Rennsport VI: Sept 27-30

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Every three years, or so, Porsche enthusiasts get treated to the largest “reunion” of significant racing Porsches — in the environment they were designed for:  on a racing circuit.   The last Rennsport, number V, had over 60,000 fans over the weekend.   Rennsport VI is expected to draw over 72,000 fans.  Racing Porsches from all eras will be represented, and there is a rumor that Porsche will be brining the 919 EVO to attempt a new Laguna Seca track record (target:  a lap under a minute!)   Just to put this into perspective, I remember when Donahue was running the Sunoco CanAm car and lapped in 59 seconds — but that track did not include the Andretti hair pin or the “infield” turns 3 and 4.  Back then the track just kept going at turn 2 around the dry lake bed where the current turn 5 re-joins the old circuit.   So a similar lap time by the 919 means it will really be flying.

So, what’s the Yosemite Region involvement?    Some members are just going down the Monterey to watch and immerse ourselves into all things Porsche Racing.   Join us if you like!   If you would like to meet up with “us”, contact Chuck Pierce or Don Chaisson using the Contact US function of the website.

 

Tickets are available through Laguna Seca here.    Sorry, the Porsche Coral is sold out!

Here is the proposed schedule, as printed in Sports Car Digest:

Group 1: PCA Sholar-Friedman Cup – Porsche Club of America race cars

Group 2: Werks Trophy – 904/6 cyl. 906, 910, 907, 908, 908/2, 908/3 (6 turbo and 8 cyl.) 909, 917 (normally aspirated and turbocharged)

Group 3: Eifel Trophy – 911 (911 up to 2.5 liter), 911 TR, 911 ST, 914, 914/6

Group 4: Weissach Cup – 911 (over 2.5 liter), RSR, 3.0 RSR, 2.1 Turbo, 934, 935, 936, 924 GTS, 924 GTR

Group 5: Gmund Cup – 550, 550A, RSK, RS60-61 (4 and 8 cyl.) 2000 GS GT, Abarth Carrera, 356, 904-4 cam, Porsche specials

Group 6: Stuttgart Cup – 956, 962, 911 GT1, WSC, RS Spyder

Group 7: Flacht Cup – Type 964, 993, 996, 997 GT 911 Race Cars

“New Member” BBQ 2018 Edition !!

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The “new member’s BBQ” event for 2018 drew 52 “members” (or 24% of members/associate members) and 24 cars!

Yes, that’s another record for Yosemite Region… and maybe for Zone 7??
(Diablo region had a very successful event drawing about 15% of their membership.. just sayin’).

Chuck and Jennifer out did themselves — again ! — opening up their home for the party.  Part of the beauty of the event is that members each brought something for the dinner, ranging from appetizers, Sangria and a margarita bar and wine, corn bread, baked beans, all sorts of salad and too many deserts to choose from!

Andrew Dalen helping on the stove!

 

“The Club” provided the main course —         BBQ ribs and chicken; both special Chuck recipes, and all sorts of soda, water and beer.

Folks started to arrive about 3 o’clock with the weather still cooperating… sort of.  The temperature was fine, but there was still some haze in the air — though not as bad as the air quality in other parts of the region — especially the foot hills.   In Angels Camp, for example, you couldn’t see across a valley with all the particulate matter from the regional fires!   UGH !!

Chuck arranged the cars for the “group” photo — this time on the lawn.  Which for sure provided a better photo and was needed to accommodate all the cars — 24 Porsches!   We had two versions of the group — one cars only and another with owners!

But the real party was with folks just hanging around, munching and talking about the last year’s events — and welcoming new members..

You know that things are going well when the part was seen from high above!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another record next year ???

Stay tuned..

WERKS 2018 Aug 24th

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by D. Chaisson

If you have been reading your Panorama’s, or watching our “Calendar” on YOS.PCA.ORG, then you know about WERKS.

This year, the featured cars will be “356 Outlaws”.   What a chance to see these wonderfully modified 356’s, stroll the lawns with a full array of current and older models on “display” and generally just hang out with old and new (Porsche) friends.   There still may be space in the “corrals” with special parking on the grounds — organized by models.

There are always special displays by Porsche — maybe an example of the Mission E?  who knows.  Visit the PCA website for all the details.

