The Nor`Wester

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
Page 1
JULY/AUGUST 2006
The Nor’Wester
Olympic Peninsula Region Porsche Club of America
Photo By: Jeff Smith
INSIDE THIS EDITION:
• Show and Shine Details
• Speed Thrills
• Tech Quiz
• Azalea Tour
• Upcoming Calendar
• Wine Tasting Tour
• Garcia’s
• Porsches on the Pier
• American Le Mans
• Parade Info
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
Page 2
JULY/AUGUST 2006
Message from the President
For Randy Baisden
Randy is a little indisposed at the moment… He got a
hold of some bad chimichangas and can’t quite reach
the keyboard from his new seated position. Actually,
between family business and the races in Indy, Randy
has other things on his mind. So, you get to listen to
my politically correct spiel this month…
The Show and Shine staff will need plenty of
volunteers to put on the event. If you have not
already contacted them, please do so to advise them
of your availability. Also, information and instructions
regarding the show will be given out at the last
organizational meeting on the 5th of July. Your
attendance is recommended.
Members
With summer upon us and the beautiful weather that
we experience in Washington, it is really exciting to
see all of the Porsches out on the road and track. The
next few months are packed with PCA activities:
American Le Mans in Portland, our Show and Shine at
Clearwater, the Porsche Parade in Portland, Tia and
Vinny’s wedding in Port Orchard, and plenty of days
for cruising on scenic back roads.
The Board Members and I are always interested in
your input. You should feel free to contact us
individually, or to join us for our monthly board
meetings at the Bremerton Airport Diner with any
recommendations or preferences. Your opinion
counts.
Enjoy the weather, each other and your cars. I hope
to see you at our next event.
Olympic Peninsula Region Officers and Contacts
President
Randy Baisden
[email protected]
Vice President
Brett Burroughs
[email protected]
Treasurer
Maryann Elwell
[email protected]
Secretary
Will Bonsell
[email protected]
Member at Large
Kip Sparber
[email protected]
Past President
Alex Raphael
[email protected]
Membership Chair
Gloria Mellon
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Matthew Kucharski
[email protected]
Web Master
Bill Elwell
[email protected]
On the Cover…
This Edition’s Cover photo is by Jeff Smith.
Post Azalea Tour Social at Kip and Anna
Sparber’s. For more info on the Tour, see
page 4.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
Page 3
JULY/AUGUST 2006
From the Editor
Matthew Kucharski
Thank you for the compliments on the last couple
installments of the Nor’Wester. With personal stories
like those provided by Diana Wirtz and Darwin Geary,
it makes my job much easier.
What’s my personal story?... Well… I completed my
first lapping day out at Bremerton Raceway in midJune. I had a great time, but my engine and brakes
repeatedly got hot before the end of each run session.
So, I’ve spent the last two weeks fabricating an
external oil cooling system and doing some brake
maintenance.
See, I really enjoy working on my car. I get a great
amount of satisfaction knowing that I’m self-sufficient.
I love bantering about projects with other homemechanics and showing off my latest projects. And
knowing that I saved more than 50% off retail by
gathering my own parts, either used or directly from
distributors, plus 100% of labor, is just icing on the
cake.
So you say that you’re not mechanically inclined.
Well, that may be true. And mistakes made on a PCar are not cheap. Start small. Do the things you
can. Ask for help or supervision when something is
over your head. Before long, you’ll be taking on
projects that you never dreamed of—you’ll also swell
up with pride when you show off your
accomplishments to your buddies…
Don’t know where to get info… Check out forums for
every Porsche model on www.pelicanparts.com
Until someone kicks the soapbox out from under me,
here’s my pitch for the summer…
Do your Porsche a favor. Take her to a Track
Event!!
And that’s not to be a spectator, either (although
watching is fun—stay focused here). Our cars have
race car history coursing through every hose and
fiber. I know that you become a completely different
driver every time you slide behind the wheel of your
Porsche compared to your grocery-getter. Even Russ
Penman breaks out his vintage driving gloves and
touring hat when his pristine 1962 356B rolls out of
the garage.
The Bremerton Race Track offers a controlled and
safe driving environment for you to discover the limits
of your car. And, I’m going to go out on a limb here,
you’re probably not even using 50% of the car’s
capability, or yours for that matter. Go on, enjoy the
car. And if it’s too much for you, I hear Parr Ford has
a special on the Focus this month…
Info is available at:
www.pnwr.org/Track
www.bscc.net
As always, your feedback is always welcome.
