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DIE PORSCHE KASSETTE is the official publication of the Porsche Club of America, Gold Coast Region, Inc. and is published monthly. Any statement appearing in the Kassette is that of the author and does not constitute an opinion of the Porsche Club of America, the Gold Coast Region, Inc., its Board of Directors, the KASSETTE editors or its staff. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. Permission is given to chartered regions of PCA to reprint articles in their newsletter if credit is given to the author and the KASSETTE. Publication office: 648 NW 100 Lane, Coral Springs, FL 33071

On the Cover: Christy Spangler’s 2000 Porsche 996 at the entrance of the Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Ga. Notice the flag reflection on her car.

Photo by Christy Spangler

FIRST TURN

Peter Olliviere , President

Over the last few months, the Board has been engaged to revive our Drivers Education Program and to revitalize our Concours programs. I am pleased to announce that we have scheduled a Driver’s Education session at the Homestead Raceway in Miami on September 16, 2023.

This is the first DE that we have been able to put together in two years. There were two primary reasons we could not get the program going: the first being COVID and the general shutdown that it caused and the

second was Volunteers that were needed to run the event. A Drivers education on-track session requires that each participant or student be paired with an experienced instructor. Unfortunately, since we had no program, we lost contact with our stock of instructors. We are now putting out an appeal to our region membership that if you are or have been a PCA Drivers Education Instructor please contact me at polliviere@gmail.com. Those that can function as instructors will be awarded a golf shirt and free track time.

The next item is our summer Concours event. We are committed to having a full concours, on or close to Veterans Day in November . This event will be judged with the entries divided by class. We will require the assistance of several volunteer judges to help in judging, and ground managers to park cars by class. The important thing is that the event is held, and our membership has a venue that allows them to show their cars in the best setting possible.

SHIFT INTO SOCIAL

Article by Christy Spangler, Social

Happy Independence Day!!

Schools are out and summer vacations are underway. The South Florida summer weather continues heating up, so grab some water to stay hydrated and the sunscreen to protect your skin. Will you be traveling in your Porsche on vacation this summer? If so, send a vacation picture to socialchair@goldcoastregion.org with some information on your Porsche and where you are.

In the rearview mirror:

May started off with the F1 Watch Party on the 7th followed by the fun and informative Evolution of Porsches on May 20th. Both events were at Hagerty Garage + Social in Deerfield Beach. Thank you to Steve and Dottie Kidd for organizing these two events. Unfortunately, the Popcorn, Porsches and Classics movie on May 26th was cancelled. We will try to reschedule it for the fall. Thank you to Chris Mckie and Ian Gerada for working on this event.

In June, we started our Second Sunday Porsches & Pancakes at Sergio’s in Pembroke Pines hosted by Mario Gonzalez. Other than our lively monthly socials, June was a quiet month for activities.

As we pass through July:

July 15 - Join your fellow GCR members for a private screening of “Mission Impossible” at Cinemark Paradise in Davie. No worries if it is hot or raining, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a summer blockbuster with friends at the theater.

July 29 - PCA Juniors Judging Workshop at Hagerty Garage + Social in Miami. The Juniors will have an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of how to properly judge amazing cars. Perhaps we have a future PCA concours judge in our midst.

On the horizon:

August 26-27 - Escape 2023 at Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa. That’s right - the Escape is back and in a new location.

September 30 - Swap Meet and Tech Session at TR3 in Davie

The Social Committee is continuing to work on events, so stay tuned for updates and announcements about these events via the “enews” emails. You can also check the calendar on the GCR website at goldcoastregion. org/calendar, or the Gold Coast Region Facebook page events section; or go to clubregistration.net for events and updates.

PCA and GCR are fueled by volunteers: we could not do all the things we do without our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering or have an idea for something fun, please contact members of the Social Committee at socials@goldcoastregion.org. See you soon at an upcoming event!

A great turn out for the first Second Sunday Porsches & Pancakes at Sergio’s in Pembroke Pines. Thank you to Mario and Lissette Gonzalez for hosting.

Photos by Gonzalo Reinosa

Roger Fabel, Editor

We begin this issue with a great event. At the Evolution of Porsches event, which was held at Hagerty Garage + Social in Delray Beach on DATE, we celebrated both our 60-year history and different periods of Porsche models that were produced during those years. Our coverage of this event includes three upcoming articles to provide you with the stories behind the cars and info on their past. Enjoy this trip through Porsche’s history and the passion of each owner of these exceptional cars.

Our last Spring Fling was a long time ago. That›s why our social chair, Christy Spangler, and her team thought it was time to get out the picnic tablecloths and have a party. The team worked around the unpredictable Florida weather. Even with wet skies,

you can see from the photos that everyone had a great time. This included all the beautiful Porsches, who loved to get out and show off their beauty.

