Porsche engineers created the most perfect sports car ever. So, it’s only fitting that Porsche Irvine brings you the most perfect Porsche experience ever. Visit us today and let us treat you to amenities and services as exceptional as the nameplate they represent. Because What Drives You, Drives UsSM
Call Dan Comouche direct at (949) 668-6305 to deliver the Porsche experience that exceeds your expectations.
Irvine
I'm Dan Comouche, and my journey with Porsche began in 1988 in Southern California. Since 2018, I've had the privilege of serving as General Manager at Porsche Irvine, where customer satisfaction drives everything we do. Leading a passionate team, I'm proud to deliver the excellence and performance that define the Porsche experience.
Editor
Production
Adve
Classifi
Technical
Contributing Writers
Stewart Thompson pandoeditor@gmail.com
Rob Alen robalen602@gmail.com
Jan Knight janknight@sbcglobal.net
Robbie Crawford ads4pcaocr@gmail.com
Bob Weber hbobw930@aol.com 714-960-4981
Lee Rice riceturbos@sbcglobal.net
Stewart Thompson
Rob Alen
Jim Miller
David K. Whitlock
Ondar Tarlow
Craig Barrett
Eric Nguyen
Young Lee
Glenn Billings
Lee Rice
Monica Asbury
Contributing Photographers
Jim Storms
Stewart Thompson
Thomas Leach
Dale Hirsch
Monica Asbury
Denny Asbury
OCR Members
In this Issue
Upcoming Events
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PANDO is published monthly. Deadline for materials is the 7th of the month for publication in the next month's issue.
Subscriptions for PCA members are $60 per year for twelve issues. If additional copies of PANDO are requested and available, each additional copy is $5.00. PANDO is the official publication of Orange Coast Region, Porsche Club of America. Any statement appearing in the PANDO is that of the author, and does not constitute an opinion of the Porsche Club of America, the Orange Coast Region, Inc., its Board of Directors, the PANDO editors or its staff. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. Permission is given to chartered regions of PCA to reprint articles in their newsletter if credit is given to the author and the PANDO. Publication office: P.O. Box 6726, Huntington Beach, CA 92615-6726.
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Long Beach Grand Prix
Orange Coast Region 2026 Calendar of Events
OCR Board Meetings
All members are welcome to OCR Board Meetings, held after the breakfast meeting at Santa Ana Elks Lodge.
Breakfast Club – Elks Lodge, Santa Ana 1751 South Lyon Street, Santa Ana, 92705 8-10 am
Orange
Newport
BurgerBahn – Wet Dog Tavern, 19696 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
6-8 pm
Porsches & Par-Tee– Gallery/Anaheim Public Golf Course, 6501 Nohl Ranch Rd., Anaheim, CA 92807 6-8 pm
Links to Zone 8 events can be found at www. Zone8.org.
* Event dates and times subject to change.
OCR Member Notice of Board Meeting Minutes & Financial Statements
OCR Board meeting minutes and financial statements are posted to the OCR Digital Board Book, which may be viewed by all OCR members at:
http://bit.ly/OCRBoardBook
The documents are posted once they have been reviewed and approved by the Board, generally within two weeks following a given Board meeting.
If you are looking for Porsche sales, service, or parts; or automotive and personal services, make your 1st Choice a PANDO advertiser. You will have something in common.
See page 40 for a list of PANDO advertisers.
ACTIVITY LOCATIONS
Porsches & Pastries – Enderle Center, 14081 Yorba St., Tustin, CA 92780
8-10 am
Porsches & Pancakes – Woody’s Diner, 3461 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663 8-10 am
& Pizza – Blaze Pizza, 225 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, CA 92672
6:30-8:30 pm (Located in The Outlets of San Clemente) Porsches & Pizza – Wise Guys, 7606 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92869
6:30-8:30 pm
Porsches & Pizza – Mod Pizza, 7051 Yorktown Ave., Ste 103, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
6:30-8:30 pm
Porsches
President's Messa g e
Jim Miller
Greetings from somewhere in France as we travel our way through most of the country. We will be in a P car, just not a Porsche, but rather a Peugeot.
Our Concours is just a month away, and many thanks to those of you who have already volunteered. If you are willing and able, we still need more volunteers. Please contact Monica Asbury at sheamonica@gmail.com to volunteer.
As you know, our Concours is the main event of our calendar each year, and we are almost sold out. So don’t hesitate to register via motorsportreg.com.
