SHENANDOAH REGION

Tech Session - LED Lighting for Classic Porsches
2022-05-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | VA
by: John Odden
Photos by: Dick Pitman

Region members were provided a very in depth and interesting session on exterior and dash lighting by fellow member Engelbert Meulhaupt. Engelbert has been assembling LED lighting kits to retrofit into classic Porsches for 8 years. He has determined the correct LED for each application. To our amazement, he also has an LED manufacturer producing to his specifications. The kits he provides are all pre- engineered with complete instructions.They are literally plug and play.
We were given demonstrations on the different headlight illumination systems over the many years lighting has evolved. Engelbert has built a Porsche gauge display showing the level of illumination of the original incandescent bulbs and the engineered LED systems. When it comes to taillights, we learned that amber and red must be the color of the LED, not a clear bulb as with used with incandescent lighting combined with a colored lens.

Tech Session at Detail Driven
2022-04-23 08:00 - 17:00
by: John Odden
Photos by: Sebastian

Max Shumeyko, the owner of Detail – Driven in Harrisonburg, VA provided our region members an outstanding session on the techniques of installing protective windshield film. Detail – Driven provides paint correction (returning the original vehicle finish luster), vehicle detailing, vehicle protective film, wraps and ceramic coating.
Detail – Driven provided the finish detailing for the 2019 Best In Show Porsche at the Porsche Parade and the Preservation Class winner at the 2021 Porsche Parade. These are the most stringent Concours judged events hosted by PCA.

Merrie Mill Farm and Winery
2022-04-15 08:00 - 17:00
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.

Mount Ida Winery & Taphouse
2022-03-22 08:00 - 17:00
Article and Photography by: John Odden
What a spectacular day for the first weekend in March. Early March can be
risky planning an outdoor event in Virginia. This was our second social
gathering for 2022 and the weather gods were looking out for our region. Mount
Ida proved to be a beautiful venue south of Charlottesville in Scottsville,
VA. Dan Graff suggested we place this destination on our calendar. This was a
two part endeavor. Our first stop on the Mount Ida grounds was the Craft
Cville presents Galentine’s Redo Pop Up Market. The women crafters of
Charlottesville were displaying and selling their creative work. The level of
artistic talent was very apparent. After perusing the craft displays, members
drove to the Winery and Taphouse. The beverages were delicious and everyone
enjoyed the culinary selection.
Those members sitting with David and Susana Weber were invited to play croquet
at their home upon departing Mount Ida. The Webers transferred to the
Shenandoah Region from the Northeast after finding Virginia to be such a
wonderful place to settle. They love croquet and have a professional croquet
course. Those in attendance all thought they knew how to play croquet until
they played with the Webers. What a wonderful experience to cap an already
fantastic day.

Members enjoying a spectacular March afternoon.

View from Mt. Ida looking west. Wintergreen Ski Resort is Visible.

A great time was had by all

From left to right; Priscilla Carter, Jody Calkins and Susana Webe

Croquet Champions from left to right; David Weber, Harold Calkins and Darnell
Taylor

Rolex 24 at Daytona – Live Streamed at Pro Re Nata Brewery & Taphouse
2022-01-29 08:00 - 17:00
Pro Re Nata in Crozet, VA welcomed the region with a wonderful reception. They agreed to purchase Peacock + (exclusive live stream source for IMSA) to accommodate a region get together on Saturday, January 29. We had snow over night which was a concern, but we only had 1” or less. The roads were clear and the group had a terrific time. Pro Re Nata owner, John Scheob, is a car guy and visits VIR every year for the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge race. John has invited us back to view the IMSA races for 2022.

We had the Canas’s from Fairfax, Virginia drive down for our event. They saw the event posting on motorsportreg and decided to join us. They are Potomac Region members and said they would very much like to participate in our drives this year. We welcomed them and will look forward to having them back.
This was a great gathering for the end of January. We hope you will join us on March 19 for the 12 hours of Sebring race.

Fall Fling with the Madison Automotive Apprentices
2021-10-01 08:00 - 17:00
by John Odden
We had 11 cars and 16 members who met in Ruckersville, VA. We ventured over the mountain to Harrisonburg for a beautiful crisp fall morning driving tour. Many of those attending had not driven Rt. 33 West from Ruckersville over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We had some very enthusiastic participants who loved the drive! Fellow member Engelbert Muelhaupt commented This drive reminded me of the many drives I made through the Black Forest in the Bavarian Alps. Many members drove directly to Harrisonburg and met us in the City Hall parking lot for a car gathering before lunch. James Madison University students participated in the car show/gathering. At noon we all walked to lunch which took us through the Harrisonburg Farmers Market which was another terrific event. After lunch we drove to the MAAP facility on the north side of town. This was without question the highlight of the day to see some very unique and valuable Porsches. In the shop was the 2019 Porsche Parade Best in Class and Best in Show 1964 Porsche 356 SC. This car is owned by a Shenandoah Region member and was restored at the MAAP facility.
MAAP is a non-profit organization which is affiliated with James Madison University. Each year they accept student apprentices (who must apply and be selected) to learn and work on restorations as well as motorsports. The focus of the program is Porsche! After viewing the MAAP facility, the Madison Motorsports club led a driving tour to West Virginia.
Member Larry Markley shared this comment: As relative newcomers to the club, my wife Carmen and I weren’t sure what to expect from the Fall Fling event. We were more than rewarded. The mix of cars – beyond just Porsches – was great, as was the interaction of owners and those from the adjacent farmers market. The nearby MAAP restoration facility we visited after lunch is a hidden gem. The cars there blew us away; we’re still processing what we saw. Many thanks to Cole and Suanne for sharing. Capping the day was the 30-mile mountain drive into West Virginia. We enjoyed every curve. We’d do it all over again.
If you are in Harrisonburg, it is worthwhile to stop by and visit MAAP. They are located at 1070 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.

New Member Dinner Party
2021-07-01 08:00 - 17:00
By: John Odden, President
With the lack of events during the pandemic, many new members have not had an opportunity to join any club activities. Every member who joined from July 2019 on was invited to meet the board members and gain insight into what we do as a club. The event was held at the Ashcroft community club house in Charlottesville. We had 45 members and spouses join us for a spectacular evening which included hors d’ oeurves, dinner and dessert. Bacio Mediterranean Cuisine catered the event and provided an outstanding array of delectable dishes which received rave reviews. A special thanks goes to Gary and Janie Hunter for allowing the Shenandoah Region to hold our event at the community club house and all of the assistance they provided.

