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
The Gold Coast Region is extremely active in providing events and things for the membership to participate in; almost every weekend has an event attached to it. It is impossible to not find something that appeals to you as a member. Let’s look at Dine and Drives. A Dine and Drive is an event where we as a group drive to a location and enjoy lunch. The fun is in the drive and the social interaction before, during and after the drive. As an example, in the last thirty days, we have had two runs that took 100 members to Everglades City to enjoy Florida stone crab. Those events were quickly followed by the Cars and Cigars event held in Miami, and the NOBO Brewery Social. These special
events are held alongside our regular monthly events, such as the First Saturday Breakfast, the Thursday Night Social.
I could go on, but the point is clear that Gold Coast Region is very active. With all this activity, however, comes a tremendous burden on the volunteers needed to put on these events. We have several committees that are responsible for managing events, but for the most part the events are created and run by members of the Board of Directors, with volunteer help pulled from the membership when available. And so, as you attend an event and are enjoying yourself, don’t hesitate to thank your Board Members.
Without their work our many enjoyable times together would not be possible.
Last month I talked about bringing Concours back. Well, we just held our concours training class at Foreign Affairs Motorsports, which turned out to be a success. There will be additional hands-on training to be held at the Spring Fling event on April 30th at CB Smith Park. See Club Registration to sign up.
Wishing a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to all the awesome Porsche Moms in our membership. Our club is successful due to your support of the Porsche Passion! In this month of May, we also observe Memorial Day, taking time to reflect on and mourn those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our wonderful country.
In the rearview mirror:
March began with the Stone Crab Drive and Dine, Part 2 with over 100 participants. It turned out to be a great event: thank you to Ian Gerada for organizing. We closed out March with the inaugural Cars & Cigars event on a gorgeous South Florida evening in Doral. Thank you to Jose Jimenez for hosting us. April kicked off with a social at NOBO Brewing in Boynton Beach. Thank you to Mike DelPozo for making this event happen.
At the time of this writing, we are planning a tour of the Revs Institute in Naples on April 28th and the Spring Fling Picnic at CB Smith Park on the 30th.
On the horizon:
On May 7th we will once again get together for the Miami F1 Viewing Party at Hagerty Garage + Social in Delray Beach.
May 20th is the Evolution of Porsches, an event that is tied in with our 60th Anniversary celebration. It will be held at Hagerty Garage + Social in Delray Beach. Registration is open for this event.
Memorial Day weekend also kicks off the summer season, and the Social Committee will be working on events for the summer, 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!
After meeting new members and discussing their Porsche or Porsches, I always ask, “What club activities do you like best?” The most popular events are the Drive and Dines. We love to drive our cars and socialize with our fellow PCA members. GCR has been ramping up the number of social events, and the attendance of 100 plus is becoming our new benchmark. You will also notice that our social team has recently hosted get-togethers at many new locations and events to meet the needs of our members. The Gold Coast region covers Key West to Delray Beach, and our goal is to offer activities in every area. If you have an idea for a new site or event, please get in touch with our social team. We constantly seek new ideas and additional volunteers to help.
There are some changes we need help with at the Kassette. Tom Goodmann, our copy editor, will retire this summer after serving as department head at the University of Miami. Tom is a member of GCR and has been providing professional oversight of the Kassette content for several years. In addition, Kirk Giannola, our graphics artist, will be retiring and starting an art company. The concept is very cool, but this means that Kirk will be spending most of his time on his new venture. Kirk has been helping the Kassette and GCR companies with their professional graphics for over 15 years.
We will dearly miss both Tom and Kirk, but to ensure we continue providing you with the outstanding Kassette issues monthly, we are at a point
where we must fill these positions – and hopefully soon.
HELP WANTED: COPY EDITOR
The copy editor reviews each Kassette article and provides corrections and suggestions before publication. In addition, as Tom did, the copy editor might be asked to write articles for our newsletter. Even if you have never held the position of an editor before, if you are proficient in English and grammar and have a keen eye for detail, you might already have the skills of a professional copy editor.
HELP WANTED: GRAPHICS
Though Kirk will continue to be involved with the Kassette, such as creating artwork for the 48 Hours
at Sebring, there is much work for a graphic artist to do in helping produce the Kassette each month. If you are a professional, semi-professional, or even if you are still new to the graphic arts, if you are willing and able to provide your graphic skills, we can use your help.
In the past, letting our members know our needs has produced excellent results. Whether you can only provide 4 hours or 40 hours per month, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me about either of these positions or if there are other ways you can assist and be a part of the Kassette team. Thank you for being so supportive.
What are you going to do with your Porsche this summer?
Summer is the perfect time to hit the road in your Porsche and explore South Florida’s landscapes. While South Florida is not known for its fantastic winding mountainous roads, there are still quite a few enjoyable routes to take both in South Florida and in some of the beautiful areas of central Florida. There are plenty of fantastic drives to choose from, and here are some of my favorites.
Take a scenic trip down Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, where you can enjoy the beautiful Art Deco architecture and palm tree-lined streets. For a more adventurous drive, head to the Florida Keys and cruise along the Overseas Highway, which offers stunning ocean views and picturesque bridges. If you’re looking for a slightly more
challenging drive (by Florida standards of course), try the winding roads of A1A along the coast, or the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades. And let’s not forget the west coast of Florida, where a short trip across Alligator Alley will take you to beautiful beaches and ocean views. Another great drive is up US 27 to central Florida, where you can explore the charming towns and beautiful countryside of the region. Whatever route you choose, the thrill of driving a Porsche on the open road in South Florida and beyond is an experience not to be missed.