If you do not pre-register, it will cost you a little more to park on the “day of” if you are looking to park on the grounds. We are expecting approximately 300 Porsches as we celebrate Porsches with Wings. You will not want to miss out on our flagship event.
In honor of America’s 250th birthday and the fact that the 4th of July happens to fall on the first Saturday of the month, the Board of Directors has decided that we will skip our July meeting. This allows our OCR family to celebrate the day with family and friends.
Our golf series has launched with a robust turnout. These golf outings take place once a month at Oso Creek in Mission Viejo. Stay tuned for email updates on how to register.
Itching to drive your Porsche? You are in luck, the originally scheduled Santa Rosa Drive in May, has been rescheduled, due to road closures, to June 13th. Paul Shaffer has also taken the lead and created a Route 66 Drive scheduled for Saturday, July 11th. Be on the lookout for further details and registration instructions.
Norma and I will be toasting you all on the day of the meeting with either a glass of wine or some champagne with a copy of the Pando nearby.
Let us continue to make PCA-OCR a special part of our Porsche experience. Participate, volunteer, and let the ride bring a huge smile to your face!
Jim Miller PCA-OCR President
Jim and Norma Miller
Stewart Thompson
Built for Driving
There is a short list of things in life that never get old. For me, getting into my Porsche is on that list.
My wife and I on an anniversary trip celebrating 12 years of marriage.
Life is busy. We all have places to be, things to do, and obligations that fill the calendar. But very few of those things make you actually want to show up. My Porsche does. Every single time. A trip to the store becomes an excuse to take the long way. A haircut means the top comes down. A free hour means I am already thinking about the coast. It is not just transportation. It is the best part of the day.
That is what this month is about.
Built for Driving celebrates the Porsches among us that are being used the way they were meant to be used. Not stored. Not trailered to shows. Driven. Whether your car is completely stock or thoughtfully modified, whether it sees canyon roads every weekend or earns its keep as a daily driver, this issue is a tribute to that relationship between driver and machine. It keeps us coming back.
Modifications are a big part of that story too. There is something special about a car that has been curated to fit its owner. Every change, whether subtle or significant, makes it a little more personal and a little more yours. I have not done much to mine yet, but I am excited for it. The vision is already forming.
As you read through this month's submissions, I hope you feel what I feel every time I turn the key. That sense that this car was built for exactly this moment, and that there is nowhere else you would rather be.
I also want to take a moment to encourage those of you who have never submitted a story. We have wonderful themes ahead, and every one of them is an opportunity to share something that only you can tell. It does not have to be dramatic. It just has to be honest. Stories like the ones in this issue are what make PANDO worth reading, and yours belongs here too.
Please contribute. We would love to hear from you.
Stewart Thompson Editor, PANDO
Stuttgart Market Letter
Report by David K. Whitlock
Four months in, and 2026’s total dollar volume is already more than halfway to 2025’s full-year total. March’s strength carried right into April, giving us another record-setting month with 741 Porsches crossing the block, 76% of them selling, for a total of $76,742,859. That compares to April 2025, when 664 cars crossed the block, also with a 76% sell-through rate, for a total of $56,730,704. That makes two months in a row where dollar volume eclipsed the previous year by more than $20m.
Leading the charge was a 2015 918 Spyder, the singular Paint to Sample Riviera Blue example with Weissach Package delivered to North America. Showing just 1,300 miles, it didn’t quite top the Orange example sold at Mecum earlier this year, but its $4,680,000 result firmly secured the number two spot for 918 Spyder sales over the last twelve months. Other heavy hitters at the top of the market came from the usual suspects at Singer Vehicle Design and RUF, but it was refreshing to see something from the golden era of Porsche motorsport crack the top ten. That honor went to a 1976 934 Race Car campaigned by Porsche-Kremer Racing in period, including a class win at the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell over the last few years, the historic racer finally changed hands at a final bid of $1,000,000, which feels like a strong buy for such an important piece of Porsche racing history.
One model that has seen significant upside so far this year is the 911 Dakar. Throughout 2025, Dakars generally traded in the $300,000350,000 range, with only one example cresting the $400,000 mark. April gave us two. The first was a 2,184-mile example finished in Paint-to-Sample Acid Green over a Black leather and Race-Tex interior featuring Shade Green stitching, matte carbon fiber trim, Racing Yellow seatbelts, and aftermarket Pascha seat inserts. It sold at a final bid of $405,000. The second was another Paint-to-Sample car, this time finished in Stone Gray with “Rallye 1971” decals and showing just 346 miles. That example hammered at an impressive $460,000. Two new twelve-month highs for the model, back to back, in the same month.
