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A Message from the 2026 President – May 2026

Board Updates & Governance

Below is a summary of the highlights of board meetings over the last few months.  While most of the time are discussing events for the membership, we also need to tackle administrative tasks of running a board:

  • Communication & Transparency: This is a focus of mine and I will continue to present these updates to the membership, so you all know the “happenings” at NER and the accomplishments of the 2026 Board.
  • Website Refresh and Document Storage: New website is live. Congrats to Ryan and his team for this needed refresh.  Please look for additional updates over the remainder of the year. We are also reviewing how NER documents are stored to ensure effective transitions to those boards in the years to come.
  • Policies, Procedures & Bylaws: Policies & Procedures drafts of these are in process and will ensure the Board operates efficiently and in accordance with our bylaws. Note we put the Bylaw update on hold to ensure when there is a “fix and clarify” we update everything needed once and we need to operate under the current version to fully understand all necessary tweets.
  • Email blasts: We are working to ensure future email blasts are consistent month to month so everyone will know when to expect them and looking to add some human interest stories from current members.

Upcoming Events & Activities

Springtime is here and cars are out of storage.  It is great to see Porsches out driving on the streets again.  Activities have been planned, some have already occurred and some are right around the corner.  The favorite events have stayed, and new concepts are being explored, especially in our Social events.

Driving & Track Events

  • Autocross (AX): The 2026 season kicked off with a well-attended Ground school event at Devins and welcomed some DE folks to work on car control. Pizza was had by all with an AX course in the afternoon.  If you have not tried AX, no time like the present – it’s an exciting way to see what you and your car can do.  All registration is on motorsportreg.com.  If you are curious what this is all about, check out a video here Welcome to AX
  • Driver Education (DE): Registration is open now at motorsportreg.com
    • HPDE Primer: May 22 at Thompson – a low-cost, half-day opportunity to try DE for the first time.
    • Tech Form: The 2026 tech form and process is available online at Tech form and happy to report NCR and NER have adopted the same process to make this easier for all. The DE tech team have established 2 tech sessions showing how to “self-tech” your car and videos for assistance at the link above.
  • The Ramble: As I write this, all are home from a great Ramble at the Sagamore Hotel and still wishing for more and looking forward to next year. I look forward to seeing the recap for 2026 and another fabulous event next year April 23-25, 2027, in Newport RI at Newport Harbor Island Hotel.

Rallies & Tours

We are delivering on your requests for more driving tours and working to spread them out across the region:

  • Spring Rally: Another rainy Sunday for the route which started at Billiards Café in Ayer MA. But you all showed up and the event was a huge success.
  • Summer Rally: Currently in the planning stages and should be announced soon.
  • Dow Fall Rally: Our annual tradition continues and look for details later in the spring/summer.

Social Events

The Social Committee is expanding our “Porsches & Coffee” locations and adding more tech sessions.

  • Porsches & Coffee: Starting this year, you will see Cars & Coffee in both the “North” and “South.” We will also be attending Larz Anderson for Porsche Day on Sunday July 26th.
  • Summer Outing: “Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.” Porsches are headed to the Lowell Spinners ballpark on Saturday August 1.  Look for details to come but let’s say I need to warm up my throwing arm, and the kids should wear their running sneakers.  Should be a great event for the full family.

Concours

The Concours Committee has been formed and is planning an exciting event for Sunday September 13th at Westport Rivers Winery in Westport, MA.

  • New Location: As Audrain has expanded their schedule, it was determined to move our event outside Motor Week.
  • While some things change, others do not: While the location has changed, we expect our Concours event to be another hit with a beautiful backdrop of the vineyards.  While cars are being shown, there will be wine will be available for tastings and purchase (by glass or bottle).

Events Around the Region

  • DER Porsches in the Park: Downeast Region is hosting their annual Porsches in the Park on Saturday July 25th at Bug Light Park, South Portland ME. This is a great charity event with proceeds going to the Dempsey Center which provides personalized and comprehensive cancer care.   See details on how to register at Porsches in the Park.  And who knows, maybe Patrick Dempsey will attend as he has in some prior years.
  • PCA Porsche Parade: The PCA Parade is at Lake Placid June 14-20, 2026, with registration open for all events. It is a great time to meet Porsche enthusiasts from around Zone 1 and the country.  It has not been in Zone 1 since Jay Peak, VT in 2016

Fun Facts

  • NER hosted the Porsche Parade in 1961 in Berkshires, MA and was gifted a sterling silver Porsche 356, autographed by Ferry Porsche. This has been passed down President to President since and currently sitting on my mantel.
  • Speaking of Parades, NER won the Membership award at the 1998 43rd Porsche Parade at Steamboat CO
  • While most of us have only heard of AX at Fort Devens because it is a GREAT location, we used to run autocrosses at a number of locations such as Mitre Corp in Reading, Burlington Mall, Needham Nike Site, Dighton Nike Site, Auburn Mall, Ft Devens (old course), Univ NH parking lot , Revere Greyhound track parking lot , Smith & Weston lot in Springfield MA, Bose parking lot and Convention Center in Boston

Get Involved

NER is fueled by the passion of our volunteers. If you have an interest in helping out, whether in a small way or by joining a committee, please reach out to us at [email protected].

