Die Porsche Kassette

Die Porsche Kassette

Mirror the Best, Shield the Rest

Die Porsche Kassette

On the Cover: The transition from a very high speed straight to a low-speed corner, the Hairpin Turn 7 at Sebring is challenging. A similar difficult transit is from HPDE advanced solo driving to Porsche Club Racing is equally intense and daunting. Our cover this month features Suneal Nandigam in his #03 Porsche GT3 Cup car accomplishing both tasks during the

Zone 12 Gold Coast Region

Officers

Directors

President

Peter Olliviere 954 816-6005 polliviere@ gmail.com

Treasurer Carolynn Ditrichs 561 351-4916 GCRTreas@ gmail.com

Vice President

Dottie Kidd 954 562-5919 dottiekidd@ bellsouth.net

Secretary

Cynthia Fluhart 305 299-6193 cynric@ bellsouth.net

Noemi Sanchez 786 210-2251

Noemis33024@ gmail.com

Ian Gerada 954 914-2989 ian.gerada@ pca.org

Social Comittee

Social Chair

Christy Spangler 954-821-6804 socialchair@ goldcoastregion.org

48 Hours Co-Chair

Mark Johnson 954 422-2199 mjsailing@ hotmail.com

Steve Kidd

Past President 954-946-3196

Steve_Kidd@ bellsouth.net

Mike Del Pozo 954 882-7571 info@dpwindow cleaning.com

Ed Blair Alternate

Mike Del Pozo

Cynthia Fluhart

Ian Gerada

Dottie Kidd

Lissette Gonzalez

Noemi Sanchez

Rick Veingrad

John Poor

Autocross Chair / Historian .............................

Steve Kidd

Autocross Registrar .........................................

Dottie Kidd DE Manager

Mark Johnson

2024 CALENDAR

Concours Chair

Mike Del Pozo Webmaster / Membership

Ian Gerada

April

6 Porsche Rocks, Miami Brewing Co., Homestead

7 Spring Fling, CB Smith Park

13 Ladies of Gold Coast Paint & Sip, Paint the Grain, Davie

21-25 PCA Treffen Wine Country in Sonoma, CA

May

5 F1 Watch Party, Hagerty Garage + Social, Delray Beach

11 Autocross #5 at Port St. Lucie Fairgrounds

June

9-15 PCA Porsche Parade in Birmingham, AL

22 Driver’s Education Homestead-Miami Speedway

Stay tuned to the eNews emails for event updates or check the GCR calendar on our website. If you have any ideas for a social event or would like to volunteer, please email us at: socials@goldcoastregion.org

Follow us on our social media:

Facebook.com/GoldCoastPCA Facebook.com/groups/gcrgroup Instagram.com/goldcoastpca

Kassette Editor Roger Fabel 954-752-2501 rfabel@aol.com

Writers

Mark Johnson

Alicia Laya

Christy Spangler AJ Moffitt

SUBMISSIONS

Copy Editor

Lisa Cohen

Graphic Artists

Christy Spangler

Melissa Hyland

Photographers

Andrew Moffitt

George Plucienkowski

David Castrillo

Die Porsche Kassette welcomes member submissions for articles and stories about your Porsche experiences. Generally, such submissions need to be made by the first of the month for consideration to be published in the following months’ issue. However, no guarantee is made for timing of any article submitted. Please send materials via email to the newsletter editor: rfabel@aol.com. Text should be presented in a word document (.doc), “Roboto” font at 10-point size. Use “Kassette Material” in the subject line of the email transmission. Both text and supporting photographs should be attached to the email. Photos should be high resolution files and not be embedded in the document. Additionally, Die Porsche Kassette will accept photographic submissions for the photo of the month considerations. These should be sent to: gcr.photofinish@gmail.com.

www.GoldCoastRegion.org

FIRST TURN

Peter Olliviere , President

It is with great pleasure that I get to announce that the Concours is back. Not a car show, a wash and shine or a people’s choice. No, none of those things. Gold Coast Region will be hosting a true white glove event. Mark your calendars for Veterans Day, November 10, 2024.

“Besides celebrating the Porsche Automobile, we will be honoring all U.S. Veterans.”

This event will be held on the grass at scenic Plantation Heritage Park, a location tailor-made for a show of this type, with beautiful grass and lake views. In addition, we will have pavilion shelters at our disposal. But the good stuff doesn’t end with shelters. There will be Food Trucks to enjoy, music for entertainment and a display to honor our veterans.

As for the event it will be a fully judged Concours event with several different classes. Awards will be given out to the class winners and Best of Show.

Porsche Parade Registraton is Open Haven’t registered yet? There is still time! visit porscheparade.org for more information and to register

Phase I registration allows you to register for Parade.

Phase II registration gives you the opportunity to select the activities you would like to participate in.

Choices include:

• Concours d’Elegance

• Rallys

• Autocross

• Tours

• Parade of Porsches

• and more

Meanwhile as we pull this event together, we will be looking out for volunteers to help put it on. We will need help with parking cars on the show field, crowd control, registration and most importantly, the Judges.

Concours is back, get ready for a great time, keep an eye open for registration in a couple of weeks. You will get full information at that time.

Peter

Are you going? Let us know on

SHIFT INTO SOCIAL

Article by Christy Spangler, Social

Spring is in full swing and April is showering with great events to choose from. From a concert by Porsche enthusiasts to a special event featuring the 911, there is something for everyone. The Spring Fling Picnic will feature a People’s Choice Car show with 7 categories to vote on. GCR will hold it’s first Ladies of Gold Coast event geared towards women in our membership. Time to get out, show off your Porsches and enjoy the drive!

In the rear view mirror…

In March we enjoyed a wine tasting with a wonderful Italian dinner at the Trattoria Pampered Chef in Miami Lakes. There was even some Saint Patrick’s Day flair. Thank you to Juliet Paulet, Kevin Jones and Lissette Gonzalez for organizing this event.

