2025-December-Slipstream_web

Page 1


published by Maverick region porsche club of
by Anjan Shenoy

a retrospective

By the time you read this, I will have completed my sixth and final year as Maverick Region President. As they say, “When you are having fun, the time flies by.”

There are so many people that I need to thank, but I will start with David Robertson, Past President, who dared to ask me to run back in the Fall of 2019. Then, there’s Jim Hirsch, who took me from a member who did nothing, and I mean nothing, for 18 years – yes, nearly two decades - and convinced me in 2014 that I should get involved in the club.

There so many to thank that I could fill this magazine. Others know who you are, and I will have seen you to say thank you.

But wait – there is one more I need to call out, and that’s YOU reading this. Yes, the members who came out to all the events we created, and those who just enjoyed following us in Slipstream.

Let’s take a quick look back at our club from 2020 to today.

• We had 3,119 members (2,103 primary and 1,016 affiliate), while today we have 4,425 (2,991 primary and 1,434 affiliate).

• Let’s talk just NEW members. We grow by 30-plus new members each and (nearly) every month. That means that over 1,000 of you were not in the club when I began my first term.

• Founders’ Day became a four-event day with 400plus members attending.

• Our All Member Party was moved out to the “country” and combined with the first tour of the season, and it, too, is attended by some 400-plus members.

Now that I’ve shared that, many of you know I’m not capable of pulling off events. However, I just happen to be married to Debi, and if I have an idea, she makes it happen.

With that I know you have a great 2026 ahead of you. Debi and I look forward to seeing you at this year’s events as we continue to Drive Friendships!

Photos by contributed by various PCA members

President William Kruder 214-497-0711 president@mavpca.org

Autocross

Equipe Rapide Liason Mark Schnoerr ax@mavpca.org

Registrar, Club Race

Wendy Shoffit crreg@mavpca.org

DE Co-Chair Keith Olcha de@mavpca.org

Concours Chair

Scott Kellogg concours@mavpca.org

Merchandise Chair

Chris Cuyler goodiestore@mavpca.org

PCA Tours Co-Chair Jeff Wheeler tours@mavpca.org

Motorsport Journalist Alan Nusbaum motorsportjournalist @mavpca.org

Slipstream Advertising Christopher Cole ads@mavpca.org

Social Co-Chairs

Tom Minnella and Lana Mangold hh@mavpca.org

Volunteers Chair Pat Carmichael volunteers@mavpca.org

Youtube Chair

Vice President Michael Hays vp@mavpca.org

Charity Co-Chair Dave Harness charity@mavpca.org

Coffee Meets Co-Chair John Cuyler Mavs.and.Mochas@gmail.com

DE Co-Chair Tom Snodgrass de@mavpca.org

Marketing, Social Media Chair

Anjan Shenoy marketing@mavpca.org

PCA Junior Ambassador The Tate Family pcajr@mavpca.org

PCA Tours Co-Chair Randy Luckenbill tours@mavpca.org

Slipstream Executive Editor Carey Spreen 817-422-3480 editor@mavpca.org

Slipstream Mailing Andy Mears 214-394-5857 mailing@mavpca.org

Photography Chair Steve Purser photo@mavpca.org

Trivia Chair Tom Martin trivia@mavpca.org

Secretary Olga Taylor secretary@mavpca.org

Treasurer Jim Falgout 9 72-345-3009 treasurer@mavpca.org

Charity Co-Chair Chris Chilton charity@mavpca.org

Coffee Meets Co-Chair Carl Motter coffeemeets@mavpca.org

DE Chief Driving Coach Craig Janssen cdi@mavpca.org

Marketing, Web Chair Anjan Shenoy webmaster@mavpca.org

Safety Chair Michael Hays safety@mavpca.org

Rally Co-Chair Daniel Dallacasa rally@mavpca.org

Slipstream Content Editor Doug Jacobson editor@mavpca.org

Special Events Co-Chair Kim Turner social@mavpca.org

Women Behind the Wheel Patricia Gouldy MWBTW@mavpca.org

Tech Sessions Co-Chair Rob Turner techsessions@mavpca.org

Club Race Chair David Hodges cr@mavpca.org

Communications Chair Patricia Gouldy email@mavpca.org

DE Medical Chair Dr. Jeffery Komenda demedical@mavpca.org

Membership Chair Kevin Kaley membership@mavpca.org

PCA Tours Co-Chair Arjay Cando tours@mavpca.org

Rally Co-Chair Bob DiRienzo rally@mavpca.org

Slipstream Editor Dana Jones editor@mavpca.org

Special Events Co-Chair Debi Kruder social@mavpca.org

Women Behind the Wheel Lisa Ward MWBTW@mavpca.org

Tech Sessions Co-Chair Tom Gomer techsessions@mavpca.org

Kenin Fenster Dealer Liaison Rishi Burke dealerliaison@mavpca.org

Tub Club President George Maffey tubclub@mavpca.org Past President 2017-19 David Robertson pastpresident@mavpca.org

Mr. Bill Sholar founded the Porsche Club of America on September 13, 1955. To celebrate its 70th birthday, PCA regions around North America hosted events to commemorate the occasion.

Maverick Region partnered with Central Market, which was, coincidentally, putting on its Passport to Germany event at several locations in the Metroplex during the weekend of September 12-14, 2025, to set up a display of 70+ Porsches at their Lovers Lane location in Dallas. The Central Market General Manager, Manolis, gave us a warm welcome, providing sandwiches and birthday cake to the participants, who also enjoyed an 11-piece Bavarian Oom-pah band while they checked out the cars.

Photos by Daniel Dallacasa

driving friendships: a few Memories from 2025

All photos by Anjan Shenoy

Fourth Annual Ladies’ Track Day

On Sunday, September 21, we worked with a slightly different format for our 4th Annual Ladies’ Track Day. Our promotion for the event on Facebook and in Slipstream began early in the spring the minute Eagles Canyon Raceway (ECR) and our DE chairs reached an agreement with the MWBTW.

In the past, ECR worked us in with various groups of theirs, ECR members, or even a celebrity racer once. This time, we remained a one-day event, but they added us to the PCA two-day HPDE, providing us four sessions and our own run group. The windshield decal to identify the ladies’ group was a proud pair of hot pink lips.

Wendy Shoffit kept it all organized, Irene Yuan served as our classroom instructor, and Daniel Dallacasa photographed us on and off the track all day. Fourteen women participated, including Ellie, a 19-year-old who came from Austin with her dad.

We are grateful for the three sponsors: Lisa Ward with Plumb Financial, Stuart’s Paint & Body, and Eagles Canyon Raceway. They kept our costs down and provided plenty of goodies to up the fun. “This is literally cheaper than my last speeding ticket,” said Jennifer Duman.

Before departing for home, we wrapped up with comments, awards, and door prizes donated by Sharon Stanley, Service Manager, and Evelyn Tayler, Porsche Parts Director, at Porsche Grapevine. Michele Chontos received the prized Helmet Award for joining us after only owning her car for two days! Jennifer Duman won the wine set, Michele Chontos won a jigsaw puzzle, I left with the car fragrance set, and Allison Yanniello scored the holiday sweater.