It has been a while since we published a crossword puzzle, which led Dottie Kidd to create a fun word game to challenge your skills. We have asked each of our GCR chairs to create a puzzle based on their area of expertise. We hope to present a different one every few months.

Please welcome our two new proofreaders, Lisa and Monica. The Kassette requires many different skill sets, and we are always looking for members that would like to share their talent and time. We are also looking for members with graphics

layout skills. Please get in touch with me if you would like to help with our publication.

On page 26, we have fantastic news that you don’t want to miss! Driver’s Education is back! Many of our members have been attending and improving their driving skills at our autocross events. It has been years since we’ve been able to offer the next step forward - Driver’s Education. That changes on September 16th in Homestead! Sign up early, and don’t miss your chance to get back on track. GCR is looking for beginners, experienced DE students, and DE instructors. Make us GOLD again and come to the racetrack. Your Porsche will thank you for a chance to get out and enjoy some track time.

See you at Homestead,

START YOUR ENGINES

Are You an Air-Cooled 911 Enthusiast or a Water-Cooled Junkie?

Ian Gerada , Membership Chair

As a self-proclaimed 911 zealot, I often find myself musing over the fervor that fellow Gold Coast Region members hold for their cars. You don’t have to look far to encounter debates over, “which Porsche members prefer,” and of course, the recurring discussion about the superiority of air-cooled versus water-cooled 911s.

Air-cooled 911s, produced from 1963 to 1997, captivate with their classic appeal. Their unique engine sound and raw driving experience are unparalleled. These models are straightforward and mechanically elegant, yet they lack the power and efficiency of modern engines. Moreover, they may require more maintenance, and sourcing replacement parts, can prove challenging.

In contrast, water-cooled 911s, introduced in 1998, symbolize Porsche’s transition into modernity. They offer improved power, reliability, and efficiency. Enhanced

temperature control, reduces the risk of overheating, and they are more suited for daily use. However, they can be costly to repair, and some purists argue that these models have lost some of the rawness of their predecessors.

In my opinion, choosing a favorite depends on the context. For a classic, raw driving experience, an air-cooled 911 takes the win. For daily usability and comfort, a water-cooled 911 stands out. Regardless of the cooling method, the Porsche 911 remains a timeless icon, continuing to epitomize the essence of a sports car. The ongoing debate between air and water cooling, serves to highlight the diversity and richness of the 911’s heritage.

New Member Numbers

As of June 6, 2023, our Gold Coast community proudly maintains a strong membership of 3,234. This includes 2,142 primary members, 1092 comembers, and 328 eager PCA Juniors.

For those who have recently joined us, we extend our sincere welcome to you. Your addition to our community brings us great joy, and we look forward to the wonderful experiences we will share as a collective.

Stay Updated via Social Media

We invite all members to participate in our dedicated Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ gcrgroup. Here, you can stay current with the latest happenings and discussions within our community. Our Facebook group, with an impressive tally of 536 members, is a resourceful platform for all matters related to Porsche, the Gold Coast Region, and the array of events and activities that we host. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned Porsche enthusiast or just starting your journey, our Facebook group is an excellent way to engage with fellow members and stay informed about all of the exciting developments within our club.

Drive safe,

NEW & TRANSFERRING MEMBERS

EVOLUTION OF PORSCHE

A 60TH ANNIVERSARY PREMIER EVENT

By Steve Kidd, GCR Historian

Many of you know me as the past president of the Gold Coast Region (GCR) of the Porsche Club of America. You might not know that I am also the GCR Club Historian. As GCR celebrates sixty years in 2023, as Club Historian, I felt it necessary to do an event representing some of the major evolutionary changes in our cars over the past 60 years. The social team Initially considered holding a three-event activity. We thought of having each event separate and spreading them over the year at various locations. While we all loved this idea, practicality kicked in.

We revised our initial plans and decided to hold one major event at one premier location. As Hagerty has always been an avid supporter of the PCA Gold Coast Region, it seemed natural that we chose Hagerty Garage & Social in Delray Beach as the premier location. Fortunately, we secured the date and location and partnered with the incredible staff at Hagerty. They not only provided the facility but so much more.

