2015 – SHENANDOAH REGION

2015 NEWS ARCHIVE

Shenandoah Valley Tour, Take II

by Phillip Noel Posted 2015 Sep 17

On September 12, Shenandoah PCA members came from around the region for the second tour of the Shenandoah Valley. Click here to see the photo gallery covering this event.

We started out in the historic town of Strasburg, VA at the Hotel Strasburg with a multi-course lunch. The food was exceptional and the ambiance was warm and welcoming.

After a brief drivers’ meeting following lunch, we headed to the parking lot to begin our driving tour. The weather had been wet with torrential downpours earlier in the day. But by the time we headed to our vehicles, the sun was trying to dry things out.

Our first destination was the Lost River Trading Post in Wardensville, WV. To our surprise, the manager opened up the town museum for us at the Wardensville Town Center, which had been closed for the weekend. This was an unplanned event that happened because the the manager heard we were in town. We enjoyed looking at the history of the Wardensville area.

We walked across the street to the Lost River Trading Post and took in all the unusual exhibits and for-sale items.

The next stage was following Trout Run Road to Edinburg, VA. This route was the bulk of the driving tour. We loved the scenery and “twisties,” although the rain returned and avoiding road hazards from earlier high winds kept our speeds down.

We the entered the Edinburg Mill and its museum to take in Civil War memorabilia and local history exhibits.

Our final leg took us to Woodstock, where we finished the tour. The Woodstock Brew House hosted us for an early dinner and opportunity to chat with fellow Shenandoah members and recap the day’s activities. The weather was not cooperative for the day but, as usual, the warm friendly fellowship made up for it.

Stay tuned in 2016 because planning has already begun for the best tour yet—Shenandoah Valley Tour III.

Merrie Mill Farm and Winery, April 15, 2022

by: John Odden
Photos by: Paula Ironmonger

New member, Cecile Graziano stopped in at Merrie Mill Farm returning from our March 27 driving tour in Orange and Madison Counties. Cecile felt the venue was worth a visit by the Shenandoah members. We have not done many events on a weeknight, but we thought we would give it a try. We began at 5:30 PM on Friday evening with registrations for the event reaching capacity early in the week. The objective was a venue we could mingle and socialize. The second-floor balcony was reserved for our group which provided a gorgeous view looking west over the vineyard and the mountains. We had nothing short of perfect weather to complement the evening. Merrie Mill had live music playing on the ground level. The winery brings in food trucks to compliment their offerings. Friday, we were treated to Salty Bottom Blue Oysters from Gwynn’s Island, Virginia. Their selection was either roasted or raw oysters on the half shell. The oysterman was actually shucking the oysters. The oyster lovers in the group were in heaven! A fantastic evening was had and something we will need to do again.

2016 Holiday Party Reflections
by Jim Kaczorowski Posted 2016 Dec 18

Most members in the Shenandoah Region have been to Michie Tavern at some point in their lives, but it is hard to beat the camaraderie and warmth of our annual Holiday Party held on December 4. A hearty fire, greetings from close to 80 old friends and new, and even a Museum tour complimented a generous cocktail hour.

Traditions continued as host and Porsche owner Sam Morris provided a history of the tavern followed by an overview of the always delicious Southern fare.

After ‘seconds’ by a few hungry patrons, the formal part of the program began over coffee or tea and peach cobbler a la mode. Our new President Hank Weil and Co-Vice Presidents Randy Bell and Mark Doherty and continuing Secretary Lynne Taylor and Treasurer Carey were welcomed by retiring president Clint Shuler. An awards ceremony followed, which included presentations for a number of autocross competitors. Autocross Co-chair Rick Ebinger cited the avid participation of a record number of 27 ladies this year. Improved Class winners Jeffrey Elmore and Jonathan Newhall tied for fastest overall autocrosser. This year Rick and Co-chair Erik Boody created unique wooden awards with a silver dollar embedded in each. Not to be overlooked was the annual drawing for Porsche memorabilia prizes which provided just about everyone in attendance with a desirable remembrance.

