Flies through Santa Barbara Porsche Fun Run Air Filters

DER
AUSPUFF
P O R S C H E
C L U B
O F
A M E R I C A
YELLOW
BIRD
Flies through
Santa Barbara
S A N T A
B A R B A R A
R E G I O N
Porsche Fun Run
Two Attempts, Two Hours, Two Porsches
Page 11
Air Filters
The Science of Clean Air
Page 20
We had a chance to
meet the car that made
Ruf a legend.
Page 16
Club Movie Night Page 12
Hanging Out At the Hangar
Detailing Wheels Page 22
Spray-on, Rinse-off, It Really Works
JANUARY 2006
Cover Story
16
Ruf CTR “Yellow Bird”
We take a ride in one of the fastest production vehicles on the planet – the Ruf CTR
Yellow Bird
Features
20
16
Technology
The science, not the hype, behind the various types of air filter elements
22
Detailing
Mother’s All-Wheel Cleaner, a no-touch cleaning solution to cleaning brake-dustencrusted alloy wheels
24
24
Track
Spend the Weekend at Daytona in January 2006
6
Events
10
Der Auspuff, which translates as “the
exhaust,” is the official publication of
the Santa Barbara Region, Porsche
Club of America.
Chartered regions of PCA are granted
permission to reprint any material herein
provided full credit is given to the author and
Der Auspuff (with the exception of copyrighted
material). Any statement appearing in Der
Auspuff is that of the author, and does not
constitute an opinion of the Porsche Club of
America, the Santa Barbara Region, its Board
or Appointees, the Der Auspuff Editors or its
Staff. The Editorial Staff reserves the right to
edit all material submitted for publication.
THE SUBMITTAL DEADLINE FOR PUBLICATION
IS THE TENTH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING THE
MONTH OF PUBLICATION.
6
Camarillo Breakfast Club
8
Santa Barbara Breakfast Club
10
Holiday Dinner Party
11
Poker Run
12
Movie Night
30
Toys-for-Tots
Departments
2
SBR Board of Directors
3
SBR Appointees
3
Zone 8 Staff and Websites
4
President’s Column
5
Editor’s Column
14
New Members
19
Goodie Store
28
Calendar of Events
32
Classified Ads
For those outside our region, but within
the United States, subscriptions to Der
Auspuff are available for $18/year (12
monthly issues). Contact the Editor for
more information.
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 1
Santa Barbara Region
Board of Directors
President
Activities
Advertising
Joe Carastro
Barry Weinstein
Lynn Kuchera
480 Vereda Del Ciervo
Goleta, CA 93117
Tel. (805) 968-9962
[email protected]
2820 Blazing Star Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Tel. (805) 241-5641
[email protected]
P.O. Box 2692
Camarillo, CA 93011
Tel. (805) 484-0101
[email protected]
Vice President
Activities
Membership
Gary Gasperino
Valerie Weinstein
Jeanette Bassett
1967 La Ramade Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel. (805) 484-0182
[email protected]
2820 Blazing Star Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Tel. (805) 241-5641
[email protected]
6143 Armitos Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel. (805) 388-2195
[email protected]
Secretary
Goodie Store
Insurance
Karen Turek
Mike Hodson
Gary Gasperino
1230 Ebony Drive
Oxnard, CA 93030
Tel. (805) 988-9827
[email protected]
6076 Tahoe Place
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel. (805) 279-2252
[email protected]
1967 La Ramade Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel. (805) 484-0182
[email protected]
Treasurer
Goodie Store
Editor
George Barrett
Pamuela Hodson
Michael C. Harley
1908 Johnson Drive
Ventura, CA 93003
Tel. (805) 684-3465
[email protected]
6076 Tahoe Place
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel. (805) 279-2252
[email protected]
207 Via Inez
Newbury Park, CA 91320
Tel. (805) 499-6331
[email protected]
2 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Santa Barbara Region Appointees
Archivist
Concours
Safety
Burt Misivic
617 Valley Vista Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
Tel. (805) 482-7076
[email protected]
Joe Carastro
480 Vereda Del Ciervo
Goleta, CA 93117
Tel. (805) 968-9962
[email protected]
Mike Furnish
951 Skeel Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
Tel. (805) 987-8795
[email protected]
Autocross
Rally
Webmaster
Steve Lutz
4062 Weeping Willow
Moorpark, CA 93021
Tel. (805) 523-0923
[email protected]
Joe Boucher
P.O. Box 1185
Nipomo, CA 93444
Tel. (805) 931-0990
[email protected]
Bryce Boe
6660 Trigo Road A
Goleta, CA 93117
Tel. (858) 525-3171
[email protected]
Zone Representative
Concours Chair
Time Trial Chair
Rules Chair
Beverly Griffin-Frohm
1548 Roma Drive
Vista, CA 92083
Tel. (760) 727-6068
[email protected]
Ziggy Szielenski
3272 San Helena Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
Tel. (760) 433-3699
[email protected]
Paul Young
1296 Australia Street
El Cajon, CA 92020
Tel. (619) 449-1768
[email protected]
Richard Price
25108 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel. (949) 831-2381
[email protected]
Autocross Chair
Rally Chair
Chief Driving Instructor
Reporter and Webmaster
Michael Dolphin
2512 North Marengo Avenue
Altadena, CA 91001
Tel. (626) 798-2312
Fax (626) 798-1465
[email protected]
Revere Jones
P.O. Box 2881
Covina, CA 91722
Tel. (626) 719-9433
[email protected]
Vince Knauf
4860 Louise Drive
San Diego, CA 92116
Tel. (619) 287-4334
Fax (619) 287-6591
[email protected]
Tom Brown
2240 Corte Ananas
Carlsbad, CA 92009
[email protected]
Zone 8
Golden Empire Region
Orange County Region
San Gabriel Region
www.pca.org/zone8
www.pca.org/gem
www.pca.org/ocr
www.pca.org/sgb
Arizona Region
Grand Prix Region
Riverside Region
Southern Arizona Region
www.az.pca.org
www.pca.org/gpx
www.pca.org/riv
www.members.tripod.com/~SARPCA
California Central Coast Region
Las Vegas Region
Santa Barbara Region
www.pca.org/ccc
www.pca.org/lvs
www.pca.org/sba
California Inland Region
Los Angeles Region
San Diego Region
www.pca.org/cai
www.pca.org/la
www.pcasd.org
Graphic Design
Printing
Distribution
Ken Milhous
Graphic Odyssey
4215 Tierra Rejada Rd., Suite 155
Moorpark, CA 93021
Tel. (805) 338-6000
[email protected]
Walter Waxman
RP Printing & Graphics
5880 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
Tel. (805) 964-5305
[email protected]
Eddie Manan
FCCH Mailing Services
2800 Supply Avenue
City of Commerce, CA 90040
Tel. (323) 721-8511
[email protected]
Zone 8 Staff
Zone 8 Websites
Behind the Scenes
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 3
President’s Column
Is it a New Year already?
By Joe Carastro
Seems like not too long ago Nancy and I were getting ready to
head up the coast for a tour to San Luis Obispo; needless to say a lot
has happened since then. I am happy to report that Santa Barbara
Region is entering 2006 in very good shape. We have had a peaceful
turnover of several Board positions and I am looking forward to
being a part of our continuing evolution as an organization.
Speaking of evolution, WHAT ABOUT THAT CAYMAN!?!? As you
may have inferred, I have a certain amount of enthusiasm for the
little crocodilian and although I have not had the chance to drive
one yet, the new Porsche has received rave reviews from those
that have. Included in this category is SBR member Alois Ruf who
currently has one at his Pfaffenhausen facility for testing and
evaluation. His assessment is that the car is outstanding as produced
and will make an excellent base for development down paths that
the factory might be unwilling to pursue. Alois also mentioned that
he is hoping to be able to make a breakfast meeting in the not-toodistant future.
This issue of der Auspuff signals the beginning of the editorship
of Mike Harley. As is abundantly clear, being editor is a position
of tremendous responsibility, and Mike will be needing all of
our support. If you are in possession of a sharp pencil (or laptop)
this could be the year that you could become a widely acclaimed
published author. Publications thrive on content,
and if people can stand to read my musings,
you can’t help but find a readership for your
thoughts!
Here’s hoping that your good behavior in
2005 was well rewarded by the appropriate giftbearing entity, and best wishes for a healthy and
prosperous 2006.
Porschely yours,
Joe
We welcome all clubrelated photo submissions.
Please email your highest
resolution shot to
[email protected].
