EL PORTAL YOSEMITE REGION-PCA

Transcription

1 EL PORTAL YOSEMITE REGION-PCA MARCH 2013 YOS.PCA.ORG

2 Four wheels glued to the road. Five senses fully awakened. Take the performance that Porsche is known for. Then add to that the strength of a 400 horsepower engine, the design and greater stability of a wider body, the extraordinary traction and agility of all-wheel drive, and an unmistakable illuminated rear light strip. The sum of which is a sports car that holds your attention as tightly as it holds to the road. Porsche. There is no substitute. Experience the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S at PORSCHE OF LIVERMORE! Porsche of Livermore 3100 Las Positas rd. Livermore, CA Porsche recommends 2 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2013

3 Porsche Club of America Yosemite Region Board of Directors President Chris Dias (209) Vice President Steve Searles Membership Report 6 onethousandminus89@comcast.net Driven: But not a Porsche 7 Treasurer Steve Perry quiz2573@yahoo.com Upcoming Events Garage Sale Secretary Andrew Goreff agoreff@ainet.com Pit Lane 14 Memebership Don Chaisson, Director dachaisson@comcast.net Webmaster Virginia Swanberg (209) swan04@ymail.com Newsletter Editor Bracken Helmes (801) brackenhelmes@hotmail.com Contents Starting Line-Editor 4 Yosemite & Zone 7 Calendar 5 Zone 7 Rep. Paul Czopek axnut@att.net Yosemite Web Site: Front Cover: Rennsport Reunion IV. Photo by: Paul Czopeck Changes of address or questions regarding delivery of El Portal should be directed to: Bracken Helmes at brackenhelmes@hotmail.com or write to: 530 Jacaranda Street, Brentwood, CA El Portal, published monthly by Yosemite Region, PCA is intended to inform members of club or clubrelated activities and other matters of interest. Typed or printed contributions and photographs are welcome and should be submitted to the editor. Contributions will be returned to the author only if requested. The deadline for all contributions is the tenth of the month prior to the month of publication. The views and opinions expressed within the newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Yosemite Region of the Porsche Club of America. MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 3

4 STARTING LINE- EDITOR I want to comment on three things in my column this month. First, I made a few more changes to El Portal, it still isn t quite what I see in my head (time and resources permitting), but I need to keep chipping away at learning the software. Second, the spring is upon us and that means track days, autocrosses, and whatever other activities you see yourself doing, so may I make a suggestion-optrix. If you are not aware of Optrix it is a device that you put your iphone in and it works like a GoPro device. So you can attach it to your helmet if you are mountain biking (or whatever you do) or to the dash of your car when you go to the track. We all know iphones are known to have very good cameras on them and everyone in the Bay Area already has an iphone, so if you don t already own a GoPro this is another option to consider that might be more convenient and cost effective. Also from what I know it is a Bay Area based business. Third, I have never had to worry about mechanics and such, because my dad sells and deals with Porsche s, but as soon as I moved to California I bought my first Porsche. So I have been trying to find someone that is close to where I live, someone I can trust, and I do not want to feel taken advantage of. Recently, someone suggest a place in Brentwood (where I live), I was thinking I do not recall any Porsche type mechanic shops in Brentwood and I do not want some guy that specializes in Nissan, Ford, Briggs & Stratton and Porsche. I Googled the name (FP Motorsports) and it seemed pretty legit. Then I went in and talked to Darin Fister, we talked for almost an hour and agreed on most everything Porsche related (which is not always easy in the world of Porsche and as I mentioned in the last column how opinionated I am about Porsche s) and I felt I could trust him. So I am not sure if anyone finds this last paragraph exciting, but I am relieved and thrilled to have found someone I feel good about and that is so close to my house. The only thing missing is my dad s dealer/buddy discount on parts and labor. 4 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2013

5 YOSEMITE CALENDAR March, 2013 Tour to Canepa Motorsport Museum. April. 20 Tour to Filoli Gardens. May, 2013 Wine tour of Livermore Valley. July 27 Overnight tour to The Racer Group shop and Adobe Road Winery. Aug. 25 Concours on Campus, Delta College, Stockton. Oct. 6 Porsche of Livermore Zone Concours ZONE 7 CALENDAR Feb. 28 Apr. 13 Apr. 14 June 2, June 8-9 June 16 July 14 June Aug. 4 Aug Aug. 25 Sept. 22 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 SVR Driver s Education event at Laguna Seca LPR Zone autocross at Marina GGR Zone autocross at Marina LPR/Parts Heaven Zone Concours, Hayward. RR Zone autocross at Santa Rosa SVR Zone Concours at Neillo s Porsche Monterey Zone Concours at Carmel Valley Parade, Grand Traverse, Michigan GGR Zone Concours at Carlsen Porsche Monterey Historics week. Legends of the Autobahn Concours Yos Region Zone Concours at Delta College RR Zone Concours at Ledson Winery LPR Zone autocross at Marina GGR Zone autocross at Marina Porsche of Livermore Zone Concours MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 5