Donations Pour In for NBCF

At least 100 participants stayed dry at Porsche McKinney on Saturday morning, October 25, for Revved Up For A Cure. Rain surrounded our event, but the only thing that came flooding in was support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF.)

In addition to the featured SUVs, four colorful vehicles greeted Mavericks in front of the service center. Robin Wright brought her Ruby Star Neo Boxster, and Sonya Riley showed off her Metallic Rose Cayenne. Andy Ritt’s stunning Carrera sat next to a pretty, pale-pink-wrapped Cayenne.

Service Manager Rebecca McDonald provided both an indoor and outdoor gathering space, plus a buffet table of coffee, juice, pastries, and fruit. The Cuylers brought a tent for merchandise sales, while the Burgesses and MWBTW members filled two indoor tables with thank-you gifts and

Ready for the track, the ladies pose for a quick pic.
Michele Chontos wins the helmet award for her enthusiasm.
MWBTW members pose with Rebecca McDonald (2nd from right) at Revved Up for a Cure.
Lisa Ward encourages folks to donate and check out the silent auction.
Hot lips on the windshield, Veronica Marques sits behind the wheel of #8

deparTMenT / Maverick Women Behind the Wheel:

silent auction items donated by Porsche McKinney.

I sat with local glass bead bracelet artist Brian Frosch of Spoken2, who showed off his craft at an indoor table while creating custom bracelets with beads on bicycle spokes to commemorate the event and offer support. Just outside the door, the NBCF team of Becca Epperley, Senior Director of Fundraising, and Karen Davis, volunteer and Ambassador, managed a giveaway table for folks willing to spin their wheel.

Pat Gouldy put it best when describing Lisa Ward’s impact on the fundraiser: “Due to Lisa’s overwhelming support and encouragement of the NBCF Mavs & Mochas event, she was added as an Advisory Board member of NBCF this summer. Her efforts during the last three years have doubled our annual gift, and we continue to grow our donations each year to this organization.”

I’d be surprised if anyone went home hungry or empty-handed. Seven auction items, including a teddy bear, red driver jacket, houndstooth coffee mug, driving gloves, 911 wine opener, and Griots cleaning kit, garnered a total of $600 in donations. Folks also bought donated tumblers and visors and purchased 32 bracelets. Cash donations poured in, too. With our online giving prior to the morning gathering, we surpassed our initial goal of $10,000. We expect the grand total to reach $12,000, with a $900 contribution from the club and an employer match of $1,000. These funds were provided to the NBCF to bring comfort to women on their breast cancer journey through their HOPE kits.

Upcoming Events

Fourth Annual Cookie Swap at at Classic Wine and Storage in Frisco on Saturday, December 13 from 2 - 4 pm. Sign up at https://clubregistration.net/events/signUp.cfm/ event/16279

International Women’s Day Celebration at DFW Car and Toy Museum in Fort Worth on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 8 am - 12 pm.

Photos by Daniel Dallacasa, Anjan Shenoy, and the author
Revved up for a Cure
Tom and Eilene Toughey join Amy Wheeler for coffee and breakfast
Brian Frosch creates a bracelet for Sonya Riley.
Thank you bags assembled by Pier Burgess for donors.
Karen Davis and Becca Epperly representing the NBCF
Great pink spirit from the gentlemen. L to R: Pat Talty, Glenn Burgess, Michael Hays, Alex Cena, Jeff Wheeler, and an unidentified participant

80's night at Mc2 autosport

Porsches and costumes from the 1980s showed up for the Mavs and Mochas epic ‘80s Night Halloween event at MC Squared Autosport. The event was a family friendly, pet friendly Halloween party featuring everything ‘80s, a live filming of a YouTube video, live music, ‘80s candy and frozen treats bar, a costume contest for adults, and a costume contest for pets! Everyone had so much fun! Thank you MC Squared Autosport for hosting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQrjPI1Yoc

deparTMenT / Mavs & Mochas
Photos by Steve Purser

feaTure / Roadrunner Region

Tour to angel fire recap

It all started with a picture I saw of a line of Porsches on a runway and hot air balloons glowing at dusk in Angel Fire, NM. That got me excited, and I wanted to be there! Raul Peña is a member of both the Maverick Region and the Roadrunner Region in NM. He knew the reality, but I didn’t like it - there are too many Mavericks to be invited.

So, the Roadrunner Region came up with another idea: host a fall foliage tour in October and invite the Maverick Region. We met in Angel Fire on Friday for a Happy Hour, and then some of us had dinner and caught up with each other after our drives there. What fun!

Saturday was the official drive, with a large group going to Cimarron Pass, a beautiful route that we had taken on Friday. Running streams, beautiful rock canyons, and some fun, twisty roads! The leaves were at their peakgolden yellow. That group had lunch at the St. James Hotel, infamous for many reasons, and had a great drive. We decided to do the Enchanted Circle driving tour, an 84mile scenic loop byway, starting and ending in Angel Fire. We were off to Taos where we visited the Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO world heritage site. It is hard to believe these indigenous people still live in these ancient pueblos, with their beautiful adobe buildings that are somewhat modernized (no electricity, but they do use propane). Their church was small, yet warm, with some very nice stained-glass windows and incredible wood beams.

Next, we were off to Questa, where there was a 200-yearold church. To get there, one travels a short, winding road and then through an alley between two homes (where are we?) that opened onto a square surrounding St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church. The church is a beautifully restored adobe building with stained-glass windows. The next leg was to Red River, where the roads were adorned by trees turning yellow and an occasional stream. The city itself was celebrating its annual Oktoberfest; so much traffic and lots of people! We attempted to stop for lunch but decided to pass due to the crowds.

Next was the concluding leg back to Eagle Nest.We encountered more mountainous roads with more colorful leaves - and finally back to Angel Fire for a LATE lunch. We barely had time to eat and get back for our Porsche Car Show. Luckily, we were under a very large tent since the weather was being slightly uncooperative, with light rainfall. It didn’t stop the community from coming to see our cars, and a good time was had by all.

That evening was the concluding meal at a local restaurant, Mi Cocina Mexicana. They were a little overwhelmed by our group, so Lisa Ward decided to take the orders at our table and help them out! The group had lots of conversations and fun! Yes, we’ll be back and, maybe, staying a little longer.

Photos by Raul Peña
The group stops at one of the many beautiful vistas
Covered car show
Stained glass window detail in the St. Anthony De Padua church

In what turned out to be one of the Maverick Region’s most anticipated car events, the Wheels for Wellness benefit car show was held on Saturday, September 20, in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. The car show, which promotes men’s prostate health, ran from 10 am to 3 pm, and featured displays of classics and customs of all types, live music, food trucks, and an awards presentation. Car clubs from all over North Texas participated, showing over 350 beautiful cars.

The Maverick Region was well represented with approximately 20 cars, ranging from Tub Club 356s to a great cross-section of 911s, as well as a few Boxsters and Caymans. A highlight of the day was Maverick Charity’s $1,000 big check presentation to Chuck Nixon, president of Wheels for Wellness, and his board of directors, with Bill Kruder presenting the check.