Fall Fling 2017
2020-10-28 08:00 - 17:00
By Harry Newman
The Shenandoah Region has been hosting a Fall Foliage event and/or drive for many years. It is a popular event and one that has been well attended in previous years. This year, the Club decided to have a two-day multi-event on October 14 and 15 that included Saturday arrival drives, a Saturday afternoon People’s Choice Concours in the Pavilion in historic downtown Harrisonburg, a Saturday Open House and catered dinner at the MAAP facility, a silent auction, as well a very interesting Sunday drive to the mountains of West Virginia in Brandywine. To see photo galleries from this event, click here and here.
The Saturday driving tours were led by Randy Bell from the eastern side of the Region to Stanardsville. Hank Weil led the Saturday drive from Crozet to Stanardsville, and Jason Wavell assembled these two drives with participants that met in Stanardsville for the drive over the mountains into historic downtown Harrisonburg.
The host for the 2017 Fall Fling was the Madison Automotive Apprentice Program (MAAP), whose Executive Director is Cole Scrogham, the first President of the Shenandoah Region. Cole’s intent was to design an event that was something a little “different.” His desire “was to have an event where you didn’t have to get up at 5 AM to clean your car, and then stand around all day in a grassy field far from civilization, but an event that was informal, relaxed, and most of all FUN!” MAAP provided a list of restaurants, hotels, and things to see in the area.
The event was designed to have a nice relaxed lunch on arrival, so all participants could take their time to enjoy the company of others after the arrival tour, walk and see some unique downtown shops, or even for those so inclined, could wash their cars. The PCA contingent that participated in the arrival drives had a wonderful lunch at the Rocktown Kitchen that was right across the street from the Pavilion.
The plan included moving the Porsches into the Pavilion around 1:30 PM after the Farmers’ market closed. The Concours was a very informal event that lasted about two hours and included some very nice vintage Porsches as well as some newer models. The owners and whoever happened into the Pavilion had fun swapping tales and enjoying the scenery. There was no judging, but there was a contest for the Porsche and/or owner with the “Best Fall Colors” and a People’s Choice Award for the best Porsche at the event.
After the fun at the Pavilion there was time to check into hotels, take a nap, go for a walk, or do some shopping or whatever until the Madison Automotive Apprentices (MAAP) Open House from 5–6 PM. Appetizers and drinks were served at 6 PM and a great meal by James Madison University Catering was at 6:30 PM. During dinner, there was a silent auction going on to support the MAAP non-profit organization. There were some great items for sale and the bidding became intense as the time to bid expired. There was a lot of scrambling and increasing bids for several of the old Porsche manuals, as well as two pair of vintage sunglasses and a Yeti insulated drink cup with a Porsche logo.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award was Carey Lindsey and his beautiful blue Porsche 356 cabriolet. The “Best Fall Colors” Porsche was Jim Forkovitch’s spectacular Sienna Red 930 coupe.
Sunday morning started out on the cool side, but the sky was clear and it was a beautiful morning for the contingent of seven Porsches to drive to Brandywine, West Virginia located in the George Washington National Forest. The drive was extraordinary and there were quite a few very nice switchbacks both up and down the Shenandoah Mountains. It was a memorable drive and all were excited to have made this drive. When we got back to the Pavilion, we chatted about the event, the spectacular Sunday drive and the fun that we had at the 2017 Fall Fling. Some of the folks stayed in the Harrisonburg area for lunch and others started the drive back home. It was a great weekend and the weather was spectacular.

Summer Picnic
2019-08-17 08:00 - 17:00
By Michael Evans
At my first Shenandoah Region Annual Picnic, one of the first and memorable things I heard was Randy Bell refer to the sky as having “a deep autumn blue.” The weather again this year was fine. This years venue was at member Mark Sackson’s Harkaway Farm. We had a large tent to shelter us from sun. Lunch was being prepared by the Bavarian Chef and turned out delicious. Dessert included peanut butter pie. As Jim Condon would say, “Its not just the cars; its the food.” A couple members brought their brand new cars. Many Porsches from old to the very newest arrived. Prizes were raffled out by Membership Chair John Odden. We had a great time at the 2019 Annual Picnic and look forward to next year, which will be an Anniversary party.

See the Photo Gallery by Jim Condon.

Tech Session at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
2019-05-21 08:00 - 17:00
On the last day of April, Shenandoah Region members were provided an opportunity that is not available to the public. We were able to schedule a visit to IIHS for a crash test. After five months of trying to gain entrance through conventional avenues which included the front door, the back door, or any unlocked entrance door, we finally found an avenue to gain entry. Fellow member Ron Perry provided a list of sponsoring insurance agencies. Erie Insurance was on the list. Mike Little of Virginia Insurance Services, an Erie Insurance Agent, was contacted and agreed to request a crash test visit through Erie Insurance.
We had 19 members, four guests, and Mike Little join us for an experience none of us will forget. Upon arrival, we surveyed the crashed vehicles on display in the lobby of IIHS. The most amazing crash test was a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The purpose of this test was to determine if the older, larger, and heavier car of the 1950’s would provide better occupant protection. The impact was a frontal collision at 37 mph. The results were astonishing! The occupant compartment of the Malibu did not deform. The Bel Air occupants would likely not have survived. To see the photo gallery from this event, click here
.
The group was bused to a covered test area where we were able to take the wheel of several different crossover vehicles and test the automatic braking systems. The cars were driven at speeds up to 25 mph into a foam display depicting the rear end of a vehicle. The car’s distance and collision avoidance systems would automatically apply the brakes and stop inches from the foam display. The systems all functioned properly.
We again boarded the bus to be transported to what we all came to see, the crash test. We entered the building and the IIHS technicians were making final checks on the sensors and cameras in preparation for the test on a beautiful new Toyota Camry. It seemed a shame to destroy a brand new vehicle. We were positioned on an elevated landing which provided an outstanding view of the Camry. The countdown began as the hydraulic drive system for the crash sled completed pressurizing. The sled is a four wheeled weighted assembly that replicates an SUV. The crash sled could be heard traveling down the long 3/8 mile corridor toward the impact zone. The crash sled passed directly under the elevated landing on which we were positioned.
We were all focused on the Camry awaiting impact. The crash sled made contact into the driver side front and rear doors. The side window glass shattered and flew 30 feet. The Camry was pushed 35 feet from its original position. We were all amazed at what damage 37 mph can do. The result of this test showed that the crash dummy occupants all survived this crash with no injuries other than being severely shaken. To download Jim Condon’s movie of the crash, click here (91 Megabytes).
IIHS purchases the vehicles they test from retail dealers to insure they receive a standard production vehicle with no special modifications that may improve a car’s crash test results.
At the completion of the photo session beside the totaled Camry, we received an extremely informative tour of IIHS’s testing methods and procedures. We viewed displays of vehicles in a wide variety of different impact points. IIHS has done a tremendous service for the motoring public by driving manufacturers to improve the safety of their vehicles. Most popular vehicles have been crash tested by IIHS. All tested vehicles are rated and the ratings can be viewed on their website.
A very special thank you goes out to Mike Little for providing the Shenandoah Region access to this outstanding facility, an experience we will not forget.
Mike Little’s contact info:
Mike Little
Virginia Insurance Services
Erie Insurance
804-744-3345

