Upcoming Events

Chip Witt

President

In January, I remember circling dates in May on my personal calendar, then suddenly, here we are, and May’s come and gone way too fast. While I, like most, am tired of the rainy weather, Redwood’s May calendar didn’t allow a little moisture to dampen our spirits.

Redwood’s first current-era autocross at Sonoma Raceway was a tremendous success thanks to Greg Matsumoto, Grady Carter, Bob Schoenherr, Stacy O’Connell, and countless others on the Autocross Team. The sixty very excited participants didn’t hurt either. In many ways, this felt like a “bounce-back” event from our troubles and trials with the autocross venue the last couple of years, and I am so very happy to see such positive attitudes taking the lemons life has dealt and making some pretty tasty lemonade. I’m in awe. Thank you! I’ve circled September 15 twice on my calendar; I am already looking forward to this year’s second autocross at Sonoma Raceway.

The Station House Cafe Run has often been my marker for Driving Season finally being in full swing. This year we had a bit of rain, but an enthusiastic bunch, led by Kurt Fischer with Sweeper, Craig Steele, tackled the road safely along with a surprising number of bicyclists. Food was great, as was the company. Be sure to read the full article on the fun of the day below.

At the last couple of events, some of you may have noticed folks walking around wearing Redwood Region hats commemorating our 50th Anniversary. I conducted an experiment of sorts by giving a few of these hats away to see if the design sparked any interest. It did. If you can’t wait to get your hands on one too, let me know. We’ll be selling them for $20 and I’ll be putting in an order in early June. If you’ve not seen one yet, check out the picture (Porsche not included).

If GT sports car racing is your thing, I hope to see you out at the Porsche Corral at Sonoma Raceway for the Blancpain GT World Challenge on June 8 and 9. If not, I hope that you’ll at least stop by to say “hi” and check out all the cars at Porsches on the Plaza in Sonoma on June 22.

Thank you and drive safe out there!

Collin Fat

Zone 7 Representative

Zone Autocross Series Opens at Marina

One of my favorite venues to autocross is the Marina Airport in Marina, California just 15 minutes north of Monterey. The venue is concrete and a part of the active airport currently used by the US Coast Guard. The surface is uniform, provides great grip and is nearly 5 acres in size. The site is rectangular in shape and offers course designers wide latitude in design.

The 2019 autocross season opened on the weekend of April 13-14 at the Marina Airport with over 70 drivers competing. Saturday was hosted by Loma Prieta Region and had 85 registered drivers with 61 competing in the Zone completion while the Sunday event was hosted by Golden Gate Region and had 78 registered drivers with 53 competing in the Zone competition. A big thank you to autocross chairs, Anne Roth, LPR, and Ed Hunter, GGR, and their teams for putting on a great event. Some of the top drivers in Zone 7 came out to compete under early morning fog.

The Zone series consist of 8 events with Golden Gate, Loma Prieta and Sacramento Valley hosting events. The full schedule can be viewed at the Zone website as well as the results from the two day event. For members interested in participating in any of the Zone events, no prior experience is required and instruction is always available upon request.

Zone Concours Judges School and Event #1

The annual concours school was hosted by Porsche of Livermore and more than 30 concours enthusiasts attended to learn about the complexities of judging and to learn some of the secrets for maximizing scoring in a competition. Thank you to organizers John D’Angelo, Zone 7 Concours chair, and Marc Giammona, Diablo Region Concours chair for their efforts in organizing the event.

On Sunday, April 28, the first Zone Concours was again held at Porsche of Livermore with 38 cars competing for Zone points. The level of preparation was amazing with several competitors earning perfect scores. The cars ran the gamut of almost all Porsche models built from the earliest 356’s, 944’s, 914’s, 928's, Porsche SUVs, Boxsters and many 911 variants including one very rare 2019 GT2 RS. The weather was perfect and the cars were spectacular. The results are posted on the Zone 7 website.