Our Porsche Club of America membership in the Gold Coast Region has reached a total of 3,254 as of April 15th, 2023. We have 2,152 primary members, 1,102 co-members, and 325 PCA Juniors.
To our new members, we extend a warm welcome to our community! We’re glad to have you join us and we’re excited for all the experiences we’ll share together as a club. Join us on Social Media
To stay up to date with the latest news and discussions within our community, we invite all members to join our Facebook group at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/gcrgroup.
Our Facebook group currently has 517 members and discussions within this group are all about Porsche, the Gold Coast Region, and information on events and happenings. Whether you’re a seasoned Porsche enthusiast or new to the community, our Facebook group is a great way to connect with other members and stay informed about all the exciting activities happening within our club. Thank you for being a part of the Porsche Club of America family!
From Carolinas
Al Glass
2018 Macan
From Suncoast
Derek Johnson 2019 911 Carrera 4
From Rockey Mountain
Edward Kropf
1969 912 Targa
From San Gabriel Valley
Miriam Oliveira
2014 Cayman
From Everglades
Article and photos submitted by the Amelia Island Werks GCR Volunteer Team
It is an annual pilgrimage for many Porsche aficionados, who travel from locations across the United States to the Werks Reunion, a premier Porsche event.
The east coast Werks Reunion is held in the spring each year in Amelia Island, Florida. Werks is managed by Porsche Club of America and hosted by the Florida Crown Region PCA. We have no firm number of Gold
Coast Region members who made the trip up the east coast to the very northeast corner of Florida; however it is suspected that it was a very large contingent. Everyone who was able to attend had an incredible time visiting with old friends, meeting new ones, and enjoying the vast collection of Porsche automobiles assembled on a few fairways of the Amelia River Club. The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, which takes place at the Ritz Carlton.
Werks in Amelia is held on a Friday—this year on March 3rd—and precedes The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, which takes place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel & Resort on the island. In total it is a tremendous three-day event that is Porsche-exclusive on Friday. The Concours d’Lemons, Radwood (both smaller but quite interesting events on another golf course fairway across from the Ritz), and the Cars & Community gathering on the Ritz golf club fairway are held on Saturday. The Amelia show follows on Sunday. Throughout the weekend there are four major auction houses holding sales: RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, Bonhams, and Broad Arrow. It is altogether a car lovers’ weekend, with renewed friendships and tons of photo opportunities.
For the Friday Porsche Werks the crowd was tremendous. It was estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees and spectators were drawn to the two fairways of the judged
show field, one fairway containing the Porsche Corral, and another couple of fairways full of general parking. In total, Florida Crown Region and PCA registered 165 Porsches for the Judged competition and another 550+ vehicles in the Corral. That is over 700 Porsche vehicles, each and every one enjoying the Florida sunshine and significant ogling garnered from the attendees. The featured class for the 2023 event was the 911 “G-body” cars from 1974 to 1989.
It takes a ton of volunteers to pull off such a large and successful event. In this respect, Gold Coast Region Social Chair, the effervescent Christy Spangler, again gave her 110% effort towards the satisfaction of participants and attendees alike. Christy sat with the Judged vehicle check-in team to provide materials to each driver, the show placard for the vehicle, and then sent the Porsche to the assigned display area. Thank you Christy; you exemplify the enjoyment of the Porsche marque!
Speaking of judged vehicles, our Gold Coast Region members were well represented when the results were shared mid-afternoon on Friday at Werks. Our GCR attendees took home eight awards: three Blue Ribbons (1st place), three Red Ribbons (2nd), and two White Ribbons (3rd) when the trophies were awarded. These winners are:
BLUE RIBBON FIRST PLACE
Jeff Burek 1967 911 P2 Class, 911/912 1965 -1968
Bruce Margulies 1988 911 Carrera P3 Class, 911/912 1974 - 1989
Kevin Brooks 1970 911 P13 Class, Sports Purpose
RED RIBBON SECOND PLACE
Chris Gleason 1976 911S Targa P3 Class, 911/912 1974 - 1989
Hank Bernbaun 1997 911 Turbo S P5 Class, 911 964/993 1990 - 1998
Mitch Weinberg 2022 GT3 Touring P14 Class, GT2, GT3, GT4
WHITE RIBBON THIRD PLACE
Mike Koller 1964 356 SC P1 Class, 356
Bjorn Marek 2019 911 T P6A Class, 991/992 2011-Present
Noteworthy was the First Place in G-Body, Bruce Margulies! Bruce took the Blue Ribbon for the same class in the 2022 Werks event and was the subject of our recent “Finding Gold” feature in the February 2023 Kassette
When Jeff Burek in his beautiful white 1967 911 was called up to receive his First-Place trophy he gave the assembled crowd a shout-out to his wife for her support and then to the Gold Coast Region. Jeff suggested:
“You guys want to come and see some nice Porsches? Come to south Florida; we have the nicest in the world.” Thanks Jeff; we wholeheartedly agree with that statement.
Our other First Place winner, Kevin Brooks, arrived at the award podium with a fan club of supporters. His Porsche was first purchased by Kevin’s father shortly before he shipped off to Viet Nam. Fortunately, Dad came home and was able
to share and pass on his love for Porsche. The 1970 911 was recently restored as Sports Purpose in its original Signal Orange color exterior and matching interior with a 2.5L short stroke twin plug. The restoration was completed by 9Auto Motion in Riviera Beach.
There is no doubt that Werks 2023 was a winner for GRC, but also for each and every attendee. The weather was perfect, and the Porsches were “perfecter”!