To give you an idea of the abundant cheer, no one other than (wife) Anne had a bigger surprise than when she found out that sitting across from her at our dinner table was a young man, Jonathan Newhall, whom she taught in first grade many [many] years ago in the Valley…who wants to give odds on that happening again next year?

The year has certainly brought us all we could have wished for – and more. So we hope it was the same for you and yours as we look forward to seeing each of you behind the wheel in 2017.

Charlie Wintzer, Gary Hunter, Randy Bell, and Hank Weil

Hank Weil, Robin & Charlie Wintzer, and Mark Doherty

Shannon Daily, Pat's daughter

Sam Morris setting up the bar

Door prizes: German steins compliments of Mark Doherty

Virginia War Memorial

U.S. Navy honors

Fast Frieda, Pat's 1963 356B

Janie Hunter

Sherry Westfall and Howie Dunbrack

Jill Klippel and Gary Hagar

Bill Sanders and Chauncey Hutter

Tim Mabes with Mary Jean & Bruce Russell

Eric Huggins

Ginger Elmore

Beverly McNeill and Andrea Messer

Bonnie Falbo

Jim & Anne Kaczorowski

Cam & Lisa Abernethy, Kim Butcher, and Dick Pitman

Larry Markley, Genie & Charlie Passut, and Karla Bell

Bates & Colin McLain, Dan & Jakob Graff, and Bill Blodgett

Mark Doherty (new Veep)

Karla & Randy Bell (new Veep)

Lynne Taylor and Carey Lockhart opening gifts

Rick Ebinger handing out autocross trophies

Jeffrey Elmore and Jonathan Newhall tied for first

Mike Kilmer accepting trophy, Henry Haefele in foreground

Chris Beverage of Flow Porsche picking up his door prize

New president Hank Weil receiving the President's Cup from outgoing president Clint Shuler

Annual Holiday Party Reflections
by Jim Kaczorowski Posted 2015 Dec 06

Traditions continued as host and Porsche owner Sam Morris provided a history of the tavern followed by an overview of the always delicious Southern fare.

The year has certainly brought us all we could have wished for – and more. So we hope it was the same for you and yours as we look forward to seeing each of you behind the wheel in 2017.

Charlie Wintzer, Gary Hunter, Randy Bell, and Hank Weil

Hank Weil, Robin & Charlie Wintzer, and Mark Doherty

Shannon Daily, Pat's daughter

Sam Morris setting up the bar

Virginia War Memorial

U.S. Navy honors

Fast Frieda, Pat's 1963 356B

Janie Hunter

Sherry Westfall and Howie Dunbrack

Jill Klippel and Gary Hagar

Bill Sanders and Chauncey Hutter

Tim Mabes with Mary Jean & Bruce Russell

Eric Huggins

Ginger Elmore

Beverly McNeill and Andrea Messer

Bonnie Falbo

Jim & Anne Kaczorowski

Cam & Lisa Abernethy, Kim Butcher, and Dick Pitman

Larry Markley, Genie & Charlie Passut, and Karla Bell

Bates & Colin McLain, Dan & Jakob Graff, and Bill Blodgett

Mark Doherty (new Veep)

Karla & Randy Bell (new Veep)

Lynne Taylor and Carey Lockhart opening gifts

Rick Ebinger handing out autocross trophies

Jeffrey Elmore and Jonathan Newhall tied for first

Mike Kilmer accepting trophy, Henry Haefele in foreground

Chris Beverage of Flow Porsche picking up his door prize

New president Hank Weil receiving the President's Cup from outgoing president Clint Shuler

Porsches and Pastrami
Posted 2015 May 16

On May 3, 2015, Porsches & Pastrami featured a concours judging school before lunch and a People’s Choice car show afterwards. Dave Lasch, our chief judge, explained the judging criteria used at RPM. The RPM concours is low-key and fun, so the main criteria are the three C’s: Cleanliness, Condition, and Care. The RPM concours is “tops only,” but enclosed areas such as the gas filler compartment have to be clean. Condition covers things like paint scratches and dashboard cracks. Care reflects the effort put into detailing the car, as indicated by whether the areas inside the raised script are clean, for example. Correctness is not emphasized at RPM — the judges won’t concern themselves about whether new bolts on a 356 engine are exactly the same as the originals.

