Tag: charlie and martha dow fall tour

2025 Dow Rally Recap

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This year’s Dow Rally visited Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts and took place on a gorgeous Fall Day. Thirty drivers made their way around an interesting 50-mile course while their navigators attempted to spot the answers to intentionally deceptive questions. This year we had one car with three passengers and it was Erik and Daryl Dow and daughter Hannah – yes, the Dow family that the Rally is named after. Great that they always participate, driving Charlie’s 911, to honor Charlie and Martha – two of the founders (in 1959) of our PCA region.

Participants enjoyed a tasty lunch at Rachel’s Lakeside

This year many of the questions were particularly obscure (although every question was answered correctly by at least one participant) and the winning team answered 25 of 30 questions correctly. There were four competitors with 24 correct so the second-place winner was decided on a tie-breaker and it went to Kimberly Lynch.

But the winner of the Rally was Lisa Van Gorder (Team name OK’man – very clever!). Lisa claimed she had not done any NER events before – proving that the Dow Rally is a great entry point for the slippery slope that is PCA. We’ll have her on the track soon!

Rally winners Lisa Van Gorder and Kimberly Lynch

The Rally also featured two other contests. While the participants were waiting to start, they were given the chance to answer the question “What was your most amusing automotive interaction with the law?” The three best answers (according to the subjective scoring of the organizers) were then given the chance to tell their stories at the end point luncheon. Robert Gomes, Tom Tate and Adam Wells all entertained the audience with their tales but Adam was voted the winner by the crowd.

Adam Wells was winner of best story

Finally, our course creator Ann Strong picked Gary Hebner for taking the most professional line entering Rt. 6 to start the Rally.

Ann and Gary Hebner

Thanks to Ann Strong, to Anker Berg-Sonne for doing most of the work and to our sponsor Assabet Advisors.

October 22, 2025/by Ryan

For Enthusiasts, Porsche Events, Social

8th Annual Dow Rally – Registration Is OPEN!

Join us on October 19th for the 8th Annual Charlie and Martha Dow Fall Rally!

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Registration

Registration for this event is currently OPEN at MotorsportReg and you can register by clicking here

About The Event

We do this rally in honor of the late Charlie Dow and his wife Martha – longtime, active NER and board members and all-around Porsche enthusiasts. Their kids will be attending so come and say HI!

The event was originally a tour but we switched it to a gimmick rally – you still get to drive a pretty course but now you must stay focused and attempt to answer questions about the landmarks you pass. You will have written directions and a GPS route as well. Do people still get lost? Yes. Do drivers and navigators get in arguments? Yes. Has the event caused a divorce? Unclear.

Spend a Fall Sunday morning behind the wheel – is there any better place to be? Only when it’s on a rally through the winding roads of southeastern Massachusetts and the Southcoast. Beginning in Swansea, MA, we’ll put about 60 miles under our tires enjoying the fall scenery and keeping eyes peeled for answers to clues. The Dow Rally will end in Westport, MA with a hot luncheon buffet (Portuguese stuffed chicken, baked scrod, ziti and all the fixin’s). Start and finish are both easy-on/easy-off Route 195.

The Details

The $65 entry fee includes the car and lunch for two. If there are more than two “eaters” then please let us know.

You should plan on a day that starts at 9am and ends around 2pm.

HERE IS AN IMPORTANT POINT: At the Newcomer’s meeting a common question was “I’m not sure that I want to jump into a DE or an autocross, what is the best activity for me to try first so I can meet other members?” WELL, THIS IS IT! (Or the Summer Party – that works too!). This is a great event to bring a kid or kids and come in a Macan (or stuff the really small ones in the back of the 911). The kids can help with the gimmick rally (they have better vision than you do and aren’t busy driving) and will have a blast.

Have Any Further Questions?

Contact Us Here

September 20, 2025/by Ryan

For Enthusiasts, News Update, Social, The Nor'Easter Magazine, Tours

First Annual Dow Fall Tour

What a gorgeous day to take a drive around New England, it was this past Sunday! Thirty five cars with sixty people joined us for the First Annual Charlie and Martha Dow Fall Tour. Many thanks to Gary Cooper and Tony Miniscalco for all the work they did to arrange and run this event with help from our veteran tour-meister and ramble-guru, Dennis Friedman, and the activities committee. Charlie Dow’s son, Eric, and his family were kind enough to come and we presented them with a custom plaque made specially for them that will hold a photo of everyone at the event. Thanks to all who participated and thanks to our volunteers for making a very memorable event. We all look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition in Charlie’s name for years to come.

Attendees arrive. Here comes Ramble Master, Dennis Friedman, who is used to a large number of cars at his Rambles.

First Annual Dow Fall Tour - anticipation

When do we get this thing started?

Under Bill’s watchful eye, Gary explaining to the group that McQueen was cool, but the tour drivers are not McQueen.

Charlie’s son Eric telling the group how much his Dad loved NER and Porsche, and how he would be thrilled to know his name will forever be associated with the tour.