Affectionately known as Sweet Pea, this special 1976 911 S Targa has been in our family for over 25 years. The car recently completed a sympathetic and thoughtful 18 month restoration at the Creative Workshop in Dania Beach, FL were maintaining as many original parts as possible was the underlying goal. Re-painted in its original color of Emerald Green Metallic, this matching numbers specimen follows the original build sheet except for a few technical improvements added to ensure reliable operation in the Florida heat as well as the addition of tartan cloth seat inserts to enhance the look of the tan leather interior.
The photo shows Sweet Pea on the field at sunrise at the Werks Reunion - Amelia Island where she won 2nd Place in the G Series 911 category. Now, ready to be enjoyed, Sweet Pea will be driven regularly all around South Florida as one of my daily drivers. Naturally, it will be making appearances at local PCA and Cars and Coffee events whenever possible.
As I write this article, we are less than a week away from AX event number 5. After this event, we break for the summer during the hotter, wetter months, and resume autocrossing in September. We are hoping to do at least 7 AX events this year, and pray that weather will cooperate. To recap event # 4, let’s just say we had a great time at our new site, St Lucie Fairgrounds. The drive to the fairgrounds is about 30 to 60 minutes closer than Sebring, depending where you live. The fairgrounds are easy to get to, and remote enough that we don’t get the onlookers and non-participants that we have at some sites. Designing a course at a new site can present challenges; however, we were lucky to have another AX club that recently held the Florida State AX championship at this site. I was able to take the course design used at their event and tweak it to provide additional variety and safety. Most run times were between 35 and 45 seconds, with very few off-courses. Of course, this event (and all our autocrosses) would not be possible but for the volunteers that help wherever needed. Timing ran flawlessly thanks to Steve, Carolynn, Julie & James. Dottie handled scheduling assignments to make sure everyone got dry runs, and as it turned out, rain was never an issue.
Everyone should already know that the results are available on the GCR website. However, as a sneak preview, I’ll share that the fastest time of day went to Trent K., driving a well-sorted Carrera GTS on street tires. Most GCR AX events allow not only Porsches, but other makes and models as well. When you look at the times and pictures, you’ll see cars from the following manufacturers: Toyota, Mazda, VW, Nissan, Audi, BMW, Subaru, Hyundai, and Chevy! Also, vehicle age and horsepower are not a consideration when looking at the “fun factor.” For example, the oldest car (Christy’s 1985 944) and the newest vehicle (Jean-Pierre’s 2022 GT3) are very different, but both provide the same big smile after the owner puts down a good run. For those who are wondering, the Porsche family of SUVs, primarily the Cayenne and Macan, handle remarkably well on an autocross course, and I urge every owner of these Porsches to see for yourself how well your Porsche SUV handles. The oldest car to participate, the 1985 944, is part of a generation of Porsches that were very popular AutoX vehicles 30 and more years ago. Today the most popular AutoX Porsches seem to be the Boxster/Cayman series, which represented a big percentage of the Porsches participating at the St. Lucie AutoX.
On a final note, I wish to again thank all the volunteers that help us during and after the event. While Dottie and I take care of most of the pre-event responsibilities, everyone who participates must work shifts, including but not limited to working the course (safety, cone pick-up and radio call ins), grid, staging, timing and miscellaneous duties. Some folks step up to do anything extra to get the job done, from start to finish. These folks know who they are, and again a huge “Thank you!” for your perpetual help. Know that it has not gone unnoticed.
I need to repeat an important message. To continue offering a world class AX program, we would like to add at least one more local AX site. This could be a BIG parking lot, airstrip or similar piece of pavement in the Tri-County area to hold our AutoX events. In the past we have used shopping center lots, sporting and gaming venues, and school/government parking facilities, which have no parking bumpers and are reasonably priced. What we need is an “in”—someone who has a connection to a suitable property and can help us get our foot in the door. Do you know of such a site? Are you the person with the “in”? Please call me at 954- 292-3915 if you can help finding a new AX site. Again, it not just knowing about a possible piece of real estate; it’s about having a contact to make things happen.
Next month be on the lookout for an AX crossword puzzle and our mid-season points standings.
Tentative AX schedule for the remainder of 2023
Event #6 September 9th @ Sebring in conjunction with the Suncoast Region DE. Thanks again to our friends at Suncoast. Event #7 October 21 @ St Lucie Fairgrounds.
Most of the above dates & sites are subject to change due to weather, availability, and factors beyond our control.
2023 updates:
• Everyone is now required to pre-register & pre-pay for any AutoX on Clubregistration.net. Please consult the GCR website and Kassette for all Autocross photos & results.
• A new helmet rental program is now available. We will be utilizing new/newer Snell-approved helmets available for a $20.00 per person charge per event. Helmet reservation/payment will be available as an event option when registering. Please bring a helmet sock, and be prepared to leave your driver’s license as a deposit. Your license will be returned when you return the helmet.
• No passengers except for an approved AX instructor driving or in the car, instructing.
• For 2023 please remember to be Covid-19 conscious. This means appropriate safety protocols will be enforced.
• As 2023 is GCR’s 60th anniversary, we are planning a special award for class winners who complete at least 4 of the 7 AX events and accumulate a higher point score than their competition.
• General Questions? call Steve or Dottie Kidd 954-946-3196....AX rule questions call Steve 954 292-3915
On Saturday, April 1st – no fools in sight – Gold Coast folks traveled to the northern end of our great Region to celebrate the arrival of April and drink refreshing local brews. It was the second installment of a GCR visit to a local brewery, as hosted and arranged by Mike Del Pozo, PCA Board Member. Mike has a knack for finding great places to meet, especially to consume a beer with Porsche Pals. We understand that a similar brew pub visit might be in the making on a quarterly basis as they are that much fun.