The People’s Choice car show ended in a tie, with both winners being wide-body 911’s — Iain Fraser’s 930 and Hank Weil’s normally asprirated 911.

Dave Lasch explained RPM concours judging and used Jim & Sherry's white Cayman S as an example

Yet more cars in workshop

while others gathered inside Dürty Nelly's

Charlie and Genie Passut

Bunny & Andy Turner

Gary Hagar

Alex Sullivan, Deane Parker, and Jeff Sivers

Jim & Anne Kaczorowski

Paul Felt's 2001 996 Cab

Jeff Sivers just sold this Targa

The Kaczorowskis' 2010 Cayman

The Passuts' 2014 Cayman

Gary Hunter's Targa attracted a lot of attention

Kim Butcher's Mini

Deane Parker's very clean 912 engine

Iain Fraser's 930 shared the People's Choice award

with Hank Weil's normally aspirated wide-body 911

Dan Graff, "best T-shirt"

Euroclassics Porsche DE at VIR
Posted 2015 Dec 12

Euroclassics Porsche hosted their annual Columbus Day DE at VIR on October 15

Dave David Israel explained RPM concours judging and used Jim & Sherry's white Cayman S as an example

Emmett Richardson

Yet more cars in workshop

Frank DePew

Mark O'Callaghan

Alex Smith

an Ariel Atom

Justin Andress

Jack Woodfin

Yet more cars in workshop

Mike Early

Danielle Ashbridge

Melinda Cagle, David Sweat

Page Hunt

Charles Passut

Richard Gray, Vince Groome

Yet more cars in workshop

Robert Stanford, William Boyd

Joe Wiggins

Yet more cars in workshop

Peter Foster, Doug Miller

Yet more cars in workshop

Reed Hogue

John Hunt

Eric Nilsen

Craig Hicks

Richie Whitt

Brett Jacobson

First Settlers Region Fall DE at VIR
Posted 2015 Oct 4

The First Settlers Region hosted a three-day driver’s education (DE) event at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, September 19—21. The first two days were run on the South Course, and the third day used the Full Course. The Shenandoah Region was well represented by nine drivers: Jim Condon, Eric Huggins, David Israel, John Kessler, Emmett Richardson, Clint Shuler, Bill Speidell, Sherry Westfall, and Joe Wiggins.

Congratulations to Clint Shuler, who was promoted from the blue (student) group to the white (solo) group! Clint also upgraded his 2009 Cayman S with seats, harnesses, a roll bar, OZ wheels, and Nitto NT01 track tires. Finally, he bought a trailer, which was appreciated by all who sought shelter when it rained on Monday.

Bill Speidell swiftly completed the 2,000 mile required break-in of his new 2016 Cayman GT4 and brought it to the track for the first time. With the 3.8 liter Carrera S engine, GT3 suspension parts, R-compound tires, and the balance of a mid-engine Cayman, this is one fast car, especially on the technical South Course. Bill quickly learned how do drive it well, and he passed nearly everybody in the white run group.

There are many curves and no long straights on the South Course, so drivers are always on the gas or on the brakes, thereby heating up their engines and brakes. The double-duty 2007 Cayman S driven by both Jim Condon and Sherry Westfall began to overheat on Saturday afternoon, so they drove it back to Gordonsville in the evening, where Paul Overstreet of Overstreet European Motors kindly came to his shop, took off the front bumper, and cleaned out eight years worth of dirt in and around the radiators. Jim and Sherry drove back to VIR that night, arriving around 1 AM. The cleaning worked, and their engine stayed cool for the rest of the weekend. This is a classic example of racing revealing a mechanical problem that doesn’t (yet) show up in highway driving. Your older Porsche may have radiators that are just as dirty — you just don’t know it yet.

