Assistant Eastern Vice President Carlton Harris asstvp-eastern@fsrpca.org
Western Vice President
Mike Ball
804.240.9296 westvp@fsrpca.org
Assistant Western Vice President & Tourmeister
Dave Wallace asstvp-western@fsrpca.org
Secretary & Archivist
Carl Bess secretary@fsrpca.org
Treasurer Jerry Kent 757.971.7849 treasurer@fsrpca.org
Activities Officer
Keith Stone activities@fsrpca.org
Past President
Melinda Cagle pastpresident@fsrpca.org
HO Editor
Brad Jublou editor@fsrpca.org
Charity Chair
Ruth Apotheker charity@fsrpca.org
Membership Chair
Ken Thomas membership@fsrpca.org
High Performance Driver
Education Chair
Marco Estrada dechair@fsrpca.org
Safety Chair
Mark Hugel mark.hugel@cox.net
IN THIS ISSUE
Presidential Musings
Welcome New Members
Membership Anniversary Milestones
News From the Secretary
Editor’s Corner
FSR Member Survey Driving Dreams
Horizontally Opposed (HO) is the official publication of First Settlers Region (FSR), Porsche Club of America (PCA). All opinions, views and information appearing in HO are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the PCA, FSR, its Officers or the Editor.
The HO Editor reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. Permission is granted to reprint any material provided that full credit is given to the author and to Horizontally Opposed.
This publication, and previous publications of Horizontally Opposed, are available to view on-line at www.fsrpca.org.
Advertising rates, schedules and commercial partner marketing support is available to all parties interested in engaging the members of the First Settlers Region of the Porsche Club of America. Please contact HO Editor, Brad Jublou, at editor@fsrpca.org for more information.
Presidential Musings, Erik Apotheker
Around 425 years ago, those who enlisted in military service were termed “volunteers,” deriving from the Latin word voluntarius, meaning to act of one’s free will. Over time, while volunteering still serves practical needs, it has increasingly become associated with acts of kindness. Whether contributing to community support, fostering friendships, driving societal change, or exchanging ideas, today, more than 60 million American adults volunteer annually. Within PCA, volunteers play a pivotal role, actively organizing social events, activities, and community outreach initiatives. The current issue (every one of them, actually) of Horizontally Opposed magazine also represents the volunteer efforts of individuals who share their passion, talents, skills, and labor to advance our collective progress and to craft such a fine publication. This spirit of volunteerism resonates deeply with me today as I provide club-related updates and invite you to contribute your thoughts and efforts.
Under our bylaws, our notice of election was sent to members on August 31, officially opening the nomination process for our current election cycle. We will elect a new President, Western VP, and Treasurer this year. In compliance with the bylaws and as communicated via email, Facebook Group, and FSR App, nominations are due no later than October 9th, 2024.
On October 10th our nomination committee will announce the candidates for elections to our Secretary and Carl Bess will communicate the slate with links to our voting mechanism. Election results will be announced on November 10th.
Kindly note that any member or affiliate member may nominate any FSR member whose membership is in good standing. FSR members may also nominate themselves. If you are interested in serving or know someone who might be, please plan to make your nominations by October 1st by contacting Dave McFaddin-fadsbobo@verizon.net our nominating committee chairperson. Please consider becoming more involved in order to help extend FSR’s great legacy. Anyone interested in learning more about the scope of these roles may contact Dave or any member of the EXCOM.
Erik Apotheker president@fsrpca.org
Melinda Cagle pastpresident@fsrpca.org
Mike Ball westvp@fsrpca.org
Scott Hoffman eastvp@fsrpca.org
Keith Stone activities@fsrpca.org
Jerry Kent treasurer@fsrpca.org
Carl Bess secretary@fsrpca.org
While the newly elected officers will officially begin their roles in January 2025, the current board has much unfinished business we aspire to complete before that turnover. One project is to refresh our collective understanding of member opinions and sentiments through a region-wide survey. These insights drive member value and create a greater appreciation for the Porsche marque and its cars. We understand that your time is valuable and sincerely appreciate you volunteering the gift of your perspective through your submission. The survey has been promulgated to members by various means already, but on page 9 you will find a paper version as well as a QR code that will allow you to take the survey online. Please submit your survey by 31 October.
Turning attention to our community outreach efforts, I would like to bring attention to a few of our recent events and also some upcoming ones.
A successful series of meet and greet events were held at three Horizons Hampton Roads locations during the month of July, which provided an opportunity for our members to engage with the children, share our cars, and support the program by sharing life lessons. Many of the students stated that they felt inspired to continue achieving. Equally important, our members came away feeling well rewarded, and one was quoted as saying, “Other than marrying my wife of 30 years, this was the most rewarding experience that I have had. The event went great and I had a ball.” As future outreach events become available, I hope you will participate.
Upcoming is our Air & Auto Classic event in Virginia Beach. In the 12th installment, we look forward to a very successful fundraising day, with all proceeds going to CHKD, Horizons Hampton Roads, and Samaritan House. Building on a strong heritage, our October 19th event will feature a car show (judged and non-judged) for all makes and models, a car corral, people’s choice awards, lots of trophies, and more. Lunch and snacks will be available from our returning food truck, Flavor Savor BBQ, and as usual, we will also have beer and wine available. This year, Pancho Music will provide the entertainment, and there will be time to enter raffles, a 50/50, and to check out vendors, cars, and the museum. Located at the Military Air Museum (1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach 23457) the museum houses one of the world’s largest private collections of warbirds in flying condition. It includes examples from Germany, France, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States from World War I and World War II.
