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The Redwood POSSE showed up for a great morning in July!

Upcoming Calendar

Non-PCA Events of Interest

8/16 – 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

9/5 – ESCA Autocross at Sonoma County Fairgrounds

9/12 – Porsche Marin 2nd Saturday Motor Social, 8-10am @ Strawberry Shopping

Center, Mill Valley

9/20 – 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

9/24-27 – Ironstone Murphys Concours

10/4 – Marin County Cars and Coffee at Vintage Oaks, Novato

10/10 – Porsche Marin 2nd Saturday Motor Social, 8-10am @ Strawberry Shopping

Center, Mill Valley

10/18 – 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

11/1 – ESCA Autocross at Sonoma County Fairgrounds

President's Message

Pat Burke

President

It’s August and I hope you’re enjoying your summer in your Porsche! I’ve had a few short trips around our beautiful region, with a few more planned. Next up are Lake Tahoe and Monterey for Werks Reunion!

If you'll be attending Werks Reunion, be sure to stop by the judging area. I was "talked into" having my 992 judged this year. It will be my first time entering a national event, and I'd love the chance to see you and visit. I'll be there all day.

I also have exciting news for our Redwood Region team. I'm pleased to announce that Chad Strader has joined us as our new Webmaster. Chad brings years of web development experience and has come aboard at the perfect time as we prepare to fully launch our new website. It's been a long process, and I want to thank our Communications Director, Stacy O'Connell, for laying the groundwork and helping make it happen. Great things are on the horizon!

Our Region also just hosted one of our most successful POSSE events ever! Our Porsche Owners Sunday Social Event takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month, and July's gathering was designed to welcome new members with a relaxed Cars & Coffee atmosphere. We had more than 50 cars attend and welcomed 14 new members, all enjoying great conversation and getting to know one another. It was a wonderful morning at Vintage Oaks Shopping Center in Novato. I hope you'll join us this month on August 23—and remember, the coffee and donuts are on us!

Speaking of new members, on August 29 we'll host another New Member Drive along the beautiful Sonoma Coast to Goat Rock State Beach. Registration is free, and we'd love to have you join us. We'll depart from Novato and enjoy one of the most scenic drives in our region while spending time with fellow members. Pack a picnic lunch and come along! We already have 33 cars registered. Register here.

On a personal note, August is a crazy busy month for me. On August 1, I helped cook barbecue for a Bay Area law enforcement organization that I've been proud to be a member of for 45 years. It was an honor to serve nearly 150 current and retired officers and their families. One highlight was meeting the newly appointed Oakland Police Chief James Beere. During our conversation, I mentioned that I joined the Oakland Police Department in 1975. He smiled, looked at his wife, and said, "I wasn't even born yet!" We had a great conversation, and I came away feeling that Oakland is in very capable hands.

Then, on August 8, I'll be serving as head chef for another event—a dinner for 200 guests at a Napa Valley winery to kick off a county supervisor's campaign. I really enjoy staying involved in the culinary world, and it got me thinking...maybe we should plan a Redwood Region event where I can cook for our members. Uh-oh...did I just volunteer myself?

As always, it is an honor to serve as your President. We're always looking for volunteers to help make our Region even better, and we'd love to have you attend one of our monthly Board meetings. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month at Torches Restaurant in Petaluma at 6:30 p.m. Join us, meet your Board, share your ideas—and dinner is on us.

I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events. Until then, enjoy the drive!



Vice President's Message — Three Perfect Days in LA (August 5-8)

Jeff Hall

Vice President

On August 4th and 5th, twenty-nine Redwoodies travelled to Los Angeles by plane, backroads tour, and caravan for our Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles (PECLA) adventure! After months of planning, we arrived at the AC Beverly Hills hotel to begin our “experience.”

From experience, I would have to admit that the rooftop lounge at the hotel was a popular favorite. With sweeping views from Beverly Hills to the Griffith Observatory, it was the perfect spot to unwind after a long day (or three long days)! After many hours on the road, the jazz piano player, on our first night, was a highlight!