2018 Shenandoah PCA Holiday Party
2018-12-18 08:00 - 17:00
by Jim Kaczorowski
With a good ‘ole Virginia fire crackling in a rustic setting, our
traditional Holiday Party at Michie Tavern was full of good cheer –
not an empty handshake or glass could be found…..with stockings,
ribbons, bags, tags and trimmings all ’round.
Now bring up that old tune in your head…..
and relive these party highlights:
12 raffle prizes
11 drumsticks drumming
10 exhaust pipes piping
9 ladies (if they let ’em) dancing
8 Hank’s work thank you’s
7 Toys4Tots a bagging
6 AutoX recognitions
5 Christmas sweaters
4 country side dishes
3 new club officers
2 cobbler servings
and
1 Jeffrey Elmore Driver of the Year
Twelve 2018 Holiday Party Raffle Prizes:
Porsche Driving Experience: John Odden
Two 2019 VIR Event Passes: Sean Miller
Flawless Finish Detail: Lynn Taylor
Beecroft & Bull Gift Certificate: Jason Wavell
2019 Autocross Fee Waived: Claudia Muelhaupt (for Engelbert)
Robert E Lee Hotel Gift Certificate: Melodie Hagspiel
MX Autocare Gift Certificate: Emily Eckenberger
Meadowbrook Massage Therapy: Jill Klippel
Detailers Domain Gift Certificate: Jeff Blatter
OG Racing Gift Certificate: Michael Brady
Zone 2 Gift Certificate: Bill Speidell
Sheridan Livery Gift Certificate: Phillip Noel
Click here to see the event photo gallery.

Shenandoah Region 2019–2020 Board Election Results
2018-12-01 08:00 - 17:00
By Bill Blodgett, Election Chairman
The votes received during the October 30–November 20 balloting period have been counted and validated. The Election Chairman (Bill Blodgett) congratulates the newly elected 2019–2020 Shenandoah Region Officers:
President: Mark Francis
Vice President: Jeff Elmore
Vice President: Mark Sackson
Secretary: Michael Evans
Treasurer: Jeff Blatter
Mark Francis–President
I joined PCA in 1992 as an associate member on my father’s membership while in college. We were members of the Potomac Region. We mostly attended social events until getting involved in autocross and driver’s education events in 1998. I became a DE instructor and started PCA Club Racing in 2000. After a short stint as assistant editor of der Vorgänger (Potomac’s monthly newsletter) I took over as editor and served in that position from late 2000 through 2006. I was helper and event photographer for the rally program when my former wife served as rally chair. Currently still active as an instructor with Potomac Region, though I haven’t done any racing in four years.
What I would like to accomplish during my term in office is to get more members participating in club events. Maybe encourage more to come to the local cars and coffee events, more driving events like rallies, tours, or just social events. All too often, many join the club for a few years, then let their membership lapse because they just aren’t that active in the club. Communication is key.
Jeff Elmore–Vice President
I see myself contributing to our club in some very specific ways. As an autocrosser I would like to become more active in the administration and planning of our events. I am active autocrossing with other area clubs and I believe my input could help to increase participation in our autocrosses, managing scheduling conflicts with the other clubs, and making their members aware of our upcoming events. I feel that I could also contribute to SRPCA’s rebranding initiative.
As a state-level Adult Education practitioner, I have been involved in rebranding and outreach strategies for Adult Ed programs throughout Virginia. I’m confident that my skills and experience will transfer over to SRPCA’s efforts. In particular, I am excited about opportunities to expand SRPCA’s social media presence.
I have been a member of SRPCA since 2006. I currently own two Porsches: a 2000 Boxster S autocross car and a 1999 Carrera 4. Between 2007–2009, I authored more than 20 Tech Tactics articles for the SRPCA’s newsletter, The Heat Exchanger. This effort grew into RennZenn, a (very!) small business performing maintenance, performance, and detail work on Porsches and other automobiles. I live in Palmyra with my wife Ginger and our two Bassett Hounds, Turbo and Sadie.
Mark Sackson–Vice President

The second thing I did after buying my Porsche was to join PCA. The first was to replace the IMS, RMS and install a new clutch. I have enjoyed the club. It is a very warm and welcoming group of people. As far as the brand is concerned, I’ve wanted a Porsche since I was in junior high school. I had a long delay: after college I lived in NYC for 16 years, making Porsche ownership impractical. I have served on both nonprofit boards and social club boards for many years. If I had an objective for our club it would be to increase membership. There are a lot of Porsches in our area, and I’m guessing only a small percentage belong to the club. I would work to figure out how to reach theses owners and show them how much fun and how much more they can appreciate these wonderful machines. I grew up in Scarsdale, NY, graduated from Hobart College with a BA, and received an MBA from The Lubin School of Business. I lived and worked in NYC for about 16 years, raising three boys. I moved to Charlottesville about 15 years ago, where we had our fourth child, a girl. About 10 years ago I decided to try my hand at teaching. I’m a substitute teacher and work to keep our farm going.

