Member Profiles: November 2023

Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Robert & Rebecca Buelt

By: James B Beavan III

Member Names & Join Date: Robert and Rebecca Buelt. We joined the PCA in August of 2020 after purchasing our first Porsche, a 2008 911 Carrera 4S manual coupe.

Current Cars, Previous Cars: We currently own a 2008 911 Carrera 4S coupe, a 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid and a 2021 Macan S.

Have you served on any Regional or National committees: I have not yet served on a committee, but we look forward to growing our involvement with the PCA Chesapeake Chapter, particularly with our growing family!

What encouraged you to join the Porsche Club of America: Rebecca and I attended a Hunt Valley Cars and Coffee and saw the camaraderie and community that our local PCA offered, and we decided that we would love to experience that ourselves. As we have taken advantage of meetings, organized drives and other fantastic experiences we find ourselves frequently sharing the joy of belonging to such a great group of people.

When it came time to buy a vehicle, what made you choose your Porsche and is this your first Porsche (if not please detail prior Porsche's): I grew up in a car family, and I started with Mazda’s. I raced several models from Protégé’s to Miata’s in autocross and HPDE events for years. As I got older, I branched out into muscle cars, Jeep’s and off-road adventures, and I seemed to have a new automotive adventure every year. After meeting and marrying Rebecca, we found ourselves not driving the racecars often, so we

consolidated our fleet a bit. On a motorcycle trip to Ocean City we happened upon hotrod week, and decided we needed another fun car. The only caveat was that it had to be able to carry a baby. While looking for a car that offered a new experience and had the ability to baby, we found ourselves drawn again and again to 911’s. We ended up finding a beautiful 2008 Carrera 4S manual coupe, and we fell in love. Our experience and the joy of owning our 911 has led us to filling our fleet out with a 2021 Macan S and a 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid.

What are your favorite Regional &/or National events: We love Porsche’s swap meet at Carlisle in the Spring and the Fall leaf tours that PCA Chesapeake hosts every year. These are must do’s no matter what else we have going on in our lives.

What is your favorite PCA memory: Rebecca’s first PCA event, a tour starting at Kecco’s, was such a great experience. There were Porsche lovers of all ages, with many sharing the experience with children. We really loved the family engagement, and event after event that we attend there is such a great effort to include kids and families as a part of our love of cars. It really makes the PCA much more than just a car club, it is a community. Now that we have our own little one, we look forward to him growing up within the PCA community.

What advice about PCA or Chesapeake would you give to new members: I would strongly suggest to take advantage of as many events formally and informally as possible! And do not hesitate to bring your family. We have had so much fun getting to know our fellow Porsche enthusiasts and getting to go to new and exciting local attractions.

If money was no object, what Porsche would you love to own and why: If money was no object, I would love an E-Hybrid Panamera Turbo with some fun PTS colors. It would be a super fun way to share peak Porsche performance with our whole family!

Anything additional you would like to share about yourself (Family/ Work/Etc): We welcomed our baby Austin into our family on 9/3, and he has already been welcomed so warmly by the PCA on our Fall Color Tour that we attended 10/29. We are so grateful for everyone being so gracious!

Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Carolyn Bernota

Member Names & Join Date: Carolyn Bernota, 3/2023

Current Cars, Previous Cars: 2004 Porsche Boxster S (Super)

Have you served on any Regional or National committees: No

What encouraged you to join the Porsche Club of America:

I joined as a “want to be Porsche owner”, which inspired me to buy one.

When it came time to buy a vehicle, what made you choose your Porsche and is this your first Porsche (if not please detail prior Porsche's):

This is my very first Porsche car.

What are your favorite Regional &/or National events:

Autocross #7 was my first race; it was exhilaratingly amazing fun! It’s not far from Annapolis; my home, another perk.

What is your favorite PCA memory:

Wow, racing alongside Dr. Silverman, as his navigator in his GT4 at Chesapeake Challenge 54! He handles that Porsche with no fear; the way it was meant to be driven and more. His fun character added to

the fun, alongside with the extensive knowledge he has of Porsche varieties.

What advice about PCA or Chesapeake would you give to new members:

As an introvert, this was a good way for me to let loose and get outside of my comfort zone (both professionally, and on a personal level). Having lost my mom a few months ago, this has helped me distract my mind, and learn to appreciate my Porsche and learn to grow mind, body & soul. Also with this new age of political, and generational unrest, this membership and its values has helped me leave the negatives of society out of my thoughts.

If money was no object, what Porsche would you love to own and why:

As a high schooler in the 80s I yearned for a 911 Turbo 1982 (because it looked classy for a Catholic School girl that I was), knowing the value of the 1960s Porsche – wanted one too (because of its’ “bug-eye” headlamp looks)!

Anything additional you would like to share about yourself (Family/Work/Etc):

I’m happy to be part of the Porsche PCA, in this chapter of my life as an Environmental Scientist, it balances my work & home life passions. I love what I do as a career, and life events have opened space in my “gray area brain matter” to use it wisely; learning about my fun car; the Porsche 2004 Boxster S!