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B.B.Q. FUN @ the Stateline Road Smokehouse Run

Upcoming Calendar

Non-PCA Events of Interest

3/1 - Marin County Cars and Coffee, 6:30-10am at Vintage Oaks, Novato

3/7 - "EASY" Cars & Coffee, 8 to 10:30 am at 4060 Harlan St, Emeryville

3/14 - Porsche Marin 2nd Saturday Motor Social, 8-10am @ Strawberry Shopping

Center, Mill Valley

3/15 - 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

3/21 - ESCA autocross @ Sonoma Fairgrounds

3/22 - The Collector's Museum Visit, San Rafael

3/27-3/29 - GT World Challenge at Sonoma Raceway

4/5 - Marin County Cars and Coffee, 6:30-10am at Vintage Oaks, Novato

4/10-4/12 - Porsche Sprint Challenge @ Sonoma Raceway

4/11 - Porsche Marin 2nd Saturday Motor Social, 8-10am @ Strawberry Shopping

Center, Mill Valley

4/19 - 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

5/1-5/3 - IMSA Sportscar Race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

5/3 - Marin County Cars and Coffee, 6:30-10am at Vintage Oaks, Novato

5/17 - 356CAR Breakfast, 9:00am at IHOP Vintage Oaks, Novato

5/29-5/31 - Velocity International at Sonoma Raceway

President's Message

Pat Burke

President

Happy March to the Redwood Region!

We begin this month reaching out to our membership because we need a qualified webmaster to fill the shoes of our long-time Board member, Chip Witt. Chip has served on our board for many years while holding multiple positions as Secretary, Vice President, President, Past President and our webmaster for the last 6 years.

At our last board meeting we accepted Chip’s resignation and have now begun the search for his replacement. We would love to have his position filled from within the Redwood Region and are hopeful there is an experienced member who will step forward to serve in this capacity. If you are interested, please reach out to me directly and we will have a discussion. 

We will be using this transition period to undertake a completely new and updated website and that process has already begun. Soon, there will be a new look and feel to our online presence. Stay tuned, it’s going to be exciting...

We have a Sunday Double Header planned for March 22^nd. Start the morning off at our monthly POSSE event at the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center from 8 to 10AM. It’s a non-structured gathering of Porsche owners and enthusiasts. If you haven’t been to this successful event, now’s your chance. Then, at 12PM we will meet up in San Rafael for a visit to The Collectors Museum. I’ve shared a link to an online article written in Marin Magazine about the Museum. It will be an interesting visit! I hope to see you there. You can register for the Museum visit on links provided on our calendar.

On April 4th, one of our long-term sponsors, Hi-Tec Automotive has invited the Redwood Region to attend their 40th anniversary from 11AM-4PM for an open house with a tech session, complimentary lunch and more! There will be door prizes and friends and family are invited. Come out and celebrate the day with long-time Redwood PCA member and Hi-Tec owner Deven Wailes and past president Greg Maisson.

On a personal note, as you are reading this, Katherine and I are basking in the sun in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. After monitoring the situation which occurred a few weeks ago, we decided it’s safe to travel and relax in the ocean front pool at our resort. Looking forward to the 85-degree weather and all-inclusive amazing food and beverages!

I had a bit of fun recently with my first experience into the world of AI. Using ChatGPT, the AI program made a caricature from my picture in a commercial kitchen and added my C4S into the mix as well smoking over a hot fire. After several edits, here are the results! A little bit of levity thrown into the mix! 

In closing, we are always looking for volunteers to help our region, and we would love to have you join us at a monthly Board meeting, which are held on the last Tuesday of every month at Torches Restaurant in Petaluma starting at 6:30PM. We would like to see you there and your dinner will be on us!

I also ask for your input. Feel free to contact me with anything that is on your mind for our region. Any ideas, events or your concerns are all welcome. You can reach me at

redwoodpcapres@gmail.com.

From the Editor

Connor Newton

der Riesenbaum Editor

It’s not just the cars, it’s the people. My goal as editor is to hear from more people and learn the stories of our members, and this March issue is a great start. This edition of der Riesenbaum revives two features from past newsletters. The first is der Marketplatz, a forum for buying and selling Porsche parts, cars, and miscellaneous goods. Send me an email if you have a listing to post and I will feature it for 3 months or until sold, and check out the ad for a set of very cool BBS wheels. 