View from the south end of the VIR South Course

Eric Huggins drove his "new" 2006 Carrera S in the DE Intro

Eric Huggins drove his "new" 2006 Carrera S in the DE Intro

Eric Huggins drove his "new" 2006 Carrera S in the DE Intro

Clint Shuler suiting up

Bill Speidell's 2016 GT4 at speed

David Israel

George Michaels drove his Rabbit

Sherry Westfall tracking out of Oak Tree

Paul Overstreet working on Saturday night

John Kessler greeting the sunrise on Sunday

Clint's new trailer

Emmett Richardson's 2006 Carrera S

Alex Bell

Jim Condon

IMSA/Tudor Races and Porscheplatz at VIR
Posted 2015 Aug 30

Flow Porsche of Charlottesville and PCA Zone 2 sponsored a Porscheplatz and car corral for the IMSA/Tudor United SportsCar Championship races at VIR on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23.

The Porscheplatz has a good view of Turn 4 at VIR. The first race on Saturday morning was part of Porsche’s GT3 Cup series. Angel Benitez, Jr. in Porsche #5 chased Elliot Skeer in #14 right until the final lap, when Benitez spun out spectacularly at Turn 3 and went into the tire wall.

After the GT3 race, PCA vice president Tom Goresuch, Zone 2 Rep Cheryl Taylor, and Flow Porsche representative Jason Robson addressed the audience in the Porscheplatz tent and handed out door prizes that inclued hot laps and a visit to the hot pits during the Tudor race. Next was a practice session for Sunday’s race, and an opportunity to walk through the paddock area and see the cars being prepared.

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo (their analog of the Porsche GT3 Cup race) ran just before lunch time. Nico Morris, whose weekday job is with Paul Overstreet at Overstreet European Motors in Gordonsville, was the tire meister for Mitchum Motorsports and their gray/pink Lamborghini #84. The main afternoon event was the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSC) for smaller sports cars. The #13 Porsche “Rum Bum” driven by Matt Plumb won the GS class, and Spencer Pumpelli’s Cayman #17 won in the Street Tuner (ST) class. Spencer must think he is a NASCAR driver, because he did a couple of victory doughnuts in NASCAR band.

Bill Speidell parked his new GT4 in front of the Porsche tent, and it drew more attention than all of the other cors combined.

On Sunday morning Porsche Motorsports and Michelin tire reps gave detailed presentations and noted that some new Michelin tires cut the Porsche GTLM lap times by about one second; the best laps were just over 1:42! This was followed by the second GT3 Cup race in which Benitez stayed ahead and on the track. Then about 100 Porsches went out for parade laps on the track just ahead of the afternoon’s Oak Tree Grand Prix for GTLM (Le Mans) and GTD (Daytona) cars.

In the end, Porsche won big in the pro GTLM class, with Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet driving #911 to victory plus Earl Bamber and Joerg Bermeister in #912 just ahead of the #62 Ferrari driven by Pierre Kaffer and Giancarlo Fisichella. Porsche also took third in the pro-am GTD class.

The Porscheplatz, sponsored by Flow Porsche of Charlottesville and PCA Zone 2

Saturday's GT3 Cup race was a battle between Skeer (in front) and Benitez (close behind), which ended when Benitez spun out at Turn 3 on the last lap.

Saturday's GT3 Cup race was a battle between Skeer (in front) and Benitez (close behind), which ended when Benitez spun out at Turn 3 on the last lap.

Saturday's GT3 Cup race was a battle between Skeer (in front) and Benitez (close behind), which ended when Benitez spun out at Turn 3 on the last lap.

PCA Veep Tom Goresuch with Cheryl and Jason

An Audi and a Corvette practicing for the Tudor race

An Audi and a Corvette practicing for the Tudor race

The VIR paddock was wall-to-wall support trucks

The Porsche Motorsports headquarters

The GTD BMWs have been widened considerably

GTD car number 007 is an Aston-Martin, of course

This Porsche took third in GTD

The 912 Porsche went "agricultural" in practice and ate a lot of grass

The Mitchum Lamborghini and its tire man, Nico Morris (of Overstreet European Motors)

The Mitchum Lamborghini and its tire man, Nico Morris (of Overstreet European Motors)

CTSC GS winner Rum Bum

Alex Smith in a Maserati (!) shirt

Bill Speidell's new GT4 drew big crowds at the Porsscheplatz

Sherry Westfall looking thirsty

Porsche Motorsports gave us an excellent presentation on Sunday morning

Porsche Motorsports gave us an excellent presentation on Sunday morning

Benitez stayed ahead in the second GT3 Cup race

Another spinout at Turn 5

The Cup cars are LOUD!