The event’s mission is to save men’s lives through awareness of prostate cancer. It promotes early detection with PSA screenings, provides resources for patient care, and supports research for a cure. This year, health technicians set a record in administering PSA blood tests to over 230 men during the event.

Cool cars, neat people, and a great cause made for a really fun day.

Maverick chariTy / Wheels for Wellness
A nice range of Porsche models was on display
By Chris Chilton, Region Charity Co-Chair
Photos by Chris Chilton
Bill Kruder (fifth from left) presents Chuck Nixon (7th from left) with the big check

Classic Porsche restoration

Late model customization

Full interior reupholstery

Seat inserts

Dashboards

Carpets

Headliners

Steering wheels

Center consoles

Door panels

Porsche OEM leather & vinyl

Distressed & custom leather

Alcantara (80+ colors)

Tartan, Houndstooth, Pepita, & Pasha fabrics

Porsche plaids & Recaro fabrics

Perforated leather & Alcantara

Woven leather

Embroidery

Custom seat belt webbings

200+ thread colors

CONTACT US ABOUT YOUR NEXT PROJECT

HANDCRAFTED UPHOLSTERY BY IAN

from Zero To 167,000 in 70 years

Most PCA members really have no idea just how big PCA is. Did you know that we have over 167,000 members? We started with only 190 charter members back in 1955 and have grown tremendously over the years. We are the largest single marque car club in the world. What started out as only one region (Potomac Region in the Washington, DC area) has now become 149 regions across North America.

While initially it was a challenge to get enough people organized to form regions, by the end of 1967, there were 67. By 1969, the Executive Council decided that the regions needed to be organized into zones. At first there were only eight zones, but that number has grown to 14. Organizing this way gives the region Presidents a communication liaison (AKA Zone Representative) to work with PCA and be heard. Zone 5 is made up of most of Texas and Oklahoma, and all of Arkansas and Louisiana. I am your current Zone Rep.

When you signed up for PCA, you probably had no idea of any of this. You didn’t know when you provided your address that you were going to be automatically assigned to a region and a zone and have a Representative. Shortly after signing up, I’m sure you started getting emails, letters, phone calls, and/or a newsletter from your local region inviting you to attend local events. Hopefully, you started participating and appreciating what your region has to offer. The more you put into this club, the more you will get out of it.

Did you know that you can attend events even outside of your region or your zone? You are not pigeonholed into just going to your region’s local drives, even though they might be spectacular! You have the ability to see what other regions and zones across the country are doing and are able to participate! I’ve been a member for 28 years and have been to more PCA events than I can count, including local, zone, and national ones, and I’ve had an absolute blast doing so! Events across the country can be some of the most fun, as your participation from a distance can be very unexpected!

Check out the PCA website for some events that have been listed across the country: https://pca.org/events/. I’ll give you some examples of events. Many people in our Zone know about PCA Palooza in Eureka Springs, AR, put on by the White River Region in early November. It’s an amazing weekend, with 37 tours available on some of the most beautiful roads! The Wilderness Trail Region in North Carolina puts on DrachenFest every year in September, which includes driving legendary roads like Tail of the Dragon. Roadrunner Region invites us to their Fall Foliage Tour, taking place in October in Angel Fire, NM that will include beautiful drives around the Enchanted Circle. How about an HPDE event at Road America or Laguna Seca? Add to that the national events like Parade, Treffen, Ünstock, and Werks Reunion, and you will get your fill. Look through the calendar to find something that interests you! Don’t just stay in your own regional bubble! This country is huge, and there are so many opportunities to experience in your favorite vehicle. Bring your old friends along and make some new ones!

By Wendy Shoffit, Zone 5 Representative
Photos by Raul Pena, Daniel Dallacasa, and Carey Spreen
Maverick Members enjoying a event in New Mexico hosted by the Road Runner Region this past October
Some of the 185 Mavericks at this year's Porsche Parade
Mac Weber doing a little 3-wheeling at the Pick Yer Tour weekend with the Hill Country Region this summer

not Just a day at The l ake

Our fall tour was a special one this year. We were given the opportunity to visit a mansion on Cedar Creek Lake that is listed for sale at $19 million, which gave rise to the appropriately named Maverick Million Mansion Tour.

The tour started in Kaufman, Texas, weaving through Henderson and Kaufman counties. Participants drove through historic Gun Barrel City and crossed Cedar Creek Lake three times before arriving at Barron's Lakeside Estate in Caney City. With 45 cars, seven groups, and 70 members, we filled the Estate parking lot with many beautiful Porsche models.

The realtor's staff was extremely accommodating and served everyone lunch. Six Forks restaurant had a food truck which baked custom-made pizzas for our members. Participants were able to take a tour of the beautiful 25-acre estate with the realtor and her staff as well as fish from the dock with the services of a fishing guide hired by the realtor.

By Randy Luckenbill, Tours Co-Chair Photos by Anjay Shenoy and Scott Kerfoot
An assortment of primary color Porsches at Barron's Lakeside Estate in Caney City
The Estate parking lot with many beautiful Porsche models
Tours Co-Chair Randy Luckenbill running the drivers' meeting
Tours Co-Chair Jeff Wheeler with the eponymous mansion in the background Angela and Trevor James at the drivers' meeting

november 2025

Fabian Aguirre Oak Point 2020 911 Carrera S

Souk Anongdeth Fort Worth 2025 911 Carrera

Glenn Bessinger Fort Worth 2024 Macan

Shengran Cheng Prosper 2024 911 GT3

Michael Conn Lewisville 1979 911 SC Targa

Patrick Essien Carrollton 2014 911 Carrera S

Grace Evans Colleyville 2023 Macan GTS

Francisco Garcia Murphy 1977 911 Carrera 3.0

Patricia Gorman (Andrew) Lake Dallas 2025 Panamera 4

Tyler Hewitt Dallas 2025 Macan

Thomas Hope Frisco 2014 Panamera Turbo

Tyrone Howell Euless 2008 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Rich Humphrey Plano 2008 Boxster

Lydia Jordan Dallas 2024 Macan S

Christina Kitchens (Lorenzo Robles Jr) Grapevine 2022 911 Carrera S Cabriolet

Transfers

place for new and
members to get together. Photo by Anjan Shenoy

Coffee, Cars & Conversation: bill kruder

(Editors’ Note: This interview originally ran in the June 2022 issue.)

Since writing his first Coffee, Cars & Conversation column for the September 2016 issue of Slipstream, Bill has not missed a single issue! Having known Bill since 2014 with his “reactivation” with the Maverick Region, I thought I’d be in a good position to give our members a bit more insight into his life beyond our Porsches.

I’ll give you the opportunity to do so as well, because more than one thousand of you are new members since then. So, here is the next in my series of “conversations”

Bill Kruder: Porsche Enthusiast since 1996, Owner of a 1964 356C, 1971 914, 1982 911 SC, 1996 993

Jim Hirsch: Your accent places you as a non-native Texan, so where did you get your start in life?

Bill Kruder: Interesting you should ask. People have always said that to me. It must be the blend of Northern California and Chicago. I was born in Petaluma, California, best known for being the egg capital, and maybe better known for “American Graffiti.”