Did we mention that the event is:  FREE to attend and park in non-corral areas.  (well, except for the gas to drive to Monterey, lunch on the grounds, etc.).   There still may be space available in the model specific corral parking areas, but the deadline for “showing” your car has passed.

We are not planning on an organized “event” to drive down to Monterey, but a few of the board are set to go:  Chaisson will “show” his Racing Yellow Cayman GTS (he did last year, why again??), Pierce will be there (Chuck definitely will not be “showing” his car –in the words of a good friend, “he’s a ‘driver’, not a ‘waxer’!” — but not to rankle the Concours fans to be sure.)

Here is the schedule:

7:00 AM Registration opens
7:00 – 9:00 AM Cars placed on field and in parking corral
7:00 – 10:00 AM Breakfast and coffee carts available
9:30 – 12:00 PM Judging
10:00 – 4:00 PM Cash bar stocked with a wide variety of beers, wines and spirits.
11:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch available from onsite vendors
2:00 – 3:00 PM Awards Ceremony
ALL DAY View cars, socialize, have fun!

A word of warning though, this will be “Car Week” and traffic is, well, difficult.  So plan for extra time coming and going.

But, it is worth it !!    See you there..

 

Tour the Blackhawk Museum, July 22

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On Sunday morning a lively group of PCA members, 25 members in all with 13 cars, met at Starbucks in Manteca to embark on a journey to the Blackhawk Museum in Danville. Norm Swanberg made the critical arrangements with Blackhawk, primarily through Wayne Craig, a former PCA-YOS member, also a Blackhawk docent.  Chuck Pierce led us over the Altamont Pass using the country roads which were quite mellow by his standards.  Norm and Virginia were “sweep” in their Honda (seems their lovely 944 decided to spring a fuel leak over the engine, so quickly shut off!  The 944 now has a doctor’s appointment.   Upon arrival at the museum, Jennifer staged the cars in the holding area while Chuck got the okay for our prearranged preferred parking right outside the door in front of the museum.

After several photos we headed inside to meet our docent Ed Holloway (arranged by drive leader, Norm Swanberg), who gave us a very detailed account of many of the cars on display in the Automotive Gallery.

OK, the cars were not Porsches, but, come on — they were beautiful — automotive ART.

Just “bear” with us now…..

Then we headed up to level 2 where we toured the Spirit of the West exhibit, with interesting Oregon Trail and Indian exhibits!

 

Then it was outside for more photos, including what has to be our “best” GROUP PHOTO!

 

 

 

 

 

After our tour, which could have lasted a lot longer, but we had lunch reservation to make!   Chuck, Jennifer and Virginia worked hard to get a place to take the group, but did a great job, coming up with Canyon Lakes Golf Course for lunch. The food was great, the staff attentive, and the venue included an occasional wild turkey trotting by on the outside patio. Socializing, more pictures, and getting to know new members made for a delightful day.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the event “happen” and to everyone who came and had a great time.

An Epic Tour: Petersen Auto Museum and PEC LA

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Report by D. Chaisson

This is a “Report” on the Yosemite Region’s “Epic Tour” to the Petersen Auto Museum and PEC LA (or Porsche Experience Center – Los Angles).   The report is a lot to do about how much fun a few members had, but for all that didn’t go, perhaps you can get a bit of pleasure reading about and seeing photos of the “Tour”.

So, who went on the Tour?  Chuck and Jennifer Pierce, Larry and Kris Kirkbride, Jim Mazza and Diane and (me) Don Chaisson. For sure, the “tour” was more of the Auto Museum and PEC LA than the drive down because only the Pierce’s and Krikbride’s drove down together. Diane and I drove down in our RDX (we were staying on in LA to visit our son) and Jim had to finish teaching a class the night before the tour (getting to the hotel in Encino really late/or really early in the morning depending on how you look at it!).

On to the TOUR! After a nice breakfast at the Coral Tree Cafe, we headed into  the teeth of LA traffic, challenging the famed “101-405” interchange (still claims to be the busiest interchange in the country !) and creep our way into downtown LA to the Petersen Auto Museum to take in the “Porsche Effect” display.   We posed for the “group” photo in the museum lobby behind a road legal 911 GT1 — which has to be the most awesome 911 ever made (and featured a front from a 993 and rear derived from a 962 including its water-cooled, twin-turbocharged and intercooled four valve per cylinder flat-six engine which was arranged in a mid-mounted position).  Jalopnik noted that you can buy one for $7MM or so!