The location this time was NOBO BREWING COMPANY in Boynton Beach. It is an out-of-the-way brewpub in a nondescript warehouse district a couple short miles off of I-95 and Gateway Boulevard. Certainly, the legendary Porsche friendships were on full display, as were the PCars, but perhaps the big draw (besides the cold suds) was the great giveaway pint beer glass with the GCR PCA 60th Anniversary Logo. You needed to arrive early, of course, as we had way more attendees than pints to share, but that is a good problem to have. There were over 120 GCR members who joined for the afternoon of light consumption and great conversations. Cars were not counted – they simply stood by, looking spectacular, waiting for the drive home.
As mentioned, this was the second brewpub visit. The first was last fall at the Black Flamingo Brewing in Pompano Beach. At both events, parking was a pleasure! The respective warehouse locals allowed members to line up their PCars and celebrate all things Porsche while chatting with pals. The food available at the NOBO event was good. Third’s Bar-B-Que food truck was present for those who wanted something to nosh while enjoying the liquid consumable.
In the end, the attendees enjoyed a super afternoon of “it’s the people,” some great beer, and many laughs. GCR members started breaking off at about 3:30 to 4:00 pm to get home to watch the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) basketball team in their Final Four match against San Diego State. There were many members wearing FAU “livery.”
Mike DP was suitably dressed in a “dad hat1” Del Poso’s daughter and son both attend FAU and, therefore, he had a serious vested interest in the FAU Blue & Red. GO OWLS!
It was a great afternoon, and we all should expect another around the May or June timeframe. The brewery will be at a new and different location, of course, but the essential Porsche play will be on full display.
IRL (in real life), Dr. Vivek Patel is a Radiation Oncologist. He spends most of his professional life working with the most advanced therapeutic radiotherapy devices. Using the likes of linear accelerators and radioactive sources, Vivek will target abnormal tissue to remove it before becomes more dangerous to the individual. His expertise in the use of these diagnostic tools is essential to the many patients he treats. These incredible machines allow him to precisely target and eradicate a tumor in one’s body while at the same time preserving normal tissue in proximity to the malignant growth.
It is treatment of a cancerous tissue that is minimally invasive. It may be described most basically as “targeted therapy”. It sounds straightforward, yet many of his contemporaries find it difficult to describe what Vivek does. Dr. Patel pursues the goals of curing one’s cancer, minimizing side effects, and providing a faster and healthier recovery. Vivek Patel applies his unique and highly specialized skill at the Bienes Cancer Center, Holy Cross Medical Group, Radiation Oncology, in Ft. Lauderdale.
Vivek and his spouse, Dr. Shailee Patel, are high-school sweethearts.
Member Feature by Mark JohnsonThey both attended the University of Miami for their undergraduate degrees, medical school, as well as residency training. Shailee is a boardcertified dermatologist. Together they are a highly educated family, and it is suspected that the nature of their chosen careers would create a great amount of anxiety and stress. But then there are cars, Porsche specifically, which help each of them relax. It could be enjoying a great drive together or savoring a moment with the substantial Porsche community of south Florida as in attending a Beat Culture event.
Porsche passion has visited the Patel home. At present there are four Porsche vehicles in the driveway and/ or garage. They are a 1993 964 RS America, a 2013 Boxster S, a 2016 GT3RS, and a 2018 Cayman GTS. Vivek loves to drive, fast of course, as most of us do. Rather than tear up city streets or highways (he is a highly responsible Doctor after all), he can be found driving with pace at Homestead Miami Speedway with Chin Track Days, Homestead Driving Club, or other high performance driving experience. Most often at the track it will be the GT3RS or the Cayman GTS that receives the call to perform. Whichever weapon is selected for the day, it will be driven quickly and with great precision that is commensurate with the attitude of an extensively trained radiation oncologist.
Vivek’s Instagram handle is @ the_radonculous which wordplays on his demeanor and his career. He has posted quite a few photographs at the site, a few of which are included in this story. The “insta” is a great site for following Vivek and it provides a great look at the vehicles he drives. His first
introduction to Porsche passion is the ’93 RS America. What a back story it offers.
As told by Vivek, “the first Porsche I ever rode in was our RS America. The car belonged to a family friend who used to bring the car over in the late 90s and early 2000s. I enjoyed every opportunity to ride in the car and would even stare at and analyze every detail of the 964 as it sat in our driveway. This specific car was my inspiration to set a goal to own a Porsche. Fast forward to over a
decade. Unfortunately, our family friend passed away, and naturally, we lost touch with the RS America. In 2016, we found out this specific RS America was being offered at an estate auction. Many local shops and dealerships knew that this low production, low mileage car was up for sale, so I figured my chances of winning the auction were low. We placed a silent bid and fortunately were able to bring the car along with the fond memories home. Furthermore, our RSA has been rewarding as a mechanically inclined
close friend and I were able to roll up our sleeves to initially revive and start restoring the car. Fortunately, the car was well taken care of prior to its unexpected slumber. Our RS America is our ‘forever car’”.
Yet, that is not the end of the story of this RSA….
Continuing, Vivek adds “We like to personalize our cars. Since we figured we will always keep our RS America we have turned it into the ‘RS India’ as a tribute to our heritage. The car now wears the Indian flag livery with green and orange matching wheels, stripes, and door pulls. We also added an Indian license plate to the front, and OEM style ‘RS India’ decals to the rear on a standard C2 decklid. I personally love the standard C2 rear over the factory whale tail (safely stored away). Magnus Walker saw the car around 2018 DRT and signed the decklid. The car has been appropriately upgraded with PCM radio, PSS10 suspension, adjustable toe links, camber plates, headers, exhaust along with dozens of other mechanical changes, to improve the driving dynamic for most conditions. Every change has been intentional as it was important to
maintain the original characteristics of the car but also ensure the RSA is dialed in for street and the track. We never hesitate to take the car out to all occasions. Incidentally, the first Porsche our kids have sat in is our RS America.”