As we pass through April…

April 6th - Porsche Rocks Concert featuring The Lufts. A part of the Tri-County Porsche Social Tour, this

Photos by Gonzalo Reinosa

event will take place at Miami Brewing Company in Homestead, FL.

April 7th - Spring Fling Picnic and People’s Choice Car show at CB Smith Park. Enjoy a day at the park with a nice picnic lunch among stunning Porsches. The People’s Choice Car show will include 7 categories for attendees to vote on.

April 13th - Paint & Sip, a chance to get creative in the company of the Ladies of Gold Coast at Paint the Grain Studio.

April 20th - 911 Chronicles at Foreign Affairs Motorsport where members can explore generations of 911s, delve into modifications, and connect with experts and enthusiasts in a day dedicated to this iconic car.

On the horizon

May 5th - F1 Watch Party at Hagerty Garage + Social in Delray Beach.  For PCA National events, registration

We recently started two new locations for our monthly socials. The 4th Thursday Social held on February 22nd at Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Company in Miami.

is open for both the Porsche Parade and Treffen at Sea. The Parade will take place June 9-15 in Birmingham, Alabama. Treffen at Sea will be cruising to Alaska July 28-August 4. You can register for these events on the pca.org website.  If you have signed up for one of these events, please let us know on clubregistration.net.

Stay tuned to our social channels, eNews emails, the GCR calendar on our website, goldcoastregion.org/ calendar or go to clubregistration.net for updates on upcoming events and opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

PCA and GCR are fueled by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering or have an idea for something fun, please contact the members of the Social Committee at socials@ goldcoastregion.org.

See you soon at an upcoming event!

Christy

The First Saturday Porsches & Pancakes on March 2nd at Maple and Cream in Plantation hosted by Ed Kohly. Both socials were well attended.

KEY STROKES

Roger Fabel, Editor

Sebring is our major theme this month. We start with coverage of the largest and best PCA Club Race in the world, The 48 Hours at Sebring. The story begins on the cover with one of our GCR members, Suneal Nandigam. He entered the event as a Club Racer for the first time after many years at driver education events. Learn more about Suneal’s experience along with details about this great weekend starting on page 10.

This race has been held for 31 years and would not be possible without the volunteers from the Gold Coast and Suncoast Regions. We work hard to encourage our members to attend and be part of this great experience.

As I interview new attendees, there is a common thread in their feedback, “Why did I not attend the event sooner and when can I sign up for next year’s event?” We had several first-time volunteers to the 48 Hours this year. Ron Wishna attended for the first time with his wife Donna. Ron was kind enough to provide his feedback about the event on page 12. We have a photo gallery of the racing on page 14 provided by Motorimages.com To learn more about this annual event that takes place in early February one week after the Rolex 24, go to www.48hoursatsebring.com.

To round out our Sebring theme, Mike Tarter provides a history lesson about

the Sebring Race Track and the history of Hendricks Field. Mike has been involved with all of the 48 Hour Club Races and held many offices in Gold Coast Region This outstanding story starts on page 28.

The April Finding Gold member feature introduces a father and son who love Porsche and racing, Robert Salvador Sr. and Jr. They share their background beginning on page 18. Finally, if racing is not on your to-do list, check out the recap of the Porsche Werks Reunion and The Amelia Concours and the new ModaMiami event on page 26.

Enjoy the ride, and the reading!

Roger

START YOUR ENGINES

Enhance Your pca.org Experience: A Quick Start Guide for Members

Ian Gerada , Membership Chair

As your dedicated Membership Chair, I have compiled this article to streamline your Porsche Club of America experience, ensuring quick and easy access to the most common services and queries on pca.org. From updating your details to navigating our Mart, this short guide is designed to keep you informed and connected within our community.

Updating Contact Information: Keep your contact information current to receive all PCA communications. Log into pca.org and select “Edit My Profile” from your dashboard.

Password Recovery: If you encounter login issues, check your spam folder and verify your email address. For further assistance, contact me.

Adding/Changing Co-members: Add or update a co-member by

Andrea Camporesi 2019 Cayenne

Nicolas Grau 2023 911 GT3

Tim Fleming 2022 911 GT3

Anthony

providing the primary member’s ID, the co-member’s full details and their optional email. Note that co-members must be at least 18.

Joining Multiple Regions: Expand your PCA involvement by joining multiple regions, with separate dues for each. Contact our National Office for assistance.

New Member Mart Access: New members might experience a short wait, usually up to a week, for Mart access while we verify your account.

Selling a Vehicle: To sell a vehicle, log into your PCA account and select the ad placement option above the search bar in the Mart.

Region Changes or Mart Ad Edits: To change your PCA region or edit a

Mart ad, contact PCA National or log into your account and use “My Ads” to make edits.

Membership Cards and Decals: Membership materials, including cards and decals, are mailed within four to five weeks. Access your Member Dashboard for temporary or replacement cards.

Raffles Eligibility: Raffles are exclusive to full PCA members. If you are a Test Drive participant, upgrade to full membership to enter.

For further questions or assistance, feel free to contact me via email, text or phone at ian.gerada@pca.org or 954-914-2989.

Ian

The 48 Hours at Sebring...It’s a Wrap!

By Kassette Staff Writers

The PCA 48 Hours at Sebring is recognized as the largest Club Race in the country. The 2024 edition was held during the first weekend of February with over 300 cars participating in multiple classes. THE 48 also featured advanced solo high-performance driving and a full day of autocross on the Sebring skid pad. To say it was a full weekend would be an understatement.

During the first three days of the event, it was Chamber of Commerce weather. Drivers and attendees experienced clear blue skies and mid-seventies during the day with low humidity. The conditions allowed those on the track to be fast and aggressive, perhaps too aggressive at times as there were a few unintended car “meetings.” Lap times were fast, drivers were fresh in the season and the combination allowed for tense moments and some twisted sheet metal. For a designated non-contact event, there was a bit too much contact.

