Archive for year: 2021

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2022 DE Dates Are Published

Drivers Education (DE) is a program developed by PCA to give drivers the opportunity to learn how to drive their cars on real racetracks in a safe, controlled and fun environment.  Typically a DE event is run over 2 or 3 days. Each day usually has four or five driving groups (divided by experience and skill level) on track four times for 20 to 30 minutes each session. To ensure maximum safety and fun you’re placed in a run group with other drivers with similar experience and skill levels. In the novice groups, drivers are accompanied by PCA trained and certified instructors who will teach you high performance driving techniques and fundamentals. DE driving is not racing or even preparation for racing. The events are not timed and there are no prizes. Prescribed passing zones and rules and codes of conduct add to the safe environment.

From an enthusiasts perspective, DE can easily become a lifestyle throughout the summer and in fact year ’round.  Waking moments are spent at the track, or thinking about the next time there.  We live for the rush of adrenaline that comes from moments like touching 140 mph just before jumping on the brakes at the “bus stop” at Watkins Glen.  Or, allowing the car to drift out to the turn-in, at the end of the front straight before powering over a blind cresting apex at Mont-Tremblant.  Just as importantly, highpoints of our summer at DE events include laughing with new and old friends over the events of the day.

To register for NER events, please visit Club Registration. Registration for NER DE events will open on March 1st (except for Mont-Tremblant & Calabogie, our Canada events) which will open later (To Be Announced).

Are you are new to DE’ing? Are you a new member of the Porsche Club? Or, perhaps, a long term member getting back into Porsche-related activities? Are you interested in expanding your Porsche experience into more exotic realms? Would you like to drive your Porsche ‘spiritedly’ without the risk of running afoul of the polizei? If so, we highly recommend attending our 2022 DE Ground School which will be sponsored by HMS Motorsports of Danvers, MA. The DE ground school will be held on April 24th at Palmer Motorsports Park. As a teaser, the 2021 DE Ground School presentation package is available here.

DE is a different experience for everyone. You’ve got to try it.  The only critical components are desire and a car!

Drill deeply into the DE section of our web site, you’ll find lots of information and helpful ideas. Hope to see you at the track.

Stan Corbett, NER Registrar.

2022 NER & NCR Driver Education Schedule is available here (scroll down to see the events and click on the event dates for details).

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NER Winter Beaters Vol. 3

What’s your name and where do you reside?

My name is Matthew Keefe, and I live in Framingham, Mass.

What’s your first Porsche experience ?

“It’s actually different than most. A few years back, I worked on a mobile app (Matt’s a professional software developer) called “Cayman Code” for the launch of the 981 Cayman.” 

“The app was pretty cool – designed so that Cayman owners could learn about their car. Porsche partnered with Patrick Dempsey and other drivers and celebrities. They pushed it hard to owners but never fully promoted it to a younger, broader audience.”

“There was a leaderboard for Porsche owners to measure (and compete on) acceleration, slalom, etc..” (And the lawyers agreed to this?!) *Laughs*

“The score was nebulous. We took out G-force because that would’ve been a big no-no.

Anyway, I tested the app in my BMW M3, and I couldn’t compete with the top scores. Some of it was driver ability at the time, but it opened my eyes to the car’s capability.”

What’s your history with PCA and New England?

The GT4 is Matt’s first Porsche. He did a ride and drive with Porsche Westwood a couple years back – they brought a GT4 on a trailer along with the then-current 991.1 911. “That was the moment I knew I really had to get one.” 

Winter driving:

“Right now, (the GT4) is kinda my daily driver, though I may not need to drive every day.” Matt also has a low-mile 05 Acura TL (40k miles – hang on to that future BringATrailer classic!) to transport the kids, but if he needs to run an errand, “I take the Porsche because it’s fun! That’s why I put the snow tires on the car. I want to drive it in the winter!” 

Photo Credits: Josh Sweeney (https://instagram.com/shootfordetails)

Did you ever have a moment that wasn’t so fun?

“Yes.” Matt describes in carbon-crunching detail an instance with a high-side after a big storm – he became a plow in his cul de sac at the expense of the front splitter. “Porsche considers it a wear item.” 

