ROADRUNNERRamblings 2021 · 2021. 1. 10. · Charles Mendez Fiesta Co-Chair Evelyn Watkins Autocross Chair JP Gonzales Fiesta Chair Dr. Jennifer Walter Social Chair Rob Ryan Fiesta

J A N U A RYPCA award winning newsletter 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 | PCA award winning website 2020, 2019,2018,2017,2016

Region First Runner Up Ferry Porsche Award 2017

ROADRUNNER

Ramblings2021

2 ROADRUNNER RAMBLINGS JANUARY 2021

3ROADRUNNER RAMBLINGS JANUARY 2021

JANUARY 2021VOLUME 54, NO. 1

ROADRUNNER

RamblingsUPCOMING EVENTS

12 Board/Membership Meeting January 12

FEATURES & REVIEWS

14 A PORSCHE FLAT SIX PROJECT

22 Meet John Paul Gonzales

27 Tech Tips from Pedro - ‘Tis the Season

COLUMNS

7 Top Down

8 5th Gear

14 In the Zone

19 Danielle Badler

25 Membership Report

ROADRUNNER

RamblingsPCA award winning newsletter 2019, 2018,

2017, 2016, 2015

Region First Runner Up Ferry Porsche

Award 2017

2008 PCA’s Region of the Year

www.rrrpca.com

The Magazine of the Roadrunner Region Porsche Club of America

The Roadrunner Region, Porsche Club of America (RRR) publishes the Ramblings monthly for its

members. Written contributions and photos are welcome and should be e-mailed to the editor. The

deadline for material is on the first of the month of publication. We credit all members for their submissions. All material in this newsletter is protected by copyright. However, the newsletter

editors of other regions chartered by Porsche Club of America may reprint any article provided that

credit is given to the author and Roadrunner Region and that the Ramblings is cited as the source.

Region mailing address:

RRRPCAPO BOX 92113

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87199

2021


2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORSPCA ROADRUNNER REGION

George WatkinsPresident

[email protected]

Sean SimpsonVice President

[email protected]

Ken RichardsonMember-at-Large

[email protected]

Rob [email protected]

Kai GerkeySecretary

[email protected]

Charles MendezMember-at-Large

[email protected]

RJ [email protected]

John Paul GonzalesMember-at-Large

Ric TredwinMember-at-Large

Yvonne Teske Treasurer

[email protected]

Vance BassPast President

[email protected]


J. GartonChief Driving Instructor

[email protected]

Steve JohnsonDrive-Out Chair

Charles MendezFiesta Co-Chair

Evelyn WatkinsAutocross Chair

JP GonzalesFiesta Chair

Dr. Jennifer WalterSocial Chair

Rob RyanFiesta Co-Chair

Steve WallerEditor of [email protected]

OTHER REGIONAL CONTACTS

Denise JordanZone 9 Representative

[email protected]

Larry BostInsurance Chair

[email protected]

Position OpenMembership Chair

[email protected]

Ann Mulhern WallerWebmaster/Social

[email protected]


ROADRUNNER

RamblingsIndex of Advertisers

ROADRUNNER

RamblingsTeam

Cover Photo: Steve Waller

Porsche of Albuquerque www.porschealbuquerque.com . . Inside Front Cover 2

Veritas www.veritas-athena.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Hans Wittler Automotive www.hanswittlerauto.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Performance MotorCar Investments www.pmciinc.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Butterfield’s Jewelers www.butterfieldjewelers.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Jim’s Fine Car Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Positive Energy Solar www.positiveenergysolar.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Petroglyph Home Organizing Solutions www.petroglyphhome.com . . . . . . . . . 26

Chet’s Wheel Alignment www.chetswheelalignment.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Owl Cafe www.owlcafealbuquerque.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Pedro’s Garage www.pedrosgarage.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Four Seasons Cleaning www.fourseasonscleaning.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Porsche of Albuquerque www.porschealbuquerque.com . . . . . . . Back Cover 31

Steve Waller Editor

[email protected]

Ann Mulhern Waller

Managing editor

[email protected]

Vance Bass

Proofing

Myriah Williams

Design & Production

All articles and photos are

contributed by members of

the club.

