Chip Witt

President

While I expect many of the Porsche Club of America members from around the country were preparing their cars for the drive...or were already well on their way...to be at Parade in Boca Raton this week, I was not. Work has kept me on the hustle, and taking time out for a cross-country trip to join my fellow club Presidents and other PCA members for our national club’s annual gathering just wasn’t in the cards this year. Maybe next year. I know they’re having fun because our Zone Rep, Collin Fat, sent us a picture taken of him alongside Redwood’s Past President, Mike Hinton, who made the trip from his new home in Washington State.

Fortunately for me and several others not en route to Parade Saturday, Redwood had a fun drive out to Yorkville to have lunch and a wine tasting hosted by our friends at Maple Creek Winery. I ‘swept’ for the tour, with about 20 cars following Kurt Fischer’s lead, and we arrived around lunch time to enjoy the fine chicken cookin’ of Ben and Lisa Davoren. Favorite sides were shared, and all had a great time. If you missed it, you’ll have to join us next year...it’s one of our regular and most favorite annual events. See Kurt's article below for more on the day.

The Redwood Calendar still has plenty left in the tank this summer if you’re looking for fun stuff to do. Be sure not to miss our drive out to Pech Merle for lunch and wine tasting on August 10...I’ll be taking my turn at the grill, so won’t be on the drive but I’ll look forward to seeing pictures and hearing your stories over the eats. The PCA Werks Reunion is taking place in Monterey on August 16, and Bob Hall is helping put the final tuning in on a Redwood visit to Soda Rock for lunch and a wine tasting on August 24.

If August doesn’t keep you rockin’, our transition to fall in September (or Summer Part 2) certainly will. September 7 is the Cloverdale Car Show, September 15 is Redwood’s Autocross #2...a Zone 7 Event, September 22 is Redwood’s Concours...also a Zone 7 event, and always a crowd pleaser, our annual Oktoberfest and New Redwood Member Mixer on September 21….and, yes, all new members must wear lederhosen (just kidding but wouldn’t that be cool?).

We’re definitely going to be staying busy. If you haven’t been out to an event this year, or even if you have, we hope you’ll find one or two events that you can fit into your schedule so you can join us.

Thank you and drive safe out there!

Collin Fat

Zone 7 Representative

The year is certainly flying by with Parade just concluding and all of the regions in Zone 7 quite active. To date, the regions compromising the zone have held more than 65 tours which have included many multi-day events such as the annual Mammoth Mountain tour hosted by Sequoia Region and Shasta Region’s 4-day Zone tour. We have had four concours events as well as dozens of local region tours to wineries, and other locations of interest. Tours continue to be one of the most popular events among members and each club has responded with plenty of opportunities,

Zone 7 Concours #4 Hosted by Sierra Nevada Region

On July 14 Sierra Nevada Region hosted Zone Concours Series event #4 at San Rafael Regional Park in Reno. The club hosted a social the evening before for many of the out of town competitors at Napa-Sonoma South restaurant which included hosted appetizers and a challenging tech quiz. There were a total of nearly 45 cars participating in the event with 27 cars being judged. Congratulations to Mille Smith and her crew for putting together an outstanding event.

Porsche Parade

Porsche Parade visits Boca Raton, Florida:

For the small group of 27 members from Zone 7 attended Parade in Florida. The Boca Raton Resort is one of the most spectacular resort venues in Florida and is located on the Atlantic shoreline. The Zone organized a casual get together prior to the Welcome Party on Sunday. Several regions in Zone 7 have entered some of the various national award competitions including region of the year and the newsletter contests. I will be reporting the results in September if any region in Zone 7 is so honored.

Volunteers Needed:

Zone 7 is seeking volunteers to help out in the hospitality tent, membership booth and corral parking with the upcoming Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion August 15-18 ^th and for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship September 13 -15 ^th at Laguna Seca. If you would like to help out or have questions email or call me.

Looking Ahead to Events of Interest:

Golden Gate Region hosts Zone 7 Concours #5 on August 4 in Redwood City

Werks Reunion, August 16

PCA Club Race, September 7-8 at Thunderhill Raceway 

Zone 7 AX series event September 15 hosted by Redwood Region at Sonoma Raceway

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 15 – 18, Monterey

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, September 13- 15

Zone 7 two-day Autocross hosted by Loma Prieta and Golden Gate Regions, September 28-29 in Marina

Concours #7, September 29 at Carmel Valley and hosted by Monterey Bay Region

Porsche Parade, Greater Palm Springs, California, June 21-27, 2020

For more information on anything zone, please visit our website.