Although the RS America was Vivek’s first taste of the Porsche world, it was not his first Porsche. In 2014 Vivek acquired the 2013 Boxster S, which he still owns. With the inspiration provided by the RS America and the driving experience provided by the Boxster, he became full on addicted to the Porsche brand.
The Boxster, a 981, is used as a daily driver, complete with high mileage on the odometer and is held completely stock. The GT3RS and Cayman GTS have appropriate performance upgrades for street and track driving. They Patel’s enjoy each of their Porsche vehicles. They drive them each as they were meant to be driven, passionately, and they are fastidious with maintenance. Vivek and Shailee Patel keep their vehicles exceptionally clean, but maybe not so much “polished”. Certainly, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche would approve.
“Each car we own is for a specific purpose to offer a driving or lifestyle characteristic that is unique or complements the others.” The colors of the cars are also intentional as the GT3RS is Lava Orange and the Cayman GTS is Viper Green. The cars compliment the white 964 as the Indian flag livery. Interestingly, the Patel family does not yet own a Porsche SUV, a Macan, or a Cayenne. We wonder how long that might last as their family is growing.
Vivek and Shailee have two children, a daughter Leela (four years of age) and a son Samay, who is one and a half. They also share their home with two Pomeranian pups, Chico (10 Dog Years), and Mango (11 DY). The kids and dogs often ride in the Porsches but for taking out the whole family they usually take Shailee’s Ford Raptor or Tesla Model X.
Vivek is a first generation American. His parents were born in India and immigrated to the United States. With them they brought all the traditional Indian cultural values; respect for elders, family unity, honesty, and hard work. They emphasized education. They also respected the goals and promise offered in America. Vivek
recognizes the sacrifices his parents made for him and he is exceptionally grateful. They instilled the values of Indian culture and heritage while ensuring that he embraced the promise of growing up as an American.
When not skillfully planning radiotherapy courses, Vivek prefers driving in PCA and Chin Track days (DE is a-coming), attending DRT–the greatest Porsche event in south Florida, driving with Smokies GT & Fahren private drives, and hanging with the great Porsche buddies in Vintage Vices and the Air-Cooled Breakfast Club (ACBC). Vivek enjoys “the phenomenal group of diverse Porsche enthusiasts in south Florida” that will coalesce multiple times each month. Vivek offers, “I used to go for the cars, but now I go for the people!”
Generally, the Patel’s follow a buy and hold philosophy when it comes to Porsche ownership. However, they did acquire two other Porsches in years past which have found new homes; a different ’13 Boxster S and a ’16 Cayman GT4. We surmise the new owners of these two are glad Vivek turned them loose.
Vivek Patel has been a Gold Coast Region PCA member since 2016. He believes some PCar folks might roll their eyes, but he nonetheless suggests his favorite Porsche model for ALL practical purposes is the Boxster. “Anyone who says otherwise hasn’t driven one or is lying :).” He continues that “there is no car that is more adequate or perfectly proportioned. The 981 and 718 models are objectively stunning—especially the Spyders. For both the 981 and 718, the lines penned are easily among the best-looking Porsche cars ever designed.” And then, “the driving dynamic of a Boxster is near perfection
on or off the track! Pair all that with the top-down south Florida experience, it is a combination that cannot be beat.” We certainly will not argue with a man who can analyze your inner workings. Regarding Vivek’s all-time favorite Dream Porsche, it is the Carrera GT. Look at the last few sentences and you will know why.
IRL, targeted therapy is what Dr. Vivek Patel does every day. Vivek would love to see cancer eradicated so he, Shailee, Leela and Samay can target multiple drives in one of their beautiful Indian heritage themed Porsches. He will be certain that drive is minimally invasive and completely immersive. Talk about therapy.... PCar therapy, and we can all use more of that!
Part Two We continue the saga of Mr. David Schnorr of Schnorr Graphic Arts.
The Schnorr Art warehouse shop space is overflowing with scale models, posters, photos, and mementos from a life of creative efforts. Eyes flit in every direction to a myriad examples of David’s graphic achievements. When we ask questions, David dutifully answers, as his son continues to caress the graphics on bodywork for the Creech P3 car. From simple questions, stories flow endlessly. The stories roll out like a twisting mountain road. We traverse car graphic designs and race results, the people, the races, the destinations, and the nature of car livery. David does not talk about himself, even though he could talk for hours about his accomplishments. The man is humble and has simply loved what he has done. His satisfaction lay in seeing his work hit the track, and then the winner’s circle.
here are a couple photos, models and a poster that garner significant attention. These are the photos of Paul Newman. Newman was the voice of Doc Hudson, the Hudson Hornet, from the movie Cars. The animated film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios, released
Articleby Mark Johnson
by Walt Disney Pictures in 2006. How did the legendary actor and accomplished racecar driver come to voice the Hornet—and to drive an “actual” Hudson Hornet race car? It is a wonderful story of movie magic, opportunity, and a great deal of serendipity.
Newman was a natural choice for Pixar and Disney. Doc Hudson was an integral part of the story for Cars. As the mentor for the Lightning McQueen lead racecar character, the Hudson
Hornet was the older, wiser ex-racer himself. Newman, with his legendary acting profile, distinctive voice, and substantial race pedigree, was the natural choice for Doc Hudson in the animated feature.