In addition to Hagerty as our event host, we secured three additional sponsors who assisted and presented their products and services to our members. Our fantastic sponsors for Evolution of Porsches were:

• Hagerty Garage & Social, Delray Beach location – https://www.garageandsocial.com/

• KMW Motorsports – https://www.KMWmotorsport.com

• Dr. Color Chip – https://drcolorchip.com/

• Prekom USA Inc. – https://www.prekom-usa.com/

Many members may not realize how much time and effort goes into some of our great GCR events. For the Evolution of Porsches, planning began in November 2022 and continued until the day our event was live – Saturday, May 20, 2023. We ultimately had twelve cars, divided into three distinct time periods, along with moderators and car owners offering a series of presentations. Divided into time periods of approximately 20 years each, the groups explained how Porsches evolved over the sixty years of GCR’s existence.

First, a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved in creating and running this amazing event. From the planners to the moderators to the car owners to the sponsors and to all who volunteered in any capacity, we know it would not have been such a great event without each and every one of you.

In future issues of the Kazzette, we will share additional articles related to the Evolution of Porches. We will feature one group in each of the following three editions of the Kassette. August will feature Group 1, September will feature Group 2, and we’ll wrap up the write-ups and photos in October with Group 3. Here is an overview of which cars were in each of these groups, with all of these produced between 1963 and 2023:

GROUP 1

Moderated by Fred Kohly, who presented the following Porsches: Carlos Singer and his 1963 356

Joe Solomito and his 1967 912

Dan Simonson and his 1970 914-6

Jeff Lewis and his 1988 911 slant-nose

GROUP 2

Moderated by Steve Kidd, who presented the following Porsches: Joe Rodi and his 1997 993 (the last of the air-cooled Porsches)

Dottie Kidd and her 1991 944 S2

Lee Wood and his 2003 Boxster

Mark Kuehl and his 2004 40th Anniversary 911

GROUP 3

Moderated by Kevin Wheeler and Luis Milone (KMW Motorsports), who presented the following Porsches:

Mike Weiner and his 2012 Cayman R

Paul Laya and his 2014 Cayenne

Raul Gonzalez and his 2018 Panamera

Dony Medina and his 2023 911 GT3

We also wish extend an additional thank you to the owners and moderators who volunteered their time and expertise. In addition to sharing their history and love of these Porsche’s, there were various pre-event activities that they partook in. These pre-event activities included five visits to Hagerty, as we needed to ensure every detail was worked out. There were also early morning-day-of tasks, including staging display cars, setting up breakfast, organizing door prizes, and finalizing the processes for checking registrations and check-in details, such as filling in paperwork, promoting PCA Juniors, and handing out name badges.

When the doors finally opened at 8:00 am, Dottie and her team of front-end volunteers were ready to go. I was equally busy on the “back end” with my group of volunteers who helped with front gate greeting, parking, vehicle logistics, sponsor placement, and assistance with the tech quiz. The event was structured with introductions and announcements at the very beginning, followed by all guests separating into one of the three groups they were assigned at check-in. Using a preset schedule, each group rotated between each of the three stations where the cars were situated. Additionally, Hagerty helped arrange breakfast pastries, fruits, coffee and other beverages, and other goodies for participants to snack on throughout the day.

Each session started at the top of the hour and lasted about 40 minutes. After each session, there was a break for snacks, questions and answers, visiting the sponsor tables, socializing, and whatever other business a guest needed to take care of. As mentioned previously, there will be more detailed write-ups and pictures about each of the sessions in future issues.

This event could not have been possible without a huge number of volunteers that helped with every aspect of the event. Once again, I must extend a huge thanks to our volunteers, sponsors, presenters, moderators, and our hosts. The Hagerty Delray site staff, were at the event to answer any questions about Hagerty and to assist in any way they could. Anton and Gabriel from Hagerty provided facility tours. During these tours, members were shown some incredible cars stored at their facility, including the 1958/1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder.

Toward the end of the event, participants and volunteers could answer a tech quiz. In this quiz were questions based on the twelve Porsches that were displayed. We had two tech quiz winners. There was Terry Cohen, who came in first and selected a pair of 60th Anniversary wine glasses as his prize. Second place went to Joe Rodi, who was awarded a painting done by Victor Peppi, CEO of Robohood Robotic Painting. Look for a copy of the tech quiz in future Kassette issues.

In addition to our tech quiz, we had over twenty phenomenal door prizes. Thanks to the individuals and organizations that donated these prizes, including but not limited to:

• Willie Ho – GCR member

• Staff from 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race

• Dr. ColorChip – https://drcolorchip.com/

• David Schnorr Art Studio – https://www.schnorrart .com/

Dottie and I also were able to contribute some of the prizes. All prizes were well received. It helped that folks were given two tickets per person to indicate their interest in a prize. This method ensured they ended up with an item they were hoping to win rather than wind up with something they didn’t want or couldn’t use.

