Z356

Parade Participants - Do not forget to bring warm clothing to Monterey for the week of the event (6/15 to 6/21). Our 'June Gloom' weather has started and our marine layer (what non-Carmelites will often call 'fog', although that is not a term used by our local Chamber of Commerce!) is starting to move in.

View from the beach just down my Carmel Point street:

First photo: Mit Fog

Second photo: Sans Fog

To paraphrase the common saying attributed to Mark Twain*, 'the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Carmel'! So, caveat lector.

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

*Apparently there is some doubt he ever said that: http://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp
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Z356

Since I am showing a car in the Historic Display at the PCA Parade Concours, I am getting some early additional information that I would like to share with all of you.

Attachment # 1 is of the Hyatt Regency Parade Headquarters and what activities will take place where on that property.

Attachment #2 is a Google satellite map of the Monterey Peninsula College parking, the Hyatt Regency Hotel (Parade Central) and the Del Monte Golf course where the Concours Display will take place on Monday, June 16th. The staging area is for those entrants showing cars at the Concours.

Attachment #3 is a Google satellite map of the Concours Display in greater detail.

Attachment #4 is a Google satellite map close-up of the staging area.

Attachment #5 is a Goggle satellite map of the Monterey Peninsula College parking area for Parade entrants and where shuttle buses will be taking people to & from the Concours event at Del Monte.

My understanding is that they will start staging cars on the Concours site on Sunday, June 15th from 1 pm to 5 pm and the rest from 4 am to 7 am on Monday, June 16th. All I can say is that I pray that someone is making sure that the golf course's irrigation system is turned-off on Sunday night & early Monday morning. I hope they'll let me position my car on Monday morning!

They have not told me yet when the Concours event will officially start - but I am assuming the judging will commence by 9 am. We, the Concours entrants, are being told for our cars not to leave the Concours field until 4 pm, but I think some will depart before that late hour! But the general public will probably see most everything by 2 pm and the crowds will start to thin out by 3 pm at the latest.

Concours Day Parking for Non-Parade Entrants and General Public:
No official information yet where non-entrants and the general public will be allowed to park on the day of the Concours to access the event. If you have not registered for the Parade and are coming that day just to see the Concours, there will still be areas to park your car and attend the event (which is open to the public) on the Del Monte Golf Course behind the Hyatt! I anticipate that traffic will be diverted along Mark Thomas Drive and you'll be directed to enter on the side of the Del Monte Golf Course to designated parking spaces a walking distance from the Concours field (see attachment #6). That is how it's done for the Mecum Car Auction held at the same location behind the Hyatt Regency on the golf course during the Historics in August. We will wait for further information. And I will then posted ASAP.

Concours Day Parking if You are a Parade Entrant:
There will be a Porsche corral parking near the Concours but only for registered Parade entrants. That does require, however, those not staying at the Hyatt to pre-position their cars at the Monterey Peninsula College* at 8 AM on Monday, June 16th, after which they will be escorted to a special 'Corral' in a preferential spot next to the actual Concours field.

*See Attachment #2, #5 & #7

If you are a Parade entrant that is not staying at the Hyatt and can NOT make the 8 am pre-positioning at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC), you can still park at the MPC and get a shuttle bus to the Concours site. Here is what a recent email from the organizers said on the subject:

'For those of you not staying at the Hyatt, during the Concours we have arranged to be able to park on the 14th fairway, very close to the Concours cars. The 'gotcha' is that we will stage for this parking at Monterey Peninsula College at 8 am, and if you miss that staging, you miss out. You will be able to start leaving the Concours at 11:30. You will need to sign up for this parking by going back into your Parade registration via the link on pca.org. We have approximately 180 spaces. We will also have shuttles running from Monterey Peninsula College from 9 am to 6 pm'

I don't know if they'll let you park at MPC and take the shuttle if you are NOT a registered Parade entrant. So caveat lector. The Parade has a notice on Parking which is attachment #8, but that doesn't tell you much.

Concours Prep Areas on Friday, Saturday & Sunday:
Let me try to figure out for you what is going on with Concours Prep so that those of you that want to come visit the folks working on their cars can easily do so the weekend BEFORE the Concours. According the the Parade website, 'Indoor Concours Prep will be held at the Hyatt Conference Center Garage and the Salinas room at the Fairgrounds. These areas will be available starting Friday, June 13 on a first-come first-served basis."

The Center Garage of the Hyatt can be easily found by looking at attachment #1. The Salinas Room at the Fairgrounds is not that well known. It is apparently a large 7,000 square feet structure that is non-carpeted and has tall vaulted ceilings. From the map (attachment #9), you can see that is fairly close to the Hyatt.

There is apparently a Concours prep are at the Monterey Peninsula College, but that has no cover (attachment #7). An earlier attached a map of the area (attachments #2 & #9) shows you the location of MPS in relationship the Hyatt & Del Monte Concours site.