Matthew Kucharski
1972 911T Targa
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
Azalea Tour
Kip Sparber
On May 21st, William and Debbie Bonsell led
Porsches away from the confines of Kitsap County to
our club's namesake, the great Olympic Peninsula.
The goal....to look at flowers.
The tour started out at the Kitsap Mall parking lot and
proceeded to the Poulsbo McDonalds, where others
met us. We had cars from Russell and Sylvia
Penman's white, '62 356B to Brian Cochran's (new
member) '06 Carrera S black cab. Doug and Linda
Dow even brought their Cayenne to watch over us
little folks. It was a good group.
Will, with Debbie navigating, led us up toward
Kingston and around the Port Gamble loop to the
bridge. From there we traveled across the bridge and
met up with more members, giving us a total of 13
beautiful cars, 24 people (also not too bad looking),
and three dogs. With the red Boxster leading the way,
the group cruised through the scenic back roads of
Jefferson County. I, myself, had never been in that
area before and it was very enjoyable to see the views
from that side of the canal. My 14 year old son, Kyle,
came along for the ride and took some great pictures
as we proceeded along.
Grass for her absent husband, Bill. Maryann did say
something about how the grass was "just Bill" and that
she had to get it.
After spending our money, the group headed out.
Some went back north while others of us continued on
south to Belfair. Along the way, the rain began. An
emergency stop was made for those that required
cover from the rain. Once tops were on, we were on
our way again. Next stop: Belfair.
Upon arriving, we regrouped, said good-by to those
that were continuing on and the rest of our die-hards,
continued on to my house on the Old Belfair Hwy. Lee
King and his family, Kim, Michael and Britney showed
up later, as did Alex, Debbie and daughter, Ali.
Refreshments and snacks were served while we
kicked back and relaxed in the rain.
The day provided great fun and was well attended. It
was good to meet our newest members, Jack and
Julie Phipps of Union and some old members, Dave
and Dawn Ely. My only regret was not being able to
talk to everyone. I guess that means we’ll have to do it
again.
After leaving the wooded area, the group toured south
on SR 101, past Quilicene to the small town (I guess it
would be called a town), of Brinnon. There, we had
lunch at a small cafe and watched the Sheriff's Deputy
patrol our parking lot for possible victims before
heading out and finding other "fish to fry". It was great
entertainment while I ate.
After filling ourselves with copious amounts of food,
we traveled next door for the purpose of our trip: the
Azalea Gardens. The gardens were beautiful. The
flowers were colorful and plentiful. Even Kyle enjoyed
the walk, pointing out flowers as we went. Of course,
many flowers were purchased. I picked up a hanging
basket of Millionbells (at least that's what my boy said
they were) and a blowfish wood chime to remind my
absent wife of me. Maryann picked up Neon Light
Photo by Kyle Sparber
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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SPEEED THRILLS
Bill Bonsell
Isn't it fantastic how much better our cars handle when
the pavement is dry? In my last column, I mentioned
how much fun some of us OPRers were having with
our cars out at the track, given the almost constant
moisture we were encountering. Well, what can I say
about the weather recently? FANTASTIC!
Matt Kucharski, Jeff Smith and myself have been
OPR mainstays at the last few PNWR and BSCC
autocrosses. I have moved from running my 944 in a
prepared class (where I was getting thoroughly
trounced) to the Boxster running PNWR's most
competitive class - S2. At any given event, there are
normally 12-15 S2 entries, with cars ranging from
basic Boxsters, 944 Turbos, 944 S2's, 968's and pre
'83 911's. This class also has competitors with tons of
experience.
At the May 27th event I placed 4th out of 12—only
one second out of first. The June 10th event found me
6 out of 11, but just 1.7sec from winning. As you can
see, a very competitive class. The results from the just
completed July 1st event are not out, but I will tell you
that it is possible to do a 360 in a Boxster. All I can
say about my smoke billowing spin was that it was
right in the middle of the course—in front of
EVERYONE! At the event, I asked Leeds Gillick, who
has raced cars on and off for years as to why he likes
autocrossing so much. It was the fact that it a
measured event. Unlike a Driver’s Event, autocrosses
are competitive timed events. Winning or losing can
often be measured in tenths of a second. Just a
thought…
And speaking of just completed events, Matt and I
spent Friday, June 30th with the Bremerton Sports
Car Club at a lapping day event at Bremerton
Raceway. The event was organized by our own Dave
Ely. About 20 cars participated in an all day track
event on the 1.2mi road course, which is essentially
JULY/AUGUST 2006
the one that SCCA uses at Bremerton Raceway.