That wasn’t enough to turn him off, though! “I put it in reverse and rocked my way out. Being a manual car, it is more difficult to “creep.” (this was the 2nd time he had driven the GT4 in the snow!) If this happened out on the street, it would’ve been a different situation. 

“This gave me an extra thought of “do I need to go?” before I grab the keys in bad conditions. But I still wanna drive it in the winter and have fun. If it were a classic, I’d feel differently, but I bought the car to drive.”

Most fun driving moments (winter/non-winter)?

Winter – “definitely snowy parking lot shenanigans.” *Laughs* “If you haven’t enjoyed a couple, are you really from New England?”

Track days are a hobby, too – Matt’s GT4 has already made the rounds at local favorites. “So far – Thompson, Club Motorsports NH, and Palmer. For me, the biggest adventure was actually getting the car. My son and I flew to CO (Porsche Colorado Springs) and drove the car home 700mi a day. Right before COVID – we didn’t know what was gonna happen. I’m thankful we got the opportunity – if we knew what was gonna happen, we might not have gone.”

How are you keeping busy beyond cars this winter?

“Outside of cars, I’m spending more time with the kids! 

I’ve also gotten more into sim racing – been doing iRacing with friends and family across the country.” Matt upgraded his sim rig setup and just found out about sanctioned groups. (Psst – check out PCA Sim Racing!) “It’s fun to drive tracks I haven’t visited in person yet.”

Favorite and least favorite parts of winter?

 “I’m actually more of a spring and fall guy. Winter sports with friends and family in a normal year.”

Matt enjoys detailing cars – a hobby he can’t enjoy to the fullest with below-freezing temps.

“I’m falling back on the ceramic coating a bit. Learned that we’re all washing our cars with reclaimed, salty water in the winter – ouch!” 

What are the best and worst cars you’ve driven in the snow?

“The worst was hands-down my first car, 2001 Jetta. I once went straight – into a snowbank – when trying to turn (below the speed limit.) My then-girlfriend, now-wife wasn’t too impressed!” She got past it.

The best? “Hands down GT4. My M3 got stuck a couple times, even on snow tires. GT4 – not sure if it’s the weight distribution or the tires, but it hasn’t quit.”

Well said, Matt. We’re glad you’re staying safe and making the most of quarantine in your Guards Red GT4. If you’d like to keep up with Matt’s adventures, be sure to follow him on YouTube and Instagram!

https://youtube.com/coderman

https://www.instagram.com/red_gt4/

Are you ready for Spring? Write to us at [email protected] and let us know how you’ve been making the best of winter, and what you’re looking forward to as we thaw out.

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NER Autocross Update 2021

From Chris Ryan, NER AX Chair:
Plans are underway to run a complete Autocross Season for 2021. We are still awaiting finalization of contracts with Devens but plans are to open up the runways for our events in April/May as we normally do!

By then, the hope is that the COVID situation will be trending
toward significant improvement but it’s likely we’ll still be required to wear masks and practice social distancing to be safe. That said, we are working to allo for safe, in-car instruction, making it easier to open the events up to newcomers this season.

All of this depends on final agreements between the AX Clubs and Devens about COVID protocols, and these may not be finalized until the beginning of the season. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.
In the meantime, we hope people will come out to Devens for some fun on the runways … the dates are posted on porschenet.com. Registration will be open on motorsportreg.com in April 10th so get your cars ready and mark your calendars!

Get your cars ready, mark your calendars and plan to come out and chase some cones again!

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NER WINTER BEATERS VOL.2

What’s your name and where do you reside?

“Chris Bassett, normally I split time between Needham and Southboro (where my family is). But since COVID, we’ve been spending most of our time on Cape Cod (3-4 days a week.)

(Are you working from home, then?)

Yup, as a financial planner for Boston-based firm. I’m currently in the process of going back to business school.”

What’s your first Porsche experience ?

“*Laughs* Long long ago.” Chris’ Grandfather was a car collector (mostly European). He had the first Lamborghini (400GT) which he bought in 1968.

