2024 Board Members
President Rich Cao president@fsrpca.org
Eastern Vice President
Scott Hoffman eastvp@fsrpca.org
Assistant Eastern Vice President
Carlton Harris asstvp-eastern@fsrpca.org
Western Vice President
Bill Smith westvp@fsrpca.org
Assistant Western Vice President & Tourmeister
Dave Wallace asstvp-western@fsrpca.org
Secretary & Archivist
Carl Bess secretary@fsrpca.org
Treasurer John Schwaebler treasurer@fsrpca.org
Activities Officer
Keith Stone activities@fsrpca.org
Past President
Erik Apotheker pastpresident@fsrpca.org
HO Editor
Bryan Fox editor@fsrpca.org
Charity Chair
Jenny Kay 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
Communication/Social Media
Chair
Roops Ramdon socialmedia@fsrpca.org
IN THIS ISSUE
From The President Charity Update
News From the Secretary Welcome New Members
Membership Anniversary Milestones Editor’s Corner
The Roar Before the 24
Horizontally Opposed (HO) is the official publication of First Settlers Region (FSR), Porsche Club ofAmerica (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 materialsubmittedforpublication.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 HorizontallyOpposed, 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, Bryan Fox at editor@fsrpca.org for more information.
From the President
Rich Cao
As we start our first quarter into the transition of your new 2025 Board of Directors (BoD), I want to start off by thanking our outgoing Board Members for all their hard work and dedication to our club. In particular, I want to personally thank ErikApotheker for his exceptional leadership and tireless efforts in keeping First Settlers Region (FSR) a vibrant and fun filled car club during his tenure as FSR President. Through his hard work we have all benefited from the numerous Porsche-centric activities that have kept us busy during countless weekends. And as I begin my term as your President, I am quickly learning that I have some big shoes to fill, but Erik has left our Club in a great place, and I am very much looking forward to the road ahead. Thank you, Erik!
Looking at the road ahead, I have spoken to many of you about your thoughts on what things you would like to see more of in FSR. This feedback has led to many long conversations within our BoD team to continue to put on the events you all love, such as fun runs, driver’s education, and charity events, but also add in some new events that might appeal to the almost 1,400 total members of FSR. At the time of this writing, your BoD team is working on the following new initiatives that we think will also appeal to more of our members:
- Increased focus on recurring events in our newly established Northen Area (Fredericksburg to Mechanicsville)
- Increasing pop-up lunches and dinners across the Region
- Increased partnerships with our local Porsche dealerships (Porsche Virginia Beach and Porsche Richmond)
- Inter-Region events with Shenandoah, Hurricane, Carolinas, Blue Ridge, Wilderness Trail and Potomac Regions
- New off-road events focused on Cayennes and Macans (or if you have the new 911 Dakar, we’d definitely love to see that!)
- New Tech Events focused on basic Porsche maintenance and restoration projects
- A new FSR Auto Cross program
- A renewed Porsche Club of America (PCA) Juniors program within FSR focusing on not just the younger kids, but our teens as well
- A new Goodie Store offering more options for FSR merchandise sourced by a local, veteran owned family business
Our desire is to plan multiple events that appeal to the wide variety of interests from our membership. Of course, our biggest challenge in bringing you all these fun new events is finding volunteers within our region to help make some of these events a reality. So here is my ask to our almost 1,400 members: if any of these new initiatives appeal to you, help us. It doesn’t have to be a huge commitment, maybe it’s just help putting on one event. It can be as much or as little time as you can afford to spend with us. Even if you don’t have the bandwidth to volunteer, we would still love to see you coming out to our events. As you will probably hear from lots of our members, the friendships you make with the other “Porsche nerds” in our club is one of the biggest membership benefits PCA has to offer. I also have one more request… please make sure your information is updated with PCA Headquarters. This helps us figure out where in the Region we need to focus our efforts, and the different types of Porsches that are in our Region.
Lastly, I want to thank all of you for the privilege of serving you as your new President for the next two years. My family and I are thrilled to be able to serve you all in this capacity. FSR has an incredibly talented and motivated group of Porsche lovers on your BoD and we look forward to hearing your feedback on other ideas that you think will make your club better. Reach out anytime. And look for us on Facebook, Instagram, our FSR app, FSR website, and occasional emails. I hope to see you all at a future event!
Prost!
Join Us!
Charity Committee Update
First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as First Settlers Region’s Charity Chair for 2025 and to recognize the incredible efforts of last year’s Chair, Ruth Apotheker, and Charity Committee members.
Your Generosity in Action
In 2024, FSR donated over $38,000 and more than 3000 pounds of food/grocery in donated items for our charities. With your support and generosity through monetary donations, raffle item contributions, essential goods, time and skills, you can see that FSR makes a tangible difference in our communities.