Don Krieger 

Member, Redwood Region

This year has been a great one for hitting the road. Carrie & I started in March by travelling to Southern California to see the “superbloom” of wildflowers. Our first overnight stay was at the Hearst Hacienda, a former hunting lodge of William Randolph Hearst in Jolon (south of Salinas). This is a must stop if you love Julia Morgan architecture. From there we travelled to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, then to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs, the Casa Del Zorro is wonderful overnight stay. 

Our last stop before heading home was at Joshua Tree National Park. The wildflowers were amazing, and, if we have another rainy season next year, you may want to enjoy nature’s finest at these parks.

Our second trip, travelling throughout the Northwest, was at the end of May and into June. It was a 3 week, 5200 mile adventure, and finished with the Shasta Region’s 4 day drive. After visiting family in Ashland and Eugene, we headed west for a drive up the Oregon & Washington coasts, staying in Newport, Cannon Beach, Oceanside, and Olympic National Park. Along this stretch of the trip, we visited several lighthouses along spectacular coastlines, the Tillamook Cheese Factory and a couple of sites made famous by Lewis & Clark: Ft. Clatsop outside of Astoria and the excellent museum in Cape Disappointment. Be sure to visit the Hoh rain forest and Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. The Lake Crescent Lodge in the park is a great overnight stay. 

From there we drove to Leavenworth, Wa., a town transformed into a Bavarian Village. Our travels then took us to Coeur d’Alene, Glacier National Park, Great Falls, Mt. (visit the Charles Russell Museum as well as the Falls!) and then on to 3 nights in Yellowstone National Park. In West Yellowstone, be sure & visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. Heading back home, we stopped at Grand Teton National Park and finally, via Salt Lake City, we made our way to Redding for Shasta Region’s terrific driving tour.  

We always try to stay off the interstate highways where possible. This country’s back roads make for excellent Porsche drives, and the people you meet in the little towns and stores make it even more fun.  

Kurt Fischer

Event Director

A foggy start to the day...I'm in the parking lot at Kaffe Mocha awaiting our Redwood Region peeps to show up for this ever popular tour and potluck! We have been doing this run annually since John Bergman, our resident winery guru said “Kurt...we need to go the Maple Creek....great wines and fun drive!” That was about 8 years ago!

People show up...with several non RSVP'd people...but...we can handle it.. they are squeezed in and off we go on an all back roads 56 mile tour to Maple Creek, which sits high on a hill off of Highway 128! 36 people and 20 cars on the move. A brief stop at Hamburger Heaven for a bio break and to regroup and it's off up the road!

Highway 128 is a great Porsche road.... lots of turns and people actually used the turn outs to let our stream of 20 Porsches motor on down the road! We arrive at Maple Creek and the tables are all set up and off in the corner are our BBQ masters... Ben and Lisa Davoren...who volunteered for chicken cooking! The food comes out of all the cars and is set up on the tables!

Time for wine tasting...off we go into the cool tasting room where... Houston and Tom Rodrigues, the owner and wine master are behind the bar... pouring libations of their wines for all to sample! Tom is also a great artist...this guy has oil paintings of old Giants' ball players in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY! He also does out of this world stained glass and designs wine bottle labels for other well known wineries in the Napa Valley. Talent explodes at Maple Creek!

After tasting and purchases...we are ready and very hungry...the picnic tables are jammed with people, food and the ever popular wine! The weather is perfect...about 80 F but under the umbrella of the oak trees all is good..nice and cool and NO bugs! With this group..the words fly fast and furious... we are having a great time discussing world peace, etc.

Again...our thanks to our hosts..the people of Maple Creek...to the Davoren's for their great job of BBQing and to the great people of the Redwood Region. Remember... it's not just the cars...it's the people! Join us next year...we will return!

Photos courtesy of Rod Williams .

Alan Geddes

Redwood Region Secretary

Our board meetings are on the last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. The next two board meetings are July 30 and August 27 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 June 2019, 29 PCA Redwood Region members marked five or more years in the club, including four members with 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 June we welcomed four 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. Check out our  website  for upcoming events. Also, you can order a name badge for your associate member there as well.

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

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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. 

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Thanks for supporting our Club!

Andy Cole

der Riesenbaum Editor

Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region