JH: What other locations have you lived in prior to coming to Texas?

BK: Like I said, originally from Petaluma, about an hour north of San Francisco, in Sonoma County. My parents moved a lot; like people redecorate a home, well we moved (laughing). When I was six, we moved to San Jose, then about every 18 months after that. I think we moved first to Santa Clara, then Campbell, and back to San Jose. Then in the fall of 1968, we moved to Oak Lawn, Illinois, a SW suburb of Chicago. It’s about 35 minutes from the Loop. As a young adult I moved to the north suburbs, Des Plaines, before finding myself in the city, living in Lincoln Park a few blocks off the lakefront and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Lastly in 1994, we moved to Plano until moving to Celina in 2018.

JH: What summer jobs did you have growing up?

BK: I never had a summer job. But I had a year-round job. Our family, my dad and his two brothers, had a paint and tile store. At the age of 13, I was the stock boy, then became a salesperson and worked there all through high school.

JH: You have a unique employment history in your adult life. Please share some details, including how you ended up in Texas, and why is that level of loyalty so hard to find nowadays?

BK: After high school and going to college I started at JC Penney, Ford

City (Chicago). Soon after I started, I met three guys who already were part of the management program. I watched them like a hawk, although they had no idea that I was doing so. I told myself I didn’t want to be like them; I wanted to be them. These three men would become lifelong friends and mentors. Eventually, I too would be part of the management team, spending the first 20 years of my career in the “field” as we say, and the second nearly 20 years in the Home Office in Plano before retiring in 2012. You ask why this type of loyalty is not found today? I do think of that a lot. It’s twofold for sure. In my time, we saw the opportunities to move up as unlimited. Up until about 2000, every CEO we had started in the stores. This was very important to us. Plus, we had a terrific profit-sharing program and a qualified pension plan. You add that up, and why would you leave? As time went on I think younger people didn’t have the patience to wait for advancement. As that happened, the profit-sharing and pension plans also changed, so in the end I think it was both sides began to change their attitudes on jobs vs. careers.

JH: Focusing on the Texas years, please share any significant family events that now are part of your memories and future.

BK: As I said, we moved here in 1994. Our daughter Maggie was turning three, and in 1995 our daughter Carson was born. Living in Plano in those years was pretty grand, I would say, raising a family and all. Quality of life, as I would call it, could not be better. As we fast forward to late spring of 2013, my wife Karen passed away suddenly. Needless to say, this sent the girls and me into a free fall. Maggie was a junior in college at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, and Carson was just about to begin college at Incarnate Word in San Antonio. I found myself suddenly alone with our golden retriever Penny. As the months went by, my Penney friends saw I wasn’t on Facebook any more and wondered if I was ok. In comes Debi to the rescue, and volunteers to check on me. Debi and I had worked together for a short while at JC Penney but we had rarely spoken in more recent years. So, Debi reached out via Facebook messenger and offered to meet for a Starbucks if I thought I’d like to talk. Some two to three weeks went by before I replied, “Yes, I think that would be nice.” For those of you who don’t know Debi, she has an amazing way to set you at ease and get you to talk. Talk we did, and for the next five years she saw not only me through the worst of times, but also would love my girls, now our girls, like they were her own. We married in March of 2018. For me, I would gain a son, Conor, who completes and rounds out our family.

JH: I’ve been told your home office walls are rich with Kruder history?

BK: Well yes - one wall displays framed pictures of JC Penney annual reports, JC Penney stores in which I worked, and even my first paycheck earning $2.50 in 1973. The other wall is my library - all hardback books. You can pick up most any book, open it up, and see a glimpse of the life

of Kruder from the year I read it. You will most likely find pictures of my family, one of the kids’ report cards or a handmade card, a ski slope ticket, movie ticket, or hotel key. I call them my time capsules. The girls wonder what they will do with them all someday! (laughing)

JH: What kindled your interest in cars, and Porsches specifically?

BK: Easy. My oldest sister and her then-boyfriend, later husband, were both car people. They had a wide range of cars from a Camaro, El Camino, Corvettes, a Porsche 912, a Dino, and more I’m sure. Well, as I grew up, that apparently set the tone for where I would go in my love of the automobile.

JH: What is your most memorable vehicle you owned prior to your first Porsche?

BK: Now that’s like a trick question (laughing) because some of the cars I loved were the worst made ever. Let’s start with my ‘74 Fiat X1/9. I had more pushing miles than driven miles I think. Then, there was my ‘77 MGB. Likewise, it was towed as much as driven. And yes, both were new off the showroom floor. All told, my favorite car was my ‘97 BMW 740i, black on black. It was a true gentleman’s sports sedan.

JH: You’ve had a long membership in PCA and the Maverick Region, so share your perspectives from early on.

BK: That I have. We joined in the spring of ‘96 within days of buying our first Porsche, the ‘82 SC. I joined for really the sole purpose of needing to know who the best shops were in DFW. Those of you who know me know that I know less than nothing on how these cars run. I think I went to two or three events and just didn’t think I fit in well for some reason. Plus, I had two young girls at home, and as I like to say, “life gets in the way.” So, for the next 18 years I read the magazines - that’s it. Fast forward to 2014, I meet this guy named Jim Hirsch and my club life would change forever.

JH: What was your first Porsche, and share any special experiences with it.

BK: Our first was (and still is) our ‘82 Platinum over Champagne SC. It’s kind of a fun story how it came about. We had lived here now for two years when one day I said, “How ‘bout we get a sports car for some weekend fun?” Karen agrees and I start looking at MGBs. One day, I’m talking to my sister’s husband on the phone and tell him and he says, “You need to get a Porsche! They are great cars and they just keep going up in value.” Well, that was that, and I started my search! Every weekend I would look in the Dallas Morning News and there would two or three listed. I headed out to Denver on my annual spring ski trip with newspaper in hand to look at on the flight. As I was going through it, I saw this ‘82 listed with an 800 number. I no sooner landed and called the number, asked about the car, and the seller told me it was in Hot Springs. He was an attorney and thought it best to sell in Dallas. So after much FedExing of pics and the like, I said “What the heck?” and got a one-way ticket, thinking, “What’s the worst thing that can happen? I can get a return ticket.” As we say, the rest is history. I drove the four-plus hours home in a car I knew nothing about.

JH: Explain your progression from being a Porsche owner to an enthusiast, to ultimately a collector. When did you decide that owning an air-cooled example from four different decades made for your perfect collection?

BK: Trust me, I never expected to own anything other than the ‘82. However, as I got more involved with the club I was going to car shows and the like and I would see all these cool older models. One day in 2016 I was in the garage, which had this open space, and thought I always liked the 914 as a kid. Well shortly thereafter, I had a 914 in my garage. Now it’s 2017 and I say to Debi, “It would be cool to have air-cooled across the decades. We have the ‘70s and ‘80s; we need a 60s.” About this time, I had met Bob Hagestad and I knew he was planning on selling his ‘64 356C. I called him and said, “Bob, if you are selling that car, I want it.” He tells me to call him back the next day. I call him back and tell Debi we now own a ‘64 356 named Hagestad. Lastly, we had just moved to Celina, and again in the garage I decide we need one more, the ‘90s. Debi, of course, always looking to make someone happy, said “Ok!” So, we started the search, found one in Panorama, and yes, that’s the ‘96 993.