This year, we’re hoping to expand our efforts by introducing pop-up social fundraising events, offering more opportunities for members to come together, have fun and make an impact. I invite you to join us! You can also get involved by sharing your fundraising ideas, silent auctions or raffle items, suggestions for potential sponsors and anything else! Just email charity@fsrpca.org.
Stay Connected
We will spotlight at least one of our charities in upcoming editions of Horizontally Opposed. This month, Jerry Kent shares information about Samaritan House and how they are making a difference in our community.
Thank you again for your unwavering generosity and support! I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together this year!
Jenny Kay, Charity Chair Jenny
2025 Approved Charities
• Samaritan House – Provides emergency shelter, advocacy and essential services to individuals affected by domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness.
• Horizons Hampton Roads – Supports educational equity by offering enrichment programs for students from underprivileged communities.
• Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) – Virginia’s only freestanding pediatric hospital, providing specialized medical care to infants, children, and teens. FSR’s Air & Auto donations goes towards CHKD’s Cancer Center.
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore – Addresses hunger through food distribution and nutrition programs.
• Feed More (Richmond only) – Works to alleviate hunger across Central Virginia through food collection and distribution.
• Vet Dogs – Provides service dogs to veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities
2025 Charity Committee
•Jenny Kay, Chair
•Ruth Apotheker
•Mary Ball
•Mike Ball
•Michele Curtis
•Ernestine Hibbert
•Scott Hoffman
•Betty Kendall
•Dave Wallace
•Nancy Wallace
News from the Secretary, Carl Bess
This quarter’s submission consists of highlights of the November 2024 and January 2025 Board of Directors (BOD) meetings. Between the two meetings we saw the transition of some key roles, namely President, Western Area VP, Treasurer, Past President, Charity Chair, and H.O. Editors. Also of significance is that our BOD meetings will occur on the second Tuesday of each month instead of bi-monthly and will continue via Zoom unless an opportunity opens for in-person meetings. As always, anyone may attend a BOD meeting, so if you would like to sit in, just ask me or any board member for the Zoom link.
To recap the BOD officer transitions, Rich Cao is our new FSR President, with Erik Apotheker assuming the role of Past President. Scott Hoffman returns as Eastern Area VP, Bill Smith takes over as Western Area VP, John Schwaebler is our new Treasurer, Keith Stone returns as Activities Officer, and I continue in my second year as Secretary. This constitutes the FSR Executive Committee (EXCOM). Changes in a couple of Appointed Chair positions round out the transitions in the BOD. They are Jenny Kay as Charity Chair and Roops Ramdon expanding his role as Communications and Marketing Chair. Last, and certainly not least, is the appointment of Paula and Bryan Fox as new co-editors of FSR’s Horizontally Opposed quarterly magazine. We can all thank Erik and Ruth Apotheker, Mike Ball, Jerry Kent, Melinda Cagle, and Brad and Kathy Jublou for their hard work and dedication in service to the Region. Remember, everyone serving your region is a volunteer, elected or appointed, so please support them and consider serving yourself in one of the many officer, chair, or committee positions.
Now for a few November BOD meeting highlights:
•Erik raised concerns about a spoofed email that was circulating among the membership and emphasized the need for vigilance during the holiday season. Another unrelated spoofed email surfaced in January. It’s worth mentioning here because we are all vulnerable to spoofing, phishing, malware, etc., and should maintain good situational awareness of these threats. If you encounter a suspicious FSR email or communication, please reach out to Roops Ramdon at socialmedia@fsrpca.org.
•Keith reported on the success of the 65th Anniversary event at the Wine Seller, while highlighting upcoming activities, including Turkeys in the Trunk (November 23, 2024) and the Holiday Party (January 11, 2025).
• Marco confirmed the 2025 HPDE dates for April 25-27 and October 10-11.
• Erik shared the success of the Air and Auto event, which generated a record profit, and suggested making it an annual fixture.
• Jerry provided a financial update, reporting a balance of $139,253 as of November 1, 2024.
And for January’s meeting:
•Rich opened the meeting with introductions of our newly elected BOD members with a special thanks to past officers and chairs. Rich also proposed the creation of a Northern Area (Fredericksburg-MechanicsvillePotomac) to generate more membership activity and participation in the region. This will require more study, actions, amending bylaws, etc., so stay tuned!
•Several fun runs are in the planning stage, including a fun run workshop, so stay tuned to FSR social media and your personal email for developments.
•As mentioned above, Roops Ramdon is taking charge of the Communications and Marketing Chair, being the first in FSR to serve in this role. Roops gave the Board a glimpse of his current initiatives, which includes developing communications strategic goals, increasing engagements, creating new visibility, and standardizing messaging across all FSR media platforms .
