Touring the Green Mountain State Since 1986!
Greetings!

We had a great time following Stu Friedman around New York State, ending up for lunch in Peru. Thank you Stu, and thank you Duffy Miller, our events chair. Scroll down for some photos of the tour, and many thanks to photographer Ken Delafrange, riding shotgun with Stu, for taking some great photos.

Covered Bridges Tour Sunday July 14

We have what looks to be an excellent tour coming up Sunday, July 14 -- please note it is on a Sunday, not our usual Saturday, meet up at Suicide 6 Ski Resort near Woodstock at 9:15.

See below for tour info from Dave Kynor. This is the tour that is being whipped up for Treffen out of Woodstock in September. We will wind up at the Public House restaurant in Quechee, good food and beer!

Please note that this tour does not require a Motorsportreg registration but DOES require an RSVP to our president, Carl Wulfestieg who is making arrangements with the restaurant.


Schedule Through October


Saturday August 17 Vermont Mountain Drive over Buel’s Gore and Smuggler’s notch. We will have two starting points; one in southern Vermont near Woodstock and the central point starting in Waitsfield.

September 4-8 Treffen in Woodstock- See note from our president, Carl Wulfestieg, below.

Later in September - Tour TBA

October - Fall Leaf Tour presented by Pete and Ellen - TBA



Tech Talk--

As you saw in earlier newsletters, we have renewed our Tech Talk feature which also appears on our website . GMR Member and Porsche mechanic Jason Eastman has graciously volunteered to answer members' questions. We would like to get your questions, big and small! Please reply to this email with your tech questions and they will appear answered by Jason in our next newsletter and on our website.


Join GMR PCA:
If you are receiving this email as a "friend of Green Mountain Porsche Club," please consider joining PCA . You get a great magazine, Panorama, and membership in Green Mountain is included in the annual dues of $45 a year. Go online at www.PCA.org , or simply call headquarters in Maryland at (410) 381-0911‬.

See you July 14 "under the bridge."

Communications Chair/Newsletter Editor


July 14
Covered Bridges Tour
Join your fellow Green Mountain Region friends as Dave Kynor leads us on a drive through several of Vermont’s classic covered bridges. 

  • 9:30 a.m. Driver briefing

  • 9.45 - Drive Begins

  • Tour length is approximately 85 miles
  • Note, we will also do some walkabouts to visit a few of the bridges

  • Rest Stop will be at the intersection of Routes 131 and 106 just north of Perkinsville, at the gas station at the southwest corner of the intersection (unfortunately just a single toilet).

  • The tour is expected to end at approximately 12 noon at the Public House Restaurant in Quechee. Lunch will be on your own; however we need to provide the restaurant with a count of expected attendees. Please let Carl Wulfestieg know now if you plan to have lunch at the Public House. There is no Motorsportreg registration needed for this tour.
July 14 Covered Bridges Tour Map from tourmeister Dave Kynor
Welcome New PCA Members!
Info updated June 29, 2019

As of this date, we have 177 members, not including family active members such as spouses, partners and kids! We are growing!

Please say hello to the following new Green Mountain Region Porsche Club members who have joined PCA here, or moved and changed regions, since our last newsletter, according to monthly data supplied us by national PCA. Note: if a member lets his or her membership lapse and then signs up again, they will appear as a "new member." In which case, welcome back!

Our records show the following new members joined since
our last Newsletter -- WELCOME!

Jonathan and Angelina Erbmann, Stowe, Red 1985 944.

Robert Haehnel, White River Junction, Blue 1998 Boxster.

Lee Shepard, Londonderry, 2019 Black Macan S.

It would be great if new members would send photos of themselves with their cars so we could post them in The Mountaineer and on the website. Just send to this newsletter email, [email protected] .

Name Tags: We recommend that new members and their spouses/partners purchase "official" Green Mountain Club name tags for wearing at all GMR events. Please email our treasurer, Christina McCaffrey , to request them for you and your spouse or partner, and she will try to get them for you in time for the next event. The cost is $15.00 per name tag.

Tech Talk - Ask Jason!

Green Mountain PCA Member Jason Eastman, mechanic and owner of Bullfrog Auto in Milton, Vermont, has graciously agreed to answer members’ questions about their Porsches in a club feature we call “Ask Jason,” appearing here in the Mountaineer and in the Tech Talk section of our website .

Any member with a question should email Communications Chair Sandy Gilmou r or Webmeister Alessandro Iuppa who will forward to Jason after which we will publish the answer(s). Likewise, if you would like to submit a an article on a technical subject regarding Porsches, email to Sandy and/or Al. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS! It's a great opportunity to get some great advice.