JH: Back to the Maverick Region: what helped your decision to become actively involved to the ultimate position of serving as the Region President?

BK: Jim, Jim, Jim, I only have you to blame (laughing). It’s true. I met you in 2014 when you were the Slipstream Editor, and one day you said, “You

know, I could really use help with our advertisers.” Having nothing more to do in my life, I said, “Sure.” I took over the chair position, and then shortly thereafter, our Mavs & Mochas, aka DFW Porsche Cars & Coffee, was starting to gain traction, but was not part of the club. David Robertson, then President, asked me to work on getting it under the club umbrella. Next thing I know, I am the Coffee Meets Chair too (smiling). Fast-forward to late 2019, David Robertson announces he is not running for President. Jim is part of the nomination committee and approaches me, and between Jim and David’s encouragement, I agree to run for my first term in 2020.

JH: As the PCA Family of the Year award winners at the 2021 Porsche Parade, how did you encourage your entire family to become involved with the Maverick Region?

BK: Not sure I had to encourage anyone actually, as with so many things in my life, they just happen. It started with Debi when we had a need for what is now the Special Events chair. Then we lost our Webmaster, social media, and communications chair, which by the way was one person. Debi suggested to me that Maggie might be able to help us; I was not sold on the idea (laughing). Well, Maggie took a look at things and said, “Yes, I can figure this out, but what you really need is a site using today’s technology. Let me build a new site for the Mavericks!” Six months later, we launched a new website. Next, Conor began to take interest in the club, often helping Debi out, so he took over as the Communications Chair. Last is Carson. Though she does not have a role as of yet, she can be seen supporting her dad at all the big events.

JH:: Finally, as you continue in your third year as the Maverick Region President, what goals do you have for yourself and our membership?

BK: In a few words, “don’t mess it up!” (smiling). But no, as I went into this from day one, I often reflected on the people who impacted our club over the years. I’m always thinking and listening to members on what they enjoy. How do we take something and reimagine it, making it more relevant to our changing club and how can we give back? Look at what Debi has done with the annual Silent Auction, Founders’ Day, and All Member Party. Our generous club is giving annually more than $15,000 and our special events are 400-550 member gatherings. As I like to tell people, we have over the past maybe 10-15 years moved from a more driving performance club to a social car club. The cars have changed and so have our owners. More four-doors are sold than sports cars today. Fun fact, we gain a new member every day of the year, netting us about 2/3 of total growth after attrition. Someone asked me at the All Member Party how long I would be the Region’s President. I responded with, “As long as it’s fun and you will have me!”

There you have it: from Porsche owner, to enthusiast, to collector, our Region President, Bill Kruder.

Bill and Debi with their collection of four decades of Porsches
Bill, Debi, Conor, Maggie, and Carson - 2021 PCA Family of the Year
Photos provided by author

upcoMing evenTs

December, January, February, & March

december 2025

Mavs & Mochas, Innovative Autosports, Carrollton, Dec 6

Maverick Toy Drive, Plano, Dec 6

Founders' Day, Porsche Grapevine (evening), Dec 6

ER Autocross 10, Grand Prairie, Dec 7

Christmas Lights Tour, Park Place Porsche Dallas, Dec 11

MWBTW Cookie Swap, Frisco, Dec 13

PCA Treffen Lowcountry registration opens, Dec 18

Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Euless, Dec 20

January 2026

Board Meeting, Jan 7

Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Euless, Jan 17

Porsche Parade Registration Phase I opens, Jan TBD

february 2026

Board Meeting, Feb 4

HPDE, MotorSport Ranch, Cresson, Feb 14-15

Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Euless, Feb 21

March 2026

Board Meeting, Mar 4

Werks Reunion, Amelia Island, FL, Mar 6

MWBTW International Women's Day Celebration, DFW Car and Toy Museum, Fort Worth, Mar 8

Motoring Mavs at Mayo's, Euless, Mar 21

1-day HPDE, G2 Motorsports Park, Anna, Mar 28

PCA Treffen Lowcountry, Bluffton, SC, Mar 29 - Apr

For more information on any event listed here, please see https://www.mavpca.org/calendar

daniel dallacasa

As recognized by Pat Carmichael, Volunteer Chair

This month, we recognize Daniel Dallacasa as Most Valuable Maverick. If you’ve been to a DE, race, or other club event in the last few years, Daniel has been there, documenting it with one of his Canon cameras. Although he was a loyal BMW and Lexus owner for many years, Daniel stepped into the light in 2020 when he bought his first Porsche and joined the PCA. His choice was a winner: a Cayman GTS 4.0, which was followed a few years later by a Carmine Red 992 Carrera 4 GTS when he was bitten by the 911 bug.

$100 Gift Card

of Good for parts, service, or boutique items.

Having moved from Houston to McKinney to be closer to their daughter, Daniel’s wife, Marcia, decided she missed the Cayman, so another Porsche found its way into their garage. Marcia is equally as enthusiastic a member of the Maverick Region and is active with the Maverick Women Behind The Wheel group. Like Daniel, Marcia insisted that her car also have a manual transmission, and the cars get driven, making trips to PCA Treffen events across the USA.

Like many of us, Daniel’s passion for photography started in his youth. Over the years, his subject matter varied from landscapes, to capturing his family and their activities (daughter’s soccer career), and now, cars and people at PCA events. Daniel’s photography activities aren’t limited to cars; he provides photographic services to numerous groups across the state. Most recently, he photographed a local rodeo in Uvalde. So, if you see a telephoto lens pointed in your direction at the next meet up, you are likely to find Daniel on the other side of the camera (forgive his New York Yankees hat). Thank you for such great photos, Daniel!

Three generations of red 911s standing guard outside of a resturant. Photo by Anjan Shenoy.

deparTMenTs / Tech Session

blair automotive recap

The question was posed by Blair Automotive to the Maverick Region members: do you want to put your Porsche in Beast Mode? Meaning, are you ready to get your car optimized for the track? As it turns out, more than 70 Mavericks said “yes.” Converging on the Blair Automotive Plano, TX, location on Saturday, August 23, that number of attendees made a dent in the space of the vast shop.

Folks were greeted with custom coffee drinks from Olive Coffee and breakfast burritos from Rosy’s Taco Bar. Note: your author did notice that we basically finished all the burritos – there were only a handful left. And, if I may note, they were excellent!

The Blair team raffled off a $1,500 service gift certificate, and everyone that wanted one received a certificate for a free oil change, as noticed by your author, which was appreciated by all that received the gift certificate.