Jim Mazza seemed to be interested in the 911 Targa on display.   Seems that he had Targa on his mind since his selected car at the PEC was a (new) Targa also!   Hmm..

Don was busy trying to get some nice “artsy” photos,  but really just overwhelmed…

In case you’re interested, you can pick up a Club Blau for @ $200,000 (one in Pano was $180K), a RS Spyder can be bought from Canepa ( $$ ?), the 917 from the movie LeMans went for $14MM and as far as the ’44 356-2 — it came from the Porsche Museum and its not and will not ever be for sale!   It was interesting to see some of the other exhibits at Petersen:  a nice collection of “Japanese” cars were on display, including the Toyota GT2000, a Nissan Skyline and other not so impressive very early models.   But a car is a car to a car-guy!

OK…  on to PEC LA!

This is the drill.   You go to the PEC LA, ogle over the cars that they have in the lobby (the display constantly changes) or peek into the Porsche NA race shop (all sorts of cars are in work — like the 550 and <I think> 962 sitting side by side in the shop), have a bit of a snack at the deli (the Restaurant 917 upstairs is “fine dining” — so we didn’t go there!) and about 15 minutes before your “session” is to begin, a bunch of very polite, well dressed “coaches” decent on to the lobby and find “their” students.   An interesting dance follows of them looking for our “badges” and “us” wondering who will have to put up with us for an hour and a half.  Here is a photo of Diane and I, with badges, waiting for our coaches.    After brief introductions, we “pair” off and walk out to the cars cued up for our sessions.    Larry had signed up for a Carrera

S (I think it was an “S”), Jim signed up for a Carrera Targa (if memory serves)and the Chaisson’s were in Cayman’s (Don is a Cayman nut as the region knows!).    I can’t relate the exact conversations with the other coach-drivers, but for me, Mark was very professional, polite and clearly had been well trained to deal with all sort of personalities.  For me, Mark was very “calming” after determining my level of experience and determined what I wanted to get out of the session.   For me, it was a matter of getting more feelings for vehicle dynamics, both on slick surfaces and at speed since my driving style is not as smooth as it should be.

I did volunteer some comments to Diane’s coach, asking him to help her get more comfortable with the capabilities of a Cayman, e.g.  learn how to NOT be “ALARMED” with traffic a couple hundred yards ahead.  That sort of thing.

So, Ricky started off, as each coach does, by driving around the facility  to orient each participant.  Then pulls into the “pits” and invites the student to take the wheel, politely holding the door (because they know we are all wound up!!).   Then off they went.   Diane did a few trips down the “ice hill” getting the sensation of the car loosing grip and spinning, then trying to save it with the help of Porsche “nannies”.

Then, Ricky took Diane to an exercise area (think big autocross tarmac) for full acceleration-launch control runs.   Diane (as reported to me) asked, ” .. why would I want to do this????”    Ricky reported that he said, ” … BECAUSE IT IS  FUN “.
Apparently Diane did enjoy the exercise since she asked, “… can we do that again!!”.   Gee, I hope I can get Diane out of the driver’s seat in “my” Cayman!

 

I mean, you tell me, from the photo, do you think she had fun??

 

 

 

One by one, Jim, Larry and I finished with our sessions and I think I’d say that we, too, had FUN.

Check out the Photo Gallery for more photos of the cars in action.   Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a telephoto lens so things do look a bit far away.

So, another epic event in the books.   If anyone’s travels takes you to Los Angles and you can fit in a few hours at the PEC LA, you just have to do it!!

 

 

 

 

 

Garage Tour #2 Rick’s Hot Rods

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Please join us on August 18th to see Rick Van Unen’s collection of cars and memorabilia. Do you like horse power and lots of it? Want to see a 70s vintage station wagon that has 600 hp, heated steering wheel, four wheel disc brakes, and a few other “minor” modifications! Spend some time enjoying the hundreds of vintage “petrobillia” items, artwork and other cool stuff on display. And yes, that 56 Chevy front end (photo attached) is actually a working desk for Rick.

We will meet at the Starbucks in Escalon,  1255 Lillian Avenue, Escalon, CA at 10:00 AM. After our usual administrative “meeting” to go over the rules of the road, sign PCA mandated waivers, etc. we will set out no later than 10:30 for the short ride to Rick’s garage, just in Ripon.

