Category: The Nor’Easter Magazine - Page 3 - Northeast Region, Porsche Club of America

Monthly columns in the Nor’Easter magazine

The Long And Winding Road – June ’17

– Bill Seymour

OK, so we’re now back to writing about “moving car events” (the job responsibility of your scribe who is VP Activities). The weekend of May 6-7^th saw the Zone 1 Concours and Rally come to NER-land (see article elsewhere in this issue). As an autocrosser, DE’er, tech sessionist and social attendee but never a concourser or rallyer I was poorly trained to be the local event chair for these activities. (And why Concours falls under “moving car events” is a puzzle.) But I learned quite a bit about how these things work and I met many nice folks who don’t run in the same PCA circles as me. The gimmick rally was fun – driving through some pretty Boston suburbs looking for signs that would answer questions. Charlie and Martha Dow did a great job setting it up. I can imagine Rosemary (former LL) and me doing one in the future. On the other hand, while I enjoyed looking at the cars prepared for the Concours, I don’t see myself entering one in the future.

But I did get to the track – briefly – in April. Our winter project of installing a larger engine in the BMW E30 endurance racer took a little longer than hoped. The trickiest part flowed from the decision to remove all the stock wiring. The new engine uses a programmable ECU and it took more than a couple of weekends before it recognized all the sensors and sent out all the appropriate signals. We missed our first race at Watkins Glen. When we finally got it to run and sent it to the dyno for tuning, it had fuel starvation issues. The gas tank is saddle shaped with the pickup at the bottom of one side but the fuel return line going into the other side. Apparently on the track it sloshes around enough to keep both sides filled but on the dyno the pickup side was being drained faster than it was replenished. Weird. But that issue was solved, the car did its dyno thing and we were off to Palmer for its maiden run. Chip took it out first (fortunately as I’m not sure I would have been so astute) and immediately noticed that we lost oil pressure on left hand turns (and with a counter clock-wise track that’s most of them). We tried adding oil but to no avail – going straight or turning right the oil pressure was 60lb+ but as soon as you turned the wheel to the left it would drop as low 15. No good. Back to the shop it went and removing the oil pan revealed that the windage tray/baffles had not been installed. The red-faced engine builder shipped us the needed parts and we went to a Palmer lapping day for a re-test. All good.

So we were set for our first race at New Jersey Motorsports Park but disaster befell: Chip hurt his back. We were already worried about having only 4 drivers for two 9 hour races so we recruited two more drivers: NER/NCR buddy Damon Josz and Kristin Larson’s brother Scott Townsend. After the miserable slog through NY and NJ (why are there so many confusing routes to get past NYC?) we got to Millville in time to unload the trailer and get dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse (TripAdvisor rated #2 restaurant in Millville! – they boast of “Craft on Draft” and list these four beers: Miller Light, Bud Lite, Blue Moon and Sam’s Seasonal. The Lunch Lady would sue). Friday morning we went through tech and let Damon and Scott have a few laps as they had not been at this track. Friday afternoon each driver was to run 5 laps which would then be used to place us in a class. The American Endurance Racing series format puts cars in 5 classes based on similar lap times and then you compete against the other cars in your class for a 9 hour race on each of Saturday and Sunday. They claim that they are able to detect and correct for those who sand-bag in qualifying but that did not seem to be the case… Things were going OK until Scott reported that 1^st and 2^nd gear had gone missing. While we checked shift linkages and made calls it was also noted that the front brake pads were way too thin (Team Jamaican Bakin’ was better organized when our name was still named Team Jamaican Bacon). With new brake pads installed but no transmission solution, we concluded that the missing gears were not needed in a race so why not press on? OK, here’s a reason: the car doesn’t idle well and stalls easily so getting off the grid quickly in 3^rd gear was near impossible. What, me worry?

We were placed in Class 3 (there are five classes) which included 19 out of the total of 54 racers. The fastest lap times for each car (during the actual races – never mind what the sand-baggers ran in practice) ranged from a best of 1:28 down to about 1:45 for the slowest cars. The fast cars included a Nissan GTR, a very fancy Mustang and a brand new BMW 2-Series factory race car (~$90,000 – similar in concept to the Miata Cup Cars) that even had air-jacks (and were total jerks – they were in the pit box next to us). Our best lap of 1:37 put us in the middle of our class.

I drove first and was holding back a bit to avoid the early race over-exuberance. Bad strategy: on lap 4 I got punted in the right rear and spun into the weeds. I managed to rejoin the fray (remember, only 3^rd gear and higher) and was advised by my teammates to see how it felt rather than coming in. It felt fine so I continued for another one and a half hours without issue. When I pitted to hand over to Scott the tires were checked and it was noted that there were about 8 inches of missing rim. Ouch! Lesson: you get hit, come in and have a look!