As the event concluded, everybody enjoyed a delicious cake and a grand farewell to a spectacular day. I almost forgot to mention that everyone that signed up early received a limited edition, event-specific Evolution of Porsche T-shirt. When you are at some of our other great GCR events, look for these light-blue shirts that display, among other things, GCR’s 60thanniversary logo.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GCR!!!!! Until our next event, Steve & Dottie

Jeff Lewis talks about his 1988 911 slant-nose

Gold Coast Region

60th Anniversary Celebration

GCR SPRING FLING

Cynthia Fluhart, GCR Social Team

The much-anticipated Sunday, April 30th Spring Fling was another fun and successful event that will be remembered. When planning events in South Florida, weather is always a concern, that was true for the Fling. Generally, April to Mid-May is a dry period filled with fabulous temperatures, but not so much this year. Early in the week, while watching the forecast, there was a strong cool front approaching. It could make for a wet and low attended event. We made the determination to move the event from an 11 am to 3 pm start. We called and emailed everyone due to the pending bad weather. Thankfully, we were accurate in our timing, and successful with the contact efforts.

The morning had strong winds, heavy rain and frequent lightning. By 3 pm, the weather was cool and clear. Unfortunately, due to the change in time, a few members could not attend. But we also had additional members that could attend. Ultimately, we had a terrific turnout with over 142 members.

We want to thank everyone who attended and brought a dish or beverage. We had so many delicious appetizers, fruits, salads and desserts. Several members helped grill the hot dogs and burgers.

There were over 50 Porsches that were beautifully displayed. Our 2023 Spring Fling People’s Choice Concours winners were: 1st Place Daniel Simonson, 2nd Place Mitch Weinberg and 3rd Place Paul Raben.

We also want to thank everyone who volunteered and helped make the event a success: Christy Spangler, Noemi & Nestor Sanchez, Steve & Dottie Kidd, Jay Klein, Roger & Sherry Fabel and Lee Wood. A special thank you to our guest chefs: Jean-Pierre

Vuillermet, Richard & Delia Akirmaian and Ed Blair. Additional thanks go to Rick Veingrad for preparing and providing the upbeat fun music selections.

We look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Registration check in with Noemi and Sherry

Talking about 944’s

Delia & Richard Akirmaian preparing and grilling

Peter greets the GCR members

Seasoned Vet meets Young Hot Shot Noemi and Delia’s stylish rides

3rd place winner Paul Raben’s 1964 356 C

1st place winner Daniel Simonson’s 356 Coupe

2nd place winner Mitch Weinberg’s Carrera RS

Peter, Noemi, and Cynthia present to winners Dan, Mitch and Paul

So many beautiful Porsches — So little time to enjoy them all

AROUND THE

Autocross Crossword Challenge

ACROSS

2. Abbreviation for autocross

4. AX Chair for past 20+ years

7. Slippery when wet (2 words)

8. Scrub off speed

9. As it comes from the factory

11. Mandatory safety equipment

13. Area where cars stage

14. The most important thing

15. Checkered flag and photo head

17. Leaving the defined boundary (2 words)

19. category of vehicle

20. Where the rubber meets the road

21. To go between two cones

DOWN

1. Soft orange course marker

2. Stop turning in, start turning out

3. Unacceptable tire condition

4. Left/right around cones

5. Document of Porsche Club rules

6. Protective head gear

7. Worker who releases cars

10. Full course stop (2 words)

12. Penalty for hitting one cone (2 words)

16. Mid-engine convertible

18. Where you register and pay (or Club Registration) (2 words)

Puzzle by Dottie Kidd

Sawyer Reed our newest Gold Coast PCA Junior member in training

FINDING GOLD

Dan Smithyman

He’s humble, with a brick on the walkway at Sebring

For the past 15 years Dan Smithyman has professionally and quietly carried on with his duties as Co-Chairman of the 48 Hours at Sebring. During his time co-managing this exceptional Porsche Club Racing event, the 48 Hours Club Race has grown and prospered. As noted in several previous articles in Die Porsche Kassette, the 48 Hours at Sebring is considered the premier club race in the country for Porsche owners and drivers. Dan has nurtured the event, along with his co-chairmen from the Suncoast Region PCA, all to provide a superb weekend for the racers.

Dan bought his first Porsche in the early 1990s. It was a Minerva Blue 1976 911S, Turbo-Look, initially a daily driver. Dan soon began autocrossing (AX) the car and then started Driver Education (DE) with GCR and Suncoast Regions. The AX and DE eventually led to Dan modifying the 911S to a full-on

track car, no longer street legal. As Dan suggests, the ’76 911S, nicknamed “Old Blue”, was a fixture at Gold Coast Region and Suncoast Region DE events for multiple decades.