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Ask Jason
By Jason Eastman, Mechanic

Q. Jason, when I step on the pedal from a dead stop in low gear, my ’99 Boxster is not taking off like it used to. The last time I changed plugs was seven or eight years ago at 90,000 miles, now I have 122,000. Should I change plugs? 

A. This is not a straight forward simple answer as the car has aged and they are many factors to consider. Think of it like this: A high school track star may run the 200-meter dash in 15 seconds. As this same athlete ages, their body changes, wears and overall, it deteriorates slowly. The same track star won’t be running the 200-meter dash at 15 seconds when they are 70. (Editor’s note: tell me about it!) The same basic principles happen to an automobile engine. The degradation is so slow most people don’t notice until something major happens. 

So, to answer the question — yes, spark plugs can contribute to this concern and as a general rule of thumb should be replaced every 30,000 miles. However, there could be a number of other things that can also be adding up to this concern. For instance, the pistons and piston rings are no longer sealing as tight as they once were when leaving the factory. They will be allowing some air to pass by resulting in less power. The valves are also likely not sealing as well as when new. In addition to mechanical parts, sensors also wear and don’t register as accurately as they should.  Nothing lasts forever but unlike the human body, sensors can be replaced, or an engine can be rebuilt over and over. The only thing that limits this is the cost. 

Q. Jason, how often should I get a wheel alignment?  

A. Wheel alignments are a part of routine maintenance that is commonly overlooked until tire wear is noticed. A basic rule of thumb is to have an alignment performed with every set of new tires. Aligning more often will help extend the life of tires and suspension components. If a vehicle is driven on rough roads then the alignment should be checked more frequently as frost heaves, pot holes and, heaven forbid, curbs, will alter the alignment angles. One last thought: An alignment will typically cost about the same as one tire. By having an alignment performed you can protect your investment and ensure you will get the most out of a set of tires.

Q. Jason, I am getting some oil drip on the garage floor under my 1971 911E. Is that a problem, what should I do?  

A. Old Porsches are prone to oil drooling. Is this oil leak something that has been going on for some time or just started suddenly? Some small spots, dime sized or smaller would be considered normal to me. If the spots are larger than that, or there is a steady drip, then this should be addressed sooner rather than later. First step is to check the oil level. I recommend doing this at every fuel fill up until you are familiar with your engines level of oil consumption. Also, the oil level should be checked at least every 1,000 miles. On this model of Porsche, the engine has to be running and up to operating temperature. The oil level should be about 1/2-2/3 above the min mark on the dipstick but certainly not over the max mark. Anything above 3/4 above the min mark will typically just burn off due to the engine design. 

The gaskets and sealants have improved immensely in modern cars. We often forget this and compare our old cars to the modern cars that are by and large free of oil leaks thinking that there shouldn’t be any oil leaks. There are many areas of an air cooled 911 engine that can leak oil and certain generations are prone to mechanical problems that enhance the ability of an oil leak.

Common areas for oil leaks are from the oil return tube seals, oil pressure switch, cam tower oil lines and rocker shafts. Proper evaluation of these leaks will require someone to investigate who is familiar with these engines and willing to take on a project like this. Some of these aforementioned parts are minor repairs; some such as the rocker shafts are more involved and require special tools and experience to successfully repair the leaks.  

Our thanks to Jason! Please comment on this feature by replying to this email. Your thoughts are sought and welcome!
Photos from the June 8 New York tour, Essex-Peru
Most of the photos shot by photographer
Ken Delafrange -- Many thanks Ken!

Update Your Membership if Needed, and --
Would You Like a Co-Member Friend or Family to
Receive the Mountaineer?

If you would like your spouse/partner/or any other family member to get the Mountaineer newsletter, please email me at [email protected] and put "Co-Member" in the subject line, and type in the email address you want to receive the newsletters. I will put the address in our "Co-Member" contact list.

It is a good idea to check on your membership information in your member sign in at PCA.org and make sure it's current and correct-- names, addresses, email addresses, family info and data on your car (model, year, color etc).
Check Out the New Look of Our Website , www.gmtpca.org .

GMT Member Alessandro Iuppa, our webmeister, has been doing a great job in improving our website's look and functions. As communications chair I join the rest of the board in thanking him for all this work.

All comments welcome!


