What’s happening in PCA San Diego Region?

COVID-19 restrictions have tightened to a Purple stage in San Diego as the number of cases of COVID-19 is on the increase and, as a consequence, PCA-SDR events continue to occur on a limited basis, as our events are not considered critical by the authorities. As the number of COVID-19 cases has increased, more and more of us now know someone who has had, or currently has, the virus. We can confirm that it is something we want to avoid at all costs. We still need to continue being diligent in complying with stated regulations and common sense, especially as Christmas is looming when annual gatherings abound. The Board of Directors has maintained the philosophy of not putting on any events that could put members at risk.

At the December board meeting, the 2020 board had to make some difficult decisions regarding our normal end of year annual events, which are upcoming, and they voted to cancel most in the interests of not putting SDR members at risk.

Cancelled (or postponed) SDR 2020 End of Year events and awards consist of:

• The 2020 Annual Installation Dinner – where the new Board is welcomed in and the previous Board is thanked for their service. Normally this is formal party to which all members are invited and we celebrate new management and give annual SDR region awards. For an article on the 2019 Installation dinner see the article under “What’s happening” on our website, click HERE

(There is a slight possibility that this annual event may occur later in 2021 COVID restrictions permitting).

• The 2020 SDR Region “Bill Myrick Enthusiast of the Year” award.

• The 2020 SDR Region “Family of the Year” award.

• The 2020 SDR Region “Pat Scanlon” award for best in the SDR concours participant.

• Being so close to Christmas, the previously board-approved Dec 27^thdriving tour was also postponed to a date in 2021 to be announced once approved by the 2021 board.

Unfortunately, these cancellations and many others are attributable to COVID-19 entering the Purple zone in California.

2021 SDR Board members

The 2021 SDR board members are now in place and took over the reins at the December Board meeting on Dec 1^st, under the guidance of incoming President Tom Brown. The new board is enthusiastic and has declared that they intend to make SDR the best it can possibly be for 2021 and to reinstate as many of SDR’s usual events and activities as regulations permit. Click HERE for a list of the many events and activities that SDR usually offer members.

Once again, I encourage members to get involved with SDR, not just by attending more events as they come up, but also by volunteering to be a part of the organizing committees that incoming President Tom Brown will be coordinating. Participation definitely does have its rewards and SDR can most probably show you more ways to enjoy Porsche than you could imagine!

What has recently happened in SDR?

SDR Virtual Food Drive is now CLOSED

$15,425

That is how much San Diego Region members donated to our SDR Virtual Food Drive in conjunction with the San Diego Food Bank.

In addition to that amazing sum, PCA National gave a $750 subsidy for regions participating in charity events. The 2020 SDR board of directors voted to donate this subsidy to the Virtual Food Drive.

So the Grand total our region donated to the Virtual Food Drive was actually

$16,175 Total

TRULY OUTSTANDING!!

 SDR exceeded our goal (which we increased three times to a final $15,000).

With every dollar donated being equivalent to 5 meals – that means SDR provided 88,875 meals to those in need in the San Diego community.

 All involved should be really proud of that achievement and  HUGE thanks are due to past SDR President Bev Gould for not only coming up with the idea, but for diligently managing the Virtual Food Drive throughout.

If you would still like to contribute, it’s still not too late to donate to the San Diego Food Bank’s ongoing Drive HERE

New Members

To all the new members who have joined this year, obviously the COVID-19 regulations are indeed having a massive impact on the events our region usually does for our members. This is clearly the case for many people in many walks of life and the SDR board continues to do their utmost to make SDR membership experience be the best it can.

Rest assured that, when appropriate, there will be a New Member Welcome event (currently on hold), and we will make every effort to ensure that new members have a great time and get to know each other and some of our region’s stalwart members. Check out SDR events and activities usually offered HERE

Please watch out for e-mails from the club and check the PCA-SDR calendar HERE regularly.

Another SDR Back Country Roads driving tour happened on Dec 6th

50 drivers took their Porsches on an organized drive into San Diego’s East County. In order to comply with COVID-19 requirements, participants all wore facemasks when outside their car, the pre-tour drivers’ meeting was broken up into several smaller groups and all observed social distancing.

The PCA Nationally mandated Speedwaiver system was implemented whereby participants digitally signed the insurance waiver ahead of the event and used their mobile phones to take their photo as a record of attendees. As the board of directors has placed a limit of 50 participants on current Driving Tours, it was necessary to not give out the start point of the Tour until a day or so before the event and then only to give it to registered participants in order to avoid multiple drivers just showing up and expecting to participate. The last pre-COVID-19 Driving Tour that SDR held had 135 Porsches in attendance.

What this means to members is AS SOON AS the e-mail advertising the next tour arrives in your inbox – DO NOT WAIT – sign up immediately as SDR tours are first-come first-served and limited to only 50 cars.

SDR Driving Tours team found some terrific back roads to explore and everyone reported that they really enjoyed getting their Porsches out for some driving the twisties.

My Top 3 short Porsche Videos

For those interested in Porsche related videos, following are 3 of my favorites.

1)     The Heist (2020 Super bowl commercial)            1m 01s                      click HERE

2)     Forever Amazing                                                        1m 10s                      click HERE

3)     A Gathering of Dreamers (RennSport V)               2m 37s                      click HERE

Samples of items from the PCA-SDR Goodie Store

The gift-giving season is rapidly approaching – Get your GIFT on!  …. don’t wait until it’s too late!

Order your holiday gifts early from the PCA-SDR Goodie Store!

Guaranteed to WOW!

Get MERRY this holiday season with gifts from the PCA-SDR Goodie Store!

15 oz. Stainless Steel Coffee Mug $26.40

OGIO Endurance Cap $29.46

Dickies Unisex Diamond Quilted Jacket $82.79

and for SDR members who are proud to be a part of our region that would like to show their colors and be recognized by other members on the road …

(Think of it as a “team tattoo” for your Porsche – for those who prefer to not tattoo themselves)

 What’s about to happen in SDR?

From all at PCA-SDR to you, your family, and friends

MERRY CHRISTMAS  and  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 I hope you also have something nice under your tree!

The NEXT Monthly Board Meeting will be Tue Jan 5th and will again be a ZOOM conference call, in order to comply with social distancing regulations board members and committee chairs will receive conference call details with dial-in numbers, etc.

~ ~ ~

Thank you very much to the 2020 board and also to all who supported the 2020 SDR Board of Directors. It was a pleasure working with each of you, and you should be proud of how you managed our region under the circumstances. I’m confident that SDR will excel under the guidance of President Tom Brown and the 2021 board.

I’d still like to see you at an SDR event and I request that when you see me, please introduce yourself.

Cheers!

Keith Verlaque

PCA-SDR 2020President

Who are we?………………….WE ARE SDR !!