Michael Evans–Secretary

As Secretary I want to better document the Club’s activities with articles and video recordings of fun events so that members may see their cars. This will include working towards a newer website and having a place for Club members to share their own pictures and video.

Jeff Blatter–Treasurer

I grew up in Crozet, attended Western Albemarle High school and VA Tech. I learned how to drive a stick in a 1966 Porsche 912 and owned a series of unreliable foreign sports cars. After college, I moved out west and worked in corporate finance in Boulder, CO. In the early 2000’s, my wife and I sold everything and moved to Bozeman, MT where I worked as a fishing guide and outfitter in the summer and did tax work in the winter. I returned to Charlottesville 4 years ago and work as a financial planner for a local firm. I am a Certified Financial Planner and an Enrolled Agent with the IRS. On nice days I drive my emerald green Porsche Carrera Cabriolet.

New Cayenne Launch
2018-11-26 08:00 - 17:00
By Jim Condon
Flow Porsche of Charlottesville hosted a launch party for the third-generation Cayenne at the scenic King Family Vineyards near Crozet on the evening of November 8. It was well attended by PCA members from the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Regions, plus other area “car guys.” A wine bar and excellent heavy hors d’oeuvres added to the draw. To see the photo gallery covering this event, click here.
The third generation 2019 Cayenne includes “glass cockpit” with touch-sensitive controls and increased power from smaller engines. The capital-T Turbo model now produces 550 hp and, with the aid of Sport Chrono, will launch the massive Cayenne from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. After an introductory presentation by Will Reifsteck of Flow Porsche, Chris Beverage and Ray Tinsley unveiled the new Cayenne for all to see and sit in.

New Member Event
2018-10-25 00:00
By John Odden, Membership Chair
The Shenandoah Region hosted a New Member Event on October 7th at Hank and Jolly Weil’s home in Crozet. We had 24 in attendance and everyone had an outstanding time. All of the new members can now understand why we say, “It’s not just the cars, its the people!”
Ed and Donna Rehorn brought their 1974 914 Porsche. Kevin Sheets drove his gorgeous, newly purchased, graphite blue metallic 2018 Boxster. David Seidenfeld brought his father who was visiting from Pittsburg and thoroughly enjoyed the cars along with the great conversations (David’s Dad is a long time car lover). Everyone enjoyed meeting David and Amber Tyson who drove up from Scottsville.
Hank and Jolly’s neighbors were overwhelmed with the eye candy parked on both sides of the street. The food was catered by Smoked Taphouse & Kitchen which is now my favorite barbecue restaurant! Michelle Odden, always the team player, helped with the planning and food presentation which I could not have done without her. Many thanks to Hank and Jolly Weil for opening up their home and their wonderful hospitality.

SRPCA 23rd Anniversary and Summer Picnic
2018-09-18 08:00 - 17:00
By Marty Doherty
On Sunday, August 26, 50 Shenandoah Region PCA members gathered to celebrate the Club’s 23rd anniversary with a summer picnic at the Market at Grelen, in Somerset, VA. They came from Richmond and its environs, led by John and Michelle Odden and from Charlottesville and points west, led by Mark Doherty and John Pfaltz. The day was bright, the views were sensational, and it didn’t rain! To see a photo gallery covering this event, click here.
The program consisted of a Club Sponsor award presented to Mike and Ana Kilmer for the sponsor banners displayed during the Richmond Porsche Meet by Hank Weil, President. Mike received a plaque with a model of his Porsche! Three door prizes went to the following lucky attendees:

Tim Messer — an Xpel front bumper application for a Porsche, provided by Capital Autobahnd
Mike Kilmer — a gift certificate from Detailers Domain
John Pfaltz — a gift certificate to Note Bene Restaurant

This event also benefited the Feedmore Food Bank in Richmond and the Blue Ridge Food Bank in Charlottesville. The Club issued checks totaling $260, including a donation from Beverly McNeill.

IMSA Michelin GT Challenge and PorschePlatz at VIR
2018-08-23 08:00 - 2018-08-27 17:00
By Jim Condon
The top races of this multiday event at VIR took place on Sunday, August 19. As usual this summer, heavy rain was predicted, but all of the races were completed on a dry track. The PorschePlatz tent was set up on NASCAR Bend this year, not just after Turn 4 as before. Shenandoah Region members in attendance on Sunday included Cam & Lisa Abernethy, Kim Butcher, Jim Condon & Sherry Westfall, Howie Dunbrack, Michael Evans, Dan Graff, Steve McCaughan, John Odden, Dick Pitman, Alex Smith, Bill Speidell, Steve Upman, and Keith Welty. To see the photo gallery from this event, click here.
After the early morning practice session, the first race was the Porsche GT3 Cup (platinum), with best lap times about 1 minute, 49 seconds. Next up in the morning was the Lamborghini Super Trofeo. In the PorschePlatz, a representative from Michelin described their race tires, answered questions from the audience, and gave a set of tires to a lucky winner. Michael Levitas and the TPC racing team told us about their GT3 Cup efforts.
The Michelin GT Challenge ran from about 1 PM to 3:45 PM. Sherry Westfall and Dan Graff won passes to the Porsche pit area during the race, were given an explanatory tour of the pits, and got to watch Porsche GTLM car #912 come in for a pit stop. Dan made a short video of the pit stop; click on the arrow in the image below to play it.
Porsche #911 led the race from lap 32 to lap 40, when it caught fire at the top of the climbing esses and had to drop out. #912 driven by Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor finished fifth in GTLM, with best lap times 1 minute, 43 seconds. Patrick Long and Christina Neilsen drove the Porsche #58 car to second place in GTD with lap times as fast as 1 minute, 46 seconds.
Selected race results:
Porsche GT3 Cup (platinum), first place: Zacharie Robichon
Porsche GT3 Cup (platinum), second place: Trenton Estep
Porsche GT3 Cup (platinum), third place: Roman De Angelis
GTLM, first place: BMW #25
GTLM, fifth place: Porsche #912 driven by Earl Bamber & Laurens Vanthoor
GTLM, DNF–fire: Porsche #911 driven by Patrick Pilet & Nick Tandy
GTD, first place: Lexus #14
GTD, second place: Porsche #58 driven by Patrick Long & Christina Nielsen

