Summer 2025
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 Borowy westvp@fsrpca.org
Assistant Western Vice President
Cedric Wiggins asstvp-western@fsrpca.org
Tour Meister
Dave Wallce tourmeister@fsrpca.org
Secretary & Archivist
Carl Bess secretary@fsrpca.org
Social Media Coordinator
Roops Ramdon socialmedia@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
Northern Area Chair
Steve Marcom gps@fsrpca.org
Tech Chair
Jim Hamel hameljr@icloud.com
IN THIS ISSUE
From The President
Charity Update
News From the Secretary
Welcome New Members
Membership Anniversary Milestones
Editor’s Corner
HPDE
Activities Update
Frühlingsfest
FSR Gives Back
Reptile Run
Perimeter Run
Caring for Your Wheels
2025 Peanut Pursuit
Winning Ways, Porsche’s Continued Success in Endurance Racing
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, Bryan Fox, at editor@fsrpca.org for more information.
Greetings to everyone as we enter the summer season! I hope everyone was able to take advantage of some of the beautiful days of driving we had and hopefully made it out to some of our First Settlers Region (FSR) events. I can’t thank the FSR Board of Directors (BoD) and volunteers enough for all their tireless efforts in putting together some fantastic socials, track events, fun runs, tech sessions, and charity events over the last few months. Our goal has been to fill up the calendar with events that appeal to all our members, and I think we have been very successful at that thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors.
I’m also proud to report that we saw increased attendance at our events from neighboring PCA regions such as Shenandoah, Hurricane, Carolinas, Blue Ridge, Wilderness Trail, and Potomac Regions! As a matter of fact, for PCA’s 70th Anniversary Weekend in September, FSR and Shenandoah Regions will be co-hosting an Auto Cross event at Richmond International Raceway on 13 September, and the Richmond Porsche Meet (RPM) on 14 September. This year’s RPM will take place at Dover Hall in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia and will consist of a full concours, catered lunch, and end-of-day Fun Run so please keep your calendars open!
We are also still working to bring you all some new events such as “Porsche-appropriate” off-road trail event. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the previously scheduled event in June due to the extremely technical trails being offered, but we are actively looking for venues that offer a fun off-road experience without the risk of damage to our vehicles. Thanks to John Whitmarsh for all the work trying to put this all together. Other events that we are still considering are PCA Juniors events that focus on Street Survival for teens, as well as other events that appeal to kids of all ages such as RC and slot car racing. And of course, we would love to start an FSR Auto Cross program in the future, so we’ll be working on that as well.
If any of our FSR members would like to help us organize and plan these or any other events, or have ideas for new events, please feel free to send me a note. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Porsche-filled summer! I’m looking forward to seeing you all!
Prost!
RichNew Porsche 911 Club Coupe celebrates 70 Years of PCA — 70 cars for 70 members
The Porsche Club of America is proud to announce the third 911 Club Coupe, a collaboration with Porsche AG to celebrate our club’s 70th anniversary. As with the 50th and 60th anniversary Club Coupes, this Club Coupe contains many unique features that one cannot not find on other Porsches. 70 units will be produced and exclusively offered for sale to PCA members through a raffle system.
Stay tuned to PCA.org for more information and updates on this incredible opportunity for PCA members. Consider expressing your interest to become a PCA70 911 Club Coupe owner when the raffle opens July 11.
More about the Club Coupe at pca.org/news/pca70-club-coupe
Your Generosity in Action
Charity Committee Update,
By Jenny Kay, FSR Charity Chair
The First Settlers Region’s Charity Committee has had a fantastic start to the year, and we’re excited to share a few updates—and celebrate a few people—who are making a big impact behind the scenes.
First, we’re thrilled to welcome Kindall Maddox and Wanda Drees to the Charity Committee! Both ladies bring fresh energy and a passion for giving back, and we’re so glad to have them on the committee. At the same time, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Michele Curtis, who will be relocating to South Carolina. Michele has been a dedicated member of the committee for the past few years, and her warmth, creativity and leadership will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in her new adventure!
• Williamsburg Winery Holiday Party: This event’s silent auction raised $1,055 for Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD). It was an evening of wine, camaraderie and charity, and everyone had a fantastic time - thank you, Josie Grandfield for organizing this event!
• Porsche-Themed Trivia Game Show Night: Hosted at the Family Fun Xperience Theatre, this high-energy evening combined fun, laughs and friendly competition, raising $1,310 for Samaritan House.
• PCA’s Club Races / FSR Charity Laps: Held at VIR; raised $680 for God’s Sharehouse in Danville, VA – thank you, Josie, for coordinating this initiative!
• April’s HPDE Charity Laps: Held at VIR; raised $570 for Vet Dogs – thank you Lee Eason, Kira Mellups and Adam Whilhite for overseeing these charity efforts!
• FSR Breakfast Charity Raffles: Chesapeake, Richmond and Williamsburg club members have raised over $1,800 for charity as of May!!
• Volunteer Hours: Charity Committee members have gone above and beyond representing FSR through service, including the Women United Stone Soup event and two Roc Solid Foundation events. We will be sharing more volunteer opportunities with all club members in the future.
Join Us!
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for more fundraising fun—and we need your help! We’re currently collecting raffle items for our upcoming events, especially the Air & Auto Classic Charity Car Show, which will benefit CHKD, Horizons Hampton Roads and Samaritan House.