Afterwards, we’ll gather in Ripon for lunch following the noise and gawking!   It should be a “gas”.   Special thanks to YOS member Rick for inviting us to see his garage!

 

Please sign-up via our registration site so we can know how many people are coming: just click on the “GT3 Registration Button” :

Garage Tour: Migliore Motorsports June 2, 2018

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This is the first in our new “Garage Tour” series was organized by YOS Membership Chair, George Hatfield.   26 members and friends in 18 Porsches met at the Starbucks in Manteca,  and after a bit of socializing in the parking lot (thanks to George’s long time friend, Phil Felde who set out cups and Starbucks coffee in the parking lot), the obligatory sign-in and safety briefing, we drove as a group over to Migliore Motorsports, a short five minutes away (17700 Murphy Parkway, Lanthrop, CA  95330.

When we arrived at Migliore, owner Nico Castellaccio met us in the parking lot and help direct us into three lines of member cars (see the featured photo on the main website page).   The shop is a large space but it was filled with all sort of “eye-candy” for gear heads, especially Porsche nuts!  There was  Daytona prototype, but we were there to see Porsches, and were there Porsches there.  The cars ranged from a bare 911 frame (being completely restored after an unfortunate shunt) to a 914 (I think that was Nico’s) to “mild race” Carreras, to a “Flying Lizard” Cup car to a recently received 935-K3.

 

Yes, a 935-K3.  It is the Bob Akin’s Coca Cola sponsored car (with co-drivers O’Steen and Hans Stuck no less).    Nico is preparing the car for Rennsport VI, Sept 27 to 30 at Laguna Seca.   (FYI, YOS will have a drive down for Rennsport — but if you are thinking of going AND parking in the Porsche Coral, you had better buy your corral tickets soon!   The rumor is that they will sell out —  and then you’ll have to park on the hill!)

While the 935 was clearly the star of the shop for the visit, there were a number of other great cars.   There were two “Falken” GTLM cars in the parking lot, twins, but not the same!  Note the different wing heights.

Next to the 935, the Flying Lizard car was the next biggest attraction.   It was on the lift, clearly in the middle of some work..    But the business end was still intact, and at President Pierce’s request, Nico fired the beast up — all 540 HP.  Great sounds out of a great car.   One of the interesting parts of the car’s rework was to install a second racing seat.  Clearly, this project is intended for “pleasure” instead of period correct histories.

Photo: Hatfield

The shop is not just a museum, it is a working operation.   Migliore not only works on race cars, but offers routine service for “street” cars.  George just had the shop do some exhaust work, and I’m looking for a routine transmission oil change (PDK’s deserve some love!)  Migliore is also a “family” business, with (wife) Victoria serving as business manager, advertising, logistics manager, and by the looks of it, she’s been busy doing “other” things (baby Sophia is just 2 months old, and was already quite at home in the shop).

 

Photo: Hatfield

Of course, a YOS event wouldn’t be an authentic YOS event with out a visit to a restaurant.  After the tour, we were off to a local Mexican restaurant, Las Casuelas Restaurant and Bar.   Needless to say, the offerings were tasty — and generous.

 

So… the take away thought:   Who would have thought that such a professional “Race” shop that handles all sorts of Porsches, even historic racers, was right in our back yard?  But, Migliore is just that, a full service race, restoration and routine service shop right in Lathrop.     Nico is planning a “Pre-Rennsport” BBQ the weekend before Rennsport.   So, if you missed this tour, watch out for announcements about this BBQ in September and you can catch up on this hidden gem.   Or better yet, rather than putting off that service/repair on your car, give them a call.

209-624-3841, or visit:  ncrace1@yahoo.com (also on Facebook, twitter, instagram, and google+)

 

 

 

Drive and Wine Tour at Ironstone Winery June 23th

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Please note the date !! June 23rd.. We apologize for the confusion on the date !

 

Join your friends from the Yosemite PCA for this fun Sunday drive & dine!
Register on Eventbrite by clicking the GT3 button:  

This drive will start atStarbucks in Escalon at 10:00AM, then heading out around the Woodward reservoir to Hwy 120 through to Chinese Camp, Jamestown and Columbia, taking Parrots Ferry Rd. to Hwy 4 then up to Murphys and Ironstone Winery for lunch.  The route is a one familiar in the foothills, scenic with interesting, but pretty well maintained roads.   It will be nice to see the reservoir almost to the top when you cross over on Parrot’s Ferry Road.