Tech Session—Dorn's Body & Paint
2018-02-24 08:00 - 17:00
By John Odden
Barry Dorn, Vice President of Dorn’s Body & Paint greeted 16 Shenandoah Region members with coffee and a bountiful array of pastries for an introduction to the advanced elements of collision repair of premium vehicles. Dorn’s Body & Paint is one of two Porsche Factory Certified repair centers in Virginia and the only one in central Virginia. Dorn’s is also factory certified for Tesla, Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo. Factory certification requires extensive personnel training and a broad investment in equipment to meet manufacturer’s specifications.
To see the photo gallery from this event, click here.
We were presented with the complexities of working with the combination of a steel structure and aluminum panels. Due to galvanic action of dissimilar metals, the two materials cannot come in contact with each other. Very specialized bonding materials must be used to insure the two materials do not interact. With the increased government mandated mileage requirements of motor vehicles, the automobile manufacturers are using more aluminum to reduce weight and increase fuel economy. We learned that there are very few collision repair operations that have the ability to work with aluminum. An interesting point with aluminum is that it has no “memory” whereas steel has memory. Steel is inclined to resume its original stamped shape and aluminum does not. This makes repair of aluminum a very challenging undertaking.
We had the opportunity to view a current model Range Rover which is all aluminum including the frame rails. The vehicle had a front end collision which damaged the initial 18 inches of aluminum frame rail. The engine and transmission required removal to perform the repair. Dorn’s cut out the damaged portion and welded new aluminum frame rails to the existing frame. This required, in additional to aluminum welding, eight different factory specified rivets and a special bonding compound manufactured by 3M which is only available for purchase from the UK. The Range Rover was on a special jig to insure proper alignment of the frame. The repair cost for this vehicle was approximately $50,000.
All in attendance received a very detailed education on the sensors that current automobiles have. These include backup cameras, distance detectors, blind spot monitors, and adaptive cruise control. Barry Dorn, who is on many national collision-repair boards and councils, shared with us that the paint thickness is a critical component for these sensors to function properly after a repair. An additional layer of paint can make a sensor inoperable. Paint thickness is now a critical component to collision repair. The sensing safely systems in current automobiles are called ADAS, Advance Driver Assist Systems. After a collision repair, it requires twelve hours of calibration to recalibrate all of these safety systems. Porsche, Audi, Tesla, and Mercedes Benz are the leading manufacturers providing these advanced systems.
A common maintenance service to prolong tire life and reduce wear is a front-end alignment. Barry shared the common service provided is typically “toe and go”. The two other critical adjustments besides toe adjustment are castor and camber. Today’s cars monitor the steering angle through a Steering Angle Inclination Sensor. These sensors must be reset after each front-end alignment. Not having these important sensors reset to the new settings can cause a vehicle rollover in a crash-avoidance maneuver. How many shops actually address the Steering Inclination Sensor? Less than 1% have the equipment to perform this very important component of a front-end alignment.
We were treated to a delicious lunch from Panera Bread and our choice of YETI thermal mugs with the Dorn’s Body and Paint logo and Porsche Collision Repair Center embossed on them. Flow Porsche provided a beautiful 2018 metallic gray Porsche Panamera for us to view during our session at Dorn’s.

Tech Session at Automotive Aesthetic
2018-01-24 08:00 - 17:00
By Jim Condon
Daniel Wendell, the owner of Automotive Aesthetic in Charlottesville, opened his shop to a large contingent of Shenandoah PCA members and other “car guys” for a tech session on January 20. Daniel is a lifelong PCA member from a PCA family.
To see the photo gallery from this event, click here.
After gathering for coffee, donuts, and talk, we sat down and learned about detailing from Daniel. He covered the three stages of detailing: (1) decontamination, (2) rejuvenation, and (3) preservation. For decontamination (washing) he recommended the “three bucket” system. The first bucket is for wheels, which should be done first because they are usually the dirtiest part of the car. He uses special chemicals that attack the iron in brake dust, dissolving it into a red liquid that can be rinsed or wiped off with a soft brush. For washing the paint he uses separate “clean” and “dirty” buckets with plastic grids on the bottom where dirt can settle out. This reduces the chance of adding swirl marks to the paint by washing it with a dirty mitt. For drying he uses a blow dryer or a thick microfiber towel.
The second stage is rejuvenation — polishing, removing scratches, correcting paint flaws, etc. Knowing how to do this and having the right tools (e.g., orbital polishers, paint depth gauges) is important, and is often best left to the pros.
The third and final stage is protection, which can be anything from simple waxing to applying “glass” or “ceramic” coating to covering with plastic film. Daniel recommends carnuba wax primarily for show cars and garage queens because it is not very durable. He also applies Modesta glass coatings and plastic films. His takeaway message is that the skill of the person doing this work is critical.
After a question-and-answer session, Daniel demonstrated polishing on Steve Upman’s 911 Carrera. Daniel also rents garage space for people to store their cars. For example, Dave Lasch stores his recently restored 356SC there because he doesn’t have a suitable garage at home. The tech session concluded with pizza and drinks for all.

