Upcoming Events

Craig Steele 

President PCA Redwood Region

I thought August was busy. Then came September and pow! Off the charts.

 

On September 8, we had 10+ Redwood members display their Porsches at the 25 ^th Annual Cloverdale Car Show. Gordon Carter , one of our Redwood members, won first place for his vintage white 911 (see more in his article below). We vowed to add this event to our 2019 schedule so we can compete for the most car club members in attendance.

 

Our 8 ^th autocross of the season happened September 15 and I was waterboy, gate monitor and driver. That evening, I flew down to Santa Diego to help my son and his family get ready to fly to Germany, like I just did last month.

 

The following weekend was our annual Oktoberfest Tour in Vacaville on Saturday followed by the Zone 7 Redwood Region Concours at the local Petaluma Park on Sunday. I supplied tables, cones and our new Redwood Region canopy to the event.

 

That brings us to that last and very busy Porsche week of September, which kicks off with our monthly board meeting followed by exciting Rennsport activities.

 

At the recent Werks Reunion, the Diablo and Redwood Regions agreed to partner with PCA to organize a Toyo Tire Tour from Sonoma Raceway to Laguna Seca Raceway the Wednesday before Rennsport VI.

 

28 Porsche drivers got the opportunity to enjoy a social at Flying Lizard Motorsports at Sonoma Raceway, then drive 160 miles to have a late lunch in Monterey and finish up with Toyo Tire at the Raceway. And guess who’s the route master? Yours truly!

 

Then it’s on to Rennsport Reunion VI. I’ve volunteered for at least two shifts – likely at the Porsche corrals. My biggest chore is to get as many famous driver signatures on the current Rennsport poster. I lost my signed poster in the fires last year and this is my chance to create a new set of memories.

 

These are my last few months as President of the Redwood Region and l look forward to being the Present Past President so my wife and I can rebuild our home destroyed in the 2017 Tubbs fire. Look for more announcements about elected positions upcoming issues of der Riesenbaum . 

Sandy Provasi

Zone 7 Representative

I'm writing this month’s article as Tom and I drive home from the PCA Treffen Banff in the Canadian Rockies - a wonderful event at a “bucket list” location: Banff Springs Hotel. Snow came early to the Rockies, which didn’t stop us from touring many of the great sites in Alberta. Treffen limits the number of attendees to around 200 Porsches, giving you you time to tour and socialize with small groups of Porsche enthusiasts.

Check out future locations at on their website. One might be on your own bucket list! Registration for each PCA Treffen opens approximately three months before the event.

September wrapped up the Zone 7 Autocross series with the final event at Alameda

hosted by Golden Gate Region. There are 22 autocrossers who have attended 5 or more

events and will receive their trophies at the Year End Banquet. Everyone is invited to join us at the banquet, which will be at the casual Fiesta Mexican Grill in Concord on November 10. This is a central location to many of the Zone 7 regions. Zone Concours and Autocross awards will be awarded along with other Zone awards for the year.

The Zone 7 Concours series will wrap up on Sunday, October 7 hosted by Golden Gate

Region at Carlsen Porsche in Redwood City. Carlsen Porsche will celebrate Oktoberfest

and the reopening of their remodeled showroom. Hope to see you there.

Looking ahead:

Greg Matsumoto 

Autocross Chair

After a day autocrossing, figuring out the right breaking point, how to hit the apex, the optimal point for pedal to the metal and to squeeze by that cone that you hit last time, a nice brew among compadres hit the spot. See some pics from Applebee's below.

Our September autocross was another challenging event with one of Bob Schoenherr’s technical courses. 48 drivers registered and enjoyed a sunny and comfortable day driving their hearts out. There was our usual cast of characters and a number of first timers from across the Bay Area. Working on getting our driving techniques down before the end of the season were thoughts swirling in our heads.

TTOD went to Monty Pack from GGR with an impressive 40.318 and TTODL to Anita Benzing with a 44.841. See results from the weekend and our full season here.

October 13 is the last autocross of our 2018 season. Sadly, we’ll be hanging up our helmets and packing our gear away. Join us for our last dance of the season.

Speaking of last dances, we received some very bad news from the airport manager. After our autocross, we were informed that car clubs will not be allowed on the airport course in 2019. But we won’t go down without a fight and are donning our political full-faced helmets. 

We will be lobbying James Gore, Sonoma County Supervisor for District 4, and Deborah Fudge, Windsor Mayor, to overturn the airport manager’s decision. 

Ms. Fudge has already been contacted by our member Jim Winston and I quickly composed a letter to James Gore stating our position. We've also been collecting signatures of support to mail to Mr. Gore, most recently at last weekend's Oktoberfest Concours.

We will be asking for your support and signatures at the next opportunity, so stay tuned for more updates. This will be a heavier lift than last year’s fight but our stubbornness can be converted into a powerful force. 

At the same time, we are searching for possible autocross sites. Please help us out by checking your area for a possible site and let me know .

“Don’t let the turkeys get you down.” 

Our best response to the bad news is to celebrate the end of a great 2018 autocross season.  Register for our October 13 autocross to sharpen your driving and to blow your numbers off your doors.

See ya’ on the 13th!

Ben Davoren

Redwood Member

This year’s annual Oktoberfest Porsche run to Vacaville was a little more intimate than past years, but still made for a fantastic day.

I put on my best (okay my ONLY) Lederhosen and Alpine Bavarian hat and met up with the small but enthusiastic Redwood Region crew at Kaffe Mocha in Santa Rosa early Saturday morning September 22.