Now, on to the meat of the tech session. Master Ttechnician (and track fiend) Khanh Nguyen used his own properly setup 997 as the basis for the session. He went through engine, exhaust, brake, suspension, and interior safety upgrades. He suggested starting slowly – upgrading brake pads and brake fluid upgrade first. The point being to get used to the stock capabilities of the car and put more effort into seat time before tackling the big things like engine, suspension, and aero. Next, he discussed aligning the car. All stock Porsches are set up for a street alignment, but as you put more track time in the car, you will want to align the suspension to help the car bite in the corners. This means more negative camber. But there is a tradeoff, as it also means more tire wear. However, if you are like this author, do you not mind shopping for

new tires? His recipe for track Beast Mode is one that you can easily follow. Just take it slowly, get plenty of seat time, and, when combined with whatever your budget can afford, you can turn your car into an amazing track weapon!

Even when the session was over, many people remained to talk to the Blair Team - I hope making appointments! Thanks to Blair Automotive for a great Tech Session!

The spacious Blair Automotive facility easily accommodated the group Khanh Nguyen (second from left) led the discussion
By Rob Turner, Tech Sessions Co-Chair
Photos by Tom Gomer and the Author

ANNIVERSARIES

Congratulations to the following members

November 2025

55 years

Cameron McMillen (Judy) Dallas

50 years

Edward Martelle (Robert Leder) Euless

35 years

Craig Linkous (Jeannie) Midlothian

John Stahl (Vicky) Weatherford

30 years

Vicki Zeigler (Roger Harrison) Argyle

25 years

Douglas Madsen (Barbara) Heath

Robert Rodgers (Kathryn) Dallas

20 years

Matthew Feighner (Drew) Colleyville

Scott Gerrish (Windsor) Hudson Oaks

Kenneth Hamlett (Debra) Dallas

Randall Shook (Rick) Argyle

15 years

Philip Hudkins Wichita Falls

John Kable Wichita Falls

Robert Shiels Allen

Ralph Stotzer (Stacey) Lucas

10 years

Bradley Almond Dallas

Richard Boriack Sunnyvale

Matthew Cords (Joyce Rositas) Sachse

J.M. Frank Lewisville

Raymond Schmidt (Fallon Eggelston) Fort Worth

Michael Young (Cynthia) Dallas

5 years

Blake Bowen Carrollton

Chuck Degenaar Keller

James Fenton The Colony

Philip Fisher Coppell

Naresh Lakhanpal Dallas

Paul Pineider Colleyville

Bobby Ross (Jane) West Palm Beach, FL

Walter Silverberg (Eunice) Frisco

Shailan Topiwala Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

George Warmack Dallas

Roberto Winzeler Dallas

Photo byMarc Rains Reflections in the parking garage at the Oklahoma City Parade.

feaTure / Jerry Sutton

55 years with Maverick region: Jerry sutton

As told to the Slipstream Team

Photos provided by Jerry Sutton

Editor’s Note: Jerry Sutton joined Maverick Region in 1970, and over the years has held the offices of Treasurer, Secretary, and President. This year is his 55th anniversary with PCA, and we wanted to introduce Jerry to those of you who have not had a chance to meet him.

At age 16, I had no interest in automobiles. My time was consumed with chores (vacuuming, dishwashing, and dusting) under the oppressive thumb of my stepmother, which was probably the reason I had no interest in girls either. So, this is a story about learning to take an interest in both. I did have some free time, which I spent playing with electric trains (before stepmother) and amateur radio (which led to my working life). At about age 11, the family was living on Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands. My transportation needs were met reasonably by the extensive bus service. Then, my father bought me a 3-speed English bicycle. I was happy with the bike while we rotated stateside. In high school, my parents forced me to take driver education. I whined about it but came to appreciate cars on rainy days and commissary runs, although it also enlarged the list of chores that I was assigned.

Meanwhile, a recently-arrived dependent showed up with both an amateur radio license and two family cars. One was a Plymouth Fury station wagon with pushbutton transmission; the other an Austin-Healey 3000. I was not particularly impressed, but I learned a bit about automotive technology. My dad had an Oldsmobile, and my stepmother had an English Ford - a Cortina I think. It was so underpowered there was no way to get a speeding ticket. In fact, while stepmother was traveling on a highway, she encountered a steep hill and had to turn around to back up the hill. By the time I graduated from high school, I had had two dates; neither was noteworthy. I was scared of girls (still am). I was so happy to escape my parents that I went off to college two weeks early. My dad could not fit the bike into the Olds with all my other stuff, so I reluctantly left it behind, intending to fetch it at Thanksgiving. Much to my chagrin, my parents had disposed of it at some time during my freshman year.

After two years in graduate school, I returned to the Dallas area a changed man. I had bought a VW Squareback, largely because a dear friend, ex-roomate, and fellow HAM radio operator was working for a VW dealer.

One day after church I was telling a doctor's wife about the VW when she grabbed her son and handed him a key. I was

ushered into the passenger seat of a nearly new '67 Porsche 912 and taken for a trip through town. I was hooked instantly. I had to have a '69 911S. But, late in the model year there were no S versions available, so I wound up buying a used European 911. I promptly wrecked it, a cruel lesson about trailing-throttle oversteer. The body shop owner, himself a Maverick Region member, gave me a PCA membership application. I got my membership card, dated May 1970.

I am summarizing the period from spring 1970 to spring 1976: I had an ex-girlfriend, a 1973 914-2.0 (purchased new on November 30, 1972), and a used 1970 914-6. The 914-6 was my favorite.

My first and only injury collision on March 21, 1976 caused me to swear off high performance cars. My femur was broken in two places, resulting in a six-week hospital stay. My passenger lost his leg at the knee. The 914-6 was destroyed.

I bought a demonstrator Chevrolet 4-door with air conditioning; I called it The Barge.

In late 1976, I was attending a particular church singles class frequented by a number of fellow college alumni. Most of the female attendees were either unavailable or uninteresting. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the crowd swelled with the addition of a large group returning from a ski trip.

I don't remember who made the first move; perhaps we were introduced by some of my alumni friends. I wound up escorting Myra Broussard home that night, following her in The Barge over slushy roads.

I am an Episcopalian (aka “Whiskeypalian”), while Myra was a Roman (“Roaming”) Catholic; somehow, we met in a Methodist singles group. When we met, she was driving a

4-door Plymouth Belvedere, and by June she was looking for a new car. She test-drove a 924 but was not impressed. She found a new Mercedes Benz 240D with 4-speed tranny and bought it. Two days later I bought a BMW 320i (worst major purchase I ever made). We married in 1979.

I accidentally introduced her to autocrossing. Soon, she was tossing the shiny new 240D around construction barrels at Mercedes-Benz Club of America autocrosses and beating lots of other competitors, including me. When we competed in rallies together, she drove.

I had spent several years traveling on business. I would tell people that I had a dread of strange beds and strange bathrooms. On the other hand, Myra would travel at the drop of a pin. We traveled a lot to her native Cajun territory and my Kansas heritage.

We bought a 1973-1/2 911T a couple of months before our daughter Aubrey was born in August 1982. At a Maverick Region dinner meeting that same year, Teri Davis presented slides of the 1982 Porsche Parade that had taken place in Reno, NV. The ensuing conversation went something like this:

"Jerry, what's a Parade?!"

“Just a big meeting - we don't need to go."

"There are driving events and parties. We can visit your parents! I want to go!"

