December, 2011 Escape Velocity Magazine - Space Coast PCA ...

Volume 5, Issue 4 

Published Quarterly By The Space Coast Region, Porsche Club Of America 

May 2010 | Volume 4, Issue 2 

Back to Back 

at the Rolex 24 

Amelia Island Concours 

A Track Day With Derek Bell 

48 Hours of Sebring 

November 2011 

INSIDE 

Rennsport Reunion IV | Oktoberfest | Autocross | PBIR DE

President’s 

Column 

Finishing a Great Year and New Beginnings 

2011 has been another spectacular year for members of Space Coast 

Region. SPC hosted 60 events during the calendar year. Almost 100 days 

of activities were available to our members through the racing, driver 

education, rallies, and autocrosses offered through our neighboring 

regions. This level of activity is almost unprecedented within the PCA. 

Space Coast’s total membership continues to grow, increasing by 8% 

this year to 753 primary and family members, and is up by 63% since 

2006. The support of Porsche of Melbourne continues to be a key factor 

in our success. SPC sent over 50 members to the 56th Annual Porsche 

Parade in Savannah and came home with a number of trophies and a 

1st Place ranking for Escape Velocity. 

Space Coast Region also made history this year. We scored a Panorama 

cover in August; featuring Ralph Fritsche’s 993 parked aside the Space 

Shuttle Atlantis. Largely through the efforts of Vice President Steve 

Hoffman and his contacts at NASA, two of SPC’s logo pins flew on 

STS-135, the final flight of Atlantis and the Space Shuttle program. The 

journey of the pins is documented in the November issue of Panorama. 

The Porsche Museum has requested that one of the pins make a visit to 

Stuttgart for an extended display. 

A dozen Space Coasters traveled to Laguna Seca Raceway for Rennsport 

Reunion IV. Their stories in this issue of EV attempt to document the 

experiences at the greatest gathering of historic racing Porsches ever 

held. SPC’s Oktoberfest attracted approximately 130 participants from 

five neighboring regions, and included twelve cars from the 356 Florida 

Owners Group. Bob Dewey received the inaugural Kirk Stowers 

Memorial Trophy in memory of our long-time Treasurer and FOG’s 

five-time Past President. 

A new year is upon us and the schedule, as usual, is packed with events 

including Zonefest 2012 which SPC Region will host for the first time 

on April 20-22 in Vero Beach. We need your help to ensure the quality 

and pace of events is maintained. Please let any one of our officers 

know if you have an interest in supporting the production of these 

multi-regional events. Thanks to all of you for making my first year so 

enjoyable. Best wishes for the upcoming holidays. 

Drive with Passion, 

David O’Neal 

On the cover: Porsche 917s dive through the 

corkscrew at Laguna Seca during Rennsport 

Reunion IV. Photo by David O’Neal. 

volume 5, Issue 4 

In This Issue 

Autocross School 

page 5 

Fall Autocross 

page 7 

Oktoberfest 

page 8-9 

Autocross Challenge 

page 10 

Aerodynamics KK 

page 11 

Rennsport Reunion IV 

page 12-15 

Porsche Factory Expansion 

page 19 

Tech Column 

page 20 

From the DE Instructor 

page 21 

Classifieds 

page 22 

TRG/Adobe Road Winery 

page 23 

Christmas Party 

page 24 

Election of Officers 

page 25 

Goodie Shop 

page 26 

Zonefest 2012 

page 27 

Driver Education 

page 28-29 

Coming Attractions 

page 30 

Member Spotlight 

page 31 

Attention Boxster 

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Visit www.914RS.com for more information 

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President 


doneal@cwisdom.com 

407.808.6461 

Vice President 

Steve Hoffman 

steve1rob2@aol.com 

321.506.6054 

Secretary 

John “Blake” Blakely 

blakeblakely@mac.com 

321.213.1203 

Treasurer 

Tom Kirk 

tlkirk@cfl.rr.com 

321.591.2223 

Membership 

Brian Reinert 

breinert@cfl.rr.com 

321.298.0089 

Past President 

Ralph Fritsche 

kilodawg@993mail.com 

321.289.9051 

North Region Coordinator 

Mike Masters 

mdmasters911@gmail.com 

386.290.7479 

South Region Coordinator 

David Kelly 

mdkelly1@bellsouth.net 

772.713.4084 

Skill Event Coordinators 

Jonathan Parker 

jgparker@cfl.rr.com 

321.751.9032 

Tom Kirk 

tlkirk@cfl.rr.com 

321.591.2223 

Social Event Coordinators 

Andre Martineau 

amartineau2010@hotmail.com 

321.427.5619 

Ron Menck 

rmenck@att.net 

321.243.5356 

Tech Coordinators 



321.289.9051 

Shelby Goode 

zyborg7@hotmail.com 

321.632.2432 

Touring Coordinators 

Brian Reinert 

breinert@cfl.rr.com 

321.298.0089 

David LaPorte 

dlaporte@bellsouth.netFL 

321.403.2500 

Classic Coordinator 



321.289.9051 

Event Insurance Coordinator 


doneal@cwisdom.com 

407.808.6461 

4 volume 5, Issue 4 

Our 

Officials 

Parade Coordinator 

Ron McCall 

rmccall6@cfl.rr.com 

386.589.0879 

2012 Zonefest Chair EV Editor 

Lou Linden 

Ginny O’Neal 

Louis.Linden@ai-solutions.com goneal@ags-expo.com 

321.474.5772 

407.491.5810 

Webmaster 

Jonathan Parker 

jgparker@cfl.rr.com 

321.751.9032 

Webmaster Tech / Assistant 

Vivienne Davey 

vdaveyusa@cfl.rr.com 

321.431.4404 

Charity Coordinator 

Sue Tompkins 

stompkins@cfl.rr.com 

321.729.0234 

EV Advertising 

Jack Roberts 

jackeroberts@hotmail.com 

321.727.0046 

Sponsorship Chair 

Tom Gorsuch 

tgorsuch@cfl.rr.com 

321.626.0563

Space Coast Inaugural Autocross School 

Article by Brian Reinert 

Photos by Blake Blakely 

On Saturday, September 10th, approximately 40 drivers participated 

in our first Autocross School. This was an exciting event for us as 

our very own Space Coast Region member Geoffrey Lowdermilk 

served as the Chief Instructor. Geoffrey is a former factory driver for 

Porsche (and also a certain Italian car company). He has raced in the 

Rolex series and the 12 and 24 hour Le Mans races. Instructors David 

O’Neal and I assisted Geoffrey. 