Chris’ Nextdoor neighbor was a former Porsche racecar driver. He had every kind of [classic and modern] Porsche imaginable. For his bday every year, he would give Chris’ dad his keys to one of his 911s for the weekend. “From 3 onward, I have these incredible memories of riding in every kind of 911 with my dad. That cemented it and I knew I needed one.”

Flash forward and Chris got his first Porsche – a 2008 Cayman S with 20,000 miles, in 2016. The owner had barely driven it. Owning the car for 3 years, he put 40,000 miles on it. “I loved that car. It’s still the best handling car I’ve ever driven. On, on-ramps and tight corners, it’s planted and just unbelievable. Zero body roll and such quick responses. The only thing I didn’t like as an enthusiast was not being able to see or touch the engine.”

In 2019, Chris purchased a 2014, 911. “That was the childhood dream for me. Everything about that car… there’s nothing I would change except a bit more power… Manual too. I store it in the wintertime on a battery tender but I do drive it three seasons (favorite is Fall.) It’s been so reliable – just oil changes and battery maintenance and it starts right up in the spring.

What’s your history with PCA and New England?

Chris got his Cayman in 2016 – so 2-3 years before that. He interned for a Porsche dealership in CA while in school and joined then. He tries to attend Cars and Coffee as much as possible and is planning to get on the track this year. Hoping there will be PCA new england track events this year!!! (Stay tuned for updated Chris, we’re excited to see you there!)

Winter driving:

Chris has an E92 3-series that he’s had since brand new – it now has 150,000 miles with X-drive and it’s been rock solid. “I sold it at one point when I moved back to Boston and was living in the North End. I just didn’t need a ‘daily’ as I had my Cayman and wasn’t driving during the week. [4 years later,] I moved to Newton, and bought the exact same car back, still in great condition. He (the buyer) didn’t need it anymore. In the family there are a couple other winter cars. Unfortunately, it’s [the 3-series] an automatic – but I’m a stick shift enthusiast for sure. If I never had to drive an automatic again I wouldn’t. All my other cars have been manual – when looking for the 911, I specifically wanted a manual.” The Cayman was also manual. 

“I choose not to drive my 911 in winter – but they are very well-engineered four-season capable cars. I wouldn’t be worried on the right tires – but since I have a “winter beater,” why not take advantage of it?”

 How are you keeping busy beyond cars this winter?

“Good question. Down on the Cape, we’re in a quiet community. I’ve been trying to walk and run; get as much fresh air as I can. It’s nice to have a beautiful and pretty empty place to feel a little bit more relaxed and not feel crowded.”

Chris is applying to schools and working has been taking up a lot of his time.. He has Been able to meet up with his dad to play tennis 3x a week – that’s another big passion that’s a little harder when it’s snowing.

 Favorite and least favorite parts of winter? 

Favorite: The scenery of New england in the snow (the day after a snowstorm) especially in Boston. “Looking across the harbor or walking down city streets to grab a pastry..”

Least favorite: “Salt on the roads! Can’t go anywhere without getting a carwash. *laughs*”

What are the best and worst cars you’ve driven in the snow?

Best: My sister has a Volvo XC90 – that thing is ‘unstoppable!’

Worst: “RWD E46 – at the time, it was on all seasons. Couldn’t go ANYWHERE in that – well, maybe sideways. Could get stuck going downhill.”

“Rental car once, Chevy cobalt on bald tires – I couldn’t even get out of the lot.”

Safe and Happy Driving Chris! We wish you the best of luck in your school search process and hope to see you get some hot laps on the track with us this year!

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NER Winter Beaters Vol.1

NER Winter Beaters Vol.1

What’s your name and where do you reside?

Joe Cracco –  Cumberland, RI

What’s your first Porsche experience ?

5 years ago – Joe was on vacation for his birthday. Part of the vacation was to pitstop and meet up with his buddy, Randall, a Porsche guy in Florida. Joe rented a Ferrari 458 for a few days and also drove Randall’s, Cayenne Turbo. A few day later, he ended up at a family party. At the party Joe met another Porsche guy, who had a 2012 Boxster Spyder (987.) They start talking cars and Joe V. asks the magic words –  “Wanna drive my Spyder?” – not 5 minutes later Joe mentions his reaction being “The Ferrari was great, but THIS Spyder IS AMAZING…I’M HOOKED!” (sounds about right)

What’s your history with PCA and New England?

