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SPINNERSchönesland Region Porsche Club of America ... Celebrating 40 years!
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Schonesland Officers & Board Members..................................3President’s Apex ................................... 4Volt Sendoff .......................................... 5Schonesland Holiday Party .................. 7Hoosier & Beckly .................................. 8Prevette’s .............................................. 9Calendar of Events ............................. 10Porsche of Omaha...............................11Membership ........................................ 12
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE:The Spinner newsletter name and content herein are copy-right protected and may not be reproduced without SL-PCA’s express written permission. All logos belong to their respec-tive owners. Porsche, the Porsche Crest, Targa, Boxster, Carrera, Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera, Tiptronic, VarioCam, PCM, 911, 4S, are trademarks of Porsche AG. This news-letter is only for our Iowa Subscribers. We do not intend to establish contacts or enter into any contracts outside of the State of Iowa. INFORMATION IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Inclusion of an advertisement or Internet link in these pages does not imply any endorsement of the services or the site, it’s contents, or it’s sponsoring organiza-tion. The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Spinner, the Porsche Club of America, the Schonesland Region of the Porsche Club of America, its officers, newsletter editors, or web-master. Classified ads are welcome from SL-PCA members. Nonprofessional, non-corporate sale of personal Porsche-related items only. Classified cost is FREE!! Editor reserves right to limit ad size due to space limitations. Please email [email protected] for more information.
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SCHONESLAND OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS
Mary Alice HillPresident515-229-3339
Lynn FrankSecretary515-986-7377
David SafrisWebmaster/SPINNER editor 515-991-2772
Skip HammermanMembership Chair515-419-8734
Kent LehrTrack Events515 208-1119
Jeff DavidBoard Member515 229-5616
Jeff KrausmanVice President515-225-3528
Ron NewmanTreasurer515-965-0964
Garry SeemannSafety Chair515-490-6802
Casey FlanaganCo-Chair, Track Events515-865-1422
Tom RuskHistorian515-266-1594
Sue LarsonBoard Member
ZONE 10Kim FritzeZone 10 Representative
Doug HillmanBoard Member
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The year is winding to a close and I want to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. It’s been a great year for Schonesland and the board is already dreaming of a variety of activities to offer our members in 2016. A great group of volunteers plans to serve Schonesland as board members in the new year – watch for an emailed ballot soon to cast your vote.
The annual board planning meeting will be on Saturday morning January 30th at 8:30 and all members are welcome to participate. We’ll meet at Jeff David’s office at RBC Wealth Management at 1250 NW 128th Street in Clive, just north and west of Granite City at University Avenue and 128th Street. Have an idea you’d like the board to consider in 2016? Come share your thoughts!
Mark your calendar for the annual Schonesland holiday party on Saturday evening January 16th at the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines and watch your mailbox for an invitation arriving soon. Special room rates will be available for those who’d like to enjoy the party, stay overnight in a gorgeous room, and awaken the next morning to a made-to-order breakfast. Remember our photo contest? Many beautiful vehicle photos were submitted and the winners will be unveiled at the party. Calendars featuring the winning photos will be available for purchase at the event.
Thanks to all who contributed to the November Cars and Coffee food drive for the Food Bank of Iowa. Schonesland provided more than 180 pounds of groceries as well as cash donations for individuals in need in our community. The enthusiasm from our members was strong and we plan to make this an annual event.
Cars and Coffee will be held as usual on Saturday morning December 12th at 8:00 at the Cozy Café in Johnston. Our Drive and Dine is taking a holiday break in December so watch for its return in January on the usual third Tuesday evening of the month.
Thanks for making my first year as Schonesland
president so rewarding! The many involved volunteers and participants keep the group strong and continue to bring tremendous energy to each event. May the blessings of this beautiful season be with you and may the new year bring you joy and peace. See you soon!