We are also excited for the return of Turkeys in the Trunk to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern VA and Richmond’s Feed More. This year’s after party will be generously hosted at the home George and Pam Michaels. With club funds tighter than in years past, we will be getting creative with our planning and will need club members to chip in and help make this year’s celebration fun!
Thank you to all our members who continue to show up and give generously. Together, let’s make a difference in our community!
FSR members trivia game show event
The Costons and Grandfields at FFX Theater
News from the Secretary
Carl Bess
Hopefully, you have this issue of Horizontally Opposed in one hand and a beverage of your choice in the other while taking break from the din of the pressure washer and pHbalanced foam assault on your favorite Sportwagen or Sport-utility-Fahrzeug. So, sit back and enjoy. I promise to make this as brief as possible.
Your Board of Directors (BOD) has certainly established its stride with monthly meetings and below are just a few brief highlights from the February, March, April, and May meetings. You can find more in-depth information on some of these items throughout this issue by other contributing BOD members.
• The Spring HPDE was successful as well as profitable, beating last year ’s attendance and gaining new instructors.
• FSR has about $179k in the bank, as of the May BOD meeting.
• Several successful fun-runs and events as of this printing with plenty more in the hopper. Keep your eyes on FSR social media so you don’t miss any!
• Two new committee members have joined the FSR Charity team.
• FSR continues to grow in primary members… 911 strong (no kidding!) as I write this. In addition, two Board actions took place during the February meeting:
• Approved the April Frühlingsfest at Gauthier Winery… awesome event!
• Approved a joint event with the Shenandoah region at Dover Hall for the 70th anniversary weekend on 13-14 September … and two from the May meeting:
• Approved the 2025 FSR Budget.
• Approved Ed Merry’s proposal for an August Fun Run.
That should do it for now. As mentioned earlier, the BOD now meets on the second Tuesday of each month instead of bi-monthly and will continue via Zoom unless an opportunity opens for in-person meetings. 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.
As always, thanks to Rich and to all who volunteer for your Board and FSR events. Now, back to that pressure washer!
New Members
March, April, May 2025
Welcome to our New Members since the Spring 2025 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.
Stephen Schwedhelm
Anthony Sayre
Dean Chatfield
Victor Ubri
Craig Williams TI Nord Stern
Peter Sharpe
Paul Prideaux
Charles Hocking TI North Country
Dan Nester
Thomas Blechinger
Gary Adams
Charles Nimmo
James Atkinson
Mark Olson
Chris Davis
March 2025
Williamsburg 2002 911 Carrera
Virginia Beach 2015 911 GT3
Chesapeake PCA Test Drive
Virginia Beach 1989 944 Turbo
Midlothian 2007 Cayman
Norfolk 2013 Boxster S
Henrico 1969 911S
Williamsburg 1989 911 Carrera
Chesterfield 2006 911 Carrera Cab
Virginia Beach 2018 911 Carrera
Mechanicsville 1985 911
Williamsburg 2014 911 50th Anniv
Hampton 2003 911 Carrera S
Norfolk 2015 911 Carrera S
Powhatan PCA Test Drive
Chris Gill Gum Spring 2021 911 Carrera S
Terrence Dunbar
Cecile Graziano
Niko Vahamaki
Ethan Bittinger
Robert Horn TI Chicago
Shea Bonanno
Raul Sauceda
Brandon Cummins
Khiem Tran
Anthony Smith
Gerald Kanner
Pete Pappas
Yorktown 2007 Cayman S
Staunton 2021 Macan
Norfolk 2019 911 Carrera T
Hampton 2016 Cayenne S
April 2025
Williamsburg 1998 911 Carrera S
Virginia Beach Associate Member
Toano 2021 718 Cayman T
Chesapeake 1999 911 Carrera
Chesterfield 1981 911 Turbo
Richmond 2014 Panamera 4
Mechanicsville 2008 Cayman S
Newport News 1968 912
Mark Goodermuth Richmond 2013 Boxster
Edward Allen
Chris Christian
Clinton Kemp
Paul Grizzell
Mark Weber
Daniel Campbell
Michael Park
Rich Grant
Hampton 2005 Boxster
Chesterfield 2008 911 Carrera S
Norfolk 2024 911 Turbo S
Virginia Beach 1967 912
North Chesterfield 2002 Boxster
Clarksville 2013 911 4S Carrera Cab
Midlothian 2022 Macan
Richmond 2018 718 Cayman S
Jarrold Fowler
Tyrone Jarvis
Petri Ottavainen
Jimmy Anderson
Bruce Cushing TI Potomac
Ashish Wagh TI N New Jersey
Vincent Norris
Brian Flanagan TI San Diego
Brian Alexander
Michael Turkenkopf
David Licciardello
Arthur Gilbert
David Zijerdi
Javier Amadeo
Sotirios Petrou
May 2025
Norfolk 2019 718 Cayman
Toano 2013 911 Carrera
Glen Allen
2016 911 Targa 4 GTS
Virginia Beach 2024 911 Targa 4S
Spotsylvania 1982 911 SC
2016 Cayman GT4
Williamsburg 1996 Carrera 4S
Norfolk 2003 911 Turbo
Mechanicsville 2008 Cayman
Virginia Beach PCA Test Drive
Spotsylvania 2016 911 Carrera S Cab
Burgess 2000 911 Carrera
Fredericksburg 1988 911 Turbo Cab
Yorktown 2019 911 Turbo
Henrico 2024 718 Cayman
Member Anniversary Milestones for the First Quarter 2025
Ken Thomas, Membership Chair
Congratulations to all our members who celebrate membership milestones in the second 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.