The Porsche Corral

Lining up for the Porsche parade laps

Sherry Westfall and Dick Pitman

Dan Graff and Steve Upman

Parade laps: at the end of the back straight, in NASCAR bend looking up to the Porscheplatz tent, and approaching the hot pits

Parade laps: at the end of the back straight, in NASCAR bend looking up to the Porscheplatz tent, and approaching the hot pits

Parade laps: at the end of the back straight, in NASCAR bend looking up to the Porscheplatz tent, and approaching the hot pits

GTLM was a Porsche versus Ferrari race

GTLM first place 911 (Nick Tandy & Patrick Pilet) and second place 912 (Earl Bamber & Joerg Bergmeister)

with Ferrari 62 (Pierre Kaffer & Giancarlo Fisichella) third

The two Corvettes stayed together most of the race

More American muscle — a Dodge Viper

A very competitive BMW

The GTD-winning Ferrari number 63

Shenandoah Region’s JULY 25, 2015 20th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Posted 2015 Aug 14

The Shenandoah Region PCA celebrated its first 20 years with a driving tour to a party at the beautiful Nelson County farm of members Steven and Denise England. Most of us started at the Mountainside Grille in Crozet for the scenic drive to our destination, where we were startled to see three 356’s facing us from the top of a dam. We parked our Porsches in neat rows on the hill leading down to the pond, although the weather was warm enough that most people ended up under the shade of a huge oak tree. Others went into the lunch barn to see Shenandoah Region memorabilia ranging from early newsletters (the “No Name Yet Gazette” and later “The Heat Exchanger”) to results from the 2015 Porsche Parade (three concours winners, plus a first place for the Shenandoah Region website). An excellent barbeque lunch was followed by presentations by PCA national secretary Cindy Jacisin, first Shenandoah president Cole Scrogham, and Zone 2 representative Cheryl Taylor. Deane Parker’s restored 912 (a Weissach Award winner at Parade) took the People’s Choice award, and the long-distance award went to Larry and Carmen Markley from Alaska!

Early arrivals Paul Hansen, Howie Dunbrack, Deane Parker, and Mark Doherty

Porsche Row

Drivers meeting at Mountainside Grille

This must be the place

Later arrivals

Deane Parker's 912 was the people's choice

Porsches were lined up in neat rows

Lisa Newhall and her parasol

There were Porsches of all sizes and shapes and colors

There were Porsches of all sizes and shapes and colors

This big oak tree provided welcome shade

The caterer preparing lunch

Shenandoah Region memorabilia were displayed indoors, such as these early Heat Exchangers

Shenandoah Region memorabilia were displayed indoors, such as these early Heat Exchangers

Two birthday cakes were necessary to feed the large crowd

Two birthday cakes were necessary to feed the large crowd

The BBQ lunch lineup

It's not just the cars, it's the food

PCA national secretary Cindy Jacisin presented this banner signed by national staff to president Clint Shuler

PCA national secretary Cindy Jacisin presented this banner signed by national staff to president Clint Shuler

Region founder and first president Cole Scrogham

Founding members Virginia and Chad Hurst

Founding members Virginia and Chad Hurst

Founding member and past president Phyllis Scrogham

Past president and RPM maestro Alex Smith

Zone 2 rep Cheryl Taylor and her husband Claude

From Alaska(!), winners of the distance award Larry and Carmen Markley

Our host, Steve England, third from left

Rural scenery that's hard to beat

Rural scenery that's hard to beat

First Settlers Region “Spring” DE at VIR, 11-12 July
Posted 2015 Jul 28

The First Settlers Region spring DE got bumped from May to July this year, and it was only a two-day event instead of the usual three. Fortunately the sky was partly cloudy for most of the weekend, so the track was dry but not too hot.