With the conversion of Old Blue to track-only status, Dan acquired a 1986 911 Carrera Targa. Following a few modifications this car was restored; more precisely, it was done in restomod style. It was beautiful. It became the driver, while Old Blue was towed to the track for the stress releasing speed fix.

Dan has been involved as Director of Tennis and Recreation by several clubs in the south Florida area. His calling provided a 40-year career tennis. Finally taking a break from the courts, Dan retired. He and his wife Betsy, his wife in a 50-year relationship (more on that later), were ready to move

towards new and different directions and horizons. It was decided that both “Old Blue,” the 911S track monster, and the ’86 Carrera Targa would be sold to friends who appreciated the value of each individual Porsche.

Dan and Betsy wanted to travel, sightseeing via the roads of America. The two Porsches were sold. The Targa was simply too small for two persons to make extended road trips.

These new destinations were to be visited in a 1975 GMC Motorhome and the explorations of the country would begin in earnest. The GMC is also a resto-mod, so the family has most all the modern conveniences of modern travel. Planning the routes and crisscrossing the states was their future and they relished the miles, venues and sights seen.

Member Feature by Mark Johnson

The ‘76 911S “Old Blue” from Daily Driver to Track Beast!

Dan (R)- Pre Flight w/Parachute

Covid slowed the effort for a bit, but with the start of 2023 the Smithymans game changed to rekindle the wanderlust.

The 48 Hours at Sebring Committee holds a “wrap up” meeting each year following the event. It is essential to examine what works, or doesn’t, and then to adjust and move forward. This wrap up meeting would be different, all the same; Dan Smithyman was stepping down from the Co-Chair position.

Dan had a major impact on the overall success of the 48 Hours. His leadership and organizational skills created a legacy such that the 48 Hours Committee presented him with a commemorative brick on the Sebring Gallery of Legends walkway! Dan is enshrined with the likes of Don Panoz, Mario Andretti, Carol Shelby, Dan Gurney, and many, many others. Dan is in very good company when it comes to being so honored.

Mr. & Mrs. Smithyman were also celebrating another personal milestone during the 48 Hours wrap-up meeting, their 50th wedding anniversary. The Smithymans celebrated this wonderful event at the generous behest of the 48 Hours Committee. We understand that there was not a dry eye in the house when their anniversary was announced and celebrated, the commemorative brick revealed, and Dan’s retirement from the 48 formally announced. It was a fitting tribute to the couple and to the efforts they made in the many years of Porsche Club Racing at Sebring and with Gold Coast Region PCA.

The 48 Hours at Sebring committee is not the only group to have honored Dan’s efforts over the years. In 2005 Gold Coast Region PCA awarded the Smithymans the treasured Family of the Year Award at the annual club

holiday party. Dan was also the recipient of the Friedman Spirit Award by Porsche Club Racing at the annual dinner and awards banquet in 2016, and it came with a spectacular trophy.

Dan and Betsy have raised three children, all grown and on their own. Daughter Tracy Duhig is married to husband John and they reside in Denver, CO. The Duhigs are a family of four with two boys (16 & 14). Tracy is an executive with Wonderful Brands (i.e., Fiji Water, Justin Wines, etc.) Son Jesse is married to wife Melissa and they live in Oakland, CA. Jesse and Melissa have a daughter, Lily, with a son to be born soon. With Jesse’s 1+ they give Dan and Betsy three grandchildren with one more to be added shortly. Jesse is an executive with Imprint Energies

Daughter Christal lives in St. Petersburg, FL. She appears to be the thrill seeker of the family. She is a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) pilot, and also flies conventional airplanes and has a commercial helicopter pilot license. She is a GCR member, drives racecars, and is a national recognized DE Instructor. We hope that Christal will provide DE instruction at an upcoming GCR event. As Dan

suggests, Christal does EPIC stuff! Dan actually used a different term, not “stuff,” but we’ll leave that to our readers’ imagination.

Using the GMC motorhome, the Smithymans expect to traverse over 3,000 miles one way for a visit to the west coast through St. Pete and Colorado for family visits. At least they are taking their hotel room with them! When in south Florida they reside in

The Smithyman Team at the 2022 48 Hours At Sebring Wrap-Up Meeting. All Smiles

Friedman Spirit Award PCA Club Racing 2016

Coral Springs, but they originally hail from Pittsburg, PA.

Dan has enjoyed many different aspects of Porsche ownership. He’s participated in multiple rallies, group drives, Porsche at the Rolex 24 Daytona, Sebring 12, and many others. Dan suggests that “without question the moving vehicle events have been central to my PCA experience.”