We are incredibly fortunate to have confirmed sponsorships by Checkered Flag Porsche, localweather.com, Taylor’s Do It Centers, The Spine Center, Towne Bank, Fulton Bank, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Hemp Haven, Lisner Title Examination, Collector Car Storage of Virginia, Pop’s Diner, McCulley Wealth Management, and ST Marketplace. Many of our members have also provided support and wish to only be recognized as “A Friend of FSR.” Thank you one and all, we are so fortunate and appreciative of your participation.
To enter the show, please use this link www.msreg.com/AirandAutoClassic12 and be sure not to delay as we have been blessed with preregistrations in excess of prior years. Please spread the word and invite your friends – spectators are welcome. And if you have an hour or two to volunteer, we sure could use the help. Volunteer sign up can be done through this link www.msreg.com/ AirandAutoClassic12
In closing, I wish to extend immense gratitude to those volunteers that have gone before us, allowing us to have this tremendous opportunity to be part of FSR, to those who currently volunteer and count themselves among the talent pool that currently enables all we do, and to those that are considering volunteering in support of your club. Whether you have an hour to spare or hanker for something more consuming, we certainly wish to welcome you to the group that crafts the club and its direction. First Settlers Region continues to be fueled by volunteers and energized by innovative ideas. Please join us.
Until we see each other next, Keep the Porsche Spirit!
New Members May, June, July and August, 2024
Welcome to all our new First Settlers Region Members! We are happy to have you join us. Please come to an event soon and meet some fellow members, have some fun, and see a lot of beautiful Porsches.
May 2024
Christopher Boyle
Joel Karlsberg TI Tennessee
Virginia Beach PCA Test Drive
Virginia Beach 1978 911 SC Targa
June 2024
Glenn Jones Norfolk 2016 Boxster Spyder
William Hargis North Chesterfield PCA Test Drive
Jack Renehan Virginia Beach 2008 911 Carrera 4S
Edward Kienast
Rosa Barlow
1985 944
2006 911 Carrera 4
Garrett Shifflett Richmond 2023 718 Spyder
John Crea
Williamsburg PCA Test Drive
Stephen Sorbara Mechanicsville 2017 718 Cayman
Kathy O’Connell Yorktown
911 Carrera 4S
Jon Rizzo Norfolk 2008 Boxster S
Robert Simmons
Virginia Beach 2008 Boxster S
Robert Gwaltney TI Shenandoah Midlothian
Stephanie Salisbury
911T
1973 914 1.7
Bruce Robinson Yorktown PCA Test Drive
John Magistro TI Potomac Richmond 2023 718 Cayman GT4
Cliff Grammes Norfolk 2023 718 Cayman
Ian Loy
Brad Davidson
Smithfield 2023 Macan
July 2024
Virginia Beach 2018 Cayenne Platinum
Achankeng Afiadata Norfolk 2003 911 Carrera
Charles Erdman Suffolk 2021 Macan Turbo
William McCrory Virginia Beach
Josh Crawford Virginia Beach
Cayenne Turbo S
Panamera 4 E-Hybrid
Billy Foster Virginia Beach PCA Test Drive
John Gallagher Virginia Beach 2018 Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Sam White TI Potomac Glen Allen 2013 911 Carrera S Cab
Kurt Languirand TI Riverside Williamsburg 1971 911E
William Robinson
Virginia Beach 2014 Cayenne
August 2024
Les Thompson Richmond 1964 356
Jeff Consroe
Matthew Branham
Williamsburg PCA Test Drive
Virginia Beach 2014 Boxster - 4 -
Member Anniversary Milestones for the 3rd Quarter 2024
Ken Thomas, Membership Chair
Congratulations to all our members who celebrate membership milestones in the third quarter of 2024. Thank you for your loyalty to the Porsche brand, Porsche Club of America, and First Settlers Region. We hope you are enjoying your membership and all the benefits that are available to you. If you haven’t come out to an event lately, consider joining us for an event this year. First Settlers offers many popular events throughout the year with a focus on driving, social, and charitable activities.
Hope to see you at an event soon!
50 Years
35 Years
25 Years
20 Years
15 Years
Donald Parker
Willie Gould
David Tostenson
Bill Cheezum
Dixon Leatherbury
Rich Cao
Robert Giles
Jacob Kay
Bruce Johnson
Craig Noble
James Myers
10 Years Lee Grant
5 Years
Thomas Mahoney
Corey Scott
Breckenbridge Ingles
James Johnson
Warren Jones
Treg Ancelet
Charles Brooks
Wayne Verdaasdonk
Dean DeLuke
Marvin Wilson
Eric Darby
James Peterson
Jaeson Dandalides
Monty O’Connor
Robert Ross
Lee Weber
Gary Wyatt
Joseph Creed
Matthew Graham
Lyn Johnson
Louis Jason
News from the Secretary, Carl Bess
Ah, autumn has arrived and hopefully everyone’s thermostats are getting a break! Now’s the time to hit the road and enjoy the scenery in our beautiful Commonwealth. Luftgekühlt owners, in particular, must be relishing the cooler temperatures.
In this issue, we bring you updates from the 9 July Board of Directors (BOD) meeting.
• Our financial standing remains strong with the FSR’s bank account boasting a balance of over $139,000, with all bills paid and expenses on track.
• Brad Jublou discussed potential future directions for Horizontally Opposed magazine. FSR leadership will select from these options, guided in part by the findings of a region-wide survey set to conclude by 31 October.
• The upcoming “Air & Auto Classic” at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach on 19 October, our 12th event, has garnered more sponsors than in previous years. Rockstar parking registration has sold out quickly, and space may be limited by the time this issue reaches you. This year’s show features a first-time skydiving exhibition by Skydive Suffolk and musical performances by Pancho Music.