Volunteers Needed:

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

Looking ahead to many of the events of interest:

SVR Zone 7 Concourse #2: June 9 hosted by Sacramento Valley Region, register now

Zone 7 Tour: hosted by Shasta Region, June 6-10, 2019 (sold out)

Mammoth Tour: June 14th -16th hosted by Sequoia Region.

Zone 7 Concours #3: June 23, hosted by Loma Prieta Region at Porsche of Fremont

SVR Zone 7 Autocross #4, June 29 at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton

Porsche Parade, Boca Raton, Florida, Waldorf Astoria, July 21-27, 2019 ( Phase 2 registration open now )

Werks Reunion, Monterey, August 16, 2019

Porsche Parade, Greater Palm Springs, California, June 21-27, 202

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

Greg Matsumoto 

Autocross Chair

I mention these old lyrics not to reveal my Baby Boomer status, but to reflect on our new era as Redwood autocrossers at Sonoma Raceway. The new changes started a week prior with our first Ground School at Petaluma’s Lucchesi Park for 22 interested attendees.  Bob Schoenherr presented a comprehensive overview to prepare drivers and their cars for their first autocross event. We were surprised how quickly the three hours evaporated. 11 students signed up for our 5/5 autocross.

On Cinco de Mayo, 61 drivers registered for our first autocross at our new venue. This was the largest attendance for Redwood autocrosses, and for the first time, we had to close registration a week early. The new venue drew some of Redwood’s past presidents, past autocross directors and drivers from past years to come out of hibernation and enjoy this new chapter. We still miss the friendly confines of our old airport but we embraced our new beginning and the evolutionary changes.

Since this was our first event coordinated with TrackmastersRacing, we had several operational details to learn. Fortunately, we have a great autocross team and club members that pitched in to help with the transition. We always rely on volunteers to make the day run smoothly. Please let us know if you’d like to offer a hand.

Prior to the event, several bits of information were frequently changing. Just like we adjusted to unexpected driving situations, we handled the changes. Regardless, it all worked out. Sonoma Raceway is a great venue, the road surface is well maintained, clean and flat, flush toilets abound, several water fountains were quenching, a café is near and a picnic area with giant umbrellas is next to the course. The exhaust sounds of DE drivers on the track were the musical backdrop.

Since this was our first event at Sonoma Raceway, we used the course that TrackmastersRacing had designed and used the previous day. We quickly realized that other autocross events have courses that are not as technical and challenging as PCA events. The course started with tight turns, followed by a slalom, a short straight away and then repeated tight turns, quickly renamed “the intestines,” another slalom and then a burst of speed. “The intestines” were frustrating but taught us how our cars handled in repetitive tight curves. When our cars “pushed” letting up on the throttle was the answer. And, overcompensating turns led to lockups and lost time. Plans have already been made to create a course that will satisfy PCA drivers for our Zone 7 September autocross. 

The Open times were exceptionally tight. Only .017 separated 1st and 2nd. And, Stacy O’Connell was flying with her new wheels and tires. Since all the times were displayed on our cell phones, drivers knew whose times to chase.

TTOD-O:

37.682, Drew Powers, 2014 Cayman S

37.699 Grady Powers, 2013 911

38.312, Gordon Carter, 1971 911

TTOD-W:

40.498, Stacy O’Connell, 2004 Boxster S

41.931, Sonia Frank, 2019 911T (A newbie!!!)

41.952, Judy Colman,  911

TTOD-PAX:

34.381, Grady Carter, 2013 911, S10

34.589, Dean Mesquite, 1988 911, S02

35.345, Brant Ballantyne, 2001 Boxster, P14

TTOD-W-PAX:

36.610, Stacy O’Connell, 2004 Boxster S

38.865, Vilma Moreno Dodds, 2000 Boxster S

39.345, Sharon Castle, 2016 Cayman GTS

Our next autocross will be a September Zone 7 event. Zone events add a competitive flair, since those competing for class points will be there. 