Thursday and Friday morning practice sessions gave way to Friday afternoon qualifying sessions. Racing began in earnest on Saturday with sprint races, two each for the three run groups, totaling six races overall. Between the practice, qualifying and Porsche Club Racing were extended sessions of advanced solo track driving for those improving their skills to perhaps graduate into a race scenario.

As noted above, our Gold Coast Region held a full day of autocross for those participants not on the track, who were improving their skills running the cones.

Sunday brought a completely different vibe and required different skills. Racing in the rain is quite different than competing on dry and fast pavement. On Sunday, the last day of the event, participants were treated to a morning of heavy precipitation that substantially changed the driver’s thinking and driving style. Racing was still aggressive and competitive, but

the skill and perhaps anxiety levels increased on the wet track.

The other significant change is that the racing moved from sprint style, forty-minute races, to an endurance (enduro) racing event exhibiting a ninety-minute-long race. An enduro could involve a single driver or possibly a driver change with two drivers per car. An enduro race also carries a mandatory five-minute stop in the hot pit area during the race.

The three run groups from Saturday (Yellow, Green and Red) were rearranged into two groups (Black and Pink) for these enduros. Most of the rain fell during the Black enduro, the earlier race. The Pink group ran a bit later so much of the race was run as the weather cleared and the track eventually dried at the finish. Even so, the wet and slippery conditions required rain tires and different strategy at the start. The conditions certainly changed the thinking and execution of many of the drivers in both groups.

Having Fun at 48 Hours, Gold Coast member Chris Olson attempting to fly arond turn 10!

With the significant rain in the first Black enduro, it became difficult to see the track. Vision was impaired by mist and spray coming from a car ahead, but also by a lack of windscreen “defog” equipment. Race cars in this group are substantially stripped down, and don’t carry heaters or fans as regular passenger cars would. With a hot car and cool rain, the windscreen could become fogged over so that it was doubly difficult to see clearly. Add in large puddles in areas of the Sebring track and the classic bumps, the race went not only to the swift, but also perhaps the brave. This group was comprised of Spec Boxster, 924, 944, 938, air-cooled classic 911’s and other more modern Boxster and Cayman models.

The second enduro was run as the rain moderated to a drizzle and then stopped completely. These higher performance Porsches, Cup Cars, 911 Turbos, Clubsport models, etc. started on the wet track and drove nearly eighty percent of the race in wet or drying conditions.

One of our favorite Gold Coast Region members, Suneal Nandigam, was experiencing his very first Club Race as a race driver. His #03 black and yellow Zweck sponsored GT3 Cup car had a very exciting and entertaining weekend. Suneal has driven highperformance driver education events for the past seventeen years. It was time for him to step into a true racing scenario.

Suneal ran in the mid-pack of 50+ cars entered in his Red group for the sprint races on Saturday. It was a different story for the enduro race on Sunday. With over 20 vehicles retired from the weekend or choosing not to race in the rain, Suneal ran in second place overall during the bulk of the race. Having to stop for a mandatory five-minute period, the decision was made to keep running on rain tires. With the track drying to a fully dry race line, the decision came back to hamper the effort and Suneal finished fourth overall at the completion of the ninety minutes. Changing to race slicks may have kept him in a podium position.

Suneal started visiting Sebring as a twelve year old kid. He learned the track at various events, primarily highperformance driving education with Gold Coast/Suncoast, Chin Track Days and other on-track performance driving groups.

Gaining real race experience was totally different. In all three practice sessions his run group was black flagged, that is, the session was stopped by incidents on the track. The 48 Hours at Sebring is the first Club Race of the year. Many drivers attend to get their feet wet, or to shake off the rust from the off season. With limited practice time it was challenging to get truly acclimated to the track filled with competition.

In speaking with Suneal throughout the weekend, he admitted to enjoying a “nervous high” and “my starts became a major challenge.” Competition is keen, drivers can be anxious and even apprehensive when surrounded by other racers. With everyone competing for the exact same ninety square feet of ideal track and car position, control is paramount when all drivers are trying to win the race.

As Suneal grew accustomed to the cars and fellow drivers, his confidence grew. He is a serious competitor. His car ran flawlessly the entire weekend. He admitted that Porsche Club Racing was “a lot of fun, once I figured out that I could be a bit more aggressive in and among the

PCA Club Race rookie Suneal Nandigam enjoyed a rewarding weekend at Sebring

It was quite wet on Sunday for the Black Group Enduro

other racers.” Suneal expects to return to Sebring and THE 48 for 2025 and is considering additional Club Races for 2024, perhaps Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, or Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, MN.

Overall, it was one very memorable race weekend. Quality racing, great advanced solo driving, super course

times and skills advanced on the autocross course. It was a good deal of fun had by all, especially the volunteers from Gold Coast Region.

Volunteers, ahhh yes, the lifeblood of any club, and specifically for The 48 Hours at Sebring. The 2024 event brought back many of the regulars that have supported the event. The

Gold Coast mainstays were Roger and Sherry Fabel, Paul and Peggy Rabun, Mike DelPozo, Christy Spangler, Mike Koller, Dottie and Steve Kidd and Gonzalo and Debbie Reinosa, among others. New to the volunteer list were Donna and Ron Wishna and Noemi and Nestor Sanchez.

48 Hours... A Volunteer’s Perspective

The new kids at THE 48, the Wishnas, added their insight regarding the weekend. by

Wonder what 48 Hours at Sebring is about as a GCR PCA Volunteer? I did too so I signed up to see. Where do you go, what do you do, where do you stay, you know, who what why where and when.