Our Chief Instructor 

Geoffrey Lowdermilk 

The Autocross School was open to all SPC members. This was the 

first event for several new members, and many veterans were in 

attendance as well. Two attendees even came out in their Cayennes! 

No talking in class – 

just listen and learn 

The day began when Geoffrey spoke on the principles of autocross 

driving. David O’Neal led a session for all first-timers on how to 

prepare and stage for autocrossing. After the short classroom sessions, 

it was time to get behind the wheel! Geoffrey started the drivers 

with some threshold braking exercises - an important component 

to successful autocrossing as it provides optimal braking ability. The 

perfect amount of braking force is developed at the point where the 

wheels just begin to slip. This braking is the opposite of daily street 

driving and provides the best lap times. To accomplish threshold 

braking, a driver must quickly and deeply brake at the onset of the 

braking cycle. The driver then reduces the braking pressure later in 

the cycle in order to settle the car. 


Finally, it was time for an actual autocross course. Geoffrey designed 

a course to demonstrate elements common to most autocross 

courses: a short straightaway, a slalom, a decreasing radius turn, and 

a sweeping turn with a late apex. First, the drivers walked the course 

which is an important element of autocrossing as it allows the driver 

to study course components and develop a plan of attack. Instructors 

then rode with students to offer personal coaching as each driver was 

given the opportunity to practice the course. 

After all the practice, drivers could no longer resist the urge to drive 

the course for time! The best time of the day was accomplished by Jim 

Hoffman. Second place went to Ken Marshall, and three drivers tied 

for third place: Douglas Dieruff, Lou Linden and Ron Menck. 

Students waiting 

for their turn on the course 

Autocross is a great way for us to enjoy the performance of our 

Porsches in a safe manner. Several autocrossing opportunities 

are currently open for registration at register.pca.org. We invite all 

members to come out and join the friendly competition as Space 

Coast Region attempts to outscore Citrus Region. 

Brian Reinert instructs Don Grainger 

5

volume 5, Issue

Autocross Season in Full Swing 

Article by David O’Neal 

Photo by Curt Dieterle 

Our friends at Florida Citrus Region 

(FLC) have resumed the autocross series, 

culminating in the planned FLC/SPC 

Autocross Challenge in December. On 

October 1st, twelve Space Coast members 

joined about thirty other drivers at the huge 

parking lot of the Orange County Convention 

Center for the first fall AX. 

It was apparent that the recent Autocross 

School paid off for several of our members. 

Mike Masters set one of the fastest times of 

the day in his Carrera 4 on the course set to 

favor the power of 911s. And, in her Boxster, 

Victoria Dieterle placed first in the SL class. 

An overall great showing for Space Coast 

with the following results: 

S1 – 1st and 2nd 

S2 – 2nd and 3rd 

SL – 1st and 3rd 

SPC fielded a number of AX rookies (R) at 

the event. Craig (R) and Lynda (R) Barrie, 

Curt and Victoria Dieterle, Lou Linden (R), 

Ken Marshall, Ron Menck (R), David and 

Ginny O’Neal, and Rick Parrott made the 

group drive from Rockledge. Doug Dieruff 

represented the region as well. Ken Marshall’s 

Carrera GTS made quite the auditory 

impression with its deep throaty exhaust, but 

the Barrie’s Peridot Green Cayman R was the 

car that captured everyone’s attention. 

Space Coasters taking that all important course walk 

Zipper Urogynecology 

�is travel season focus on 

fun and not the restroom. 


Be sure to register at register.pca.org for the 

December 10th Autocross Challenge and 

Ladies Day. See you there! 

Make fewer pit stops with a 

visit to Zipper Urogynecology. 

321.674.2114 | www.ZipperUroGyn.com 

New Location: 1130 S. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne

Oktoberfest Concours and BBQ 

Article by Steve Hoffman 

Photos by Jennifer Barrows and David O’Neal 

Space Coast Region, along with Florida Citrus Region and the 356 

Florida Owner’s Group (FOG), hosted the 4th Annual Oktoberfest 

at the picturesque F. Burton Smith Park in Cocoa on Saturday, 

October 30th. Also in attendance were members from Suncoast and 

Gold Coast Regions. The weather was absolutely perfect, as the mild 

temperatures, light breezes, and sunny skies were a constant reminder 

of why we are blessed to live where we do, especially this time of 

year. We enjoyed our largest turnout ever with approximately 130 

enthusiasts soaking up the atmosphere, participating or admiring the 

concours cars, looking through the rare and hard to find items in the 

swap meet, enjoying the authentic German cuisine, and enjoying the 

company of the many friends in attendance - some old and some new. 

We were honored to have our Zone 12 Representative Jennifer Barrows 

in attendance along with her husband Greg. They have been regulars 

at this event in the past and we always enjoy their participation. As 

in prior years, we made the trip worthwhile by rewarding them and 

their beautiful 968 with some hardware. 

356s awaiting the judges 

This year we expanded the base for the event to include the 356 FOG 

group. We have co-hosted events in the past, as we share a common 

passion for all things Porsche. We share another special bond in that 

a leader of both clubs, Kirk Stowers, was taken from us this year. As 


a tribute, we initiated the Kirk Stowers Memorial Trophy to the top 

356 in the concours. The trophy will be engraved with the winner’s 

name and remain on display at Porsche of Melbourne. It has a special 

engraving recognizing Kirk for his contributions and spirit to both 

clubs. “It is all about the fun” was one of Kirk’s favorite quotes and 

one we all need to remember from time to time. Kirk’s wife Rosemary, 

FOG Vice President Mark Koorland, and PCA National Treasurer 

Tom Gorsuch shared some great stories about Kirk, before presenting 

the trophy to the winner Bob Dewey. Bob was a very good friend of 

Kirk’s, and it was clear that Bob felt honored to be the first recipient 

of this prestigious award. 