4 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Editor’s Column
A new editor climbs
into the driver’s seat
By Michael C. Harley
I’m new here. I just sat down.
Filling the Der Auspuff Editor position vacated by Nicolas Liakas
is akin to replacing Hurley Haywood in the drivers seat during the 24
Hours of Daytona – a formidable undertaking, no matter what your
qualifications. The seat is toasty warm, but everything is moving at
nearly two-hundred miles-per-hour! As I sit here typing away, I don’t
dare look up to stare at the weight of at least two Heinmiller Awards
hanging over my head – a constant reminder of how well Nick steered
Der Auspuff under his direction… Thanks again Nick.
As is often the situation, with the new guy, comes a new look.
Utilizing state-of-the art computers and software, the design team at
Graphic Odyssey is now credited with Der Auspuff design. Starting with
a clean slate (out of necessity, as we’ve switched from a Mac platform to
PC) they spent countless hours building templates to carry us forward.
The new look is clean, legible, and very functional (not that there was
anything wrong with the past issues!). We hope you like it.
Though the cover for the “new” Der Auspuff appears more traditional
“car magazine” than club newsletter, the content – the typed characters
on the pages – will remain very loyal to our members, as it should. Even
as we introduce new technical and detailing sections, we will tirelessly
cover the club events with words and images of Porsche owners just
plain having fun.
With an impressive 36-page format, we have quite a few liberties
not afforded to lesser newsletters – most visible, lot’s of blank space for
content. So, I’m putting out the challenge…
Der Auspuff needs more contributing editors! Whether you choose
to submit one article, or twelve consecutively. Whether you choose to
write about 924’s, or Cayennes, all member submissions are welcome
between these color covers. Don’t worry about your spelling, grammar,
or even execution – we’ll make your contribution something you can be
proud of, and all of our members will enjoy.
Until your next issue arrives, spend some time reading the new
articles, smiling at the pictures, and (of course) supporting our dedicated
advertisers. The next twelve months are going to be a fun ride. Drop me
an e-mail ([email protected]) to let me know what you think!
Mike and his 1986 930 at Buttonwillow
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 5
Camarillo Breakfast Meeting
The morning of December 3rd was a beautiful, clear,
cold winter day when we held our final Camarillo
Breakfast Club meeting of 2005
Words by Barry and Valerie Weinstein
Photos by Max Sluiter and Michael C. Harley
December 3rd 2005 – Not only was it
chilly, but this was the first weekend after
Thanksgiving to engage in serious holiday
shopping, and it was the day of the highly
touted USC/UCLA football game (which turned
into a 66-19 rout in favor of the #1 Trojans over
the #11 Bruins).
Yet, even with all these issues working
against us, we still had a respectable turnout
of 89 attendees, in 45 Porsches (and one Ford
GT!) parked at the Way-Point Café at Camarillo
Airport.
We were also delighted to welcome a
number of new members to our PCA/SBR
breakfast:
George and Jeanne Mitchell, from Ventura,
showed up in their ’06 Silver C4.
David Cunningham, of Ventura, who drives
a ’64 356 joined us along with another new
member, his law partner David Treadway, of
Ventura, who arrived in his 996. Welcome
gentlemen.
John Rosenthal, owner of a ’02 996 Turbo
came to breakfast with his children Alex and
Jordan. We are happy to count you and your
family among our members.
Sandra Bowers, a new member living just
around the corner in Camarillo, drove up in her
sparkling ’05 Boxster S.
Dan Lindsey, of Santa Barbara is anxiously
awaiting delivery of his new 997 this coming
March.
Again, a warm and heartfelt welcome to
all of our new members. We’re delighted you
chose to join PCA/SBR.
Congratulations are in order to another
long time member, Jon Alfenito. His ’06 997S
Black Coupe is magnificent.
We also would like to welcome back and
thank long-time member Rick White who
returned to the Camarillo Breakfast Club after
an extended absence. The first thing he did
was to volunteer to help at the front gate.
Good to see you back Rick!
Speaking of volunteering, we could always
use help in manning the airport gate during
our breakfasts. Chris Hodson handles it most
of the time, but when he can’t be there, or
needs a break, it would be wonderful if we had
some members waiting in the wings to relieve
him, or any one else, who is working at the
entrance. Generally we don’t need people for
much more than 10-20 minutes to help out.
You know, volunteering is a great way to get
6 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
to know your fellow SBR members and get the
most out of your experience here. See Mike or
Karen Turek, or Barry or Valerie Weinstein, if
you would like to be a part of this.
By the way, one more newcomer, a
prospective member, Jerry Reisinger of
Thousand Oaks came in his brand new 550 HP
white Ford GT, an import from a dealership in
Chicago. This is truly a beautiful car. Jerry also
is the proud owner of a 2001 TT.
Our President, Joe Carastro, welcomed
all the “hearty souls,” both new and old, who
braved this weather to join us at breakfast.
Once again he urged us get to a Porsche
dealership and look at the new Caymans.
Joe, as you probably know, has been in
possession of Louis Ruf’s famous “Yellow Bird”
(see cover story in this month’s issue). He
mentioned that before the Yellow Bird returns
to Germany, he would like to attend one of our
breakfast meetings and bring the Yellow Bird
with him. We’re looking forward to seeing him
and chatting, once again, with this “icon” of the
German automobile industry.
For the second month in a row, Randy
Leffingwell attended our breakfast to
autograph his new Forty Years of 911 book, for
those in our club who purchased it. Between
the covers are many beautiful pictures of
Santa Barbara PCA members’ cars. In fact, Gary
Gasperino’s 993 is on the cover! If you haven’t
purchased one of these books, check with
Mike and Pamuela Hodson to see if our Goodie
Store has any left.
The Hodson’s are selling them at a special
discounted price to our members. Many
who have purchased the book are treating it
like a high school or college annual, asking
the owners of various featured Porsches to
autograph their pages. Ah yes, just another
bump in the road to a mid-life crisis.
Our soon-to-be retired activities Co-Chair,
Mike Turek, reminded us that we had at least 75
sign-ups for the December 16th Holiday Party.
It was promising to be an exciting event for all
in attendance. He also mentioned that the very
popular Solvang Overnight Tour scheduled for
January 21st (with an optional overnight stay
through the 22nd) must be reserved with Gail
and Claude Robillard by January 14th. Please
include your cell phone number when signing
up so that we will be able to contact you in
the event of any emergencies, road closures,
or last minute information to be passed out
during the tour.
Thanks again to the talented Max Sluiter,
our staff photographer, for donating his time
and working with Mike Harley, our new Der
Auspuff editor, on the pictures of our Breakfasts
and other events.
Our very popular and profitable Goodie
Store was once again manned by Mike and
Pamuela Hodson. Mike and Pamuela are always
doing something for our group. On the spur of
the moment they decided to host our Porsche
Movie night at their hangar the Saturday
Evening after Thanksgiving. Pamuela got up
and told everyone what a fun evening we had
sharing desserts, socializing and watching the
films. It was also cold, but Porsche people are
tough. Anyway, we all had jackets and Mike
closed the hangar to keep the heat in. Actually,
it turned out be a very pleasant and enjoyable
evening. We’ll try to do something like this
again in the coming year.
Mike Hodson mentioned that as of this
writing the Goodie store had a few 2006 PCA/
SBR calendars available. They are inexpensive
and great souvenirs of your membership in
our club.
Mike Turek, our outgoing (both literally and
figuratively) Activities Co-Chair announced
that the Activities committee is planning
a progressive dinner in May, 2006. At the
moment we are looking for members who
would like to volunteer their homes to host
the salad and dessert portions of the evening.
The main course is currently planned for
a restaurant. This year, we’ve decided to
charge a nominal fee, per person, so none of
the hosts get stuck with a substantial food
expense when volunteering their homes.
Anyone interested, please see either Mike and
Karen Turek, or Barry and Valerie Weinstein.
The progressive dinner is one of our premier
events of the year.
Ford GT meets Porsche 914
996 TT Smiling for the camera
Porsches basking in the morning sun
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 7
Santa Barbara Breakfast Meeting
PCA Members are greeted by another gorgeous
December morning on Stearns Wharf
Words by Barry and Valerie Weinstein
Photos by Michael C. Harley
December 10th 2005 – It was another Santa Barbara Breakfast and drove up in her
cool but comfortable and gorgeous winter gleaming new ’05 Boxster. At the breakfast
day in Southern California. Morning rain she signed up for our annual Holiday Party,
was predicted, but that’s all it ever remained and told us she plans to become a very active
– a prediction. The fact was 37 members, member. Way to go, Sandra!
prospective members, and guests, turned out
Members Jeanne and George Mitchell, from
in 26 beautiful Porsches for the Santa Barbara Ventura, attended their first Santa Barbara
breakfast at the Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Breakfast in their 997 C4.