Congratulations to Bill Speidell, who was promoted to the white (intermediate solo) run group. This may be his last DE in his 996; he has a GT4 due to arrive in August!

Eric Huggins drove his 911 Carrera so fast that the “4” from his number “14” blew off near Oak Tree. Don Coleman brought his BMW because his supercharged 996 had an engine fire at Watkins Glen and is currently in the hospital. Sherry Westfall and Jim Condon shared their Cayman S; they have sold their arena red 996 “ELFER”. Other Shenandoah Region drivers at the DE included Emmett Richardson, David Israel in his recently purchased 996 GT3, and Hamish Brookeman. Rachel Clark instructed but did not drive. Tom Bobbitt (friend of Shenandoah) brought his new 991 GT3 with the 9A1 engine and a “NO MEZGR” license plate.

The paddock on Saturday morning

Congratulations to Bill Speidell, who was promoted to the white (intermediate solo) group. Notice his white wristband.

Congratulations to Bill Speidell, who was promoted to the white (intermediate solo) group. Notice his white wristband.

Bill's first session in white.

Eric Huggins on the front straight

Every skid mark tells a story

Don Coleman's BMW

Sherry Westfall in NASCAR Bend

Emmett Richardson

David Israel's "new" 996 GT3

Hamish Brookeman

Tom Bobbitt's new 991 GT3

Tech Session on Transaxles at Overstreet European Motors, 25 April Posted 2015 May 23

On Saturday morning, April 25, Paul Overstreet hosted a tech session on transaxles at Overstreet European Motors in Gordonsville. He took apart a Porsche G15 transaxle used in 911s through 1986 (when the G15 was replaced by the G50) and gave a clear and complete presentation on how such a transaxle works. His large audience of gear heads paid close attention.

After the presentation, the foodies among the gear heads had lunch at the nearby Barbeque Exchange restaurant

At Overstreet European Motors in Gordonsville

Paul Overstreet's racing Miata

Paul gave a well-planned and systematic presentation on transaxles

Paul gave a well-planned and systematic presentation on transaxles

A Porsche G15 transaxle

The ring gear that couples the transmission to the rear axle

The differential

A "dog" gear with worn teeth

The audience of gear heads was very attentive.

The audience of gear heads was very attentive.

Zone 2 DE at VIR, 13-15 March
by Jim Condon Posted 2015 Mar 24

The March 13–15 Zone 2 DE (Driver’s Education) at VIR sold out again because it is the year’s first chance to satisfy the “need for speed” after the long winter away from the track. The tradeoff is uncertain March weather. This year, Friday was damp but not wet, and the track was pretty fast. Saturday was on-and-off wet, so cars with groovy tires went out and cars with slicks mainly stayed in the garage or trailer. On-and-off wet can be tricky because parts of the track are grippy and parts are slick. Even after last year’s repaving, the most treacherous part of the track is still the “snake” between Turn 5 and the Bridge Straight. On Saturday the snake bit about five drivers who went off fast enough onto the slippery wet grass to contact the tire wall. We were all grateful for Bob Brown’s tent to keep us reasonably dry.

Finally, Sunday was perfect. The sun was shining all day and the track remained comfortably cool, unlike the hot sunny days of summer. All of these photos were taken on Sunday. Ten Shenandoah members were driving: Cam Abernethy, Bob Brown, Jim Condon, Matt Einstein, David Israel, John Kessler, Emmett Richardson, Clint Shuler, Sherry Westfall, and Joe Wiggins. Kudos to Bob Brown, who was promoted to the “blue” group. Matt Einstein drove his Macan Turbo with track tires. The tires survived Matt’s hard charging, but the brakes did not. Matt is hoping to show up at the next event in a Cayman GT4. Instructor David Israel rode with Sherry and helped her prepare for moving up to the “black” group.

Clint Shuler, friend Dave, and Bob Brown in the paddock

Congratulations to Bob Brown on his promotion to the "blue" group.