Head Chef John Vasconi with 

his assistant David O’Neal 

As in the past, the awards provided during the event, although 

appealing in acknowledging the class and place of finish for each 

winner, are artfully updated to include a photo of their car and 

presented at our upcoming Holiday Party. Of course, you must be 

present to receive the update, so if you have not already done so, 

please go to register.pca.org to register for this annual year-end event. 

The results of the concours are noted below. 

Everyone enjoyed the authentic German cuisine 

Thanks to all of the folks who participated in the swap meet. I saw 

Porsche memorabilia, posters, lots of parts, back issues of Panorama 

and Excellence, tons of scale models, plus other unique offerings.

Events that allow this opportunity are becoming scarce, so we will 

continue to hold the swap meet as part of this annual event. 

Special thanks go out to all of the volunteers for the hard work that 

makes these events so successful: Concours Judges Ralph Fritsche, 

Alfred Marino, Lou Verdiales, Rick Parrott, Greg Barrows, Shelby 

Goode, and Lou Linden; Head Chef John and Bertie Vasconi, Lynda 

Barrie; our lovely registration crew Ginny O’Neal, Donna Linden, 

and Robin Hoffman; and finally our President David O’Neal for comanaging 

this event. 

We look forward to seeing you all at the Holiday Party and future 

events. 

Bob Dewey receives the Kirk Stowers Trophy 

from Rosemary Lane and Tom Gorsuch 

He loves his GT3 - Brian Reinert’s 

car ready for review 


Concours results: 

911 Water Cooled 

1st Jorge Hoffmann – 2007 997 S Coupe 

2nd Larry Hartman – 2003 996 Turbo 

3rd Tom Etter – 2009 997 Coupe 

911 Air Cooled 

1st Ed Springer – 1997 993 Turbo Coupe 

2nd Ralph Fritsche – 1996 993 Coupe 

3rd Lou Verdiales – 1977 911S Coupe 

Sport Late Model 

1st Ron Ausburn/Pat Ette – 2006 Cayman S 

2nd Craig/Lynda Barrie – 2011 Cayman R 

3rd Keith Hervieux – 2000 Boxster 

Sport Early Model 

1st Jennifer/Greg Barrows – 1993 968 Coupe 

2nd Robin Hoffman – 1992 968 Coupe 

3rd Robert Rogell/Katie Gilton – 1986 944 Coupe 

356 

1st Bob Dewey – 1958 A Speedster 

2nd John Stickles – 1955 Speedster 

3rd John/Jan Reker – 1965 C Cabriolet 

People’s Choice (non-356) John Ross – 1997 993 Turbo Coupe 

Best in Show Jorge Hoffmann – 2007 997 S Coupe 

People’s Choice winner John Ross 

with Steve Hoffman

Showdown! 

Space Coast Makes Its First Defense 

of the Autocross Challenge Trophy 

The date: Saturday, December 10th 

The place: Drive departs Rockledge Lowes parking lot at 7:30am, competition begins at 9am 

The battlefield: Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive in Orlando 

The event: Sixth Annual FLC/SPC Autocross Challenge and Ladies Day 

At stake: Keep possession of the new AX Challenge Trophy 

To prepare: Register on-line at register.pca.org, select Florida Citrus Region Autocross, 

pay on-site, ladies compete for FREE 

SPC’s top Ladies AX veteran – Cheryl Martineau 

Last year, the women from Space Coast Region 

secured our first victory in this hotly contested 

series with Florida Citrus Region. A single 

point has determined the winner of the past two 

competitions. Space Coast members captured 

four national AX trophies at the Porsche Parade 

in Savannah this summer, but we need all drivers, 

regardless of AX experience, to attend and drive. 

For this event, winning isn’t everything…it’s the 

only thing! 

... it’s 

the only 

thing! 

Victoria Dieterle will help assure another victory! 


Winning isn’t 

everything...

Kaffeeklatsch at Aerodynamics 

Space Coasters Brave the Gale to Attend Lou U 


Photos by Curt Dieterle 

Twenty members from Space Coast Region braved gale-force winds 

and torrential rains to attend the Kaffeeklatsch hosted by the Verdiales’ 

at their Spruce Creek Fly-in hangar on October 9th. A generous 

continental breakfast was served while the visitor viewed the latest 

projects undertaken by Aerodynamics’ staff, including perfecting 

some nits on Ralph Fritsche’s 930 factory slant-nose Turbo. 

Additionally, a near-perfect 1986 Guards Red 930 Turbo sat alongside 

a 1977 Shamrock Green 911S – historic eye candy for all to enjoy 

– while a stainless steel DeLorean (sans flux capacitor) hid in the 

back of the shop surrounded by various airplanes. In his tech talk, 

Professor Lou Verdiales provided an extensive briefing on the myths 

and intricacies of exhaust systems and their application to Porsche 

cars. Lou’s extensive knowledge and expertise, coupled with his 

ability to communicate that data to the layperson and gear-head 

alike, made for an educational and informative experience. We are 

certain to schedule a return to Lou U sometime next semester. 

Aftermarket Exhaust 

Manifolds/Headers 

Porsches and Planes and Lou U 


Attendees 

take advantage 

of a break in the 

weather to visit 

11


They say “a picture is worth a thousand words”. I took hundreds of pictures at Rennsport Reunion IV which was held at Laguna Seca Raceway 

near Monterey, California. The shots I captured cannot convey the complete breadth of the event. The excitement, the emotion, the history 

– spread panoramically in front of you each day. Almost a dozen Space Coast members were there for four days, from 7:00am until 6:00pm 

– there was not enough time, there are not enough pictures, there are not enough words. – David O’Neal 

About Rennsport Reunion IV 

Article and Photos by Bill Berman 

How do you describe one of the best and most fun filled experiences 

of your life? Wow or OMG do not come close to relaying the sights, 

soundsandsmellsofthesensoryoverloadthatwasRennsportReunion 

IV at Laguna Seca. Even though I live near Daytona Speedway, I 

missed the last two Rennsport Reunions. My wife convinced me that 

I should clear my calendar and attend this one and I am glad I did. 