• Our new Charity Chair, Jenny Kay, provided an update on November and December breakfast raffle income that was divided between the Foodbank, Horizons, Samaritan House and CHKD.
• Marco confirmed the HPDE and instructor clinic for April and commented that we must replenish our driver instructor ranks. If you’re interested in volunteering as a driver instructor, please contact Marco at dechair@fsrpca.org!
Lastly, two Board actions took place during the January meeting:
• Nominate Paula and Bryan Fox as our new newsletter editors, which was unanimously approved. (Congratulations, Paula and Bryan!)
• Approve FSR’s Car Club Council membership fee ($30), which was also unanimously approved.
That’s probably enough for this edition, so I’ll let you get back to getting your Porsche out of hibernation!
New Members October, November, December 2024, January and February 2025
Welcome to our New Members since the Winter 2024 Horizontally Opposed. 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
Karl Kuschner
David Pieroni
David Pelletier
Mark Pachucki
October 2024
November 2024
2022 Panamera E-Hybrid
2015 Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Allen 2021 911 Carrera
2013 Boxster S
Andy Musselwhite TI Hartsville SC 2016 Cayenne
Robert Tabor
James Samonte
Michael Torrance
Adi Jakupovic
Charles Williams
Michael Lenz
Victor Brown
Tom Oast
Scott Heishman
John Madson
Brian Hartman
Anthony Narkawicz
William Harrison
Joe Landi
John Anderson
Joshua Dahl
Zachary Campbell
Sam Cappellanti
Stuart Robertson
Richard Donaldson
Jodi Dunkel
Joseph Grauer
Justin Faraco
Raymond Hawthorne
Patrick Hennis
Mark Walthew
John Suddith
Steve Marcom
John Estep
Norbert O’Donnell TI Arizona
Brady Behrman
Brennan O’Conner
Sean Dugan
John Butler Jr TI Allegheny
Mark Price
Branch 1983 911 SC
Beach 2013 Boxster S
2002 911 Carrera
718 Cayman GT4 RS
911 Targa 4 GTS
Boxster GTS
Boxster S
911 Carrera 4S
2017 Macan
911 Carrera
December2024
January 2025
911 Carrera S
Carrera
911 Carrera 4S
911 Carrera 4S
Cayenne S
911 Carrera 4 Cab
911 Carrera 4S Cab
2024 Cayenne
2018 Macan S
911 Carrera Cab
News 2012 911 Turbo Cab
2016 911 Carrera
Boxster
911 Carrera Cab
911 Turbo S
February 2025
Cayman
Cayman
911 GT3
718 Cayman GTS
911 Carrera S
2023 911 S
2025 911 Carrera
55 Years
45 Years
40 Years
35 Years
30 Years
25 Years
20 Years
15 Years
10 Years
5 Years
Member Anniversary Milestones for the First Quarter 2025
Ken Thomas, Membership Chair
Congratulations to all our members who celebrate membership milestones in the first quarter of 2025. Thank you for your loyalty to the Porsche brand, the 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. Our monthly breakfasts are very popular also. Hope to see you at an event soon.
Mark Leuzinger
Brian Haggard
Craig Mayer
John Holland
Clayton Wilson
Harvey Fielding
Gregory Elstun
David Cottrell
Thomas Jarrett
Scott Enoch
Eugene Winston
Greg Kubu
Dennis Hickey
Gary Davis
Earlglen Bowser
William Stroud
Michael Giedt
Sam Wiggins
Gary Schepker
John Schiffer
Daniel Tuszynski
Bruce Campbell
Clinton Shuler
John Schwaebler
Ian Asplundh
Kristin Ryberg
Steve Stancliff
Renny Stocum
Ron Mason
Giancarlo Pierantoni
Christopher Hayes
Brad Jublou
Mark Douglas
Simon Shearer
William Timmerman
Lyndon Cooper
Nathan Williams
Neal Klar
Russell Vogt
Tomm Bobbitt
Carlton Boisseau
Paul Butler
Greg Zoghby
Bruce Robinson
Robert Mcdonough
Melinda Cagle
Rudolph White
Dominic Romanov Duane Motley
Michael Haynes
Karl Schmidt
Rodney Wilson
FSR Membership Nuggets
Listed below are some FSR Membership news, tips and reminders.
•FSR ended 2024 with a record 884 primary members and total membership of 1,342
•PCA Juniors Membership grew to 54 members
•Is your PCA profile up to date? Do you have a new home address, email or phone number?
•Sign up for a digital PCA membership card. Download it to your smart phone.