The car was running fine for the rest of the day except we needed to change tires (we had made a poor tire choice for an endurance race – the seconds gained by using stickier tires are way less than the minutes required to change tires) and the brakes were going at the end. Then with 5 minutes to go Dave radioed that the car had died and he was being towed in. Our worst fears were not realized when the addition of gasoline solved the problem. Despite our issues we improved on our starting position and were 6^th in our class. Upon inspection the rear pads were totally gone and the brand new fronts were almost gone. The left front tire was toast – expected for a nose heavy car on a clockwise track – but the right rear was worn on the inside. Apparently the hit I took bent something but the car drove OK and there was nothing we could do. The impeccably prepared Team Jamaican Bakin’ (yah, mon) was able to buy one more set of front brake pads from another E30 team (the Miata brake pads and tires lasted multiple weekends!) and we were back in business for Day 2.

Dave started on Sunday followed by Scott, me, Dennis and then Damon. Again the car ran fine except for needing a tire stop. The new brake pads (a different brand) both stopped and lasted better and we had no excitement until Damon’s last shift. The car has a brake bias adjustor which apparently got nudged forward during the driver change so that it had way too much front brake bias. So the first time Damon braked hard at the end of the front straight the fronts locked and he went farming. He realized the problem, corrected it and ran very quickly till the end despite finishing on a totally corded left front tire. We finished 8^th in our class.

So while the BMW is somewhat faster than the Miata, we are still sorting things out. With the new engine it has plenty of zip and the handling is pretty neutral if not great. The main issue is the brakes which lock up too easily, don’t inspire confidence in close racing and don’t last. It’s a little puzzling as the car is not much heavier than the Miata (which has great brakes) and has bigger rotors/pads. We suspect that weight transfer may be limiting the stopping power and ducting may be needed to make them last longer. So in addition to working on being better racers, we also need to learn car development. Stay tuned.

Finally, if you go to NJMP (and it’s a nice, well run track with lots of runoff as needed by Bill and Damon), try: Our Mom’s Kitchen Soul Food (get the crab cakes) and the Country Inn and Suites (breakfast available at 6am and they made bacon upon request!).

Addendum to my column from Damon Josz (make of it what you will)…

Guilty. Therefore the names remain. I would add the useful limericks and acronyms that were learned from Bill including ACORN (“All Clear On Right Now”). As I heard these outbursts several times, I quietly assumed these were liberal beliefs exclaimed in a random fashion. Alas I learned a backseat navigation technique and Bill’s prior military training. KISS and PPPPPP were already in my lexicon. Keep it simple stupid… brake bias adjustment/ placement. And…. Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance…. brake pads for an endurance race?

Travel and dining with others provides new views and dialogue. And therefore we quickly adhered to the do not discuss politics, religion or dogs. Friday’s test results in, and…the trans out? Hmmm. 3/4/5 being the only useful gears of any importance, the “no wanking noises” and “we’re here” made the decision clear. Run it. End of day track burgers provided by AER in the garage, the hunger abated. And a couple kegs dulled the senses. Yet Dennis and I had wanderlust and thirst. Bill, Scott, and Dave elected for A/C and hot showers. Dropping the others off at the hotel, a beer store was located. And Our Mom’s Kitchen next door. Hmmmm, soul food. With IPA in hand, what could be better? Fried chicken and (sic) crab cakes. Wit tater salad side. Missed the collard greens, but agricultural greens were waiting on Sunday. The color of the characters were rich. The pleasantries exchanged. And cash only. No seats, takeout only. Just as well. As we started to observe the actual condition of the local eatery, I tend to shy away from box store eateries, a placard was noted. This placard pronounced an inspection had occurred. When was not clear. Why was. The proclamation by a local official, presumed blind and handed a paper bag of single dollar bills, announced that said takeout restaurant was, is, could be, maybe, at this time, that was then and this is now…”conditionally satisfactory.” As not to offend the 3 rather large women, and the minor baseball league/rap ensemble and tattoo artists collective gathered out front, we elected to continue our wait. Momma provided. With a bit of mental math, and no receipt, we paid the bill. Our safe departure and arrival back at Country Inn (review to follow) 3.75 stars, we enjoyed a veranda on a hot summer night with excellent soul food and real beer. And a hotel cookie to finish. The start of Saturday racing, the transmission was declared “conditionally satisfactory” also. Both the trans and Mommas did not disappoint. Side note. The Buffalo Wild Wing box store the next night failed miserably. However, Popeyes Chicken on Sunday had box store redemption. None compared to Mommas soul food. And driving a race car into the trailer after 18 hours of wheel to wheel racing? More than “conditionally satisfactory” we checked the box, excellent.

May 24, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

The Nor'Easter Magazine

Word On The Street – June ’17

Zen and the Art of Auto Detailing

– by Glenn Champagne

For those of us who seek an inner peace, a balance of yin and yang, in harmony with the natural and spiritual world, many practice yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, or martial arts such as Aikido and Hapkido. Those of us who take a more western path, may choose the solitude of a mountain top, serenity of a forest, lake, stream, or the peace and tranquility of island beaches.

Even some professionals seek an inner peace in preparation of their work. Some chefs enjoy the preparation of their “mis en place”. Some of you weekend warrior mechanics may clear the garage or work area of all that is unnecessary to perform the task. Tools organized by type and size, separated on individual towels or mats, placed in close proximity, to effectuate focus.

