-plus expected cars selling— both 959s. The biggest no-sale was the 1969 Porsche 917K, formerly owned by Steve McQueen and used as the hero car in Le Mans. Recently part of the Jerry Seinfeld collection, this historic machine reached a final bid of $25,000,000 but failed to sell, a surprising result for such a significant race car. A familiar face was the 1959 Porsche 718 RSK center-seat Spyder, which failed to sell for an astounding seventh time in a row, this time stalling at $2,500,000. Bidders appear to have lost patience with this one. Other notable nosales included a 1992 Schuppan-Porsche 962CR ($1.5M), a 1966 910 ($1.3M), a 1976 934 ($1.2M), and the infamous Coca-Cola 935/84 ($1.1M). These results make one thing clear—while rarity remains important, it is no longer enough to guarantee a result at the highest levels.
January’s numbers suggest that the Porsche market remains active but selective, particularly at the top. Buyers are paying up for the right cars, as seen with GT2 RS and 928 results, but they are also picking their battles—as evidenced by the Singer softening and high-profile no-sales. With more Singer builds available than ever before, increased supply may continue to shape that segment in the months ahead. Looking forward, February brings the Paris Retromobile sales, traditionally a strong venue for European and competition-focused Porsches, while March will bring major auctions in Miami and Amelia Island—both key indicators of where the market is heading. If January was any indication, sellers with high expectations may need to adjust their reserves as we move deeper into 2025.
PCA Plates & Badges
What are PCA License Plates
Chesapeake Region PCA coordinates the purchase of PCA Organizational License Plates issued through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The PCA License Plate Program promotes the visibility and camaraderie of PCA. PCA Maryland License Plates are prenumbered Organizational Plates, not vanity plates. PCA License Plates are available for all cars, trucks and minivans, but not for motorcycles or trailers.
Cost: The one-time cost for the PCA License Plates is $45.00, which includes the $30.00 MVA fee and a $15 Chesapeake PCA fundraising fee to support the PCA License Plate Program and Chesapeake Region events.
If you have any questions regarding the purchase of PCA Maryland Organizational License Plates, please contact us at: pcaLicensePlates@pcachs.org. Safe and Happy Motoring.
Chesapeake Region Grill Badge
Get a heavy “gold- plated” Chesapeake Region metal car badge. Each metal car badge comes complete with stainless steel slotted retaining plate, screws, washers and nuts to mount it through your car grille or separate mounting plate.
The cost per metal car badge is $30 or two for $50, inclusive of shipping and handling. To order: Go to www.pcachs.org and use the “STORE” menu from the main page. Click the button and complete the order form page and make your payment.
How To Apply: The only way to apply for PCA Organizational License Plates is to complete the online PCA Maryland License Web Form at https:// pcachs.org/pca-maryland-license-plate/ and submit it electronically. Please click on the above link to learn the details and requirements to apply for PCA License Plates.
Requirements: You must be a PCA Member and the car must be registered in Maryland. The PCA Plates are not limited to Porsches. You can apply for PCA plates for all your cars registered in Maryland!
Chesapeake Region Name Badge
Get your Chesapeake Region Name Badge!
Go to www.pcachs.org and use the “STORE” menu from the main page. Click the button and complete the order form page. The Name Badge cost is $25, inclusive of shipping and handling.
It comes in all sizes! Photo taken at the Zuffenhausen Porsche Museum November 2024.