I and many other Concours participants will try to get a space at the Hyatt Conference Center garage early on Friday. I encourage you all to come to that Hyatt garage and perhaps the Salinas Room at the Fairgrounds during the weekend to see folks prepping their vehicles for the Parade Concours on Monday. Don't be discourage by this parking issue - where there is a will, there is a way. So come and visit us at the Concours Prep areas anytime during the weekend! We generally enjoyed talking to visitors as we work on our cars!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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Z356

I just got a call back from Sean Cridland who is the Chairperson for both the PCA Parade Website and 2014 Parade Historic Display. He clarified to me that the staging on Sunday will be for the Historic Display cars only. He is expecting around 45 cars for Historic and some of them will be race cars that might have a difficult time negotiating the undulations of the golf course from staging area to actual site of the display. So he got special permission to stage some of the Historic cars on Sunday. He believes that the staging for all cars participating on the Concours on Monday morning between 4 AM and 7 AM will be 'chaotic' given the number of cars expected for the competitive part of the Concours. But that will not effect the folks that are just coming to see the magnificent display of cars on the lawn at the Del Monte Golf course later that Monday day!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Larry Cable

I might have to pop down for this!

Z356

It will be worth it. I have been told by the organizers that this Parade will have the largest number of registrants ever in its history! And these annual PCA gatherings have been held each year since 1956! So this will be a HUGE event! As a result of that, and because it's taking place in California where the largest concentration of Porsches exists in the world, I expect the Concours field on June 16th to be both memorable and historic!

I encourage anyone within driving distance of Monterey to take the day off and come see this magnificent display of Porsche cars in one place!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

PS. Larry - You have mail!

Cheekymonkeyman

Green with envy... Wrong continent... Please post loads of pics (like you wouldn't!) so i can get greener and greener
Have a fantastic time!

Manny Alban

I'm in a meeting with Porsche in Atlanta right now....they are bringing some very cool surprises for our members coming to Parade....will definitely be one for the memory banks.

Z356

Manny: Tell Detlev to bring a couple of the upgraded/improved 991 gt3 motors that were recently airfreighted to PCNA from Stuttgart and have their techs do live demonstrations installing them on customer's gt3s right there on the Concours Display lawn in Monterey! That would be a 'cool surprise' and a treat for all to see!


Just kidding. Give us some more details of what they are bringing to show (if you are able to disclose) and see you later next week!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

PS Attached is a photo of a bronze sculpture by Lawrence Braun of legendary Porsche factory mechanics Storz & Schmitt working on the Carrera engine of Bonnier & Hill’s RS-60 at Le Mans in 1960.

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Z356

If you are a Parade entrant, you would have received this email yesterday:

"Welcome Party on Sunday
The Welcome Banquet will be held at the Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey. We have negotiated a $5 rate in the parking structure, and the flat lot next to the plaza. Our Zone 3 Rep and sign guru Jim Cambron, will light the way to these areas with signage.

Concours Banquet on Tuesday
The Concours Banquet will be held at the Hyatt. We will be able to use the Del Monte golf course's parking adjacent to the Hyatt as well as the church parking lot, again adjacent to the Hyatt. However, we just don't know how full that Hyatt lot will be, so will provide shuttles from Monterey Peninsula College. If you don't want to be frustrated by coming to the Hyatt and not being able to find a spot, just go directly to MPC and take the shuttle.

TSD Rally Banquet on Wednesday
This banquet will be held at the Monterey Fairgrounds, and has plenty of parking for all.

AX Banquet on Friday
The AX Banquet will be held at the Carmel Mission and a parking diagram is attached.

Victory Banquet on Saturday
Our final banquet will again be at the Hyatt, and we anticipate being able to accommodate everyone in the parking lots there.

There are no shuttles to any of the banquets.

Susan Brown
Parade Chair"

The only good news here is that I can walk to & from the Carmel Mission Autocross Banquet from my home in Carmel Point...so I will be able to drink some wine!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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Z356

Latest email from Parade Chair Susan Brown:

"Concours Prep:

Sites will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. These are the three options, you may choose based on availability at the time of your arrival:

Hyatt Regency Conference Center Garage & covered parking –
30 – 35 spaces maximum.

Monterey Fairgrounds Salinas Room – off-site, but covered – we anticipate approximately 25 spaces
As this is indoor, rules apply for bringing vehicles inside:

Fuel no more than ¼ tank
Locked or taped gas cap
Batteries must be disconnected

Monterey Peninsula College – open lots, roving security – plenty of spaces for Porsches in lower lot A, trailers & tow vehicles in upper lot A. No water available there.

Both indoor locations are open to buckets of water brought into these buildings, though we will not have a car wash at the Fairgrounds. We also suggest waterless options related to the water shortage in California.

