Porsche Clubs National

The Bend, South Australia

Easter 15-16 April 2022

It seems like an eternity ago went Darien Herreen, Motorsport Director, PCSA, contacted me with the news that ARG, the new owners of the Bathurst 6 Hour, dropped the Porsche Event from the 2020 B6Hr. Both Darien and I had attended the 3 previous B6Hr and we, like many others, were used to being on a track at Easter. Darien suggested that he host a Porsche only event at The Bend in South Australia, except not a Regularity, only a Sprint. Naturally, I was immediately onboard, and I started to mobilise. I booked the first truck for 6 cars, then other and another. In 2020, PCQ was going to send 18 members to this event. Everything was on target and then we all became aware of something called “Corona Virus” and our lives were forever changed. Shortly after, the 2020 Easter Nationals was cancelled.

The Pandemic gave us all a hard time and our motorsport suffered more so. But we are blessed to be a collective of positive thinkers and so bring on 2021. We lost a few from the 2020 group but we still had 2 trucks going down. On the day that we were scheduled to load the car for the 2021 event, the borders closed, only Alan Bell, in his Black 930 Turbo escaped the drag net and he became Queensland’s sole representative at the 2021 event.

From Easter 2021 to September 2021, I had more phone calls with Darien Herreen that I could count, we both agreed that this would not defeat us. In September 2021, PCSA pulled the trigger, and 2022 Porsche Nationals was on.

At this point, with the blessing of my president, Lee Cooper; we were on. Sadly, we lost a few of the original team up we picked up some formidable replacements.

In early October, we confirmed 14 PCQ members, 12 of which sent their cars down to South Australia in transporters and two, Phil Hart and Alan Bell chose the self-transport option.

Personally, the reality of the event did not set in until I bordered my flight to Adelaide and now it was on.

Most of the team arrived at The Bend on Thursday, as did the cars. Check-in was pretty simple as was checking into the Ridges Hotel. This is without a doubt the best facility in Australia, the garages are massive; the facilities inside the garage are great, each pit session has a TV on the wall. The Hotel Room are directly above the pit lane and all the rooms facing the track have a generous balcony. Inside the rooms, the TV’s broadcast the live timing. The museum is something to be seen, truly a car lovers paradise.

Day 1 – Good Friday

With the exception of Alan Bell and Roger Hall, none of us had been on this track before and it would be fair to say that we were all very nervous. There were 4 groups, and we were divided thus:

Group 1

• Russ Kempnich Iseki 956

• Kevin Vedelago 991 GT3 Cup

Group 2

• Roger Hall 991 GT2 RS

• Stephen Cameron 991 GT3

• David Lees 991 GT3

• Antonio Peronace 992 C2S

Group 3

• Steve Cooper 933 GT2

• Cameron Cooper 930 IROC

• Paul Ford Cayman Clubsport

• Phil Hart 996 GT3

• Antony Van Der Drift 914

• Russ Kempnich 996 GT3 (2nd Car)

Group 4

• Alan Bell 930 Turbo

By the conclusion of Day 1, we all completed 4 sessions and we had 14 straight cars.

Saturday night, PCSA had the official dinner and needless to say a goodtime was had by one and all. I am particularly proud of our members, super sociable and zero wall flowers. We had quite a few partners also in attendance lead by our president Lee Cooper. To be fair, Lee struggled as a spectator, and I am confidence that we will see her in a car at the 2023 event.

Day 2 – Easter Saturday

We awoke to a very thick fog, less than 50m visibility, not that dissimilar to Morgan Park on a winter morning. This delayed the start by 30mins. But once we got started, some of the best times were achieved. Russ Kempnich was not successful on the Friday in getting under 2mins, but on Saturday morning he ripped out a 1:57.342. Seriously impressive. As the day wore on, numbers dropped off due to mechanical issues or simply fatigue. By lunchtime Saturday, I called stumps and I did not do the last two sessions. No regret, I believe that we had more than enough track time.

Later that afternoon, PCSA held a trophy presentation for first, second and third in the following categories:

• Open/Highly Modified

• Road Cars

• Historic Cars, and

• Regularity

It saddens me to report that we only won 3rd place in Open thanks to Russ Kempnich. Russ’s efforts earned PCQ 1 point in the Clubs Championship, which, no surprise was won by PCSA.

Saturday night concluded with a dinner of all remaining PCQ members where it was agreed that we are coming back bigger and bad-er in 2023.

By Kevin Vedelago, Motorsport Director

Russ Kempnich Kevin Vedelago

Roger Hall

Stephen Cameron

David Lees

Antonio Peronace

Steve Cooper Cameron Cooper

Paul Ford

Phil Hart

Antony Van Der Drift Russ Kempnich