The second feature revival is der Scheinwerfer (The Headlight). This is a multipurpose feature that spotlights members from around the region, both new and tenured, and the stories they have to tell. In this March issue, two new Redwood Region members are highlighted. Andrew Wait is a long-time Marinite with two fabulous vintage cars. Mike Light is an award-winning photographer with a rare-color SC Targa. Check out their stories below. Everyone has a story, so if you know someone in the club with a story - or have one yourself - email me at redtreeed@gmail.com! 

Vice President's Message - Making Friends, Fast

Jeff Hall

Vice President

Daylight Savings Time is upon us! The first thing I think of when I “Spring ahead” is more driving time! Time to get our Porsches polished, tuned and out on the road! I remember my first event, after joining the Redwood Region, was a drive to Goat Rock State Park followed by a picnic. That was in March of 2021.

My wife, Kathleen, and I were a little nervous… One – we were driving a Macan so how would we be received! Two – we didn’t know a soul! Three – what if we couldn’t keep up? We didn’t know what leads, mids and sweeps were. We thought, to be a sweep, you had to have a flock of white hair and a fuller brush-style moustache to boot. My, the times have changed. Now we ARE a sweep…

The nervousness wore off quickly as we found every single person approachable and more than willing to talk Porsche (911, Cayman and even Macans). We made fast friends with several people and over the past five years have made great friends that we not only see at Redwood events, but we get together outside of club functions! We’ve even spent weekends in Gold Country with members brave enough to have been to some of our “weekend” events! No longer did we believe in the punch line of, “What’s the difference between a Porsche and a porcupine?” I’ll tell you the answer the next time I see you at an event…

One of my favorite quotes, from a new member, is “if we had known how much fun these events were, we would’ve come to them sooner!” So, try us on for size, especially if you’re a new member!

The 2nd Saturday Social, sponsored by our lead sponsor Porsche Marin, has become quite the automotive extravaganza. It began a year ago with 20 or so cars, mostly Porsches. It has grown to hundreds of cars including an increasing number of exotics (McLarens, Lambos, Koenigseggs, Porsche 918s and 959s and even a Gordon Murray! Last month there was a DJ, a kiddie track with baby Porsches and a candle company selling candles that smell like your Porsche after a drive. If you haven’t seen this scene, I highly recommend it. It’s held every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Strawberry Village Shopping Center in Mill Valley. See the ad in this issue. 

See you on the road! Carpe Viam.

Andrew Wait

New Member, Greenbrae

Tell us about yourself

My wife Pere and I are long time Marin residents and parents of two Redwood High School grads. I am winding down a long career in tech. I live in Greenbrae and have been working on and driving vintage cars since I was 16. I am new to the Porsche thing, having been primarily a British car guy for over 40 years. I currently own a 1968 912 that I am slowly modifying and rebuilding. After 12 years of racing primarily Historic open wheel cars (Formula Fords, Atlantics, etc) I got my first production race car, a 1972 911. It has not raced yet, but with a bit of luck I will be out in it at the CSRG race at Sonoma in April or the Velocity in May. I also have a lifelong passion for aircraft and just finished restoring a Yak 52 TW (you can look that up).

What do you drive?

My everyday family car is a 2016 BMW diesel wagon, but my first Porsche is the 1968 912. I got it on Bring a Trailer, and it has a great body, but the engine and suspension were terrible. I love how it drives and handles... its light, precise and delicate, and I love all the options to modify and personalize it... and I like the sound of that little 4 cyl... which will hopefully make a little more power when I am done with it.

Why did you join PCA? 

With cars, racing, aviation and all those somewhat technical passions, a community that you can lean on for help and advice, and to have fun with, really makes a difference. I find a central passion brings all kinds of interesting people together

What else would you like other members to know about you? 

I like to do my own work, so if anyone likes to turn wrenches and drink wine, I am in.