• Ruth Apotheker and her team collected baby items and non-perishable foods at the July breakfast at Pop’s Diner. These were exchanged for raffle tickets, continuing our tradition of supporting Samaritan House. Don’t miss Ruth’s gift baskets at the “Air & Auto Classic 12” to raise funds for local charities.
• Many of you likely participated in one or more of FSR’s Fun Runs last summer, and the August FSR Summer BBQ in Chesapeake was a hit for welcoming new members. Additionally, Mike Ball, your Western Vice President, generously hosted new members of the western part of our region at his home.
The September and November BOD meeting updates will be combined in our next issue. We invite everyone to attend these meetings via ZOOM. Contact any BOD member for the meeting link. The next BOD meeting is scheduled for 7 PM on 12 November.
Thanks to everyone volunteering on your Board for their dedication!
On the cover:
I took this shot of my two model Porsches from Playmobil. I have these and a couple of toy 356s because I will probably never be able to buy the real things! And toys - specifically Legos - are also the subject of an article by one of our stalwart contributors, Rick Lull, in this issue. See “A Porsche for Kids?” starting on page 16.
If you wish to submit a photo or original piece of art to be considered for a future cover, please email editor@fsrpca.org.
Editor’s Corner Brad Jublou
FSR’s Mountain Adventure Weekend was held 28 through 30 June out in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia. 34 cars and 49 people participated in this excellent Fun Run which featured awesomely twisty roads and numerous thrilling elevation changes. On Saturday alone we went over nine different mountain ridges! On Saturday night our crowd invaded the Edelweiss restaurant in Staunton VA, where everyone ate way too much German food. Day 2 saw more of the same great driving, and it also featured Ed Merry’s favorite Very Twisty road! Sunday’s drive wrapped up with a catered BBQ lunch at Tom Godfrey’s beautiful home in Nellysford VA. This event was the 35th Fun Run organized by Ed Merry.
Include a picture. I’ll publish it all in the winter issue of HO. No less a Porschephile than Rob Sass, Editor of Panorama, has waxed eloquently about the 996 in those pages; now you get the chance to do the same thing in these pages! Deadline for submissions is 20 October
Who Wants to be Editor of Horizontally Opposed??
After two years of editing our club magazine, I will be stepping down as Editor at the end of the year, after completing the winter issue. This is a great job, made easy by the people who contribute the articles, take the great pictures, and do the layouts, printing and mailing, but I want to make room in my busy retired-guy schedule for other activities. No particular skillsets are needed other than a sharp proofreading eye and good organizational ability. Having a little creativity is definitely a plus, however! If interested or to get more details, contact me at editor@fsrpca.org.
Attention all 996 owners: I want you to tell me about your car! Send me a paragraph or two and tell me why you love and / or hate Porsche’s first water-cooled 911.
54 Beans Café in Carrollton has closed. Sadly, the adopted home of our Rennsport Rendezvous event closed on 31 August. Please join me in wishing Chemerre Wells all the best in the future. Rich (“Smash”) Cao is looking for another host location and that will have been determined by the time you get this magazine.
That’s it for this quarter; see you out on the Twistys!
Brad
Activities Update
All of our regular monthly events continue as normally scheduled: breakfast at the Carrot Tree restaurant in Williamsburg on the 1st Saturday of the month; breakfast at Joe’s Inn Bon Air in Richmond and Pop’s Diner in Chesapeake on the second Saturday of the month; and Rennsport Rendezvous at a location to be determined at 2 pm on the last Saturday of the month. Other upcoming events include:
Event Location
Porsche Trivia Tour
HPDE
Air & Auto 12
November Fun Run
FSR 65th Event
Holiday Party
Jamestown-Williamsburg
VIR
Virginia Beach (Pungo)
Windsor - Smithfield
Williamsburg
TBD
Date
September 28
October 11 & 12
October 19
November 2 & 3
November 10 (Tentative)
January or February 2025 - 8 -
Waiting at our Waynesboro HQ
FSR Member Survey
We recently sent out the first of several (likely) member surveys to help your board of directors better understand how you feel about certain aspects of the region and our operations. You may respond digitally using the QR code to complete the survey online or by mailing the survey pages to the address at the bottom. Please submit your survey by 31 October.
Events and Activities
1. On average, how many PCA events do you attend annually? (select the one that best describes you)
Two or Less
Three to Four
Five to Ten
More than Ten
2. Of these PCA events, how many are FSR hosted? (select the one that best describes you)
Two or Less
Three to Four
Five to Ten
3. FSR hosts breakfasts and cars & coffee events monthly. Generally, FSR hosts a fun run monthly during the core driving season. How does this compare to your expectations? (select the one that best describes you)
About right
Not enough
Too much
4. How do you most commonly learn about events? (select all that apply)
FSR App
FSR website
FSR emails
Facebook Group
Horizontally Opposed Magazine
MotorsportsReg
None of the above
5. Do you agree with the following statement? I am unable to attend FSR events as often as I like. (select all that apply)
I agree, scheduling conflicts prevent me from doing so I agree, events are generally too far away from my home I agree, I only attend PCA National or events outside the region I disagree, and attend when I can
Communications
6. Do you use the FSR app? (select the one that best describes you)
Yes
No
7. On average, how many times do you access the app per month? (select the one that best describes you)
Every day
A few times a week
About once a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Less than once a month
None of the above
8. Specific to the app, what features are the most important to you? (please rank 1-3)
9. Do you use the FSR website (www.fsrpca.org)?
(select the one that best describes you) Yes
10. On average, how many times do you access the website per month? (select the one that best describes you)
Every day
A few times a week
About once a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Less than once a month
None of the above
11. What do you find to be the most important features of the website? (please rank 1-5)
Events Calendar _______
Photos/Videos _______
Access to the Horizontally Opposed Magazine _______
Classified Ads _______
Contact Information _______
12. Do you receive FSR emails? (select the one that best describes you)
13. Specific to the FSR emails, how useful do you find the contents? (select the one that best describes you)
Extremely useful
Very useful
Somewhat useful
Not so useful
Not at all useful
None of the above
14. What recommendations do you have to improve the emails
15. Each quarter FSR mails an issue of the Horizontally Opposed Magazine to your home. Thinking about your reading habits, which statement best describes you.