20 Years
Donald Marcopulos Phil Granfield
Anil Ladde 15 Years
Trevor Fischbach
Robert Horn
10 Years
5 Years
Carlton Harris
Curtis Williams
David Wray
Andy Musselwhite
Patrick Kenny
Richard Lantz
Vhris Konstantinos
David Frost
Michael Haag
Mary Ommundsen Robert Higgins
Jason Horner L. Robison
Paul Sojka
Carolyn Gillam
Donald Hughes
Rafael Imler Summer Bell
Editor’s Corner
Paula & Bryan Fox
On the Cover:
At Abingdon Vineyards, the juxtaposition of an old vineyard barn, a 718 Cayman, and the word “Love” seemed too good to pass up as a cover shot.
Photo by Bryan Fox
Looking at the last few months in review, it would be reasonable to call this season “Porsche Driving Season!” As you will note, this edition of Horizontally Opposed is very heavy on driving related events. As is customary, we had our annual spring HPDE event, but this year it was highlighted by the addition of the National Instructor Training Course. We also had social events and multiple fun runs, both local and distant. Those will be highlighted in the pages that follow.
We would like to take our position on this soap box to encourage all members to consider volunteering for these events. Opportunities exist to lend your services in a variety of fashions:
• Is the social scene your thing? We have multiple social events throughout the year. Consider lending your expertise to the planning and execution of these widely attended events. Recently, the Frühlingsfest was a resounding success in its first iteration. The next iteration could be even better with your help.
• Do you enjoy the racetrack environment? Consider volunteering for the next HPDE event or Club Race.
• Have you recently enjoyed a new venue (car related, winery, brewery etc.) that your fellow FSR members may enjoy as well? Consider planning a popup dinner or other social event there.
• What about an epic driving experience? Why not plan a fun run? Involve another region if desired. FSR members have proven their willingness to travel for a good drive. Almost all our fun runs have been borne from the desire of 1 or more of our members to expose the rest of the membership to some of their favorite roads. From our own experience, the planning process can be very rewarding and a lot of fun!
• Remember, PCA is not about the cars, it is about the people! Involvement of more members benefits all members!
You do not have to do it on your own! The club has an Activities Director, Tour Meister, Registrar, GPS guru etc. who are willing to lend their expertise to make a quality event. If you have a desire to get involved in planning any event, feel free to contact any of the above members or your humble editors, we can steer you in the right direction.
Paula& Bryan
Reptile Run coordinators TJ Friedmann and Paula Fox
April HPDE and National Instructor Training Event
by Kira Mellups
This past April, 22 excited men and women gathered at the FSR High Performance Driver’s Education (HPDE) at Virginia International Raceway for PCA National Instructor Training run by PCA National Trainer Ellen Beck. Candidates registered and were selected based on recommendation from a Chief Track Instructor, a history of safe driving, sufficient solo experience, and an interview with our Chief Track Instructors. Important skills considered aside from being great drivers are: great communication, a passion for teaching, and a soupçon of patience and nerve. By the end of Friday we had 19 new PCA National Instructors!
It has been 11 years since FSR has sponsored this training and it was a wonderful opportunity to bolster our instructor numbers and bring in some fresh blood as new folks join in and find their passion for high performance driving. The instructor candidates were mentored by many of our current instructor corps, who had the chance to drive like a new driver for the day while helping the candidates learn the skills needed to be successful. Mentors expressed their passion for helping along new instructors, assuring that there is consistency in training and expectations, and “having fun playing a role and being a little goofy.”
Instructor Candidates spent Friday split between classroom instruction and teaching skills to their mentors on track. Classroom included learning the progression of a “never-ever” track driver to a driver that has been on track several days and is refining their skills. Instruction included the initial interview with drivers, the importance of certain skills and safety at each level and troubleshooting difficulties that they may encounter as instructors. It was a long and difficult day, with few breaks from training.
There were definitely skills that required more patience and creativity than others. Some IC’s noted that their mentor student was making the same mistakes repeatedly and they had to figure out a new way to communicate a skill. Others struggled with encouraging very timid drivers and the opposite, “cooling off” a very aggressive driver. Ken Dalton notes: “My one-word description for the training was ‘intense.’ What a long day, but such a great program that was well thought out. PCA National and the FSR team did an amazing job of keeping us going.”
Soon-to-be newly minted instructors and their mentors enjoy lunch in the briefing room
A Cayman battle brewing in turn 3, the NASCAR Bend
Instructor candidates were polled about their reasons for wanting to be an instructor, and the responses were as diverse as the group was. I knew that I wanted to be an instructor from the first weekend I drove on the track because I want more women involved at all levels. I love teaching and have coached several sports, including alpine ski racing and roller derby. It seemed like a natural fit for me to be an IC. Others noted that they benefitted from excellent instructing themselves and wanted to give back, they were looking forward to being a part of the tradition of instructing, and that they look forward to helping others on their journey
Phil Smith says that he had been an HPDE driver for many years and then moved towards endurance racing but found it difficult to maintain a team over the years. “I finally decided that it was time to move back to PCA, this time putting my experience with performance driving and endurance racing to use in becoming an Instructor. The DE leadership at First Settlers Region really helped to make that happen. The national instructors program at VIR in April was extremely helpful, and led me to having my first experience in the right seat with a novice student in the Green run group. Thankfully, he had a well prepped 981 Cayman and a good measure of natural talent. By following the PCA instruction program, I was able to help the student progress through the weekend, toward being able to do his first solo drive. It was a lot of fun and also very rewarding to give something back to the Club.”