Joe Wiggins

Clint shows the easy way to pass a Corvette in NASCAR Bend

Sherry getting dressed to drive

John Kessler chasing a 993

David Israel

Future hard charger Sean Israel

Observations of a Brand New Member at the Jan 3rd Annual Planning Meeting
by Mike Early Posted 2015 Feb 1

I wasn’t really doing much over the winter as it is really too cold for me to go out driving my new (to me) Boxster S and decided it might make sense to drive up to Charlottesville for the Shenandoah Region PCA “2015 Kickoff Meeting.”

Since it seemed to be billed as a planning meeting to talk about the upcoming year’s activities, I figured there would be a pretty fair representation of the membership. That would give me a chance to meet a number of the members, as well as see what was going to happen over the next 12 months. I thought it would be well worth the almost two hour drive in the rain each way from my house to Charlottesville.

My first surprise was that there were only about 16–18 folks in attendance, and that included the 5 officers that were in the front of the room. I had sort of thought that with over 200 primary members that more would have attended the initial planning meeting for the year, but I guess the weather and holiday weekend kind of cut into the attendance.

The folks that were there were all very friendly and made me instantly feel that I was part of the club. It was very nice of Mike Kilmer to provide the facilities of PhotoWorksGroup as a place to meet. It was very comfortable and was a great room for the ensuing discussion.

Clint Shuler welcomed us all to the session and started off the discussion off with “Old Business” and a brief review of 2014. It was great to hear about how active the club has been and plans on continuing that high level of activity going forward. It was not surprising to me that Jim Condon had received a very prestigious award for the web site. I spend more time on the web than I should and was very impressed with my first visit to the Shenandoah Region web site. It was easy to navigate and filled with just the kind of information and guidance needed. And, most importantly of all, it was current!

Next Carey Lockhart took us through a financial review, and it was great to see that the club is pretty solvent. That tells me that supporting the planned activities for 2015 is pretty doable.

Hank Weil took us through the membership information, and I was impressed with the total membership of over 400 folks. That should indicate that the events would be pretty well attended. [Well, except for this initial meeting 🙂 ]. I was interested in the discussion about dual memberships. Not because I am interested in a dual membership, but because I live near Richmond and am one of those folks not really in the center of things with either Shenandoah or First Settlers. Typically a source of those folks that would be interested in a dual membership.

Jim Condon then took us through a pretty detailed tour of the website, and I learned that it is much richer in content than I had originally thought. That award was very well deserved.

Clint then talked about the number of committee chairs and other positions that need to be filled. Open positions for 1) Social Events Chair, 2) Historian Chair, 3) Social Media Chair (there was someone that had expressed interest in this but it wasn’t resolved quite yet), 4) 20th anniversary planning committee Chair, 5) Tire Rack Street Survival for Teens committee Chair, 6) Ingram Collection tour planning committee Chair, 7) lots and lots of volunteers for lots and lots of different things for RPM, 8) Porsches and Pastrami committee Chair, 9) Turkeys in the Trunks committee Chair to coordinate with First Settlers Region’s well-received program, and folks to help plan for anything to do with the new Dominion Track off I-95, Insurance Institute tour, etc.

It sounds like if the club is going to stay active and vibrant, there are a number of positions that need to be filled to make that a reality. I must admit that I am not ready to volunteer for a chair role until I understand a bit more about the club, but I did volunteer for a support activity with RPM since that is right here in my neck of the woods.

Clint ended the meeting by going through the calendar on a month-by-month basis. Most of the dates for autocross were firmed up, the need to jump on any DE date before they filled up was discussed, the plans for RPM were outlined, and some “place-holder” dates for a number of club drives were established.

We then broke for an excellent lunch provided by member Raif Antar and his Basil Mediterranean Bistro.

Unfortunately I had to miss a tour of the PhotoWorksGroup by Mike after lunch as I had a previous commitment. Being a long-term photographer I really hated to miss that opportunity.

In retrospect, I am very glad I made the drive up to Charlottesville. I got to meet some great folks and am now really anxious for it to warm up so that I can start taking my car on some of the great things in store for the Shenandoah Region this year.