Wharf.
Again, welcome to all our breakfast
The downstairs area of the restaurant was attendees, old, new, returning, etc.
set up and waiting for our arrival - we
were very pleased with the service we
received. We will continue to hold our
Santa Barbara Breakfast Club in this
downstairs area, which will be set up and
waiting for us on the second Saturday of
each month.
Two new members signed up at
the breakfast and joined PCA/SBR.
Mike Joseph from Pine Mountain in his
’78 911 SC joined our club. Jonathon
Ziegler, of Santa Barbara in his ’06 997
S also joined that morning. It’s nice to
1,000+ Horsepower parked on the pier
have both of you in the club!
Walt Branscome, from Porsche of Santa
Prospective members Peter and Toby
Hassler (father & son), friends of our President, Barbara, came fully intending to bring a new
Joe Carastro, are looking to purchase a Porsche Cayman for us to drool over. Since the car had
Boxster in the near future. We wish them luck been on display at the dealership, doors have
been opened and closed, lights turned on and
in finding just what they want.
Another prospective member, looking off and the other electrical gadgets played
us over at the breakfast, was Santa Barbara with so much, that when it was time for Walt
resident Clifford Mallory. He has a ’58 356 A as to drive it to our breakfast, the battery was
well as a ’62 B Cabriolet.
dead. So, as you’d expect, right after breakfast
Sandra Bowers, who joined last week at a contingent of our members caravanned over
the Camarillo Breakfast, attended her first there to see, and sit in, the newest offering
from Porsche.
8 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Mike Turek stood up and told us that the
Holiday Dinner Party, scheduled for next
weekend at the Greek at the Harbor Restaurant
in Ventura, has already received almost 100
sign ups. It should be a great shindig – is that
still a word, or am I showing my age? (I’ve
never seen it in print, but I’ll let it slide this
time – Ed.) By the time this is published the
party will be history, but I’m sure it will be a
wonderful memory for all who attended. (The
Holiday Party story is found on page 10.)
Mike also announced that George and Kim
Rasher will be hosting a BBQ at their home
in Santa Inez for those who are going on the
Solvang Tour, 2006. This is always a popular
and fun-filled event and well worth attending.
An optional overnighter, some will join us
just for the day, while others will elect to stay
overnight and perhaps burn a little midnight
oil at the Casino (or possibly spend the next day
shopping and eating in Solvang before driving
home). Contact Claude and Gail Robillard if
you’d like to be a part of it (hopefully, as you
read this, there is still time to sign-up).
Mike also suggested that those
interested sign up for the Palms
Restaurant Tour in February. That’s a fun
restaurant where the food is of the finest
quality, but also very inexpensive. Why?
Because you cook your own steak, fish
or poultry on huge grills they have there
just for that purpose!
We also heard from our new Der
Auspuff editor, Mike Harley. Yes, our
famous Heinmiller award-winning
Editor Nicolas Liakas is stepping down
after years at the helm and retiring from
that position. We are delighted that Mike has
accepted the position of Captain of that ship.
He is an experienced and talented automotive
technical advisor, writer and editor. Welcome
aboard Mike. We are looking forward to
working with you.
Breakfast soon ended and the group
scattered to their various second stops of the
day. The largest group, however, left together
and drove over to Porsche of Santa Barbara to
look at the new Cayman…
Solvang
Tour 2006
When
9:30 AM – January 21, 2006
Where
Sears parking lot, Santa Barbara
Register
Claude or Gail Robillard at
[email protected]
After the holidays are over, and the New
Year has begun, join us for a relaxing drive
along the coast and through the mountains
to the Danish Village of Solvang. An optional
overnight stay has been planned.
We will meet on Saturday, January 21, 2006,
at 9:30 AM at the Sears parking lot in Santa Barbara. We will depart on
our journey promptly at 10:00 AM.
Our drive takes us to Santa Ynez first, where we will meet for lunch at
the home of our fellow Santa Barbara Region members George and
Kim Rascher.
Following lunch, we will drive to the Danish Village of Solvang for
leisurely sightseeing and shopping. An early event is planned for
everyone followed by a buffet dinner ($16.95/person) at the Chumash
Casino. After dinner, participants are welcome to try their luck at the
tables (and slots), or return to the hotel to relax. Shuttles will run from
the hotel to the casino every hour on the hour until 1:00 AM.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express in
Solvang with a special rate of $127.00/night. Please call (805) 6882018 and mention PCA/SBR to see if rooms are still available. A $5.00
Activity Fee, per car, will be collected for the event.
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 9
PCA/Santa Barbara Region
Holiday Party 2005
A Greek Festival to Remember
By Mike and Karen Turek
December 16th 2005 – The Santa Barbara
Region’s events of 2005 were fraught with
cancellations and diversions due to road
closures and weather; not so with this, our
final event of year. The weather was to order.
The Greek restaurant was decorated
for the holidays. The harbor boats
and other restaurants as well
were adorned with decorations
and lights.
As members arrived, they
shared holiday cheer and
reminisced over good times
encountered throughout
the year. As per tradition
and entertainment, belly
dancing by two very
professional and talented
young women began. Nick
“The Greek” Liakas joined
in the dancing breaking
the ice for others, i.e.: Gary
“Good Sport” Gasperino, and
Larry “Swinging” Stoops. Wow!
What talent we have within the
Santa Barbara Region!
It was on to dinner - exquisite
Greek cuisine served buffet style.
It wasn’t long before President
Joe Carastro extended a warm
welcome to all.
Outgoing Santa Barbara
Region Board Members
Kent Bodin, Dave Stone, James
Oldham, Nick Liakas, Marge
Misevic and Mike Turek were
given a bon farewell and an
engraved rosewood pen
and case in appreciation for
their service to our club.
Marge
Misevic
announced the outcome
of the election of the new
Santa Barbara Region
Board of Directors. Our
new board will be Joe
Carastro, President, Gary
Gasperino, Vice President,
George Barrett, Treasurer,
Barry and Valerie Weinstein
as Activities Co-Chairs, and
Karen Turek as Secretary.
Appointed positions are Michael Harley
as Der Auspuff Editor, Jeanette Bassett as
Membership Chair, and Lynn Kuchera, Der
Auspuff Advertising.
The holiday party is always a wonderful way
to get to know each other a little better. As
the evening drew to a close and members
began to depart, Karen and I realized that
this is it. We have completed our tenure as
Activity Co-Chairs. We have bitter-sweet
feelings surrounding our service for the last
10 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Nick Liakas enjoying the entertainment
two years. It has been a lot of work at times,
but mostly we have received warm feelings
from this group of wonderful car crazy people,
whom we now consider our good friends. We
appreciate the opportunity to have served
you.
Thank you.
Mike and Karen
Fellow members enjoying the festivities
A toast to the New Year!
Two Attempts, Two Hours,
Two Porsches
Making lemonade from lemons
By Carol Mathieu and Shannon and Brian Kavanagh
Saturday, November 19 , started out
beautifully. It was 70 degrees and not a cloud
in the sky – the kind of day Porsche drivers
crave. It was a day to share with car enthusiasts
everywhere, and share we did. This was our
second attempt at a fabulous ride through the
mountains in calendar-year 2005; the first was
rained out in March...
As 30 Porsches, and 53 people, headed
north on Highway 101 to join the Porsche
Club for a drive through winding roads, hills,
pizza and poker, traffic came to an abrupt halt
in Carpenteria, just south of Santa Barbara. A
tanker truck had overturned around 3:00 AM,
and little did any of us know that it would snarl
traffic until early Saturday afternoon.
We were supposed to convene at 10:00 AM
in the Sears Parking lot. More than an hour
earlier, at 8:45 AM, cell phones started to ring.
The news was bad. Cars were overheating and
the alternate Highway 150 to Highway 192 was
packed with locals (who knew the alternate
routes to get around this Saturday morning
debacle on the 101).
Carol Mathieu and her parents visiting from
San Antonio, Doreen and Morrie, were driving
a Mitsubishi and made it to the Santa Barbara
Sears store around 10:45 AM. There were only
two lonely Porsche’s waiting for the rest of the
crowd. Oh where could they be?