Sebring is in farm country, but close to Lake Placid and so there are hotels, strip malls and restaurants. The Inn on the Lake is where my wife and I stayed which was 15 minutes away. The Seven Hotel is right at the track and where the experienced seem to stay, though you can find a Hilton or an Airbnb not far too away. The restaurants aren’t fancy and the ‘go to’ is Cowpoke’s Watering Hole, a roadhouse type affair. It gets packed so have some patience. I had a good Rib Eye.

When you drive into Sebring Raceway, the first building that you will see is the Hall of Fame. That is where the racers sign in, t-shirts are sold, the volunteer tables are set up and where the fun starts. Paul Rabun was around somewhere, but he’s just the Volunteer Chief. The real show is run by Sherry Fabel and Ann Amundson (Suncoast) who have all the inside answers and check you in. Roger Fabel, our fearless editor, is probably close by the volunteer tables and you may want some quality time with him too. These people are just plain nice folk who have been trekking up to this event since you had to wind these cars up. They are full of rich history, lots of local knowledge and a passion for Porsche and for life.

Ron Wishna, GCR Member

“What are you volunteering for? Working the corners as a flagger? Timing and scoring on the third floor of the grandstand building in a sky box?”

Lining up race cars on the starting grid that is in the paddock area? Pushing cars through tech inspection? A Pit Marshall watching over the mayhem?

Ron and Donna Wishna with Kevin Wheeler

Here is a truth you will learn so you might as well know it now. They really don’t need you. (Or do they?) There are experienced PCA Gold Coast and Suncoast club volunteers who have been involved doing these jobs for many years. These folks handle each of the aforementioned positions.

“Volunteering means you get to help them, pretend to be them or learn stuff that will amaze you.”

I chose to be a corner worker. I looked at the track map and picked a corner to volunteer where I thought there would be action. I wanted to be close. 17B. It took me 45 minutes to find it, but that’s another story.

Before I got there, I was told not to expect to get too close, never mind waving a flag. I’ll tell you right now my arms are still tired. 17B was where Teressa , was at her post, the professional corner worker. She couldn’t have been more welcoming. We chatted all we could between the intense noise and her wearing a two-

way radio connected to Race Control up in the tower. Every race car was under her scrutiny as they screamed by, each lap they took, Teressa was tech inspecting. She noticed every little thing and pointed out five things I never would have noticed. One car got “meat balled,” flagger language for “get off my track and fix your stuff.”

She was awesome and so completely immersed in her work; dedicated and professional. Teressa was showing me the breaking zone, the line, the apex, pointing out the smoothness of some driver’s handling and the erratic steering of those not quite sure. “See that dip in the pavement, now follow that to the scuff in the wall,” she said. It was obvious. All of it was just a few feet away. All the while Teressa was passing me flags to wave, yellow, black, white, and told me what she heard from Race Control on the radio and then what to do. School was in session. I learned more in three hours about driving, racing and the track than during three drivers’ education days. And I walked away as a flagger, to boot.

On my Parade laps I took 17B like a pro. So, what’s this volunteering

about? Why do they need us? This indoctrination inspires us. It gets us up close and personal in ways few other opportunities present. That grows the sport and for that they need us. My enthusiasm had to shine back; it was mutual. Nowhere else do you get to play this way, this close. It is not easy to find opportunities to meet great people who welcome you to do just about anything you wish. I guess calling it Porsche race camp is too corny so better to say Volunteer at 48 Hours of Sebring. Just a slice of life with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry on top.

On a side note, I learned that the track workers earn minimum wage and work in all weather conditions. They work at their jobs so us entitled folk can play with our toys. What they do for us is no joke and can save our lives. When I learned that Sunday’s racing called for cold rain and some track workers couldn’t afford proper rain gear, it broke my heart. I made sure my Teressa was going to be dry on Sunday. Next year I’m pitching the idea that we show up with some Porsche gear to give them all as a token of our appreciation. Thanks Paul, you run a great show along with everyone at Gold Coast and Suncoast. We’ll be back!

Many volunteer hands are involved from Driver Registration to Grid Control (pictured l-r) Dottie Kidd, Mike Bennett, Dennis Wojcik, Alan Thomas and Christian Rava

FINDING GOLD

Robert Sr. & Robert Jr. Salvador

The Flat6Rebel Father-Son Team… Promoting the Porsche Flat-6 to the World

Member

Feature

by Mark Johnson

The Kassette member feature this month is like a BOGO. Readers are not buying anything but still getting two for the price of one! Robert Salvador Sr. and Robert Salvador Jr. comprise one of the most incredible father-son duos in the Gold Coast Region. They are active in Porsche Club events; with the Vintage Vices crew in Miami, they established the “Runny Eggs Club” of South Florida 996 owners, and they are FLAT6REBEL!

The father-son partnership shares their passion for the flat-6 culture to all who are interested. Robert Jr. states, “The goal is focused on showcasing South Florida in the most positive and engaging light. What we get to experience and do is not common anywhere else and it’s unique. We enjoy so many drives, meet-ups, events and meaningful moments together, and it is something we must

not take for granted. The South Florida Porsche community lives within a flat6 passion, we strive to share that with the world.”

Robert Salvador Sr. was born and raised in Venezuela. He moved to Miami in 1980 and has called the city home ever since. As with so many people who have moved to Florida, Robert Sr. has been living in SOFL much longer than his original home country. He is married to wife Dahyana, and together they have three sons, Robert Jr., Michael and Marco. Robert Sr. is involved in the commercial retail space rental and lease market.

Robert Jr. was born and raised in Miami with his brothers. It is Robert Jr. that acquired the Porsche “genes” within the family, most certainly from Robert Sr.

