Club News - February 2025

Hello AL Region PCA!

Our Polar Bear Run two weeks ago was a smashing success with over 93 registrants and an amazing surprise polar bear guest! Kelvin Knight and Donna Knight, AL Region PCA Members were the 2nd Grand Prize winners from the 2024 PCA Fall Raffle! Kelvin and Donna get their choice of a 2025 718 Cayman or 2025 718 Boxster plus $25,000 cash! This is the first time an AL Region member has won the PCA Raffle! PCA National's Executive Director Vu Nguyen was able to fly in and be here to help us surprise Kelvin and Donna at our drivers meeting in front of a big crowd of our members! Thank you to all who attended! Special thanks and shout out Vu Nguyen, Michael Guilsher, Tim Nagy, Mason Beale, Sam Fuller and Porsche Birmingham for all your help in pulling off this epic surprise! And extra special thanks to Michael for all his work and coordination for another safe and fun Polar Bear Run! A short video of this epic surprise is featured on PCA's YouTube channel here! Below photo credits to Jeff Ryals - Thank you!

Congratulations Kelvin and Donna!

Porsches & Coffee with Special Guest PTX!!

THIS Saturday, February 8th

Please join us for Porsches, Coffee, Comradery, and a chicken biscuit (while they last) with special guest Porsche Track Experience! PTX will join us on Sat., February 8th at Porsche Birmingham for an inside look and open discussion regarding PTX courses, give aways and deals for PCA members. The presentation will start shortly after 10am so please arrive early! Items will be raffled! P&C occurs ever 2nd Saturday of the month at Porsche Birmingham from 10-12.

Third Thursday Social

Thursday, February 20th

Please join your Porsche Club friends on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 PM at Ocean Restaurant! Located at 1218 20th Street South, Birmingham. Ocean has been voted Best Restaurant, Best Chef and the recipient of AAA Four Diamond Award for the past 12 years! Come Enjoy Fresh Seafood in an Exciting & Contemporary Atmosphere! IMPORTANT! Seating is limited to 26 guests so please email David Smith @ smithd@wrsco.com the number attending in your party ASAP for confirmation. After the limit is reached, you'll be waitlisted and notified if a spot opens up. Thanks for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you there!

Porsches & Coffee - Tech Session by Porsche Bham!!

Saturday, March 8th

Our annual Tech Session will be held in conjunction with Porsches & Coffee on Saturday, March 8th at 10:ooam. Club Technical Chair, Rodney McFarland, will lead the event. Rodney and the Service Team will have an interesting line-up of cars, parts, equipment, and technical information for all members. Raffle items, Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits (while they last) and coffee will be available. YOU MUST register for the event HERE Please be sure to sign the ewaiver in clubreg, and verify your signature via text or email to secure your registration. Family members and guests will need to have a ClubReg account and have signed the e-waiver to be admitted.

Social at CMP

Saturday, April 5th

Registration is now open for our day at CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park. For more information or to register, please click HERE.

Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix

May 2 - 4 SAVE THE DATE!

I am thrilled to announce that we will once again offer hospitality at the Indy race this year in the Barber Room located in the basement of Barber Motorsports Museum, as well as the outside area just to the east of the pedestrian bridge at the museum. This was an amazing set up last year with an air-conditioned indoor area, outdoor area with tent, and private restrooms. Our attendees will also have access to the museum and bridge during the weekend. You must have race tickets to attend, and tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.

Don't forget to purchase car corral tickets if you want to park with the "cool kids".

Welcome

New Members!

William Akers

2025 718 Cayman GTS

Joanne Boyd

2016 Cayenne

Eric Capley

2010 Cayman S

Kevin Grohoske

1983 944

Nathan Harris

2018 911 GT3

Joshua Hill

2017 911 Turbo S

Jack Kowalczyk

2019 911 Carrera

Ron Ramsbacher

2019 Macan S

PCA Name Badge

Order your PCA name badge at Crown Trophy for $10

205-621-7393

Email Crown Trophy

Porsche Trivia & Fun Facts!

The Porsche 901?