Steve Lopez and Kathy and Dan Mucciacito
had made it to the parking lot, excited about
participating in their first Porsche event. They
thought they were late, and that was why all
had left. Little did they know they were the
first (and only) Porsches to arrive!
The six of us waited until 11:15 AM to start
the drive to Boccali’s in Ojai. Steve, Kathy and
Dan made the decision to drive north and make
their own trip, while Carol and her parents
took the lovely drive to Boccali’s through
the Los Padres National Forest. Although the
curves on the road weren’t quite as nice in a
“non-Porsche” (they never are), the views were
spectacular and the company was outstanding.
We arrived at Boccali’s around 12:15 PM to find
35 people waiting. Although they couldn’t
make it to Santa Barbara, they took their own
little trip up Highway 33 to join their Porsche
Club friends for lunch on a beautiful Saturday
afternoon. Never let it be said that our group
isn’t innovative and excited about sharing an
afternoon with friends!
Boccali’s, a quaint family restaurant,
provided delicious food to go along with
beautiful scenery. After the long delay,
everyone was hungry and ready to catch up
with other members. The group was joined by
two gentlemen driving Porsche Boxsters on
their way to Pozo. Lucky for all, they found time
to join us for lunch and good conversation.
Maybe we’ll see them again at our regular
monthly breakfast? After lunch, the group said
their goodbye’s and headed home.
What a great way to spend a day!
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 11
Fun At the Flicks
Coffee, popcorn, movies,
and of course Porsches
Words by James Oldham
Photos by Mike Turek
On a cold Saturday night following
Thanksgiving, the Club enjoyed its own
mini film festival at the first “SBR Movie
Night.” Twenty-five members, and one guest,
gathered at the Hodson’s hangar at Camarillo
airport for an evening filled with video Porsche
and to avail themselves of a wonderful snack
and dessert table. One particular treat was the
fresh popcorn provided by Howard Takson,
who brought his own popcorn cart!
After a bit of noshing, everyone settled in for
the program. First on the bill was “PCA 19552005: 50 Years of Fellowship,” which told the
story of our favorite car club. Tracing history
from its founding by a handful of enthusiasts in
Alexandria, Virginia, to the current nationwide
club with over 50,000 members, the video
documentary shot at the Porsche factory
showing every step that goes into the
construction of a 356...EVERY step! With a
soundtrack culled from old drivers’ education
films, the barrage of technical minutiae
soon began to have the same effect as the
tryptophan in Thanksgiving turkey. The plug
Kicking back to watch a movie
“Faszination” consists simply of the Ruf CTR,
aka “Yellow Bird” turning lap after dizzying lap
around the famous 14.2 miles Nordschleife
circuit, regarded by many as the most
challenging racetrack in the world. The driver,
wearing a short-sleeve shirt and jeans, no
gloves, and no helmet (!), pushes the CTR to
the limit. Passing much slower traffic, sliding
through corners and flying down the straights
at speeds in the 180-200 mph range, the
Yellow Bird easily took one’s breath away. It
also highlighted a certain gender difference
in the audience. As the ladies chatted quietly,
they were bemused as their husbands and
the other guys sat there glassy-eyed and
thoroughly engrossed. Oohs, aahs, whoas,
and the shifting of imaginary gears (okay, the
last one was just me) filled the air. Hmmm…
maybe it’s a guy thing. But for all those guys
(and gals) who will never have the opportunity
to ring out such a car, “Faszination” is one great
vicarious dream.
Well, all good things must come to an end,
and so did Movie Night. Special thanks go out
to Mike and Pamuela Hodson for use of the
hangar, Howard for the popcorn, Jon Cotton
for the coffee, and Mike and Karen Turek for the
arrangements. And as for the happy attendees,
as they all piled into their Porsches (or other
devices) and headed off into the night, each
could take with them a new appreciation of
how remarkable both Porsche automobiles
and the people who drive them are.
Can I offer you some popcorn?
Mike Hodson’s hangar was the perfect setting for an gathering
highlighted the close relationship PCA has
maintained with the Porsche family and the
steady growth of the parades. A glimpse of
Joe Boucher preparing to begin a rally, and a
photo credit for Burt Misevic, brought some
local flavor to the show. “50 Years of Fellowship”
was informative, entertaining, and great start
to the evening.
Next up was “Made by Hand,” a 1950’s era
was eventually pulled.
Third on the bill was the “1999 SBR
Concours” at Lake Sherwood, sponsored by
Rusnak. Many familiar faces and cars filled the
screen, as sweet memories were stirred. All
were reminded of why Santa Barbara Region
is so special.
Finally came what was for many the main
feature: “Faszination auf dem Nurburgring.”
As usual, plenty of tasty food
12 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 13
Membership
Report
Welcome to all our new members.
Get ready for a year full of driving
activities, social events and good
fellowship. We look forward to
meeting you at a breakfast meeting
or an event in the coming months.
Congratulations to all our
members celebrating anniversaries
this month. Start your year out right
by attending a breakfast meeting
soon. If you haven’t been for a while,
you’ll be amazed how we’ve grown.
New Members
Rich and Nancy Arneson come to us from
Northridge and own a 1988 911.
Michael and Anny Slazik hail from Sunland
and own a 1972 914.
Naseem and Shaeen Khan live in Simi Valley
and own a 1989 911.
Tom Spence resides in Simi Valley and enjoys
his 1972 911T.
George and Jeanne Mitchell reside in
Ventura and enjoy their 2006 997.
Robert and Lisa Sternberg live in Granada
Hills and drive a 2005 997S.
Jon Rosenthal calls Westlake Village home
and drives a 2002 996.
Tom and Ken Egidi transfer to us from the Los
Angeles Region. They now call Ventura home
and own a 1993 RSA.
Bryan Shaw also lives in Westlake Village and
owns a 2006 997S.
- Dave Stone
Anniversaries
29 Years
Martin Frith
Gregory and Greg Young
24 Years
James Degen
Daniel Lindsay
19 Years
Robert and Robert Grant Jr.
16 Years
Louis and Mary Fols
15 Years
Jason and Shelby Duarte
Douglas and Suzy Garrett
13 Years
Thomas and Tami Ritz
12 Years
Bob and Karen Campbell
Robert and Kathleen Sommers
10 Years
Irwin and Karolyn La Mell
9 Years
Tom and Marion Taber
Stephen and Robin Ward
7 Years
Charles and Kay North
Kenneth and Stacie Wild
14 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
6 Years
Pat and Jennie Dappolonia
Robert and Linda Dekkers
Eric and Cathy Zacher
5 Years
Jeffrey and Anne Cannon
Richard and Marianell Seeley
4 Years
Michael Barmasse
Steve and Arisa Dovris
Joanne and Fritz Stover
Mike and Karen Turek
Christopher and Lisa Wiles
3 YEARS
Phil McGrath
Walt Michajlenko
Gary Moser
2 Years
Cuong Bui and Charlene Nguyen
Mark Melchiori
Wynn and Robbi Olson
Mike and Becky Palmieri
Richard and Jeannie Steed
Adam and Chet Taylor
Brendon Twigden and Kathleen Tripp
1 Year
Robert Barnhart
Bill and Linda Feldhorn
David Schrock
William and Mike Wilson
New Members
Here are some shots of our newest
club members (and their drivers).
Photos by Max Sluiter and Mike Turek
Sandra Bowers // 2005 Boxster S
Jonathon Zegler // 2005 997 S Coupe
Mike Joseph // 1978 911 SC Coupe
David Tredway // 2002 996 Cabriolet
George & Jeanne Mitchell // 2006 997 C4
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 15
YELLOWBIRD
The Ruf CTR is an
exhaustive rebirth
of the race-proven
Porsche 911 chassis
Photos and Words by Michael C. Harley
16 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Painted a glossy yellow that appears self-illuminating, the sleek sports
car casts a glow on the walls of the private garage in the hills above
Santa Barbara. The vehicle is a long distance from home - thousands of
miles away in Germany.
“Yellow Bird,” an original Ruf CTR, is in the States on the equivalence
of an automotive visitor permit, having traveled in the cargo hold of a
Lufthansa wide body jetliner across the Atlantic.
“Yellow Bird” isn’t a Porsche. Technically, it was the embryo of a
Porsche for mere days, and then the body-in-white was delivered to
the quiet German town of Pfaffenhausen, where skilled technicians at
Ruf Automobile, GmbH, transformed the bare chassis into one of the
fastest street-legal cars on the planet. The former-Porsche had emerged
– complete with NHTSA and EPA certification – as a Ruf CTR.