Bill and the 918. 

Can you tell I’m 

happy to be there? 

For me, the best part of the event was the sights and sounds of 

racing Porsches from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Seeing 917s and 908s 

approaching the corkscrew turn at Laguna Seca was fantastic. As I 

watched these cars on the track it was difficult to believe that their 

prime was over 40 years ago. The 935s, 956s, and 962s were just 

as impressive and brought back memories of the IMSA battles at 

Daytona and Sebring, some driven by the original winning drivers. 

Walking around the paddock, listening to the revving engines and 

smelling the burnt racing fuel was heavenly. Being surrounded by 

fellow Porsche enthusiasts made the experience that much better, 

and I think it magnified the feeding frenzy in the vendor’s row. In 

addition to the racing, one could find the best examples of every road 

going Porsche model ever made. Being able to share the experience 

in real time with other Space Coast members just made the whole 

event more real and exciting. 


Mayhem in the 

Cayman Garage 

When I decided to attend, I wanted to be part of it and contribute 

so I volunteered to work the event. Not only was I rewarded with 

a volunteers only event shirt, but it gave me the opportunity to talk 

with PCA members from around the country. Since I am a Cayman 

S owner, I was especially happy to be working in the Cayman Island 

section. 

Rennsport happens every 3 to 4 years and I will do my best to attend 

the next one; you should too - there really is no substitute. 

917 engine bay

At long last... 

Article and Photos by Ralph Fritsche 

Rennsport Reunion IV was an outstanding success. I have waited, 

not so patiently, since 2007 for the next opportunity to participate in 

this slice of Porsche heaven. In many things, anticipation and high 

expectations can result in a let down of the experience itself. That’s just 

not possible at a Rennsport Reunion. This time around we were treated 

to the wonderful venue of Laguna Seca. Compared to Daytona, it’s a 

real spectator track. I can only imagine how much the drivers enjoy it. 

Attendance was phenomenal with over 1,200 Porsches in the corral, and 

20,000ticketssold.Asidefromthelegendarycarsanddrivers,therewere 

the races, the vendors, the displays, and the unveiling of the new 911. 

917 thunder reverberates off 

the hills around Laguna Seca 

In many ways it’s like drinking from a garden hose. There was so 

much to see and do that it was impossible to take it all in. PCNA and 

a dedicated group of PCA volunteers put on a great event. It would be 

impossible for any other automobile manufacturer to put on a similar 

event. Not because they don’t have the fans, but because no other 

manufacturer has such a rich motorsport history of cars, drivers, and 

owners as Porsche. Now the wait begins again..... 

The last new Porsche Steve McQueen 

purchased, a 1976 Turbo Carrera 

Rennsport 2011 – Sensory Overload 

Article by Steve Hoffman 

When the announcement was made that Rennsport would return for 

2011 and historic Laguna Seca was the venue, I immediately got a call 

from past SPC President Ralph Fritsche. We have to make our plans 

now! Having never been, I did not have the same excitement. I tried 

to explain that I had to check my work and home schedules to see 

if I could fit it in. He tried and tried to explain to me that this was 

different. Not going is not an option. If there is a conflict, it must be 

cancelled and this event bumped to the top of the priority list. OK 

Ralph, calm down. After I had verified I could go, (thanks Robin), we 

made our travel plans. 

Leading up to the event, Ralph became as anxious as a giddy school girl 

with a new crush. Upon arrival, we enjoyed the drive down from San 

Jose and then spent the first day scoping out Monterey, getting a good 

understanding of the surrounding area and hooking up with fellow 

Space Coaster David O’Neal. Lucky for us, David said PCA needed 

help at the track setting things up on Thursday before the event even 

began. We worked our rears off, but we were provided many perks by 

being there before the crowds arrived, including the first to get a close 

up view of the new 991, access to all the historic race cars and drivers, 

unmolested views of the cars on the track - especially at the famed 

corkscrew, and an understanding of the layout to plot our weekend 

assault. 

The three days of everything Porsche are difficult to describe. The 

best description I can give it is total sensory overload! It is not just 

the historic race cars that only appear at these type of events, but the 

personal contact with Porsche factory legends such as Norbert Singer 

and Alvin Springer; drivers from the past and present like Hans 

Herrmann, Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Jeff Zwart, Patrick Long, etc.; the 

corrals stuffed with every car, in every configuration, from every period 

ever made; being with and meeting people that share your passion; 

and the track and its rich history in motor sports. It is all of this and 

more. There is never a moment when you are not overwhelmed with 

the opportunities to expand your Porsche memory rolodex. We even 

found time to sneak off to the James Dean crash site in Cholame. We 

took hundreds of pictures but they can never capture the vibe. 

I am not sure if the next Rennsport will be on the east or west coast, but 

one thing is for sure - wherever they decide to have it, I will be there! If 

there is a never miss event, this has to be it! Ralph, now I get it!! 


RSR ... a never miss event! 

1


Rennsport Reflections 

Article and Photos by Ed Sarog 

My anticipation and excitement for Rennsport had been growing 

for weeks and I had to laugh when I fired up my Nissan Versa in the 

Hertz lot at the airport in San Francisco! Well . . . I headed south to 

Monterey on a narrow, twisty, hilly road in the pitch of night wishing 

so much that I was driving my Cayman. I arrived at the hotel about 

two hours later and was more than happy not to find a free parking 

place due to the myriad of Porsches lining the lot - what a great 

way to start Rennsport! Rise and shine at 2:30; ready to go to the 

Speedway that opens at 7:00! Still stuck in EDT, I looked through 

my copy of 24:16 for a couple of hours prepping myself for what can 

only later be described as “turbocharged sensory overload”! 

Daily breakfast 

Finally, Friday morning 0700, at the track without a ticket! Tom 

Gorsuch called me earlier and graciously offered a spare ticket, but 

meeting him for the hand-off was a bit of a challenge. As I drove 

towards the track, any security I encountered was greeted with a 

very friendly smile, and when asked for my ticket I rambled on about 

how my boss, an executive board member of PCA, was meeting me 

at the Red Bull Communications building to give me a ticket. With 


a puzzled look on their face, they each waved me on through in 

the correct direction and I found a great “free” parking space at the 

foot of the Speedway cross-over! Name dropping at its finest; thanks 

Tom! 