Arthur Dail
Cedric Wiggins
Jack McAfee Jr
• The number one source across PCA for new member recruitment and referrals is current members. Recruit a member this year. Bring a member to an event. One of our monthly Breakfasts is a great option.
• FSR continues to produce a wide range quality events. Attend an event in 2025 and increase the enjoyment of your membership.
• An underestimated membership benefit is seeing the development of friendships among members.
• PCA and FSR believe that all Porsches are equal. Regardless of the vintage, model or condition, you are always welcome at our events.
• Remember that when you achieve a membership anniversary milestone, you can contact PCA and request the designated award for your years of membership.
On
the cover:
From the photographer, Mike Ball :
“Interesting story about this series of photos. The evening practice was scheduled for 6:30pm. I was setting up at the end of the infield straight to get the glowing rotors shots. At about 6 pm, I heard cars on the banking and went to see what was happening. Turned out Porsche and Acura were shooting promotional videos. There is a video team in a car in front of the cars with a light to illuminate the cars. I think this series of photos is the best I have ever taken at any track event.” Welldone Ser, very well done.
Editor’s Corner
Bryan
& Paula Fox
This edition of Horizontally Opposed marks a changing of the guard. After 2 years of faithful service, Brad has passed the baton as editor. His work should be celebrated as one of the premier PCA regional publications. Paula and I have agreed to take on this project to carry on the legacy that Brad and those who preceded him have generated. For the most part, print versions of newsletters have fallen out of favor in this digital age. Despite that, the constituents of FSR made it clear that they desired to have a print version of Horizontally Opposed available for their perusal. I get that. I cannot imagine my desk being complete without the current copy of Horizontally Opposed right next to the most recent editions of Panorama, Excellence and Christophorus. Paula and I are here to carry that torch forward. As such, this publication will continue to rely heavily upon contribution from the village that is FSR. This is where the membership comes into play! Our focus will be on input and content creation from members involved in FSR or other PCA activities. Specific things that we would like to hear about and potentially publish would include:
• Any FSR PCA event that you attend. Local events with FSR are obviously great for us to provide a recap and publish photos of the event. You may be approached at a local fun run and asked to provide your insight and experience. Do not shy away from that opportunity, make it your own!
• A PCA event with another region or nationally. We would love to hear about experiences with neighboring PCA groups/regions. See Mark Huegel’s article in the Winter 2024 edition about Treffen at Sea.
• A non-PCA event that is Porsche related. “Porsche Experience” events, new or used car purchase experience, track events hosted by non-PCA organizations, private tours catering to sports cars. Many of our members participate in these types of events, many do not even know that they exist and would love to hear about them. Share your experience with us.
• Other motorsport related events/activities. See the excellent article in this edition from Mike and Erik about the 24 Hours of Daytona. Is anyone headed to Vegas in November for the F1 race? Sim Racing anyone??
• Technical articles. We will try to provide regular technical articles, but members may have specific upgrades or technical topics that they wish to highlight. See Kirk Hibbert’s outstanding article in the winter 2024 edition about Apple car play. Great article, but he may have single-handedly pushed most PCM 3.1 owners into a $599 expense. Have you made an upgrade or modification that you find useful? Let the rest of us know about it.
• Member profiles. It has been a longstanding feature in Horizontally Opposed for us to profile a member, in recognition of the unique and oftentimes colorful nature of our members. If asked to contribute to this feature, please consider the request as a compliment and provide the readership with the best summary of your life as it pertains to Porsche and beyond. And as many photos as possible!
• Photos. Photos. Photos. We are currently working to develop a central repository for photos. More to come on that later. For now, if you have a photo of an FSR PCA event (or other cool Porsche stuff) that you want to share, please forward it to me. At most local events, we have multiple people taking photos, but we only havea few source from which we can routinely pull photos for publication. Send your photo and maybe it will make the next cover of Horizontally Opposed!
.
• Remember, PCA is a volunteer organization. No one gets paid to do this. We need your assistance to continue with high-quality event planning, execution and memorializing of our events
oLetters to the editor - Have a question or concern that the Board of Directors may be able to answer? A technical question that you want to pose to the readership? Send us a letter and we will try to answer it or get it out there to those who might be able to.
oTips and tricks – Do you have a short description of something that you have discovered that helps with functionality of your Porsche? Let us know so we can distribute it to the masses.
In this issue you will notice a significant proportion of the publication dedicated to the 24 Hours of Daytona. We had several members attend the event who provided high-quality photos and written summaries of their experiences, I felt compelled to include as much as possible. And besides, Porsche won. Alot.
Bryan&Paula
Activities Update
by Keith Stone
The launch of 2025 activities started with a terrific event at Williamsburg Winery. We have a great mix of events planned (and more still in the works) that will appeal to many interests. The first couple months are typically light for fun-runs, but other events help fill in those cold months. We look forward to bring FSR some of the best Porsche region events so stay tuned for the latest on FSR app, Facebook, and website ( fsrpca.org ).