In a now-famous comparison test done by Road & Track magazine
in the summer of 1987, the Ruf CTR was pegged against the fastest
exotics on the planet in a top speed run. Lamborghini and Ferrari
came to the battle. Aftermarket tuners Koenig and AMG brought their
fastest machines. Porsche brought their amazing 959. When the brightyellow Ruf CTR blasted past 211 mph, none could top it… and the
appropriately-nicknamed “Yellow Bird” icon was born.
In traditional Porsche 911 fashion, the Ruf CTR packs a flat-6 behind
the rear wheels. Unlike factory offerings in 1987, the Ruf sports a
twin-turbo, twin-intercooled, 469-horsepower, 3.4-liter engine. The
sophisticated powerplant is mated to a custom Ruf designed and
engineered 5-speed manual transmission powering only the rear
wheels.
Brilliantly radiant in the private garage, the ultimate touring sports
car sat parked in front of me. Today, we were going for a ride.
The interior of Yellow Bird is all business. Strapping in isn’t difficult,
as long as your frame fits and you understand the tangle of racing
harnesses. Sturdy Recaro racing seats fit snug as you struggle to buckle
the five straps in each seat. A full roll cage is expertly embedded in the
cockpit without being intrusive. A quick glance around the cabin reveals
the stock Porsche gauges, and steering wheel, have all been replaced
by very legible custom Ruf components that integrate seamlessly.
The engine fires up instantly. The CTR, a guest in a foreign country,
is burning California 91-octane pump gas and it isn’t very happy as the
cold flat-6 hunts to find optimal idle - one has to think it likes German
fuel better. A light stab on the throttle lets off a growl that all but erases
any engine hiccup (the only misfire would be in the heartbeats of
passengers).
Most aftermarket tuners can bump horsepower. Few, however, follow
Twin-turbo, twin-intercooled, 469-horsepower, 3.4-liter engine
the methodical path of Alois Ruf, the man behind Ruf Automobile,
GmbH. In an industry where most other “tuners” stop with a larger
turbo, or some bigger brakes, the Ruf CTR is an anomaly. From chassis
to sculpted sheet metal, Yellow Bird is an exhaustive rebirth of the raceproven Porsche 911 chassis.
When developing the CTR, Alois Ruf paid particular attention to
the aerodynamics of speed. Unlike the factory offering drag-inducing
“wide-body” 911 Turbo (930), the CTR is based on a narrow-body coupe
platform with subtle custom fender flares for less wind resistance. All
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 17
protruding rain gutters were shaved, and
mirrors were replaced with one single, nearly
flush fitting unit on the driver’s side. Other
aerodynamic tricks such as relatively narrow
forged wheels and tires, and a subtle front
splitter, cut wind resistance to an absolute
minimum.
Performance-robbing weight, often the
kiss-of-death on a performance platform,
was addressed. Stripped of unessential mass,
the CTR is very light. A stock late-80’s 930, the
factory turbo with the “Whale Tail,” is a heavy
pig when compared to the svelte 2580-pound
Yellow Bird weighing in at nearly four-hundred
pounds less!
With a meaty roar, Yellow Bird clears its
throat as we shuffle through light traffic and
make our way to the highway. Without much
drama, we accelerate briskly to highway
speeds and merge with the generic traffic.
With a top speed north of 210 mph, 70 mph on
the highway in the Yellow Bird is the potentialequivalent of pushing your family sedan to
just 40 mph.
Heading north, towards Solvang, the
highway finally opens up in front of us. The
Ruf CTR is dropped down to 4th gear, and the
throttle is floored. Without lag, both turbos
spool quickly as the intake air is pressurized
like a shaken soda bottle. The boost comes on
strong. Acceleration is immediate, explosive,
and unbelievable. As the speedometer spools
around the dial, Yellow bird doesn’t seem
to notice the increased aerodynamic drag.
Acceleration seems to increase – almost in
a turbine-like fashion – with speed. Our
maximum velocity aside (and left undisclosed
in print), we let off the gas just as the RUF CTR
was getting comfortable. To Yellow Bird, speed
is absolutely effortless.
Back in familiar speedometer territory (the
left side of the dial), we are reminded that the
Ruf CTR was not designed for ultimate track
performance. The intent was to build the
ultimate GT – Grand Touring - vehicle. Though
amazing on racing circuits, Yellow Bird exhibits
none of the suspension harshness associated
with most race cars. In fact, the Ruf CTR has an
impeccable ride that is never abusive.
The focus on aerodynamics, more specifically
the removal of the rain gutters and passenger
mirror, eliminates much of the annoying wind
noise in the cabin. Passengers are introduced
to often masked auditory delights, including
the subtleness of the tuned exhaust, and the
“pop” of the twin blow-off valves mounted
near the turbochargers. Yellow Bird has a radio
– though we’d never turn it on.
Off the highway, back in traffic-choked
Santa Barbara, Yellow Bird is well-mannered
and polite as it blends into traffic. Nothing,
with the exception of the paint color (which
we happen to really like), calls attention to the
sleek Porsche-bodied Ruf CTR as it navigates
back towards the private garage.
Nearly two decades ago, Alois Ruf set
out to build the best sports GT car in the
world. Utilizing the familiar and proven
Porsche 911 platform, the Ruf CTR stepped
into the spotlight and immediately broke all
performance envelopes as it emerged as not
only a very comfortable GT, but as the fastest
car in the world.
The name Ruf has been associated
with the automotive industry since 1939,
when Alois Ruf, Sr. first opened “AUTO
RUF” as a general service garage.
With Ruf Sr. focusing on AUTO RUF, his
son Alois Ruf Jr. was developing his own
interests in true sports cars by servicing
and restoring Porsches. With the passing
of his father in 1974, Alois Ruf Jr. took
over directorship of the company with
a focus on innovation and quality – with
the Porsche 911 his core focus for future
automotive developments.
The first “Ruf-enhanced” Porsche
arrived in 1975. Within a decade, Ruf’s
engineering expertise had landed him
the coveted Manufactures’ Certification
from the German Federal Vehicle Offices,
and his modified turbocharged 911’s
were burning up the Autobahn.
The Ruf “Yellow Bird” blasts from a standstill to 100 mph in
7.3 seconds. Top speed is a NASCAR-topping 211 mph.
18 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
Goodie Store Report
January 2006
Show your enthusiasm and support our region
by purchasing items in our Goodie Store
By Mike and Pamuela Hodson
Well, here we are ladies and
gentlemen, welcome to 2006!
The New Year promises to be
an exciting one for the Santa
Barbara Region.
First and foremost, the
Board of Directors for the club
has undergone some significant
changes. Activities, Membership, Treasurer,
Vice-President, and Secretary positions are all
new for 2006.
Most visible to all the members will be
our brand-new Newsletter Editor, Mike
Harley. Mike brings a wealth of experience,
enthusiasm, and new ideas to the monthly
“Der Auspuff.” Everyone agrees that Mike has a
definite challenge ahead of him, having been
preceded by the multiple-award-winning Nick
Liakas. However, everyone is excited to have
Mike on the team and we wish him the utmost
success.
Other Board position changes will be
evolutionary in nature as new people will
bring new ideas, vitality, and energy to the
Club and its activities. Please take note of the
new Board’s members listed in the front of this
issue (page 8). When you see them at events,
say “Hello!” and share your ideas, thoughts,
and concerns with
them.
We want to continue to make
the Santa Barbara Region the
best it can be.
The Goodie Store is
planning a “business-as-usual”
motto for 2006. Last year was an
outstanding year for the Goodie
Store; we introduced a number of
new items, as well as kept the favorites
around as best sellers. One of our highlights
was selling the book “Porsche 911” by Randy
Leffingwell. This magnificent book features
many cars from our members, as well as other
significant cars from all over the world.
All of our copies have been sold, though
anyone who still wants a copy can get the
book through Motorbooks International or
Amazon websites.
Randy was kind enough to personally
autograph many of the books for our members
- if you wish to have this done in the future let
us know and we will try to arrange a personal
signing.
A few of our favorite items are shown in the
accompanying photos. Stop by our display at
the next event you attend and check them
out. As always, we welcome and encourage
suggestions for new items, and thank you for
your enthusiasm.
Best wishes to all for a wonderful 2006;
hope to see you at an event soon!