Newer cars weren’t the only ones setting records. One of the more surprising results of the month came from the transaxle market with a 1988 944 Turbo S Silver Rose. Originally intended as a limited-run model, the Silver Rose package paired the uprated 250-horsepower Turbo S drivetrain and M030 suspension package with exclusive Silver Rose Metallic paint and the now-iconic Burgundy Studio Plaid interior. While Porsche ultimately built more Turbo S models than originally planned, true Silver Rose examples remain highly sought after today. This particular car showed just 7,500 miles and presented in phenomenal condition throughout, helping it hammer at an impressive $95,550. Just shy of the $100,000 mark, the strongest public Silver Rose sales we’ve seen to date.
Another surprise from April was the appearance of the first 992.2 Carrera T Club Coupe at auction. Introduced for 2026 as a 70-unit celebration of the Porsche Club of America’s 70th anniversary,
the Club Coupe is based on the enthusiast-focused Carrera T and pairs a 388-horsepower twin-turbo flat-six with a 6-speed manual transmission. Finished exclusively in Sholar Blue Metallic with PCAspecific detailing throughout, it follows in the footsteps of previous PCA anniversary Club Coupes and immediately became one of the most desirable special-edition 992s. Showing just 21 delivery miles, this example represented the first real public opportunity at ownership for those who missed out on an allocation. And bidders responded accordingly, pushing the final price to an eye-opening $346,500.
As usual, the 356 market was a bit of a mixed bag. Thirty cars crossed the block in April with only 50% finding new homes. Speedsters dominated the top end of the market, accounting for four of the top five sales and posting a respectable 67% sell-through rate. Leading the way was a Hoffman-delivered 1957 356A Speedster that topped every other 356A Speedster sold at auction this year, whether online or in person. Originally finished in Red before being repainted Black under previous ownership, the car paired its striking exterior with a beautiful Red leather interior and Beige square-weave carpets. Backed by a rebuilt numbers-matching engine, it sold at a final bid of $491,000, comfortably eclipsing previous highs for the model.
My favorite 356 of the month, though, was a 1959 356A Convertible D finished in Auratium Green over Brown leather. Although refinished from its original Ruby Red during a 2021-2022 refurbishment and powered by a replacement 1.6-liter flat-four, the color combination looked fantastic. It ultimately sold at a final bid of $225,000, slightly below the twelve-month average, likely due to limited documentation surrounding the refurbishment work.
Overall, April was another exceptionally strong month for the Porsche market with strength at both the very top and across several enthusiast-driven segments. From record-setting modern special editions to strong results for analog-era cars, the market showed little sign of slowing as we head deeper into 2026. Looking ahead to May, we have the usual steady stream of online auction action along with two sales from Bonhams and one from Mecum. It will be interesting to see if the market can keep this incredible run going into the summer months.
David K. Whitlock is a writer for The Stuttgart Market Letter, a daily market update for Porschephiles. www.stuttgartmarketletter.com
Where’s PANDO?
Hawaii
Bob Kahn
OCR member Bob Kahn thoroughly enjoying Hawaii along with the PANDO.
2026 Miami F1 Grand Prix
Three Generations of Tracy’s
JT Tracy of Coto de Caza, together with son Ryan T. Tracy and grandson of Lake Worth, FL, recently attended the 2026 Miami F1 Grand Prix. Although Ryan and Logan’s hopes for podium positions for team Ferrari didn’t take place… it was a fantastic and memorable day together!
Nurburgring at Nordschleife, Germany
Mark Ellis, John Willhoit and Chris Cassler
We are at the Nurburgring at Nordschleife, located in the Eifel mountains of Germany, getting ready for “Taxi-Rides” (Porsche GTR RS-Manthey or BMW M3 competition) around the track. Left to right: Mark Ellis; John Willhoit (Willhoit Auto Restoration); Chris Cassler (European Collectables).
Where will PANDO go next?
Please email Jan Knight at janknight@sbcglobal.net with your “Where’s Pando?” submissions.
The
DIMINISHED VALUE
LOSS OF USE
The cost to rent a similar vehicle as yours during repairs.
Built to Be Driven By
Ondar Tarlow
Some cars are built to be collected.