Erik Legg says: “HPDE education offers a unique situation where, in a few minutes, you establish a relationship, define roles and launch into a shared challenge. Objectives are set, critical knowledge is shared and the give-and-take between car, track, driver, and instructor begins. All of this at speed - there is nothing else like it.”
Mentors and FSR Chief Track Instructors Jim Graham and Rob McMahon report that they love seeing people get hooked, helping drivers achieve goals they have been working towards, being ambassadors for the sport, giving back, and helping drivers be the best they can be. “Watching novice students progress from zero experience to the highest run groups and even successfully completing instructor training has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in Motorsports” says Rob. Both Jim and Rob noted the community aspect of HPDEs and also love helping drivers feel welcomed into the community
Congratulations to our newly-minted instructors! If you are ready to join the track community, or at least ready to ask some questions about HPDE driving, please reach out to us at deregistrar@fsrpca.org. Our next all-levels HPDE is October 10-11 at VIR.
The traditional Saturday Afternoon Social was enjoyed by all!
Activities Update
by Keith Stone
The Spring was full of Fun Runs and social events. Many more to come! Below is a list of currently scheduled upcoming events.
Keith
Monthly Events
Pops Diner
Joe’s Inn
Every 2nd Saturday
Every 2nd Saturday
Chesapeake
Chesterfield County
Metro Meets Every 2nd Saturday Fredericksburg
Rennsport Rendezvous Last Saturday of month Suffolk Track
SIM Racing
Autocross TBD
HPDE 11 - 12 Oct VIR
Virtual Car Racing TBD Home
Sim Seats (Roadtrip) TBD Richmond
Slot Car TBD Williamsburg
New Member Social Eastern: Greet new members TBD VA. Beach
Fun Runs
Porsche Pop-Up
Volunteer
Special Events
Western: Greet new members TBD
Run to the River Fun Run 17 Aug
New Kent Tour 26 Jul
Placeholder for Fun Run 18 Oct
Pups and Pints TBD
Chesterfield County
West Pt to Water View VA
Charles City VA
Virginia Beach
Air & Auto 11 Oct - Rain Date 18 Oct Virginia Beach
Boardwalk Porsche TBD Virginia Beach
Turkeys in the Trunk 25 Nov Virginia Beach
Summer BBQ (new members) 6 Sep Chesapeake
Riverstone Chophouse Wine TBD Suffolk - Harborview
Porsche Tractor TBD Stafford County
Cooking Class TBD
Holiday Party TBD Williamsburg Winery
DC Auto TBD
Rocky Mount NC
Halloween 31 Oct Fredericksburg
Bavarian Chef Fun Run Oct 4
Boardwalk Reunion Oct 18
Porsche Virignia Beach Grand Opening TBD/Fall 2025
Outside Events Fall Treffen 5 - 9 Oct
Ocean City, NJ
Jackson Hole
Treffen At Sea 30 Aug - 6 Sep NYC
PCA 70th Anniversary 13 Sep
GT World Challenge 18 - 20 Jul VIR
Porsche Parade 6 - 12 Jul
Oklahoma City OK
Shenandoah RPM 13 - 14 Sep Richmond - Liberty Golf Course
FSR Frühlingsfest
by Bill Lawrence Photos by Bryan Fox
Often described as “Folksfest’s Little Sister”, Frühlingsfest marks the end of winter and the beginning of springtime, embracing the warmer weather and festive atmosphere. It’s a two-week festival held in Stuttgart, Germany, typically taking place in late April and early May. On April 5, FSR held its own version at Gauthier Vineyards…
Spring sunshine spills over low rolling hills and vine-laced rows as the members of the PCA’s FSR converge on Gauthier Vineyards for the first annual spring social gathering, “Frühlingsfest”. Engines purr in perfect pitch, from sleek coupes and SUVs to lovingly maintained classics, each vehicle gleaming like a jewel beneath the Virginia sunlight. A soft breeze carries the spring warmth towards the grape vines, promising a day where horsepower and harvest entwine. Spirits are high, friends reconnect, newcomers are welcomed with handshakes and laughter, and every polished frunk becomes its own invitation to stories of road trips past and dreams of drives yet to come.
FSR Gives Back: Supporting Horizons Hampton Roads in 2025
By Ruth Apotheker and Jenny Kay
What is Horizons Hampton Roads?
Horizons is an award-winning academic enrichment program that provides long standing underserved students in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach with high-quality summer learning opportunities and year-round support. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to eliminate the achievement gap and provide a path toward success through a blend of academics, social-emotional development, and real-world experiences for student K through 8. The program supports students year-round, but the focus is the summertime when students may fall behind in their academics. We encourage members to learn more about this organization by visiting horizonshamptonroads.org
FSR’s Involvement
Over the past several years, Horizons has become a meaningful part of our club’s charitable outreach. Many of our members have met the students through the Air & Auto Classic Charity Car Show, where Horizons was featured as one of the benefiting organizations.