Metro Meets event had the first monthly meeting in Fredericksburg and even with the inclement weather had a nice turnout. The event, hosted by Steve Marcom will connect members in the upper region of the community
Monthly Events
Pops Diner
Joe’s Inn
Chesapeake Every 2nd Saturday
Chesterfield County Every 2nd Saturday
Metro Meets Fredericksburg Every 2nd Saturday
Rennsport Rendezvous Harborview Last Saturday of Month
Track HPDE VIR Apr 26-28, Oct 11-12
Fun Runs
Porsche Pop-Up
Multi-Region Event Marion, VA May 8-11
Where to Wheel off Road Event Suffolk June 7 or 8
Smithfield Round Trip Smithfield Apr-25
Back of the Dragon Wytheville or Marion VA Aug 22-25
Perimiter Run Northern Neck May-25
Dominion Raceway Woodford, VA Mar-25
More to be announced
Volunteer Air Auto Virginia Beach October 11 - Rain Date 18th Turkeys in the Trunk Virginia Beach Nov-25
Tech Sessions Fun Run Workshop Mar-25
Outside Events
Tech Tactics East 2025
Registration
Tech Tactics East 2025 Werks Reunion Easton, PA Porsche Training Center Amelia Is, FL Mar-25
Spring Treffen Homestead at Hot Springs, VA April 30 - May 4
Fall Treffen Jackson Hole October 5-9
Treffen At Sea NYC Aug 30 - Sep 6
PCA 70th Anniversary Sep-25
GT World Challenge VIR Jul 18-20
Porsche Parade Oklahome City, OK Jul 6-12
Hurricane Region Visit: ariners Museum and Military Aviation Museum Mar 22-23
Williamsburg British and Import Car Show Williamsburg Premium Outlets May-25
The Roar Before the 24 and The Rolex 24 at Daytona
A Primer by Mike Ball and In Depth Review by Erik Apotheker
Wanna Go??
All You Need to Know Before You Go
By Mike Ball
The holiday decorations have been taken down and stored away for another year. FSR members face the yawning chasm from January until the spring driving season arrives. What to do?
The obvious answer, in the words of the Deltas, “Road Trip!” Destination Daytona Beach for the Roar and the Rolex 24!
There are many factors to consider in planning your trip, the first is the weather in northern Florida in JANUARY! The capital letters say it all. Dress for January. If you get a few days with high temperatures in the 70s, that is a pleasant surprise. Most of the time the temperature will be significantly lower, and the wind will be blowing. Dress like you would for a night ballgame in March in Richmond. If you drive to Florida, don’t forget you may need to deal with a snowstorm when you depart or when you return.
Stay in Daytona Beach if you can. Traffic is not usually an issue.
The Roar Before the 24 is the weekend before the Rolex 24. If you buy a four-day ticket to the Rolex 24, you will receive a complimentary ticket to the Roar. This represents a great opportunity to get into the infield and parking is available in many locations in the infield. This allows you to bring in many items (i.e. heavy camera gear) that may be too heavy to carry all day during the RolexThe shuttles do not run during the Roar, but you can drive from place to place in the infield. The best way to get into the infield is to enter at Gate 40. Take a right off W. International Speedway Blvd at S. Williamson Blvd.
Be sure to bring food and drinks with you when attending the Roar The Fan Zone may be open but very few food vendors will be open. A very important point to remember, the main grandstands are closed during the Roar.
During the Roar, there are practice rounds for all the classes that will run in the Rolex 24. The practice rounds run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday There is one evening run for the IMSA cars on Saturday during the Roar
Saturday evening IMSA practice gives some fabulous photo opportunities in the braking zone!
Photo by Mike Ball
The Rolex 24 is a four-day event. There are practice runs for all classes on Thursday. On Friday, there may be IMSA practice and there is a support race in the afternoon. The Rolex 24 starts at 1:40 PM on Saturday.
You can get into the garages during all four days of the Rolex 24. On Saturday, before the start, you can join a mass of fans during the pit lane walk and sign the start finish line.
During the four days of the Rolex 24, there is a display of IMSA cars from the past in the Fan Zone. There are shuttles to help you get around the infield and the main grandstands are open.
PCA hosts a Porscheplatz in the infield on Saturday and Sunday. It is free to PCA members. They host expert talks on Saturday, and you can sit in the tent and watch the race broadcast during the race. There is parking for PCA members in the Porscheplatz but you will not be able to get in because the local Florida members will have obtained all the limited parking slots.
