Member Profiles

Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Joseph Geraghty

James B. Beavan III

Member Name: Joseph Geraghty

Current Car’s: 2019 718 and 2021 Macan.

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): My first Porsche is the 718. I am a planner and take baby steps towards any goal I am trying to reach. I have always liked having a sports car or a fun car. With those things in mind, prior to choosing my current Porsche I owned a 1996 C-4 Corvette and decide in 2016 to replace it. It took me three years to execute the plan to replace the Corvette. I have a lot of great memories with the C-4 Corvette model which was why I purchased the 1996 so long ago. When I looked to replace it, I wanted to create some new memories with a very different car. I put together a list of cars to looked at and of course Porsche was at the top of the list. I was not sure financially how different the costs were to maintain a Porsche verses a Corvette and in the last year of my search I worked with Porsche Annapolis to get more details on cost. One of the great things Porsche Annapolis did for me was invite me to their Porsche Driving Event. At that event two of the cars they had were a 718 and a 911. Both were really fun to drive. In the end fate stepped in and I got my hands on a 718.

As a new member of PCA Chesapeake are there any particular events you are interested in participating in or would like more information on? I became a member on October 2019. I really enjoyed the autocross events. I have not been able to attended any of the road trip events but I am very interested in going to one. I do enjoy the member events because that provides the opportunity to meet new people.

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Geraghty

James B. Beavan III

Have you attended a New Member party at one of our local sponsoring dealerships? Yes. My first PCA event was at the Fall November Party in 2019. One of the reason why Porsche was at the top of my list was its car culture. Pretty much right after I purchased the 718 I ask Charles Hutchinson of Porsche Annapolis if he knew of any local Porsche clubs. He got me in touch with Minta Miller of the PCA Chesapeake Chapter. She was great. Minta helped me setup my membership and got me registered for the fall party. I would recommend any new member to go a new member event. What I found great about the event is the ability to meet the different PCA event coordinators and ask questions about the events. The other great part is meeting other members and getting some extra tips about the events.

If money was no object, what Porsche would you love to own and why? I would get a new GT3 with the touring package. I have not driven one, yet. I like the idea of having a car that would be fun to take to the track, enjoy on a long road trip or ride in something luxurious to a local restaurant. For configuration, I would chose the “sample 89” (Green)

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Geraghty

James B. Beavan III

with the wheels painted in Satin Neodyne (Bronze/Gold). I would chose the “Manufaktur” leather interior and add the sports chrono. I am on the fence about PDK vs manual. I like the PDK but for this car I think a manual would be more fun. Anything additional you would like to share about yourself: I also love riding motorcycles. I am a “Ducatistas”. A “Ducatistas” is a Ducati motorcycle fan/ rider. I currently own a 2015 Panigale 899 and a 2019 Multistrada Pikes Peak. I have owned the Panigale for a long time and have many great memories. I got the Multistrada last fall and hope to start putting some miles on it when the spring weather arrives

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Claudia & Richard Chitty

Member Names & Join Date: Claudia and Richard Chitty, September 2013

Current Cars, Previous Cars: Porsche 2008 Boxster

Have you served on any Regional or National committees: Not as of yet.

What encouraged you to join the Porsche Club of America: We were looking to share our love of these wonderful vehicles with people of similar interests. As a past member of other car clubs, we had enjoyed the activities, the sharing of knowledge, and the community spirit that a club can provide. We knew that PCA had a wide range of activities and that joining would provide a great experience.

James B. Beavan III

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): For three decades, we had a Triumph TR6 in perpetual restoration (read rust repair). What with being married, raising kids, and building a career, we never had the time to do enough other than keeping it running in the garage. We finally realized that we could spend all our time fixing the TR6 or getting a better car and go driving! Porsches have always been in our dreams, and when a sweet 2008 Boxster showed up at Porsche in Silver Spring, we jumped at the deal and it was a dream come true.

What are your favorite Regional &/or National events: The Porsche Parades are “Can’t Miss” events which is why we’ve driven to Jay Peak in Vermont, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, and French Lick in Indiana. Closer to home, the Chesapeake Challenge is always a blast. Plus, we love the fabulous tours that Aniano and Rich put on. And the Autocrosses are great too!

What is your favorite PCA memory: Our favorite memory was our first Parade at Vermont’s Jay Peak. We entered the Concours, drove in the Autocross, found every covered bridge in northern Vermont, and even ran up and down the mountains in the 5k run. The spirited drives were the best ever, the scenery was wonderful, and the company of our members was so much fun. As was being at the Margarita party with the Porsche folks that is now a legendary event!

What advice about PCA or Chesapeake would you give to new members: Get involved in any way that you can. There is so much that is offered and by getting engaged in any of the many activities, you will become part of the Chesapeake community.

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Chitty (cont’d)

James B. Beavan III

If money was no object, what Porsche would you love to own and why: As technology improves almost daily, you can always find a better and faster Porsche. Instead, we’d like to celebrate the car that really put Porsche on the map, like a 356 Speedster.

Anything additional you would like to share about yourself (Family/Work/Etc): Claudia and Richard are both enjoying retirement. Claudia is busy with coaching young women in high school to move ahead in life. Richard is an active sailor that has raced on the Chesapeake Bay, in the Caribbean, and in Europe. He also enjoys singing classical music with the National Philharmonic Chorale at the Strathmore in Bethesda. As a photographer, Richard has contributed images of Porsche events to the Patter.