Then, there are the auto detailers.

For these folks, it is as much about the journey as it is the destination.

It turns out that there are hundreds of videos on auto detailing. Google “auto detailing” and count the pages. Some videos run for nearly an hour. How many of you spend one hour cleaning your car?

Some of you are really into this. I know some members who truly find detailing to be a great way to clear the head, relieve stress, and almost as a byproduct, get the car looking great.

What brought me to write a column on this subject? The Zone 1 Concours.

Here it is, the Zone 1 Concours event, cars coming in from as far away as New Jersey and Pennsylvania to compete. But what happens on the day of judging? It rains. How do you run a Concours in the rain? You move it inside! Much kudos to Bill Seymour and Tom Tate for the outstanding parking garage backup plan.

But what really caught my eye was the passion of those dedicated souls working in adverse conditions. Washing a car in the rain – that’s dedication. One of these brave rain car washers told me that he really wanted to win and just enjoys detailing the car. In his case, a beautiful 911 GTS. He doesn’t track, autocross, rarely attends social events, just loves detailing and car shows.

About 10 years ago, I asked a Zone 1 winner, “how many hours did you spend cleaning your car?” His answer – 40. That’s when I learned Concours was not for me. My quest for inner peace will take another path. One that has roads.

As always, check the Events page on Porschenet.com for the most current information on all club events!

May 24, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

PCA’s Official Position On New Car Driver Aids For DE

Cars with Automatic Braking and/or Lane Drift Correction Systems / Lane Change Assist will only be allowed to participate in DE events if the systems can be turned fully off while the car is on-track. Proof of the ability to fully shut off these systems must be provided (i.e. information in Owner’s Manual, etc.). Drivers must be aware if the system reverts back to operating position if the car’s ignition is turned off and on again.

May 12, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

Concours, For Enthusiasts, Porsche Events, The Nor'Easter Magazine, Tours

Sweet Meet In Hershey

The Central PA region hosts quite an event each year for the past 41 years.

“This is without exaggeration the largest event of its kind on the planet. It typically brings nearly 650 vendors, around 1,000 Porsches, and over 6,000 visitors from all over the world together in Hershey every year. If you’re seeking an obscure Porsche or an obscure part for your Porsche, this is your best chance to find it. Every dealer and Porsche packrat in a 250-mile radius will be bringing their odds and ends for sale or swap. You’ll see exotic Porsches found nowhere this side of Stuttgart, and Porsche personalities ranging from PCA muckety-mucks to (sometimes) celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld. As always, we’ll feature a People’s Choice Concours, and Sunday autocross, too!”

Our own Gary Cooper, traveling correspondent extraordinaire, made the trip to check it out and was kind enough to share it with us:

Hi PCA NER,

It’s me again, the guy who will drive just about anywhere to enjoy my car, check out other cars, and the friendship of PCA members. I decided to return again to this year’s Porsche-Only Swap Meet at the Giant Center, Hershey, PA – the world’s largest Porsche-only swap meet. The event is put on by our friends in the Central PA Region each April. It typically attracts over 1,000 Porsche cars, 6,000 people and 600+ vendors.

If you’ve never been before (and you can find another nice write up in the current eBrake newsletter by Damon Lowney – who takes many photos for the eBrake – here https://www.pca.org/news/2017-04-25/attending-largest-porsche-only-swap-meet-world), it is sort of a giant flea market/car sale/car show – of course all Porsche specific. Known Porscheophile Jerry Seinfeld has been known to attend.

I have family that lives about an hour and a half away, so I drove down Friday and stayed with them before the Saturday event. The swap meet goes on rain or shine and Saturday morning dawned will rain falling. I left around 6:30am to get there at 8:00 (gates open at 7:30). Parking is $20 and you can choose the general or Porsche-only sections. For another $20 you can put your car in the For Sale section. With over 1,000 cars there is a lot of eye candy, but also cars of every vintage and condition. Another $10 gets you registered in the People’s Concours. I did this, not expecting any trophies, but to get preferred parking and a nice goodie bag. Plus it’s nearer to the food trucks! Luckily, the skies cleared a bit by the time I arrived.

It really is an amazing place. If you are looking for an original lighter for your 911 long body, seats for your 914, turn signal lenses for your 356C, a project car, a fully restored beauty or nearly any other thing – chances are someone is selling it at the swap. And nearly everyone is open to some healthy dickering. If you just want to walk around and ogle cars, or stand by the exit to hear the various exhaust notes as owners hit the road – this is the place for you.

And like any other PCA event, you’ll meet a whole bunch of interesting and friendly folks. I met the owners of Gramma Elsie’s beautiful red 1969 912 (featured in last month’s Pano). So great this car has -and will – stay in the same family.

I ran into my friend from Virginia, Bruce Russell (right), who was there with a few friends scouring the aisles for hard to find treasures. Here Bruce helps to examine a set of early 356 wheels and hubcaps.

haggling for hubcaps at Hershey

Of course, there is. Porsche tent offering a array of goodies for sale.