So, in the summer of 1983, we set out for the Lake of the Ozarks Parade in Missouri with Aubrey on the 911T rear backrest and a Quaker State oil carton blocking the sun. That was documented in the October 2018 issue of Porsche Panorama (page 45) after the second Ozarks Parade.

At the DFW Parade in 1987, Linda Bambina put on a “tech session” for ballroom dancing taught by professional ballroom dancers. Myra and I participated, and we enjoyed it so much that we went on to take more lessons, then danced

in public at clubs, groups, and even contests, of which we even won a few.

We attended about 37 Parades until, sadly, Myra died from a very nasty cancer.

A couple of highlights:

• Myra and I won the Richard F. Selcer Memorial Trophy in 1986

• We were the PCA Family of the Year for 1995

Porsches I have owned:

• 1969 911S, Tangerine/Houndstooth

• 1970 914-6, Green/Black

• 1972 914, Gemini Blue Metallic/Tan

• 1973 914-2.0, Light Ivory/Tan

• 1973 914-2.0, Black/Black

• 1973-1/2 911T, Bahia Red/Black (CIS injection)

• 2012 Cayenne, Jet Green Metallic/Black (6-speed manual)

• 2020 Macan GTS, White/Red

Happy 55th PCA Anniversary, Jerry!

Myra and Jerry at the 2011 Parade in Savannah
Cutting the rug at the 2004 Fort Worth Parade
Jerry (kneeling) was a Parade Concours d'Elegance judge for many years
Myra and Jerry in Salt Lake City

It’s

5001 Spring Valley Rd 900W Dallas, TX 75244

+1 972 450-6638

Alex.Cena@morganstanley.com https:// advisor.morganstanley.com/365wealth-management-group

Insurance License #0M27577

ID# 1625861

Challenge Cup Event 7 of the 2025 Autocross Season was held, once again, at the excellent concrete Burleson High School Stadium parking lot. Hot and dry conditions were the order of the day, so we kept an eye on a few participants that were not drinking enough water, and everyone had a good day.

The course designer gave us a very fast course with some virtual straights, a straight-line slalom , and tight U-turns that tested acceleration and drivers’ trail-braking talents to slow, aim, and get back on the throttle. A total of 79 participants (10 in Porsches) took six timed runs to find their fastest clean run.

The heat took a toll on a few cars. The Schnoerr 914 suffered a fuel injection failure that limited Mark to four runs and stopped running before Sigrid got any runs.

Saving the day, Ed Mayo offered up a drive in his awesome 1972 911S for Sigrid to get a single run recorded. Thank you, Ed! First Quick Porsche was a Cayman GTS driven by Todd Briley for the win in the A Street class. We had two other new Cayman drivers, Russ Dusenbury and Amelio Wright, as well as a cameo appearance by Carey Spreen’s daughter, Geneva, driving his Boxster S.

Challenge Cup Event 8 of the 2025 autocross season returned to the large rolling main parking lot of Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX. The course designer gave us a very fast course with some tight areas linked by some high-speed areas where trail-braking skills would be needed. There were 82 participants (12 in Porsches) who drove six timed runs to find their fastest clean run.

It was another warm day. The Schnoerrs’s 914 was still down for repair, so they brought their BMW M3 DE/ TT car and ran the Masters Class in that car. First Quick Porsche was a Cayman GTS driven by Himanshu Patel for the win in P2. This class is going to be very competitive going forward! Himanshu joins us from Golden Gate Region where he was the Autocross Chair for the past four years. Adam Salyards brought out his beautiful red GT4 too. The final event of the year will take place December 7, again at Lone Star Park.

Full Results, Schedules, and Registration can be found at http://Autocross.com

Contact Mark Schnoerr for questions, classing information, etc: ax@mavpca.org

Mark Schnoerr –

feaTure / Club Racing and HPDE

ecr ii club race and solo hpde recap

October brought a beautiful weekend to Eagles Canyon Raceway for our second 2025 Maverick Region PCA Club Race. We had several fast GT3 cup cars, GT4 Clubsports, 944s, and a beautiful replica 1974 RSR.

Saturday’s Sprint Race was a memorial to our recently departed friend, Bryan Henderson. Bryan was instrumental in growing PCA Club Racing in our region and nationally as a past PCA Club Race National Chairman and Chief Steward.

In addition to our traditional advanced HPDE sessions, we also held our first Time Trial in several years. Some Time Trial drivers put in personal best laps, even with the late afternoon heat. Well done! We hope to offer a Time Trial option at our 2026 Club Race and advanced solo HPDE events.

Club Race fun, HPDE fun, and Time Trial fun - what a great weekend at ECR!

The last Club Race of the year was at COTA, November 22-23. You can view the COTA races at https:// pcaclubracing.org/live-stream/.

Pat Heptig racing his beautiful 1974 911 RSR replica
Time Trial drivers on grid
Racers gridded for the start of the “Bryan Henderson Memorial Sprint”
Tricia Henderson waves the green flag for the “Bryan Henderson Memorial Sprint”
by David Hodges, Region Club Race Chair
Photo credit to AJ Lenzer, John Sandusky, and Wendy Shoffit
HPDE drivers getting ready for their first session
Greaves, P1 Doug Lawson, P2 Tad Cusak

are you a porschephile?

Care to test your knowledge (or Google Search ability) of all things Porsche? Play here for fun and find the answers below, OR take the latest quiz on the web at mavpca.org/trivia and play for a $25 gift certificate from Zims Autotechnik.

1. The Besenwagen was a specially modified Porsche employed by German Customs agents to pursue smugglers of what contraband into the country?

A. olive oil B. Belgian chocolate

C. coffee D. Little Debbie sweet cakes

2. The Besenwagens utilized two brooms that swept away debris deposited by smugglers onto the roadway. Which of the following was NOT used by smugglers to impede the authorities?

A. spiky iron scraps B. caltrops

C. knucklebones E. devil’s nails

3. How many Porsches were outfitted as Besenwagens?

A. 2 B. 3

C. 4 D. 7

4. All Besenwagens were painted one of only two colors. They were:

A. black and white B. red and black

C. red and green D. green and white

5. What feature is NOT true about the Besenwagens?

A. the passenger stood up through the folding canvas roof to fire at smugglers

C. Besenwagen pursuit drivers were trained on the Nürburgring

Winner alerT

B. all examples were split window 356 coupes

D. all drivers were ex-Luftwaffe pilots

The winner for this quiz was Rick Tallini, who answered all five questions correctly. Rick, please contact Aaron at Zim’s to redeem your $25 gift certificate. Runners-up were Tom Gomer, Glynn Solomon, Alan Bambina, Slater Waltz, Jacques Krielen, Clifton Walker, and Mrugesh Patel, all of whom also answered all five questions correctly. The winner was chosen by random drawing.