6 MEMBERSHIP REPORT New Member: Susan Clark (Transfer form Sacramento Region) Susan Clarks Car: Anniversaries Jack & Kathy Kuhn, 1982, 31 years Jim & Robin Ronan, 2002, 11 years Michael & Susan Bloed, 2007, 6 years Robert & Linda Deis, 2007, 6 years David Nilan, 2009, 4 years Kurtis & Jeff Jerner, 2010, 3 years Stephen & Tami Searles, 2011, 2 years Larry Ames, 2012, 1 year Ruffy Refendor, 2012, 1 year Members 107 Associate Members 86 total 196 If your name appears above, it is time to renew your membership. 6 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2103

7 DRIVEN: BUT NOT A PORSCHE DON CHAISSON OK, I ll admit it! Yes, I love to drive my Porsche on the street, on a trip and at the track; yep, love my Porsche. But, deep down, I ve always wanted to drive something else!! It goes back to watching the 1966 movie Grand Prix. I m Yves Montand, driving my Ferrari against James Garner in his Japanese Yamura. I mean, it would be great being Steve McQueen driving a 917 at Le Mans, but, heck, in a formula racer, you can see the wheels, there is no windscreen and there are no doors! You more put the car on than climb in. Well, this dream is possible! Recently I cashed in a bucket list item to drive a proper formula car on a proper racetrack. Thanks to Skip Barber Racing School ( I did a one day- all formula driving school at Laguna Seca. We arrived early to Laguna Seca to get fitted for a full driving suit and helmet. After about 1 ½ hour of appropriate classroom instruction, we walked down to the pre-grid area to meet our machines. The cars, while not the highest F1 carbon fiber technology, are tube chassis, open wheel racers with front and back aero devices, e.g. wings. To get into the car, you step over the side pods onto the seat, then slide below the steering wheel and search for the pedals with your feet. No wiggle room here. The steering wheel is about 7 inches wide, more of a toy than your connection to the front wheels. Lock to MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 7

8 lock is 90 deg left to 90 deg right. The transmission is a sequential box (just like those in Cup cars!). Instrumentation is minimal: Tack, water temp and oil pressure. I really could have used a gear indicator, because I totally lost track of what gear I was in during lapping. Brakes are totally manual no antilock, no booster, just a pedal next to the steering column. Heel and toe technique was a new experience with the push-pull gear lever action! The instructors were first rate. Three students piled into a 4 door Mazda 3 with an instructor and did some laps Holy S _!! He s doing 2 minute (or so) lap times while calmly talking us through the lap, holding onto a radio and shifting the auto-manual trany with his other (free) hand. Something about confidently committing to a corner and knowing you ll collect the car on the far side of the apex!! The class splits in half for lead-follow exercises half get into our racers, the instructors and other half of the students into the Mazda 3 s. We follow the instructors for about minutes, increasing lap speeds, then switch. The exercise, lapping, and then riding in the sedan, goes on for the rest of the morning. After lunch, we do a STOP box exercise. Again, half of the class climbs into their racer, half go with instructors to various viewing points on the track. From the start/finish line, you take off, trying to remember all the instruction: go here, brake there, shift now, apex, don t be shy, hit the track-out point, shift up again for the next corner! Coming out of the last corner, you stop at the S/F line for some feedback Then off again, until you switch with the other half of the class. 8 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2013

9 Our lead instructor then calls us together for a conference. Damn, what have we done wrong?? But, he informs us that we have progressed so well that we earned some open lap runs no Mazda s in the way, no stopping at S/F, just have at it though he did suggest we try and stay alert, keep on the tarmac and pass only with a point by. So, off we went yes, I m Yves Montand, in a proper formula racer on a proper racing circuit, at one with the chassis, motor and tires yes, I can see them working turning, locking up, riding right onto the corner curbing. What s this, a checkered flag you mean I have to stop?? No As I pull into the pit lane, I flip open my visor, savoring the last of the wind and sound and that wonderfully tiny steering wheel. I switch the engine off and pull my very tired body out of the cockpit just like Vettel, Schumacher or Jackie Stewart Yes, you can get a total rush in driving something other than a Porsche! MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 9

10 UPCOMING EVENTS Drive to Filoli When: April 20 th Starting location: We will be meeting at 9:00 am at the Shell station (25460 W. Schulte Rd. Tracy, CA) at the corner of West Schulte Road and Mountain House Parkway in Tracy. We will be leaving the Shell station at 9:30 am. Directions to the Shell Gas Station: Get off the 205 at Mountain House Parkway and head south for about 1.5 miles. OR Get off the 580 head north on Mountain House Parkway for about ¼ mile. Upon arrival at Shell station please fill out insurance waiver. We will be following Route 84 for the majority of trip and should arrive at Filoli at around 10:30 am. Most everything should be in bloom and will be one of the best times of years to visit. It should be a nice scenic drive at a moderate pace. We will be stopping for a rest stop about 45 minutes into the drive at Jack in the Box after crossing the Dumbarton Bridge. When we arrive at Filoli please head to visitor s center to purchase entrance ticket and lunch. Entry fee: $15 65 and older $12 East Bay students and teachers $5 Children under 4 are free 10 EL PORTAL-MARCH2013

