Remembering Linley Baxter

Social Reflections

Let me commence by introducing myself. I have been a member since 2015. I was invited to join the General Committee by Tony Carolan in 2018 and subsequently also joined the Social Committee.

Unfortunately my first article as Social Director commences on a very sad note. Linley Baxter our past Social Director, having been ill over the past two years and with deteriorating health passed away on Saturday 17 September. Linley was a true gentleman, roundly respected, admired and particularly appreciated for his hard work, leadership as the Social Director and his love for the Porsche Marque.

I met Linley when he joined the General Committee as Social Director in 2019. I worked very closely with Linley and this grew into a wonderful friendship. I feel cheated in life on a couple of fronts. Firstly the short period I had the privilege of calling Linley a friend, rather than a couple of decades which I would have valued. Secondly, this insidious disease cancer, robbing me of a friend.

“Vale Linley” rest in peace.

Now to progress on a brighter note, our committee is working diligently to deliver a programme of exciting events for our members.

We had a great run to Flowerdale celebrating Christmas in July, with an option to stay overnight and enjoy our members company. Thanks to Alison Belot and her wonderful organisational skills.

Adam de Guara organised the annual go kart challenge with some new initiative. The challenge welcomed our members’ children, with budding driving ambitions. The night was very successful albeit a rather cold night. Be prepared for this challenge next year. A wonderful run was organised by Steve Lofthouse to Philip Island and we worked concurrently with our competition committee to have an organised lap at Philip Island with an option to stay overnight and join competition members for dinner. Please read Charnie’s magnificent article in the following pages.

Thanks Kon, for organising our inaugural ladies run, which was a resounding success, with ladies runs to follow. Enjoy the article contributed by Vikki Coglan, in this edition of Porsche Parade.

I encourage members to keep the following events in mind in the future.

A contemporary Annual Gala Dinner at Porsche Centre Melbourne in the Work Shop, with spectacular international entertainers Patrick Roberts and James Egglestone. Do not miss this event and regret it later.

I propose continuing with the help of our committee, organising exciting events that represents our members’ views.

I invite our members, to commence tapping on your computer keyboards and email myself your thoughts and ideas, which you would like us to take into consideration in planning 2023.

Clyde White

Social Director

The last 3 months has been a busy time for the Competition side of the club with 3 major events offered up to our members.

Since the last edition of Porsche Parade, which is such an excellent production by Ron Widdison, we have been to Sandown in July, back to Winton for the second time in two months for our long track/ short track day in August and then down to Victoria’s premier motor racing circuit, Phillip Island, for our September event.

We hadn’t been to Sandown since the Mobil 1 Porsche Club Vic 360 Regularity back in early April, so it was great to get back there for a full blown competition event for the first time this year. An overcast but dry day greeted us which was in stark contrast to our previous event at Winton where it p15s’d down for most of the day!!! 60 odd cars greeted the starter plus our newbie drivers in Entrée Class. Everything on the day went smoothly until Rohan Little forgot to turn left at the end of the main straight and ploughed into the sand trap, all perfectly captured on film by the photographer from SD Pics waiting eagerly at turn 1 for such an occasion. After the extraction of Rohan’s car by the excellent recovery crew from WAP Motorsport, we returned to normal racing.

From Pit Lane

We had 32 drivers in 30 cars come and join us at this iconic track from Porsche Clubs SA, Qld and NSW. This all stemmed from a few drinks over dinner at the PCSA Easter Nationals event at The Bend back in April where all 4 clubs were represented. At the conclusion of that event the 4 Competition Directors held an informal meeting over a few more refreshments, where they all said they wanted to attend a PCV event at Phillip Island. This sewed a seed and I said I’d see what I could arrange. Well the rest is history now.

We had 115 entrants on the day which I believe is the biggest single Competition event held by the club ever (excluding the regularity). Whilst the weather was a bit hit and miss, everyone had an awesome time and it was great to have our interstate comrades able to join us. At the end of the day, they were all already asking when we could do it again!!!!!

Many thanks to the Competition Directors from SA, Qld and NSW (Darien, Kevin and James) for working with me to get so many of their wonderful cars here, especially those on the transporters.

During the lunch break we had arranged with the Social members who had completed a run around the Gippsland back roads, to partake in a couple of Parade laps. This turned out to be a real hit with over 50 cars registering to partake, with many of them then doing a pit tour walk and getting involved with the competition drivers asking many question and taking many photos. I even had a female social member climb into the drivers seat of my new 997.2 Cup Car for driver’s perspective. We look forward to seeing her on track next year! After the Competition event, a dinner was held in the function room above the pits garages in honour of our long time member and icon of Australian Porsche marque racing, Mr Peter Fitzgerald.

Russell Sturzaker led both Peter and us on the long and colourful history of Peters’ racing career both in Australia and overseas. It was a wonderful presentation with images of all the classic Porsches Peter has raced over his long and distinguished career. With excellent food and plentiful beverages on hand, it was a fantastic way to end a great day at Phillip Island.

Details and results of all the above events can be found further on in this edition of Porsche Parade.

Lastly I’d like to pay my respects to Mr Linley Baxter. Linley was an important part of the club and I worked closely with Linley earlier this year in getting the social set involved with this Phillip Island event. Linley arranged the accommodation at the Island for both competitors and socials at a special rate which was much appreciated by all.

Linley will be sadly missed by all within the club.

With our last Competition event for the year to be held at Sandown in October, followed by Presidents Day in November until then, that’s all From Pit Lane

Andrew Smith

Competition Director

In the second last session of the day Andy Hall broke Jo Ensabella’s outright track record only to have it snatched off him in the last session of the day by Jamie Lovett. Well done to both guys.

In August we ventured back to Winton for our annual long track/short track day. A crisp but clear day greeted us but overnight showers had left their mark. Fortunately a dry line soon appeared and the morning long track sessions proceed well. After lunch we switched to short track, but the cloud cover was increasing with ominous darkness to the north. We were fortunate that the first 4 groups got a dry run in before the heavens opened. Yours truly decided that that was enough as I couldn’t be bothered changing to wet tyres, so loaded the 996 Cup Car onto the trailer for the last time. She’s now gone to a new home. Look after her David!!!!

Our September Phillip Island event was an interstate extravaganza!!!!!!