Concours Prep spaces are available from Friday (June 13th) through Monday (June 16th) at 8:00am. For times, see the entrant schedule on the Parade website http://parade2014.pca.org/

Flammable liquids are prohibited. There will be no aerosol products (especially painting supplies) allowed inside the building. All painting must occur outside at least 500 feet from any entrance."

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After receiving this email, I asked Concours Co-Chair Ron Gordon the following questions:

1) Space open to any Parade entrant and not just limited to those staying at Hyatt, correct?

2) Our concours entry car can stay in the garage until Monday early morning for the staging between 4 am & 7 am, correct?

3) Security will be provide 24 hours for the cars during the Friday to Monday morning concours prep period at the Hyatt Conference Center garage, correct?

His response:

"Eduardo,

Correct to all three."

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Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Z356

As this previous exchange with Suzy991 (who hails originally from Holland although she now lives in Switzerland) demonstrates, Ben Pon of Bernardus Winery has very close ties to Porsche & auto racing. And it gave me the idea to try to see if they could do something special for those of you reading this blog that are coming to Monterey next week for this historic grand gathering of Porsches!

Thus, I have arranged for Bernardus Winery to offer friends attending the Porsche Parade a complimentary tasting at their tasting room in Carmel Valley village! As many of you know, Ben Pon was a very accomplished driver of Porsche race cars in the 1960's. And his family's business is the company that imports Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Škoda and Porsche for Holland. Although Ben is currently in Europe, I contacted Mike Oprish (Managing Director), Rob Baker (Director of Sales & Marketing) and Stanley Rogalsky (Tasting Room Manager) to see if they could do something, anything, for us as a small gesture. And I just got this very positive reply from Rob Baker, along with a bespoke invitation on their corporate letterhead (see attachment #1):

"Eduardo- For the tasting room we can offer a complimentary tasting of 3 of Mr Bernardus Pons favorite newly released summer time wines -- Griva Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Saignee (Rose’) of Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands and Chardonnay Monterey County. We will run this Monday June 16th-Thursday June 19th. The guest can identify themselves as part of the Porsche group"

If you have the time during Porsche Parade next week between Monday, June 16th and Thursday June 19th, please visit the Bernardus Winery Tasting Room in Carmel Valley and ask for your free wine tasting! This is an exclusive invitation for those of you here at Rennlist reading this blog and for my Porsche friends that I know are coming to the Parade! As an aside, I have already tasted their just-released 2012 Monterey County Chardonnay and it's excellent!

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By the way, while you are at the Bernardus tasting room, please ask Manager Stanley Rogalsky (or any member of his staff - Philip, Chelsey or Brittany) to show you the book that European automotive journalist Ton Roks has published about Ben Pon...and which is exclusively for for sale at the winery! In its 147 pages, you will find many fascinating photos of Ben when he was racing Porsches - e.g. 356 Speedster, Carrera Abarth, 904 gts, 906, 910 - in the 1960's, plus the full story of Ben's singularly interesting life! Below is the link to the competition history of Ben Pon, which included races at LeMans, Sebring, Daytona, Nürburgring, Hockenheim, Solitude, Zandvoort, Zolder, Spa, Reims, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Mugello, Monza et al. As you can see, Ben drove the best race cars you could get from the Porsche factory in those years!

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driv...en-Pon-NL.html

I have included below several photos of my personal copy of this excellent Ben Pon book for your perusal!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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MKW

looking forward to next week..staying with a buddy who lives just a few blocks away off Josselyn Canyon Road !

Larry Cable

not going to make it

Z356

Folks: The Hyatt Regency Monterey Conference Center (Underground) Garage is operational as of this hour - Thursday at 2 pm - and already had 2 Porsches in there prepping - a 'Speed Yellow' 911 Turbo & a 'White' Cayman R when I went to reconnoiter the location a few hours ago! So if you are in the area already and need covered & secured concours prep area, get there ASAP since spaces are limited!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Z356

I got to the Hyatt Regency Conference Center underground parking on Thursday at noon and there were only a few Porsches prepping (photo 1, 2, 3). That will change starting tomorrow morning. I anticipate that space (35/40 cars max) at the Hyatt will fill out quickly by early morning. Be prepare to go to alternative B, the Salinas Room at the Monterey Fairgrounds. It is just down the street from the Hyatt. Follow Mark Thomas Drive (north), go over the overpass (over route 68), turn right at Garden Road and almost immediately take a Left into parking lot when you see sign for 'Monterey Pines Golf Course'. Enter at Gate 1. Salinas Room. See attached photos I took this afternoon to help you out. The gate will be open at 7 AM/8AM on Friday (tomorrow). This is your last covered option for Concours Prep at this Parade. So caveat lector.

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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