Then there are sights you just won’t see anywhere else, including a Porsche tractor (there is no substitute, even on the farm).

The front end plows a bit – understeer? Or planting?

There was a car for the future enthusiasts too.

You’re never too young to buy your first Porsche

As well as someone who shoehorned a Chevy LS V8 into a 914.

Sometimes the skies opened up, causing the masses to run for cover and the Speedster replica owner to get creative.

The People’s Concours had great representation across the classes.

There were cars I would have sold my soul to the devil to own, including this stunning blue beauty.

I was surprised to have been chosen for a minor award – the member of the Boxster Register special interest group whose car got the most votes in the Concours. Truth be told, there was just me and my friend John Novotnak and I think he rigged it for me. But, hey, first place is first place! John also took a glam shot of my interior.

Nice new hat, Gary!

Just after the awards were given out, it really started to pour, so we all made our way home with purchases, goodies, awards and memories safely stowed away. It was another great day!

April 28, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

Concours, NorEaster, The Nor'Easter Magazine

Amelia Island 2017 (full story) by Gary Cooper

Hello PCA NER!

I went on another Porsche adventure after my January visit to the Porsche Experience Center in LA) and wanted to share it.

After the success of the Werks Reunions on the Monterey Peninsula, past PCA President Manny Alban, an East Coast resident, put forth the idea that the event should also be held in the East. What better place and time than the Friday before the prestigious Amelia Island Concours? When planning for the event was finalized, PCA announced the theme would be the 20th Anniversary of the Boxster. As an owner of a 2003 986, I knew I had to go to take part in this celebration of the remarkably successful little roadster.

Boxsters at Amelia Island 2017

This would involve a two day drive down to northern Florida, and a two day drive back – all to attend a one day car event. Some would call me crazy. I think my loving wife may have, as she decided the trip was too long for her. But she told me to go for it. Thanks, honey!

“By the way, my 14-year old Boxster performed flawlessly over the 2,400 mile round trip. What a car!”

I am an active participant in a PCA Special Interest Registry – the Boxster Register. If you haven’t joined the Register for your car, I highly recommend it – the experience, advice, and most of all the camaraderie of fellow members – is great. In talking to some of the other members I found that other Boxster owners were also planning to attend. One of them, Bruce Russell, lives near Richmond, VA – about halfway to Amelia Island – and kindly offered to let me stay with him and then drive in tandem the rest of the way. Bruce, a fellow Boxster enthusiast with a 986, also owns a Guards Red 1984 911 3.2 Carrera Targa that he was going to enter in the judged field at Werks. So he has his toes in both the air- and water-cooled pools. By the way, Bruce is also the advocate for the 911 3.2 Carrera Registry.

I took advantage of some unseasonably warm February weather to get my car ready for the long trip, including a full machine polish paint correction, sealant and wax, and interior recondition. Hey, we needed to look presentable among the sure to be dazzling display of pristine P-cars. As the date to leave approached, my excitement for the trip grew.

Then, the weekend before, I got a message from Bruce that he and his wife had just been involved in an accident. Their car (not one of the Porsches) had been rear-ended! While not seriously injured, they were clearly shaken up – and Bruce needed to cancel the Werks trip. While I was very thankful they were OK, I have to be honest and say I was disappointed not to meet Bruce on the trip.

Oh well, the show must go on and I left not so bright…but very early…the Tuesday morning before the Friday event. I made it as far as northern North Carolina and got a room. While there, I received a message from another Boxster Register member – actually the advocate for the Boxster Register – John Novotnak. He is also the Editor for the “Photo of the Week/Photo of the Month” feature of the PCA eBrake News email. John said he and his wife were also staying overnight in NC not far from me, so we agreed to meet at his hotel the next morning and drive in tandem. Great! It was comforting to see a Porsche badge in my rear view for the final 400 mile leg. John was driving his 2009 Cayenne to be able to carry all of his camera equipment and other goodies to the event.

I arrived in Yulee, FL where I had booked a room. It was about 12 miles inland from the event venue at the Omni Resort (and quite a bit cheaper than rooms on Amelia Island, which fill up due the Concours). While there, I ran into Bill King, one of Bruce’s friends, who was chosen to display his beautiful blue 981 Boxster in the special grouping of cars representing each of the Boxster’s four generations- 986, 987, 981 and 718. Bill is a former PCA National Concours award winner, and the owner of many other fine autos. Like all PCA members, he was very friendly and welcoming and immediately suggested we have drinks and dinner on the beach in Fernandina Beach. Fun!

Arriving at the entrance

The next morning, I located a self serve car wash to freshen up the 986. Every car wash in town seemed to be in use by a Porsche owner! I had brought a bucket and all my normal detailing products, and it was a pleasure to spend a few hours on the car in the warm Florida sunshine. Then it was back to the motel where some other Boxster Register members were arriving. One of them was Lee Lichtenstein, a member of the Chicago Region who drives a 2008 Limited Edition 987 – in Orange. You know when Lee pulls up, trust me! Lee was there with a friend, and suggested we go to dinner that night. He regaled me with stories of the thirty three – count ’em: 33! – Parades he has attended. After Werks, he was going to Treffen Hill Country in Texas, and then the Spokane Parade, followed by a trip to Canada and Alaska! Lee gets around.