There was an interesting group of cars ranging from
small horsepower imports, a couple of Dodge Vipers
and even a new Lotus Elise. There was an extremely
long front straightaway which resulted in speeds over
100mph with a very heavy braking zone before
initiating a turn into a left hand sweeper. The course is
very hard on brakes, even with a Porsche. Quite a few
cars had to take the escape roads because of brake
fade.
The track was hot (green) all day, and you could jump
in or out as you liked. No specific run groups—just
go like the dickens for as long as you wanted. What
makes a day like this pretty neat is the fact that you
could ride along with anyone willing to take a
passenger. I spent a good deal of time in Matt’s 72
Targa and enjoyed his newly acquired driving
technique which consisted of him lifting during a
sweeper turn. This caused the back end of the car to
come around a bit, thus helping to get his car headed
in a straighter direction, followed by a lot of throttle. A
tough technique to master in an early 911, but Matt
was great. And wanting to know exactly where the
limit of adhesion was, we did execute a beautiful 360
spin!
Those of us who attend these autocrosses and track
events don't quite understand why more of our 150
members don't participate. These events are stressfree and much fun. Visit PNWR's or BSCC’s websites
to find out when the next event is and register, or just
simply come and check it out as George Avila did
June 10th.
A reminder to those wanting to drive to Portland for
the ALMS race we shall be leaving the Gig Harbor
McDonalds at 6:30am sharp Saturday, July 22nd. If
you are going to attend please email me at
[email protected]. I would like to get a head
count. If you have not gotten your tickets, please
contact Global Events Group at 503-821-4344.
Personally, I can't wait to see the new Penske Racing
LMP2 Porsche Spyder RS.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
Page 7
JULY/AUGUST 2006
Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant
Jeff Smith
Was I ever relieved when the dinner crowd grew to a
good number and the seats at Garcia’s party room
filled with many smiling familiar faces ready to eat,
drink, and enjoy. A little background… The organizer
of this month’s dinner, yours truly, did not realize he
had picked a setting right in the middle of downtown
Poulsbo on the starting night of Viking Fest. Making
the reservation almost three months ahead of time I
felt good about my first attempt at arranging a dinner.
However, I definitely had an “Oh S*~+!” moment one
early morning as I read the RSVP from George
mentioning that he would have his boat moored out in
front of the restaurant that night, because it was
Viking Fest weekend. Thinking it was too late to
reschedule, I just sent out an email warning of the
potential parking/traffic impact and waited for the
response.
Admittedly, I worried about low attendance and people
upset about the parking and crowds. But our
members came though and showed up, were very
gracious and didn’t even roast or pick on me! Well, a
couple of my friends did make some funny side
comments but we probably shouldn’t print them here.
We mostly had the restaurant to ourselves, as it was a
slow night inside due to the waterfront parking lot
behind Garcia’s being filled with the carnival, activities
and various food vendors. I’m sure they appreciated
the club’s business and we were well taken care of by
our own dedicated server. The made-fresh tortillas
were the best I’ve ever had. My shrimp and rice dish
came on one of the widest plates I’ve seen and was
excellent. In fact some of the portions were so large
that several not-so-little white boxes were seen being
carried out. The special version Margarita I sampled
was great, at least to my limited experience with
Margaritias (hey, that’s really not a joke, I actually
haven’t sampled a lot of different Margaritas – but I’m
working on that!). They must have been doing
something right with the drinks because many more
were ordered and enjoyed.
We welcomed our newest member, Leeland King, and
congratulated him on his recently acquired 1999
Carrera Coupe (Silver with Aero Kit, and performance
modifications of course!). Many of us already knew
Lee as Champion Racer and Master Auto Technician
at MaxRPM, but it is great to have him join our club
and begin enjoying Porsche ownership and activities.
After dinner, it was a short walk out to the pier to
George’s boat, where the good times continued. So,
don’t be afraid to volunteer to set up one of our
dinners or events. Everyone appreciates the effort.
We can always use the help and new ideas. And
think of it this way, it will be hard to make a bigger
scheduling mistake than I did. And don’t let any minor
things deter you from attending, or you will miss out!
May Issue Tech Quiz—The 911 SC
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What year was the first 911 SC production year? 1978
What is the displacement of the 911 SC? 3.0 litres (2994cc)
What was the first year that Porsche used this size engine in one of their cars? 1972 Carrera RS 3.0.
What does SC stand for? While not official, Super Carrera is widely accepted.
How many years was the 911 SC produced? 6 years – 1978-1983
How many HP did the US version of these cars produce? 180 Hp.
July Issue Tech Quiz—The 911 Turbo
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What year did Porsche release the first 911 Turbo?
