Archive for year: 2022

You are here: / / 2022

Article II Thoughts

Seven years ago when I moved back to Massachusetts from the D.C. area and switched my PCA membership to the New England Region, I never anticipated what the following seven years would entail. I made it to a few auto-x’s, attended loads of cars and coffees, started doing DE, served on the NER board as Treasurer, then VP Admin and now as the new President. Through all of that fun car stuff though, the best part has been the people I have met. People who have helped answer questions about my different board roles, instructors who answered questions/ offered tips and critiques about my driving and car set up, the few hardy souls who have ridden shotgun in my car at DE events, they have all proven true the mantra “it’s not the cars, it’s the people”.

As we move steadily into 2022 and closer to the “driving months” and as the various lingering elements of the pandemic hopefully retreat into our rearview mirrors, I am eagerly looking forward to where we go as a club.  Both in terms of “recovering” from how we have had to do things for the last two years and also how we can improve or expand the club in general.  PCA is an ever growing and increasingly diverse group of people and cars. One of the big ongoing questions the NER board faces is how do we keep our activities relevant to this evolving environment? We need to constantly be thinking about this along with a host of other items surrounding our existing club needs.  The board is comprised of a great group of people who I know will do an exceptional job, but at the end of the day we are finite and fallible human beings. Every club member should feel 100% welcome at any time to offer suggestions, recommendations, etc regarding the club. It is an open line between you and the board.  The more communication and feedback we receive the better we can do our jobs. 

Here is to having an excellent 2022!

-Robert Jacobsen, NER President

/by

2022 AUTOCROSS SEASON UPDATE

The AUTOCROSS Schedule for 2022 is set – mark your calendars! If you are new to the Club or your Porsche, Autocross is a great way to get introduced to Motorsport activities and meet new friends. We hope to see you at Devens in Ayer for one or more AX Events this year.

Our first event is an Autocross School which is highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn about the sport in a friendly, instructional setting.

For event dates and other information, click here: NER AutoX Info

If you have questions, contact Chris Ryan, Autocross Chair, at [email protected]

/by

Getting My Driver’s License

I grew up in Upstate New York on the family farm.   We raised oats, hay, sheep and horses.   At that time you could drive on the road at 14, if the vehicle you were driving had Farm Plates.  (no actual paperwork was needed  —  and the county cops rarely patrolled the roads anyway).     But the rule on the farm was different,  if you were big enough to fully depress the clutch on the Tractor (by standing on it),  you were big enough to drive it.  Now my initial actual road driving was limited to a mile or so down the road from the farm to one of the leased fields we used for oats,  and the traffic was basically non-existant.   So, remember,  the next time you are on the Ramble and stuck behind a Hay Wagon that’s using ¾ of the road and going 12 MPH,  the 13 year old at the controls has that tractor flat out – as fast as it will go,  has no turn signals, and is likely to turn  left into a field at any moment,  without checking to see behind him ( because he can’t see who’s there anyway over the 5 tons of hay in the wagon ).

Experience with the tractors led to being allowed to drive the other vehicles with farm plates,  the WWll surplus Willis Jeep that served as the snow plow and did the trail clearing and the Ford Stake Bed,  both with non- synchromesh transmissions.   The Stake Bed was the most fun, not just because it had no muffler and made a great noise when opened up,   it also meant driving  a 20 minute trip alone into town to the Feed and Grain to pick up whatever had been ordered.   The roads at the time were still gravel and in the late spring after they had been freshly grated, they were smooth as glass.   Did you know that you could 4-wheel-drift a big (empty ) under powered truck?  It’s amazing what you can do when you are young and stupid.        

Actually getting a valid driver’s license would have to wait until I was 16 and home from school for the summer and had the time to study the rule book for the written test and practice driving in actual traffic.  ( There were rules to learn ???  who knew ).   The dreaded parallel parking test was never really a problem, and I was disappointed that I didn’t get tested on my ability to back a trailer.  By that time I could not only back a trailer exactly where it needed to be on the first pass, I could back the 4 wheel  Hay Wagon connected to the Bailer which was connected to the Tractor.        