Tom gave me a great “nickel” tour of the entire event. Everywhere 

I looked there was either an important race car of Porsche’s history 

or driver, and race cars constantly circling the track! Like the race 

cars, I needed fuel so I took my first “refueling” at the “Porsche in 

the Paddock” biergarten and had a beautiful grilled veal brat with 

German potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzel, and of course a pint of 

pilsner. This was my breakfast each morning and also my lunch. By 

lunch the second day the biergarten vendor was loading my plate 

with extras, and also gave me a free refill on my pilsner! Surrounded 

by the best examples of Porsches, great food, and friendly likeminded 

people; I thought, “this is heaven and it’s going to be a great 

weekend!” 

Each day at Rennsport Reunion, the whole Speedway complex was 

so full of energy: cars zipping around the track, race teams prepping 

their cars, race legends signing autographs, and vendors selling 

their wares. My most memorable moment over the weekend was 

watching the starting of the Gulf #2 917. I observed the “caretakers” 

of the famous beast run through a series of checks prior to ignition. 

Then with the concurrence of the “caretakers”, the beast was brought 

to life with a tarmac shaking growl! Off idle, one of the “caretakers” 

from outside the car gently blipped the throttle for about five minutes 

and then after several high rev openings, the beast was ready for the 

track. 

I was sad to leave on Sunday, but I left looking forward to the next 

Rennsport Reunion! 

2008 12 Hours of Sebring winner

Photos by David O’Neal 

911 (991) arrives... 

GT1 

... and runs 

John Osteen piloting 962 

RS Spyders 

Fritsche and Hoffman 

at the Corkscrew 

RS Spyders 

Gunnar Racing Boss Kevin Jeannette 

confers with driver Gijs Van Lennep 

and mechanic Toby Ross 

Space Coast’s David O’Neal, Tom Gorsuch, 

Steve Hoffman, Ralph Fritsche, Mike Masters, 

and Ed Sarog with the 918 RSR 


Flying Lizards’ Le Mans tribute 

15

Porsche Prepares for Cajun 

with Leipzig Factory Expansion 

Production to Begin in 2013 at New, 42-Acre Site 

ATLANTA–October18,2011–Porsche today 

announced the expansion of its production 

facility in Leipzig, Germany as the company 

prepares to produce the “Cajun” model 

beginning in late 2013. Wolfgang Porsche, 

the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 

Porsche Automotive, and Matthias Müller, 

Chairman of the Board of Management, 

joined guests from government and business 

to announce the news in Stuttgart on 

Tuesday. 

“We are investing another 500 million euro 

[$684.9 million] in the production facility to 

build the Cajun in Leipzig. This is not just 

a mark of confidence in the manufacturing 

skills of our Leipzig colleagues, but also an 

important contribution to the economic 

development of the region,” said Matthias 

Müller on the morning of the festivities. 

The Leipzig site, currently home to 800 

employees, has been producing the Porsche 

Cayennesinceitsconceptionin2002,andalso 

produces the four-seater Porsche Panamera. 

Porsche has invested approximately $383 

million (280 million euro) in the Leipzig 

site, with more than 420,000 cars produced 

to date. 

Production of the “Cajun” will create 

approximately 1,000 additional jobs at the 

facility. 

The plant sets environmental standards as 

well, being one of the world’s most efficient 

car factories. Efficient air recirculation and 

power cut-off technologies in the paint shop 

ensure economical energy use. 

With the development of the upcoming 

“Cajun,” Porsche plans to expand its SUV 

line-up, adding a new, smaller SUV model 

below the Cayenne. 

Porsche’s newest, the Cajun 


A rendering of the entire Porsche plant in Leipzig 

1

Tech Column 

By Jesse Lim, Porsche of Melbourne 

Welcome back for another exciting issue of the Tech Column! This 

article will focus on some of the electronic accessories and aftermarket 

solutions that are available for your Porsche. The world of electronic 

gadgets is ever changing and can sometimes seem overwhelming to 

the average consumer. Most of us are familiar with iPods, iPhones 

and other such multimedia devices. For those of you that have a later 

Multimedia Interface 

model Porsche, you may already have factory options in place that 

enable interaction with certain devices. Now for the rest of us, there 

are quite a few solutions for integrating your favorite device into 

your vehicle’s on board computer or stereo system. There are quite a 

few companies out there such as NAV TV and DENSION that offer 

many choices in the bluetooth and multimedia integration range. 

For your cellular devices, there are bluetooth integration systems 

that allow you to make and answer phone calls using a hands-free 

interface via the radio or PCM control (stereo system). These systems 

Bluetooth integration 


are very easy to use and are a safer and much more convenient way 

of having a conversation with someone while driving. Obviously, the 

safest option is not to talk on the phone at all while you’re driving, 

but we all know that in today’s fast paced society, you’re often going 

to be on the phone while driving. There are also aftermarket “stand 

alone” bluetooth systems that can be installed if you have an older 

model that does not have an integratable radio 

unit. 

And now for my personal favorite: the 

Multimedia Interface! Everybody loves music 

and we all know that the radio doesn’t often play 

what we want to hear. If you have a bunch 

of tunes stored on an mp3 player, USB drive, or 

even a streaming device that utilizes a program 

such as Pandora, then there is an integratable 

system that will allow you to plug your music 

collection straight into your vehicle’s stereo 

and rock out. Some vehicles are eligible for the 

Porsche factory interface, and for the others 

there are high quality aftermarket solutions 

that are very user friendly. If you have an iPod 

or iPhone, these kits will charge it when it’s 

plugged in and some will allow you to control 

the iPod through the PCM if equipped. 