Not to say we took over the hotel, but…

Thanks to Brad Williams and Paige Gaines our trip was immortalized!

Twelve members signed up to drive the “Experience” at PECLA. Our cars ranged from a Cayman S to a GTS 4.0; from a GT3 to a GT4 RS and everything in between… For 90 minutes we drove the track, shot out of the launch control drag strip, were slip slidin’ away on the low friction circuit and tried to perfect the “kick plate”. There was autocross, a drifting pad and an ice hill, too… Not sure if we perfected anything but with ear-to-ear grins did anyone really care? Our large non-driver contingent cheered us on from the balcony of Restaurant 917 on the second floor.

Brianna Castenada, PECLA VIP Specialist (kneeling) made sure our day went off without a hitch!

We also had the privilege of touring Porsche Motorsport North America. PMNA delivers one of the most comprehensive customer support programs in motorsport—offering engine and transmission servicing, on-site race support, and technical expertise for both current and historic cars.

Dinner that night was at La Paella, a famous, authentic Spanish restaurant featuring tapas, paella and Sangria! You could barely concentrate on the amazing dishes with all the excited conversations of “how I mastered” my Porsche that morning. Sure you did…

We weren't afraid to get wet on the skid pad...

...and felt the off-road circuit was no challenge at all!

Friday dawned with the anticipation of visiting the Petersen Automotive Museum, just blocks from our hotel. Featuring one of the best car collections (and they rotate the exhibits every few months) on the planet. The featured exhibit during our visit was “World Class – 100 years of Mercedes Benz”. Nothing short of amazing! We also had a private tour of “The Vault,” an underground exhibit of over 300 cars from all over the world. Did you know that Morrocco has a car company? This museum is a “must see” for anyone with even an inkling of an interest in cars.

The iconic Porsche “901” before Peugeot got involved

This beautiful, early fifties, Nash Healy greeted us upon arrival to the museum

After a quick lunch at the Meyers Manx café at Petersen, many of us crossed the street to the Motion Picture Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Another must-see while in Los Angeles – the Marilyn Monroe exhibit was amazing as the Academy celebrates what would have been her 100th birthday. Many other exhibits too numerous to mention were at our fingertips!



The words I heard most often from our attending members were "memorable," "amazing," "unforgettable," and “are we doing it again next year?” Thanks to everyone who had a part in the inception, the planning, and the execution of this event. Many thanks to those to made the trip and enjoyed another memory-laden Redwood Region event.

Carpe Viam!

View all photos from our PECLA trip on the club Flickr!

Please join the Redwood Region and Platinum Sponsor Porsche Marin for the monthly

“Marin Motor Social” Cars & Coffee at Strawberry Village in Mill Valley.

The next event is on Saturday 6/13!

Hosted by Porsche Marin on the second Saturday of EVERY month - we’ll see you soon.

See over 100 cars including Lamborghinis, McLarens, Ferraris AND lots of Porsches.

Take a look at the latest news from Porsche Marin here!

Article by Connor Newton

Kyle Festog, General Manager of Porsche Marin, knew he wanted a 996 Targa for this year’s Porsche Restoration Challenge, a primary feature of Werks Reunion during Monterey Car Week. “They’re such an interesting car, with a very specific look. They’re cool.”

He bought a 2003 911 Targa in GT Silver out of Florida at a ‘red light’ auction, meaning there are no mechanical guarantees and no arbitration. “You don’t know exactly what you’re getting into,” said Kyle.



Inspection of the vehicle upon arrival revealed numerous issues.

“The windows and all the window switches were inoperable, and on an ’03 Targa, it’s all window. The car needed to be repainted. The windshield glass was damaged, and the wheels and underside were scraped. It was leaking oil in multiple places. The leather seats were worn, and one rear seat had a significant depression. The top wasn’t operational. The gauge cluster was completely cracked.”

Kyle also noted that Florida weather and a leaky roof had gotten the better of the Targa. “For maybe 3 months we had dehumidifiers in that car!”