The Rolex 24 is a fantastic event. You have literally all day to take it in from many perspectives. Among my favorites are watching the cars come off the banking and entering the infield from the lowest grandstand level, especially at night, the banking in NASCAR turns 3-4 from the camping grounds in the late afternoon and evening, the banking in NASCAR 1-2 in the morning, the glowing brakes at the end of the infield straight and don’t forget to get a view from the top of the grandstands.
A little appreciated plus during race week is dining in Daytona Beach. We usually eat at the bar, and you are likely to be sitting next to race fans who are universally happy to talk with you. Last year, Michael Andretti and Wayne Taylor were standing behind us and most willing to talk. This year, an owner of a Porsche dealership in NY explained to us that the 996 and later 911 all have dual mass flywheels to help balance the flat six engine vibrations, by extension this is why the 911 S/T costs so much. The tolerance to which the engine must be constructed to allow for the lightweight flywheel does not come cheaply
Make your plans for 2026!
...And Now a Deeper Dive into the Rolex 24
by Erik Apotheker
It’s incredible to see how much the Daytona 24 Hours has evolved into a massive international spectacle. The Daytona 24 is no stranger to growing international driver, sponsor and team entries. The fact that this year saw drivers from over 30 countries (24% from the USA) adds a global dimension to the race, and the strict car limit of 61 really highlights how the race is becoming more elite and competitive.
Long gone are the days of local PCA Floridians that would race for a handful of hours, retreat to the garage to work on the car and a trackside barbecue and then rejoin the race until the late night. They would return late morning for more fun. The privateer undercurrent has given way to high-stakes business, with the cars pushing their limits for a 24 hour sprint race and strict rules of IMSA and the WEC.
Romain Grosjean of F1 fame took time away from Indycar testing to wheel the Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63 (the old WEC test car, now prepared by Riley Technolo-gies) around The Big House. Parts for the #63 were still in machining until 2PM on Friday then driven to the track in time for Saturday’s green flag.
Driven by then privateer Alex Job, Jack Refenning, Rusty Bond, Chris Craft & Buzz McCall.
Photo from the Apotheker Collection, circa 1991
Roman Grosjean getting ready for the start. Photo from the Apotheker Collection
The Mustang GT3s were definitely a force to be reckoned with at Daytona! It’s clear that Ford and Multimatic put a lot of work into building a car that would compete at the highest level—while also catering to Bronze level drivers was a smart move, especially given how pivotal they can be in endurance races.
The sub-7-minute lap at the Nürburgring added to the hype, showing that the car wasn’t just a contender on paper but was a serious piece of engineering. That M-Sport developed 5.4L Coyote engine paired with the X-Drive e-transaxle is a potent combination, and it’s impressive how well the new aero performed in the high-stakes environment of Daytona.
It’s not just about raw power and aerodynamics though. Those flawless pitstops and the team’s strategy played a huge role in securing that top result.
Porsche may be our favorite, but for many it’s clear the Mustang GT3 has proven itself as a serious contender. Guten Tag Stuttgart!
Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) return to the GTP ranks with the Acura ARX-06 was a remarkable comeback story, especially considering the challenges they faced. Losing an entire season of development and having to cope with tire technology shifts could have set them back significantly. But Mike Shank’s confidence and bold commitment to podium finishes made it clear that the team was prepared to rise to the occasion. Signing Scott Dixon, one of the most accomplished drivers in IndyCar, was a massive move that paid off.
Had it not been that Andretti Autosport was focusing on the Cadillac entry into Formula1 for 2026 and partner Wayne Taylor’s desire to reconnect with Cadillac for GTP racing, this opportunity may not have come about for MSR. The Acura ARX-06 is a fantastic car, and though it hadn’t been tested before the Roar, MSR showed that they were still a force to be reckoned with. Finishing just 1.3 seconds behind the lead Porsche is no small feat, especially considering the competitive field and all the unknowns they were working with.
The shift in Wayne Taylor’s direction to field cars under the Cadillac brand, coupled with Andretti’s F1 ambitions, made the IMSA GTP landscape even more fascinating. But in the end, MSR’s ability to adapt and come back strong, even after a hiatus, speaks volumes about their grit and determination. It also sets them up as serious competitors for the rest of the season.
The Rahal-Letterman Lanigan BMWs showed up with the kind of precision and professionalism you’d expect from such a well prepared team, but sometimes the combination of aggressive driving and the high pres-sure of endurance racing can lead to mistakes. Off course excursions, spins and general damage were costly and losing track time is always tough to overcome.
Still, the team didn’t let those setbacks deter them entirely. Fourth and seventh in class is nothing to be ashamed of, particularly given the circumstances. They put on a solid show in the latter stages of the race, showing their resilience
Photos from the Apotheker Collection
"Dixie" looking relaxed and ready
Hustlin' through the infield
Photos from the Apotheker Collection
and if RLL can dial back the aggressiveness just a touch, they could easily convert that solid pace into podium finishes in the future.