Others are built to be driven hard, often, and without apology.
My 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS falls firmly into the second category. Finished in Lava Orange, the car was never purchased to sit under a cover waiting for the next concours event. It was configured from the beginning to be used the way Porsche intended. Early morning canyon runs. Long highway stretches. Charity events. Cars and coffee mornings. Even the occasional frustrating Southern California traffic crawl.
The GT3 RS is not a perfect car, that is part of what makes it special.
The air conditioning struggles on hotter California days. Around town, the car clearly wants to move faster than traffic allows. Under 50 mph it can feel unsettled unless PDK Sport is engaged and the transmission sharpens up.
But once the road opens, the entire car transforms.
The PDK transmission is shockingly fast as the naturally aspirated 4.0 liter flat six climbs toward its nearly 9,000 rpm redline. Even years later, it still feels mechanical and alive in a way many newer performance cars no longer do.
And then there is the steering wheel. Nothing on it except the horn. No drive mode buttons. No distractions. Just steering input and feedback directly from the front tires. It may end up being one of the last truly analog-feeling GT cars Porsche ever built.
The grip is almost unmatched on the road. Canyon carving is where the car feels most at home. The front-end bites aggressively while the chassis stays composed even on rough pavement.
One lesson I learned the hard way: never try to save money on tires with this car. The GT3 RS was engineered around Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 and Cup 2 R tires. I loved Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on my previous manual Porsche 911 Turbo, but on the GT3 RS, they immediately felt wrong visually and dynamically. Porsche clearly built this chassis around the Cup tire platform.
The car is also fitted with a SharkWerks exhaust, which transforms the experience even further. At low speeds it adds just enough aggression, but higher in the rev range the sound becomes pure music. Mechanical. Sharp. Addictive.
Some of my favorite moments with the car have not happened at maximum speed. They happen early in the morning, heading
toward the coast with little traffic and the sound of the engine echoing through canyon walls; or, during longer drives with other enthusiasts where the car becomes less about performance numbers and more about shared experiences.
That is what makes this car memorable because it constantly asks you to do more than simply drive it; it asks you to fully participate in the experience.
MReunited by a Twin Plug
By Craig Barrett
As Told by Dale Hirsch
Photographed by Dale Hirsch
any Porsche stories from our generation begin at one of Southern California's legendary dealerships. Vasek Polak, Otto Zipper, Chick Iverson, Circle Porsche. This story starts at Chick Iverson Porsche Audi in the late 1970s.
Dale Hirsch was a young factory-trained Porsche mechanic. I was Craig Barrett, working up front in an expensive suit in the showroom. Gary Emory was the parts manager. Dale and Gary were thick as thieves. I just needed floor mats.
We both moved on. Dale opened his own shop, Porsche Alternative in Garden Grove, where he serviced my 1973 tripleblack 911 Targa. By the mid-eighties, he was making summer trips to Alaska, fixing 911s, and coming home with his pockets full. Eventually his wife Cindy fell in love with the place, and they moved to Anchorage. I did not see or hear from Dale for the next 40 years.
In the fall of 2024, retirement boredom set in. I wanted a project car, specifically an unrestored 911 with enough road rash that I could drive the back roads without a care in the world. I found it on eBay: a 1973 Signal Yellow 911T in California, rust-free, with an updated 1975 motor. I bought it sight unseen. When it arrived, it leaked like the Exxon Valdez, but cosmetically it was better than expected. It came with full documentation, the original stamped maintenance book, and a Vasek Polak original sales contract.
Shopping for a replacement engine, I stumbled across a listing I half remembered from months earlier: a 2.8-liter twin-plug motor on Bring a Trailer that had not met its reserve. I scrolled down to find the seller. The name was DalehirschAZ.
I sent an email with a few questions only Dale could answer. Within hours, we were on the phone. He still had the engine, originally built for Dennis Aase and Parnelli Jones Jr. to race in the 1983 Fur Rondy Grand Prix of Alaska. He said he would love for me to have it.
I brought him the car. He rebuilt everything. Today I drive it every single day. A wolf in sheep's clothing, with perfect road rash. Addictive and liberating in equal measure.
1983 Fur Rondy Grand Prix of Alaska
MMy 2013 Cayenne Diesel
y Porsche story really started with a 2013 Cayenne Diesel, which I’ve traveled throughout the country with. I’ve been following people such as Brock Keen (996 Roadtrip) for some time and dreamed of doing the same thing with a 911. I purchased a 2001 996.1 C4 and modified the car with road tripping and daily driving in mind.
