A Trifecta of Location, Weather and Attendees
166 Porsches, 304 new-to-me car-loving friends, and a stunning location represented my first-ever NER Annual Spring Ramble; it was held at The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe, VT, April 26-28.
During the planning stages of this year’s event, I signed up to shadow the infamous Dennis Friedman, who has chaired the Ramble for the past eight years along with his wife, Carol. On site I planned to play emergency backup to Larry Levin and Peter Moll, co-chairs of this year’s event. They were a pair beyond compare—they ran a perfect weekend!
The Lodge at Spruce Peak was impeccable. From valet Justin’s welcome at the door, to senior conference services manager Jennifer Sinclair’s attention to our every event detail, to our cozy rooms with killer views—the location was beyond my expectations.
The rumble of Porsches from every era reverberated through the Stowe hills all day Friday, but in the evening we gathered for a welcome reception sponsored by Porsche of Warwick. With nametags helping ease the anxiety of meeting new folks, I sat by the fire on the outdoor patio and heard stories from many attendees about past Rambles. The number of repeat drivers—some of whom said this was their double-digit return to the event—truly impressed me.
Before heading off to bed, I snuck in a trip to the garage simply to drool over the astounding collection of cars our group had brought together.
The next morning kicked off with breakfast in the Tamarack Ballroom with the all-important safety advice talk by Peter. Anticipation was high for the upcoming Ramble and he most certainly outdid himself on his trip route. With almost 150 miles on the outbound route that wound around and into the heart of Lake Champlain, the views alternated between idyllic farms, gorgeous lakes, and the Green Mountain range. Throughout the route, Porsches in rear and side view mirrors made this back country parade unique enough to stop farmers and tourists in their tracks.
Arriving at our lunch spot at the DoubleTree Hotel in Burlington, I was at the back of the pack—as the Sweeper Car should be—doing my volunteer duty. As we pulled in, the lead cars were already exiting a lot that featured a rainbow of Porsches. The ballroom was abuzz with reunited friends and excited first timers, all sharing stories of what they saw along the ride.
The choice of return route could be expedited by a more direct path, or a rambling one that checked in at over 100 miles through Vermont 125 and Route 100. Circling the Breadloaf Wilderness and running through multiple state parks, this part of the ride proved to be my personal favorite. Smooth, winding roads through rural landscapes made my heart—and my engine—soar with happiness.
Saturday evening’s cocktail reception and dinner once again proved that the Lodge had a killer chef—the food was delectable! Sponsored by European Performance Engineering in Natick, Mass. (as it has done every year), there were stories of past rambles, first-timer reactions (all so good!), and well-deserved heaps of praise for Peter and Larry throughout the dinner. On top of the exciting announcement of next year’s location (Mountainview Grand Hotel in Whitefield, NH), the evening proved a great way to cap off a wonderful weekend.
I can hardly wait to do it all again next year!
By: Doreen Manning
Bonus: Check out more of the event here, with photos provided by our very own Larry Levin!