Ramblings is an award winning

newsletter.

Visit our website:

www.rrrpca.com

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/

groups/292039689250/


TOP DOWN

Happy New Year to all the members of the

Roadrunner Region.

Thank you to those of you who attended our

RRRPCA Zoom Holiday Party. There were

about 45 people on our web conference on

that Saturday night.

Looking ahead to 2021, we will have to

see how the pandemic plays out in New

Mexico before we forge ahead with a lot of

formal plans. In the meantime thank you for

continuing to support the club in any way

you can. Organize a drive-out, tech session,

come to a meeting, take pictures or write an

article for the Ramblings. You’re welcome at the monthly Board meetings, available via

Zoom (2nd Tuesday, 6 pm). 2020 had a great Zoom tech session; some folks are still getting together for unofficial drive-outs; autocross

continued in 2020 and plans to do so again in

2021; and hopefully, we will be able to resume

some in-person activities in 2021. I know many

of us missed the monthly in-person Meet &

Greets, but keep watching the email blasts,

Ramblings, and web site for other activities (via

Zoom?) in 2021.

Have a safe, healthy and happy New Year. Let there be joy in our laughter, love in our

thoughts, hope in our lives, and peace in our

hearts. Remember, “It’s not (just) the cars, it’s the people.”

George Watkins

[email protected]

GEORGE WATKINS REGION PRESIDENT


Note:The Ramblings editor reserves the right to edit member and other outside submissions for space and content. If there is a reason to publish an article exactly as submitted please let us know.

Like most of us, I’m ready for a new year. It will take awhile for things to get going again. Fiesta

New Mexico planning us under way. I’m hopeful that we can gather together for a long Porsche

weekend in late May 2021.

I have a brother in law in Phoenix who is very

mechanically minded. For his birthday in

November we got him a 1/4 scale model of a

Porsche flat six motor circa 1966. I decided the story of his assembly of this model could make

for an interesting story readers of Ramblings

would enjoy. In these stay at homes times

maybe other Porsche-philes would enjoy a

diversion like this. I bought the model on e-bay.

You can find it in other online retailers as well. Take a look.

If you participated in the Roadrunner Region

online Holiday party you saw member John

Paul Gonzales. John Paul (JP) is a member

from Santa Fe. He along with several other are

the cornerstone of the planning for Fiesta New

Mexico. In this issue of Ramblings Lilia Chacon

FIFTH GEARSTEVE WALLER

EDITOR


interviews JP to find out how his Porsche journey began and where it’s headed. We are hopeful to bring more member interviews to our readers in

future issues. In the absence of social gatherings

it is one of the few ways we can meet new

members and get reacquainted with others.

Normally in December the region has a planning

meeting where we develop an event schedule

for the following year. No such meeting took

place last month. So our region calendar looks

pretty bare at this point. The only items on the

Ramblings calendar page are board meetings

and Fiesta New Mexico. I would encourage all

members to consider logging on to the board /

membership monthly meetings. You can contact

George Watkins for ZOOM access.

I get plenty of Porsche news in my inbox every

week. These sources include e-brake news from

PCA, Flat Sixes, and Porsche newsroom. There

are many Porsche and automotive sources for

entertainment on TV as well. In her column

Danielle Badler dishes on the treasure trove

of automotive entertainment on Motor Trend

TV. In particular Top Gear caught her eye. So

far I have not succumbed to much daytime TV

watching, but this could be a rule breaker.

I don’t want to make the AX group crazy, but Pedro’s tech column this month focuses on getting ready for the AX season. Normally our AX season starts in February or March. This year the AX group has been in touch with Sandia Speedway to set some tentative dates. We will

just have to see when the pandemic decides it’s had enough with New Mexico.

Putting together a monthly newsletter when

region doesn’t have much going on can be a struggle. Please pass along any leads for stories

and pictures that would be of interest to the

Roadrunner region. Until next month…adios.

Steve Waller

[email protected]

www.veritas-athena.com

Do you have a power of attorney in place? What does a power of attorney

provide? When does a power of attorney terminate? Do you have a health

care directive? Why is it important? Do you have a will? Is a will necessary?