Another very popular add-on accessory is the 

radar detector. Many of your vehicles look fast 

just sitting still! When Johnny Law is hiding up 

ahead looking for someone out enjoying their 

beautiful car, he is most likely waiting for you 

with his radar gun out and aimed. I absolutely do not encourage 

or condone speeding unless in a controlled environment (that’s 

what track days are for). However, if you find yourself in a bit of 

Radar detectors – a popular accessory 

a hurry and happen to be traveling a few miles an hour over the 

posted speed limit, it’s nice to get a little notice that someone is using 

radar up ahead and give yourself the chance to slow down rather 

than be pulled over and possibly cited for speeding. The last thing 

you want when you’re trying to get to dinner or a weekend event 

is to be held up on the side of the road by a police officer. Porsche 

of Melbourne is now an authorized dealer/installer of Escort Radar 

and Laser Detectors. We would be happy to give you an estimate for 

installation of a radar detector or any of the previously mentioned 

systems in your Porsche.

From the DE Instructor 

High Performance Driving in the Rain 


Photos by Colour Tech South and Porsche 

After many track days, I began to wonder if 

it was my “skills” or Dr. Porsche’s wonderful 

computers driving the car. Porsche’s 

Sport Driving School preaches a mantra 

of “accelerate and brake in straight lines” 

during high performance driving situations. 

PSDS also keeps “the nannies” permanently 

engaged on its cars and assures drivers that 

the computers do not intervene unless the 

driver is doing something wrong. However, 

without a limited slip differential PSM 

intervenes quite frequently during righthand 

turns. 

DE Hall of Fame Instructor Keep Morse 

from Suncoast Florida Region advised me 

to wait for a rainy track day to turn off PSM 

and answer my question. His rationale: one 

drives slower in the rain and the wet surface 

magnifies any errors in technique. So, I took 

up the challenge some months later when the 

opportunity arose at PBIR; the rains came 

and a few of us ventured onto the glistening 

track surface. 

By following PSDS’ strict mantra of “brake 

in straight lines, accelerate in straight lines”, 

I found the performance and grip to be only 

slightly less than on a dry track. I started 

slowly and adjusted the line and braking 

points as my confidence built and track 

conditions changed. I did spin near the end 

of a 30 minute session when trying to squareoff 

a corner; the Cayman S was half on a “dry 

line” that had developed and half on the wet 

– PSM would not have saved the car from 

that mental lapse. Nonetheless I learned, 

as have several of my HPDE students, that 

with care and concentration on “the mantra”, 

performance driving in the wet is not only 

possible, but quite rewarding. 

Driving in wet conditions can be rewarding 


Driving in the rain can greatly improve 

both confidence and skills 

21

Classifieds 

FOR SALE: 1988 Porsche 930S 

Slant Nose Factory Convertible with 

only 47K miles. Black exterior, grey 

with black piping interior leather, 

grey carpet.Updated air conditioning, 

excellent mechanicals, like new tires, 

Speedline Porsche 18” wheels. In very 

good condition. Asking $55K. Please 

contact Mark Garvey at (407) 739-9143 

or mgarvey@ags-expo.com 

22 volume 5, Issue 4

The Racer’s Group/Adobe Road Winery 

Wine Pairing and Dinner Article and Photos by Ron Menck 

Kevin Butler, owner of TRG and Adobe Winery hosted a wine 

pairing and dinner for 75 lucky individuals during Porsche Parade 

2011 . Fortunately, the event was held on the only free night of the 

entire Parade which allowed those in attendance not to miss one of 

the many scheduled banquets. 

Rolex 24 winner TRG #66 GT3 


During the evening, we were 

treated to not only fine wine, but 

good food as well. Mark Krystopa, 

Executive Chef at the AVIA in 

downtown Savannah prepared 

unique dinner specials at three 

food stations, while Adobe Winery 

served up their boutique wines at 

two other stations. 

Once the sampling of food and 

wine was over, Kevin gave us a 

rare glimpse of the inside story of 

winning the Rolex 24 in Daytona, 

not just once, but four times. He 

also showed several videos of ontrack 

racing, and displayed the 

winning TRG #66 GT3 along with 

the Rolex 24 Trophy. 

Needless to say that I, being a big 

fan of food, wine, and race cars, 

was totally immersed in all my 

senses. This was one evening I 

won’t soon forget! Adobe Road Petit Shiraz 

2

Ho-Ho-Ho! 2011 Holiday Party 

Article by Jack Roberts 

Photo by Blake Blakely 

Mark December 17th on your calendar, when 

we’ll return to the beautiful Eau Gallie Yacht 

Club for our Annual Holiday Party. For those 

of you who have joined us in past years, you 

know it will be a wonderful evening with 

special guests, no-host cocktails, door prizes, 

and a sumptuous dinner; for those of you 

who missed this event last year—don’t make 

the same mistake twice. 

The fun begins at 6:30pm, with dinner at 

7:30pm. The menu will include a mixed 

green salad with house dressing, your 

choice of New York Strip Steak, Grilled Pork 

Medallions with Apple Chutney, and Grilled 

Mahi with Mango Chutney. Dessert will be 

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bourbon 

Sauce. Appropriate starch, fresh vegetables, 

dinner rolls, butter, coffee, and tea are all 

included for only $40 per person. Children’s 

entrée available by request. 

Credit cards are gladly accepted. Make your 

reservations at register.pca.org. Attendance 

is limited so please register soon. The Club 

is located at 100 Datura Drive in Indian 

Harbour Beach. For those of you wanting 

overnight accommodations, there are several 

nice hotels in the immediate neighborhood, 

including the Radisson, Hilton, and Crown 

Plaza. 


We have lots to celebrate as 2011 draws to a 

close, so please join us. Direct any questions 

to Jack Roberts at (321) 727-0046 or jackeroberts@hotmail.com. 

Window Tinting 

Audio/Video Sales and Installation 

Fiberglass Enclosures and Interior 

Performance Parts 

Custom Body and Paint 

Adjustable Suspension 

Security Systems 

Detailing 

1445 W. New Haven Avenue, Suite 200 

West Melbourne, Florida 32904 

321.722.0228 

explicitcustoms@cfl.rr.com 

www.ExplicitCustoms.com

Election of Club Officers 

Elections for officers will be held 

during the Holiday Party. The 

nominating committee, chaired 

by Jack Roberts, has submitted the 

following slate for election: 

President: 


Vice President: 

Steve Hoffman 

Secretary: 

John “Blake” Blakely 

Treasurer: 

Tom Kirk 

The committee will welcome 

additional nominees from the floor. 