Car maintenance and mechanical upgrades for longevity were top of mind. The car already had the LN Engineering IMS solution done. I went ahead and focused on other high-potential failure areas. AOS (Ultimate AOS kit from LN Engineering, chromoly oil pump hex drive, spin-on oil filter kit, and aluminum skid plate). I also addressed cooling and went with a pair of aluminum radiators from CSF. The car also had a full round of fluids, an oil pressure
spring, a relief valve, a water pump, spark plugs, new coil packs, filters, motor mounts, a transmission mount, new bushings, and replaced all the control arms.
To improve the driving experience, I swapped out the seats for Recaro LX-VS seats. I took the car on my first road trip to Monterey with the factory seats (nonsport) and found that they had little to no back support. I have had Recaros in almost all of my cars and always wanted a classic pair. The LX-VS seats are probably the biggest quality of life improvement I have done. I also went ahead and replaced the shifter assembly and cables with the Numeric shifter kit. The factory shifter just felt sloppy from years of use. I also wanted to address the cables as we were already doing the work. Lastly, I replaced the
By Eric Nguyen
aftermarket head unit the car came with for a Porsche PCCM clone unit from AliExpress (yes, I went cheap on this one.) To be honest, for $100, it works amazingly. Apple CarPlay works great and has no issues with the sound quality. I also added Hella fog lights and replaced the projectors/HID lights for improved visibility.
Performance improvements include upgraded stainlesssteel brake lines, an IPD plenum and larger throttle body, a full exhaust, H&R coilovers, and BBS LM wheels.
To increase usability, I sourced an OEM roof rack system from a dealer based in Las Vegas. I also have a Thule basket for added storage. I also carry a spare tool kit, flat tire plug, air compressor, jumper pack, and extra oil.
Built for Driving By Young Lee
For me, a Porsche was never meant to sit under a cover waiting for special occasions. My 2002 Porsche Boxster has always been about driving—early morning runs down PCH from Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach, opening up the flat-six on Ortega Highway, or simply enjoying the feeling of getting behind the wheel for an ordinary errand. After 24 years of sole ownership and more than 251,000 miles, the car has become more than transportation or a collectible. It has become part of my life.
I purchased the Boxster in 2002 because I wanted a true driver’s car—and honestly, because I couldn’t afford a 911 at the time (lol). Then life happened: marriage, a house, a kid, and everything that comes with it. Looking back, I have no regrets. Even today, what continues to impress me most is the car’s simplicity and honesty. The steering talks to you, the chassis feels alive, and the mid-engine balance makes every road more engaging. Modern performance cars may have more horsepower and technology, but few deliver the same analog driving experience.
Over the years, my flat 6 has never been treated as a garage queen. I’ve always wondered why people buy cars like these and never truly experience them. This car was built to be driven, and that is exactly what it has done. The odometer recently passed 251,000 miles, which says everything about how much enjoyment this car has brought me over the years.
Through changing phases of my life, the car remained a constant companion. In fact, it even outlasted my marriage—which, unfortunately, says something too. But through the ups and downs, my flat-six was always there to lift my spirits and remind me to keep moving forward.
Some of my best memories involve no destination at all—just finding an open road, dropping the top, hearing the engine behind me, and enjoying the connection between me, the flat-six, and the road. What I appreciate most after nearly a quarter century is how timeless the car still feels. The design remains clean and purposeful, and the driving experience still feels special every time I start the engine.
Twenty-four years later, my Boxster still does exactly what it was designed to do—it makes me want to drive. Hopefully one day, when my daughter inherits the car, she’ll enjoy it just as much as I have. Thank God I have a few more years left…
2026 Long Beach Grand Prix
IA Day at the Races
Story by Glenn Billings / Photos by Thomas Leach
'ts Friday 9:30 a.m., and already the Long Beach Grand Prix looks like a Sunday crowd. On almost any corner, race fans were jampacked in tight, simply to see warmups for the support classes. The NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) Indy Car Practice didn’t start until 3:00 p.m. But, by noon, the grandstands were filled just to watch the Porsche Carrera Cup Practice. The same was true for the SST Trucks, Historic Sports Cars and the IMSA sessions.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach has had a long and storied history and has been a strong pillar of support of the NTT Indy Car Series for decades.