What are the alternatives to probate? Is there a family member who is

incapacitated and needs help with daily care and their finances? How can

that family member be helped? Have you done any estate planning of your

assets? How do you ensure financial protection of your assets?

Is your family disagreeing about how to care for an older relative?

Veritas Athena, LLC, is in the business of assisting you to plan for life

management and decisions. We do in-home free consultations and visits to

discuss all aspects of life management. We assist you in considering all the

alternatives available and prepare the documents needed to protect your

future and your family’s. The Veritas Athena, LLC team has combined

experience of over 50 years in finance, legal, administration and court work.

VERITAS ATHENA, LLCProtecting your future

Protect yourself and your family from the

consequences of not preparing for the future.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

GREG IRELAND

505-385-1502

CRYSTAL ANSON

505-337-9151


Zone 9 ContactsDenise [email protected]

Matt [email protected]

Alex [email protected]

Gigi [email protected]

Jeremy [email protected]

Raleigh [email protected]

George [email protected]

Steve [email protected]

Ann [email protected]

Kim [email protected]

Jeff [email protected]

Teri [email protected]

Matt [email protected]

Teri [email protected]

Joe [email protected]

Jim [email protected]

Tom [email protected]

Scott [email protected]

Denise JordanZone 9 [email protected]

Raleigh [email protected]


Please note: Due to the uncertainty around COVID 19 health restrictions, the 2021 Roadrunner calendar has not been finalized. The board / membership meetings will be held online only. Any member can participate.

Contact Roadrunner Region President George Watkins for access.

JANUARY

Tuesday, Jan. 12 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

FEBRUARY

Tuesday, Feb.9 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

MARCH

Tuesday, Mar. 9 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

APRIL

Tuesday, April 13 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

MAY

Tuesday, May 11 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

Thurs.- Sun May 27-30. Fiesta New Mexico Santa Fe, NM

JUNE

Tuesday, June 8 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

Please note: During this time of social distancing due to COVID-19 in person board meeting will be suspended. The meetings will be held either online or by phone conference call. Any member can participate. To gain access contact Roadrunner Region President George Watkins.

2021 CALENDAR


JULY

Tuesday, July 13 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

AUGUST

Tuesday, Aug 10 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, Sept 14 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

OCTOBER

Tuesday, Oct 12 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

NOVEMBER

Tuesday, Nov. 9 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

DECEMBER

Tuesday, Dec. 14 Board / Membership meeting Online ZOOM

IN THE ZONE


A Heartfelt THANK YOU!

Make no mistake, It’s About the People! While the cars are amazing, they are a means to the

end of pulling us all together. For the past

four years, as PCA zone rep, I’ve attempted to support our seven regions as they collectively

cycled through about 10-15 sets of changes

in leadership. In some cases, the new

teams were fully prepared and needed little

help. In other circumstances, “a deer in the headlights” might have been an appropriate

description for new leaders. My job has been

to help the newbies, and alternatively to

support the well-prepared teams in pushing

the envelope to grow a better PCA region.

The common element has been the positive

attitude and spirit of all the volunteers

throughout the boards and committees of

those regions. At times the “job” has been a breeze. At other times it has been a delicate

dance acting as a buffer between regions

and the national office. Regardless of the conditions (including the challenges of 2020),

I would still agree that being a zone rep is the

best role in PCA, and I’m eternally grateful for having been blessed with such a unique and

challenging opportunity.

Each year, PCA rotates through about ¼ of

the fourteen zone reps. Beginning in January,

we’ll have new assignments for zones 1, 3 and 9. Since 2019, I’ve put out feelers for anyone interested in succeeding me in the

role, to make themselves known. I’m pleased to say that by the time that all names were

turned over to the Executive Committee of

PCA for consideration, five very qualified people had expressed interest in becoming

my replacement. And even one more chose to

discuss a PCA “career path” to be aligned as a choice for 2025! Having this much talent on

the bench is an enviable position for zone 9. And just to be clear, current zone reps do not

play a role in the selection- that’s for the EC to decide. Regardless, I’m especially delighted in their selection of my successor.