As well, any members interested in 

volunteering for appointed positions 

are encouraged to do so by contacting 


the President-Elect. If you are unable 

to attend, please contact Jack Roberts 

for a Proxy form to cast your ballot 

for an officer or other member of 

your choice. 

Current and past SPC Officers 

25

Santa Claus is Coming… 

Space Coast Region has Special Gift Items 

for this Holiday Season 

SPC Lapel Pins 

SPC has in stock lapel pins like those sent aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis 

on its final mission. The pins are featured in the November 2011 edition of 

PCA’s Panorama Magazine. Own a piece of history. $10 

Derek Bell: My Racing Life 

Porsche of Melbourne and Space Coast Region have access to a 

limited number of the updated edition of this autobiography 

autographed by Derek Bell. This collector’s keepsake is only 

available through SPC for a special price. To pre-order and reserve 

your copy, email David O’Neal, doneal@cwisdom.com. $35 

Region of the Year Merchandise 

A limited inventory of apparel and only a few watches remain commemorating SPC’s 

achievement of the Ferry Porsche Trophy. See the Parts Department at Porsche of 

Melbourne for remaining sizes and quantities. 

Order now for delivery by the Holiday Party on December 17th. 

Membership has its privileges. 

Reach an audience of passionate people. 

Your next client could be reading this right now. 

You are... 

Advertise in the PCA national 

award winning Escape Velocity. 

Call Jack Roberts today! 

321-727-0046 


Want to 

Share? 

Escape Velocity invites its readers to 

submit articles and photos dealing with 

topics of interest to the Space Coast Region 

members. 

If you have a personal Porsche experience 

you would like to share, a technical tip, 

or just pictures of your car in fun places, 

please forward it to Ginny O’Neal for 

consideration. Articles accepted will be 

subject to editing. 

You may email submissions to: 

goneal@ags-expo.com 

PCA 

Member Price 

15% Discount 

On ALL 

Minor Services! 

On ALL 

Major Services! 

This offer Expires January 31, 

2012. This offer not valid on 

previous service and cannot be 

combined with any other offer. 

See service advisor for details.

Zonefest 2012 — April 20 - 22 

Autocross 

Concours 

Door Prizes 

Gimmick Rally 

Good Friends 

Great Food 

Hosted by Space Coast Region 

at the beautiful Costa d’Este 

Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida 


Mark your 

calendars. 

Plan on 

joining us! 

2

Driver Education Event 

International Raceway 

Article by Rick Parrott 

Photos by Tom Kirk and David O’Neal 

I awoke early on Saturday, July 16 eagerly anticipating the day. This 

was to be my first Driver Education event with my 2003 Boxster S. 

The Driver Education events are structured to be a fun and safe way 

to explore the capabilities of your Porsche, and are also a great way to 

learn more about high performance driving techniques. I met fellow 

Space Coast members Tom Kirk, Steve Hoffman, David O’Neal, Rex 

Moule, and Jorge Hoffmann at Sam’s Club and we all drove down 

to Palm Beach International Raceway for the 12:00pm start of the 

event. 

Jorge Hoffmann, Rex Moule, and 

Rick Parrott ready for the day 

DE students roll into Turn 4 at PBIR 


Upon our arrival at PBIR we quickly registered and prepared our 

cars for the mandatory tech inspection. Per the instructions for the 

event I had my Boxster S inspected earlier in the week to make sure 

that it met all of the safety requirements for the event, so I was not 

concerned about the inspection. I should have known that as a rookie 

I was going to be in for several lessons that day! 

Lesson #1 was discovering that my not so old motorcycle helmet did 

not meet the standards required for the event. A lot of questions later 

and some quick assistance by Tom Kirk helped me to locate another 

driver who graciously offered to loan me their helmet for my sessions. 

Thanks Tom! 

This was Lesson # 2. Everyone at the event was really helpful and 

encouraging! Problem solved, it was time to head off for the driver’s 

meeting. After the driver’s meeting I met Stuart, my instructor for 

the day, and headed out for a couple of slow speed laps of the track. 

Stuart explained the format for the day and my driving sessions. 

After our laps, I headed off for the mandatory classroom session for 

novice drivers. The classroom session was informative, covering basic 

driving techniques, proper procedures and etiquette on the track, and 

the various flags that are used to inform drivers while on the track. 

After the classroom session, I raced back to my car eager to get out on 

the track for my first session, just in time for the heavens to open up. 

The rain poured down in buckets! 

As a rookie I was going 

to be in for several lessons!

at Palm Beach 

Lesson #3. The DE events go on rain or shine, although you can 

always opt not to drive. After reassurances from some of the more 

experienced club members that driving on a wet track is a great way 

to learn, I prepared to head out for my first session. My first session 

was a real learning experience. My instructor was great and helped 

to get me acclimated and comfortable. My first laps were somewhat 

tentative as I was fairly cautious driving for the first time on a very 

wet track. I gradually got more and more comfortable though and 

was amazed at the amount of grip and the performance of my Boxster 

in the rain! The session ended all too quickly and we headed back to 

the hospitality tent for dinner. 

After a brief wait it was back on the track for Session #2. I was much 

more comfortable and now able to concentrate and follow more 

closely the directions and driving tips from my instructor. I gradually 

increased my speed and even started to pass a few cars! In no time the 

session was over. My instructor graciously offered to let me ride with 

him as an observer as he was driving in the next session. This was 

really helpful as I got to see the lines, braking, and shifting points that 

he was using on his laps. About this time is when Lesson #1 reared its 

head again. Unfortunately my loaner helmet was about two sizes too 


small and I was beginning to get a really sore head! I was having too 

much fun to stop though, so after a few minutes it was time to jump 

back in the Boxster for my final session of the day. The track was 

getting drier. My driving was beginning to get into a good rhythm and 

I was passing more and more cars. I was feeling pretty good with how 

well I was doing, but I got a real dose of humility when David O’Neal 

came flying past me in his GT3 RS. The time for my last session went 

by much too quickly and my track time was done for the day. I have 

to admit though this was somewhat of a relief as I was ready to get my 

big head out of that little helmet! After the sessions were complete, we 

all swapped stories of the day then headed back to Melbourne and the 

end of a very fun, educational, and wet day at PBIR. 