Wells Rotnem, lead service technician for this and previous Restoration Challenge projects, added that “the first obvious thing was that the front struts were completely blown, the worst I’ve ever felt. You’d hit the brakes and the whole front of the car would dip down like crazy, then do this oscillation thing.”

Wells has spent about half a year reviving this car to factory spec with extreme attention to detail.

“I replaced the gauge cluster screen with one that I had laying around. We replaced the front windshield. We repaired some interior pieces and replaced the rear seat cushions. The main thing was the suspension. We replaced all the struts, as well as the broken ride height sensor brackets, and we performed an alignment.”

Much of the car was also repainted at Barsotti’s, Porsche Marin’s licensed body shop partner. The car also received a Porsche Classic Communications Management (PCCM) infotainment system, which enables Bluetooth connection, CarPlay, and other modern features.

Kyle wants people to know that the Restoration Challenge exemplifies the ability of Porsche Marin to service and restore classic Porsches. “If you want the ability to be able to restore your car and certify it through Porsche’s authenticity certification program, this is the way to go.”

He also noted that the Restoration Challenge is a passion project. “There’s no monetary incentive for winning. It’s about embracing the brand and building relationships with enthusiasts.”

But Kyle does indeed want to win. So if you’re at Werks Reunion this week, make sure to stop by the GT Silver 996 Targa and vote for Porsche Marin!

Ben Wychocki

New Member, Tiburon

Tell us about yourself

I'm a Marin native, but Chicago raised, current college student looking to make it back to Marin. I've always been mechanically inclined and have gone through a dozen or so project motorcycles, and now a couple project cars.

What do you drive?

I bought my 03 Boxster S last year off Autotrader. I wasn't looking for a Porsche, but for any manual car under $10K. It was listed for $7k, I offered the owner $5k, and the rest is history. It was in very good, garage-kept condition (especially for a Midwest car), except for the fact that the previous owner had just been quoted a $15k engine replacement. He had gotten a CEL and was told by his mechanic that the timing guides had broken apart and he would need an engine rebuild. I had it flatbed towed to my house and tore the engine apart. The mechanic was right about the rebuild part, but the bits of brown plastic he saw were actually from the bearing spacer in the LN replacement IMS bearing, which had failed catastrophically. I took the bearing remains down to Momence IL to give them to LN and pick up a Solution kit, and while I was outside the 6 year warranty period, they didn't seem all that concerned that their bearing had failed only 21k miles after installation, especially since they warranty it out to 75k. I ended up having to replace the IMS shaft itself, as I damaged it trying to remove the outer race of the bearing.

I put the engine back together with all new fluids and wear items, and have since put 11K miles on the car, including a 2400 mile trip from Chicago to Tiburon. It's my current daily driver, and I don't plan on replacing it with anything else for the foreseeable future (unless I somehow unexpectedly come into 718 GTS 4.0 money). I've also replaced the entire sound system, as the Bose system was allegedly never that great to begin with, and its components aren't really compatible with anything other than themselves. It really is an excellent car, and the more I drive it the more I realize how lucky I was to be able to buy it at a time in my life where I had the time, space and money to fix it up. The power convertible top is one feature that I wasn't looking for specifically, but now I probably won't buy anything else without one. I take it around the Tiburon peninsula 2 or 3 times a week - the stretch of Paradise Drive between Trestle Glen and downtown Tiburon is a fantastic driving road and very local to me now.

Why did you join PCA?

I joined PCA primarily to meet good people with great cars, although I have a bit of an ulterior motive. As a current college student looking to make it in the Bay Area, I'll need to start making connections here, and this is probably a pretty good crowd to be able to rub shoulders with!



Andrew Osher

New Member, Greenbrae

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in Marin County and am a true product of Northern California. I spent some time away from the area but am now lucky to call Marin home again. I enjoy all things outdoors, really anything that gets me out of the house. I race mountain bikes, rock climb, am a mediocre fly fisherman, and an even worse surfer. I'm a lifelong car guy (trucks too!) and love all forms of motorsport from F1 to motocross. 

What do you drive?