Race Day : Alwin Springer
OCR Member and our LBGP photographer, Thomas Leach, was privileged to spend some time on Friday of the race weekend to walk with Alwin Springer, former CEO of Porsche Motorsports. During the time with Alwin, Thomas shared as he walked with Alwin through the IMSA paddock, he asked him, “after all these years, you were so active in motorsports and with Porsche, how do you maintain your interest in motorsports?” He talked about his passion for it and how it never left. He is respected by the motorsport’s community; they are part of his family, which was obvious on the walk. Meeting associates on our walk, answering their questions, giving guidance and trusting him. Alwin is not only respected, he is loved by the community. His passion is contagious.
W Against All Odds
hat could go wrong? The first hundred days of the year in Southern California were pleasant, dry, and just a little breezy. However, that one day in mid-April the skies opened up, postponing the Spring Poker Rally for another two weeks. What are the odds of that happening in Southern California? So, with the forecast for the second April attempt also being threatened with sprinkles but having drying roads, we decided it was a 'go' and took our chances.
The day before, a final test run was driven in beautiful weather. It wasn’t until late afternoon that reports came in of a brush fire in Carbon Canyon, closing down the roads where our first leg of the rally was to begin. What’s ‘goin’ on? First, water, and now fire?! Odds were stacking up against us. We were close to postponing the rally again!
But stalwarts Monica Asbury and Paul Shaffer weren’t about to give in. Paul couldn’t find an expanded alternate route, so the decision was made to cut the rally in half. Paul magnificently revised the route instructions and typed up a beautifully detailed sheet. We cut back the poker cards to a 5-card draw and eliminated 2 checkpoints. Monica kept the over 75 members who registered in constant updates on conditions and consistently phoned the fire department for updates.
I fretted. I had to call Linda Kriesant, Executive VP of the Phoenix Club, every so often to make sure she had enough staff
Story by Glenn Billings
Photos by Denny Asbury
ready for us should we decide to move forward. Linda swiftly came through with staff who were attentive and friendly.
Sunday morning came around to drizzles and damp roads on most of the coast, but in Brea, it was sunny and dry. Twentysix Porsches, with a McLaren and a classic Mustang, were green-flagged at the start. Our odds were improving. With checkpoints in place, drivers experienced a slow pace driving up the hills of La Habra Heights, then narrow roads, and sharp uphill turns, exercising their steering wheels. Views of Chino Valley and the ocean could be seen from the route.
Once all received their cards at the respective checkpoints, lunch was next. What a great surprise to have most, if not all of the poker rally participants attend the no-host lunch. Many offered congratulations and compliments for the route, time, and effort put into the rally.
Big winners were Randy Black and Conrad Meyer with a whopping 4 aces. Second place went to Tamara Sauer and Mom, Lucinda Nimitz, with 3 kings. How rare. What are the odds of that winning hand? The team of Barry and Brittany Konier was awarded the “Royally Flushed” trophy with the lowest hand with a 9 high. It was great fun!
To paraphrase Vin Scully on Kirk Gibson’s home run, “In a month that has been improbable, the impossible happened.”
Well done, Monica, Paul, Linda, and Denny, for making the terrific checkpoint signs and photos!
Ramblings RICE’S
Story by Lee Rice
A Lifetime Story
Ifirst must say that my last “ramblings” were well edited, if not homogenized for publication. You see, I had a problem or two with Porsche and needed to rant about it. It was about how Porsche seemed to be changing into a wealthy gentleman’s and gentle lady’s car. But in doing so Porsche seemed to be seeking an audience far beyond my ability to possess. Not only is that developing, but the 911 of today has evolved beyond my technical understanding and expertise.
So anyhow, how I got here is a lifetime story. A good life story. Now Jim Poste and I ate breakfast. Jim and I have been best friends since 1968 or so, along with both of our highly evolved Porsches.
Let me think; how did I get here anyway? I got to thinking about what is going on at Porsche, the company, today? My feelings were those of overwhelming changes to the cars that have been important to me.
This all led me to think on it for quite a while, so here goes. This got me to remember my first week at the Ohio State University. In freshman classes we were inundated with unheard-of terms and how one must do our own research and develop a good narrative before submitting course papers with OUR own understanding put in writing. I was mostly lost but kept on moving and finally could see the light, some of it anyway.