After starting with autocross and quickly moving to DE he became a High Performance Driver Education (HDPE) instructor in the early 2000s. He took on responsibilities of DE Registrar in 2001 and then the GCR DE Chairman position in 2003. He joined the 48 Hours at Sebring committee the same year. Then in 2009 he accepted the position as Co-Chairman of the 48.

As a Gold Coast Region PCA member since 2001, Dan has worn a few different hats. He’s been honored to serve as a member of the GCR Board of Directors, Vice President, President, and Past President. Die Porsche Kassette readers might remember a few articles written by Dan when he contributed to the newsletter.

(ED Note: We need to find an article, or a few written by D. Smithyman)

Dan has a love for air-cooled Porsches, having been initiated through Volkswagens. It must be something about the beautiful sound, or maybe he likes being pushed around; we’ll have to ask. With a motorhome taking up their time, the Smithymans are “between Porsches” but we expect that this period will not be lengthy. Dan indicated that the ’86 Targa is still owned by a very good friend. Maybe a day will come when an air-cooled Targa finds its way back into the Coral Springs driveway.

In nearly 30 years of Porsche ownership and in-depth participation, Dan Smithyman has been immersed in driving. Moving to a motorhome for travel and relaxation is still driving, but perhaps not as quick, exciting, or demanding. It is our hope that Dan and Betsy find the roads clear, dry, fair, and fun. We also hope that they find their way back into a PCar for that little extra bit of joy that the Porsche experience provides.

We at Gold Coast Region are fortunate to have Dan and Betsy Smithyman as dedicated members. They have made a big difference in the success

of our Region and especially with the 48 Hours at Sebring, a marquee event for GCR. The brick on the Gallery of Legends Walk is a rock-solid mark of their achievements.

Dan & Chrystal the Thrillseeker Dan & Betsy - 50 years of Love and Companionship

The “75 GMC - a bit more room than A 911 Targa for a tour!

“The Brick” @ The Walk

Treffen, “to meet”, is a four day touring event that takes place in different parts of the country organized by PCA and the host region. It offers members a chance to enjoy four or five star hospitality in picturesque parts of the country with scenic driving.

The 2023 Spring Treffen Georgia Mountains, hosted by the Peachstate Region, was held April 19-23 at the Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, GA. The Barnsley Resort estate was built by Godfrey Barnsley in the 1800’s and it is now comprised of an Inn and several cottages, a golf course and hiking trails. It is also where we had the welcome reception in the Bier Garden, breakfast and the evening cocktail hours and banquets. Of course, there was also a car wash set up, much needed to wash the bugs off my car when I arrived.

The Treffen offers two days with a choice of driving tours and a “Navigator’s Day Off” where you have a choice of destinations by motorcoach, self driving tours or a day to enjoy the amenities at the resort.

From the top, Several Zone 12 members met in Valdosta, GA to drive to Adairsville; Members displayed their Porsches during a Town Square themed dinner; The “ruins” at the Barnsley Innthe original building that was deestroyed by a storm in the 1800’s; a bourbon tasting sponsored by Princess Cruises. Left, the welcome dinner.

From the Porsche Experiecne in Atlanta, a private colletion at Wolf Mountain Winery to watching robots make Pirelli Tires, Spring Treffen had a lot to offer.

Article & photos by Christy Spangler

My first tour was a self-drive to the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, GA. We had a guided tour of the facility and the “Porsche Icons” exhibit that explored the recognizable silhouette of the Porsche, the spoiler, headlights and tire shapes over the years. Afterwards, we had a ride along the track with PEC drivers that did not hold back before having a wonderful buffet lunch in the 356 Restaurant.

On the second day, I chose the tour to the Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery in Dahlonega, GA. The drive through the mountains was wonderful to the winery on 1,800 ft elevation. The trees and foliage displayed beautiful shades of lush spring greenery with the ground being spotted with splashes of color from the wildflowers. The owner of the winery, Karl Boegner, is a Porsche enthusiast himself and gave us a tour of his Porsche collection, including a 356 Porsche previously owned by Olivia Newton-John. Not only does he have nine beautiful Porsches in the collection, he also has a massive collection of racing and PCA event posters and a collection of all kinds of memorabilia and trinkets. After the tour of his European village style garages, we enjoyed a buffet lunch and wine tasting.

Above: The track at Porsche Experience Center. The new West Track seen on the right) had just opened on April 1st; the “Icons of Porsche” display.