Regards,
Mike and Pamuela
Goodie
Store
PCA National Logo Cap
Classic cap embroidered with the
PCA National Logo, the “FlexFit” hat
stretches to perfectly fit your head
size and shape. The most comfortable
hat you will ever own, according to
many satisfied Santa Barbara Region
customers. Available in red, blue, black
and grey.
Price $20.00 each
PCA National Logo Grill Badge
Beautiful enameled metal badge,
looks great on any color car, with
attaching hardware.
Price $25.00 each
Business Card Holder with
Santa Barbara Region Logo
Attractive brushed silver metal case
with silk-screened logo, comes in a
protective cloth pouch.
Price $6.00 each
How to Buy
All items in the Goodie Store are
available at both Breakfast Club
events (Camarillo and Santa Barbara)
and at most special events.
To place an order or for more
information contact Mike Hodson at
[email protected] or (805) 2792252.
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 19
Tech: Air Filters
The science of clean air
By Michael C. Harley
All engines wear while operating. The
wear will eventually destroy the engine in
your Porsche. As an automotive enthusiast,
preventing or delaying the inevitable seems
to be our goal.
The effectiveness of your air filter is one
of the most important factors in determining
how long your engine will last. Short of a
miracle, everything that gets by your air filter,
no matter how large or small, will end up in
your engine. What’s the compromise? How
many contaminants are you willing to let into
your engine?
When an analysis is done on used engine
oil, one of the many things measured is silicon
- technically silicon dioxide – basically sand.
Silicon is everywhere in our environment,
and all air-breathing machines from ships at
sea to high flying commercial airliners must
prevent it from entering their engine or face
accelerated wear.
Where does the abrasive microscopic dirt
come from?
Dirt enters our atmosphere from the
ground. Winds lift desert dust, volcanic ash, and
pollen grains high into the air. Construction
equipment drops dirt on the pavement, which
the car in front of you lifts into a dust cloud.
Been to the beach or baseball diamond and
watched the sand get blown around? Some of
the dust is carried high into the sky.
Dirt also enters our atmosphere from
space! Called extraterrestrial dirt, tons of dust
grains, including samples of asteroids, comets,
even old space debris, fall from space into the
earth’s atmosphere every day. Most of it floats
around for days before settling to earth.
Once in the atmosphere, “cosmic dust”
joins “terrestrial dust” and this abrasive mix of
particles eventually finds itself a couple feet
off the surface of the earth – level with your
Porsche air intake.
Located just inside the air intake snorkel
or box, the air filter is essentially the first and
primary line of defense against these harmful
engine contaminants. If it’s not knocked,
trapped, or blocked by the filter element,
there is a very good chance it’s going in your
engine.
Air filters are designed to stop objects (bugs,
leaves, etc…), and particles (dust, pollen,
etc…), from entering your engine. In addition,
nearly all air filters will keep splashing water
out of the intake, but few will protect you
while fording deep water (If water does gets
by the air filter and ingested, most likely it’s
fatal to your engine as you can’t compress a
liquid inside the combustion chamber).
If contaminants get past your air filter, they
are sucked into the combustion chamber
where they begin to do real harm. The abrasive
material wears on the cylinder walls, rings, and
valves. Hopefully, the bulk of these particles are
ejected as exhaust. Most likely, however, many
of them will work themselves past the rings,
into the engine oil, and start abrading engine
internals (think bearings). These abrasives will
float around in the oil, doing untold damage
as they are continually re-circulated. At that
How Big Is a Micron (μ)?
One-millionth of a meter, or...
150 μ
25 μ
10 μ
5-10 μ
1-5 μ
.3-1 μ
Human Hair
Debris Visible to the Human Eye
Spores, Asbestos
Mold Pollen, Atmospheric Dust
Bacteria, Light Atmospheric Dust
Smoke, Bacteria, Metal Dusts
point, only a quality oil filter, or frequent oil
changes, will keep your engine healthy.
A clean and effective air filter is critical to
engine longevity.
Air filters are primary manufactured three
ways:
Paper – Original equipment on your
new Porsche (and nearly every other new
automobile from all manufacturers on the
road). Nearly all paper element air filters are
disposable. Paper is manufactured to the
desired filtration properties, pleated, and
sometimes supported by a metal cage. The
paper filter element is kept dry. Depending
on the manufacturer, filter efficiency is very
high. Replacement cost is low, as is service life
– typically about 15,000 miles. A typical 911 air
filter is about $25.
Foam – Polyurethane foam, up to several
layers thick, surrounds a metal cage that holds
the shape of the filter. The foam is soaked in
special oil to enhance filtering capabilities.
More expensive than disposable paper filters,
most companies claim their foam filters can
go up to 25,000 miles between cleanings (the
20 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
element is cleaned with solvent and re-oiled).
One claimed benefit is higher air flow, even
when dirty. Filters are about $40-50 each.
High Flow Cotton Gauze– Up to six layers
of cotton gauze is sandwiched between
aluminum wire mesh. The pleated material
is oiled to enhance filtering capabilities and
overall performance. Though more expensive
than disposable paper filters, most companies
claim they can go up to 50,000 miles between
cleanings. One claimed benefit is higher air
flow, even as the filter collects dust and gets
dirtier. When dirty, they can be washed and reoiled. Filters are about $50 each.
Choosing an air filter is a compromise
between airflow, and filtration. On the intake
side, the engine shouldn’t have to “work” to
pull air into the combustion chamber. Air
delivery should not be restricted. On the other
hand, the more effective the filtration, the
more restrictive the filter.
Without a doubt, the most effective air filter
(as far as filtration is concerned) is a disposable
paper element. A dry paper filter element can
be manufactured to trap particles as small as
1 micron (compare that to the best oiled foam
or cotton filter trapping particles just as small
as 10 microns). Such a restrictive paper air filter
would understandably compromise air flow to
the engine unless it was ridiculously large.
The air filter offering the most airflow is
undeniably the oil-soaked foam or cotton.
When cleaned and freshly oiled, these types of
filters are very unrestrictive. Combine that with
their increased surface area (most are conical
in design); they are nearly as unrestricted as an
open intake.
Interestingly enough, the service life and
effectiveness comparison of paper vs. oiled
foam/cotton raises an interesting point. The
paper filter will flow and filter best when brand
new. As service life increases, filtration remains
consistent, but the filter element becomes
clogged and airflow drops significantly. The
oiled foam/cotton filter will also flow best
when brand new. However, it becomes a more
effective filter as it becomes more clogged with
dirt (the oil is transferred to the particulates on
the filter which themselves begin to capture
dirt). It seems the oiled filters get better with
age and use, while the paper filters are most
effective “fresh out of the box.”
From the factory, auto manufactures make
an engineering decision to design a paper filter
element that allows reasonable airflow while
maintaining excellent filtration properties.
To automotive manufacturers who have a
vested interest in engine longevity, filtration
is more important than a very slight (possibly
unnoticeable) increase in horsepower. In my
garage, I choose OEM paper air filters, and
change them often.
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 21
Detailing With Mother’s
All-Wheel Cleaner
This cleaner works so well
even your mother would be proud
Photos and Words by Michael C. Harley
Most of us take our “daily drivers” to the
car wash and watch as commercial machines
blast them with recycled water and harsh
chemicals. Our beloved Porsches, however,
are much more likely to get gently handwashed by their caring owner. Washing a car
when the weather is pleasant is quite relaxing
and enjoyable – until you have to clean the
wheels. Some of us are lucky, we have simple
five-spoke aluminum wheels that take mere
seconds to wipe with a soaked sponge. Some
of us, on the other hand, have those multispoke three-piece beauties that each take
an afternoon (and a layer of skin) to clean. In
any case, your trustworthy detailing guru has
stumbled upon a product that will make all
of us smile when it comes time to removing
stubborn brake residue from our wheels!
Brake dust is a very fine powered residue
created by the mechanical action of the brake
pad against the rotor. Modern
brake pad material is a mixture
of many things - carbon fibers,
metal filings, and adhesives.
The solid pad compound is
forced against the spinning
iron rotor to mechanically
slow the vehicle (using oldfashioned friction). During the
braking process, the pad is sacrificed
as it wears on the spinning rotor – all
the while small bits of pad material, and
microscopic pieces of rotor, are thrown
against the wheel. Over days of driving and
brake use, the deposited aptly-named
“brake dust” builds into a dirty gray
layer covering the wheels.