A New Life in Naval Aviation
My brother John and I enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves in June 1962 at Columbus, Ohio. We were part of a military family and thought it natural to serve our country, and the Naval Reserves allowed us to finish high school, go
to college, work any part-time job, study endlessly, and try to keep up! Columbus, Ohio, Naval Reserve was a support base for sea service in the Atlantic. John and I went to basic training that summer, but we both saw how much aviation interest was revealed in our test scores and evaluations. Aviation was for us! We soon transferred to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Glenview, Ill. We found a whole new life in naval aviation and saw that naval aviation was considered more than special, and best of all, we fit in and loved it. We were accepted into VR 726, a transport squadron, and began our training, flying, and advancing in rank quickly.
Aviation was in my blood from my earliest days, and now I was hands-on and learning aircraft engines from textbooks. I also saw it as a direct parallel to the best of race car engines. The discipline in aviation was far different than in the car world, and I applied aviation standards to my own automotive work in our old fixed-up Fords, Chevys, hot rods, and Corvettes.
First Porsche Experience
My first Porsche experience was from a friend of my brother’s. He was giving me a ride to OSU in his white 356 coupe. It was cramped, but it was only snug in the places you wanted to have a good seat, pedal control, and steering position. It was not a 0-60 tire smoker, but it had something I liked right off. A precision on the windy roads of Ohio and gave me a feeling of control and safety.
I was impressed as I dared to compare the custom seats and pedal positions I worked so hard to make in my 3rd Corvette. The Porsche had all that already! Why, I wondered?
A funny one was, I wondered why the roof height was so high in the Corvette. More obvious in the Corvette Stingray Roadster with the top up. The simple reason I found out was due to hats.
Yep, the designers then knew more men wore hats, and they had to accommodate that! It made the Corvette with a Roadster top or hard top look like a cupcake on top of a 2-layer cake!
I later learned that Butzi and Porsche engineers would not fiddle with hats on their new six-cylinder Porsche.
This leads to my first 900-series Porsche. In 1966 while on active duty at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station, I spotted a new 912 Porsche and ended up looking at it for quite a while. It looked so different from what I was used to, but there was something about it that stuck in my head. It just “looked right” from nose to tail. In fact, the 912 resembled an airfoil on its basic body.
Honorably discharged from naval service in 1968, I began more intense flying and starving with poor jobs up until I won my commercial pilot's license, my airframe and power-plant licenses. You would think I was in the money, right? Wrong. And sad too for my future. My Corvette was kind of a beast. I championed the lighter, smaller alloy fuel-injected V-8. But to my disgust, with Corvette and GM, they were reverting to a bigger, heavier iron block 427-454 cubic inch V-8 with carburetors.
I was steadfast in refining and developing the smaller and lighter alloy engine with Rochester Mechanical Fuel Injection. I took them apart as I learned how to set up the air-fuel flow with a delicate mercury-water manometer balancing fuel to air flow.
But it was a lost cause. I did not receive any responses to the questions I submitted to GM or anyone else.
Then my pestering brother and some friends in Monterey convinced me to try a Porsche up there. It was a used 912. I adjusted to it quickly and found it a wonderful machine and drove it in town, in traffic, cruising along the coast, then out on back gravel roads and some real 'twisties,' then a run up from Monterey to Carmel’s Highway 1. At W.O.T., it was OK for Monterey. It was the perfect car.
However, John and his friends realized my jobs and flying schools were tied up in the southern California, they stated you NEED a 911!
From over 3,500 local and national events including driving activities, social gatherings, autocross, track days, high performance driver education, club racing, tech sessions, car shows, insider exclusives and premieres:
There’s something for everyone at PCA.
Maintain Good Standing For : “members-only raffle”, Pelican Parts’ discount, The Mart; and more.
Subscription to Two Monthly Magazines : PANDO and that other one (PCA’s Panorama). Get Monica’s emails.
Stay Current : to know when and where to hang out. Trade stories and advice.
Membership Helps OCR Receive Monetary Benefits : from Porsche Club of America.
New Members
Dave Kern / 993 Cabriolet / White
AND ALL PORSCHE CAR SHOW Porsches with Wings
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026
Join us at Sea Terrace Park, PCH & Niguel Rd., Dana Point. Over 275 Porsches on the field. Latest Porsche models, race cars and rare vintage models. It’s a family friendly event. Many favorite vendors offering Porsche merchandise and services. A fantastic club event for all ages.
Registration Opens 3/1/26.