Virtually any NASCAR shop could build a replica Hudson Hornet race car. However, it was simple fate that Kevin Jeannette of Gunnar Racing in Riviera Beach created a real lifesize version of the movie car. Gunnar Racing used a Petty Enterprises NASCAR chassis, a Rousch big block motor, and the fabricated fiberglass bodywork replica of a Hudson Hornet. But who should provide the look of the 1950s vintage period correct vehicle? For Jeannette, the answer was simple, call his friend Dave.
David Schnorr provided the livery graphics to present the vehicle exactly as it would have looked on a NASCAR racetrack in the early 1950s. The Gunnar Racing “Doc Holiday” was track-worthy. Seizing the opportunity, Paul Newman got behind the wheel of “Doc Hornet” on Charlotte Motor Speedway. Wearing a racing fire suit, he proceeded to give the film crew members rides around the track at 170 MPH.
The two photos which stand out in the shop are Newman at the wheel of the Hudson (in race suit and harnessed in) with a huge grin on his face. The second picture shows a brief moment during a break at Charlotte Motor Speedway with David Schnorr and Paul Newman just relaxing on the pit wall, catching up on the day’s activities. The poster hanging high in the garage space is a photo of David Schnorr standing next to the Gunnarprepared full-size Hudson, wrapped in character as for the movie.
One interesting additional note. Doc Hudson’s expressive “eyes” were animated. The photo of David with the Doc Hudson at the Charlotte track show one of those Newman expressions. When making the real car David would print up different eye expressions and mount them in different stages of the build, as if Doc himself was involved in the process.
For several hours as guests we are enthralled at the broad and immense nature of race automotive graphics. The history of race graphic development from hand-cut vinyl
applications to full vehicle wraps is the story of David Schnorr’s life of innovation regarding racing livery. But it is time to go.
In parting we offer to return to the shop after Christmas to assist David in packing up the memorabilia. David has the space until the end of the year, when it all has to be boxed and carted to storage. As luck, time, and the vast amount to be done is assessed, the guys are invited back between the winter holidays to assist.
After Christmas and before New Year’s 2022 the three GCR members return to the Schnorr Art shop. They arrive camera in hand and mental notebook ready to capture much of what is to be seen and heard. The guys help wrap up nearly 500 scale model cars and box them for placement into storage containers. They pull endless photos, posters, mementos, t-shirt logo proofs, Le Mans and Daytona access tickets and multitude of other racingrelated materials for David to save and eventually catalog as his personal collection of thirty-five-plus years in sports car racing.
Over two days David and the volunteer crew manage to box up about 75% of the materials so they may be moved. During these hours of packing each of the three willing assistants realize that there is so much more to be told regarding David Schnorr and his life. While the guys pack, David shares stories and Jesse completes the wrap effort of the #33 Sean Creech car.
The morning of the second day of packing up the shop, LMP3 is collected by the Creech race team. The vehicle is transported back to the race shop for the engine to be installed and the car prepared for the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Schnorr Art shop has open floor space for the first time in a very long time.
David’s stories and accomplishments would fill a book. There are many in the race world who would appreciate learning of his efforts and his extensive contribution to modern race history. Photos of the multitude of vehicles to which he applied his art could easily fill hundreds of pages, each with a short description of the design, if so written.
As we pack and talk, a general plan is conceived to write a detailed article about David. The article would be submitted it to a major auto sport magazine, such as Road & Track or Porsche Panorama, for publication. (Ed: GCR readers get an early look with this Kassette story.) At the same time, David will begin to develop an autobiographical type of book regarding his race graphic efforts and the various stages of race graphics from shelf paper to solvent jet printing
on vinyl. Those two main themes would easily encompass a large volume of material.
David traversed six stages of production technology during his career while applying livery designs to race cars. Starting in 1986 until he retired from active design at the end of 2021 those stages were: 1) ’8692, when materials were all vinyl and hand-cut; 2) ’92-96, with machine-cut single-color items smaller than 30”; 3) ’96-99, with machine-cut larger singlecolor items; 4) ’99-04, when small multi-color logos were made possible; 5) ’04-07, with large-scale, full-color printing on vinyl; and 6) ’07-present, Full-size printing of 54” x 20’, enough to cover a complete car. Throughout these six stages David was ever the innovator for expressing new ways to decorate a racecar.
At the outset in 1986, as noted above, everything was hand cut, including the smaller decals. A seemingly simple “Hillshire Farms” logo of 6 to 7 colors would be cut from individual components, based on colors and shapes needed. Then each color/ shape was painstakingly layered onto the car as necessary. Of course, the car would sometimes have five, six or more of the decals plastered over the body, each one hand-cut and applied. A constant hope for drivers? “Please don’t wreck the body panels or we do it all over again . . . and again.” Fortunately, the technology progressed to allow multi-color printing and logo design, so it became faster and easier to do the work.
As race graphics and technology improved David stayed ahead of the progress waves. He was the first to “paint” a car using colored adhesive vinyl. In 2005 he worked with a German firm (Orafol) to introduce wrap product to North American racing and
wrapped the first race car. The next year he used the vehicle wrapping technique to prepare five cars for the 2006 Daytona 24 Hour race.
Porsche is where David Schnorr’s heart and soul reside. When Champion Porsche of Pompano Beach first entered the race scene, it was David Schnorr who created the long-lasting and stunning Champion Motorsport livery. Every Champion-sponsored Porsche has been adorned with this consistent multi-color design element.