  •   Ted Shaw
/by
, ,

Winter Beaters Season 2 Vol. 2

What’s your name and where do you reside?

Stan Corbett, My wife, Carie, and I live in N.Grafton

What’s your first Porsche experience ?

While still in the service, in Omaha NE, Stan was in a Hemi Club and had a 426 Road Runner.

“…We would run gymkhanas and one guy brought a 911, which I thought was cool, until I met the wrong group of 911 owners who had their nose in the stratosphere. I wrote them off until I had a friend who had a Boxster and we went up to NHMS a couple times. We went to Mosport and while we were up there, I did a bunch of parade laps each day. On the way back I said, This is too much fun not to be involved in. So I called him later that day and I had my Cayman at the end of that week… I put it on the track later that month at NHMS. I traded in my Dakota and the Cayman was my daily driver for 2.5 years. I bought a set of rims with Blizzaks and that’s what I drove in the winter.” From that moment, Stan has done almost every NER and NCR DE event every year and got 25-30 days per year since then.

What’s your history with PCA and New England?

“Since I bought it (the Cayman) I have been in PCA. I flagged at NHMS and worked control at Mosport before I joined because I was with my friend (the Boxster owner). Steve Artick let me in my first event (at NHMS) and was my instructor. I was going to the track so much my wife let me get a tire trailer and then an open trailer and tow vehicle. For several years I towed it with a Dodge pickup which I traded for an 06 Cayenne S. It had headlight issues and I swapped it for a 09 Cayenne S… I was picking up parts from the folks I bought it from and they had a 2013 Cayenne Diesel. The owner showed it to me (I knew it would tow better) and then he said “I’ll sell you that one.” “SOLD”…when not towing I get over 30MPG.” 

I used to drag race a 69 Hemi Roadrunner in Nebraska and if it wasn’t for my buddy with the Boxster, I would have never bought a Porsche.”

Winter driving:

“The Cayenne is my daily driver. The Cayman is on quick jacks. At the last Palmer event, 3rd gear took a vacation, the rev counter climbed and now it’s broken. The transmission will come out, Kevin Gross will pull it apart and see what’s going on (Kevin is a NER and Zone 1 Instructor)”

Favorite and least favorite parts of winter? 

Favorite: “It used to be sticky snow so you could make snowballs and snowmen, but not so wet you couldn’t ski. I gave up downhill skiing a long time ago but then did cross country for a few years.”

Least Favorite: “Slush”

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

Best: Cayenne

Worst: Hemi with slicks in Nebraska. If you went up a hill you had to time it….(YIKES)

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

“I drove the Cayman as a Daily for 2.5-3 years. Buy a set of honest to goodness snow tires and exercise a reasonable amount of common sense.” – Words to live by. Listen to Stan, and enjoy your Winter, folks!

If you would like to share your Porsche winter driving experience with our NER crew, please email Luis at [email protected] !

Thank you Stan!



/by
, ,

Postponed: Annual Autocross Party

The Annual Autocross Party at Billiards Café in Ayer, planned for February 5th has been postponed.

New Date TBD

Please Email us is you would like to be notified of the new re-schedule date.

Questions? Contact Chris Ryan, NER Autocross Chair: [email protected]

 

/by

Getting Your Driving License is NOT as Easy as it Seems

Anker Berge-Sonne’s recent story regarding how he first learned to drive and eventually got his license got me to thinking. In some ways my experience is similar and yet certainly different. I was born way back in late November 1949… so not very long after World War II.

We lived in a nice 3 bedroom house in Johnston, RI. My folks had bought that house with the money they had saved up after my father (a licensed electrician) worked MANY long hours after the Hurricane of 38 pretty much devastated a lot of downtown Providence. My dad worked at the US Rubber plant (later called Uniroyal) and the plant sat right alongside the Woonasquatucket River. When the Hurricane blew up the east coast the storm serge was about 12 feet in the city. There are still markers on some of the downtown buildings showing how high the water rose.