For the past two years, FSR members have gone even further by visiting one of Horizons’ summer campuses with their Porsches to give students a close-up look at their cars. The Porsche visits were very popular with all the students, no matter their age. The younger children enjoyed exploring a car they may not often have a chance to see. Some of the older children who were part of a photography class used the visit as an opportunity to study cars as a form of art.
We’ve also hosted a Career Night Dinner, where FSR members spoke to students about their personal journeys—offering real stories of perseverance, hard work, and different paths to success. The event was a huge success, students listened intently and even asked insightful questions.
What’s Ahead in 2025
Horizon Hampton Roads will again be one of the featured charities at the Air & Auto Classic—and we’re excited to expand our support with our June pop up charity event at Wasserhund Brewing Company in Virginia Beach, sponsored by GREAT SCOTT! Entertainment and Wasserhund Brewery. This event features music bingo with prizes, a 50/50 raffle and Wasserhund Brewery donating 25% of the night’s sales to Horizons!
Thank you, FSR members, for your continued support of our charity efforts. We are proud to be part of car club that drives change on and off the road!
Horizon Students Awards their 3rd Place Youth Prize to the Hibberts at Air & Auto
HHR staff and FSR members at Career Night
Reptile Run
By Roger Ball (Guest Contributor)
The May Reptile Run was so named due to the colorfully named routes that were incorporated into this Fun Run. Specifically, the Back of the Dragon and the Tennessee Snake were highlights of this 2-day event. The event was a collaboration between First Settlers Region and the Carolinas Region, with both regions having robust participation. The complex registration process was managed in his usual expert fashion by George Michaels. The planning portion of the event was challenged by multiple road closures brought on by hurricane Helene. Eventually, multiple routes were identified, and with the assistance of our “Ride with GPS” guru, Steve Marcom, they were converted into our club standard “Ride with GPS” format. We set up “Base Camp” at the General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion Virginia. From there, the routes included: An “all hands” drive on Friday that incorporated VA Rt.16 S. through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, then proceeding on to Tennessee Rt. 421, the Tennessee Snake. Ultimately, we ended up in Abingdon Vineyards where we enjoyed a catered lunch. Special thanks to Lora Calhoun, the vineyard’s general manager, who provided invaluable assistance in setting up the private lunch.
Saturday saw us break up into 2 groups, the group opting for a shorter drive proceeded northbound on the back of the Dragon and then eventually on to Burke’s Garden, a unique geological area. Lunch was provided there by Maddie’s Place. An optional trip to the Crab Orchard Museum and a variety of individualized routes back to the hotel were on tap for the afternoon.
For those opting for a longer drive, a northbound trip on the Back of the Dragon was followed by a vigorous ride to the Breaks Interstate Park for lunch. The return trip was via Virginia 80 southbound, also known as “The Widowmaker”.
Even though we broke up into multiple groups on Saturday, we all met at The Back of the Dragon Visitor Center for a brief period of socialization and photos. Many of us were quite concerned when we initially pulled into the venue, as there were 2 local police vehicles present with blue lights on full display. It turns out that the Tazewell Police Department was holding their annual charity motorcycle run in support of their charity, “Shop with a Hero” where they take underprivileged children out shopping during the holiday season. Many of our members took the opportunity to get a picture with some of their Local Heros as well as contribute to their cause. No tickets were issued!
Porsche Procession in Burke’s Garden!
Headed south on Back of the Dragon!
Arriving at the Back of the Dragon Visitor Center, we are greeted by a large group of motorcycle enthusiasts preparing to particpate in the Tazewell Police Department Charity run for their “Shop with Heroes” charity
The group is lined up outside of the General Francis Marion Hotel and ready to go!
Saturday evening was highlighted by dinner at the General Francis Hotel, in the Lincoln Ballroom, provided by the Swamp Fox Restaurant. Special thanks to Mark “Bull” Myers, the Swamp Fox manager, and Joe Ellis, the owner of the General Francis Marion Hotel. Both were immensely helpful and vital in the execution of this event.
Additional special thanks go to:
• Victor and TJ Friedmann, co-coordinators from the Carolinas Region
• Dave Wallace, Keith Stone, Roops Ramdon, Robert Dykes and Jim Sykes who served as lead and sweep drivers. Dave’s expertise and guidance as Tour Meister was also invaluable
• Phil Grandfield, who as Zone 2 rep, facilitated the National PCA subsidy for a multiregion event
In summary, the genesis of this exhilarating weekend was members from 2 different regions wanting to get to know more like-minded individuals in the PCA world and enjoy some mountain driving. Volunteerism is alive and well, and our club cannot survive without it. If you have an idea that you want to turn into an FSR event, reach out and make it happen!
Members from FSR and Carolina group warming up for Saturday night dinner
Enjoying some of Abingdon Vineyard’s finest!
Perimeter Run IV
by Steve Marcom
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 25th, The Perimeter Run IV was finally ready to provide us many smiles per miles. Quite a bit of planning goes into these events. Not only do you need some great roads, you also need a destination that can accommodate a large number of people and provide plenty of safe parking for our Porsches. I get recommendations sometimes and it’s hard to find places that check enough boxes. I often tell folks, “It needs to be decent food, but even better parking”. Granted, sometimes the parking lot is across the road, but better than parking on the road.