1)c, 2)c, 3)a, 4)c, 5)d

Polyethylene film infused with patented Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors in the production process

 Protects any ferrous metal for up to 5 years

 Eliminates the need for expensive and messy oil or greasing procedures

 Has no chemical coating to flake off, stick, or otherwise damage components or machinery

 Will not affect wood, plastics, optics or electrical or mechanical properties of a packaged item

 Great for protecting your firearms, tools, collectibles or any other ferrous metals

Visit the website for a detailed list of products

Rick Dyer (PCA member since 1981) www.NoRustBags.net 972 824-2233 info@norustbags.net

deparTMenTs / Autosport Alan

Meet The driver: urs kuratle

Urs Kuratle serves as Porsche's LMDh Program Motorsport Director. He is responsible for the very successful Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) 963 Program in the IMSA and World Endurance Championship (WEC) series. Kuratle also oversees customer-team programs such as Proton Competition and JDC-Miller. Based in Mannheim, Germany he supervises race operations and is responsible for team performance.

A lifelong motorsport enthusiast and licensed helicopter pilot, Kuratle began developing his skills in the late 1980s in both Formula 1 and sports car racing, with teams such as Sauber Mercedes. He joined Porsche in 2013 to help launch the 919 Hybrid program. Between 2014 and 2017, he was part of the team that earned three World Endurance Championships and three Le Mans victories.

On September 8, more than ninety Maverick Region members gathered at Park Place Porsche Dallas for an evening with Kuratle in a Q&A format. Fresh from his team’s victory at the WEC Lone Star Le Mans six-hour endurance race at COTA, Kuratle arrived with the energy—and fatigue—of competition still in his voice.

Guided by moderator Mike O’Hare, he spoke candidly about the challenges of leading Porsche’s global endurance-racing programs. I had just attended the rain-soaked race at COTA and was eager to hear from Kuratle. He did not disappoint!

Balancing two major championships, he said, means constant pressure. Whether competing in IMSA or WEC, expectations remain the same: Porsche races to win. Living between two sets of regulations demands not just coordination but complete trust between engineering teams spread across continents. Preparation begins long before the green flag; freight and equipment arrive a week in advance, followed by engineers and managers. Every system, safety check, and driver rotation is practiced until it becomes instinctive. Nowhere is that more evident than at Le Mans, the ultimate proving ground for a manufacturer's sports car program.

Behind the scenes, a second Porsche team operates thousands of miles away in Mannheim. Engineers monitor telemetry channels in real time and relay updates directly to the pit wall, maintaining a constant flow of information that shapes decisions at the track. The connection between Mannheim and the circuit is seamless, Kuratle said. During the race weekend last year at COTA, a few Maverick members were able to see this interface first hand during a tour that was hosted by Kuratle in the PPM garages.

Asked about Balance of Performance (BoP)—the system that regulates power and weight across manufacturers—he smiled and noted that teams are officially not allowed to complain about this. BoP is developed by the FIA (WEC) and IMSA governing bodies by developing mathematical models to equalize competition from race to race. While the BoP process can be contentious, it’s essential to maintaining close, exciting racing, Kuratle explained.

The Porsche 963 LMDh, Kuratle described, represents a new philosophy compared with the earlier Porsche 919 Hybrid. The earlier car operated under open technical rules and pushed innovation to the limit, but at immense cost. The 963’s LMDh regulations introduce standardized elements—monocoque, hybrid components, and gearbox—that reduce expenses while preserving engineering creativity. The result is a platform that keeps Porsche at the forefront of endurance racing while ensuring the sport remains accessible to multiple manufacturers and privateers alike.

He described Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) as a joint venture with two headquarters: one in Mannheim for the WEC and another in Charlotte for IMSA. The partnership, he noted, continues a decades-long relationship between Roger Penske and Porsche, including the very successful RS Spyder era. For Penske, Kuratle observed, Le Mans remains the one major win missing from his legendary résumé. He praised Penske as an inspiration—someone able to create an environment where people truly want to work, leading through respect and professionalism.

Turning to technology transfer, Kuratle highlighted the e-turbo system used in the latest 992 Turbo S, as technology derived from Porsche’s hybrid racing research. Tire development, energy recovery, and lightweight materials flow from the track to production cars. His group also works closely with the GT division in Weissach, using suspension systems as an example, ensuring lessons from long-distance racing improve the road cars enthusiasts drive daily.

As the evening closed, applause filled the Park Place showroom, and members lingered long after the Q&A ended for autographs and photos. I believe the attendees left the session with a greater appreciation of Porsche’s engineering and technology and for the people who make it possible: the strategists, engineers, and leaders like Urs Kuratle.

Photos by Steve Purser
Bill Kruder, Urs Kuratle, and Mike O'Hare
More than 90 Mavs gathered for the evening with Urs Kuratle

letter from the editor

This issue is the last one that will be produced during the era of Bill Kruder’s presidency, and the editorial staff wants to thank him for his record of leadership and innovation during his reign. Just a few months into his first term, COVID-19 spread across the country, and we went home for two weeks to flatten the curve. As the shutdown took hold, Bill and the Executive Council developed new approaches to continue to have a full range of club activities. As normal activities resumed in 2021, many of these useful and successful practices continued. Some of the highlights from Bill’s tenure as President include:

• Quickly adopting virtual Board meetings, Happy Hours, Tech Sessions, and other get-togethers during the shutdown.

• Moving Founders’ Day to a series of outdoor daytime events so that they could take place while following social distancing protocols.

• Exploring social media and electronic publication to increase interaction among members.

• Supporting Pop-Up events, including in the outlying areas of our vast Region.

• Soliciting new columns in Slipstream, such as Motorsport Mike, What's in the Garage, and Maverick Women Behind the Wheel

• Working with the Concours Chair to upgrade that event by moving it onto “the lawn,” having food trucks and vendors, and upgrading the awards.

Bill’s contributions to the Maverick Region go back further by establishing the Mavs & Mochas monthly event; writing the Kruder’s Coffee, Cars, and Conversations column that helped us get to know members; increasing the depth and breadth of advertisers while he served as Advertising Chair; and so much more.

It would be a grave omission if there was no mention of Debi Kruder in this message. Debi was always there to support Bill (reminding him of things that he needed to do) and brought boundless energy to make our social events successful. Founders’ Day and the All Member Party have grown to be more successful each year with great food and entertainment offerings. Additionally, our support for Hope House via auctions and donations has strengthened the club’s support. Congratulations to Bill (and Debi) on such a distinguished and successful tenure.

WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST YOUR PORSCHE TO LOUDEN MOTORCARS

Ÿ Delivering award winning service for 40+ years

Ÿ Rated “Best in Dallas” a record 3 times

Ÿ Rated “Best in Texas”

Ÿ Rated “Top 10 Shops in U.S.”

Ÿ Rated “Best in the West” by the ROBERT BOSCH Corporation

Ÿ A Better Business Bureau accredited business for 3 decades with an A + rating

Ÿ The first ASE “Blue Seal of Excellence” business in Dallas

Ÿ Racing background at Daytona, Sebring, and Riverside

Ÿ Master Certified Technicians

Ÿ BOSCH Authorized Service Center

Ÿ Air conditioned shop for technician efficiency and comfort

Ÿ We do not sell cars, thus we must survive on our 40+ year service reputation

By Doug Jacobson
Photos by Daniel Dallacasa, Anjan Shenoy
Bill with the PCA 70th birthday cake
Bill and Debi with their 993

Hiram Saunders, Slipstream

6044 Wessex St.

N Richland Hills, TX 7618)

RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.