With the US Rubber plant being right along the river… the water came up fast and pretty much took out the manufacturing capacity on ALL of the first floor buildings. For almost a year my dad worked from sun up to sun down, 6 and 7 days a week …repairing the damage. LOTS of overtime… and thus the money to eventually buy a house. One smart purchase my family made was to buy the extra lot next to our house. The lot was maybe 120 feet long and about 60 feet wide. This lot will soon be part of the story.

Cars (and motorcycles) were always a big part of my dad’s interest… and as a boy I would watch him (and help) as he worked either on his bike or his cars. “Hand me that 7/16-inch box wrench” …
“Ok… what’s a box wrench?”. I learned by doing. 

Dad followed racing…. Indy, Daytona, anything local like midgets and stock cars at Seekonk and Thompson. In fact, one of my early memories was going to Thompson (I was maybe 11 or 12) on the back of the Harley and ending up near the paddock of the second configuration of that track. We watched real “road racing” and I remember the Ferrari of Mike Gamino (of Providence) go head-to-head with a Jag and an early Corvette. I’m pretty sure this was an SCCA event and I think the Ferrari won.

So, about this time I am in my early teens and the “car bug” had bit. I wanted to learn to drive. We had a Hudson Hornet (anybody remember those beasts ??) that was “surplus to our needs” and was not registered. It sat in that extra lot. Eventually my mom gave me the keys and encouraged me to “drive it back and forth” in the lot. I did this for hours on end. Back and forth… back and forth. (note: I had never heard of the Hudson Hornet prior to posting this article – here is an example of Steve McQueen’s I found online – Luis)

My mom giving me encouragement will come into play in a moment.

After about a year of this (I think I was maybe 15) one day my mom leaves the house while a friend of mine was with me. I get the bright idea to take the Hudson out on the side roads for a little run. Remember this is suburbia… there are houses and people and other cars all around… we are NOT out in the country. My buddy and I are gone no more than 10 minutes…during which time I ALMOST crashed the car. As I am driving back into the yard… I realize my mom is HOME.

@$%&.. caught red handed. Mom has one comment. “Wait till your father gets home and hears about this!” How many times have we ALL heard that expression?

Well, I did not get smacked across the back of my head, but I did get a STERN talking to by my father. Needless to say, … I never took the Hudson out on the road again.

My mother basically taught me how to drive. She had a 64 Dodge Dart convertible with a small V-8 and automatic transmission. I got my learners permit and together we would go out and drive around and she would instruct me. But since I had spent so much time in the Hudson… there really was not a lot to lean.

In high school I went to LaSalle Academy in Providence, an all-boy’s Catholic school… rather strict. I was a sophomore when I turned 16. I took a day out of school and my mother takes me to the driving test. I had one demerit (did not turn on my flashers when pulling out of the slot at the beginning of the test) and passed with flying colors. We got my paper work and Mom takes me to the registry and I get my license. All in the same day.

So, the next morning … as I’m getting ready for school… I ask my mother for a “note” to give to the teacher… saying I was sick yesterday. My mother looks at me and says “you were not sick… I am not giving you a note”. “But mom” I protest… “I’ll get in trouble.” “Well, you should have thought of that beforehand”. Needless to say, I did NOT get a note!

At school, after the first class session, there is an announcement over the PA system. “Mr. Raymond Boyer, please come to the principal’s office”. Now you have to understand that up to this point I had NEVER missed a day of school at LaSalle.

I walk into the office and there is Brother Patrick… the principal. (I will have another run in with this authority figure later in the year… a story for another time).

“Mr. Boyer, you were not in school yesterday. What is your excuse. Do you have a note from home?”

“No Brother, I do not have a note.”

“Why not, you missed school yesterday?”

I paused before I answered, considering my options.
Finally, I just fessed up.

“Well Brother, yesterday was my birthday and I turned 16. I took the day off and my mother drove me to take the driving test, which I passed I might add. After that we went to the Registry and I filled out the paperwork and I got my license. Then my mother took me out for lunch to celebrate me getting my license.”

 

This is all BS… but hey… I might as well spin this yarn as far as I can and see what happens. In a final act of defiance, rather proudly I say …

“Would you like to see my license?”