“Rexy,” the defending champion and crowd favorite, earned the crowd’s support with that relentless fight throughout the race. The battle between the BMW and Corvette, while thrilling for fans, but took its toll with Rexy requiring a lower valance replacement, limiting the results.
The Iron Dames’ campaign, “Women Driven by Dreams - Every Dream Matters,” was a brilliant move, bringing attention to the all-woman team while engaging the fans in a meaningful way. It’s always powerful when motorsports teams harness the ener-gy of their supporters, and the “Girl Pow-er” movement in full force at Daytona was a sight to behold. The idea of fans writing down their dreams on the car’s open pink squares and adding their personal touch created a unique connection between the team and the crowd.
However, it seems like the enthusiasm started to outpace even the team’s expectations! The mobs of fans crowding in to write their dreams—especially coming down from the banking having signed (promoted by the track) the start-finish line—might have added an unexpected level of chaos. It’s a fine line between fan involvement and keeping everything under control, and I can imagine the team’s concern over how it could affect the car.
Still, it was incredible to see such widespread support for the Iron Dames. Their merchandise selling out shows the immense demand for a team like that, representing both talent and empowerment. Thankfully I ordered Ellen a sweatshirt from Europe a few weeks earlier.
Photo from the Apotheker Collection
Photo from the Apotheker Collection
Here Ellen inks the start line along with ‘some friends’
The Dames showing their Iron
Rexy making her last scheduled stop
Photo from the Apotheker Collection
What a heartbreaking turn of events for Tower Motorsports. To fight through an early crash and then battle their way to a class lead of nearly 45 seconds, only to have a post-race technical inspection issue cause their downfall, must’ve been devastating for the team. The discovery of the worn skid block, and the explanation that it resulted from a damper failure affecting the rear chassis ride height, underscores how complex and unforgiving endurance racing rules can be.
Zak Brown (McLaren F1) and United Autosports USA inherited the victory, the win will surely feel like a bittersweet reward. It’s a victory (and a Rolex), but it’s one that came at the expense of another team’s misfortune, and I’m sure they’d prefer to earn it through their own performance.
In the end, Porsche would claim 1/3 of the podium steps and have started the season right where they left off last year.
Photo from the Apotheker Collection
Photo from Apotheker Collection, circa 1991
FSR Gives Back: Supporting Samaritan House in 2025
By Jerry Kent and Jenny Kay
The First Settlers Region (FSR) of the Porsche Club of America has always taken pride in giving back to our communities, whether through financial contributions, volunteer efforts, or the sponsorship of charity events. In 2025, we are honored to continue our partnership with Samaritan House, a Virginia Beach-based organization dedicated to providing safe emergency housing and support for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and homelessness.
A recent example of our commitment to philanthropy was the Air & Auto Classic Charity Car Show 12, one of FSR’s sponsored charity events. As a result of this successful event, I had the privilege, on behalf of FSR to present a donation check of $5,481.06 to Samaritan House. In response, Executive Director Robin Gauthier expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating:
“You (FSR) play a vital role in helping survivors of violence overcome trauma and abuse. Your gift is more than a financial transaction - it is a lifeline for those who rely on our services.”
Robin also shared some staggering statistics from 2024, illustrating the impact of Samaritan House’s work. With community support, they:
• Provided more than 18,000 meals to shelter and community clients
• Assisted 322 individuals in emergency shelter, including 136 children
• Offered housing and support to 45 survivors freed from human trafficking
Beyond their emergency housing, which consists of 12 scattered units throughout Virginia Beach, Samaritan House recently opened The Hallow, a new stand-alone facility specifically designed to house victims of human trafficking. Young women, in particular, remain highly vulnerable to trafficking, making this addition a critical resource in the fight against exploitation.
This year, FSR will continue to support Samaritan House through various initiatives, including our breakfast raffles, a summer donation drive for essential items, the upcoming Air & Auto Classic 13, and new pop-up fundraising events. These efforts will help provide crucial resources for individuals and families in crisis.
We encourage our members to get involved and make a difference. Whether through attending events, donating needed items, or spreading awareness, every contribution helps. To learn more about Samaritan House and how you can support their mission, visit samaritanhouseva.org.
FSR is proud to stand with Samaritan House, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to make a meaningful impact in 2025.
Well done, Samaritan House, and well done, FSR!