Below, the Wolf Mountain Winery

One of the options for the “Navigator’s Day Off” was a tour of the Pirelli Tire factory in Rome, GA. Being one who is interested in how things are made, I could not pass up this opportunity. This factory is high-tech with Pirelli’s patented Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) which uses robots to manufacture the tires. It was fascinating to watch these robots in action making each tire and laying the tread to certain specifications. After the factory tour, we went into Rome to an Italian restaurant for lunch and had some time to explore the shops in the town.

There were approximately 280 in attendance. This was a wonderful event where we had a chance to take some amazing drives, enjoy delicious meals and make new Porsche friends from around the country. The next Treffen, which is in the fall, will tour the Mississippi River Valley. In addition, they announced next year’s spring Treffen which will be in the California wine country. More information will become available on PCA.org in the upcoming months. Finally, the PCA | Princess cruise in December has been renamed to “Treffen at Sea”. If you enjoy nice accommodations, amazing food, great driving and meeting other members from across the country, I would recommend the Treffen experience to you.

Above, the collection at Wolf Mountain Winery. Olivia Newton-John’s black 356 Porsche is in the lower right.

Left, the Pirelli Tire Factory;. Our tour group photo with the Red Bull F1 race car, and an exemplar robot like the ones that make the tires. Sorry, no photos were allowed in the plant.

DE — TAKING IT TO THE TRACK

Article by Mark Johnson, DE Manager

The Gold Coast Region Board of Directors approved a Driver’s Education (DE) track day for September 16, 2023. It will be the first day back on track at Homestead-Miami Speedway since our last DE in October 2021.

• WE WILL NEED VOLUNTEERS! We need people at the track for various duties during registration and inspection.

• WE WILL NEED INSTRUCTORS; THEY ARE THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.

• We believe we will have more than sufficient drivers as many members have stated they want to get on the track, so many are beginners – hence the need for instructors!

Registration for the event is open at ClubRegistration.net. Please register at your earliest convenience as the event is expected to sell out quickly.

There are three key people administering the track day. They are:

1. Marcelo “MJ” – Chief Driving Instructor, mj@mc1motorsport.com @ 305-206-2060

2. Dottie Kidd – Registrar, dottiekidd@bellsouth.net @ 954-562-5919

3. Mark Johnson – DE Manager, mjsailing@hotmail.com @ 954-422-2199

Please feel free to reach out to any/all of us regarding questions you may have, or if you wish to volunteer! HEY – WE’RE GETTING BACK ON TRACK!!!!

TECHNICAL WIZARDRY

DMV DRIVER’S LICENSE

Pedro P. Bonilla, Tech Editor

Recently checking my social media accounts, I came upon a question that got me thinking about the past and brought memories of times gone by. The question was: “On which car did you pass your driver’s test?”

Let me tell you a story. It’s completely true.

I was truly excited that morning as I recall.

It was finally going to be official; I was getting my driver’s license if I passed the test. I had had my learner’s permit but now I had just turned 17, an age which allowed me to obtain my driver’s license if I passed the written and driving exams.

I knew how to drive, and the actual driving part didn’t worry me since I’d been driving with my dad for some years now, competing in AXs, Gymkhanas and even piloting his rally car with him as co-pilot in the Dominican Republic (DR) where we were living at that time.

My worry was more about the written part with all of the specific laws and regulations; you know: At what minimum distance should you follow a car on the highway? What’s the maximum speed on a two-lane highway? etc. My appointment was for 2:00 p.m. that day.

I don’t recall the exact circumstances, but I remember that when I asked my folks if one of them could drive me

to the DMV in their car so that I could take the test, something had just happened and they were all stressed out about it. After some tense silence, my Dad just said: “Take the rally car . . and be careful!” Wow, the rally car . . . to the DMV . . . for my exam! . . . Gulp!

This was a really cool and scary at the same time.The rally car that Dad and I have competed in about half a dozen times had a white exterior with red interior, a three-year-old Porsche 912 that was fully prepared as an off-road rally vehicle. A very light car, ultra competitive and with a powerful (modified) 1.6 liter engine and a 5-speed transmission, beefed up suspension, harnesses, and half a roll cage. It was also very loud since it had a straight-tuned exhaust with no mufflers.

Right after lunch, I couldn’t wait any longer and took the car out to warm it up and after a few minutes, drove off to the DMV office. It wasn’t very far, probably less than 10 miles, and I arrived quite early. I then went to the reception desk and signed myself in. The attendant told me that an instructor would be assigned to me and that I would be called when it was my turn, so I should just take a seat and wait.

It was just after 1:00 p.m. The waiting area was hot and full of people waiting to be called for their test or other DMVrelated issues.