So…..(drum roll, please)…., effective January

1. 2021, your next Zone 9 Rep will be Denise Jordan.

Denise is currently completing her third year

in her role as President of the Alpine Mountain

Region.

IN THE ZONERICH SANDERS

ZONE 9 REP


Denise has been involved with the board of

AMR since 2014, serving as Secretary and Social

Committee Chair, prior to becoming President.

And even as President, she has maintained her

role as Social Chair. While growing the quantity

and variety of events in the region, she also

created a focus on increasing engagement of

female members. Outside of PCA, Denise owns

and runs a small business which accessorizes

those who love horsepower. But in this case,

it’s the real horses and their riders! 2020 has presented Denise with challenges in both

roles as Club and Company President. And

through the pandemic challenges of keeping

business doors open, and club activities rolling

(especially tours and DE activities), I can attest

to the fact that both organizations are doing

quite well. Congratulations, Denise!

As for my plans, I expect to stay engaged in

PCA, both in my local Intermountain Region

and as a member of the National Audit

Committee through July 2021. And now that I

know about some of the bigger events in the

zone, I’ll probably use those events to take a nice sunny drive with Julie in the Spyder!!! Until

then I hope that you all remain safe and in the

best health possible!

Over and Out!

Rich Sanders

[email protected]

• Stock and performance engine building

• Alignments

• Suspension upgrades

• Corner weight and balance tuning OEM parts and accessories

• Transmission mods and rebuilding

• Maintenance for ALL daily drivers

• Two and four wheel dyno tuning available

Performance MotorCar InvestmentsPMCI

505-898-6487 1-800-437-PMCI www.pmciinc.com

Need Special Service for your Porsche?

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN NEW MEXICO’S ONLY INDEPENDENT PORSCHE ONLY SERVICE FACILITY.

WE SPECIALIZE IN:

Trust our knowledge. We have a proven track record with FTD’s and track victories

in Club and Vintage Racing. Call for your appointment today.

- Russ Kelso, Owner

FIND US ON FACEBOOK: PerformanceMotor CarInvestments


A PORSCHE FLAT SIX PROJECTSTORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVE WALLER

Sometimes you know it’s the perfect gift. That’s what motivated me to get my brother in law Matt,

in Phoenix, a model of a Porsche boxer motor.

Perhaps you’ve seen these 1/4 scale models of the flat six 1.6 liter motor circa 1966. I bought mine on e-bay and had it sent directly to Matt. He

had restored a Korean War era Jeep and a bullet

nosed early ’50 Studebaker. A VW bus got him acquainted with German motor engineering. His

favorite room in the house was

the garage. Sometimes he would

admit he was overconfident in the assembly of various toys, bicycles,

and even a trial run at a BMW

motor recently. Overconfident gets translated to “don’t bother with the instructions”.

Not this time.

The instructions for the assembly

come with a manual originally

from the Porsche Museum. The

instructions are in German and

English. It contains not only

the inventory of pieces and the

assembly instructions but also a

informative chronological history

of the development of the boxer flat six motor design. The development of Porsche motorsport

(Rennsport) involvement is also detailed.

Matt is a meticulous kind of guy so of course he

organized all 300+ pieces and laid them out. He read the instructions and set about putting it

together. I didn’t hear much from him during the


process. Toward the end we talked and he was so

impressed with the precision of each of the parts

and how they went together. There is no glue,

only small Phillips screws. I guess I’m not surprised that the same level of attention to detail is paid

to this 1/4 scale model as is paid to every car in

the Porsche brand. When the kit is assembled a

couple of AA batteries powers the motor to detail

the movement of the crankshaft and pistons.

Wiring from the distributor activates small red

lights to show the ignition of the spark plugs.

Matt was very excited to show me the working

model. We Face Timed to demonstrate the

finished working flat six. He had shown the working model to some friends of his, engineer

and aerospace types who were an enthusiastic

audience. So the perfect gift.