11 Tour de Rhododendrons Mendocino, CA April 5-7, 2013 Hosted by Diablo Region Join us in a celebration of Rhododendrons. Rhododendrons flourish in the cool air and acid soil along the California coastline. They bloom from February through June in a stunning array of color. Mendocino Gardens, located between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, houses a spectacular display not to be missed. Starting location: Solano Square Shopping Center, Benicia, CA Start time: 9:00 am, Friday, April 5, 2013 bring lunch or food to share at lunch. The route will take us to Pt. Reyes station where we will refresh and regroup before we head up 101 to lunch at the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve, weather permitting. (Alternate arrangements will be made if it rains.) Friday Cocktail hour: 5:00 6:00 with Howard and Vern Thomas feel free to bring an appetizer and drink, wine will be provided Saturday, April 6: 10:00 a.m., Mendocino Garden Tour: $7.50 Saturday, April 6: 6:00 p.m. Group Dinner at Silvers on the Wharf (approx. $30/person plus drinks, tax & tip) All meals on your own Hotel Accommodations: Little River Inn, Little River; rates $179 w/ocean view, $225 w/fireplace; Please call for reservations at INN-LOVE; code word Porsche Club Sign up: for the weekend (2-nights) on uidevent/3f84eb6a-97f6-46c2-26ef9b75ca0084e8 Deadline: April 1, Contact Vern Thomas; lavergneann@aol.com with any questions. Route sheet to be provided at the start of the tour. MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 11

12 Sequoia Region Presents Zone 7 Autocross Saturday, May 4th Zone 7 Autocross series W. Shields Ave. Kerman, CA Pre-registration preferred 7:45 a.m. - Registration and check-in 8:00 to 8:45 - Tech inspection 8:45 a.m. - Drivers Meeting 9:00 a.m. - First car out 5:30 p.m. No Host Pizza Sunday, May 5th Zone 7 Autocross series W. Shields Ave. Kerman, CA Pre-registration preferred 8:00 a.m. - Registration and check-in 8:15 to 8:45 - Tech inspection 8:45 a.m. - Drivers Meeting 9:00 a.m. - First car out Online registration through MotorSportReg.com begins March 10th Subway lunch bag available for purchase during advance registration Early registration closes midnight April 24th Online registration remains open until midnight May 1st after that you will be asked to register the day of the events. Cancellation fee 10% of total registration will be charged. Registrants will identify their own class Questions? Contact David Crabtree at or doclcsw@yahoo.com Golden Gate Region & Loma Prieta Region host Zone 7 Marina Airport Information: Registration: 7:30-8:30 am Helmets required, limited loaners Drivers must work for sessions run Lunch will be available to purchase Pre-registration on motorsportreg.com For details contact: Anne Roth alroth@sbcglobal.net Saturday/Sunday: April Directions: Take Highway 1 south toward Monterey and Laguna Seca Raceway. Take the Reservation Road exit south towards Marina. After one short block, turn right in order to stay on Reservation Road. Follow the road through Marina approximately two miles south of town. Turn left at (Imjin road) signal into marina Airfield. Turn right after the first large building on the right and follow the cones to the autocross site. 12 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2013

13 GARAGE SALE 1975 PORSCHE L. Project or parts car. $900 Jim Foster at (209) at 1997 Porsche Boxster. Glacier White with Black top and interior. Red Spyder stripes on rear fenders. Short Shift kit, 6-CD player, Car cover. Always garaged. Former PCA Zone 7 and 2007 Porsche Parade Concours class winner! 62K babied miles with all records kept since new. Recent complete service and inspection done at Reno Rennsport. $11,500 George Batcabe (775) gb1500gs@gmail.com MARCH 2013-EL PORTAL 13

14 PIT LANE Business and commercial space is available at the following annual rates: 1/4 page =$160,1/3 page = $185, 1/2 page = $325, 2/3 page = $400, full page = $500. Ads submitted must be camera ready. If your ad is not camera ready, this service can be arranged at no extra charge. Charges for twelve months of advertising are payable after billing by the Yosemite Region treasurer. Advertising on a monthly basis (space permitting) may be puirchased at a cost of 10% of the annual rate. All advertising must be paid for in advance of publication. 14 EL PORTAL-MARCH 2013

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16 EL PORTAL YOSEMITE REGION-PCA 530 JACARANDA ST. BRENTWOOD, CA th AnnuAl PCA PorsChe PArAde 2013 June Traverse CiTy, MiChigan tours ConCours, rallies, auto Cross, tech QuIz great Food new FrIends Join Us for a week full of Porsche fun RegistRation opens MaRch 12th Grand Traverse resort & spa For More InForMatIon & registration - VIsIt parade2013.pca.org