I read every article and sometimes save the magazine for future reference
I read most articles before discarding the magazine
I skim through it before discarding it I do not often have time or interest in reading it I am not receiving the magazine
16. Thinking about the content of the magazine, what content do you find the most valuable? (please rank 1-4)
News from the Board of Directors _______ Calendar of Events _______
Special Interest Articles _______
Advertisements _______
17. Do you prefer to continue receiving a printed copy of Horizontally Opposed Magazine? (select the one that best describes you)
Yes
No, I would prefer a digital version of the magazine
No, I no longer wish to receive it
18. If FSR charged $15 a year to continue receiving a full-color printed version of Horizontally Opposed Magazine, what best describes your feelings?
Ok with me, I like the magazine and wish to continue receiving it. $15 a year is a bargain I would opt out, especially if I can get it free through the website or app Annoyed. I prefer hard copy magazines and paying $15 does not sit well with me
Volunteerism
19. FSR is always looking for volunteers to plan drives, dinners, run car shows, or conduct community outreach events. May we contact you to volunteer?
Yes, my email and phone number are
I prefer to help with... ___________________
No
Thank you!
Please mail the survey to FSR PCA Survey, 2600 Casa Ct. Virginia Beach VA 23456
Driving Dreams: A Journey to the Porsche Parade in Alabama
By Jason Horner
This summer, our family embarked on an unforgettable journey to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend the 68th Porsche Parade. Our adventure was made even more special by the presence of our foreign exchange student, Amy, from Hamburg, Germany, who also shared our passion for Porsche.
As we cruised down the highways towards Birmingham, the anticipation was palpable. The city, known for its rich history, was the perfect backdrop for this grand celebration of all things Porsche. The excitement only grew as we arrived at the event and was greeted by a sea of gleaming Porsches of nearly every model and color.
We explored various events and activities. At the Concours d’Elegance, Amy was fascinated to see the meticulous care and pride owners took in showcasing their prized possessions while she and our son Dimitri participated in the PCA Juniors Concours Judging. While there we were also treated to the largest collection of Porsche bicycles in the world, owned by PCA member Mark Falkenberg, of Huntsville, AL. Mark’s collection is not just the largest, but they are also custom painted to match many of Porsche’s historic racecar liveries.
and creating connections that even transcend borders. Other highlights of the trip included meeting Mark Porsche, son of Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, Donovan Carter (Vernon Littlefield, from HBO’s Ballers) and Chris Jacobs (from Overhaulin’).
Parade offers many events and tours to keep you busy and engaged. Though we did participate in some of the competitions: Dimitri won his class in the kids Concours d’Elegance, while Priscilla and I took home 2nd place trophies in our technical and historical quizzes. We also ventured off on our own and visited the Vulcan statue, one of the largest cast iron statues in the world, which symbolizes Birmingham’s industrial heritage. We also took a self-guided tour through the National Historic Landmark, Sloss Furnaces’ 15-acre site, and learned about Birmingham’s iron legacy. And we took a day trip to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL, to be awed by the Saturn V moon rocket, the world’s only full-stack space shuttle display, the Apollo 16 Command Module, Skylab Orbital Workshop, and the Apollo 12 moon rock.
While in Alabama we not only got the chance to drive our Macan on Talladega’s Super Speedway, but Dimitri and Amy got to ride along in the chase vehicles for some bonus laps. The Parade of Porsches ended at Barber Motorsports Park after a lap on their track and provided us the opportunity to visit the museum there where we have never seen so many motorcycles and other items in one location. Earlier in the week we also got the opportunity to take our Macan onto part of their off-road course.
Parade is almost like a family reunion for us. It is always nice to catch up with fellow Porsche lovers we have met from prior Porsche Parades, exchanging stories, tips, and experiences,
In the evenings, we explored Birmingham’s vibrant food scene, introducing our exchange student to Southern cuisine. From BBQ to sweet tea, she was delighted by the flavors and hospitality of the South. And just hanging out at Irondale’s train watching platform, which was only a few minutes’ drive from our Airbnb. The platform is located at the southwestern end of Norfolk Southern’s large Norris Yard and includes 12 receiving tracks, 56 classification bowl tracks, and 10 total departure tracks.
As the event drew to a close, we felt a sense of bittersweetness. The trip to the Porsche Parade 2024 in Birmingham was not just a celebration of cars but a celebration of culture, friendship, and the joy of the open road. It was a wonderful experience to share with our exchange student, and one Parade we will treasure forever.
Priscilla, Dimitri, and I are looking forward to next year’s Porsche Parade in Oklahoma City, OK, July 6 - 12, 2025. See you there!
East Beach Charity Car Show a Huge Success!
By John Greene
“Hey, John, want to do a car show in East Beach?” “Um, sure; when and where?”