Brother Patrick looks at me with a bit of shock and perhaps with just a bit of incredulity. He just stands there looking at me. It seemed like forever, but was probably no more that 10 seconds before he says.

“I have to commend both your mother and you for your honesty in this matter”

“Thank you, Brother,” I reply.

I figure I am home free. Patrick just stands there thinking, perhaps for another 5 seconds. Then the verdict comes down.

“Three Weeks Detention. Report to room 102 every day after class.”

So, for the next 3 weeks I go to room 102 after class and spend those 45 minutes each day with all the other “hooligans” of La Salle Academy.

But at least after detention I got to drive myself home. You see, my dad gave me that old Hudson Hornet as a birthday present.

Contribution by: NER Member Ray Boyer

Additional Info

Ray Boyer is a newer member of the Porsche community. He bought his first P car (a 2011 Carrera 911) in August of 2019 as a present to himself for his 70th. birthday. Raymond joined the New England Porsche club in January of 2021. He is also a member of the SCCA and has been racing Formula Fords for more than 30 years. He does most of the mechanical work on the car himself. He now knows the difference between a 7/16-inch box wrench and a screwdriver.

/by

Four Speeds and Drum Brakes: Instructions

by Tom Tate

I have never been big on reading instructions. I always thought that instructions were something that you looked at if you got stuck when putting something together. If the picture on the box wasn’t enough to assemble the legs on a new stool or wheels on a cart then the instruction book was the fall back guide.

 I figured that written instructions were a modern device that lawyers wrote up with lots of disclaimers  to reduce the liability of the manufacturer.  Ladders always came with stickers all over them telling you how to unfold it, where to step, and how high you could go. Check any step ladder at the hardware store, they have a minimum of 8 stickers.  How about the instructions on the plastic bags from the cleaners? Does anyone really believe that the store sends you home with a toy along with your clean clothes? Really ? I know that it’s not a toy, they don’t have to print that on the bag 27 times.

A handy gift that I got for Christmas last year was a handful of bungee cords. I have a bunch hanging in the garage, many are old and limp but I keep them around just in case. Some are from what we used to call the “supermarket of the highway” which is anything found on the side of the road. To this day I’ll pull over if I spot a discarded tool or hold down strap if it looks decent. The bright red bungee cords came in a nice clear plastic tube and had instructions attached. The instructions were actually warnings, a little list to keep them out of Court. The warnings made them sound like they would be dangerous to have around the house. It talked about personal injury and /or property damage.

The first thing it said was “DO NOT stretch the cord more than 50%”. That’s not even tight. We always doubled their length or else it wasn’t tight. The second line said the same thing but warned of hook or cord failure. Then a line about “uncontrolled release”. That’s when it snaps back and hits you in the back of your hand or in the face if you’re up too close. Been there, done that, don’t need to relive that. Line 4 says inspect regularly and discard if worn. What? Throw out a bungee cord? No chance, if it breaks just cut off the end, put it back through the hook, tie a knot back on, and it will be tighter next time. Last line: don’t use for heavy or large loads. If it wasn’t a large load I wouldn’t need a bungee cord. Who writes this stuff? Have they even used a bungee cord? I don’t think so.

 Instructions like the above have been around longer than you think. I was going through some old files of Porsche literature and came across an instruction booklet that came with cars that were equipped with Hirschmann radio antennas. Tied to the booklet with a red string were two antenna keys since these early manual units could be locked down for safety.

The booklet was 8 pages, written in three languages, with many drawings showing exactly how it worked. With the plastic cap in place it could be compressed into the fender and then pulled up without the need for a key. In fairness, this was the ‘50’s and I would say this device was at the cutting edge of technology.

 If the owner was someone who wore suspenders and a belt and wanted to be safe when the car was parked, the plastic cap could be removed and the antenna pushed all the way down into the base and locked in place. Only the small key could catch the inside of the parked tip and pull it back into service. That was high tech in 1955.

 Simple instructions like those above got me thinking about the instructions that were given to new Porsche owners back in the ‘50’s as compared to todays new cars.