From the editor: I met new Redwood Member Mike Light on the Thursday Run to Stateline Barbecue, where he brought his new-to-him 1978 Light Green Metallic 911 SC Targa. Mike was kind enough to speak to me about his journey to the PCA. He has a great story to tell, and this article covers only part of it. Find him at a future event or check out www.michaellight.net!

For photographer Mike Light, the road to Porsche and PCA began long before he ever owned a sports car. It began with a lifelong fascination with machines and movement through landscape.

“I’ve always been interested in motion through space,” Light says, “which often involves speed.”

Growing up in the Northeast, he explored that idea in many forms. He raced giant slalom as a skier, sailed small racing dinghies, and eventually took to the sky. Surrounded by aviation in his family, Light learned to fly gliders as a teenager—soloing at 14 and earning a private pilot’s license at 16. Machines became tools for exploration.

Mike’s love for landscapes and moving through them has shaped his 33-year artistic career. After moving to California in 1986, Light briefly worked for the Sierra Club before deciding to pursue photography full time.  After earning a master’s degree at the San Francisco Art Institute in the early 1990’s, his breakthrough came through an unexpected project with images he did not make himself.

Light spent several years studying the more than 33,000 photographs taken by astronauts during the Apollo missions, working closely with NASA to present the images as landscapes rather than patriotic space-race artifacts. The result was the book Full Moon, which became an international success in 1999 and formed the basis of a major exhibition at the San Francisco MOMA and abroad.

The project funded his first Porsche, one of the first Boxsters, which became his introduction to the brand in 1997.  He drove it extensively across the Sierra Nevada and into the open deserts of Nevada, enjoying the freedom of empty Western roads. Eventually the Boxster was sold to help purchase a small aircraft that Light still flies today, using it to photograph landscapes across the American West from low altitude. His work can be found in permanent museum collections worldwide.

His love of driving never disappeared. Now living in Bolinas, Light found himself surrounded by some of the most scenic driving routes in California. Classic roads called for classic rides. “The roads called me… You don’t need to drive 110 miles an hour -- 60 is perfect for older cars.” First came a 1972 Alfa Romeo GTV (nicknamed “Faggio,” the color of its factory paint), but Light soon felt something was missing.

“Faggio was getting lonely in the garage. I felt like, well, now that I have one of Giugiaro’s very best Alfas, what would be a worthy little sister, an equally fine distillation of Germany’s period perfection?” And the answer was clear: a G-body Porsche.

That search eventually led to a 1978 Porsche 911 SC Targa finished in ultra-rare Light Green Metallic, offered by AutoKennel in Costa Mesa with a one-owner SoCal history and extensive service records. For Light, it was the perfect entry into classic Porsche ownership.

The car also quickly received a name: “Farrah” (Fawcett-Majors). The inspiration came from the year - 1978, when Light was 15, and the famous poster of actress Farrah Fawcett that defined teenage bedrooms across America.

“Every boy in America had that poster,” Light says, and the car’s light metallic color “is kind of like Farrah’s hair.” 

For Light however, the 911 represents something deeper than nostalgia. As a visual artist, he sees the classic 911 as a high point of automotive design.

“There’s a minimalism that connects with the engineering that is very appealing. There’s nothing extra; it’s like a haiku.” 

He especially loves the interior’s minimalist five-gauge layout, which reminds him of Dieter Ram’s Braun Style’s mid-century German industrial design.

“It makes me feel like I’m in a small, ergonomically engineered aircraft.”

Mike has enjoyed attending Breakfast Club Rallies and the recent Redwood Region Thursday Run to Stateline. 

“[Other clubs] cruise. It’s more like American Graffiti. I like to actually drive through specific landscapes.” 

Whether flying above landscapes or carving along West Marin’s coastal roads, he’s seeking the same experience: immersion. And for a photographer who studies landscapes from the air, the Porsche offers a viscerally grounded perspective.

“It’s a flow state. There’s no room for error, and there’s no room for extra thoughts in your mind. You are 100% focused on managing the car and managing the road. You feel everything. I think any sport where you’re fully immersed is priceless.”

Ice Experience Canada

Porsche Ice Canada 2026 delivered an unforgettable blend of performance, precision, and winter exhilaration set against the breathtaking backdrop of Quebec. Indigo Auto Group had the honor to invite clients for the 4th year in a row.