That was the spring of 2023 when Brandon Hull, a neighbor, friend and car owner/enthusiast, asked if I’d like to co-lead an effort that would be a follow-on to the wildly successful initiative in 2019 that Donna Alexander and Jim McNaught, of East Beach Realty, staged in front of their office. With Donna’s help, we undertook an effort to hold a car show in the East Beach neighborhood that would be a charity event, as well. That turned out to be easier said than done, as we underestimated the amount of time and effort required. So we backed off on the idea of a fall 2023 show and decided on April of this year instead. We then applied for a permit through the City of Norfolk to close off a portion of Pleasant Avenue to stage the cars. That permit was never approved—nor disapproved—so we reached out to the East Beach Company (EBC) and Rock Bell, General Manager, and asked to use the “Triangle” lot at the northwest corner of East Beach. He said, “Sure, but you need approval from the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), as they still own the lot.” So we did; and we received permission and got insurance for a one-day use, and “away we went!”
The first step was to come up with a poster and, with the “help” of Chat GPT4 (“Design a car show poster with a sports car on a beach” [which is totally illegal, of course, but it looks great!]), and graphics support from Stroll Magazine, the finished product was nothing short of amazing.
With Donna’s help to register cars through Jotform—which turned out to be amazingly effective—and Brandon and I going to a variety of local car shows (which had some incredible cars) to hand out flyers, and “working” our various car club connections, we began to see results pretty quickly and the number and types of cars entering grew.
The next step was figuring out how to actually get the cars onto the lot, as there is a curb we hadn’t accounted for, so Brandon built a ramp out of 2x12’ boards. I drove my car and Brandon his truck over the ramp so we knew it could support the weight of the heaviest car—a Rolls Royce that an owner in Willoughby had already registered.
The show was Saturday, April 20th, and by then we had 69 cars registered, and there were three same-day registrants. It had rained somewhat the night before, so we were both a bit concerned but, by the next morning there was “only” a light mist
and the cars began showing up around 8:30. The weather cleared for about 3 hours until a rainshower at noon chased the convertibles away. We sold “People’s Choice” tickets, rather than having a “judged” event, as we thought it would be more fun for people to vote for their favorite cars…and they did. Debbie Tretler, who owns her father’s beautiful yellow 1951 MG-TD, garnered the most votes and received a first place ribbon, a car wash donated by Buggy Bathe, and tons of “oohs and aaahs” from the many onlookers that day.
In addition to Debbie’s MG, second place went to Andrew Paul and his Triumph TR-6; 3rd to John Meyers, also with a Triumph TR-6; Jim Tucker and his Chevy 3100 Pickup took 4th place; and Bob Trzeciak, and his shiny red Ferrari 308 GTS, took 5th place (“But officer, I couldn’t have been going 75. I was only in 2nd gear!”). There were plenty of Porsches and “muscle cars,” both my favorites, but “the people have spoken!”
All in all, a great day and the effort raised over $2800 for the two charities selected—Foodbank of SE Virginia and For Kids, Inc, both of which had representatives at the show all day. There were also food trucks from Cast Iron Catering, Twisted Sisters Cupcakes, and Virginia Beach Donuts (“Did you say DONUTS?”); and, as mentioned, car wash gift certificates donated by Rob DeLaGarza from Buggy Bathe. There were also plenty of volunteers from within the neighborhood to set up, staff the registration and ticket sales tents, and tear down afterwards. A hearty THANKS to all of them! And, of course, we thank the East Beach Social Committee for their financial support of the effort. We hope all who attended enjoyed the show. There were some great cars, jeeps and trucks!
Remembering Damien Xavier Walsh, FSR President 2006 & 2007
By Neil Partridge, Erik Apotheker and the Walsh Family
FSR has lost one of its most ardent supporters, a long-time member and former club President, Damien Walsh. Damien lost his battle with cancer. He was 71.
Damien exemplified the true product of California car culture; he was a friend to many and devoted to his family and friends.
He had an encyclopedic knowledge of 60s and 70s Ferraris, stemming from the fact that his dad imported a number of them during his formative years - used, directly from Italy. Spending summers at the family home in Pebble Beach, he occasionally got hold of one of his dad’s cars for a run down the PCH and, needless to say, hijinks ensued. Proximity to Pebble incented Damien to learn to play golf at the famous course and caddy during summers. When not on the picturesque course, he spent time with both his dad and his uncle who were very involved in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). He spent countless days at the track with them or volunteering as a corner worker back in the days when races were held on the Del Monte Forest roads and bales of hay served as guardrails.
Damien attended UCLA on a soccer scholarship before transferring to UC Berkeley. After graduating he attended the Hastings College of Law (HCL) and when not studying he played rugby. HCL is where Damien met and subsequently married Patt who at that time was a captain in the U.S. Army.
As with many military careers, assignments and relocations took them around the world. Each meant a new attorney position for Damien, and in Paris he added the title of coach to his resume. Les Kiowas de Garches, an all-French football team, benefited from his soccer and rugby experience.
In parallel, Damien was building his reputation as an expert in government contracts, fiscal law, and intellectual property. He served his country in increasingly complex and challenging roles as an attorney/advisor, including at the Naval Research Laboratory.
In 2000 Damien found himself in the Tidewater area as his wife’s military career brought the family to Norfolk. He joined PCA shortly thereafter and, over the years, held several positions, including FSR President and Concours Co-chair. He often participated in High-Performance Driver Education (HPDE) as an instructor and was sought out by many for his driving skills and patience, but most notably, his calm demeanor.