The owners manual from the 356 days was  96 pages and included a lengthy section on care and maintenance. The maintenance section explained how to change a tire, adjust carburetors, change a fan belt and do an oil and filter service. Brake and clutch adjustments were described in great detail along with many photos.  The manual was so complete that for many mechanics it was the only repair book that they needed.

 

 

Todays new cars are so full of technology  that the books that come with them all but fill what we used to call the glove compartment.  BTW, it’s now a Glove Box according to page 190 and there is a WARNING that says “An open glove box may cause injury during an accident. Keep the glove box closed while driving”.  

The owners books, I don’t think it’s fair to call them manuals, also include a PCM (Porsche Communication Management), a warranty book, and a maintenance book. The owners book looks familiar as it shows pictures of the dashboard, seat controls, things like that. It also has a section on settings, not unlike your phone. Do you want the outside mirrors to fold in when you lock the car? Do you want the seat to move back when you get out of the car to make your exit more graceful? What would you like to show up on the multi function display? G forces? Tire pressure ? Navigation? Map?  Engine / oil temps?  The choices seem endless.

The PCM is a descendant of the 4 page radio manual  that Blaupunkt used to include with their stereos back in the day. Now it includes forty pages on just the phone and accepting Bluetooth. Maps is in there somewhere with Navigation and takes up another 20 pages. It’s no wonder that people don’t read these books, besides there is a Quick Reference Guide for both the PCM and Owners Manual that is a fold out with only 9 pages each that will get the music on and the car moving.

There is a Warranty book that is waiting for the Dealer service stamps and maintenance records but it’s only 27 pages and easy to miss. Another labeled “Warranty Book and Customer Information” is bigger and has things like towing instructions and a notice from the state of CA that talks about arbitration and why you go there if you’re not a happy owner (not exactly in those words). Below are the totals:

                                                                                   2015   Porsche Macan S                            2015 Porsche Turbo S      
                      Owners Manual                                         352                                                                298
                      PCM                                                           200                                                                200
                      Warranty Book                                           84                                                                  84  
                      Maintenance Book                                      27                                                                27
                      Quick Start PCM                                          9                                                                  9  
                      Quick Start OM                                            9                                                                   9
                      Roadside Assistance folder                          7                                                                   7   
                      Emissions Parts Warranty                            4                                                                    4
                                                                                            ——-                                                             ——-   
                               Total                                                    692  pages                                                   638 pages

 

 

I don’t suppose that I need tell my readers that there are no sections on how to do any kind of maintenance on modern cars. Since there is no spare tire or jack you’re not going to be changing any flat tires on the side of the road but there is a page on how to use the tire sealant that is in the right hand box in the luggage compartment. Instruction number 7 is to get all passengers out of the vehicle. What ? That was when I stopped reading. I know that modern cars are a lot more complicated in 2022 than they were in 1958 (the year Blackie was built) but really, over 600 pages? Most of which are pages filled with red blocks labeled WARNING. See above.

 I believe that my original method of reading the instructions when I get into trouble has worked pretty well all these years so I will stay on that path. That and continuing to drive old cars every chance I get will keep a smile on my face.

 KTF  

/by

2022-01 Board Meeting Minutes

January 2022 Board Meeting Minutes

The January board meeting was held on January 12th at 6:00 PM via a video conference.

In attendance were:
Robert Jacobsen – President
Kristin Larson – Treasurer
Glenn Champagne\Betty Mae Mosley – VP Administration
Lisa Burke – VP Membership
Erick Aubin – Secretary
Jerome Gangitano –VP Driving Events
Luis Rivera – VP Communications
Stan Corbett – DE Registrar

Not in attendance:
Nick Shanny – Past President

The Board approved the monthly Treasurer’s Report and the December Meeting Minutes. A discussion of club activities, events, and general business followed.