We will arrive at the Ironstone Winery where they will direct the group to a special parking area (we won’t get to park in the amphitheater since they are setting up for a concert, but are working on an alternative special location).   We’ll do an informal lunch at their “deli”.    As you can tell from the menu (below) the selections are wide and prices reasonable.We then will take a guided tour of their winery, including a chance to try some of their wines.   Note, wine tasting is $5 each, price waived with “any” purchase.

The rest of the afternoon is up to you, but we recommend you head back to Murphys Main Street and visit other tasting rooms.    Did you know that Murphys has over 2 dozen wineries and tasting rooms!   Not to worry, here are Don Chaisson’s recommendations:

  •  Four Winds Winery:  219 Main Street.   Ask for David at the tasting room and he will guide you through their interesting assortment of wines.   Don’s favorite: Tempest (a red blend).
  • Lavender Ridge:  425 A Main Street.   If we’re lucky, Charlie will be pouring their wines.  But make sure you catch their cheese table.
  • Stevenot Tasting Room:  458 Main Street.   Stevenot is one of the oldest Calaveras wineries and help start the wine business up here.   Don’s favorite:  Temperillo.
  • Domain Becquet:  415 Main Street.  This winery, as its name suggests, is more of the French styles, a bit less bold, but wonderfully smooth and complex.  Have fun exploring.

You really can’t go too wrong with other tasting rooms, but you can’t get to them all in a day!

Limit is 15 cars for the tour so when you sign up below you are signing up your car! Please indicate in the name section the first names of those in your car.    Side note:  Ironstone recently hosted a local “Corvette Club” and they only had 7 cars show up.   We’ve all but assured that Yosemite Region would have more cars!    Register on Eventbrite by clicking the GT3 button:  

** Be sure to sign up for the VIP discount card at https://www.gocalaveras.com/calaveras-vip/

Featherbed B&B Day 2

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Day 2 of our two (and half) day tour was a combination of “TWO drives” and “TWO(and a half) ‘meals'”.
First, the drives.
The morning began with a lovely “breakfast” at the Featherbed B&B (that’s what the second “B” is all about!). Then we lined up for our drive/adventure.     The route headed west and south hooking up on Hwy 175.   The road was, shall we just say “technical”.  My co-pilot tried to take a photo during the ride, most too blurry.   Best way to illustrate the road is to show a bit of it on Google Maps.

yep, it was that twisty!   Next a respite going south on US101, ultimately aiming for Skaggs Road, which was just as “technical” as Hwy 175.   We essentially ended up at Stewarts Point on Coastal Hwy 1, for a nice stop to enjoy our first view of the Pacific.  Next north for a photo op of the group — cars, people and Pacific Ocean.

Lunch was at the “Chowder House” just north of Point Arena.   After lunch, back on the road for a “return run” back to the Featherbed B&B, heading east on Mountain View road to Boonville; continuing east on Hwy 253, looping north of Lake Mendocino and back to Clear Lake.   All in all, we put in about 5 to 6 hours “seat time”, thinking how we could be so tired with such a wide grin on our face?

After a bit of of resting, the whole tour assembled for a BBQ hosted by Featherbed B&B!  The twist was that folks came in “theme”, as in the theme of their “caboose!   Here is the line up!

First:  the award winners!

The rest of the “field”:

Everyone rolled out of their Cabooses Sunday morning for (another great) breakfast at the B&B; lined up for one last group photo before heading south, back to reality.

All in all, great time, great group and smart money on us going up there next year!

 

 

Euro Trends has moved…

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One of Yosemite Region’s long time advertisers has moved: Euro Trends now is located at 1320 C Angie Ave, Modesto, CA 95351.

While Euro Trends continues with 50 years in Porsche repair in the central valley, Keith Waterman, owner, reminds that “Euro Trends is a full-service auto repair shop and service center in Modesto, California! We specialize in European makes and models, including Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo. Euro Trends aims to caters to each customer’s unique needs to make sure your vehicle is in top shape! Our team will work diligently to service your car as fast as possible while ensuring only quality repairs are performed.”

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