Playing with Cars
Hello PCA-SDR!
My first column I opened with a look backwards at all the fun we had in 2023 and in anticipation of the fun we would have in 2024. For this column I’d like to look forward both as we finish out 2024 and towards the fun we’ll be having in 2025.
One of our crown jewel events in 2024 is the Concours. This is the chance to see some of the best kept Porsches on display in wonderful scenery. The event is being held November 9th at the Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum. You can register now to get your car registered for display, or get your lunch ticket and museum pass in advance. Registration is open now at msreg.com/Concours2024. There is even a group now for cars used in track and autocross competition— my car will be displayed in that category! As for the fun in 2025, you’ll have a new board of directors serving you:
President: Val Hanke
Vice President: Michael Zurich
Secretary: Ashley Andreoli
Treasurer: Jason McClure
Director: Roberto McFarlane
Director: Emily Dearborn
Lorraine Yapps Cohen was also elected to the board but resigned shortly thereafter. We will address the vacancy on the board according to the club’s by-laws, Section IV.4.4.
Events to look forward to in 2025:
The Installation Dinner, affectionately nicknamed Porsche Prom, happens January 11th, 2025. This event serves to introduce the incoming board of directors to the club as well as giving recognition to our Enthusiast of the Year. This is also a chance to dress up in some formal wear, meet your friends from the club, have a wonderful plated meal and dance the evening away. When I first attended an installation dinner I didn’t expect that my wife and I would enjoy it as much as we did. It was great fun. Come out and party with us! Registration page and info will be up soon, check the pcasdr.org calendar.
The day after the installation dinner in 2025, wake yourself up with the first of the year’s autocrosses on January12th. Subsequent dates are February 23rd, April 13th, May 4th, June 1st, July 13th, August 24th, September 28th, and December 21st. Autocrosses are a fun way to improve your driving, compete against friends, and enjoy your Porsche. We have two weekends reserved with the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre for our Performance Driving School; March 22-23rd and November 22-23rd. The Performance Driving School (PDS) is a great way to improve your safety on the road, build your skill and confidence driving your Porsche, and begin to learn the art of performance driving.
The first major event I attended was a PDS. I learned a lot about myself and my car, learned a bit of how much I didn’t know about driving fast, and was introduced to a great set of friends all volunteering to put on a great event for me and the other PDS students. Ten years later I’m still playing with cars with some of those same people who welcomed me to the club!
Our Driver’s Education and Time Trial events also have their schedule available. We have 8 trips to racetracks in 2025:
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR) January 18-19, Big Willow March 1-2, CVR April 5-6, Streets of Willow May 17-18, Big Willow September 6-7, CVR October 18-19, Buttonwillow November 15-16, CVR December 13-14. Come out to one of the events and find out what the race track is like.
My recommendation would be to take our DE school, held at CVR and Streets of Willow. Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is an approachable track with moderate average speeds and lots of runoff area for every corner. Streets of Willow is a fun flowing track with elevation changes and linked corners reminiscent of an autocross. The DE school will safely introduce you to driving at a track and the skills required.
It has been a privilege to be your president. Thank you to the board members who stood alongside me, the army of volunteers that put on great events for us all to enjoy, and all the wonderful members whose joy made all the work worth it. I am grateful to the club and I look forward to 2025 and playing with cars more with all of you.