Contact:

Webmeister

Call for Volunteers for Treffen in Woodstock
Early September

By Carl Wulfestieg, GMT Club President
PCA Treffen events are limited access events, which are placed at 4 and 5 Star hotels throughout the country. These events are placed in regions different from Porsche Parade, and alternated between east, west and center of the country.  

As many of you have learned already, the Woodstock Inn was selected as the site of the September 4-7 Treffen Vermont. It is anticipated that there will be 130 cars and perhaps 250 participants for this event. Treffen national selected the location and I have commitments from Zone 1 that Green Mountain Region will have support from neighboring regions. I expect that many volunteers will be needed from GMR.
 
A number of volunteers will be needed to help with this event, and I am listing the positions which need to be filled:
 
Registration Team (RT) : The RT will be responsible for assisting in the packing of the Treffen participants’ Goodie Bags on Tuesday (all day) and Wednesday morning and early afternoon. On Wednesday afternoon, the RT will assist the Treffen Registrar and PCA staff in registering the Treffen participants from 3 – 7 pm. Approximately four people are required for the RT. The RT will work with the Treffen Registrar to accomplish this task.
 
Information Desk Staff (IDS ): The IDS will staff an information desk, usually located near the lobby of the host hotel from 12 noon – 7 pm on Wednesday and then from 7 am – 4 pm on Wednesday through Saturday. The information desk is staffed with two people at all times that it is open. The IDS will prepare a binder of material containing local information on nearby restaurants, car repair facilities, emergency services, etc. They will also maintain a listing of all participants’ names, Regions, tours scheduled, NDO activities, etc. (provided by the Treffen Registrar). The Treffen Chair will provide the Region with a list of materials that should be available at the information desk, but it is the responsibility of the host Region to collect and compile this locally-specific information.

Tour Departure Assistants (TDAs) : TDAs will assist in directing arriving participants at the tour departure area to get in their correct lane for their scheduled tour. Approximately 5 – 8 TDAs may be required depending on the number of guided tours actually scheduled for Thursday and Friday. After the final tour for the day leaves, the TDAs will collect signage, cones and other items used at the site. Signage will be used for future Treffens.

Tourmeister and Tour Drive Teams (TDTs) : The Treffen Tourmeister is a member of the local Region who has the overall responsibility for the development of all guided and self-guided tours. The TDT will consist of a lead car with driver and navigator, a mid car and a sweep car. The mids and sweeps need not have a navigator or second occupant.
 
It is expected that there will be 6 tours which will be led on Thursday and repeated on Friday. There might also be a guided or self-guided tour with moderate off-road driving provided for participants who attend with their Cayenne or Macan vehicles.
 
Car wash station : A car wash station should be identified at the host hotel and car wash supplies maintained by the host Region.
 
It is my opinion that many of the jobs can be filled by multiple persons, and it should be possible to break up the jobs into multiple shorter shifts. 

I would hope that many Green Mountain members would agree to volunteer, so that we might share in providing a great event. Also, Green Mountain members will be eligible to register for Treffen Vermont. 

It is my expectation that GMT members leading tours would be spared the added expense of the individual tour, as TDTs will have their lunches provided by Treffen. Please respond by email to [email protected] or 253-279-2345
 
Please inform me what positions that you can help with, and how many hours or days you would be available.
 
Thank you all for volunteering to help with Treffen Vermont.
 
Carl

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Your Green Mountain Region Club Officers
Carl Wulfestieg
President
Director
802-457-7116
Dave Whittall
Vice President
Director
‭(802) 843-2482
Treasurer
Christina McCaffrey
Director
802-862-3133
Peggy Larson Secretary
Director
802-363-1332
Sandy Gilmour
Communications Chair
Director-at-Large
802-457-4919
Alessandro Iuppa
Webmeister
Director-at-Large
802.484.0185
Don Jones
Director-at-Large
(802) 359-3606
Albert "Duffy" Miller
Events Chair
Director-at-Large
‭(802) 613-3169
Bill Root
Immediate Past President
Director
802-881-4355
About These Email Communications: 

Replies to these GMT PCA emails come to me (Sandy Gilmour), not the entire membership; however, I can forward to President Carl Wulfestieg and other board members if needed. I always welcome any comments on any ways we can improve communications with GMT PCA members.

We welcome any submissions by members who have some fun experiences, photos, tech stuff and other adventures to share! Email me at [email protected]

Remember also, it's a volunteer organization. Any help you can provide -- especially with event planning -- is most appreciated by all!
~ Sandy
 
Sandy Gilmour ('99 Boxster)  
Communications Manager
Green Mountain Region
Porsche Club of America