Lee is also a member of the Cayman Register and had organized a caravan of about 15 Boxsters and Caymans to the event. We gathered in the pre-dawn hours, as traffic on the Island for the various auctions and Concours is quite heavy. Matters were made worse by the organizers changing the Concours from Sunday to Saturday due to a rainy forecast. Now attendees and participants from around the country had to arrive early – on Werks day. Ut-oh!

We arrived at the event venue, checked in, and were provided with a nice goodie bag filled with some nice items, including a beautiful poster from Pirelli (the main sponsor).

Volunteers directed me to the Corral parking area, where Boxsters were given the honor of being placed in the front of the field as part of the 20th Anniversary celebration. Sweet!

Plenty of room for goodies back here

Organizers announced there were nearly 700 Porsches in attendance between the Judged and Corral fields. It was awesome.

PCA invited a few celebrities to attend, among them Magnus Walker of Urban Outlaw fame, and Jeff Zwart – multiple winner of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and the photographer behind those back page shots we all love in Panorama. Manny Alban interviewed Jeff.

It was cool to see the four special Boxsters and appreciate the evolution of the model. I ran into my new friend, Bill King, again.

4 generations of Boxsters

Bill King, Boxster

Members of the Boxster Register gathered for our group picture in front of the cars (Lee is third from the left – wearing orange, of course – and John and his wife are at the far right).

The final special guest of the day, before the judged award presentation, was Grant Larson. For those that don’t know the history of the Boxster, Grant was the designer of the original prototype car that was shown and caused such a stir at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show. Grant was then heavily involved in the development of the 1997 production version. I had the privilege of briefly chatting with Grant and thanking him for the work he did on the 986. When I tell others about this, I simply say “this was the guy who invented my car!”

Finally, the day came to an end and it was time to go back to my room to get ready for the long ride home. But before, I left I got a message from my friend, Bruce, from VA. He asked if I could pick up a polo shirt he pre-bought, his goodie bag, and the plaque that would have been displayed on his Targa – and deliver them to him in Richmond. My pleasure!

356s at Amelia 2017

The iconic Brumos livery

Magnus Walker, Urban Outlaw

Manny Alban interviews Jeff Zwart

After yet another pre-dawn departure, I arrived at Bruce’s house around 2PM. Even though it was our first face to face meeting, we were soon immersed in talk about Porsches over a few cold German premium lagers like long time friends. Bruce and his wife (and dog, Abby) couldn’t have been more welcoming and opened their beautiful home to me. Bruce decided we needed to continue the German theme with grilled brats, sauerkraut and German dumplings. I needed to gas up for the final leg back to Boston, so I suggested Bruce drive my car – he seemed to enjoy himself! Then, to my great honor, he let me take the left seat of the Targa. Having never driven one before, I initially struggled with the floor attached brake and clutch pedal, and the 5 speed tranny. Bruce said the car had the old 915 transmission that simply couldn’t be shifted quickly like our more modern Boxsters. I adjusted and then enjoyed the unique sound and thrill of driving an air cooled 911 over the twisty back roads around his house. We tucked the cars away in Bruce’s garage and – needless to say – I went to sleep with a huge smile on my face!

Gary Cooper with Bruce Russells 1984 3.2 Targa

Bruce Russell with his 1984 3.2 Targa

And for the final bit of PCA hospitality, Bruce and Abby, the dog, got up early to make me breakfast and prepare a few delicious Virginia-baked-ham-and-biscuit sandwiches for the ride home!

“On the way home I had plenty of time to reflect back on the experiences of the last few days. I can truly attest that it’s not just about the cars, it’s about the people.”

By the way, my 14-year old Boxster performed flawlessly over the 2,400 mile round trip. What a car! It needed to, because of the big East Coast snow storm that rolled in just after I got home. Phew!

On the way home I had plenty of time to reflect back on the experiences of the last few days. I can truly attest that it’s not just about the cars, it’s about the people. Special thanks to the organizers and volunteers at Werks Reunion Amelia Island, and to my friends John, Lee, and Bruce. Porsche cars are great, but it’s the PCA people make club membership really something to cherish.

Gary Cooper

Stoneham, MA

PS: now it’s time to start getting excited for our next trip – the 19th Annual Blue Ridge Boxster Summit in Little Switzerland, NC (www.brbs.org). This event is not affiliated with PCA, but most attendees are members.

Thank you, Gary, for sharing your story with us! Do you have a story to share? Email it to us with pictures (please be sure to add photo credits) and we may be able to use it in the Nor’Easter, the website, or both.

Inspired to take an adventure of your own? Check out the 62nd Porsche Parade in Spokane, Washington in July.