I recently purchased a 2022 718 Cayman GT4, my first Porsche and also my first real "enthusiast car". I was introduced to Porsche while growing up and my Dad purchased a 996 from his brother as his first Porsche. That was the first time I got to experience what it meant to drive a purpose-built car. I knew from that day forward I would eventually own a Porsche myself. Over the years i've been fortunate to drive all kinds of cars on and off the track, but for me nothing quite beats the driver engagement of a Porsche.  

Why did you join PCA?

I am a big proponent of communities around hobbies. Connecting with others and sharing similar passions is an underrated benefit of any hobby. It's often the people that make these things special.

What else would you like other members to know?

If you see a shark blue GT4 driving around Marin, don't hesitate to say hi!   

John LaGatta II

New Member, San Rafael

What do you drive?

I'm new to the brand as of last year. I went after a GT4RS, then a GT4, and settled on a GTS 4.0 6 speed for drivability and comfort. I've been happy with Porsche and added a Macan GTS as well. My favorite thing about the 718 GTS 4.0 is the balance of the car, the joy I get from driving it, and the analog feedback I get from the chassis and drivetrain.

Why did you join PCA?

My friend Don N spoke highly of PCA, and I've met a lot of cool PCA members on track and at shows.

What else would you like other members to know?

I used to run in Formula Dodge, and the Panoz Series 20 years ago, and I ran in the NASA open class for a while. Now I'm looking into endurance racing and enjoying track time.



Stacy O'Connell

Autocross Chair

I've wanted to go to PECLA for a while, so when Jeff began planning the trip, it was a no-brainer for me. I was happy to see so many women going, but I wish I weren’t the only woman driving at PECLA.

Driving isn't a man's sport. Sure, it requires focus, precision, and a willingness to manage fear – but that’s not exclusive to men. Women navigate that every day, in practically everything we do.

When I autocross with Redwood, ESCA, and other Zone 7 regions, I see women who show up to learn, to have fun, to compete with themselves and with others. And I won’t lie and say it isn’t frustrating when I brake too early or too late, or I don't quite understand what "back siding the cone" really means, but is that a women-only thing? I don't think so. 

Another driver at PECLA told me how much fun he was having. When I said he could have the same adrenaline rush from AX, he said: "I only have street tires and autocross will destroy them." Not exactly. Many drivers run street tires exclusively, and you won’t destroy them with a few events. Sure, autocross-specific tires are better for grip and performance, but they're definitely not a requirement. Try it. See if you like it. If you do and become hooked, then think about a second set. But for one day of absolute excitement? You and your street tires are BFFs.

So men and ladies – I want to see you out there! Redwood has one remaining event this season at Thunderhill (Oct 18), and ESCA has two more at Sonoma Fairgrounds (Sep 5 and Nov 1). No special equipment required. Just you and your car. We even provide loaner helmets and driving instructors.

Any questions? Email me.

Driving a 2025 Cayman S at PECLA was fun, but I'm not kicking my 2015 Boxster S to the curb...yet.

Brad Williams

Membership Director

This August Membership Report recognizes Redwood Region changes that occurred during the previous month, July. At the end of July our Redwood Region had a total of 1,205 Members/Co-members, an increase of four from the end of June (782 Primary Members and 423 Co-Members), 9 of these joined PCA, and the Redwood Region, in July. Three members transferred in from different regions while none transferred out. No new persons subscribed to our Test Drive program. Currently, there are 16 subscriptions from the Redwood Region. If you do meet someone interested in purchasing a new, or previously owned Porsche, remind them that the PCA Test Drive program is a great way to learn about Porsche and the PCA while searching for their perfect first Porsche. The resources available to the members are quite extensive.

Forty-six of our Redwood Region members celebrate their five year, or more, PCA Membership anniversaries in August. They are shown in the table below. For August, our longest tenured PCA member, by far, is John Hefner. John can be seen driving his Porsche, currently a black 1976 911S coupe, around Sausalito. John has been a member for all of 53 years.

der Marketplatz

Brian Adkins

Zone 7 Representative

Email

There’s something special about August in the Porsche world.