After the Spyder experience and upon his return to RI, Joe joined PCA when he came home and started browsing. He went to The Mart. He wanted a 981, so he started looking at used Cayman S’s or GTS’s – with some specific requests. “It had to be sapphire blue, it had to have PDK, Sport Chrono, PASM, Sport Exhaust…..” Joe explained, “but every time I found exactly the right car, it was sold. Then I hear about the 718 Spyder” in late 2017. ” So I go the dealership, put my name on a list for the Spyder (which still doesn’t officially exist yet). I scour the internet every day looking for the official release announcement, but it doesn’t get announced…months go by…I am driving myself bananas!” It had now been 2.5 years since driving the Spyder in Florida, and Joe still doesn’t own a Porsche! “Finally, I got sick of waiting so I call them (Porsche Warwick) and ask, what the hell do you have on the lot? After saying I’d never get a convertible, I got a 2013 Boxster (981) in Aug 2018. I was freakin’ hooked!” A year goes by and it’s Oct 2019… “I am scrolling on Cargurus and I see it! The 2014 Cayman S with all the options I’d been looking for.  I told my wife Amy I am trading in my Boxster (she rolls her eyes). After days of trying to get the car, Joe gets an email…”You still want the car?” it was in western PA and Joe couldn’t travel. The Porsche guy friend from Florida flies to, CT then drives to Cumberland RI, to help Joe out. “He grabbed the Boxster from my house, drove it to western PA, picked up my my Cayman S but it wasn’t until two weeks later that he drove the car back to me. Meanwhile, in those two weeks, he took it to our high school reunion, and there were videos of people doing triple digits in my car before I even saw it. He eventually delivered my Cayman S dream car to me…and you know what I learned? I LOVED the convertible more than the Cayman…… and the 2021 Spyder is a convertible GT4.”

Winter driving:

“If it’s 38 or higher my top is down with the heat on” ( Despite my telling Joe I thought his idea was crazy, he iterated that a convertible is meant to be driven with the top down – Fair point, Joe)

 How are you keeping busy beyond cars this winter?

“Skiing, snow shoe-ing, hangin’ out in the cabin. Leukemia paused my business for 1.5 yrs…now I am getting the business back up (after 21 years of running it all along)…and making maple syrup”

Favorite and least favorite parts of winter? 

Favorite – winter activities 

Least Favorite – having to work a job site in the winter 

What are the best and worst cars you’ve driven in the snow?

Best: “I loved my Subaru (2.5L, 5 speed Legacy Wagon with Blizzaks) and my buddy Andy’s Mazda 323GTX was a hoot doing ice racing” (Joe has a knack for the track and Auto X and has been involved in these since the 80s)

Worst: “A car my dad was going to get for me and my sister to share – It was a late 70s Corolla, so i said no thanks and got my own car, a Datsun 200sx” (either car would be highly respected and sought after in the JDM culture today). Correction: the Datsun 200SX was 5 cars later.  My first car was an early 70’s K5 Chevy Blazer (blew the engine within a year), then I got a Fox-body Mercury Capri 5.0 liter (lots of fun w/ that!), then a piece of $#!t, rusted out VW Rabbit, then a ’55 Chevy wagon (stylish and fun, but not a commuter car), THEN my first Datsun 200 SX (then an ’89 Mazda MX-6 GT Turbo, then another Datsun 200SX and on and on….Volvo, Acura, Subaru, Ford, Chevy, Porsche)

 Any words of encouragement for members who don’t drive their Porsches in the winter?

“Everybody’s got a different take on this thing…they say I they don’t wanna get salt on it, or get hit by another car, or I have a truck. I have a 4WD truck too. The roads are perfectly dry right now (January). If you have a car you love, why go through the fuel stabilizer and surround it with mothballs, and try to avoid a mouse living in the car? Just drive it! I’m driving a 2021 Spyder in the winter, so you can drive your Carrera 4 or anything else…just try it once. I don’t know, maybe I am too addicted to my car.”

Cheers to many more smiles per hour in your 2021 Spyder Joe! (no freon was wasted during the making this NER WinterBeaters”

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