Making it to event day is a bit of relief. Only a slight relief as there is still a focus to get all those guests to sign waivers, take photos, have a few quick chats, line up the groups and get on the road to make it safely to dinner on time. With the help of our member volunteers and especially the help of Dave and Nancy Wallace, it all worked out in the end. I should mention here, the more members who sign those waivers before the event, the quicker and easier it is to get the show on the road.
This year, we had PCA members from five regions and five states participate. Delaware, First Settlers, Potomac, Shenandoah, and Sonnenschein regions were in attendance. We had 72 cars and 118 members signed up for the event. From our best count, 61 cars and 103 guests attended our back roads bump stopping event to Hanover Tavern.
I live on the borders of three regions. I tend to see PCA as an open organization and members from all regions are friends and family to me. I’ve been a member of four regions. So, when I started The Perimeter Runs, the goal was to get as many folks as possible from any region to join us, out on The Perimeter. In case you wondered, the name has dual meanings, so it was a sign. Not only is the area near the perimeter of regions, one of the main roads in the route is named Perimeter Rd. I almost called it Run for the Border or the Border run, but I feared potential lawsuits from that place that sells tacos.
It all started when member Shawn Faherty and I met to go explore and hunt down the best back roads in the areas surrounding us. Soon we had Cedric, Roops, Vaughn, Keith, Phil, the Mikes and a few others including our now club president Rich, out joining us. We usually have two to three different regions’ members along for these test rides. These trips also led to the use of Ride with GPS to provide us with audible custom cues along the way. Shawn and I sampled many of the GPS software apps trying to find the best one to plan and run routes.
This year, Hanover Tavern’s Coach House provided us with a venue large enough to hold 150 guests. They went out of their way to accommodate my wishes to provide a custom menu instead of a prepaid buffet. The Tavern has been open for service since 1733 and even hosted George Washington. It has been an Inn, stagecoach stop, post office, dinner theater and multi event space. They also have a theater for you to consider at another time. Founded in 1953 at Hanover Tavern, the nationally recognized Barksdale Theatre is the oldest continuously operating dinner theatre in America.
Along the route I usually see a few different animals each time I drive it. I’ve seen deer, rabbits, foxes, turtles, groundhogs, squirrels, turkey buzzards, wild turkeys, hawks and eagles. This year I was joined up front by a Bald Eagle flying right next to my car over an open field. Right in front of the Bald Eagle were two more younger eagles, that weren’t bald yet. If you didn’t know, the younger eagles are brunettes until they turn white, and we call it “Bald.”
Thanks to all the people who helped make this possible. PCA runs on volunteers, so speak up if you think you’d like to find a way to help out. We look forward to next year and can’t wait to see everyone again, out on The Perimeter.
Hopefully by now everyone is using our Ride with GPS app. Our organizers work hard to gather as much info as we can to enter it into the app to provide quality audible cues and early warnings. To give you an idea, there were 190 cues for a 93-mile-long route this year. So, make sure you load that app on your phone and join up with our club account to have the best experience and hear early warnings on our club drives.
https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/10164-porsche-club-of-america-first-settlers-r
What People are Saying
“The perimeter run was an exciting and wellplanned route driven at a fun pace. I drove home with a childlike grin on my face wanting more! “ ~ Chris Gill
“The Perimeter Run was an extremely thoughtfully planned and exhilarating experience on an absolutely beautiful day!” ~ Jarvis Family
“There’s something magical about carving up back roads with a line of Porsches in your mirrors that just resets your soul. Group 3 felt like a rolling therapy session...if your therapist was an orchestra of flat-sixes conducting a symphony of RPMs.” ~ Roops - FSR
“Always a great route through the twisties.” ~ Dave Ogburn - Shenandoah -
“Was a lot of fun - my group seemed to enjoy the drive and were happy. The venue was very nice, food and drinks too.” ~ Mike Murphy - Shenandoah
“I think the annual Perimeter run has become one of the premier PCA events in Virginia. Twisty roads, spirited driving, and the unique brand of Porsche camaraderie make it an event not to miss! Started by First Settlers Region, this year we had participants from Shenandoah and Potomac regions as well. 60 cars and over 100 people participated. I fully expect it to continue to gain in popularity! “ ~ Phil Grathwol - Potomac -
I have participated in four Fun Runs over the last couple of years. The Perimeter Fun Run is planned and executed very well—top notch event!” ~ Mike Youngblood - FSR
“Take the time to learn your Porsche. The Perimeter Run really helps me learn my car’s capabilities on the rural twisties.” ~ Cedric and Patrice Wiggins - FSR
Mark Your Calendars!
Photos courtesy of Derek Arnold
Caring for Your Alloy Wheels: An Excerpt
The History and Manufacturing of Porsche’s Alloy Wheels
by Ken Thomas
The alloy wheels on your Porsche represent a significant investment and should be cared for accordingly by following a few simple steps:
• Know what finish the manufacturer applied to your wheels and choose the appropriate cleaning and preservation product for your finish. If in doubt, check manufacturer. Caution: Fuchs anodized with the wheels require special treatment; see your Owner ’s Manual.