For many of us, this is the month where summer is in full stride. The roads are calling, the calendars are packed, and everywhere you look there seems to be another opportunity to drive, gather, compete, volunteer, or simply enjoy the company of fellow PCA members.

One of the things I enjoy most about serving as your Zone 7 Representative is seeing the incredible variety of events happening across our ten Regions. Every month offers something different—whether it's a scenic tour through wine country, an autocross chasing hundredths of a second, a beautifully prepared concours car, a weekend at the racetrack, or a casual gathering over coffee. No matter how you enjoy your Porsche, there's a place for you in PCA.

If you haven't ventured outside your home Region yet this year, consider making August the month you do. Visit another Region's event, introduce yourself, and experience firsthand the friendships and enthusiasm that make Zone 7 such a remarkable community.

Summer may be flying by, but there are still plenty of opportunities to create new memories behind the wheel. I encourage you to take advantage of everything our Regions, our Zone, and PCA National have to offer.

I hope to see you at an event very soon—and if you do see me, please stop and say hello. One of the greatest parts of this position is meeting members throughout Zone 7, hearing your stories, and sharing our enthusiasm for these incredible cars.

Until next month...

Read all of Brian's In the Zone here!



2026 Sacramento Valley Region (SVR) Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) Rally Series

• Open to all members in all Regions.



The Sacramento Valley Region (SVR) of the Porsche Club of America will be hosting a series of Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) road rallies that start at various locations within the greater Sacramento Region. The rallies are scheduled for Saturdays with the first car departing at 9:31 AM. They will typically be 90 to 120 miles in length and less than four hours in duration. The rallies will have reasonably easy to follow directions using mostly scenic low volume paved roads.

• Route instructions will be consumable for the beginning rallyist but still providing challenges and learning experiences for all participants.
• Time and location details for all events will be posted to the SVR website svr-pcaor.org
• Registration for all events will be through MotorsportReg.
• The entry fee for each event will be $25 per car. Entry requires a street-legal vehicle, a licensed and insured driver, a navigator, and a smart device (e.g., cell phone or tablet) running the FREE Richta GPS Competitor ‘app.’

Click here for a list of upcoming PCA events (the national website).

• Werks Reunion Monterey – August 14^th
• PCA Treffen @ Sea 2026 – West Coast Wine Cruise, September 19^th -25^th

Zone 7 … stay connected.

Zone 7 Website – zone7.pca.org

Zone 7 Facebook – Zone 7 Facebook

Zone 7 AX Facebook – Zone 7 AX Facebook

Zone 7 Concours Facebook – Zone 7 Concours Facebook

Heroic comeback seals second place for JDC-Miller MotorSports at IMSA Road America



The JDC-Miller MotorSports team gave a stellar performance at IMSA’s Road America round, fighting back from two penalties to finish second.



Read More

Find our event photos on Flickr

Eileen Gaines

Secretary



The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 25th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Torches in Petaluma at 256 Petaluma Blvd North.

Our monthly Board meetings are open to all Redwood Region Members. The club will buy your dinner; you pay for your beverage.

If you’re interested in joining the next meeting via Zoom, send me an email and I will forward you the meeting link.

Send me an email to read previous Board meeting minutes.

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

Visit Redwood's online Goodie Store here.

Porsche Marin

When you want the best selection and prices on new, used and pre-owned Porsche vehicles, Porsche Marin offers exactly what you’re looking for. 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan, Panamera and nmore.

Mill Valley

415 578-9101 porschemarin.com

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.

Want to reach an audience of Porsche enthusiasts with your marketing message? Consider advertising in der Riesenbaum. Contact the sponsorship director for more information and rates.

All written content and images in this publication are protected by copyright. Permission is granted to reprint any original content herein provided credit is given to the author, the der Riesenbaum and to the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region. The opinions expressed in der Riesenbaum are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region, its officers, or its members.

Thanks for supporting our Club!

Connor Newton

der Riesenbaum Editor

Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region

Cover photo courtesy of Paige Gaines