Then because he didn’t really have room to display it, we agreed he would send it to me. So

I now have this replica of the motor that Porsche

has modified and refined for more than 50 years. How fun is that!


I know I’m not the only one suffering from Pandemic Malaise. But it’s got me bad. I just bumped into a neighbor I hadn’t seen for a while. She asked me if I’d been traveling. I laughed through my mask and said, “are you kidding?” She shot back, “I’ve been away a lot. New York, North Carolina, my place in the

mountains. You just wear that mask and don’t touch anything.”

Uh, yeah. And I’ve also got friends who won’t leave their house. Others who leave their

groceries in the hot sun for a few hours, in

the theory that solar radiation will somehow

rid the produce of any vestiges of the virus.

I know a couple who rented an RV to go visit

relatives. The vehicle acts like a mobile motel

room. Then there’s my mother, still sharp as a whip at 92, who suffered the ignominy of having Thanksgiving dinner brought to her

door, in the retirement community where she

lives. I haven’t seen her since last January.

Whatever works for you, right? For me, the

day hasn’t changed much. I still work from home, as I have for some 10-plus years.

But the evenings, the weekends. What do

you do, when that favorite restaurant just

announced they’re not reopening? Ever? Find programming on the big flat-screen TV, that’s what.

I recently upgraded my Apple TV box to the

latest generation. And what did I discover?

That you could download Internet-based TV

outlets, in the form of programming “apps.” Hmm, I said. There was Netflix, there was HBO Max, there was Amazon Prime Video. I

wondered if … yes, there was Motor Trend

TV.

Yes, it costs a few bucks a month but, hey,

how much is my sanity worth? I went searching

for programming and, what did I find? Glad you asked. I found 38 individual programs with “new episodes.” Despite the fact I have no idea what “new” means in this context. I also found some 22 “must watch” programs. Nine “Trending on Motor Trend.” One “new release.”

You know what most of the programming is

like. Videos of guys racing, in the dead of

night, for “pink slips.” How-to programs showing, step by step, what you do to rebuild

the differential on a late ‘60s muscle car.

DANIELLE BADLER

LET’S RUN A TOP GEAR MARATHON


Customizers waxing rhapsodic about the

benefits of bondo.

And Top Gear. Top Gear? Top Gear! The

British one. Every season. Every episode. All

180 of them.

So … what would you do? Exactly, that’s what I did. I started with Season 1, Episode 1.

From 2002. And it was fascinating. Because

what I found was an experiment, sort of a

first draft, of what was to become what I remember about the series. Jeremy was

Jeremy. Deliberately iconoclastic. I know,

he can be a bit brackish, if you know what

I mean. But there’s no denying he’s one of us … or, as they say across the pond, a true

“petrol head.” Same for Richard Hammond. But the third presenter was a heavyset “bloke” named Jason Dawe, whose role seemed to be

to surprise everyone with the great used car

deals he was able to dredge up, on cars about

which you’re probably not really interested.

I was curious about him. So I fast-forwarded to

Episode 1 of Season 2. From 2003. Jason was now gone. Who was I now introduced to? The

one, the only James May. Whose first segment was on a big, over the hill Bentley that he said

he actually owned. There was no word on the

fate of Squire Dawe.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Back to Episode 1 of Season 1. There was The Stig.

Thrashing a first gen Pagani Zonda and a Noble around that crazy test track. Only …

he was dressed in a black driving suit. Also,

there was no classic intro about how some say

he was found in a manger, thumbing the shift

paddles on a Porsche steering wheel. But I did

learn that that crazy test track was actually

scoped out by engineers at Lotus, as their own

Weissach or Fiorano. It sounds very Lotus,

doesn’t it.

Yes, they posted The Stig’s times on a whiteboard. And, yes, they had celebrities

driving a sensible car around the track. And

they posted those times, too. And they did

begin the tradition of doing crazy things,

sometimes with crazy cars. In the first episode, they tried to see how fast you had to go,

for a speed camera to not register your

speed. After a few unsuccessful tries, they

succeeded; 170+ MPH, in a TVR Tuscan R. On a closed track, their track, they were quick to

point out.