If you have never done a Driver Education event with your Porsche, 

I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. The DE events 

are well structured, safe and really, really fun! The only problem with 

the event was that I didn’t want it to end! I have been bitten by the DE 

bug and will definitely be signing up for more DE events in the very 

near future. Next time though I’ll bring a bigger helmet! 

2

coming attractions 

A special thank you to our advertisers 

Porsche of Melbourne 

Series 9 

CPA Wealth Management 

AAA 

Zipper Urogynecology 

Sharpe’s Body Shop 

SOS Dent 

Blake Blakely Photography 

Brown & Bigelow (Lois & Jack Roberts) 

Wickham Dental Care 

Tyson Marine and Aviation Insurance 

Cebotech 

DEC 3 Drive and Dine, check website for details 

Invisible Bras 

10 Drive to FLC/SPC AX Challenge, departs Lowes Rockledge 

10 FLC/SPC Challenge & Ladies Day AX, Orange County Convention Center 

11 Kaffeeklatschen at Panera: Daytona, Indian Harbour Beach, Vero 

17 Holiday Party at Eau Gallie Yacht Club 

JAN 6-8 “Roar Before the 24” Rolex Testing at Daytona 

7 Drive to Rolex Testing, departs Lowes Rockledge 

15 Drive to Kaffeeklatsch/Brunch in Fort Pierce, departs Porsche of Melbourne 

15 Special Kaffeeklatsch/Brunch at Pelican Yacht Club, Fort Pierce 

21 Drive to ATC Car Show, departs Lowes Rockledge 

21 ATC Car Show, Daytona Beach, $10 per car 

27-29 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge & Rolex 24, Daytona 

28 Drive to Rolex 24, departs Lowes Rockledge 

FEB 2-5 48 Hours of Sebring Club Races & Driver Education, Sebring 

4 Drive to Zone 12 Autocross Challenge, departs Sam’s Melbourne 

4 Zone 12 Autocross Challenge, Sebring 

12 Kaffeeklatschen at Panera: Daytona, Indian Harbour Beach, Vero 

18-19 Driver Education with FLC, Roebling Road Raceway, Savannah 

24-26 Targa 66, Palm Beach International Raceway 

25 Drive to Targa 66, departs Sam’s Club Melbourne 

Dates and times subject to change. 

Please check our website, spc.pca.org, 

to confirm event times, contacts, and details. 

pages 2, 26, 31, centerfold 

page 3 

page 4 

page 6 

page 7 

page 9 

page 9 

page 10 

page 11 

page 11 

page 15 

page 19 

page 21 


Green Turtle Market 

iGuard 

Coasters Pub 

Eau Gallie Yacht Club 

Explicit Customs 

Dan’s Werkshop 

GAGE-IT-WELL 

Marino’s Mobile Detail 

Taylor Custom Remodeling 

Nancy Taylor/Prudential Sterling Properties 

Tamburr Motorcars 

Glover Oil Co. 

Horst Seibert/Porsche of Melbourne 

page 22 

page 22 

page 23 

page 24 

page 24 

page 25 

page 25 

page 26 

page 26 

page 27 

page 29 

page 29 

page 29

Q & A with Lou and Donna Linden 

EscapeVelocity asks our members 

EV: What should we know about the 

Linden family? 

A. Foronething,westaybusy.IamtheDirector 

for a small business managing contracts with 

NASA, Missile Defense Agency, and U.S. Air 

Force. I am also the President of the Armed 

Forces Communications and Electronics 

Association (AFCEA) Canaveral Chapter. 

Along with being the Broker for Century 

21 Camelot Realty, with four offices across 

Brevard County, Donna is also the 2011 

President of the Space Coast Association of 

Realtors. Travel with jobs and organizations 

keeps us on the road most of the time. 

I enjoy visiting Porsche dealerships while 

on business trips across the country, having 

visited the Porsche dealership in Santa 

Barbara (CA), Colorado Springs (CO), 

Annapolis (MD), Eatontown (NJ), and several 

in Florida. If anyone has the opportunity to 

visit the Porsche dealer in Colorado Springs, 

and the weather is just right, you too can fall 

on your butt and slide down a great hill in 

front of the dealership! 

EV: Tell us about the Porsches you 

have owned. 

A. Our first Porsche was a 2005 Boxster. 

It really got us hooked. What a great car in 

every way. Well, except when it fills with 

several inches of water during a tropical 

storm; but that is another long and sad story. 

That car helped us become acquainted with 

many wonderful people and events. Besides 

the Boxster, we have owned a beautiful 2009 

911S Coupe, and now own a 2011 Cayman S. 

Each one has its own character and provides 

a different experience. The Cayman is the 

perfect car for autocross if I could just find 

the perfect driver – Donna, are you ready? 

EV: What do you like about being 

members of SPC? 

A. We appreciated the way members of SPC 

welcomed us from the very beginning, as if 

we had been members for years. The club is 

what makes the Porsche experience what it is. 

It is the people that make the club what it is. 

What a great group. Donna especially enjoys 

the Drive and Dine experience, especially 


if good wine is involved. I enjoy those also, 

but not as much as the new experience of 

autocross. Now, that is fun! 

EV: Besides Porsches, what activities 

do you enjoy? 

A. We enjoy a nice glass of wine, and golf. 

But work, travel, and Porsches keep us off the 

golf course. Is it true that two sets of clubs 

will fit in the Cayman? 

Donna and Lou Linden 

1

21 Riverside Drive #401 | Cocoa, Fl 2 22 

Commemorative WatCh 

2009 Region of the Year 

The Ferry Porsche Trophy 

PRsRT sTD 

u.s. PosTAGe 

PAID 

All seRvICe 

GRAPHICs 

Engraving on back: 

2009 Region of the Year 

Available at Porsche 

of Melbourne Parts 

Department

December, 2011 Escape Velocity Magazine - Space Coast PCA ...

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