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Chitty (cont’d)

James B. Beavan III

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Chesapeake Region

Member Profile: Greg & Marilyn Hartke

James B. Beavan III

Member Names & Join Date: Greg & Marilyn Hartke, 2/26/2016Current Cars, Previous Cars: Model 981 (2014) Cayman S (manual transmission)

Have you served on any Regional or National committees: When Pat Walker needed to step down as Chesapeake Autocross Co-chair due to work commitments, he somehow got it into his head to ask me if I would take the position in his stead. To say I was taken aback by the request is an understatement! I thought about it for a couple of weeks because I didn’t think I had the skills to do the job, but in the end (and with my thoughts going to how hard it would be for Pat to find someone else), I relented and have been AX Co-chair (with Brad Martinez) ever since.

As is not atypical with AXers, I can hardly get enough racing, so I also run with the Potomac PCA Chapter. Besides acting as Co-chair for CHS AX, I also serve on the Potomac Autocross Committee because I view doing so to be a good way to maintain coordination for

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Chesapeake Region

Hartke (cont’d)

AX between our Chapters. With the CHS and POT Chapters so close together, this arrangement has paid dividends in many ways with schedule coordination, instructor sharing, and the general crosspollination of ideas that lead to results.

What encouraged you to join the Porsche Club of America: Fellow PCA Member Scott Borden got me interested in autocross racing and when I decided to buy my 981 CS, I couldn’t join fast enough. In fact, I obtained the VIN from the dealer a few days in advance of the sale so I could join the PCA and register for the AX School (which happened to be the POT AX School). I had previously done the AX School in my 2004 MINI Cooper S a couple/three years previously, but I wanted an opportunity to get some learning time in the 981 CS because it’s such a different car.

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): When it comes to performance vehicles, I’ve always been very much more interested in sports cars rather than muscle cars and even owned a couple of MGs in my younger days (a ’71 MGB and later a ’71 MGB GT). If I were going to get another sports car, though, I wanted something reliable as well as having great handling because I certainly did not have the time to do any wrenching.

Some years ago, I had seen my first Cayman and had immediately been entranced – I had no idea what it was, but I knew it was a Porsche, so I cornered Scott, described the car to him, and asked him what it was. At the time, I wasn’t even thinking about buying a sports car, but I filed it away in the back of my mind. After Scott got me into AX, I was racing my Cooper S and that was certainly fun (particularly after I put performance summer tires on the car), but I wanted something faster. Since I was racing with the PCA, I immediately gravitated to the Cayman S because after seeing it for the first time, it became (and remains) my favorite Porsche.

What are your favorite Regional &/or National events: My favorite is clearly autocross. If I had more time, though, I’d participate in more PCA events, but work, AX, and other hobbies make it awfully difficult. That said, Marilyn and I think the CHS Crab Feast is astonishing good, so if there’s one thing of which you can be assured, I’ll never schedule an AX event on the day (or even the weekend) of the Crab Feast. I might add that Marilyn is more than ready to take one of the summer ice cream tours. ;) I’m expecting to retire this year and that will certainly free up some time to attend more PCA events, which is very much part of my plan.

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Chesapeake Region

Hartke (cont’d)

James B. Beavan III

What is your favorite PCA memory: Do I have a favorite PCA memory? Hmm. Not sure. Every AX event is a blast (and also a relief to complete when you’re Co-chair ;) ) and we’ve had great times at the Crab Feast, that’s for sure. I’ve also really enjoyed meeting new members at the New Member Parties as the AX Cochair. It’s all so much fun that I don’t know if I can pick a favorite!

What advice about PCA or Chesapeake would you give to new members: Don’t forget to claim your free Autocross voucher!

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

Now that’s a toughie. The Porsche Turbo is utterly spectacular, but it’s performance would be kind of wasted on me for what I do – I’m not sure it would be the ideal AX car. The GT4 is a great AX car, but that massive wing is really off-putting and only needed if you’re going to track the car. I think maybe I’d opt for a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. POT AXer Eric Core suggested the turbocharged engine would be better for AX, but I don’t think I could pass up the 4.0 flat-6!

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

My biggest problem is that work gets in the way of my hobbies because I work too many hours. (Some might also say I have too many hobbies, but I would never look at it that way!) I spend a lot of time on AX, but I won’t mind getting my life back from work for other things. Happily, that’s going to happen soon, because I expect to retire this year. Can’t come soon enough for me! One of my other hobbies is golf and I’m a member at Piney Branch Golf Club in Upperco MD where I play golf year-round (as long as the course is open). It’s fair to say that my weekends are almost invariably spent either racing or playing golf. OK, there are chores to do, too, but I like to focus on the fun stuff!

Before I ever got into golf or sports cars, my big interest was amateur astronomy (and in fact my Ph.D. is in Astronomy – I did my thesis on certain aspects of neutron star physics). I received my first telescope when I was 12 and just about wore that baby out. I eventually got into astrophotography – a hobby that’s been in abeyance for a few years because getting up at 4:15 AM all the time for work is not conducive to staying up all night playing with telescopes. I sure am looking forward to getting back to it and I’ve included a couple of my astro images to show what’s possible, even for an amateur. Lots of work goes into creating these images, so from a technical and image processing perspective, astrophotography is a very engaging hobby. Perfect for my “declining” years! ;)

When I retire, Marilyn and I are planning to stay right here, so I expect to enjoy being a CHS PCA member for a long time!

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