I watched a few more episodes. The oddball

stuff was already off to the races, so to speak.

They tried to find out if a London double-decker bus could jump 14 motorcycles. This

they called role-reversal … get it? For the

record, the bus destroyed all but three. And

they invited grandmothers – “grannies” – to do doughnuts in a Honda S2000.

See what I mean? Nothing like what was to

come later, like trying to convert camper vans

to sailboats, in order to cross the English

Channel, for no good reason. But the bones,

the DNA, was there from the start. And, and

this may be the most salient point, they knew

what they were talking about.

Oh yeah. So here I sit, with 177 episodes

yet to go. Brings new meaning to the term

“binging,” doesn’t it. I don’t care. I’m now on a marathon mission. To find out when The Stig switched to a white driving suit. Virus? What

virus? Maybe I’ll buy an Apple TV box for my mother. It’s the least I can do.


MEET ROADRUNNER

JOHN PAUL GONZALESINTERVIEW BY LILIA CHACON

RR: Before we talk about your car life…what other lives do you

lead?

JPG: I grew up in Santa Fe. For the past 12 years I’ve worked in complex systems science

education and outreach. It’s basically the study of things with

multiple interacting parts. Traffic is an example: how do traffic jams occur? That’s a chaotic regime where things have

structure but are not regularly

predictable. And, like many

people in Santa Fe, I work more

than one job. I also manage a

collection of cars, including a

1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and a 1960 Aston-Martin DB4. That job was pure random luck,

a car collector I met at a lunch

group. He had 2011 Mercedes

AMG that needed a battery and I

took care of it and now I manage

all of his collection, 16 cars at the

moment. It’s a great example of the power of weak ties!

RR: Was there anyone who was a car influence in your life?

JPG: My grandfather had a silver 1977 911S Targa that he bought brand new in

Albuquerque. When I was in my

early 20’s I fell in love with it. I now own that car; the car that

started it all is in my garage.

RR: Other than Porsche any other cars you owned that were

special?

JPG: My daily driver for a number of years pre-COVID was

a manual Golf GTI, and it was

perfect for what it was. Small

enough for a commuter car, fast

enough to be fun, and it blended

in.

RR: What was the first Porsche you purchased?

JPG: I did buy my grandfather’s Targa, and I also have a 2004

911 Turbo, black with a race suspension and somewhere

around 500 horsepower. It really

is a hooligan of a car! So I have

the Targa for cruising and taking in the scenery, and the Turbo for

when I want to get someplace a

little quicker.

RR: Any experiences with the first car that stick out?

JPG: I remember getting a ticket in that Targa, the Nambe

Tribal Police stopped me. I had

the targa top off and my creative


excuse was that I was just trying to keep the

mosquitoes off of me. It didn’t work. I also remember the first time I went through a turn backwards in that Targa, I learned something

about driving Porsche. I never did that again.

RR: How many speeding tickets have you gotten?

JPG: Probably not as many as I deserve. My most memorable ticket I got in Phoenix. I

was in a 918 Spyder, silver with a big orange stripe, and I was prepping it to be shipped to

a Porsche driving event in Germany. So I pick it

up, it’s detailed and has a full tank of gas, and the shipper says ‘no, it has to have less than

1/8th tank of gas in it.’ So I ask if the tank can be drained, and it involved a 12 hour job with

partial engine disassembly to drain it. So I had to burn it off. I’m in 3rd gear on the 101 loop around Phoenix trying to use as much fuel as I can in the HOV lane and I got stopped. And ticketed. Even after I explained what I was

doing.

RR: Is there a new model Porsche that would look good in your garage?

JPG: I’m in love with the GT4. I’ve seen the Taycan, but I’m a 36-year-old guy and I’m not really the target demo. Plus I like to do long

distances, and I can’t see doing 500 miles with an electric vehicle. Not that I have anything

against the electric cars, the acceleration is

terrific and I could even deal with the engine sound, or lack thereof. I’m not opposed to innovation either, I’ve driven PDK and if I got a new GT4 it would probably be automatic. I

love stick shift but I think the new tools and

updates don’t take any of the emotion out of driving Porsche.