I decided not to sit. I was too anxious and just stood by one of the windows to catch a little refreshing breeze. After just a few minutes of waiting, one of the solid-wood doors to the multiple little offices that surrounded the reception lobby burst open with a loud bang and a rather large guy, who I immediately recognize as the older brother of my close friends, the twins, shouts out: “I need help! . . Can anyone drive me to my house NOW? It’s a lifeor-death emergency!”

I instinctively raise my hand so he can see me and say: “I can drive you home, Tony.” Tony rushes over to me. I remember that his face was really red and swollen and he said to me in a raspy voice: “I was just stung by several bees, and I’m very allergic, and I don’t have my adrenalin shot with me; please take me home as fast as you can!”

Reprint from Jul 2021 Kassette

I said: “Sure, my car is right outside.” I run over, unlock it and we both jump in. Tony is looking worse by the minute. Also being allergic to bee stings and other stuff and having recently been through an anaphylactic shock myself, I know how he’s feeling and also know that time is of the essence, so I need to get him home as fast as humanly possible.

Some of you may be asking yourself: “Why did this idiot leave home without his EpiPen and why did he not call 911?”

This happened in 1969. Neither 9-1-1 nor EpiPen existed yet and we were in the DR where ambulances were a gamble—if you could find a phone that worked and a phone book to search for the number because dialing zero would get you nowhere.

Luckily, Tony and the twins didn’t live too far away. Probably about 8 km (5 miles) or so. We were also lucky that it wasn’t 2:00 p.m. yet, when traffic would pick up again.

I was driving inspired and on a sacred quest. I was sure that it had been destiny that put me there with the rally car at that precise moment when Tony needed a fast getaway car. Thinking about it now, it’s kind of blurry, trying to recall all of the details. I know there were a few red lights run, multiple STOP signs that flew by as if they were painted green and said GO, and

lane changes galore. Maybe even a couple of blocks up the wrong way just because it was shorter and would save time. I remember a street vendor throwing a tomato at me when I scared the bejesus out of him as I drifted around a corner, missing his cart by inches. The sudden loud roar of the racing engine as I appeared around the corner must have been nerve- racking for him. He must have been a baseball pitcher at some time in his youth because he hit my rear window square in the center with the splattering tomato as I sped away. The ride was over quickly—only 6 or 7 minutes since we’d left the DMV—but Tony was really struggling. I turned into his driveway honking the horn and revving the loud engine. Tony’s Mom and Dad both came out as I was helping him out of the car. They took him in right away. I hung around to see if Tony would be OK. About 10 minutes later Tony’s Mom came out and invited me in. Tony, who now was much better after taking an adrenaline shot and some other medication, had told her that I saved his life. She was in tears and couldn’t stop shaking. Tony’s Dad also came downstairs with Tony who now looked and talked fine.

After a couple of minutes of thankyou’s and hugs Tony said that we should get back. He assured us that he was fine and said he had a lot of work pending. We got back in the car and made our way back to the DMV

office at a much slower pace and taking another longer route so no one would recognize the car that had just made such a racket. I was also really concentrating on driving correctly and respecting the laws and signage as best as I could.

Sometime during our return to the DMV I mentioned to Tony that I had been at the DMV for my driver’s license tests and asked if he knew who my instructor would be and if he could help because I had probably lost my place in line. He said: “I was the instructor assigned to your test, and I seem to recall that you broke every single traffic law in the book . . . during a time when I must have been delirious, because I can see that you drive very well and you are very respectful of the laws and regulations. I am also very thankful that you were there, willing and able to help me. I’m pleased to tell you that as soon as we get back, I’ll fill out the paperwork and you’ll be an officially licensed driver”. That made me feel very happy. Tony and I saw each other occasionally after that day but we never talked about our experience again. I had practically forgotten all about it until that question on social media brought it all back.

Well, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. As I said, the story is true, I just changed the names to protect the innocent.

Tony’s real name is not Tony and the rally car was not a ’66 white Porsche 912 with red interior; it was a ’66 white Alfa Romeo Giulia TI with red interior (there had to be Porsche content in the story, sorry).

Happy Porsche’ing, Pedro

©2023 Technolab / PedrosGarage. com

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Classified Ads

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Autocross / Track Rims

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Garage Sale

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PHOTO FINISH

Unique Combo

Randy was looking for a paint to sample build, but was interested in this leather to sample option. He purchased it from the original owner who had all the documentation from 18 years of ownership. Randy enjoys driving around South Florida and is often asked about the unique color combination.

Randy took this photo on an Apple iPhone 11 Pro.

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Christy Spangler, Photo Editor

This photo was submitted by Randy Simon of his 2005 Carrera S manual. It is black with red full leather to sample interior. Randy had been searching for a 997.1 Carrera S and found this car in Texas.