2017 Shenandoah Region Summer Picnic aka Anniversary Party
2017-08-22 08:00 - 17:00
By Hank Weil
Click here to see a gallery of photos from this event.
It has been 22 years since the Shenandoah Region of the Porsche Club of America (SRPCA) was founded on August 17, 1995. SRPCA was founded by Porsche enthusiasts in central Virginia who found it difficult to attend Porsche Club events owing to the distances to adjacent PCA Regions. The founding officers were Cole Scrogham (President), Terry Felts (Vice President), Dave Lasch (Secretary), and Steven Lord (Treasurer).
In late 1995, SRPCA had approximately 20 members and in August 1996 celebrated its first anniversary with a party and a birthday cake. After that, enthusiasm and events took off. The first annual Holiday Party at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville was so successful that the 1996 Holiday Party was booked before the 1995 Party was over. By the end of 1995, membership had more than doubled from 22 to 43 members. Fast forward to 2017; our Region has grown to approximately 260 primary members and 160 affiliate members.
The Anniversary Party became a tradition, held at different venues each year. The 2017 Anniversary Party (aka Summer Picnic) was held at the Keswick Winery. However, given SRPCA has grown in both members and events, continuing this event as the Anniversary Party became a bit overwhelming. Therefore, the current Executive Committee decided to hold the Anniversary Party only every 5 years and replace it in the other years with a Summer Picnic, which is why this year’s event at the Keswick Winery was a Summer Picnic.
A delicious lunch catered by Basil Mediterranean Bistro was accompanied with wine for sale from the Keswick Winery. The owner of the Basil Mediterranean Bistro, Raif Antar, graciously donated the food as he has done for many events; the $10 lunch charge was set aside for the Club’s 2017 charity fund. Charitable giving is now a major focus of SRPCA. In 2016, SRPCA changed from a taxable corporation to a non-profit tax status and has been approved by the IRS to operate as a 501(c)(4) exempt organization. SRPCA has chosen the Blue Ridge and Central Virginia Food Banks to be the 2017 charities. Attendance at this year’s Summer Picnic (88 primary members, affiliates and friends) put almost $900 into the 2017 charity fund.
The 2017 Summer Picnic concluded with the presentation of several awards to individuals for their service and contributions to SRPCA over the years. First recipient was Raif Antar, the owner of Basil Mediterranean, for his generosity of catering many of the Clubs activities both this year and in past years. The second recipient was Ben Briggs, a principal owner of PrintSource, for providing printing services for SRPCA’s RPM event, as well as other printing requirements over the years. The third recipient was Bill Sanders, a Past President, who has given his time to grow SRPCA and to prepare SRPCA’s annual tax returns. Bill and his wife, Jill, will be moving to Hawaii in the Fall and they will be missed.
Behind the scenes many volunteers ensured a successful event. For those members residing in the eastern portion of the Region, Randy Bell organized a “fun run” from the Manakin Sabot area to the Keswick Winery. Parking at the winery was handled by Jason Wavell and Shannon Kennedy to ensure that the members Porsches were properly parked. No door dings were allowed. Registration was aptly handled by Marquita Doherty and Jolly Weil. Mark Doherty assisted in setting up the picnic area. A great big THANK YOU goes to Katrina Stumpf for her work in finding the venue and working with the winery staff to ensure that the picnic was a success.
Wrapping up the picnic, Cole Scrogham (remember him? Founder and first President and still enjoying SRPCA after 22 years) provided a sneak preview of the 2017 Fall Fling that he and Alex Smith are planning for later this year. He also mentioned that the 2017 Picnic was a great Porsche social event. His enthusiasm was reaffirmed by many of the 88 participants who said that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Thanks again to all who attended and assisted in the administration of this event. Remember, “It’s not just the cars, it’s the people.” This was a great event and “Thank-you” to all who attended!!!

New Member Social
2017-07-14 08:00 - 17:00
By Bruce Russell
Shenandoah Region’s leadership team hosted a New Member Social on Saturday morning, July 8 at Euroclassics Porsche in Midlothian, VA. This social was not publicized on the Region’s website, but individual invitations were sent to all our new members who had joined PCA in the last 24 months. The management and staff of Euroclassics were very gracious hosts for this event. They had the showroom full of new Porsche models for us to climb into and admire, and they had a big screen HDTV which was televising live the qualifying sessions for the F1 Grand Prix of Austria. The Region provided the food and drinks; the food came from Wegman’s Catering and was excellent!
The only negative of the day was attendance from our invited new members. We invited 48 new members that had joined Shenandoah Region, and PCA, during the last two years. We had one new member attend this event. As a bit of background, Shenandoah Region is trying to strengthen our relationship with Euroclassics Porsche and we thought this social would be a nice gesture towards that goal. We did not expect a large turnout because we realize Euroclassics is located in the far eastern section of our region; we had expected more that one new member to attend.
I have been in PCA since 1986 and have been a member of seven different regions. One common trait that all regions experience is very low participation from new members. PCA leadership constantly struggles with the age old question — why? Why don’t we see more new members at our events? I have some ideas, because I can remember back to when I was a new member. We would like to hear from our new members. Tell us what you like and what you don’t like. Tell us what we can do to attract you to some Shenandoah events. My email is russell911@comcast.net. Seriously, I would like to hear from you.
In the meantime, there will be another New Member Social at Flow Porsche in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 19. Invitations to our new members will be going out soon, so watch your email. Hopefully, we will see you there!

Porsches & Pastrami Social
2017-07-04 08:00 - 17:00
By Bruce Russell
Shenandoah Region held one of its very popular Porsches & Pastrami social events on Sunday, June 11 at Dürty Nelly’s Pub in Charlottesville. We were again the guests of Gary Hagar; Gary is both a SRPCA member and the co-owner of Dürty Nelly’s. Gary drives a beautiful 968 coupe; most 968s are cabs, so Gary’s coupe is somewhat unique.
These Porsches & Pastrami social events are periodically held on Sundays throughout the year. Gary has been hosting them at Dürty Nelly’s for at least the last five years. I for one really enjoy these low-key social events where I can enjoy a great deli sandwich, salad, or homemade soup and socialize. I find this is a great time to meet new members and socialize with old friends.
Folks began to gather at the deli around noon. Gary already had his staff working in the kitchen, so the sumptuous “deli delights” were already being served when I arrived. My step-son Tim Mabes had joined me for this event; Tim lives in Alexandria and has a beautiful dark green 2010 Boxster.
SRPCA members came and went for the next couple of hours. All total, we probably had 20–25 members stop in for a bite to eat and to socialize. It was a warm late spring day, so we did not have to many members sitting outside on the patio. I found myself engaged in “Porsche-talk” at a table with Dan Graff, Bates McLain, Iain Fraser, Tim Mabes and a couple others. Our conversations covered a myriad of automotive topics.
One of the big topics of discussion was the recently held RPM event. The consensus was it was another successful multi-day event with kudos going out the Sherry Westfall for making it such a success. Around 2 pm, I bid my farewells and departed for home. I love these socials at Dürty Nelly’s; I just kick back and relax. Hope to see some more friendly faces next time! Check the Region calendar for specific dates.