See you then and keep smiling. If you don’t feel like smiling, take your Porsche out for an invigorating drive and you’ll be smiling again

Ben Davoren

Vice President, Redwood Region

On May 18, 16 Redwood Region Porsches met up in Novato for our annual run to the Station House Café in Point Reyes Station, in spite of the forecast for lots of rain and maybe some thunder and lightning. It seemed like spring had come and gone about half an hour into the drive out along Novato Boulevard and one of everybody’s favorite routes, Hicks Valley Road to Wilson Hill to Chileno Valley Road. A few more twists and turns led us into the always-cute town of Tomales for a bio break and a group ‘huddle’ under the overhang of the William Tell House, where the rain was simply never going to let up.

We ducked back into our cars and headed west along Dillon Beach road, as our tour leader Kurt Fischer brought us out and around west Marin and Sonoma counties in a new and creative route, ensuring we wouldn’t arrive too early at our lunch destination, and that we’d have a good appetite when we got there. Although I don’t know that I could recreate our course (acknowledging that last year I took half the group on a creative U-turn in Santa Rosa myself), when sweeper and Past President Craig Steele came into our personal banquet room at the Café, everyone was accounted for and in great spirits! As

usual the food was fantastic and generously portioned, and the staff got the meals out so

quickly for 30 of us. The turkey chili and the cheese grits and greens were very popular and really matched the mid-February weather!

This event is always fun and everyone makes at least one new friend in the club since

there are two long tables perfectly set up for conversation. Watch the red.pca.org calendar and join us next year!

Kurt Fischer

Event Director

Blancpain GT World Challenge Sunday June 9, 2019 – Sonoma Raceway

Join us at the paved TV Media Lot near Turn 2 on Sunday for our 1st visit to this international Sports Car racing series featuring what else but...Porsches versus everybody else!

Sunday's events include 5 races that will begin at 8:10AM and go until 4:20PM

The Porsche corral will open up at 7:30AM and of course, there will be full access to the paddock area for viewing the cars! Get your tickets and more information on their website. The Schedule for Sunday is below.

Porsches on the Plaza

Placement begins at 9 am, all cars in place by 10 am. The first 40 cars (on an RSVP basis) get preferred positions in the horseshoe in front of City Hall.

Cost is $30 per participating car, proceeds donated to our supported charity, CASA (who will be onsite ready to meet you and tell you more about the great work they do.) Register today.

Additional parking available in alternative lots. Attendance is FREE for non participating cars. Bring your picnic lunch, a camp chair, friends and family and kick back under the trees.

Attending Porsche Parade this July? Past GGR President and all around Porsche icon Terry Zacone is looking to create a caravan of Porsches to head to parade. If interested, send him an email.

Kick your photo taking skills up a notch in this one-of-a-kind limited workshop with the photographer whose work most recently graced the cover of Panorama Magazine in May.

On June 22 join Michael Alan Ross on location with the incomparable Bruce Canepa at the Canepa facility in Scotts Valley, California.

This is a unique opportunity to photograph within the facility and enjoy an interview with Bruce as he discusses his racing history and the importance of photography in his business.

Experience a demo of their in-house photo studio with studio manager Zach James Todd, while photographing an iconic Porsche 917K.

The day concludes on location, creating more images of another classic car from the Canepa collection in natural light as Michael shares the techniques he's developed over the past 25+ years as an automotive photographer.

Register soon. The workshop is limited to 15 participants only.

Alan Geddes

Redwood Region Secretary

Our next board meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm on May 28 and June 25, 2019 at Mary's Pizza Shack, located at  121 San Marin Dr., Novato . All members are welcome to attend. (The February meeting has been cancelled.)

You can read previous board meeting minutes  here . 

Tom Short

Membership Director

In April 2019, 30 PCA Redwood Region members marked five or more years in the club, including two members with 50 or more years in the club, one with over 40 years and two more who marked 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 March we welcomed 10 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

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

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.

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May der Riesenbaum cover photo credit: John Jackson

Thanks for supporting our Club!

Stacy O'Connell

der Riesenbaum Editor

Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region