Pam and George Michaels dropping off FSR donations
Holiday Party
by Mandi Kahles
The 2025 FSR Holiday Party on January 11 at the Williamsburg Winery was a huge success! the Willliamsburg Winery with adjacent accommodations at Wedmore Place was the perfect choice for over 100 Porsche lovers to meet. At the cozy pre-dinner cocktail gathering in the library of the Wedmore, members had a chance to socialize before dinner. After moving to the event venue, hors d’oeuvres were served and guests had an opportunity to scope out theor favorite silent auctions items and door prizes. New FSR President, Rich Cao, started the event with enthusiasm by recognizing many long-time FST members and providing a sneak peek into upcoming clib events. The band for the night, Hot Cakes, with 40+ year FSR member Bobby Smith on bass, got the party started and kept it going all evening with their positive energy and great music. With a record-breaking number of FSR members in attendance, the dance floor was hopping all night long!
This holiday event will go down in history as one of the most enjoyable and memorable evenings with our FSR friends. Thanks to all who contributed and attended this special event!
Special thanks to all the following who contributed their time, effort and talents:
Silent Auction bidding wars added an extra level of excitement and fun to the evening. Disclaimer: No FSR members were harmed during the bidding wars! Proceeds from the Silent Auction were $1,055.00 and will benefit Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD).
Josie Grandfield - Holiday Event Chairperson
Phil Grandfield - Always working in the background!
Luana Hugel and Diane Liedman - Amazing flower arrangements
George and Pam Michaels - MotorsportsReg support, registration/door prizes, silent auction contributions (thanks Pam for stepping up to be the Official Announcer for the evening!)
Jenny Kay - Charity Chairperson - Silent Auction Assistant
Silent Auction Sponsors:
Checkered Flag Porsche - Jimmy Anderson, General Manager
LMN Motorsports
RaceWerks
Simple Details
Speed Doesn’t Kill... ...it’s the sudden deceleration that does.
by Pedro P. Bonilla GCR PCA
And that’s precisely why, first the seatbelts and then the airbags were introduced as safety features in automobiles. In general, most humans can just barely survive a sudden deceleration of 40G.
In a typical frontal crash at a speed of 60 mph, the driver and passengers can probably survive if they are using restraint systems such as safety belts and their car is equipped with airbags.
Part of the reason that the passengers can survive is also due to the car’s safety design. All modern cars, Porsches included, take into consideration when designing the vehicle, safety crush zones to further reduce the “sudden stop” of the passengers in a frontal crash.
By the act of the car’s crushing, the passengers are slowed down by 4 feet (that’s how much the car shrinks by the impact) and the airbags will slow down the passengers another 18 inches.
Federal Frontal-Impact Standards now call for a maximum of 60 Gs on the chest of the crash dummy, for 35 milliseconds.
To give you an idea of what 60 Gs is, it’s the equivalent of stopping from 30 mph in less than 1 foot. If the person involved in this sudden deceleration normally weighs 200 lb, during this sudden stop his body will weigh 12,000 lbs (6 tons) and his head, which normally weighs around 10 lbs will briefly weigh 600 lbs.
The first safety restraint system was the seat belt which was patented by Edward Claghorn in 1885. They were offered as optional equipment by Nash in 1949 and Ford in 1955, but it was Saab that first introduced them as standard equipment in 1958.
Because of the low usage of the by then standard seatbelts in the 70s, auto manufacturers decided to develop the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) also known as the Airbag.
In 1980, Mercedes-Benz introduced the airbag (witch they had patented in 1971) on their high-end S class.
In 1987 Porsche introduced the first automobile in the world to have as standard equipment driver and passenger airbags. That car was the 944 Turbo. The 944 and 944 S offered them as optional equipment that same year.
By 1998 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated as standard equipment dual frontal airbags.
Today, the technology has evolved to also include side impact airbags to further protect the vehicle’s occupants.
Because of the still low utilization of the safety belts by drivers and passengers in the US, airbags fitted in cars registered in the US have to trigger much more forcefully than airbags for the rest of the world. This created uneasiness by some and today many of our modern cars now use electronic controllers that can recognize if the safety belts are being used or not by the passengers and alter the airbag’s deployment parameters in accordance to further increase the passenger’s survivability in a crash.
According to the NHTSA, in 2009, in the US alone, 15,403 lives were saved by the use of Child Restraints, Seat Belts and Airbags.
Make sure your car’s SRS (Airbag) is working properly.
Check that the Airbag light first comes on when you turn the ignition, but then shuts off after the engine is running. If it stays on there is an issue with the system which should be checked. It it doesn’t light up at all, the bulb may be burnt. Have it checked as well.
So buckle up and Happy Porsche-ing, Pedro
*Images courtesy of Porsche. Safety Data courtesy of NHTSA
Parting Shot.....
During Porsche Travel Experience Croatia - About to Put Zagreb in the Rear View Mirror
Photo by Bryan Fox