Pickel Barrel Breakfast
2017-07-04 00:00
The Shenandoah Region PCA Board decided to have several casual Saturday Club breakfasts to increase the opportunity to meet with other Club members and enjoy talking about cars, Porsches, and anything else of interest. The second breakfast of 2017 was held at the Pickel Barrel Restaurant, 12912 Plaza Drive, Centerville, VA on June 17.
The Pickel Barrel had set aside three tables for about 24 members in a private room. The restaurant was packed and it was great to have our own space to meet and eat breakfast.
The event was designed to be a casual get-together to renew friendships, meet new members, and just sit and talk while enjoying a great breakfast. The initial turnout was smaller than expected and 10 Club members came out to meet and discuss our favorite topic, Porsches. We spent about two hours at the restaurant before leaving to get on with our day.
The next Club breakfast is scheduled for July 15 at the Tip Top Restaurant at 1420 Richmond Road. Charlottesville, VA at 9 AM.
We will be back at the Pickel Barrel on August 12 at 9 AM.
The Club wants to encourage new members to attend these breakfasts, as well as older members to meet with other Club members and renew old acquaintances. Come on out for a casual get-together and some good food and friendship. We hope to see you there!!!,

RPM Concours Judging Clinic
2017-05-27 08:00 - 17:00
By Jim Condon
This event, organized by RPM Chair Sherry Westfall, began with members meeting at Zion Crossroads for a short but scenic morning tour up to Gordonsville and then back down to Keswick, where Roger and Gail Borsink live. Roger opened his Porsche garage to us, where we could see his immaculate cars — a classic 993, a 996 turbo S with the X50 power package, and a shiny almost-new (just finished its 2000 mile breakin) 991 GT3 — in their pristine environment. His garage has all the conveniences needed for detailing and minor mechanical work, and the walls are decorated with car photos, advertisements, and illuminated signs sporting manufacturers’ logos. Click here to see the day’s photo gallery.
The official justification for this event (as if any were needed) is the 2017 RPM concours judging clinic, led by long-time Head Judge Dave Lasch. Dave explained that the RPM concours is “tops only,” meaning that judges do not look underneath the cars to see if the mufflers are rusty. However, the judges may ask owners to open compartments for inspection (e.g., trunk lid, gas cap cover, glove compartment,…). The areas being judged are listed in the five RPM concours judging sheets, which you can find by clicking here. Dave calls the RPM concours “family friendly” to distinguish it from much stricter concours like Amelia Island or Pebble Beach. The main judging criteria are cleanliness, condition, and care; period correctness is not required. At RPM, all cars in a given class (e.g., air-cooled 911 or Boxster/Cayman) will be judged by the same judging team (four judges doing the actual inspections, plus a team leader). The judging team gets to spend only five minutes looking at each car, so the individual judges can’t judge everything. They should pick a few items to inspect on all of their judged cars in order to treat them as consistently as possible.
If you would like to volunteer to be a Concours Judge, just email Dave at dlasch00@hotmail.com.
After the clinic, Roger gave a guided tour of his Porsche garage and three Porsches to a very interested audience, and he fielded a number of enthusiastic questions.
Finally, all good PCA events end with food. In this case, a great outdoor buffet lunch provided for free by member Raif Antar. If you liked what you ate, or wonder what you missed, visit his Basil Mediterranean Bistro in Charlottesville.

Crozet Car Show
2017-05-24 08:00 - 17:00
Bruce Russell
The 4th annual Crozet Car Show was held at Claudius Crozet Park on Saturday, May 20th. All the proceeds from the entry fees went to benefit the Crozet Park. We were blessed with great weather for the event. Shenandoah Region was well represented at this event. As a matter of fact, all entries into the “Foreign” class were Shenandoah members’ Porsches!
Some of the Shenandoah members in attendance were Hank Weil, Mark Doherty, Rick Ebinger, Bruce Russell, Jeff Elmore, Iain Frazer, Eric Huggins, Johnny Johnson, Jeff & Linda Sivers, Steve Upman, Tim Messer, Jason Wavell, and Peter Chapin. Not all the members attending displayed their cars, but we did have nine beautiful Porsches that were on display.
The show had eight classes of cars. The “judging” was done by the show entrants. Each entrant received a ballot and could cast a vote for one car in each class. Seven of the classes covered American muscle cars, antiques, and motorcycles. There was one “Foreign” class.
Once all the ballots were collected and tallied, the winners were announced and “piston” trophies were presented to each class winner. The “Foreign” class was won by our president, Hank Weil! Hank brought his beautiful 1985 911 “Turbo Look” Carrera: it’s a beauty! A good time was had by all attendees. Click here to see Bruce’s photos from the event.

Tip Top Breakfast
2017-05-11 08:00 - 17:00
By Hank Weil
The Shenandoah Region PCA Board decided to have several casual Saturday Club breakfasts to increase the opportunity to meet with other Club members and enjoy talking about cars, Porsches, and anything else of interest. The first breakfast of 2017 was held at the Tip Top Restaurant, 1420 Richmond Road, Charlottesville, VA on May 6. The weather was a bit ominous and probably kept a few members from taking out their Porsches.
Our host, Club member and owner of the Tip Top, Terry Vassalos, had set aside two tables for 20 members. The restaurant was packed and it was great to have our own space to meet and eat breakfast. The event was designed to be a casual get-together to renew friendships, meet new members, and just sit and talk while enjoying a great breakfast. The initial turnout was good. There were 14 Club members who came out to meet and discuss our favorite topic, Porsches. We all spent about 90 minutes at the restaurant before leaving to get on with our respective Saturdays.
The next Club breakfast is scheduled for June 17 at the Pickle Barrel at 12912 Plaza Drive in Centerville, VA at 9 AM. We will be back at the Tip Top on July 15. Come on out for a casual get-together and some good food and friendship.

Euroclassics 2016 Columbus Day DE at VIR
2016-12-31 08:00 - 17:00
The 2016 Euroclassics Columbus Day (October 10) DE at VIR was covered by professional track photographer Art of F & S Enterprises. Click here to see some of his photos.

2016 Holiday Party Reflections
2016-12-18 08:00 - 17:00
Jim Kaczorowski
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. Click here to see photos from the 2016 Holiday Party.