Robert Jr. has been married to spouse Chelsie for nine years and they have a five-year-old son Ryan. The family lives in Miami. Robert Jr. is employed as a recreational therapist. He drives a 1999 996 C2 in silver which he acquired in 2020. The 996 has been fitted with BBS E88 wheels, a retrofit 997 GT3 exhaust, GT3 console delete and GT3 door cards. This runny egg is adorned with Rennline Aluminum interior (pedals and shifter), a DNS Flying Ducktail decklid, Tactico Steering wheel, OEM aero side skirts and numeric short shifter. The car is tracked, and it’s a mover.

Robert Sr. acquired his first Porsche at age 25 and has owned and driven roughly eleven vehicles manufactured by the marque between the first one and today. All of these Porsches have been 911 models, flat-6 engines. His current car is a 1995 Porsche 911, 993

Robert Salvador Sr. & Robert Salvador Jr. enjoying Sebring together

The 1995 911 - 993

model, that has been set up as a GT Tribute vehicle. To say it is distinctive would be an understatement. The 993 is a bright “Florida Orange” color, official Porsche designation, Signal Orange.

Robert Jr., also known as Flat6Rebel by his friends, owns and drives the 996 vintage Porsche. Once considered the “unwanted Porsche” due to the unusual headlight style, this unique Porsche 911 model was nick-named the runny egg Porsche as the headlights gave that appearance. Robert Jr. has taken pride in the unique nature of the fifth generation sports car from the builder.

As we know, the 996 was the first of the water-cooled Porsche generation and it was built with a new chassis, new engine and was a major change and complete breakthrough from the previous air-cooled Porsche 911’s. About the only thing retained from the previous generations of 911 was the flat-6 rear engine drivetrain layout. The headlamps were styled by the times and were the only generation with the look.

Robert Jr. greatly enjoys his Porsche 996. Gathering several owners in the South Florida market, they started

the Runny Eggs Club to celebrate the first water-cooled Porsche with the unique headlamps. Today there are fifty-seven members from SOFL in the Runny Eggs Club and additional owners are added frequently. They meet as a group on occasion in Miami and were recently seen gathering at the DRTX Cars & Coffee at the Waterford District. It is both exciting and gratifying to see the 996 Porsche 911 get some well-deserved love and attention.

Señor Salvador suggests that Robert Jr. has been a Porsche lover since he was a little boy. As Robert Sr. acquired, drove and sold the ten flat6 vehicles leading up to the current Signal Orange 993 GT tribute, Jr. developed his love and appreciation for the brand. Junior drove one Porsche in particular, a 1990 911 964 RSR Tribute painted in Signal Green. That one, named “GREENCH” basically set the hook firmly and a father-son partnership was cemented in place. Both Roberts have been collaborating on all things Porsche for the past ten years. Robert Sr. gives all the credit to Robert Jr. for the Flat6Rebel web page. The photographs are all taken by Junior, and all publications and public relations communications are a result of his efforts.

The other Salvador sons are not directly involved with the passion for PCars. Michael Salvador (29) is single and lives in Miami. He is working as a business analyst for a local entity. The youngest Salvador, Marco (18), is a student studying at the University of Florida in Gainesville, working toward his bachelor’s degree. He is interested in pursuing an advanced degree in law. As both Michael and Marco advance and mature, there is hope that they will join their father and brother with their own flat-6 vehicles.

In general, both the Flat6Rebel and Runny Eggs are recent phenomenon. The flat-6 page was initiated in 2016 with the Runny Eggs Club a bit later in 2023. Each celebrated the respective commonality of the unique features of Porsche. The aircooled family within the South Florida community is a substantial group in and of themselves. Flat-6 builds and contributes to the mystique and camaraderie surrounding these wonderful vehicles.

Getting to know so many 996 jockeys, the feeling developed that there was something missing for these drivers. There was a need to connect and build the love and respect for the first-

The Runny Egg 996 (son) and 993 Tribute (father) share a moment along Key Biscayne

generation water-cooled flat-6. Robert Jr. has taken a lead position with both groups to document the activity, raise awareness and generally enjoy these special vehicles to the best of their ability.

Robert Jr. holds both groups near and dear. Flat6Rebel is his passion project. The Runny Eggs are all fun. Together the two entities allow Jr. to expand his photography skills. He captures photos of folks who drive, magic moments of cars, people and passions. He will entertain a paid photo shoot, but for the most part it is the documentation of the South Florida flat-6 community that provides motivation.

They hit the racing circuit together attending the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, Sebring 12 Hour Race and the Petite LeMans at Road Atlanta. A significant trip was to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin for the FIA WEC race in 2017, the last event won by the Porsche 919. For the 2017 WEC season the 919 took the overall championship with four overall wins (LeMans, Nürburgring, Mexico and

In the PCA Corral trackside at the Rolex 24 in Daytona 2024

COA) with three second place finishes, one third place and one fourth place finish. Robert Sr. Has traveled to California for the Rennsport Reunion as well.

Closer to home both gentlemen have visited and driven at PEC Atlanta and senior has been on track three times. They each have attended Parade in Boca Raton. Both have participated in various events that entail driving the Tail of the Dragon in NC/TN. Of course, they hit DRT, and many of the driving events that SOFL has to offer.

Favorite Porsches? For Robert Jr. it is the GT1, but for Sr., it became a tougher question. He owned quite a few different models of 911’s, so there were multiple choices. Eventually, Robert Sr. suggested that the 1987 Porsche 911 – 930 Turbo was “the most wild thing he ever had.”

Robert Sr. has been a Gold Coast member for over 10 years, and Robert Jr. has been a club member for the past four years.They each enjoy a great rally. Traveling in a Porsche is both romantic and satisfying. It is the driving experience after all. And while sitting behind the wheel that provides a big return on effort, it is the people that they share this experience with that creates maximum excitement. The joy in seeing Flat6Rebel website grow and build the South Florida PCar community. Perhaps it is the simple enjoyment of being a member of the most unique 911 model that has come along, the 996 Runny Eggs. It’s all great!