This is how the 911 was initially launched as the 901, which isn’t a car name nearly as fun to say. Yet when it showed in Paris, there was an immediate controversy over trademark. It seems the 901 was already reserved by Peugeot. Or was it? Peugeot hadn’t actually trademarked “901,” but they claimed any and all three-digit car model numbers that had a zero in the middle. Porsche was already in the middle of its launch, so it was a headache to change the name of the Porsche 901. “901” was even being affixed to the rear of the car and to the glove compartment! In the end, the easiest thing to do was to rename the car using the typeface they could already produce most quickly. That meant sticking either an additional ‘9’ or a ‘1’ in the middle in place of the zero. They wisely chose the ‘1,’ sparking one of the longest lasting love affairs in auto history. It’s almost certain that the series would have taken off regardless of its name, but today Porsche 911 history recalls a vast range of bold car designs that capture drivers’ imaginations.

:https://www.porschewestpalmbeach.com/blog/porsche-911-history-car-name/#:~:text=In%20the%20end%2C%20the%20easiest,love%20affairs%20in%20auto%20history.

Porsche Experience Center (PEC) Atlanta

July 19th

Our annual visit to Porsche Experience Center (PEC) is scheduled for July 19. Event registration is now available HERE . The PEC is providing the Alabama Region with an exclusive early rental opportunity for the Porsche of our choice for track driving. When regular PEC rental opens to the public in a few weeks, your desired Porsche model will probably not be available. Summer is a high attendance time at the PEC. So, take advantage of this early rental limited time offer.

Our visit will include Road Course driving (West or South track), Custom PEC Tour, and SIM Racing. We will have lunch in the Restaurant 356. Overnight accommodations are available at the Kimpton Overland, which is located across the parking lot from the PEC. More detailed information (contact phone numbers) will be provided by email after your registration is complete. Hope you will make plans to join us.

Porsche Birmingham

Many thanks to Porsche Birmingham for their generous support and hospitality hosting Porsches & Coffee every month for our members. They provide monthly specials (available here) and offer service discounts of 10% on parts & labor.

In Memoriam

The Alabama Region PCA wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to David Clements in the passing of his mother Linda Kay Clements, and wife Margaret Clements. Ms. Clements and her husband and family are longtime founding members of our club. Obituary details are here and here. Please join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to David and his family.

2025 Events

(mark your calendars, more events yet to come)

Feb 8: Porsches & Coffee at Porsche Birmingham w/ Special Guest PTX

Feb 20: Third Thursday Social @ Ocean

Mar 8: Porsches & Coffee at Porsche Birmingham - TECH SESSION

Mar 22-23: Spring HPDE @ Barber - Register HERE

May 2-4: Indy Race Weekend @ Barber

May 15: PCA AL Region Night @ Baron’s Game - Regions Field

June 14 – 15: Father’s Day HPDE @ Barber

July 19: Annual Trip to PEC in ATL

July 26-27: Summer HPDE @ Barber

Sept 5-7: Fanatec GT Race @ Barber

Sept 13: Porsches & Coffee & AL Region PCA 55th Anniversary Celebration / PCA 70th Anniversary Celebration

Oct TBD: Annual Fall Trip to NC/TN/GA

Dec 5: Annual Holiday Party

Suggestion Box

If you have one - please share with us. We are always interested in offering new activities/events of interest. Look forward to hearing from you

Click to email

PCA Alabama Region Apparel

Our Club has partnered with Fanhood Apparel to offer Alabama Region clothing and swag to our members. To purchase contact Fanhood Apparel at 205-701-7008

Wishing you an Exciting 2025

Stephannie Froehlich

President

Michael Guilsher

Vice President

R.L.

Mitchell

Treasurer

David Hauseman

Secretary

As a reminder, our events may be limited in size based upon venue's capacity or other limiting factors, and are only for our members. You may need to sign-up/RSVP according to event instructions. Events with fees require payment to secure reservations. Events are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED in terms of registration, and waiting lists may occur. If after registration you can no longer attend please notify us so we can offer your spot to waitlisted members. If space becomes available, earliest registration payment will be selected.

Alabama Region

Porsche Club of America

2100 Providence Park, Ste 250,

Birmingham, AL 35242