April 20, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

The Nor'Easter Magazine

Off Line – Feb ’17

by John Dunkle
Given the title of this month’s article – I presuming some of you think I’ve finally “lost it”, whatever “it” was. But, let me explain before you send in the men in white coats with a straight-jacket? You see, I was thinking about the NER first event this year at Thompson on May 26th, 27th and 28th, and since the 26th is “Novice Day”, it had me remembering my first Novice Day way back “when” (please, don’t ask when “when was” – but, most of the roads were paved and only rarely were they blocked by a renegade milk wagon). And, for it being Novice Day, here is what I remember…
First – I have to say – I was nervous upon first arriving at the track!!! Oh sure – I pretended I wasn’t – mostly to put on a “brave face” for my wife, who wasn’t driving but came along to accompany (console?) me, but deep down to my size seven driving shoes, I was “quaking in my socks”. I had no idea what to expect, really? It was a “new world”. And everyone appeared to know exactly what they were doing and supposed to do – and were doing just that. As for me? I pretended I was doing something, even though I wasn’t really doing “anything”. And, then it happened…
A person walked up to me, and introduced himself as “my Instructor”. He was simply outstanding, and after introducing himself to me and my wife, told us BOTH what to expect (remember, this was before the Internet, e-mail, Youtube, etc. We had to depend on paper road maps to find the track and pay-phones and gas stations should we get lost in getting to the track). He pointed out what and where TECH Inspection was, what to bring – and “OF COURSE your wife can meet you over there!”. So, I made it through Tech Inspection – and you’d have thought I’d gotten a College Diploma when they affixed the sticker to my car, signifying it had passed. So, back I went to our parking spot. And waited…
Soon enough, back came my Instructor, asking me a few friendly questions about my car – was it my “daily driver”, as indeed it was. How did I like the tires? Why didn’t Porsche 911s have cup holders – you know, the regular stuff. We chatted and laughed a bit – but, in retrospect, all he was doing is welcoming us warmly and putting both of us at ease. And he did, not only for all that – but, too, when he told us “we” could head over to the Driver and Novice meetings. Yes! My wife was invited and welcomed to both meetings if she cared to attend. Honestly? I think it made her feel great to be included – and assuaged her fears quite a bit as well.
And stranger still, is what happened next. It’s imprinted in my mind as though it happened yesterday. And to this day, I use it when I conduct Novice or new comers meetings. The Chief Instructor greeted up, and asked, “Please raise your hand if this is your FIRST DE EVER”. I looked around – and quickly found out I wasn’t alone as a “Newbie”; there were others there too, just like me. Next, he said calmly and confidently “Welcome! And the most nerve-wracking experience of the event is already behind you. You made it safely to the track this morning on Public Roads where most could care less about how well they drive”.
It hit me. That’s what Drivers Education is all about. It is all about learning, teaching, driving, having fun – and it can be a family event. If anyone tells you is not any or all of that, and more? You can tell them for me – that they are wrong. Driver Education takes place at a track, not because we are racing, but rather, it is the absolute safest venue that provides a common roadway (“track”), facilities, and learning/teaching environment to teach us all how to drive for extended periods, at speed utilizing all facets of the cars capabilities, i.e. braking, acceleration, vehicle dynamics, weight transfer, suspension geometry, all of that – and more.
So, let me get back to the “family vacation” aspect and wrap this up for you. That event was a three day event, not unlike all of our NER Events this year. By the afternoon of the first day, my wife had found a new set of friends who weren’t driving either, so they ventured outside the track to the village and discovered a few restaurants, pottery retailers, and – I believe – even a vineyard where they spent the afternoon chatting about whatever folks chat about at those times. And then, she met me back at the track.
That evening, we headed out to a little bistro she’d discovered, and had a wonderful dinner, and just talked about the day and walked about the town a bit. And we did the same the next night as well, and as our group of friends continued to expand, found other families and drivers at those same establishments – new friends, new memories and often, new things to laugh about.
So, this is why I’m dedicating this month’s column to “A Three Day DE Event is the Perfect Family Vacation”. Any spouse or significant other is very welcome, and be made to feel welcome, at any NER event, especially track events. If they and you are “New” to any track – let us know beforehand, as all on the NER DE Team would like to have to opportunity to recreate for you – what was an especially wonderful first time experience for Jen and me.
We hope to see you at the track soon – and if you are “new to all this”, allow me the pleasure of being the first to welcome you personally!

March 27, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

The Nor'Easter Magazine

Four Speeds & Drum Brakes – Feb ’17

By Tom Tate

It may be the result of having more than just a couple of cars but it does seem to me that the cars in my garage gang up on me when mechanical or electrical issues pops up. I know that they talk to each other late at night when the lights are off because I’ve heard noises.

Maybe it has to do with the time of year. I don’t think it’s related to age or mileage on the cars because they range from 1957 to 2004 with mileage spanning 50k miles to over 200k. I’ll give a few examples and the loyal reader can make up their own mind.
Half way through last summer, Big Red decided that it was time for some attention and the starter refused to work. No click, no nothing. It did happen at home in the garage so the car didn’t strand me out on the road somewhere (my cars are good like that) but still it was aggravating.