Eleven Porsches (as pointed out by Past President Vern Rogers , 10 of which were water-cooled, signaling perhaps a changing of the guard) eagerly followed Kurt Fischer from Santa Rosa out through Calistoga down the Silverado Trail, then along the southern end of Lake Berryessa on Highway 128 to downtown Vacaville.

It was the third beautiful day I’ve seen for this event in only three attempts, and the drive revealed a lot of scenery, not the least of which were at least three areas where significant wildfires have burned just within the last year. We had a few spirited moments and I think everyone with a Cabriolet took the top down for the second part of the drive to admire the views! Joe Burroughs kept the group tidy from the rear. This drive never gets old, partly because it ends so well: reserved Porsche parking right behind the Gruber Family Band in Vacaville square, with reserved tables decorated in traditional Bavarian blue checks in front of the Pure Grain Bakery & Café, owned by longtime members Holger and Martina Seibert and carefully guarded by Simone and Thorsten Kopitzki.

Tasty and good value bratwursts, potato salad, pretzels, and of course German Beer, all hit the spot for lunch, while either watching or participating in polkas or the infamous ‘chicken dance’.

As I recall from last year, it’s hard to imagine a friendlier Redwood Region PCA event than this one. This annual happening remains the perfect way to explore what the club has to offer. Please put this one on your calendars for next fall. You won’t regret it!

Gordon Carter

Redwood Member

The Cloverdale Car show is one of the more popular car shows in the North Bay and Porsche Club was recently invited to be a part it. Traditionally most of the entrants have been the standard Americana with strong showings by the Corvette club and Road Runners clubs. This is the first year Porsche Club has participated. There was also a competition to see which car club would have the most entrants - that distinction went to the Road Runners.

The Cloverdale Chamber of commerce was excited that the Porsche Club decided to be involved this year and they look forward to an even greater participation by our club next year. Mark your calendars: The 2019 Cloverdale Car Show is the first weekend after Labor Day. We should be able to give those Corvette and Road Runner guys some competition next year!

We had our own Porsche section at the show were we parked cars. The venue was nicely set up and the entire downtown section of Cloverdale was closed off to accommodate the over 300 cars on display.

It was fun to walk up and down the main street checking out the wide assortment of cars on display. A raffle and awards were given for the best cars in various categories and several of us stood around watching the trophies being given out. It was fun to see folks receiving awards for their cars. This was not a Concours D’elegance were the correctness of the car was paramount -- many of the winners were home built classics and even far out hot rods.

Surprisingly, I was awarded the Best Custom Imported car. I was amazed and honored that the judges had taken the time to seriously consider giving recognition to one of our Porsches.

Overall, it was a fun day in Cloverdale. I'm looking forward to participating again next year and hope to see you out there, as well!

Nicole Weld

Redwood Member

With intentions to fill our hearts as well as our tummies at this years Holiday Party, I am excited to announce the PCA Redwood Board has unanimously approved to partner with Alternative Family Services (AFS) and their Wish Upon A Wreath Campaign . Please join in the giving this season and help a Sonoma County Foster Child!

AFS is a Calif. Nonprofit 501 c3, foster care, adoption and mental health agency that has cared for thousands of Northern California foster youth since 1978.

Before the fires of October 2017, AFS served anywhere from 400-500 foster youth at any given time. Annually, the number was approximately 1,500 youth through all of their programs. That number has increased by about 30% since the fires.

Holiday time is especially difficult for foster youth, and the AFS Wish Upon a Wreath gift program is an opportunity to make this holiday a little brighter for a foster child..

Each wreath designates a wish for a toy, clothing, tech gear, book, a gift card, etc. from a Sonoma County foster child. (ONE Wish Wreath Tag = ONE Foster Youth’s Wish)

Participation is simple:

Respond via email by October 20th to request a Wish Wreath and take part in this special giving campaign.

Alan Geddes Redwood Region Secretary

Our next board meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm on September 25, 2018 at Mary's Pizza Shack, located at  121 San Marin Dr., Novato . All members are welcome to attend. 

You can read previous board meeting minutes  here . 

Tom Short Membership Director

In August 2018, 25 PCA Redwood Region members marked five or more years in the club, including three members with 40 or more years in the club and two who marked over 30 years!  

Congratulations and thanks to those with anniversaries. I hope you are enjoying your membership and taking advantage of all the great benefits our club offers.

In August we welcomed 9 new members - I hope you take advantage of the excellent activities our club offers throughout the year. You will be receiving a complimentary Redwood Region name badge shortly, along with a coupon good for a free autocross. Check out our  website  for upcoming autocross events. Also, you can order a name badge for your associate member there as well.

Be sure to check out the  calendar   on our  website  and keep an eye on it as new events are added as we finalize them. I encourage everyone to participate in your club's events -- they're a great way to meet other PCA members and have some great fun with people and our amazing cars. 

   

If you spot any errors or have questions about membership, please  email   me. 

Classifieds

Dress in style and get your Redwood Region branded items in our Goodie Store.

Der Riesenbaum is the official newsletter of the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region, encompassing Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. This publication is intended to inform Club members about Club activities and other related matters of interest. 

We encourage letters to the editor, feedback, questions and suggestions about our newsletter and the Redwood Region in general. Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit photos and articles  about Club events or related activities. Please submit your entry by the 5th day of the month for inclusion in that month's newsletter. Articles received after the deadline will be considered for the next month's newsletter. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all materials submitted for publication.

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Thanks for supporting our Club!

Stacy O'Connell

der Riesenbaum Editor

Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region