Robert Sr. and Robert Jr. share a father-son passion that we would all welcome and appreciate, a truly special bond. All wound around a flat6 engine and runny egg headlights. Who knew….

The Salvador Men (L-R) Robert Sr, Michael, Robert Jr, Marco and young Ryan

...Be a Part of It!

The objective of a PCA Rally is to follow a course from point to point, usually on public roads, to the precise detail specified in the rules - it can be competitive or for fun. Competitive Time Speed Distance (TSD) Rallies dictate a certain time schedule for the checkpoints along the way. Gimmick Rallies, also competitive rallies, may include a Gimmick (Poker Rally, regional interest). New to Rallying? Parade is a great time to give it a try!

AROUND THE CONES

No AutoX activity to report this month, but as our regulars know, we have had three AutoX events already this year and the next one is planned for Sunday, March 24th. Due to submission deadlines, our AutoX followers will have to wait for the May Issue to read about the March event. For those seeking to expand their AutoX horizon, please give me a call and I’ll let you know about some of the other AutoX venues that I visit. For those really looking to challenge their abilities, I suggest you go to a Porsche Parade and test your skills where you will see the best drivers in PCA. This year the Parade will be in Birmingham, Alabama and I understand the AutoX will be at Barber Motorsport Park. The Parade AutoX runs two full days and everyone runs in the class specified by the Parade Competition rules.

The level competition is top notch with generally 5-10 members in each class and about 200 autocrossers in total. PCA has four very distinct levels of improvements you can do to your car to make it faster, handle better or reduce weight. The most popular category is the (S)stock category, meaning the car is pretty much as it came from the factory, with any available factory options. Judging from what I have seen in the past few parades, the Stock category has the largest number of classes (currently nine) and takes up most of the first day of competition. The next most popular category is Production (P), which is comprised of many of the older cars that have some minor tweaks that take them out of stock. Typically, cars in this class have minor suspension upgrades,

by Steve Kidd

maybe a performance exhaust and other bolt-on upgrades. Next level of performance is the Improved (I) category that allows a much higher level of tuning. While many of these cars are still street legal, you can tell that the level of comfort has been sacrificed for performance. There are two sets of classes in the Improved category. Finally, the last category, the Modified (M) family, can best be described as race cars specifically designed and set up for Autocross. Power to weight is probably something like a go-kart and these cars arrive in a trailer. This category can best be described as “anything goes” and you can see the highest level of customization and creativity to extract every ounce of performance. There are two sets of classes in the Modified category. Hope to see some of our regulars at the Parade AutoX in Birmingham this June.

HELP WANTED

Looking For Site Locations

This month I plan to talk about one of the most pressing issues, facing not only our AutoX program but AutoX programs nationwide.... Site locations. We have been making this plea for help in locating a new affordable location to do AutoX events for years, and we keep hoping that one of these days our prayers will be answered. Currently, both sites that we use require1.5-3 hours travel time each way depending on where you live. I know this is a huge factor in why our AutoX program has decreased from about 100 participants to about 30 participants from the days we held events at more local sites like BBT, Hialeah Park or Hollywood Greyhound parking lot. Ideally, we would love to have a partner like Muscle Car Museum in Space Coast region.

Tentative AX schedule for the remainder of 2024

Event #4 3/24/2024 @ Sebring in conjunction with the Suncoast Region DE. Thanks again to our friends at Suncoast for the site.

Event #5 5/11/2024 @Port St. Lucie County Fairgrounds

Event #6 9/14/2024 or 9/15/2024

@Sebring in conjunction with the Suncoast Region DE. Date not Confirmed.

Event #7 10/19/2024 @Port St. Lucie County Fairgrounds.

Most of the above dates & sites are subject to change due to weather, availability and factors beyond our control.

“After 20 plus years of running the AutoX program, we are looking to retire, most likely in 2025, Dottie and I will be looking to train and mentor the next generation of AutoX with a new chair and registrar.

Please contact us if you have an interest in being trained and possibly carrying the AutoX torch in years to come. Over the next few months, I will cover some of the most pressing situations that future AutoX managers will face.”

News, reminders and 2024 updates:

• Everyone is now required to pre-register for any AutoX on Clubregistration.net… Please consult the GCR website and Kassette for all Autocross photos & results.

• Porsche classes are currently based on the PCR’s (Parade Competition Rules), with minor regional adjustments. We understand rule changes may be in the works, but we will continue to use the current AutoX rules throughout the 2024 season. The major difference will be the addition of S/N (stock car/novice driver) for men and ladies. These classes are strictly for newcomers, either Porsche or non-Porsche only. Please contact Steve for any car class questions. We reserve the right to make additional class/rule changes as needed.

• Our 2024 series is planned to be 5-7 events, depending on site eligibility. To be eligible for an end-of-the-year award, competitors must run in over half the events in the same class. Each competitor’s top finishes will be calculated, and an end-ofthe-year class champion will be recognized. In the case of a tie, additional events will be added until the tie is broken. Year-end class champion awards may be presented.

• No passengers except for an approved AutoX instructor may be in the vehicle.

• Questions? call Steve 954-292-3915 or Dottie Kidd 954-562-5919

WERKS REUNION

THE AMELIA & vs MODAMIAMI

Opportunities abound, but how to be in two places at once?

Pam and Howie Behar, Speedster and their 356 Penelope at MODAMIAMI

Article by staff writers

Porsche Werks Reunion was held on March 1st at the Amelia River Club. Werks has been held at this location for quite some time. It is a one-day show, held as a stand-alone event, but it compliments the Amelia Island Concours, now known as The Amelia. Many of the Werks attendees from around the nation also stay for the Amelia Island Concours, which include Radwood, the Concours de Lemons, Community Cars & Coffee on Saturday and the main Amelia Island Concours on Sunday of the same weekend.