● Incoming Board Member Logistics – New board members, need access to the systems used for event and board meeting logistics, including:
▪ Freedcamp access is needed for Erick, Glenn, and Betty Mae
▪ Email address forwarding in place, Lisa looking for webmail access to the Membership account
▪ National needs updating for Membership reports (Lisa & Robert) as well as NER contacts; Robert submitted President’s Report at the end of December
▪ Porschenet updates are needed for activity chairs, including adding Charlie to the DE contacts. Stan will update the DE site as well as post the 2022 event dates. Luis will review other contact info on the site for updating.
▪ NER Zoom Admin login details will be posted in Freedcamp
▪ Board members to exchange cell phone contact information


● Sponsorship/Advertising – Subcommittee met prior to board meeting and plan to have advertiser deck ready to distribute to past advertisers and sponsors by the end of January. DE welcomes ideas for new sponsors. Autocross, Concours, Ramble have lined up their sponsors for the year, DE in progress. Paul Skinner will be the primary contact for DE. For Autocross, Ramble and Concours, the chairs will be handling directly. Rally to independently solicit sponsors for the time being. Social events to be discussed as the dates are typically not defined this early in the year. All activity chairs must notify Kristin once sponsorships are solidified.


● Administration – 4 events are lined up, including Q Car Care, Collings Museum, Porsche Norwell F1 Grand Prix viewing, SSA Tech Session. We are discussing Notch Brewery tour which lead to a conversation on COVID protocol or restrictions. Board agreed to plan events but monitor public safety measures, including CDC, state, local, and venue requirements as the year progresses. For cars & coffee events, Mark Shane has been named event chair and is working on a covered event at Cambridgeside Galleria. Board agreed to rebrand the events from Cars & Coffee to Porsches and Coffee as there is concern about our ability to police the behavior of non-club participants. A virtual winter warmer and possible tech session were proposed. Board welcomes volunteers from the membership population who would be interested in moderating or participating in virtual panel discussions.

 

● Gala Reschedule – The Board decided via email in late December to postpone the Gala from January 8th until a later date due to concerns about the recent increase in COVID infections and the possibility of needing to re-institute the use of masks or request attendees show proof of vaccination. In order to maintain event cadence (holding this event before the next season starts) and not overlap with other major annual events such as the Ramble or Summer Party, the Board proposed late March/early April dates with Gillette. Lisa will check if early April dates are available, with March 26th as the fallback option. The use of Communicable disease waivers was suspended July 1st of 2021 by PCA and will not be needed until further notification.


● Driving – DE and Autocross are finalizing 2022 budgets and will be close to the same as last year, with the possibility of additional revenue due to Calabogie and Mont Tremblant events being back on the schedule. Autocross could potentially have additional expenditure for comms equipment but will monitor the situation and notify the Board accordingly. Autocross will host the traditional school early in the season. Ramble is on schedule and has no concerns. There is an offer to help organize the spring rally, Jerome to forward Lisa’s contact information. Concours on track, no issues. Sim Racing continues to have fun.


● Communications – The 2022 content calendar google doc has been shared with the Board. There has been more traffic to the website both in terms of volume and frequency in recent months. Challenges continue in obtaining articles, content, and particularly event reports which are required by PCA national. To address the event report gap, a template has been circulated and posted to Freedcamp with the goal of simplifying the workflow and encouraging event attendees to assist. Discussion about means to upload reports directly will be taken offline by Jerome to contact Maddox.


● Membership – Our PCA Northeast Region currently has 3,383 primary and affiliate members. Anker analyzed email address availability per the December meeting minutes and determined that we do have contact information for almost all primary members and the concern about reaching everyone does not warrant further review. Lisa has yet to absorb all membership activities but will pursue taking on as much of the analysis and reporting capabilities that Anker built as possible as well as begin sending welcome emails to new members upon gaining access to the webmail portal.
The next NER board meeting is scheduled for February 9th at 6:00 PM on Zoom.
The Club’s monthly Board meetings are planned for the second Wednesday of each month and typically begin with a social period at 6:00 PM and the official Board meeting at 6:30 PM – although when it’s a Zoom meeting, the social piece is brief and the meeting begins shortly after 6:00 PM.
Club members may attend any of the monthly Board meetings. Please contact the Club Secretary ([email protected]) in advance of the meeting to confirm your attendance and the meeting time and place.

/by