I look forward to seeing you all on the road and at our events very soon!

Kristin Larson

2026 NER President

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A New NER Website Arrives The Week of 2/23!

Hello NER Members!

As we approach the 2026 driving season, club staff have been working hard to modernize, simplify, and improve our digital and social media experience.

As part of this initiative, we are starting the gradual rollout of a new NER website the week of 2/23/26. To help you stay informed, please refer to the information below.

What You Can Expect:

  • A more modern design, with improved readability and vibrant colors
  • Reworked page layouts that are more responsive, and better showcase content on all devices
  • Easier page navigation, with quicker access to key club information
  • And more!

As We Transition To Our New Look, Please Be Advised That:

  • The website will remain available for use
  • Some pages will undergo a larger transformation than others
  • At times, the content on certain pages may appear to be under construction
  • We kindly ask for your patience as we work through these changes to deliver an improved club experience

Regards,

Ryan Kitlinski (Website Manager)

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A Quick Pitstop with Bill

I got fired. Booted off the board. Ten years of service, and I get an email, not even a phone call. No pension, no gold watch, not even a Gala to go to. Crumbs and crickets. And yet I still have to write a column. Oh well.

(Only kidding, of course. Term limits.)

So I needed a new job. There has been some minor controversy about whether or not a report is required to be put online after each DE event. Easy solution – I agreed to be responsible for doing it. I go to most of the events, don’t mind writing, doesn’t require research – just take a few pictures and pay attention. Write up what the weather was, mention the sponsor, who got promoted, who attended for the first time, what kind of IPA they had at the social, who did something stupid, tell a few stories, etc. Adam is calling this position the “DE Crier.”  So I’ll do my best, but I’m going to need some help.

For one thing, I won’t make it to every event. And in that case, I will need to have some spies who will take notes and talk to me afterward so I can write it up. And send me some pictures. The other thing is that to make this enjoyable reading, I will need to tell some stories, and those will come from you. So if you are at a DE, please be cooperative (and interesting) if I come up and talk to you. What kind of stories? As we always say, it’s not just the cars; it’s the people. I have met some wonderful folks through my PCA DE activities, and here are a couple of example stories…

I met Mark Schnoerr at PCA autocrosses, where he would flirt with FTD despite driving a pretty stock 914 (unless he was beaten by his wife, Sigrid). Mark was a dual-brand guy – he also ran a BMW E36 – and he did a lot of DEs as well as autocross.

 

At first, I didn’t own a trackable Porsche but did an occasional DE in my BMW E34 sedan and recruited Mark to be my instructor. Despite its heft, the E34 handled remarkably well and was a 6-speed V-8. And Mark would not let me give a point-by to a Porsche – just pushed me to go faster. (Two days at Watkins Glen and I drove home with metal on metal brakes.)  Later, after I had my Cayman and was doing regular DEs Mark instructed my daughter and, for one magic day, my wife. Rosemary (her nom de guerre is Rosemario) was comfortable, if mid-pack, as an autocrosser. I talked her into a DE at NHMS, and afterward, she said, “no thanks – too fast.”  But she was going to be a spectator at a one-day DE at Lime Rock where I had arranged Mark to instruct my daughter. Nora wound up with a conflict and was a no-show. Mark, who can be very persuasive, talked Rosemary into taking her place. It poured rain all day. There was a river running across the No Name straight. While most everyone (probably including me) tip-toed around, Mark had Rosemary close to 115 on the main straight and 80 on No Name (“keep your foot down and the wheel straight”). She loved it. Signed up for Watkins Glen, Mark wasn’t there, she hated it, done. Oh well.

But in the “what goes around” mode I am now again in regular contact with Mark (who lives in Texas). The JB team now has an E36 which we are preparing for endurance racing, and Mark still has his similar E36, is a regular competitor in WRL endurance races and has been providing invaluable insight into how to set up our car.

The second DE tale centers on my daughter’s first DE, just days after her 18th birthday, in one of the first outings for the Cayman. Nora was, of course, a green student, and I was in yellow/blue. Also at the event were Steve Schindler and his son Dennis who was a couple of years older than Nora. Steve and Dennis, who were also in yellow/blue and green respectively, were sharing a Boxster. At some point, Nora asked me if the Schindler’s car was faster than ours. I reflected that our newer base Cayman was probably darn close to their older Boxster S and that Steve and I were doing about the same lap times (and boy, do I wish I could still say the same!). This was apparently taken to heart because when Dennis appeared in Nora’s mirror (easy to spot with the Vermont plate), and she was advised to give him a point-by, by her instructor, she declined.

Most instructors would have told her to drive into the pits, but this instructor (not Mark but one of the best!), knew his student and her car and let her continue. With attention half on the mirror, Nora didn’t get much farther before PSM saved her bacon; she came to her senses and let him by. Lesson well taught and duly learned. The event did no damage to the relationship with the Schindlers:  at a later Mt. Tremblant event, Steve’s wife Mary befriended Nora, and Nora left our B&B in favor of camping at the track with the Schindlers.

-Bill Seymour, Former NER President, current “DE Crier “

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