Damien was great at meeting people and starting a conversation, quick to find common ground. He was always ready to help out, to catch up with his many friends and acquaintances, and to offer a word of encouragement.
In 2023, Damien retired from the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and while justifiably proud of his many work accomplishments, his real passions were anything related to Porsches, classic cars, and mentoring. He used his extra time to expand his coaching commitments, and he once stated that he was proud to have coached his two daughters, K.C. and Meaghan, and now his grandson Alex. Affectionately referred to as Grand-Dude, it was not uncommon to run into Damien on his way to
or from one of Alex’s many games or outings. But with Damien, the concept of running into him meant that he was squeezing a car event into his busy day and that you would spend at least an hour chatting. Damien never met a stranger and loved finding out what was happening with you and your family.
As recounted by long term friend Neil Partridge: “I met Damien at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) when he came back from a stint in Europe, bringing back a restored 356. He was happiest at the track and instructed at our DEs for years. After the 356, he moved up to a Boxster and drove it enthusiastically, always on street tires (although Lutzo had worked over the suspension and brakes). I could pull away from him on track only when I had R compound tires mounted. After a day on track, he would enthusiastically drag a group of us to Joe and Mimas and extoll the virtues of their Pene Rustica, said to be nearly as good as he’d had when living in Italy.”
“In addition to the scores of track days at VIR over the years, we travelled to the Daytona 24 twice and to the Pebble Beach Concours just last year. He grew up outside San Francisco, and in his teen years lived in the Monterey area. In fact, his family rented a house in Pebble Beach, and he had stories about riding his bike up to the local college campus. With Damien there were lots of stories!”
As recounted by Erik Apotheker: “I first met Damien shortly after relocating to Virginia. We were teamed together in an LMN Boxster in a Champcar race at VIR. He soon recognized me as the quiet guy absorbing all the guidance I could process. Having never driven VIR South Course, and having never raced a Boxster, he spent at least 25% of his driving stint on the radio telling me everything he could about the track, the reference points and the finer points of how the car was performing. He was happiest on the track, driving or coaching others, competing, or just talking about cars.”
Damien, Neil, Erik, Mike Helpinstill, Marc Cook and Lutzo Kovacyk finished third in class that race, but Damien was most proud when LMN finished a 24-hour endurance race in 2019, coming 7th in class and 10th overall. He really loved those experiences with FSR friends.
He introduced his daughter K.C. to the track, sharing his Boxster in HPDE events, and he had wanted to do more racing. We hope he’s enjoying that opportunity now from a different perspective, although he may be spending more time focused on Pebble Beach or mentoring others...we are sure he will find a way.
On behalf of our members, FSR has made a donation to one Damien’s preferred charities, and we hope the support will benefit others, just as Damien would have wanted.
A Porsche for Kids? Suggestions to introduce your child or grandchild to Porsche
By Rick Lull
Looking for a way to introduce your child or grandchild to Porsche beyond the odd ride here and there? Have I got a deal for you!
I daresay that most folks are aware of the Lego brand of building toys. What you may not be aware of if you don’t regularly go down that aisle in your favorite retailer, is that Lego has produced and still produces Porsche cars, co-branded, as available sets.
This gives you the opportunity to gift a set to your favorite kid (small, medium or large) AND spend some time with them helping to assemble it. You might get a chance to explain a little bit more about why you like your car so much, too.
My boys enjoy Lego, and I do as well, so I have a great excuse (not that I need one) to buy and enjoy these myself. Sets range from small, to bigger, to larger, to even bigger, which also tracks the budget options, so you don’t have to debate new tires for your full-size ride or one of these as a gift.
Currently there are three and a half (I’ll explain shortly) sets that you could pick up from your local Walmart or Target (and probably elsewhere as well). And there’s one other set that you may or may not see there, and have to source from a specialty store, such as the Lego store that is up in Northern Virginia or down in Virginia Beach’s Town Center, or order on the web from Lego’s own website. There is one retired set that I will mention as well that can be tracked down on eBay, Bricklink, or similar sources, as I think it is significant enough to mention.
Our first stop is a smaller Porsche 963 Racecar set in the Speed Champions line that is sized for the minifigs (aka the “Lego person”).
This is set number 76916 with 280 pieces and will set you back ~$20. Lego suggests this is for ages 9 and up, but I’ve always thought that age suggestion a bit on the safe side, so for a precocious 7-year-old grandkid (and whose aren’t :)), this is the ticket. I probably don’t have to warn the experienced grandparents reading this to verify with Mom and Dad first; consider this a friendly suggestion from somebody who had to gently suggest to my parents to go easy on the grandkid gifts at Christmas. A nice stocking stuffer, or birthday gift.
Our next set may or may not be available when you read this. Lego sets have a lifetime where they are produced for sale, and then retired so the logistic capacity can be used for new stuff. If it’s still around when you read this, great! If not, and you really want one, keep your eyes open or use the power of Google to find one.
Set number 42137, the Lego Technic Porsche 99X Formula E race car. 422 pieces for 9+, this has the party trick of being a “pull back” where you can pull back and let go like toy cars of old.
This set runs about $40 and is found at the usual places. This is a pretty good size set, at 12 inches long when built.
The next is a “two-fer” where you can select to build a G Body Turbo or Targa from a single set. This is set 10295 in the Lego Icons series. I came across this set one day browsing through Barnes and Noble, of all places. Since then, I have seen it in the normal discount department stores.
Runs about ~$170 for 1458 pieces and they recommend 18+. This gives you something more akin to a model, than a toy, as you build a full interior, working steering, opening frunk and a few other touches.
Over 13 inches long when complete, this is more than a handful.