If the dulling look of brake
dust wasn’t bad enough - it
is also acidic. The adhesive
residue, now on the wheels,
becomes acidic when mixed
with water. Acids eat through
the clear coat protecting the
alloy, and bits of iron rust
and corrode onto the now
exposed wheel.
For many years, aftermarket
suppliers have been trying
to rid us of the need to clean
wheels. New pad compounds were introduced
with harder compounds, with the intent of
reducing deposits. Others, such as Kleen
Wheels, invented shields to Spray
keep the brake dust on the
inside of the wheel (the SBA
PCA Detailing Guru doesn’t
recommend Kleen Wheels as
they prevent air from cooling
the rotors – there is no reason
they should ever be on a highperformance Porsche).
Chemical manufacturers
Rinse
also jumped into the game.
Formulating
the
right
chemical was a trade-off. Too
mild and the wheels won’t
come clean. Too harsh, and
you do more damage than
good. (Hydrofluoric acid - the
same stuff used to etch
glass - was found
to clean wheels Spotless
nearly spotless.
Unfortunately,
that
same
cleaning power also
damaged
wheel
finishes!)
Formulated
to be safe for
all wheel finishes, the Mother’s
line of detailing products
includes “Wheel Mist – All
Wheel Cleaner” (the Mother’s
product contains diluted
oxalic acid). It is a spray
on, spray off variety (no
scrubbing required) – we
like the simplicity of that
– so we tried it.
Our test “subject” was
a 1986 Porsche 911 with
very-traditional
factory
one-piece Fuchs wheels.
Forged in aluminum and
painted, the stock Porsche
brake pads get the wheels
quite dirty after just a few
drives. In the past, the Fuchs
22 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
were washed by hand every month or so
– usually with a 50/50 mixture of Simple Green
and water applied by sponge. It was a time
consuming process, but it has paid off as the
wheels still look great after more than 135,000
miles.
Sold in a convenient spray bottle, Mother’s
All-Wheel Cleaner is a “no touch” wheel cleaner
– in theory you squirt it on, and spray it – and
all the brake dust - off with a garden hose.
According to the directions, it is applied to
cool, dry wheels (if the wheels are warm, the
product will dry on the wheel). It is sprayed on
liberally, left to “foam” for a few minutes, and
then rinsed with a strong spray of water.
To try it out, we worked
one side at a time and
sprayed some on the left
front and then left rear
wheel. It was windy, and
some of the overspray went
into our faces – it’s obviously
not meant to be ingested as
it tasted pretty caustic (hold
your breath while spraying if
it is windy).
You can watch the
cleaner “work” on the
wheels. However, it wasn’t
following its own directions.
Ours didn’t “foam” – rather
it flowed into a tiny river
of muddy brake dust as it
trickled down the wheel.
After a couple minutes, we
pulled the garden hose
around to blast it off with
a “fireman” spray nozzle, a
simple process than can
be done from about three
feet away. As promised, the
wheels came clean! It was
nothing short of a miracle.
Upon closer inspection, it did indeed work
as advertised. Unlike some other “miraculous”
wheel cleaners that necessitate a sponge and
elbow grease, Mother’s All Wheel Cleaner
made the wheels nearly spotless without
requiring us to even bend over!
Needless to say, it took no more than
another couple moments to finish the other
two wheels, and most of that time was spent
waiting for the cleaner to work – we love it.
For More Information
Mothers All Wheel Cleaner
Online at www.mothers.com
Available at AutoZone, NAPA Auto
Parts, Pep Boys, Wal-Mart, and more.
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 23
PCA Paddock at Daytona
Join other Porsche Club of America members in
Florida for the Rolex 24 in January
Words by Bob Barren
Photos by Porsche North America
We have finalized the preparation for the
PCA Paddock at Daytona for 2006. We have
an agreement with the Daytona International
Speedway for a rental space in the same
location as in 2005 with a parking area next to
the in-field track and will include a hospitality/
membership tent. The tent will again be a 20’ x
the participants staging behind a pace car for
two parade laps of the Daytona Speedway.
Afterwards they will return to the corral and
tent for lunch, an address from the Grand
Marshal and a Q & A / autograph session. The
cost for this event is $77 for the participants
but for this year only PCA members who
The Baldwin-Tafel Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car at speed
40’ with side curtains and we will have tables,
chairs and a monitor television set to follow
the race.
We will have security around the clock
from noon on Friday, January 27th to noon on
Sunday, January 29th. The Speedway has been
very cooperative and they will again rope off
the parking area perimeter prior to our arrival
on Friday.
The Regions will be providing soft drinks
and snacks in the hospitality/membership
tent during the weekend. We will need to
have the standard PCA waiver signed at the
entrance to the parking area due to insurance
considerations. Parking and attendance for our
Paddock will be free to PCA members and nonmembers, however, parking is for Porsches
only on a “first come, first served basis.”
New and exciting for this year is a “special
deal” just for PCA members from the
producers of the Milestones Club Day. During
Friday of the Rolex 24 weekend, the Autoweek
Milestone Club Day invites participants to
park in the Milestone corral with many other
exotic automobiles, enjoy a light breakfast in
the Milestone tent and listen to a presentation
about driving the road course. Noon will find
purchase a weekend “superticket” can enjoy
this all inclusive event for only $55, a 28%
discount. You must reserve and purchase the
“superticket” from Daytona prior to the Rolex
24. If you are interested in the Autoweek
Milestone Club Day event for 2006 please send
24 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
me a letter or e-mail with your name, address
and PCA membership number and you will
be added to the special PCA list. Remember
that you must be a PCA member and have a
“superticket” to enjoy the 28% discount. If you
are attending the Rolex 24 just on Friday you
may still participate in the Autoweek Milestone
Club Day but you will not receive the discount
and you will have to pay full price.
The typical superticket for the weekend will
be around $75.00 for the Rolex 24. Please verify
this with the Daytona International Speedway
web site. This provides entrance to the infield,
the garage area, etc., and covers the parking fee
for the infield for the four day weekend. There
are lower cost admission tickets available on a
daily basis. General ticket information can be
obtained from the Speedway at 386-253-7223
or www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.
We will have many folks in attendance from
throughout the U.S. and abroad and I hope
that we will repeat the success of 2005. Please
contact me with any questions.
Bob Barren, Zone 12 Rep
1691 Rivergate Trail
Jacksonville, Florida 32223
(904) 268-8877
[email protected]
The drivers of the #71 Farnbacher USA Porsche
911 GT3 Cup car celebrate victory in 2005
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 25
Scenic Backroads Drive
When
1:15 PM – Saturday, February 18, 2006
Where
McDonald’s Parking Lot, Camarillo (off Santa Rosa Road)
Register
Barry or Valerie Weinstein at (805) 241-5641 or
[email protected] by February 10th
Join us on a beautiful 70-mile journey through the back roads
of Ventura and Santa Barbara County – not once will our
wheels touch freeway pavement!
Departing Camarillo promptly at 1:45 PM, we’ll slowly make
our way to the landmark Palms Restaurant in the quaint
beach community of Carpinteria for dinner.
The Palms Restaurant is a fun place where the meat, fish,
and poultry are of the finest quality… but the prices are
extremely moderate.
The catch? You cook your own food! (Of course, they can help you prepare
your cuisine, but it’s so much fun, most people elect to grill their own.)
We plan on arriving in Carpinteria around 4:00 PM, with dinner scheduled at 4:40 PM – this means we’ll have time to
browse some of the unique gift and antique shops, and socialize, before dinner.
In addition to the cost of dinner (menu shown here), an activity fee of $5.00 per car will be collected.
Malibu Fun Run
When
9:00 AM – Saturday, March 18, 2006
Where
Costco Parking Lot, Westlake Village (off
Lindero Canyon Road)
Register
Gary Weaver at (805) 523-3448 or
[email protected] by March 1st
Join us for a beautiful run through the hills of
Malibu in your Porsche! Loaded with twists,
switchbacks, and winding roads, the roads
above Malibu are renowned worldwide for
their pure driving enjoyment. Throw in the
spectacular mountain and ocean views, and
we’ve got ourselves a “can’t miss” event!
The itinerary includes a stop for lunch at
Paradise Cove and a visit to Chuck Beck’s
Motorsports to view the famed Beck Spyder!
There is a minimal $5.00 vehicle entry fee, per
car. Lunch is on your own dime (but worth it!).