Gold Coast Region has been very well represented in the past few years, with 30-40+ members attending each year and also in ribbon winning. In both the 2022 and 2023 Werks events our folks have brought home between 8 and 11 or more Blue, Red or White (1st, 2nd, 3rd) place awards. One or our members, Bruce Margulies with his 1988 911 Carrera had won back-to-back Blue Ribbons for the ’22 and ’23 Werks. It was a bit too much for PCA however, and all 2023 winners were precluded from being a regular judged entry in the 2024 Werks. They were relegated to a “Winners Circle” for past year winners.

event including Bruce, Mitch Weinberg with his Carrera RS - Minty, and Jason and Melissa Crow in their Macan, enjoyed the day.

Werks drew over 170 Porsches to the judged field and another 600700 PCars to the corral parking area. The weather, did not dampen spirits. The vehicles in attendance were quite spectacular as usual. For a quick review of Werks ’24, Vu Nguyen and Manny Alban of PCA posted a YouTube video of the WERKS 2024: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tadp9QM0WSU

As the title of this piece suggests it was also difficult to be in two places at once. For 2024 there was a new concours to attend, in our town, Miami. Its name is MODAMIAMI and it was established by the RM Sotheby’s. MODAMIAMI was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on the exact same day as The Amelia.

For those who may not know, the Amelia Island Concours was sold by the founder, Mr. Bill Warner, to the Hagerty Insurance group. Without going into details, RM Sotheby’s left The Amelia and created MODAMIAMI as a competitor to the longstanding Amelia Island Concours. With the appearance of two gentlemen ready to enter the squared circle boxing ring, the competing concours events were held the same day this year, March 3, 2024. Having Werks and The Amelia in North Florida, an easy five-hour drive north versus being able to sleep at home with the new concours in Miami, we suspect that many folks choose to stay south.

Speedster (the Goldendoodle) placed their award winning 356, Penelope, in the show. Also in attendance were Jennifer Torres, Bjorn Marek, Alvaro Rodriguez, Suneal Nandigam and the well-recognized, non-Gold Coast member Magnus Walker. Pam Behar summed up the MODAMIAMI show, “so many cars so little time.” A comment that most assuredly applied to Werks and The Amelia as well.

What happens for 2025 is anyone’s guess. Will Werks/Amelia and MODAMIAMI be held on the same date again? Will Werks be the draw to encourage Porsche peeps to drive to North Florida, or will the South Florida members stay home and attend MODAMIAMI? Folks say that competition is great, but we still haven’t figured out how to be in two places at once. Maybe cloning becomes a thing, and we can be like Michael Keaton in the movie MULTIPLICITY. Time will tell.

The change in these rules did not dampen the enthusiasm, although the weather might have. Rain fell on Friday March 1st, so the cars and attendees got a bit wet. Still, those attending the

Just seeing GCR member Facebook posts, we know that several of our friends stayed south and participated at the MODAMIAMI at the Biltmore. Of note, Pam and Howie Behar and

Bruce Margulies “Winner Circle Ribbon”

Magnus Walker had some advice for Speedster, Pam and Howie

1988 Carrera and Minty Carrera RS go to WERKS!

HISTORY OF SEBRING RACE TRACK

AND HENDRICKS FIELD

Story by Mike Tarter,

Photos by Colour Tech South Reprinted from the January 2019 Kassette

In 1999, the Sebring pits, tower and viewing suites that we utilize were under construction. The Sebring Club Race that year was held in the Green Park area within turns 4 through 12. While walking around between sessions, I noticed a drainage manhole cover. Cast into the rusty steel was some identification writing: “McLean Iron Works - Palatka Florida 1941”. What?! Wow, that’s old. I marveled

over this old steel, and then realized I was looking at a part of the original airfield which was built during World War II. I’ve been driving at Sebring track events since 1983, and I sort of knew the racetrack had originally been configured on an airfield, but I hadn’t really thought about the history of the track. I later looked at aerial photos and recognized that some that we enjoy today are remains of that airfield. I was intrigued; I got right down to reading about the Sebring history.

It goes back to 1940. War had been raging in China and in Europe for several years. It was likely the U.S. would be at least an indirect participant. We were already supplying equipment to our allies via the Lend-Lease program. Sebring city leaders foresaw that the U.S. would need training bases. They proactively bought 9,200 acres of

sandy, palmetto-covered, marshy Florida prairie land about seven miles southeast of the city of Sebring. This larger than immediately necessary area was then offered to the U.S. War Department, with a 99-year lease at $1.00 per year.

After inspections and considerations for power, water, weather, rail service

1st LT. Laird W. Hendricks, USAAC

1941 McLean Iorn Works Manhole Cover

and road access, on June 13, 1941 the War Department announced that this site was to become a Basic Flying School. By the end of 1941 there were 2000-3000 workers building around the clock. They built a complete town, from the ground up. It started with drainage, access roads, rail spurs, electric power, water and sewage systems, telephone and telegraph lines, more roads, then 150-foot-wide runways, and buildings. Everything – barracks, repair and training shops, mess halls, offices, warehouses, a fire station, huge aircraft

hangers, a control tower, hospital, a chapel, PXs, Post Office, recreation halls, motor pool, a water tower, fuel and ammunition depots, and a swimming pool or two. Plus, paved roads, widening the runways to 300 feet and adding taxiways and aircraft dispersal points around the perimeter of the runways.

In July 1941, before the U.S. was officially at war, we sold 20 B-17C bombers to Great Britain. A contingent of U.S. Army B-17 pilots volunteered to help train the Royal Air Force pilots. Among them was a West Point graduate, 1st Lieutenant Laird Woodruff Hendricks, who had grown up here in Florida. He arrived in Great Britain on July 25. Three days later, Laird and a crew of six British airmen were to conduct a high-altitude test. The flight took off from RAF Polebrook and crashed less than 30 minutes later. Laird was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

On January 14, 1942, the airfield was named Hendricks Field in memory of Laird Hendricks.