Some years ago, the ignition switch failed to send the signal to the starter when turned the final notch and rather that replace the entire ignition switch, requiring new keys and a big expense, I just installed a push button switch on the dash that was wired to a relay that triggered the starter. That was back when some of the new cars were being sold with a big red start button so I felt like I was keeping the car up to date too. That has been working great except for the first year that I took it out of the barn in the spring with the modern start button on the dash. My push button doesn’t say start on it (thank you Radio Shack) and after a long winter I had forgotten that it was there. I turned the key the final notch at least three times and even got out to look at the battery connections before I spotted the relay that I had installed and remembered my “improvement”.

This time I went right to the relay, followed the wires and found a loose connection at the starter which was easily corrected.

The very next day my wife called from the local store to say her BMW was dead and wouldn’t start. That was after driving about 3 miles to the store. Her car isn’t trained to die in the garage like my cars are. So it started up in the garage but wouldn’t restart after a short drive. I grabbed a jump box and went over to give it a jump but even that would only turn it over very slowly. Figuring that a set of cables would provide more juice I zipped the 3 miles back home and grabbed a set of quality cables and tried again. Now the slowly turning starter could only produce a click.

It turned out to be that the original starter had given up after 12 years and 90k miles. I wasn’t going to complain but that was two starter problems in two days. Strange.

If you remember a column from last summer, the Porsches in the garage got together the night before the Zone 1 Autocross and decided they needed a little TLC. The Speedster threw a pulley off the generator the next day and the 914 chewed up a plastic shift bushing converting it from a 5 speed to a three speed the day after that. Both were quickly repaired but the timing was bazaar. These are two car that together don’t clock 3k miles per year and seldom, if ever, break. Strange.

Tires are another wear item on my cars that somehow seem connected. In years past I have put the snow tires on the Audi only when it snowed. I could get them switched in about an hour and that would mean a lot fewer miles on soft compound tires that work great on ice but not so good on dry pavement. Two years ago when we had a real winter, read over 100” of white stuff, I only switched them twice. Last year I got lazy and drove on them from Dec to March. I put them on after Christmas this year to discover one tire had a slow leak that was losing 2 lbs pressure per day, not good. I took it off, checked for a puncture or a bad valve but came up empty. It went to the local tire store who found a leak at the inside rim edge that was easily fixed.

I barely got home from the tire shop to find that the 914 up on the lift had a flat tire on the same corner. It had been up there since the Zone 1 Autocross in October without a problem, hadn’t moved an inch and suddenly went flat? Strange.

Gas leaks seem to travel in pairs too. The Speedster always smells a little like gas as the car does not have the sealed system that modern day cars have and fuel evaporates from the carbs as it sits in the garage. The ’72 911 has the same plumbing, or lack thereof, and it also has that ‘old car smell’.

The 911 has an electric fuel pump and while it only operates at 3-4 psi it will test the fuel line connections every time the key is turned. A hose clamp failed that test last year but it only took a few minutes to tighten the clamp. Apparently feeling left out, the Speedster began to drip gas at the fuel pump a week later and required that the pump be rebuilt before it would stop. Not a big job but again the timing seemed strange.

Another matched set of ills showed up when the Speedster was ready to come out of the Barn in 2012. The master brake cylinder began to leak when it was up on the lift which put a drip onto the BMW below it. There was a car cover on the car below so there was no damage and it was easier to throw out the cover than to try to clean it, there is nothing worse than spilled brake fluid. However when I backed the BMW out that Spring it also had a brake problem. It was a seized piston in a front caliper causing the brake to drag on that corner. I can certainly understand why one would seize from lack of use, nothing hurts a car more than not using it, but why would a master cylinder begin to leak when there was no pressure applied? I think these guys had been talking. Strange.

Another ongoing service item on my cars have been lights. It may be due to the length of time that I keep cars or the fact that I tend to upgrade lighting when available. Certainly bulbs burn out over time but I think there has been some discussion in the garage late at night when I’m not there.

One of the tail lights on the wife’s car failed last year and since it is an LED, while only a few of the little points had failed, the entire unit had to be replaced at a cost of $270. No more $2 light bulbs in modern cars. I was impressed with the results and decided to upgrade the Audi RS4 turn signals to LED bulbs. The bulbs were less than $10 but it took a little work because the low current draw made the car throw a light out warning signal. The solution was to wire a small resistor into the circuit to fool the sensor into thinking the standard bulb was still in place. Replacement tail light units for the 356 using LEDs became available about the same time and that made for a much brighter brake light for following drivers, long a weak point for our Tubs. I replaced the 6 volt candle like bulbs with new fixtures.

With three cars sporting bright new lights the 30 year old BMW in the garage had two bulbs go bad a week later. They just burned out due to age I know but it really did seem like it was asking for some lighting attention along with everybody else. Strange.

I know that it’s beginning to sound like the cars in my garage need almost constant attention but that really isn’t true. I give them constant attention but, they don’t really need it. In fact, I have the feeling that if I just ignored them like most car owners, they would be just fine. But then what would I do for entertainment ? Every car guy likes to tinker, right?