The simple and effective graphics allow the car to become negative space and the applied color to outline the sweeping beauty of the Porsche vehicle line. Colors and car merge into one. But it isn’t only the color and shape of the Champion that make the livery distinctive. The vinyl material used had a reflective element which gave pause to fans and photographers alike. With a unique and very dynamic design, using highly reflective material, the Champion Porsche cars became among the most highly photographed vehicles of all time, and virtually remain so today.
Champion Porsche racecars have been successful at LeMans, Daytona, Sebring, and virtually every IMSA event. Champion Porsches are frequent visitors to the Pikes Peak Hillclimb, as well. For the 2021 Pikes Peak event Champion brought a specially prepared Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport adorned in David Schnorr graphics. Romain Dumas drove this vehicle to a first-place finish in the Time Attack 1 Division, and a second overall behind an Unlimited Division competitor. The Pikes Peak Porsche was a featured guest at the 2022 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race, the 2023 DRT in Miami and several other venues in the South Florida area.
Champion Porsche race vehicles are instantly recognizable, which is the essential goal of race livery. David Schnorr created that iconic look, that Champion Porsche livery, and there is no other like it.
And here is a personal note from David on which to close: “I’d like to thank the three Gold Coast Region members for coming to the shop and helping me. They made something so impossible to comprehend a very enjoyable and memorable event because it brought back the joy of what I’ve been doing all these years. At the same time, it helped me achieve closure of this chapter of my life and start a new adventure. I am so thankful for these three fine gentlemen I did not know. They came to the shop, jumped in, and helped me overcome a huge hurtle, and they have become good friends.”
…… End of Part Two. Look for Part Three, the Conclusion, in the June issue of Die Porsche Kassette.
Simply put, Gold Coast Region members want to get back on track with a Driver’s Education (DE) event. DE Manager, Mark Johnson, has been diligently working toward that end with several classroom training sessions designed to educate and inform our members about DE, both personal and vehicle requirements. We have a tentative DE track date in September 2023, but we must have a Chief Track Instructor (CTI), a DE Registrar, and additional member volunteers. A budget for the event will be presented at the May 11th GCR Board of Directors meeting for formal approval. The expected cost to hold a DE at Homestead Miami Speedway (HMS) is roughly $20,000.00.
Mark J. will need your help and your participation. Please contact him directly to offer your assistance as an instructor, volunteer, or participant.
(Mark may be reached at: mjsailing@ hotmail.com or cell 954-422-2199)
Two additional items of interest. First, Suncoast Region PCA is very active at the Sebring racetrack with its DE program. If you choose to get on track before GCR is ready, please consider attending one of their scheduled DE events. Second, once GCR has a budget approved, and the track date confirmed at HMS, we will announce our CTI and hold two additional pretrack sessions to further educate
It was a spectacular spring evening in Doral. Sun setting in the west, that warm/cool temp with a light breeze, and then (of course) Great People, Great Cars, and Great Cigars!
Miura Cigars in Doral was the location for the first Gold Coast Cars & Cigars event, hosted by Jose Jimenez, our GRC member. Christy Spangler, Social Chair, and Mike Del Pozo, Board Member, assisted Jose. What a great evening we had, “smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em,” BOGT cigar pricing (buy one, get three), and a few refreshing liquids. We were also treated to the El Salvaje Food Trailer, offering up all kinds of great dishes. Could it get any better? In a word – YEAH!
The event was held between 6:30 and 9:30 pm on Friday, March 31st, and everyone had the opportunity to sit, puff on a stogie, tell great Porsche stories, and simply relax. A total of about 30-35 members attended, bringing around 25 Porsches of various vintages and models. Most everyone smoked a cigar, even Ms. Spangler, who managed to enjoy two of the smallest cigars anyone has ever seen –prodigious! Of course, there was a tremendous amount of legendary PCar camaraderie. Newer members mixed with seasoned vets, stories flowed about recent car
members on process, procedure, and all things DE. Look for these sessions in the July-August timeframe. We have had discussions with the Hagerty Garage and Social management teams to hold one meeting in the Miami location and the second in the Delray Beach location.
DE is fun. Organizing a DE is a significant challenge. Hence, it takes time, effort, proper planning, and a good bit of luck, plus it needs interested participants and willing volunteers to be successful. Help us be part of the success!
Article by Social Teamacquisitions, and we even talked about plans for the Drivers Education program in Homestead later this year.
Thank you, Jose and the Miura Cigar crew, El Salvaje, and all the GCR members who came to Doral for a simple but spectacular evening. We got ‘em – we smoked ‘em, then we enjoyed the drive home. PORSCHE, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE!
With the price of gasoline at $3.50 and higher I get a lot of: “How can I get better gas mileage from my Porsche?” I generally tell them: “I can sell you a Kit to increase horsepower which will make your car more efficient giving you better mileage, or just follow some of my gas-saving tips”:
Keeping the factory-recommended maintenance service schedules is one of the best ways to gain fuel economy. These scheduled maintenance services make sure that the spark plugs are in optimum condition, that the brakes aren’t dragging, that the engine breathes properly with a clean filter, that your oxygen sensors are reading the exhaust correctly and that your ECU is adjusting the fuel/air mix in the most efficient way, among other issues.
Reprint from August 2012
than the larger displacement engines in domestic cars. This higher compression requires higher octane grade in order to eliminate knocking. Newer cars have knock sensors that retard the ignition to avoid knocking if a lower octane gas is used, but this makes the car less efficient, and in the end it uses more gas to drive the same distance and ends up costing you more. Check your manual or the sticker inside the gas lid for the recommended octane rating for your car.
A lesser known tip is when to purchase your gasoline. Buy it during the coolest part of the day. Evening or early morning is best. The lower the gasoline’s temperature the denser it is, meaning that a gallon of cold gas weighs more than a gallon of warm gas. Gas pumps charge you by volume not by density.