26 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 27
Calendar of Events
Check out what’s going on with PCA
The Porsche Club of America is more than reading through the pages of Panorama and Der
Auspuff each month – it’s about the events! With at least three organized events each month,
Santa Barbara Region club members enjoy showing off (and driving!) their Porsches with other
enthusiasts like yourself. Whether you attend the Breakfast Club events, spirited drives through
the canyons and mountains, potluck dinners, autocross, tech sessions, special tours, etc… we
want you to come join us!
January
Wednesday, January 4 .................................................... Board Meeting (Host: Burt and Marge Misevic)
Saturday, January 7...................................................................................................Breakfast Club (Camarillo)
Saturday, January 14 ....................................................................................... Breakfast Club (Santa Barbara)
Saturday, January 21-22 ....................................................................................................................Solvang Tour
February
Wednesday, February 1 ..........................................................................................Board Meeting (Host: TBD)
Saturday, February 4.................................................................................................Breakfast Club (Camarillo)
Saturday, February 11 ..................................................................................... Breakfast Club (Santa Barbara)
Saturday, February 18 ................................................................................................. Scenic Back Roads Drive
March
January 2006
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February 2006
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Wednesday, March 1 ...............................................................................................Board Meeting (Host: TBD)
Saturday, March 4 ......................................................................................................Breakfast Club (Camarillo)
Saturday, March 11 .......................................................................................... Breakfast Club (Santa Barbara)
Saturday, March 18 ....................................................................................................................... Malibu Fun Run
January Board Meeting
February Board Meeting
Marge and Burt Misevic
617 Valley Vista Drive
Carmarillo, CA 93010
Potluck Dessert only at 7:30 PM
RSVP to (805) 482-7076
[email protected]
Host: TBD
Location: TBD
Porsche Breakfast Club Locations and Times
March 2006
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28 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 29
Toys-for-Tots
Santa Barbara region PCA
donates gifts to Toys-for-Tots
Words and Photos by Nicolas Liakas
One of the most rewarding events each
year for the Santa Barbara Region immediately
follows the annual holiday party when the
toys collected during the latter’s festivities
are presented to a local fire department
engine company as part of their toys-for-tots
program.
This year, more than four dozen toys of all
types and sizes were collected on the evening
of December 16, 2005. Mike Turek, SBR’s
Activities Co-Chair, had the distinct pleasure
of transporting and presenting the toys to the
Los Angeles County Fire Department Station
on Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village.
The ceremony took place on Monday,
December 19, 2005 at 9 a.m. Mike arranged
all the toys into a 2005 997S Cab, and parked
the sparkling Porsche alongside one of the
fire engines. The fire fighters on duty took
possession of the toys with special care and
pride, and extended their warmest thanks
and wishes to all SBR members for their
thoughtfulness and generosity.
Mike Turek and two LA County firefighers from Station 144
Santa’s sleigh (aka a 997S Cabriolet) is loaded with gifts for the kids
30 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION JANUARY 2006 31
CLASSIFIEDS
2003 996 Twin Turbo
Black/Black, with sport seats, full carbon fiber
interior details, 6-speed manual, after-market
engine enhancement package and 450
h.p., turbo option package, all-wheel-drive,
upgraded sound system, chrome wheels,
sunroof and Litronic headlights, 9K miles.
Always garaged and in immaculate condition.
Serviced at Rusnak/Westlake. Transferrable
warranty. Asking $105,000. Contact Nicolas
Liakas, 818-999-1600 x203, Nicolas@impress1.
com
1989 944 Turbo S
Black/Black, 5-speed manual, Leather, Alpine
CD, Turbo Twist wheels, balance is stock,
excellent condition throughout. Recent
valve job, head gasket and belts replaced.
New CAT. 129K miles. Garaged and covered,
weekend driver, Current owner for last ten
years with maintenance records. $12,900.
Contact Mike Pomerantz at 805-341-3192 or
[email protected]
1973.5 C.I.S. Targa
Black, 69K original miles, Porsche Certificate
of Authenticity. Award Winner. $32,000 or
best offer. Contact Bill Barr, 818-203-4850 or
[email protected]
2000 Boxster
Black/Tan, 2nd owner, Ventura county car,
59K miles, 5-speed manual, side air bags,
Speedster bonnets, Fox custom cover, 4,000
miles on 17” Pirelli P-Zero’s mounted on stock
wheels. Maintained by Rusnak and Ventura
independent, always garaged. Not concours,
but very, very nice and extremily well cared
for. $25,500 (price reflects condition). Contact
Doug, 805-217-6840 or drdouguscsd@msn.
com or Diane 805-657-0443 or d.shank@
unitedpacificmortgage.com
1968 912
Almost completely restored Black 1968 912.
Comes with head liner kit, rear window seal,
and other accessories. New owner put 10,000
miles on a newly rebuilt engine. Runs well,
very reliable, nice looking vehicle. Asking price
$7,600 or best offer. All documentation and
maintenance information available. Call Chris
Nelson, 805-279-5498
Class Champion
Turn key racing, 3.2-liter car + open trailer +
second set of wheels + aluminum floor jack +
fuel bottles + Buzz gun + cool shirt. 3.2 motor
built this season. Racing valve springs and tiretainers, ARP rod bolts, new pistons, rings,
valves, starter motor, $3.5K headers, dyno
tuned and custom chip, 915 trans rebuild
with custom gears + extra gears, LSD at 80%,
new whammy clutch. All new suspension,
raised spindles, Bilsteins, Upper Mono-ball
mounts, Custom Glen Sanders torsions, Rear
E.R.P. mono-ball control arm bearings, bump
steer, turbo tie rods, Custom welded six-point
safety cage with window netting on the cage.
Fire system, kill switch, sparco seats, fiberglass
hood, Iroc tail and bumpers, 2 sets of 17’s, 8’s
and 9’s. Christopher Wiles, 818-888-5538
belt, radiator, very clean. $12,000 or best offer.
805-523-7075 or [email protected]
1985 944
Guards Red/Tan leather, New brakes and tires,
sunroof, 5-speed manual transmission, runs
great, 97K miles, 2nd owner, California Car,
$3,750. Call Tom at 805-644-4949 or rehtiag@
aol.com
1987 Carrera Coupe
Diamond Blue/Blue Leather, 83,000 miles, HRE
Wheels (and original Fuchs fronts), second
owner, sunroof, no known accidents, all
records from current owner. $17,500. Call Jay
at 818-871-4806 or jay_laifman@countrywide.
com
1985 944
Guards Red/Tan Leather, 97,000 miles, all
original except for AM/FM/CD Player. Power
sunroof, mirros and windows. 2nd owner,
California car, serviced by Precision Motion.
Great starter Porsche or autocross car. $3,750.
Call Tom at 805-644-4949 or [email protected]
Tires for Sale
Set of four Continental Contisport Contact.
225/50-ZR16. Fit most Porsches. Mounted on
’86 928 wheels with only 50 miles on them
– Virtually brand-new! Asking $200/set. Call
Ray Seider 805-684-4988.
1989 928S4
Black Colgan Bra
European delivery, one owner car. Stone gray
metallic, linen interior, automatic transmission.
Must sell as I’m buying a Cayenne! New timing
Fits 356C. $40. Call Kent 805-659-1259.
Classified Ad Information
Der Auspuff accepts classified advertising for Porsche cars, parts, and Porsche-related items. Classified ads should be limited to 50 words or less. Ads are free
to Santa Barbara Region PCA members in good standing and will run for three (3) months. Ads are free to other PCA members in good standing as space
permits and will also run for three (3) months. Ads will be accepted from non-members as space permits for a fee of $10 per month, per ad. Der Auspuff is not
responsible for the accuracy of any ad or claims made by the advertisers, and does not warrant or guarantee the condition of items offered for sale. Der Auspuff
reserves the right to edit or refuse to print any ad it deems inappropriate. Please submit ads directly to the Editor at [email protected].
Der Auspuff Advertising Rates
Our current annual rate structure (12 monthly issues)
Commercial advertisements in Der Auspuff are welcomed! We
appreciate all advertisers as they are the key to the life of the
publication. For more information, please contact our Advertising
Manager, Lynn Kuchera 805-484-0101 or [email protected].
Full Page
Half Page
Business Card
32 JANUARY 2006 PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA SANTA BARBARA REGION
7.5” x 10”
7.5” x 4.75”
3.5” x 2”
Color or cover locations are available for an additional fee.
$
850.00
600.00
$
200.00
$
PRE-SRT STD
Porsche Club of America
Santa Barbara Region
617 Valley Vista Drive
Camarillo CA 93010
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LOS ANGELES, CA
PERMIT NO. 199