By March, the base was training complete combat crews; pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, aerial engineer and four air gunners.

Hendricks Field was one of numerous training airfields in Florida. Near Fort Myers, Buckingham Field was dedicated to training aircraft gunnery crews. The Boca Raton airbase trained radar bombing, mostly B-24 bombers. The airfield near Orlando was a fighter training base (now it is Orlando Executive). Another field was at Immokalee. As an aside, over the years, I have auto crossed at each one of these. The Avon Park Bombing range, about 30 miles away, was constructed in 1942 and is still in use.

By mid-1942, this was now a small city but a major airfield, with four 5,000 foot long by 300 feet wide concrete runways and huge parking ramps. A note here - I’ve heard that because steel was in critical demand during the war, much of the airfield concrete was poured without reinforcing bars. It’s amazing that it has held up this well so long.

Late in 1942, the base mission was changed again. It became a specialized training school for fourengine pilots. Thousands of single and twin-engine pilots were transferred here to transition to four engine aircraft, including B-17, B-24 and B-29s. During the war, Hendricks Field trained over 10,000 aircrew. At peak, there were over 120 B-17 bombers based here and more than 1.2 million takeoffs and landings.

Hendricks had one of the best safety records, but there were casualties. There were eight B-17 crashes, with 45 men killed. Most of the B-17 aircrews went to Europe. The loss rate for the 8th Air Force in Europe was about 2030%; thus, it’s probable that thousands of these men (women did not serve in combat aircrew in WWII) perished.

As noted, this was a major training airfield, for ground crew as well; navigation, meteorology, radio and aerial engineering. Take a look at

Hendricks Airfield

Bomber Munitions

aerial photo of the base. In the photo to the right, compare the ratio of the 5000-foot-long runways to the width. It was a small complete city. There were over a hundred marriages performed and numerous babies born in the base hospital. The base had a newspaper and published a yearbook documenting achievement.

After Germany surrendered in May 1945, and Japan in August, the airfield was already winding down. The thousands of service men and women stationed at the base were understandably eager to return to their homes and lives. The base was officially closed as an Army Air Field on December 31, 1945, and turned over to the City of Sebring on May 1, 1946.

By the way, remember that nationwide housing shortage? There was some scuffling over those unused fairly new buildings all over the airfield. I found a few references to buildings “vanishing” after the war.

By 1950, the airfield was largely abandoned and getting derelict. An aeronautical engineer, Alec Ulmann, saw the long runways and paved roads as an opportunity for a road race. He organized the Sam Collier 6-Hour Memorial Race, held on December 31, 1950. This is reported as the first sports car endurance race in the U.S. It utilized two of the runways, much of the parking ramps and some of the base paved roads. In 1952, he organized the first 12-Hours of Sebring race, on March 15, 1952. See the course diagram above, compare it to the base photo (top) from 1944.

There is a great photo of the start at the 1966 12 Hour race (next page). That nice wide staging area, with the pits to the left and track to the right – that was a small part of the bomber parking ramp.

The track configuration changed several times over the years, in order to not have the race shut down air traffic (see the photo on the right).

The present track, the 12-Hour course that we drive, uses some original concrete of Hendricks Field. The long back straight from turn 16 to 17 – that is part of what was a runway. When I first drove here in 1983, the weeds growing up in the concrete expansion cracks had to be mowed down because the track was so disused back then, before DE’s.

From Turn 17 along the front straight past Turn 1, was parking ramp for B-17s. As we head towards Turn 1, the concrete goes way to the left, to the infield, and to our right over to the pit structures. That is mostly all original 1941-42 concrete.

This track that we blast around has seen some amazing events and history. Two of the original four runways and a hangar are still used, albeit improved. By the way, I can heartily recommend the restaurant in the new terminal building. There is a memorial to Laird Hendricks in that building.

Now, each time I go to the Sebring track, I somberly recall some of that

the

48 Hour race start Saturday 2017

48 Hour race start Saturday 2017

Sebring Track

history. One other thing astonishes me still; that manhole cover has been there since 1941, continuously exposed to Florida weather. It has surface rust, yet the casting is still readable. What absolutely amazing cast iron or steel.

I wish my 1968 911 (my first Porsche) had been made with such corrosion resistant good steel.

So…how did we come to race here?

In May 1984, Gold Coast Region held its first DE event at the now extinct Moroso racetrack near North Palm Beach. By 1993, Gold Coast and Suncoast PCA regions had active DE programs, and had been doing some of these at Sebring.

I was at the proposal meeting for the first Club Race here.

As with our first proposed DE, several people said, “Are you kidding? Are you crazy? This will be a disaster.” The first year (1994) or two of the races were, ahem, “austere,” but successful. It has grown ever since.

Track Map with original Turn 7

Start of the Sebring 12 Hours race

Ariel view of Sebring International Raceway and Hendricks Airfield

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PHOTO FINISH

When The Storm Passes

Roddy Gonzalez and his cousin, Jose Monzon, were attending the Kickoff Preview Party at the 2024 DRT this past January and took this photo at the top of the Sunset Place parking lot in South Miami. Roddy has the 2002 996 (left) next to Jose’s 2012 991 convertible.

Both cars are recent acquisitions for the cousins. Roddy picked up his 996 about 10 months ago and Jose purchased his last November. “We are both loving the Porsche ownership experience,” says Roddy, about he and his cousin. “We are both lifelong fans of the Porsche brand and are thrilled to be part of the community.”

The overcast sky and rainstorm created a mystique backdrop for these two stunning Porsches.

Roddy took this photo with an iPhone 15.

Have a cool picture of your Porsche? Then submit it with a description and short story to gcr.photofinish@gmail.com

Christy Spangler, Photo Editor