Having your tires properly inflated can save you a couple of MPGs. Check your owner’s manual or the tire-inflation sticker on the door jamb for your car’s recommended tire pressures. Note that with our Porsches, we generally have different front-to-back tire pressures and remember that tires tend to lose a few psi per month, so make it a habit to check them frequently and keep them optimized.
We all know that making a car lighter will make it go faster, but it will also save you gas. So, check your trunk(s) and clear them as much as possible of the stuff you don’t need which will translate into savings at the pump.
The lower the octane, the cheaper the gas, but does it save you money?
Porsches in particular have higher compression engines
At the track you shouldn’t be worried about gas mileage, but in the city, you can save a lot of fuel by accelerating lightly. Full throttle acceleration is a sure-fire way to drop your average MPGs.
Most cars’ fuel consumption reaches maximum efficiency at 55 mph in it’s highest gear. Wind resistance increases exponentially with speed, so as your pace quickens, your gas tank starts to dry up faster. Each 5 mph you drive over 55 mph can lower your gas mileage by 7% or more! Look at your instant fuel consumption gauge (if so equipped) and that’ll help you drive in a fuel-saving manner.
The air conditioner, unlike the heater which uses the engine’s “free” heat to warm you up, uses the engine’s power to run the compressor, thus lowering fuel economy. But if you’re driving on the highway, sometimes it’s better to close the windows and run the A/C. Why?, Because of aerodynamics. The detriment from driving with the windows down is greater in a Porsche, which has excellent aerodynamics, than in a Hummer, which has ... none! The same applies to cabriolets. You’ll get better gas mileage with the top up.
10.-
mornings 30 seconds or so is plenty of time, but never fully accelerate an engine until it reaches its operating temperature.
Plan your trips. Combine short errands into one trip using the shortest distance possible.
Following these tips you can easily gain 2-5 MPGs, guaranteed.
Here’s an interesting exercise. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year and get 20 mpg, you will have used 750 gallons of gasoline. At $3.50/gallon that’s a cost of $2,625.00/year, or $0.175/mile.
If you’re able to squeeze an extra 4 MPGs, that’s an extra 3,000 miles! (4 mpg x 750 miles = 3,000 miles). At $3.50/gallon you just saved $525.00 ($0.175/mile x 3,000 miles = $525.00).
All this, so you can feel good about going to the track on a weekend and averaging 6 MPGs!
To learn more about saving fuel and your Porsche in general, please visit my website at: www.PedrosGarage.com.
Use the correct grade of motor oil specified for your vehicle. Following the factory’s recommendation can improve your gas mileage by 1-2%. The recommended oil and oil grade is specified in your car’s manual.
Shut the engine off if you expect not to move for a while. When a car is idling, it is giving you zero (0) MPGs.
Avoid prolonged engine warm up. Even on cold
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2018 and 2019 1st place winner concours d’elegance PCA Goldcoast region best in class award! 28k miles. $72,900. For details, search PCA mart Classified Ads: 51049.
There is one year and unlimited milage available on the CPO. Paint protection and a Becker exhaust was installed. I have the original exhaust. 45,600 miles. This is garage kept and a weekend car. $50,999 Paul Orofino 407-496-0019 Cell paul@mdsinc.me
Fuchs 16” x 6” 1981 Wheels
No tires
Original unused spare tire and wheel, inflatable
Front valence 1981 SC red, dented
Contact Eric at Eric@heritage51.com / 305 322-8617
Wheelchair for Porsche
Steel Transport Chair with Permanent Full-Length Arms, Swing-Away Footrest, Large 12” wheels, seat belt. Fits in the trunk of a Porsche. Like new only used a few times. Colors are burgundy and grey, lightweight 23.5 lbs. 300 lbs weight capacity. $150 Contact Roger Fabel at rfabel@aol.com.or text 954 752-2501. Text 954 752-2501.
(2) Bridgestone RE71R 245/40-18 NEW..200 treadwear Ultra high performance stickers still on. Never mounted and garage stored last 3 years $275 for both. FIRM
(2) BFG Rival 245/40-18 200 treadwear AutoX performance tires. Used for 1 AutoX 6/32 tread remaining, date code 3916 $90.OBO
(1) Federal RSR 265/40-18, 200 treadwear AutoX performance tire 4/32 remaining date code 0120 $50.00
OEM Cat back stock muffler for 2009-2012 Boxster or Cayman S, great cond..If you don›t like that load, droning so called performance system that the prior owner installed, try this $275
Front Nose for 944 Turbo or S2, Broken Louvers repaired (they all break...trust me). pretty good condition, but will need final sanding and paint. $250. Wont fit regular 944 unless you get turbo/s2 fenders Call Steve 954 292-3915
Die Porsche Kassette Classified Ads – Submission Rules
• Classified Ads are free for GCR PCA members
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• Submit to rfabel@aol.com for inclusion in Kassette
a great postcard-style backdrop for Jorge’s Porsche.
Jorge’s love for fast cars began when he was a young boy and watched his father race stock cars in Cuba. They became fans of Brumos Porsche in the early ‘70s when Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood raced them at Daytona and Sebring. “The Porsche was my father’s dream car,” says Jorge; “I feel very fortunate to be able to own one and honor his dream.”
Jorge took this photo with his iPhone.
Sidebar: Jorge also sent this photo of his father, Orlando Martinez in his racing days in Cuba with his stock car, a 1952 Chrysler New Yorker. Have a cool picture of your Porsche? Then submit it with a description to gcr.photofinish@gmail.com