The experience began with an elegant cocktail reception and welcome dinner, where Porsche enthusiasts connected and set the tone for the adventure ahead.

Over multiple days at Circuit Mécaglisse, participants immersed themselves in a dynamic winter driving program designed to refine advanced skills. Each day introduced a new section of the track, challenging drivers to adapt, improve, and gain confidence behind the wheel of various Porsche models. From mastering controlled slides to perfecting throttle balance on low-grip surfaces, every session sharpened technique while delivering pure driving excitement.

Guests enjoyed luxurious accommodations at the Manoir Saint-Sauveur Resort, creating a seamless blend of adrenaline-filled days and relaxed, refined evenings. To commemorate the journey, participants received specialty indiGO gifts — an extension of the indiGO experience designed to keep the spirit of Porsche Ice Canada alive long after the final lap.

Please join the Redwood Region and our sponsor Porsche Marin for the monthly

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

The next event is on Saturday 3/14!

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!

Paige Gaines

Our midweek BBQ run to Stateline Road Smokehouse in Napa was something that we had been cooking up (pun intended) for several months! This was an absolute “must-do” for Redwood president, Pat Burke (a nationally renowned judge for BBQ competitions) and for me, a lifetime connoisseur (or, major fanboy) of the pa“Q”.

The club calendar of events was a bit Spartan for the early part of 2026. So, it was only natural that this little midweek tour would happen. The only concern was the weather. We all know that February is not July and that rain could be a distinct possibility coupled with flooding along the chosen route.

It had rained the day before, and it rained for several days after but, for our little Thursday drive, Mother Nature gifted us the most magnificent sunny day. About three dozen of us gathered in Petaluma that morning. We set out for a leisurely one hour, 40 mile drive through rolling green hills and lush fields filled with yellow mustard flowers in full bloom. The route took us along Old Adobe Road, Highway 121 and Old Sonoma Road to reach Napa. We then cruised north through the quiet Browns Valley neighborhood and Dry Creek Road to cross Highway 29 and head south along the Silverado Trail, eventually arriving near the Oxbow area and our destination.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the owner and head chef, Darryl Bell. Darryl being a Michelin-trained and ex-French Laundry chef returning to his Kansas City barbeque roots via the Stateline Road Smokehouse. Darryl explained a bit more of his own history, the restaurants concept and the origin of the Stateline Road name. The restaurant itself was an interesting contrast as well. This wonderfully spacious, clean, bright and airy BBQ joint was once an auto repair facility. Quite the makeover!

Needless to say, the preplanned lunch of pulled pork sandwiches and sides for our group was absolutely delicious! As were, I’m certain, the numerous “to go” orders many of left with when the day ended. To this point, I would highly recommend their burnt ends! As one final note, Stateline Road Smokehouse received additional positive reviews on the PBS Show, “Check Please! Bay Area," so check this out, too!



This was a perfect example of why we love the midweek tours!!

Pat Burke

President

On February 21st, the Redwood Region held its annual Run for the Crab event. The group of 35 beautiful Porsches gathered at the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center in Novato for a pre-drive cars and coffee before the required drivers meeting. After the participants were given instructions regarding the driving tour, the group set out through the western roads of Marin County. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful for the 53-mile drive which ended at the Marin Yacht Club.

Ceasar salad, pasta, sourdough bread and 140lbs of the freshest Dungeness Crab was served to the 65 hungry PCA members that came from as far away as the Sacramento Valley Region for this annual event. Many first time Redwood Region members made the event even more special as they quickly became friends with others in the group.

The Run for the Crab is by far one of our Region’s most popular events of the year! We would like to thank our crab supplier, Osprey Seafoods and its owner, Mike Weinberg-Lynn for, once again, providing us with the freshest crab around, as well as the Marin Yacht Club for the fabulous venue and we can’t wait until next year!

Here are some pictures from the day:

Lend a Helping Hand

Sandy and Craig Steele have provided this club with a tremendous amount of time and dedication over the years. Craig served as club President in 2017 and 2018, and both have provided years of volunteerism and service. 

In June 2025, Craig was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The VA has linked this to Agent Orange exposure during his service in the Vietnam War. 