To register : msreg.ocrconcours2026
Pre-order box lunches at the same time as registration.
Sponsored by:
The
Breakfast Club May 2, 2026
Photos by Monica Asbury
May's guest speaker, Mike Malamut, with his wife Barbara. Mike is the Curator of the Mike Malamut Auto Museum.
PCA-OCR Contact Information
OCR Executive Board
President
Jim Miller | pcaocrprez@gmail.com
| sheamonica@gmail.com
Secretary Tom Gray | Crazi02@aol.com
Treasurer
Norma Miller | pcaocrtreas@gmail.com
| dennisasbury44@gmail.com
OCR Board Appointments
Advertising Chair
Robbie Crawford | ads4pcaocr@gmail.com
Charity Chair
Monica Asbury | sheamonica@gmail.com
Concours Chair
Monica Asbury | sheamonica@gmail.com
Goodie Store Manager
Monica Asbury | sheamonica@gmail.com
Pando Editor
Stewart Thompson | pandoeditor@gmail.com
Pando Classified Auto Sales Editor
Bob Weber | hbobw930@aol.com 714-960-4981
Pando Production Manager
Jan Knight | janknight@sbcglobal.net
Events Driving Chair
Glenn Billings | gb41@hotmail.com
Dealer / Sponsorship Liaison
Monica Asbury | sheamonica@gmail.com
Tech Advisor
Paul Shaffer | Paulcshaffer@yahoo.com
Social Media Chair
Richard Chu |rcpcaocr@gmail.com
Zone 8 Chairs
Zone 8 Representative
Victoria Varon
Zone 8 Secretary
Monica Asbury | secretary@zone8.org
Zone 8 CA Rules Coordinator & Webmaster
Tom Brown | ruleproposals@zone8.org
Zone 8 Chief Driving Instructor
Scott Mann | cdi@zone8.org
Zone 8 Drivers Ed / Time Trial Chair
Russell Shon | russell@lightningmotorsports.us
www.pcaocr.org
Got a suggestion? Have a question? Just want to vent?
This email goes straight to the board of directors: opinionspcaocr@gmail.com
Let us know what’s on your mind and we’ll share it at the next board meeting.
Anyone wishing to inform the club of special circumstances, illness or loss? Please let us know.
Membership Chair
Denny Asbury
Vice President
Monica Asbury
Classifieds
FOR SALE : 930-911 TURBO
2019 911 Turbo Coupe, Black/Black lthr, 27.5K mi. 6 spd manual $195,000.00 Fred 757/784-2656; freddonnell3@me.com. VR (2)
2002 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe 996 Track Spec. Black/Black lthr, 72K mi. 6spd manual. Evolution Motorsports (EVOMS) GT700 Kit. JRZ Suspension RS Pro 3 Triple Adjustable. Big Reds Brake Kit. Rennline 996 Bolt-In Rollbar. Cobra Nogaro Circuit Racing Seat. USR Black Housing Project Headlights. Asking $69,995.00. Joseph Fan. 818/427-9672 cell; Brightonllc@ aol.com. OCR (2)
FOR SALE: PARTS-356-912
FOR SALE RUDGE WHEEL: Rare German KPZ Rudge Knock-off Porsche 356 chrome wheel dated 1962 4.5x15. $3495.00 Tom 714/614-0164; mauinow1@aol.com. OCR (2)
FOR SALE: PARTS-911-930-993-986-996997-991
FOR SALE: Hard top off a 1999 996 Arctic Blue Carrera. Need to clear out garage. Vehicle totaled in 2017. Excellent condition. Best offer. Call Joel @ 714-334-2777; jvgourdin09@gmail.com. OCR (2 )
MISCELLANEOUS
PORSCHE ENCLOSED SECURED PARKING
AVAILABLE: Parking space for only 2 more Porsches—356 or early 911 to latest 991. New ADT Infrared Fire and Police Monitoring System. All concrete construction warehouse building in safe and secured NW Huntington Beach/Boeing area is close to and 5 minutes away from the 405 and 22 Freeways. PCA members preferred, no subletting. Accepting only fully operational, currently licensed and insured Porsches, no leakers, nonoperational project cars, storage cars or tear downs. Provide your own car cover, insurance and battery tender. Month to month or longer rentals. PCA member. Bob 714/960-4981. hbobw930@aol.com; OCR (2)
Would
Please contact Bob Weber 714-960-4981 or email hbobw930@aol.com