I’m of the opinion that anybody over about 12 or 13 can build this, but it will probably take more than an afternoon of time. This just might be the ticket for a Saturday when it’s pouring rain, and Mom needs a break from a teenager...
I personally have two of these sets, one built for Turbo, and one built for Targa. I bought a partial set off eBay that I built as a Turbo. I had to source a missing tire for it, and though Lego has been called the number 1 tire producer in the world, you can’t get these from Tire Rack!
Our final current production set is bigger, but not quite as complicated as our previous option. Enter the Lego Technic 911 RSR Endurance Racer. Set number 42096 is 1580 pieces for 10 and over. This runs about ~$180 and is just the thing to scratch your racecar on a budget itch.
The flat 6 engine moves with the rear wheels through a differential, and you have full steering. It will probably be tiring to drive it over the full VIR course, so I’d suggest a course maybe a bit more bite sized to put this through its paces with your budding car nut.
In 2016, Porsche and Lego partnered to make a very large model of the GT3RS. You can find it on eBay, as this is long out of stock in stores. Set 42056 with 2,704 pieces for 16+, this is the biggest and most complicated set out there, featuring both a moving flat 6 engine AND paddle shifters for the modeled and functional PDK.
Done up in Lava Orange, this has a presence and sense of speed just sitting on the table in front of you. The instruction book is thick and includes the story about how this set came to be, which is interesting in its own right.
I’ll close with a size comparison picture to give you an idea of what we are talking about, scale wise with these larger sets.
Happy building!
FSR Member Profile: Barry Nachman
Tales of a mini obsession that has just begun...
Hey everyone! Being asked to write about oneself has never been an easy exercise for me but will do my best.
I have always been a fan of Porsche, admiring from afar as they passed me going down the road although there was never a time that one fit into my life. My best friend in high school did have a 914, so that was my introduction to Porsche. While a fun car at the time, it never sparked any real excitement. In my early 20’s and just married, I did bring home a 944 in Sapphire Metallic, but decided it was too impractical at that time of my life and that ended my Porsche story until recently
Having been fortunate to have owned many German cars from Mercedes, Audi, and BMW over the years, I made the decision to seek out a sports car when I happened to come across a Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube video featuring the new mid-engine C8 Corvette. I came home that night and told my wife I was heading to a Chevy dealer and ordering one. Of course, it was not that easy to do in 2021, but I did find an allocation (no Additional Dealer Markup) and enjoyed it, but something was missing. This is not to disparage the C8 in any way as it is the best mid-engine car available on the market at anywhere close to the price point, so hopefully no one reads this the wrong way. It was a blast on the track and enjoyed over 9600 miles on it in one year of ownership.
As a follower of many car forums, Porsche variants kept popping up in the discussions and I decided it was time to finally make the move! Only problem was that no dealers had any allocations when it came to a Cayman or Boxster GTS 4.0 or GT4/Spyders, which were the cars I was looking to get into to start my journey at that particular time.
So the hunt was on! I still had not reconciled spending $120K plus on a car, but soon discovered that I had to loosen the wallet a bit to acquire what I thought I wanted. After doing my research starting in March 2024, I found a used 2020 GT4 CPO w/low miles located in Florida and decided that was a good start. Once I got the car, that was the beginning of going down the proverbial rabbit hole. I also was able to purchase a new 2024 718 GTS 4.0 and along the way, as well as picking up a 2023 CPO Macan GTS as more of my daily.
Almost immediately after my first purchase, I joined First Settlers to learn more about the marque, but more importantly, I have enjoyed the camaraderie, knowledge base, tech information, and of course the fun runs and other events. They have been great and I’m glad to have become one of the group. And the group was also pivotal in making my decision to dive deeper into the brand.
My first thought was that having two similar variants of the 718 did not make much sense; so I sold the four month new GTS the same day I found an available allocation on a 911. My wife and the rest of the family (along with many of our local members!) stated that I needed a 911 as that was the car I kept bringing up in conversation: and now I have my new 2024 Gentian Blue C2S w/ 7spd manual. I drive my cars often, and they do not stay tucked away in my garage as these cars are meant to be driven! The 911 is still very new to me and just getting broken in, and I am incredibly pleased to now own it and see what it can do. It is also the first car of many I have owned over the years that my wife Lynn stated that she LOVES! In her words, the others were really nice, but this one is a keeper!
Barry has been a resident of Hampton Roads his entire life, growing up and building his real estate firm, CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty, which is headquartered in Newport News with offices spread throughout the area as well as in Elizabeth City and the Outer Banks of NC. After 10 years living in Virginia Beach, and the daily commute to Newport News, he and his wife Lynn decided that change was needed as the commute was getting worse; so they moved to Williamsburg. He and Lynn have three children and six grandchildren with the seventh on the way soon.
This is how my journey began and I’m very happy I did it. We are lucky to own these fantastic cars. I’m constantly impressed with the beautiful lines of the exteriors, perfectly fitted cockpits, and unparalleled engineering. I am a forever fan that will always have a Porsche in my garage until the day comes when someone snatches my keys away!
Now that I have experienced a good variety of cars in a brief time and still have much to learn, the question I get from many is “What’s next?” I do not have the answer now but a Turbo S, GT3 Touring, and/or a Spyder RS may come into play in the not-too-distant future!
Gute Reise! Bis Bald!
PAINT!
By Walt Pristou
Pictures courtesy of Porsche Press Database and Walt Pristou
“Wow, what color is that?!” We all love to talk about our cars, and love checking out someone’s new toy. Our first impression is often the paint, and with today’s Porsche Paint to Sample, the color pallet is almost infinite. Most articles and videos you see about paint today focus on just that, the colors, but there is more to that beautiful paint job than meets the eye. In this article we will examine that beautiful paint job from a technical point of view. Just what is that “paint,” and how is it applied at the factory?