Sandy has since been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and is receiving care from her naturopath and Kaiser Oncologist.

After being our friends, our support, and beloved members of our community, it’s time that we unite around them as they experience raising medical bills that they have limited ability to pay.

So, I hope you will join me in contributing to this GoFundMe to help offset some of their medical expenses. Every little bit will help to reduce the burden they are experiencing and treasured as an expression of our love for them.

Please see the link for the GoFundMe here and keep Sandy and Craig in your thoughts.

Our club will be helping out our neighbors by working another morning shift at the Redwood Empire Food Bank on Thursday April 30th. Just like before, we will have an optional one-hour driving tour starting in Windsor from 9-10, then a three-hour work shift from 10-1 at the Food Bank, followed by a hosted lunch at the fun Barley & Bine Beer Café in Windsor. You buy any alcoholic beverage while the club buys your food. Pro tips: I will order flatbreads in advance of our arrival at the Café like last time, and tacos are the fastest items on the menu for them to make, so strongly consider them in your order.

I would love for you to come on this next Porsche Club adventure; please do register for it through our MSR link if you are interested. Registration will close April 23rd; we have 14 volunteer slots left to fill for our 23-member Team Redwood!

-Ben Davoren

The Santa Rosa Chapter of the Marine Corps League presented the Redwood Region with this beautiful plaque to thank us for our ongoing efforts with the Toys for Tots Campaign. Over the past four years, through the efforts of our members and sponsors, we have donated almost one thousand toys and books as well as over $2,000 in cash contributions. A big thank you to our members and sponsors - we couldn’t have done this without you!

-Jeff Hall

Contact autocross chair Stacy with any questions.

Brad Williams

Membership Director

This March Membership Report addresses changes that occurred during the past month of February. At the end of February our Redwood Region had a total of 1,183 Members/Co-members (766 Primary Members and 417 Affiliate/Co-Members), 10 of whom joined PCA and the Redwood Region in February. In February we had no new members transfer in from other regions, although one did transfer out. We currently have 19 Active Test Drive Participants, up from 17 last month.

Don’t forget, if you are an active primary member and haven’t named a co-member, except for the hardcopy Panorama magazine that arrives in your mailbox, your co-member can have almost all of the benefits of a full membership; at no extra charge! Your designated co-member will also receive their very own PCA Redwood Region name badge, free of charge! Get them signed up. In the Redwood Region we have 349 Members who have not yet signed up a co-member.



Forty-one of our Redwood Region members will be celebrating their five year, or more, PCA Member-ship anniversaries in March. They are listed above. March highlights a tie between Mr. Stanley Crane and Mr Marvin Goss for our longest continuous member for March.

These gentlemen have been PCA members for a full 44 years; having first joined PCA in 1982. If you happen to be wine tasting in Healdsburg, be on the lookout for Stanley’s 1977 911S. If you are up north in McKinleyville’s redwoods, it’s a 1987 928 S4 you’re on the lookout for.

der Marketplatz

Brian Adkins

Zone 7 Representative

Email

Read the latest issue of 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.’

The first event will be a road rally school and practice rally to be held on March 28^th and 29^th in Rocklin.

Click here for link to the event registration page.

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

• Werks Reunion Amelia Island, FL – March 6^th
• Treffen Lowcountry – Montage Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, March 29^th to April 2^nd
• Porsche Parade 2026 – Lake Placid, June 14^th to 20^th; registration opens January 28^th
• Werks Reunion Monterey – August 14^th
• PCA Treffen @ Sea 2026 – West Coast Wine Cruise, September 19^th -25^th

Our Friends at Black Sheep Racing along with Cavanaugh’s Finest are having a meet and greet. Sonoma Raceway at the Porsche Sprint race. April 12 @ 11 am.

No additional registration needed for the meet & greet.

This is NOT a PCA or PCA Region event

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

A new immersive documentary takes viewers into the heart of the action at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Made by the Abdala Brothers and starring Felipe Nasr, 2DIE4 is a must-see for racing fans. Read More

Find our event photos on Flickr

Eileen Gaines

Secretary



The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 31st, 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.  

You can read previous Board meeting minutes here.

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

Visit Redwood's on-line 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