One last comment just to see of anyone reads this stuff to the end, besides it pertains to activity in the garage;

For years I have used dCON Bait Bits (pellets) to keep the mouse population away from the garage and out of the snow plow parked in the woods all year. They used to come in a little tray with a cover like the plastic on a cottage cheese container. Peel back the plastic, put it under the seat in the Toyotaplow truck or inside the garage door and they will find it. I use four small trays per year and tend to buy a couple of boxes every other year at the local hardware store. I just leave them out and they last all year. They were priced at about $8 per box of 4 trays. The best part was the fact that the pellets caused the critters to seek out water which made them exit the garage looking for a drink. That meant there was nothing to disturb the “old car smell” in the garage and there was no funeral service required. I did have a couple expire inside the plow truck but I just drove it with the windows down for a bit and it was fine.

I went to the local hardware store, actually four hardware stores, last week to discover that the EPA (not a car guys friend) has decided that such easy access to the pellets are dangerous to children and pets (hasn’t it always been dangerous?) and they have banned their use. Now you can only buy mouse traps in the stores that prevent access to the actual pellets which are protected in what is now called a mouse catcher. They hold just a few pellets and are priced at $16 for 4 little “catchers” that will only catch one mouse each and then must be discarded. Old fashioned spring loaded traps and sticky sheets are still there but they have to be unloaded every day if they’re doing their job and I don’t find them as convenient as the pellets. Replacement pellets are available on the internet, otherwise known as the black market, but the same number of trays I paid $8 for are now $229. A perfect example of big brother protecting people who aren’t smart enough to protect themselves at a huge cost to the rest of us. Thoughts, comments? My editor is waiting to hear from you!

March 27, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

The Nor'Easter Magazine

One Track Mind – Feb ’17

by Dick Anderson

Well, 2017 has entered with a bang, at least as far as our Annual Gala is concerned. The largest snowstorm of the year, allegedly a nor’easter, chose to arrive on our event date. The gala committee, ably headed up by Kristin Larson, considered postponing or even canceling our event but contractual provisions with the Museum of Science precluded that. So on with the show we went, 130 of us attended and real-time feedback was consistently positive. The museum opened its “Blue Wing” to us and offered some fun and fascinating exhibits to view and even play with. We were able to raise some money for Homes for Our Troops with a silent auction and I was happy to present the “Enthusiast of the Year” award to Richard Viard for his “over and above“ contributions to NER. He is an avid A/X’er who volunteers as its official photographer. Additionally, he made an excellent movie entitled “Autocross – The Movie” which is available for view on our website (www.porschenet.com) and is used by other regions as well. He has run a “how to photograph cars” clinic and has another scheduled for March. He often attends our concours and social events and provides photos from them for the Nor’easter and most importantly, he’s a really good guy!

Every January your board of directors and committee chairs meet to plan the ensuing year’s activities. On the docket are discussions around improving our club to serve the interests of our membership, review proposed budgets for both DE and A/X, as well as plan for social events for the next twelve months. It’s generally, a lengthy, productive meeting and taken very seriously by the participants.

You’ve been hearing me whine about my foot operation for the last three months or so. Well, I’m pleased to report that as of this writing I am “boot free.” So you’ll no longer have to hear about it (do I hear a resounding “YAY!”). What you may hear about are the things I did to while away the time as I was less than mobile. First, I bought a new Macan GTS. Bye bye, RS5, hello, hot little SUV. The downside of this is that our fleet still consists of five cars for two people. The upside is that I now own three Porsches, as well as, the old standby 2006 Infiniti (the “beater”), and my F150. Oh, and an enclosed trailer. I’m seriously thinking about downsizing. Time to sell the GT3? Might be. I also spent some time on Amazon and bought stuff I thought I needed, like a Universal Smartphone Garage Door Controller that requires a bit more work to install than I anticipated (but just think, once installed, I’ll be able to open and close my garage door when I’m in Hawaii!). I also bought some elevated shelving for the garage that installs by attaching to the ceiling joists. What the hell was I thinking? Maybe I can get Jeff, my new son-in-law, to put those up.

This is a month of alliterative things, specifically, those that begin with “P.” The Porsche club Board meeting, the “Patriots,” “Packers,” and “Pittsburgh,” in the NFL “Playoffs,” and the “Presidential” inauguration.

As of this writing, we watched an ugly performance by the Pats in a win against an improved, but not championship caliber, Houston team. Then we watched the Packers beat the favored Cowboys in a squeaker, as the underdog Steelers did the same to the Chiefs. Next weekend, the AFC and NFC champions will be decided and Ann and I will be in attendance at Gillette as TB12 leads the Pats to another AFC Championship (I hope).

Probably the most anticipated show in January will be President Trump’s inauguration. Not necessarily for the normal pomp and circumstance, but for the sideshows that will inevitably result. Who will finally agree to perform, what hijinks will Michael Moore arrange, what will President Trump tweet?

We’ll all know the answer to these sports and politics questions before this issue reaches your hands. January turns out to be quite an eventful month!

Don’t forget to check out our facebook page to ease Porsche “withdrawal symptoms” over the winter months.

Until next month . . .

March 27, 2017/by Sterling Vernon

Zen and the Art of Auto Detailing

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