Slipstream - January 2019

A Note from the Drivers’ Education Chair
by TJ Kroehle, Region Drivers’ Education Chair
We would like to announce our DE event dates for 2019:
• February 23-24: Motorsport Ranch (MSR) on the 3.1-mi road course.
• April 27-28: Motorsport Ranch (MSR) on the 3.1-mi road course.
• June 1 - Car Control Clinic at MSR
• June 2 - DE Solo - warm up to COTA
• June 8-9: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX (Schnell Fest).
• September 14-15: the new EAGLES CANYON RACEWAY 2.6-mi road course.
• September 21-22: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX (Schnell Fest).
• October 19-20: Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.6-mi road course.
• November 9-10: a SOLO DE event in conjunction with the PCA Club Race.
Please mark these dates on your calendar.
Porsche’s marketing campaigns for 2019 are “Direction
Future” and “Performance, electrified.” Porsche has been
long known as a leader in technology and innovation. This
also constitutes constant evolution.
Our region’s DE program in 2018 also
started to evolve. We implemented new
concepts to our DE experience, all while
maintaining our tradition of Safety First.
We started with enhanced passing for advanced run
groups. We also started a Fast, Faster, and Fastest grid
lineup for our advanced run groups. We opened up MSR’s
1.3 road course for additional run time, available to most
run groups throughout the weekend. These features will
remain in place for 2019.
We introduced a new novice run group, the Car Control
Clinic (CCC). This was requested by our local Porsche
dealerships to provide a gentler introduction to the Porsche
experience. This can provide their clients an opportunity
to learn the capabilities of their Porsche in a controlled
environment. Graduates of the CCC will, at a minimum, be
in a better position to handle their vehicle in an emergency.
We received excellent feedback from the participants. We
believe the CCC can be a gateway to our DE and Autocross
programs. Fifty percent of the first CCC graduates said
they would attend a future DE or Autocross program. We
are looking for dates for this program in 2019
We are also looking for more single day SOLO DE events
for 2019. We are searching for a date in March or May for
a single day SOLO DE. We may pick a weekday, scheduling
it for a late afternoon run and socializer to follow, similar
to what we did in July 2018.
As we grow and change, we have some changes we need to share.
Chris Sorrells has joined our team as the DE Marketing
Chair. Chris and his wife Gabe joined the Porsche Club
six years ago after buying their first Porsche. Together they
came out and watched a DE event. They decided that it
looked like a lot of fun.
Chris attended the Ron Fellows Performance Driving
School in Las Vegas to learn how to drive on the track
safely. Initially, Gabe was driving the Porsche and Chris
was driving a Corvette at the DEs. After a couple of events
driving the Corvette, Chris decided to part ways with it,
allowing him to also buy a Porsche. Chris has attended
most of our DEs over the past six years.
Gabe and Chris have been married for 40 years. Chris
has just retired from the construction and development
business. They have two dogs and three Porsches. Gabe
and Chris can also be seen at most of the PCA social events.
Chris spends his spare time either at the track or hunting
with friends.
Please welcome Chris as the Marketing Chair!
We are chartered with continuing the evolution of our
DE Program. Our mantra is “Safety First.”
We appreciate everyone’s participation in the program
and, we hope to earn your future support.
Sincerely,
TJ Kroehle
Maverick Region PCA DE Chair
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