• Never clean a hot wheel; let them cool first.
• Employ a wheel cleaner that is acid-free or pH-balanced. Caustic cleaners can etch the wheel. I prefer the newer color-changing wheel cleaners like Sonax’s Beast or Griot’s Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner
• Don’t use a stiff polyester brush to scrub your wheels unless you like scratches. Use only a soft brush or a microfiber cloth.
• Most recent Porsche wheels are either painted or clear-coated for protection. Once clean, they can be preserved with a ceramic sealant from any of the major car care product manufacturers.
• At least once a year, remove the wheels and do a thorough cleaning of the back-side and the barrels, and preserve with a ceramic product. This helps to minimize the accumulation of brake dust and reduce future cleaning effort.
• While the wheels are off the car, carefully examine them for any cracks or distortion. Repair or replace, if necessary.
The 2025 Peanut Pursuit: A Journey Through Virginia’s Scenic Roads
by Dana McKnight, photos by Rich Cao and Dana McKnight
On April 12th, 2025, FSR’s first fun run of the year, the Peanut Pursuit, brought together Porsche enthusiasts for an exhilarating 118-mile adventure through the picturesque farming country of southeastern Virginia. The event saw 37 cars and 59 participants gather at the Burger King Restaurant in Smithfield, VA, ready to embark on a day filled with twists, turns, and camaraderie.
The day began at 9:00 AM with check-in and a Participants Safety Briefing. By 10:00 AM, the convoy of cars started their journey, traversing back country roads through Isle of Wight County, Suffolk, Franklin, and Southampton County. The route offered outstanding views and thrilling drives, crossing the Suffolk lakes six times before heading south near the North Carolina border.
A highlight of the event was the mid-point break at Hubs Vine Restaurant and Store in Franklin, VA. Participants enjoyed a delicious meal and had the opportunity to purchase Hubs gourmet peanuts, renowned worldwide. The history of Hubs Peanuts added a nostalgic touch to the event, with Dot and HJ Hubbard’s legacy continuing through their daughter Lynne and her son, who now run the business and met the group at the restaurant.
After lunch, the journey continued northwest over more twisty roads, eventually leading back to Smithfield. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, praising the well-planned route, the excellent lunch stop, and the overall fun experience.
After the run was concluded, there is an impromptu post event “Debrief” at the Fiddlin Pig restaurant in Smithfield.
Organizers noted the efficiency of the check-in process, thanks to the online speed waiver from MotorsportReg, and suggested improvements for future events, such as emailing route packages prior to the event and noted that between two thirds and three quarters of the participants were using the RidewithGPS app for navigation. Participants suggested improvements included expanding the options for navigation aids to include the Porsche ROADS app as well as having a defined ending point and unofficial gathering location so folks can reminisce about the day’s adventure.
The following individuals contributed to the organization and execution of the fun run.
• Dana McKnight – event chair
• George Michaels – registrar
• Steve Marcom – RidewithGPS
• Dave Wallace – registration, waiver, event check in and group lead
• Cedric Wiggins – group lead
• Lisa Knust – group lead
• Bill and Tammy Smith – group lead
Peanut Pursuit car line up
The Hubs House
Fiddlin Pig
Post Run Festivities
Winning Ways
By Erik Apotheker
Despite several attempts, it has been about a decade since I was able to attend the 36 hours of Florida. Approaching fly away day my excitement built, and with memories of Daytona starting to fade, speculation of whether Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) could secure a second straight win in 2025 started to mount. By now you know that Penske has won 4 straight and had that streak broken in Detroit. For me, Sebring was going to be about a weekend in the sun, spending time with friends, photography (still learning my new lens) and sharing a few beers with “characters” in the Sebring Zoo (now somehow called Green Park – guess that what happens when they tame it down from the anything goes environment it used to be and turn it into a Police patrolled campground).
The press was all abuzz with many storylines about the US debut of an Aston Martin GTP car and speculation on whether Cadillacs effort would be distracted by recent Formula One news. I waded through it all as I conducted my pre-race prep. Two items that really caught my attention related to newer race rules and associated penalties. 1-Cars that bring out a red flag in qualifying will be sent to the back of the field. 2- Moving outside of your column on a race start before the starting line would result in a drive through pit penalty.
Traveling to Sebring I wondered if PPM could secure a season starting back-to-back victory and if it would take the precision that we saw at Daytona to get the job done. I had some hopes for the debut of Aston Martin despite recognizing the hurdles it takes to win, let alone on the abusive Sebring road surface. Mostly I wondered how BMW would fare. They are way overdue for LMP success in my opinion. I also wondered if paddock access might be limited given the looting the teams experienced at Daytona. Most importantly, I wondered if could figure out how to replicate some photo angles that eluded me last year. First world problems.
BMW has shown outright speed and pace but has not yet been able to convert it to a race win. Sporting a BMW North America 50th anniversary livery, Sheldon Van der Linde is capstured in the turn 7 hairpin as he circulates during the final stages of the race. The success of winning at Sebring (3.0 CSL driven by Brian redman) in its first season was not to be repeated half a century later.
ultimately fought their way up the order to regain the lead in the evening after overcoming difficult conditions and hot temperatures.
Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr was the star of the show, full stop. Nasr, who helped the team by leading nearly a third of the race (166 of 353 laps) summed up the race by saying “It was incredible to get the job done once again.’’ He also recognized his co drivers Laurens Vanthoor and Nick Tandy, the UK ace who is the 10th in history to achieve the so-called
Arriving at Sebring a bit later on Friday than I had planned, I made my way to the hairpin in time for a few laps of Mustang Challenge race 2 and in time for GTP qualifying. Less than 5 minutes into GTP qualifying and just about the time I had my camera lens warmed up, the Whelen Cadillac stopped in turn 3 with a mechanical failure. Bringing out the red flag relegated the car to the back of the field. IMSA was unable to restart the time bound session so Dries Vanthoor, brother of Laurens took pole position in the RLL BMW. Fast forward to Saturday.
A fierce battle broke out among the top GTP contenders as the race went green. After just minutes, Felipe Nasr swept to the front at the wheel of the No. 7 Porsche 963 when the race polewinning No. 24 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 was penalized for illegally changing lanes just before the green flag dropped. While the Brazilian and his teammates Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor relinquished the lead around an hour later, they
In the light of sunrise, Rexy makes his way through the paddock and past the swarms of press photographers to take his position on the grid. Here Rexy is seen sporting braces, a result of the mouth punch he took at Daytona
Lauren Vanthoor checks his mirrors on his run up to turn 3 as the shadows get long in central Florida. A few hours from now the top podium step would be owned byu the #7 Porsche 963 and Penske Motorsports
Triple Crown of endurance racing, scoring overall victories at Sebring and the 24-hour races in Le Mans and Daytona. For Nasr, the victory over the Sonny Whelen sponsored Cadillac must have been extra gratifying considering he left that team for Penske and Porsche over the winter months, saying he wanted to join a manufacturer “he could write his name in history with”. No doubt Nasr would like to also write his name on the Triple Crown list. And now he is one step closer. A victory this summer at circuit del la Sarthe would make Porsche the first car in history to win Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, all in the same calendar year. Could Nasr also achieve a Triple?
Since Sebring, Nasr continues to speak about the Penske team effort. One of the characteristics that he recognizes to be a success factor is the way the entire team compartmentalizes each event. He has gone on record to explain that the team certainly celebrates its success, but within days “closes out the win”. Nasr returned to Brazil to focus on fishing, guitar playing and cooking, something he and his girlfriend enjoy doing together. Tandy apparently returned to the UK to focus on his racing business and family. Each seems to recognize the benefits of unplugging from pro racing and how the discipline improves performance when they return to the track.
What he hasn’t spoken much about was the calculated discipline with which he navigated on track traffic at both Daytona and Sebring. Having cut his teeth in open wheel sports cars and having risen to become a Sauber F1 driver, he was not shy to try his hand in IMSA multi-class racing. I suspect that his 2022 efforts in GTD provided a true appreciation and lots of data on the differences between GTD and GTP performance. Understanding how to race and pass while being passed is a unique skillset. Doing it with your teammates for 12 hours without a single caution period (IMSA has not experienced this in roughly 3 years) is a bigger feat. It was all part of the team effort.
Penske and Porsche operated flawlessly in the Florida 36 – perfect pit stops, great strategy, an amazing roster of drivers, and the legendary durability of Porsche cars, along with the lack of contact / car damage they experienced is downright amazing.
But as much as I was impressed by PPM, they have tarnished in my mind recently. Specifically, as a result of the “rubbin-is-racin” Laguna Seca race. I get it. These are well paid gladiators riding the steeds of brands and teams supported and equally, pressured, by big dollar sponsors. I have always disliked unsportsmanlike drivers or driving, and Nick Tandy’s last lap at Laguna really disappointed me . Perhaps at 41 years old he is feeling old as compared to Nasr (32) , and pressured to perform, or maybe the red mist just got in his eyes. Either way, the last lap contact was less than a smooth move in my opinion. You don’t have to agree, but I have watched the critical 3 seconds of video frame by frame over thirty times and here is my perspective. 1- Vanthoor got to gas so aggressively, the back of the car wiggled. As a result, he was 1-1/2 car widths off of the track-out point drivers left. 2- Tandy had to make an aggressive move to the right or get balked by the Lamborghini. He made his move and contacted the BMW. 3- The BMW’s front wheels move right, whether due to reaction of the contact or by purpose, he did not veer left as some have accused. This created a lane large enough between the Lambo and the BMW for Tandy to squeeze through. In fact, it was wider than needed by about 3 feet. 4- Tandy pinches the BMW down to within eighteen inches of the curbing while laying on a serious enough hip check to send the BMW sideways and off track drivers right. I am also convinced the Lambo didn’t alter its line, as space decreased and really was not a contributor. Fast forward to Detroit, and IMSA has clearly noted similar driving across the classes, issuing warnings.
What doesn’t change is that Porsche has been amazing this year. Brazilian Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy from Great Britain, and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium were the class of the Sebring field. Porsche Penske Motorsport has worked hard.
Hopefully the remainder of the 9 races will be a bit cleaner than Laguna. I’m Iooking forward to Penske winning the championship and I’d hate to have their success accented with an asterisk.
Celebrating at the top of the podium.
Photo courtesy of Porsche cars North America
Sebring hosted the opening two 40-minute rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup. Here in race 2, the cars ran so close that almost every driver error caused multicar collisions. No one gave an inche.