Shenandoah Region 2017–2018 Board Election Results
2016-12-01 08:00 - 17:00
Jim Condon, election committee chairman
The votes received during the November 15–28 balloting period have been counted. The Election Committee (Jim Condon, Gary Hagar, and Deane Parker) congratulates the newly elected 2017–2018 Shenandoah Region Board of Directors:
President: Hank Weil
Vice President: Randy Bell
Vice President: Mark Doherty
Secretary: Lynne Taylor
Treasurer: Carey Lockhart

President: Hank Weil of Crozet, VA
It is an honor to have been elected to be the President of the Shenandoah Region. Jolly and I moved to Crozet two and a half years ago and built our retirement home in Old Trail. I spent 35 years working for Tenneco and have had the opportunity to live in many towns in the United States. I first joined PCA in 1970. I sold our 914-6 in 1975 when I began working toward an MBA. I did not acquire another Porsche until all three of our children graduated from college. We purchased our 1994 Speedster in 2000 while living in Illinois. I was a member of the Chicago Region for 14 years and served seven years as the Chicago Region Concours Co-Chairman. I have attended 12 Parades since rejoining PCA in 2000. I transferred to the Shenandoah Region in July 2014. I am currently the Membership Chair and have had the opportunity to meet many of the Shenandoah Region Members over the last two and a half years. I look forward to continuing to grow the Region, listening and learning from our members, and getting more members involved in planning and participating in Region and Club activities. I value the great memories and lifelong friends I have made as a member of PCA.

Vice President: Randy Bell of Richmond, VA
Randolph (Randy) Bell has been a member of the PCA’s Shenandoah Region since 2011. He has been a volunteer at several Richmond Porsche Meets and has designed and led several countryside rallies.
Randy is an enthusiastic Porsche owner and an avid student of all things Porsche. He is a member of the Drivers’ Club at Dominion Raceway, where there are always numerous and diverse Porsches on hand. His own car is a 2011 Boxster Spyder extensively modified by TPC Racing, which he treasures enough to know that it deserves a much better driver. Randy has attended the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Raceway and the Bertil Roos three-day Racing School. He wishes more of the instruction had taken, but he has learned enough to know that there is not much that is better in life than mastering turns and techniques on a track in our special cars.
Randy attended the College of William and Mary and Cambridge University before entering the U.S. Foreign Service, from which he and his wife Karla retired to Church Hill in Richmond. They have one son, LCDR Christopher Bell, a Naval Aviator.

Vice President: Mark Doherty of Charlottesville, VA
Mark has been a member of the Shenandoah PCA for 15 years. He currently serves as the Tour Chair and has served as the Nominations Chair. Over the years, he has enjoyed — for the most part — working on/ driving/ restoring cars including TR-3s, MGAs, a MK IX, and an E-type Jaguar, prior to attaining automotive enlightenment with the purchase of his first Porsche in 2001. Since then five Porsches have graced his garage, including currently a ’14 Carrera S and a ’16 Macan S — the pride and joy of his wife Marty. Both he and Marty have been active in the region as participants in many touring and social activities, tour planning, and other volunteer work. He has also participated in the ’16 SRPCA annual planning meeting and two Zone 2 Presidents meetings. Both he and Marty are recently retired from UVa and are actively engaged in community and local volunteerism. Other activities include motorcycling, travel, scale modeling, and diorama building.

Secretary: Lynne Taylor of Crozet, VA
Lynne is a veterinarian who works in public health. She has been a PCA member since 1981 in the First Settlers, Maverick, Peachstate, and Shenandoah regions. She has owned four 914s, two 911s, and now owns a Boxster. After completing a Bondurant performance-driving course, she enjoyed competing in autocross and track events (especially Road Atlanta) and currently enjoys touring scenic Virginia. Other interests include riding her two horses, playing flute, riding motorcycles and bicycles, hiking, and running. Lynne will be serving her third term as Secretary of Shenandoah.

Treasurer: Carey Lockhart of Midlothian, VA
Carey is married and has two daughters. He is a licensed CPA and is controller for Markel/Eagle Partners, LLC in Glen Allen. He has been a PCA member since 1995 and has owned Porsches since 1990. His favorite Porsche activities are our Richmond Porsche Meet (RPM) and social and technical events. In addition to his passion for Porsches, Carey enjoys old British cars (He has a 1959 TR-3.), running, photography, and football, especially rooting for LSU and the New Orleans Saints. Carey will be serving his third term as Treasurer of Shenandoah.

The Shenandoah Region's 21st Birthday Party
2016-08-29 08:00 - 17:00
By Jim Condon
The Shenandoah Region PCA turned 21 this year! To celebrate, Beverly McNeill proposed we get together on August 8 at Stevenson Ridge near Fredericksburg. She brought the two birthday cakes and organized the event with the help of Clint Shuler. The Stevenson Ridge property covers 87 acres and has a lodge with a large dining room plus a number of restored private buildings that can be rented for getaways. In the woods behind the building complex there are old earthworks remaining from the Civil War. The owners are Dan and Debbie Spears, and the managing partner is their daughter, Debbie Mackowski. Dan is also a Porschephile with several older Porsches undergoing restoration in his garage. Click here to see photos from this event.
The buffet lunch concluded with birthday cake and ice cream. When we left the lodge, we were surprised to see a genuine Bugatti Veryon in the driveway. This Volkswagen on steroids is powered by a 1200 hp 8 liter VW engine with 16 cylinders in a W-shaped (double V) configuration boosted by 4 turbos. It reaches 150 mph in 10 seconds from a standing start, and its top speed is supposedly 250+ mph, for those who can find a place to drive that fast. Needless to say, if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.

The 2016 Zone 2 Club Race and Advanced DE at VIR
2016-05-06 08:00 - 17:00
Jim Condon
Zone 2 sponsored a combination PCA club race and advanced DE at VIR over the weekend of June 24 through 26, 2016. Nine members of the Shenandoah Region drove in the advanced DE, which is open to experienced solo drivers in the white, black, and red run groups. They were Jim Condon (2007 Cayman S), Randy Copeland (2014 991 Turbo S), David Israel (996 GT3), Erin Israel (race-prepared 993), John Kessler (1971 911), Emmett Richardson (2016 Cayman GT4), Clint Shuler (2009 Cayman S), Bill Speidell (Cayman GT4), and Sherry Westfall (2007 Cayman S). Click here to see the photo gallery of this event.
A few exotic cars usually show up in the advanced DE, and this year was no exception, with two DP cars, an “improved” Cobra, and a NASCAR-style Mustang.
There were three race groups as well: the new Cayman GT4 Clubsport class had its own separate race. All of the faster PCA classes raced together, and all of the slower PCA classes also raced together. There was a fair bit of carnage in the GT4 qualifying sessions as drivers got used to their new cars, so three GT4s failed to start the race itself.