RR: How long have you been in the Roadrunner Region?

JPG: I’ve been a member since 2007, after attending my first Fiesta.

RR: Do you attend Porsche Parades or other big car events?

JPG: I’m the Fiesta Chair, and in the time before Covid I loved going to the Fiesta and

the Corrales Roundup. I was also at the last

Rennsport - what a great time with Porsche

people of all stripes!

RR: Any advice for new members of the club?

JPG: Have fun! It’s a social group and everyone’s in it for their own reasons; you just need to find your interest group.


ROADRUNNER REGION

MEMBERSHIPUPDATEJANUARY 2021

New Members 4

Transfer In 1

Transfer Out 0

Lapsed Members 5

Total Primary Members 449Affiliate Members 277Total Region Membership 726

Test Drive Participants 5

PCA Juniors 14

PCA National Membership:

Primary Members 88387 Affiliate Members 48170 Lifetime Members 17

Total 136,574

Welcome New Members :

David Montgomery 2008 Boxster Albuquerque

Ernesto Otero-Lopez 2021 911 Turbo S and Sandra Soltero

Albuquerque

Fred Rosen 2021 Macan GT

Placitas

Bert Tenenbaum 2020 Taycan 4s

Santa Fe

RO

ADRUNNE

RR

EGION

PO

RS

C

HE CLUB OF

AM

ER

ICA


Important Documents available in the Members Only section of the website.

Minutes from All Board Meetings

Current Membership Directory

Region Deadlines and Information

You don’t need a login to download the Ramblings. Refer to your “welcome new member” email OR the “new website” email for the security password required to view any member documents or member information. OR contact [email protected] you!


Tech Tips from Pedro

‘TIS THE SEASON by Pedro P. Bonilla GCR PCA

Just after the Holidays is when the Season starts!

The TRACK SEASON!

This is my favorite time of the year. I start to look

forward to the upcoming track days and here in

Florida they start at the end of January. Woohoo!.

Heck, our Autocross (AX) season starts the first week of January.

But many of you may have questions or doubts

which have held you back from taking your Porsche

to the track.

Let me tell you that a Porsche that’s trackless is like a duck with no water or a squirrel with no oak

trees. These cars are happiest when they are being

tracked and really, you’re not going to hurt it by doing a few laps. Sure, you will use up a bit of your

tires and brakes, but you will gain permagrin!

I’ve been asked, from the technical side, what’s involved and what preparations does a Porsche

owner need to do in order to attend a track day or

a DE (Driver’s Education) event.

Basically, your car needs to be in good running

order with its lights and safety equipment

operational.

Safety is paramount, so all the safety items are of

the utmost importance:

1.- Helmet. You will need a SNELL 2010 or newer

helmet. Open-face or Closed.

2.- Safety Restraint. Seat belts that are in good

working order.

3.- Brakes. They must be in good condition and meet the minimum requirements.

a) Brake rotors with no cracks or outer edge lip

over 1m

b) Brake pads with 3/16” or more

c) Fresh brake fluid (must be replaced every 2 years or every track day)

d) Brake lights operational

4.- Tires. Must have minimum 3/32” tread and be no older than 6 years old.

5.- Roll Bars. If you have a convertible, it needs to

be equipped with roll bars.

6.- Fire Extinguisher is recommended but not

required.

You will also need to get your car Tech’d.

This is generally a free service offered by

authorized shops in your area.

Check with your local PCA Region for a valid and

updated list of shops near you.


You need to bring your car to the shop within a 30 day window before the event.

They will inspect the vehicle, following the PCA

Region’s Tech Sheet and will let you know if anything cannot be approved so that you can have it fixed and pass your inspection in time for the DE.

When you get to your track day or DE make sure to

bring with you your helmet and the properly filled, signed and stamped Tech Sheet.

Remove any loose items such as mats, radar detectors,

etc.

When your registration to the event was confirmed you were given a number. Place it on the car with

the popular magnetic type or with painter’s tape. Numbers need to be at least 8” tall and you will need the number displayed on either side of the car in a

contrasting color.