What is the “type” number of the 911 Turbo?
What was the initial displacement of the 911 Turbo?
The Turbo introduced this Miami Vice front fender configuration…
The first years of the Turbo produced how many Hp?
What is a “Flachbau”?
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
Upcoming OPR Events
July 2006
5th – 7:00P – Final Charity Event Planning Meeting at Clearwater Casino, WA
9th – 8:00A – Annual Show & Shine Charity Event at Clearwater Casino, WA
12th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
21st – 7:00P – Social Dinner at TBD
22nd – 6:00A – Meet at Kitsap Mall Parking Lot for Tour/drive down to ALMS at Portland International
Raceway, 6:30A pick-up at Gig Harbor McDonalds (Olympic Dr. Exit of Rt 16)
22nd – 8:30A – Porsches on the Pier. Meet at Kitsap Mall Parking Lot or meet at Port
Angeles Les Schwab at 9:30A
August 2006
6th – 12th – Porsche Parade in Portland, OPR in charge of Hospitality on Thursday noon- 4P and Friday 8A
noon.
14th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
27th – 10A – Tour to Social Lunch to family run Italian Restaurant near SEATAC
September 2006
9th – 11:00A – Rally followed by BBQ at Kip & Anna Sparber’s House
13th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
15th – 7:00P – Social Dinner at Blondie’s in Key Peninsula
October 2006
7th – 9th – Canon Beach Tour with PNWR
11th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
20th – 7:00P – Social Dinner at TBD
28th – 8:00P – Halloween Party at Diana Wirtz’s House
November 2006
4th – 5th – Cascade Mountains Tour with overnight in Leavenworth
8th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
16th – 6:00P – Social Dinner at Gloria & Keith Mellon’s House
December 2006
2nd or 9th – Holiday Party at TBD
13th – 7:00P – Board Meeting at Airport Dinner 8830 Hwy 3 SW (Bremerton National Airport)
Tia & Vinny are Getting Married!
This sounds too much like a Billy Joel song to be true. If you attended a few club event during the
first few years after the club was formed then you already know Tia Hughes and Vinny Lobue. And
just like the rest of us you have been anxiously awaiting their wedding announcement. Wait no
more!
On August 5th at 3pm they will be married in Port Orchard. Tia and Vinny are extending a wedding
invitation to the Porsche Club. If you would like to see our friend's wedding you can RSVP by email
or by phone at 360-275-9386 (RSVP's no later than July 5th).
If you would simply like to send a gift they are registered at The Wedding Channel, Macy's, and the
Home Depot.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
Page 9
Tour de Franzia
Lisa McCleskey
Saturday’s wine tasting adventure began with a
caution from Matt to “remove all loose objects,
especially golf balls” from the passenger area of the
cars. I took the advice with great anticipation. Those
who didn’t discovered the meaning of “learning curve”.
A Seattle blue sky with a drop-your-top temperature
and dry pavement had about a dozen Porsche lovers
gaining a few more laugh lines as we crossed the
Hood Canal Bridge in unison heading toward Port
Townsend. The fun had only just begun.
We took a previously unnoticed side road that will
live in infamy. Good thing the wine tasting had not yet
begun, because the drivers needed all the reflexes
they had to fully enjoy this amazingly serpentine, hilly
road. There were no limit to our favorite road sign
(Curves Ahead), and then came the one ominous sign
“…In Memory Of…”
As we approached an uphill and wrongly canted 90degree curve, everything unattached in our cars rolled
under foot. One wayward water bottle nearly spelled
disaster as one driver tried to retrieve it already into
this curve and very slightly veered near the line.
Whether a wake-up call or an omen, we’ll never know,
but a large ambulance happened to be in the curve at
that exact moment hugging the centerline. Watching
JULY/AUGUST 2006
anxiously in rear-view mirrors, the other driver’s breath
was held as the ambulance passed safely. Matt, you
give good advice.
Soon we arrived at the Water Street Brewing House
and enjoyed good food and beer (yes, we know it was
supposed to be wine) and eclectic conversation
before our first drive to Sorrensen Winery near Port
Townsend.
Some of us don’t know a thing about wine except we
either do or don’t like what’s in our glass. We did learn
how to gracefully pour it out in the spit bucket,
behaving as if we always pour it out after a small sip
(to remain sober of course). The more discerning wine
tasters never made us feel uncouth and helped us to
learn the terms for describing wine flavors. Several
club members who don’t drink alcohol joined the
group but we all know it isn’t the destination that’s
important but the journey and friends.
