Normy

Yeah well...

OK. We are not the best received members of the community.

I guess "black sheep" know the feeling. So do I- for various reasons that are better left un-discussed on this particular forum, I am the dark colored member of my particular corner of the genome.

Which all means that I was pretty much an outsider at todays event; First of all, I didn't register [like....pay the $125 fee: Sorry, I got furloughed [laid off]].

I parked Jett Lag in the lot anyway...they can sue me. Most members are probably lawyers, but I had no problems in the end. The turnout looked to be about 150 cars, which seems like a lot until you consider that over 80 928's made it to Western North Carolina for SITM- an event that my sorry little *** felt WAY more comfortable at!

I'm sorry ahead of time- I'm sure this will be controversial, but I am not a member of the PCA and I don't want to be. I was for one year, but I encountered pretention at the one and only meeting that I attended and so I let it lapse.

The meeting was held at Saddlebrook Ranch, a huge development that includes some seriously high budget houses. Saddlebrook homes seem to go for around $500,000 a pop- not much by California standards, but in Florida that buys you about 4000 square feet, a pool, and a three car garage. It felt strange driving through a neighborhood and finding a resort at the back of the complex!

Anyway, the majority of the cars there were 911's of course. There were also a large number of Boxsters and a few 944's. I counted [including my car] exactly 5 928's [two silver '86's, a blue '86, and a silver '89]. Not a good turnout for our type.

Well, it is possible that some cars were over at the airport in Zephyrhills at the autocross, and that some people simply weren't there at the time. Oh well...

Interstingly, there were several Cayenne's there. One was a Porsche demo vehicle, which was propped up at the rear so that you could see the underside. They had a GT3 like this as well, and I got several intersting photos of both.

I had another appointment in the area, so it wasn't a total waste of time...but I still say that SITM and other 928 events are far more fun than any of the PCA events I've been to.

N-

Ed Ruiz

My experience at the 1991 Parade in Boston was just the opposite of yours. The folks could not have been friendlier.

Like you, I did not register, but they let me in to a few events to watch. I even helped at their autocross event. I still have the T-shirt they gave me for volunteering.

While there I saw Kim Crumb's project car, but couldn't find him. I have since, and (IMO) he alone makes being a PCA member worthwhile for a 928er like me. YMMV.

Donald

Down (over) here 928s are most welcome, as are those lower on the chain- 944, 924, 914, Boxster...
Two of the past two Presidents of Hill Country had 928s (Morrison has 6, and the current has a 944T, Dallas is not as enlightened, but the ones who know their Porsches are fine.

(By the way, guess the PCA committee member in charge of 928 tech questions- our own John Veninger!)

I always get approving looks when I take mine to the track, but how did anyone know what you were driving as you walked around?

Normy

I'll clarify- nobody was actually rude to me at the Porsche Parade- in fact, the people that worked there were pretty friendly overall. But nobody really came up to me to talk about the car, though the Borla's burble turned everyone's heads.

Here is a cool license plate from California- anyone know this car? <img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/seachkns.jpg" alt=" - " />

N-

Nicole

I became a member of the Loma Prieta region PCA last year. I haven't attended many events, but have been received very positively.

Sure, there are not many 928 owners in the club, so there is not much tech talk or exchange of "tips and tricks", but many people have expressed respect for the 928.

The publications are useless for 928 owners, though. Well, they could not write about a 25th anniversary celebration for the 928, if it was organized by a local 928-only organization. That would just be too embarassing - no?

I admit that if I had a choice between a norcal928 event and a general PCA event, I'd go with the norcal928. not sure, if that makes me a bad PCA member.

In the end, I hope to do some fun drives with them, mix, mingle, network, etc. And I like to remind them that there is a Porsche that's actually a superb automobile as well... Ooops! That just slipped out. Don't quote me on that!!! &lt;blush&gt;

Ron_H

Well, I am just back from the Porsche Parade in Florida, and must say that true porsche people are friendly to all model drivers. As an example, my car drowned in a frog strangler in Louisiana...first the AC/blower burned, then the wipers died, and then it wouldn't start at all. Through all of this, another parade participant overheard my telephone conversation to Devek in a coffee shop in Pensacola, and offered to help. They unloaded their 911-S from their trailer and put my soggy 928 on and then towed my car all the way (6 hours) to Tampa to be repaired. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Typical Porsche people goodwill which is found at the parades I've experienced. Of course I go there for more than 928 related stimulation, having owned other models of Porsches in the past.
They say that it is not about the cars...it is about the people. It's true. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
Anyway, thanks to some other nice Porsche people who got my car running again, I made it back to California in almost one piece (the car is a bit battle scarred, with one damaged fender in Houston from a misplaced traffic cone, many gravel chips, one cut front tire, no AC or blower, windshield wipers that won't turn off without removing the fuse..love that rain-x, a throttle linkage that dropped off outside of Wilcox, AZ in 105 degree desert heat and required dismembering the intake system along the
road <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> , and many bear sightings), and fixed the fender with much pounding and grunting this afternoon. And I managed to escape being swallowed by hungry gators too.
Guess I am a porsche people too, having been a past president of a PCA region <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

Nicole

That is a nice story, Ron! I'm glad to hear you got help when you needed it, and made it home safely!

Greg86andahalf

I joined the Potomac chapter PCA to get a discount at Frenzy 6. I relay haven't done much with them since, but we do enjoy the magazine they send.

I joined the Chesapeake chapter PCA as a dual member after attending a local autocross event they held in my hometown. The president of the Chesapeake chapter came up to me and was complementary of my car and was encouraging with regards to my first autocross event. Other Chesapeake members who were working the event were very helpful as well.

I found the same level of friendliness at the second Chesapeake autocross event I attended last month. Sure, there are alway a couple of "snooty" members who may look the other way, so I left the hood open in the parking lot and they all seem to find their way over for a "glimpse".

I tend to see through the "noise" of some of these gatherings and extract the benifits which suit me. Let's stereotype, shall we?

IMHO, there are roughly 3 types of Porsche owners. Beginning with the "snootyest"-

1)Those who are simply driving a large monthly payment and it's all about "status". These people know little about the mechaniical workings of their cars and may have trouble finding the oil level dipstick. "My mechanic takes care of that stuff" At events, these people are not "talking cars", they are talking stocks, golf, business, whatever.

2)Those who have purchased an older model car (like 70'2 model 911's or early 928's and 924/944 series), are enthusiastic about ownership, make their best effort to keep the car maintained (usually be a mechanic) and enjoy the P-car experience. These people look at all of the cars in attendance and ask a bunch of good questions.

3) People who own any model from a early 356 to a late model 996TT because they understand and appreciate the engineering of the car they own. The badge on the hood could say "Sam's Choice" , it wouldn't matter. These owners see their car for the engineering marvel that it is, not the status (real of percieved) that come from owning a Porsche. Many of these owners have elaborate garages and do most if not all of their own service work. They are helpful, friendly and are the ones "talking cars" at events. They are the best representatives of the Porsche experience because they derrive the most benefit from ownership.

Call me number 3.

Greg