There will be a final Tech Inspection at the track, so

make sure you arrive with

time to pick your spot and

get sorted out.

Don’t forget to bring a cooler with water,

especially during the hot

months of summer. Staying

hydrated is very important!

When I track my car, I also bring with me to the track

a 10‘x10’ canopy to provide shade during off time, as well as a comfortable folding chair....

... and my bicycle and my track tires, and my tools.

It all fits perfectly on my 4’ x 4’ track tailer which I haul with my Boxster.

It’s a slippery slope!

GOLD COAST REGION PCA TECHNICAL INSPECTION FORM

THE PRETECH INSPECTION FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND STAMPED BY THE INSPECTING

SHOP BEFORE COMING TO THE TRACK!!!

EVENT___________________ EVENT DATE__________________

NOTE: The participant is primarily responsible for the safety of his/her car and should know the condition of

the items on this list. The inspector is not held liable for the safety of this vehicle.

Print Driver 1 Name ____________________ Print Driver 2 Name ____________________

Signature Driver 1______________________ Signature Driver 2______________________

PRE-TECH INSPECTION (Done Prior to the Event)

Vehicle Interior APP REJ Suspension & running gear APP REJ

Interior Mirror ___ ___ Steering Linkage ___ ___

Seat Belts ___ ___ Suspension & Shocks ___ ___

Fire Extinguisher (recommended) ___ ___ Wheel Bearings ___ ___

Pedals in Good Cond. ___ ___ Metal/Flexible Brake Lines ___ ___

Brake Pedal Firm ___ ___ Brakes Recently Bled ___ ___

Emergency Brake Operable ___ ___ Tire Condition (3/32” min.) ___ ___

Roll Bar (REQUIRED in Open Cars) ___ ___ Rim Condition ___ ___

Date Brake Fluid Last Changed _______

Engine & Trunk APP REJ Vehicle Exterior APP REJ

Battery Secure ___ ___ Brake Lights ___ ___

Electrical Harness Secure ___ ___ No Fluid Leakage ___ ___

Relays Secure ___ ___ No Cracked Glass ___ ___

Fan Belt ___ ___ No Excessive Rust ___ ___

Throttle Linkage ___ ___ Windshield Wipers ___ ___

Oil & Gas Lines Secure ___ ___ Exterior Mirror ___ ___

Hood & Deck Lids Secure ___ ___ Gas Cap Secure ___ ___

Oil Leaks ___ ___ Brake Pads (3/16” min.) ___ ___

Tire Pressure Front _____

Rear _____

INSPECTOR’S BUSINESS NAME AND STAMP_____________________________

INSPECTOR’S NAME______________________ DATE INSPECTED___________

FINAL TECH INSPECTION (Done at the Track)

_____________ APP REJ ______ __________ APP REJ

Tire Condition (3/32” min.) ___ ___ Tire Pressure (Low 30’s min.) ___ ___

Wheel Covers Removed ___ ___ Helmet (SA or SM 2010 or 2015) ___ ___

Lug Nuts Torqued ___ ___ Car Number on Both Sides ___ ___

No Loose Objects in Car ___ ___ Clothing (Long sleeve shirt, long ___ ___

Stop Lights Operable ___ ___ pants, rubber soled shoes with )

Enclosed toes)

PCA INSPECTOR’S NAME________________ DATE INSPECTED_________________


PORSCHE CAYMAN/BOXSTER ACCESSORIES

FOR SALECall Bob Blackwell: (505) 506-6807 or: [email protected]

• Cat-back exhaust removed from 2009 Cayman S at about 15,000 miles, Stainless Steel with mounting clamps and mounting hardware - $500

• Side Air Scoops, Black - $100

• Rear spoiler, Arctic Silver - $100

• Spare Wheel, Tire and Jack - $150

• Cargo Restraining Nets, Black, two - $20 each

• Cayman/Boxster Front Floor Mats, Black, Plush, - $50

• Paint touch-up pens, one silver and one clear - $10

• Sport Steering Wheel from 996 Carrera, 3-spoke, Leather, light grey worn, (may be redyed in color of your choice) - $100


Exp. 12-31-2021