Driving to Fairwinds Winery was pure bliss. Country
roads whizzed by, and the Fairwinds host, Joe, soon
greeted us. This winery produces about 1000 cases a
year of wine but our vote went for their award winning
“Port O Call”. We were reluctant to end our adventure
so Katy suggested we continue our tour to Lost
Mountain Winery.
Curving country roads scented by freshly mowed hay
and a purple mountain majesty view was the reward
for continuing our trek to Lost Mountain. It was a long,
wonderful drive to a small winery snuggled into a hill.
Lost Mountain had a little gift shop with wine and foodrelated items and a friendly, informative staff. If you
are a Merlot person (yes it’s still okay to like it after the
movie “Sideways” dropped sales by 30%), then try
their version. If you don’t like wine, then buy their
fabulous lavender/lemon soft soap. But most of all,
DON’T MISS THIS DRIVE! Katy apologized for the
drive being too long. Katy, it wasn’t long enough.
Photos by Lisa McCleskey
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
Not registered for Parade Portland 2006?...
But still want to join in the fun!
We have a limited amount of parking spaces available in the Parade Paddock (Shine and Show only) on Concours
Day at Heron Lakes Country Club, Monday August 7th. Display your Porsche and join an intimate group of over 500
Porsches and 2,000 PCA members enjoying a fabulous Concours. Grab a cold one and relax in the shade. Watch
the first ever installment of the Parade Zone Challenge, shop in the Parade Goodie Store, meet Vic Elford as well as
representatives from Porsche AG, and other dignitaries, admire a number of outstanding historic Porsches, and
enjoy the best reason ever to take a Monday off work!
Arrive between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. and leave anytime between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Advance registration is
required. Please send your $45 entry fee, checks only payable to “Parade 2006”, to:
Chet Martin
605 NE 115th Circle
Vancouver, WA 98685
360-635-5633
[email protected]
Be sure to include your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and a brief description of your
Porsche, including year, model, and color.
Porscheplatz
American Le Mans Series
Portland Grand Prix at Portland International Raceway
PCA Membership Station in the Porscheplatz (Porsche Owners Corral) during the Portland Grand Prix at
Portland International Raceway, July 21 - July 22, 2006:
There will be a PCA Membership station within the
Porscheplatz for the American Le Mans Series race
at Portland International Raceway on Friday, July 21
and Saturday, July 22. The Porscheplatz is hosted
by Porsche Cars North America and Porsche
Motorsport North America with the cooperation of
the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)
and the American Le Mans Series. There will be
scheduled appearances by Porsche race drivers for
informal talks and autographs. In addition, IMSA will
offer supervised Parade laps of the track with a two
lap maximum open to the first 100 registered
Porsches on a first come, first serve basis.
Registration for the Parade Laps will be at the
hospitality tent for credentialed Porscheplatz
participants only. Special features for the weekend
will include a "Long Distance Award," raffle drawings
for an "Honorary Pit Crew Member" with a Porsche
race team, and a "Hot Pit" escorted tour. For
information please contact Zone 6 Rep, Linda Bein,
541-593-9105 or [email protected] and also
visit the IMSA website, http://www.imsaracing.net for
the latest event schedule.
Porscheplatz admission requires a Porscheplatz
ticket package - for information contact Global
Events Group at 503-821-4344. Parking in the
Porscheplatz will be for Porsches only. "For Sale"
signs on cars will not be permitted. For drawings and
awards, participants must be present to win.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
Porsches on the Pier
Please join us for the annual Porsches on the Pier in
Port Angeles, WA on July 22nd. Those members
traveling from southern/central Kitsap should meet at
the Silverdale Mall parking lot across from Barnes and
Noble for an 8:30am departure. Members closer to
Port Angeles should rendezvous with the group at the
Les Schwab Tire Center on Hwy 101 in Port Angeles
at 9:30am.
Porsches on the Pier is part of the Arts in Action
Festival in Port Angeles. With a location change to
the City Pier, this year's event will host 10 sand
sculptures, even more artists, merchants and vendors
than before. Enjoy live music on the pier, Porsche
Club car show on Saturday, and the Street Rods on
Sunday. New this year in the Landing Mall atrium on
Saturday and Sunday is a non-commercial part of the
festival that has over 15 clubs, organizations and
artists that are demonstrating various arts. Several
hands on family events will be happening in the
atrium.
OPR contact is Kurt Schneider
[email protected]
360-808-2200
Arts in Action contact
[email protected]
360-417-0501
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7/8
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OLYMPIC PENINSULA REGION PORSCHE CLUB
P O BOX 3572
SILVERDALE, WA 98383-3572
JULY/AUGUST 2006