President’s Apex
Mary Alice HillPresident
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This month’s car enthusiast-ness was more earthshaking than usual. The increasing size and various activities of our boys, along with one other financial consideration (to be explained below), pushed us to the conclusion that it was necessary to kick our slow-burning search for a new vehicle into high gear.
After driving a new VW Touareg TDI, a 2012 Audi Q7 TDI, a new Dodge Durango R/T, a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, and a 2011 Porsche Cayenne, we settled on. . . a 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Even though the number we agreed on was more than we originally set out to spend, it represented by far the best value of the bunch. It is simply top-notch.
Which leaves me to lament the loss of my beloved Volt.
The first-gen Volt remains to this day a brilliant piece of engineering, even as it is eclipsed by a completely redesigned and upgraded second-generation. It was eons ahead of its time when it arrived in 2011. Most people still don’t even understand how the Volt works (representing a fairly massive failure on the part of GM’s marketing): it is one car with two separate, but interconnect-able powertrains—one electric, one gas. The idea is that you use the less expensive electricity, delivered to the wheels via a 16-kWh onboard battery charged from a standard household outlet, on your common local jaunts. For the rarer, longer hauls, you burn gasoline from a 9-gallon tank. Run out of gas and battery enroute? Stop at a gas station, fill up, and keep going. When you arrive, plug in to recharge the battery. Simple.
We bought our 2012 Volt in September of that same year. I got a good price from the dealer, who’d had the car for some time and was happy to be rid of it. I wound up eligible for about $6800 of the possible $7500 in federal tax rebate money. After the fed rebate, another GM discount, and a bit of negotiation, the final price on the car was $35,700. My monthly payment on the 72-month, zero-percent-interest loan
Volt Sendoff
Will MacFarlandContributing Writer
was $550 (included in the financing was a warranty, which in retrospect was a complete waste—the car was steadfastly reliable).
What, then, was the financial consideration that pushed us to part with the Volt? I’ll tell you—even at $550 per month, we never caught up with the depreciation curve. Bluntly, the Volt depreciated like pre-sold tickets for the second voyage of the Titanic.
First, we endured the as-expected off-the-lot hit of about ten percent. Simultaneously the car lost another $7500 in value for the tax rebate, which only the first buyer can redeem. Do the math and you’ll realize that this is over ten grand in near-instant depreciation. A mere six months later, GM decreed a price reduction on the Volt to the tune of $5000. Right around that same time, for model-year 2013, GM also made some updates and revisions including a higher-def rear-view camera, better navigation, and some software tweaks which unlocked a little more electric range from the battery (about 3 extra miles, for a total of 38 instead of 35). All of these improvements further devalued the original car. Finally, in the fall of 2015, GM announced an all-new, second-gen Volt, which would feature an improved interior, a new aluminum-block gasoline engine that would run on regular instead of premium fuel, and a new battery with FIFTY miles of electric range. The first-gen car became comparatively obsolete, and values entered free-fall.
As much as we enjoyed the cut-and-thrust of silent electric torque and the long stretches between gas station visits, it was painful to time and again check the principle balance remaining on the loan and know that that amount was more than the car was worth. Over and over we tried to reassure ourselves that this was the last straw, that surely the market value of the car could go no lower. Yet somehow, inevitably, a new event would befall us and the value would continue to decrease.
A part of me knew, in 2012, that I was an early-adopter, and that some of my personal fortune
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was going toward the long-term cause of bringing affordable, plug-in electric vehicles to the American consumer. I did not expect quite so much of my fortune to disappear so quickly, however, and I’m fortunate that I had the ability to absorb the loss and escape, because I can see the next hit coming.
The next hit is the market’s fear of depleted batteries.
Consumers know that as batteries age, they lose their ability to store energy. They also know that the battery is the most expensive component of an electric car. The market reflects the consumers’ fear and uncertainty about these cars—pristine examples of cars like my Volt are easy to find for $15,000 or less. On the surface, that’s an amazing deal—a pittance for a vehicle loaded with brilliant engineering and capable of delivering sky-high MPGs as well as its own special brand of driving enjoyment. However, when the 8-year/100,000 mile factory warranty on the battery runs out, I can’t help but think that the market will essentially deem the car fit for little except the recycle bin.