If you put an older and newer 911 side by side, you are immediately hit by the technological advances in the cars’ engine and systems.
But what you don’t see are the advances in the paint chemistry and coatings technology, that are on par with any advances in the rest of the car. The “paint” you see gleaming in the sun is actually a coating system that starts with the bare, body material, and is built up in layers of different chemical solutions. The entire process comprises many individual steps, and there are a lot more steps today then there were in 1972!
The Porsche Painting Process
One of the best descriptions of the Porsche painting process that I have found is from a 2014 Porsche Newsroom article, “Six stages to a perfectly painted Macan” [1]. The following pictures and description are taken from that article. Before the painting process begins, the car body, primarily made of steel, is assembled via the welding of many individual panels. Note the number of panel seams, and all the nooks and crannies in the back-half of the Macan below.
Once the car body is mostly assembled, it is run through a series of dip tanks. The car body is mounted on a sled and is rotated 360 degrees (tail over nose) while submerged, to enable the liquid in the tank to reach all the nooks and crannies, inside and out. After each dip stage the car is run through a drying unit to prepare it for the next step.
The first tank is a cleaning/degreasing process to remove materials such as grease from the stamping presses, metal chips, and other contaminants from the manufacturing process. After
the cleaning tank, the car proceeds to a zinc phosphate bath. This “pretreatment” coating chemically reacts with the steel body surface and provides a layer for the subsequent paint layers to adhere to.
Cathodic Dip Coating
Next, the car goes through a Cathodic Dip Coating (CDC) process. In the industry this is also referred to Electrophoretic Coating, E-Coat, or Electrophoretic Painting. The CDC process is based on the principle of electrophoresis, in which charged particles suspended in a fluid are attracted to, and deposited onto, a conductive material when a DC voltage is applied [2].
In the Porsche factory, the CDC process uses a dip tank where both the car body and the tank are electrified. That is, a high voltage (+/-) is applied to the car body through the support frame and arm, and to the sides of the dip tank. When the power is turned on, the positively (+) charged paint particles move through the fluid bath toward, and stick to, the negatively charged car body. In cartoon form, the process looks something like this:
The Cathode (-) is the car body submerged in the tank. The Anodes (+) are built into the walls of the tank. The next picture shows the tank assembly, and you can see the heavy, electrical cables along the near side.
The fluid bath in the CDC tank is a colloidal mixture of particles suspended in a solvent. The particles are extremely important,
since they are what actually ends up sticking to the car body. Chemists design these particles to have specific chemical properties, sizes and shapes, and to have a specific surface charge.
Because of the opposite charge between the particles and the car body, the CDC “paint” penetrates deep into cracks and crevices that cannot be reached by conventional painting processes. The CDC paint adheres tightly to the body substrate, and a uniform coating thickness is produced. The result is an insoluble, high solids layer that provides exceptional corrosion protection [3].
Once the CDC is dry all the seams and flanges are sealed with special PVC materials to prevent water intrusion. The sealing process is performed by robots and a PVC underbody coating is also applied to protect against stone impacts.
And Finally, the Paint
The paint is applied in layers and in separate stages, and consist of a primer/filler coat, a base color coat, additional (optional) color coat(s), and a clear topcoat. Each layer has a specific purpose, must be applied at the proper thickness, and must bond to the layer that preceded it.
The primer/filler is designed to create good adhesion between the CDC coat and the topcoat(s), provide chipping protection, and to fill and smooth minor imperfections and scratches created during prior steps. The color coat(s) are where things get interesting. Spraying layers of different colors, especially with metallic and translucent paints can create amazing effects, like a car that appears to change color depending on which angle you look at it.
All the painting is done by robots, and the flow of paint and the distance between the spray nozzle and the car body is computer controlled. This allows for uniform paint coverage and very consistent paint thickness on all the body surfaces. In the above picture, notice the cloud of green paint overspray in the air around the car, and how the overspray looks thicker near the floor. The airflow in the paint booth carries the overspray downward to a paint separator underneath the booth to enable proper waste disposal.
After each coat the car is run through a drying unit to ensure the paint is properly cured before the next coat is applied. After the final clear coat is applied, the car is run through the final drying unit and then is on to paint inspection and the remainder of the assembly process. The entire painting process described above takes approximately 15 hours. The final coating system looks something like the representation in the next figure.
Please note that the thicknesses shown above are not specifically Porsche, but represent standard industry ranges. Paint thickness is usually measured and expressed in either “microns” or “mils”.
1 micron = micro-meter = 1.0 x 10-6 meter= 1 µm
1 mil = 1.0 x 10-3 inches = 0.001 in 1.0 mil = 25.4 µm
Note the total thickness is about 90 – 150 microns, or about 4-6 mils. Next time you get a chance, slide a 0.005 inch feeler gage between your fingers. That is how thick your paint is.
Now you have some background on just what is involved in creating that beautiful finish. Hopefully in the future we can explore this subject further and get into the history of automotive paint, corrosion, maintaining your car’s finish over time, paint correction and detailing, body repair (if you went off track in your last DE!), and restoration and repainting.
Any comments or suggestions for future articles are most appreciated.
p.s. The color of the Turbo S in the first picture is Gentian Blue, S-GO 4359.
[2] Besra, L.;Liu, M. (2007) “A review of fundamentals and applications of electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Prog ress In Materials Science. 87: 1-61. (MDPI)