That’s a terrible shame, because the Volt was—and still is—an exceptional automobile. It has moved the industry goalposts. If mankind were to journey to the moon again, we certainly wouldn’t use an Apollo rocket. We’ve learned too much since then for that to make sense. However, that doesn’t mean the old Apollo rockets are valueless. We recognize this, so we put those rockets in museums. Here’s hoping some first-gen Volts end up in museums too.
Does your car have a story to tell?For many of us, the processes of researching, finding, acquiring, and maintaining a dream car is as enjoyable as actually driving the car down the road. If you have a story to tell we would love to hear from you. Write up a quick story about your car and get a few high quality photos ready. Contact David Safris using the website contact page and he will work out the best way to get your story and photo included in a future Spinner newsletter.
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When: Sat. January 16, 2016
Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, Des Moines, IA
Time: Social hour with heavy hordourves begins at 6PM with dinner to follow
Cost: $70 per person
Enjoy more socializing at the After-Party.
Invitation will arrive in the mail soon.
Schonesland members can book a room at the Embassy Suites Hotel for a bargain $79.00 for the evening. Don’t risk a drive home. Use this link to make reservations: http://bit.ly/216Fk92
Schonesland Holiday Party
This is the must attend event of the season to connect with the Schonesland members. We are expecting some attendees from Wood House Porsche Omaha again this year as well as regional PCA representatives. Please plan to attend and support the club and get us started on another great year in 2016.
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Have a great picture of your car and want to share it?The club website, www.schonesland.com, has a special photo gallery titled “Club Member Cars” and we would like to add your car to the list. Send us your best photo and we will add you to the website photo gallery.
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The Joys of Detailing
Interior Vinyl & Leatherette Care Interior vinyl and leatherette takes a lot of abuse and is often forgotten when it comes to car care. Various forms of vinyl are found readily in the door panels, the dash and some of our older cars have vinyl seats. Leatherette, which is a form of artificial leather that is usually made by covering either a natural or a synthetic fibre base with a plastic such as PVC, can often be found in the seats, arm rests and consoles.
Most plastics are very rigid by nature. In order to soften them and give them a better look and feel inside your ride, plasticizers are added in order to make them softer and more flexible. Besides the attack of the normal everyday dirt, grime and dust, the vinyl and leatherette is taken to extremes by the UV (ultra violet) light and heat of the sun as well as the cold temperatures of the winter. The UV rays from the sun attack these surfaces and cause the plasticizers to evaporate. Over time, as they evaporate due to the sun and heat, the vinyl and leatherette surface is left hard, brittle and cracked. That foggy film that you often notice on the inside of your windows is evidence that is partially caused by the evaporation of plasticizers. What can you do? Your first task is to clean the surface. What you do not want to do is apply a protectant directly over the dirt and grime and seal it in. You will want to use a cleaner that was designed to clean vinyl and leatherette. Use of the wrong cleaner, such as dish soap or some of the more harsh everyday cleaners will actually dull the finish and remove the sheen. Your cleaner should deep clean and not leave behind a film that could prevent the protectant from penetrating into the vinyl and leatherette. A microfiber pad or microfiber towel works well as the surfaces are often not perfectly smooth and have some grain or texture to them. The microfiber will reach into the texture to remove the dirt and grime. If you have difficulty cleaning the textured surface, use a soft brush such as horsehair to safely scrub the area clean. In addition to a regular cleaning, it becomes very important to apply a good quality protectant. The protectant coating will greatly reduce fading and will keep the plasticizers from evaporating to keep the vinyl and leatherette soft and flexible. It is also worth noting that some of the newer cleaners have a UV protectant in them. What this means to you is that if you do not want to perform a two step process, as in clean and then apply a protectant, these cleaners in one step will remove the dirt and grime and leave a UV protective coating behind. A poor quality protectant can actually age the vinyl and leatherette due to harsh ingredients that are used where the goal is just simply to look nice with little regard given to the life of the dash or seat. A high quality protectant is typically water based and does not use solvents. Be aware that different protectants can leave different sheens on the surface. Some will look very natural as though nothing was applied, others will leave a soft satin look or even a high glossy shine. Most people prefer to use a non-greasy formula that will dry completely to a nice satin finish that will also be helpful in repelling dust. To apply protectants, I like to use a small foam pad. Apply the protectant to the pad and simply wipe onto the surface sparingly. Allow the protectant to soak in for about 5 minutes and then buff the area with a clean microfiber towel. If you notice an uneven look to the finish, apply a second application as the surface is most likely very dried out and in need of additional applications to bring it back. Be sure to follow this process and clean and protect your ride’s vinyl and leatherette at least every 3 months for maximum enjoyment. In doing so, years from now you will still be enjoying that vinyl and leatherette look and feel that you originally had. As always, enjoy your ride . . .
Rick Prevette Prevette’s, Ltd. www.prevettes.com
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On Facebook? So are we.
Join the Schonesland Facebook page by searching Schonesland Region of the PCA and hitting the Join button,then share your favorite Porsche photos or car related items.
Events Calendar
June 2015Sat 6/13 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AMSun 6/21 -- 2015 Porsche Parade: French Lick, IndianaTues 6/23 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PM
July 2015Sat 7/11 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AMTues 7/21 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PMTues 7/25 - 7/26 -- Schonesland Loess Hills Drive
August 2015Sat 8/8 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 7-10 AM -- Karl’s Chevrolet PerformanceFri 8/14 - 8/15 -- Schonesland Omaha DriveTues 8/18 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PM
September 2015Sun 9/6 -- Madrid Labor Day Car Show Drive; 9:30-2 PMSat 9/12 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AMSun 9/13 -- Des Moines Concours d’Elegance; 10-5 PMThu 9/17 -- 40th anniversary car show in Valley Junction; 4-8 PMTues 9/22 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PM
October 2015Thurs 10/1-10/3 -- Porsche Escape to Black HillsSat 10/10 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AMTues 10/20 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PM
November 2015Sat 11/14 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AMTues 11/17 -- Schonesland Drive & Dine; 6:30-8:30 PM
December 2015Sat 12/12 -- Schonesland Cars & Coffee; 8-10 AM
January 2016Sat 1/16 -- Schonesland Holiday Party at Embassy Suites; 6-11:45 PMThu 1/28 -- Rolex 24 Hours at DaytonaSat 1/30 -- Schonesland Annual Planning Meeting at RBC Wealth Management in Clive; 8:30 AM -12:00 PM
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“We know
the joy that Porsche ow
nership can provide, and we've
built a comm
unity around that”
Your local PCA
Region contact:
For over 55
years, the PCA
has beendedicated to enhancing the Porsche
ownership experience.
Social, technical orcom
petitive - no m
atter your interest,the P
CA
has som
ething to offerevery P
orsche owner.
With over 1
00
,00
0m
embers, P
CA
is thelargest single m
arquecar club in the w
orld.
HIS
TORY
The Porsche C
lub of Am
erica was founded in
1955 w
ith the following objectives in m
ind: to
promote the highest standards of courtesy and
safety of the roads; to enjoy and share the good
will and fellow
shipof ow
ning a Porsche; to m
ain-
tain the
highest standards
of operation
and
performance
of the
marque;
to esta
blis
h
a
mutually beneficial relationship w
ith the Porsche
factory, dealers and other service sources; to
exchange ideas
with
other Porsche
clubs
throughout the world; and to establish m
utually
cooperative relationships with other sports car
clubs. Mem
bership in the PCA w
ill add to your
enjoyment of ow
ning one of the finest automo-
biles in the world.
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