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.
Stewart Thompson pandoeditor@gmail.com
Rob Alen
robalen602@gmail.com
Jan Knright 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
Dave Miranda
Raghav Saxena
Jeff Potter
Chris Hoskins
Robert Thompson
Jon Pena
Glenn Billings
Elena Thenard
Paul Friedman
Monica Asbury
ributing Photographers
Jim Storms
Stewart Thompson
Paul Lawrence
Dave Miranda
Chris Hoskins
Robert Thompson
Paul Friedman
Monica Asbury
Dennis Asbury
OCR Members
In this Issue
Stuttgart Market Report Where’s PANDO?
Like Love at First Sight, 21 Years Later The First Drive He Wanted Black The First Drive That Almost Wasn't Built For You
992.1 Carrera
Upcoming Events
PCA-OCR’s Website is now openplease visit www. PCAOCR .org
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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.
Breakfast Club – Elks Lodge, Santa Ana 1751 South Lyon Street, Santa Ana, 92705 8-10 am
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
All members are welcome to OCR Board Meetings, held after the breakfast meeting at Santa Ana Elks Lodge.
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.
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
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.
6:30-8:30 pm NO BREAKFAST MEETING IN JULY
Porsches & 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
President's Messa g e
Jim Miller
The sun is out, the skies are blue, and the roads are beckoning. Hopefully you are taking advantage of the beautiful weather and exploring new roads in your Porsche.
Speaking of new roads to travel, are you ready for another drive with your Porsche friends? You are in luck, as on May 16th our club will be conducting the Santa Rosa Plateau drive. Be on the lookout for emails with further details and how to sign up. It should be an amazing drive.
Our largest event of the year will be the 54th Annual White Glove Concours, an all Porsche car show scheduled for Saturday, June 27th, at Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point. You will not want to miss this special event. We still have a need for a few more volunteers, as it is such a large event, so we are hoping that you will step up.
Bob Kahn, our Concours Field Marshal, has put together his team of volunteers to mark the field bright and early on that Saturday morning. However, more volunteers are needed. Jim Reese will once again oversee the traffic volunteers. We are requesting the volunteers to attend an inperson orientation as well as Zoom calls to ensure a successful Concours.
All volunteers will need to register their Porsche to park on the grounds. As spots are quickly filling up, please register now. To register, please visit msreg.com/ocrconcours2026
Our club is run by an amazing team of volunteers who do their best to ensure your experience at all events is special. I thank each one of you for your dedication to our club.
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
The First Drive
It w as 2020, the world had stopped, and I needed something to do.
I have always been a car person. Over the years I have put together what I think is a pretty cool lineup. But with all that time on my hands and a strong desire to get outside while still respecting the moment, I decided a convertible was the answer. The question was which one.
I had always loved Mercedes and still believe anything they built before 2000 represents the pinnacle of the brand. But I could not find exactly what I wanted. So I started looking at Porsches and quickly landed on the 996, the most controversial 911 ever made and, as a result, one of the most affordable at the time. I found the right one, bought it sight unseen from a dealer in Arizona, and had it shipped to me on a weekday.
I took it out immediately. Within minutes I knew I had made the right call. There is something about the engine sitting behind you, the kick off the line, and the way these cars corner on every bend. It is genuinely exhilarating. I saw a YouTuber recently say he could not understand why people were so passionate about these older Porsches. My honest reaction was simple: he just had not driven a good one yet. These cars go, and they go well regardless of what you throw at them.
That first drive changed everything for me. It is also why I was so eager to get my dad behind the wheel of one.
This month our readers share their own versions of that moment, the first drive that made everything click. I have loved reading every single one of these stories, and I think you will too.
These cars beg to be driven. So drive!
Stewart Thompson Editor, PANDO
Stuttgart Market Letter
Report by David K. Whitlock
February set a strong tone for the year, with 522 cars sold for $47.9m, marking a 13% increase in unit volume and a 31% jump in dollar volume year over year, all while holding a healthy 75% sell-through rate. March continued that trend.. With the same 75% sell-through rate, the market expanded as 687 Porsches crossed the block for a total of $78.1m, representing a 12% increase in units and a 36% surge in dollar volume compared to last March. Perhaps more telling is the step up from February to March this year, with unit volume increasing by 165 cars and dollar volume jumping over $30m, signaling strong momentum as we head deeper into the spring market.
Last month we discussed Florida Car Week, which spanned the end of February and the beginning of March, with record after record set at the very top of the market. While the remainder of March didn’t quite reach those same heights, the top end remained strong. Singer’s Classic Study 911s are now firmly back above the $1m mark, with the “Fillmore” commission, a gorgeous example finished in Pure Gunmetal over Turmeric, hammering at $1,275,000. We also saw another twelve-month online high for the 991.2 GT2 RS, as a Paint-to-Sample Cobalt Blue Metallic example with just 571 miles sold for $660,000. 911 S/Ts, on the other hand, appeared to soften slightly, with both examples to cross the block trading below the $648,000 floor we had seen over the prior twelve months.
As you know, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Boxster and Cayman market as Porsche has sunset the 718, with any potential ICE replacement still a few years out, if it comes at all. The Boxster GTS 4.0 market took a clear step up this month with back-to-back twelve-month highs. A 1,500-mile example sold for $109,000, followed shortly after by a 271-mile car bringing $112,000 after failing to sell at that same number back in February. The rest of the mid-engined lineup appeared largely flat, including the Cayman GT4 RS, which has been trending downward for some time. That said, we did see one standout, a Paint-to-Sample Black Olive example with 2,400 miles and all the right options, which became the first online auction result to exceed $200,000 since September of last year.
One standout worth calling out from the broader Boxster market was a 2008 Boxster S Limited Edition 6-Speed, finished in Orange over Black leather and Alcantara, showing 14,000 miles. One of
just 250 units produced, this was a well-kept example with recent service and strong presentation. Coming into the sale, twelvemonth comps averaged $44,400, with a prior high of $48,000 for a 1,800-mile car, albeit in Alaska. Despite having more miles, this one reset the market, selling at a final bid of $49,999. A strong result, and one that suggests there’s still upside in the right limitedrun Boxsters when they check the right boxes.
Looking at the air-cooled market, we saw a surprising number of 993 Carrera S examples cross the block. Seven in total, with all but one finding new homes, averaging $242,600, and all but one clearing the $200,000 mark. Leading the way was a 15,000-mile 1998 example finished in Arctic Silver Metallic over Black leather. An excellent car throughout, it set a new twelve-month high at a final bid of $275,000 after failing to sell in February at $242,000. Another standout came from a 1989 911 Carrera Coupe 25th Anniversary Edition, formerly owned by Jerry Seinfeld. Showing just 11,000 miles, it was the lowest mileage example we’ve seen by a wide margin and presented accordingly, hammering at a final bid of $172,000.
With strong results across multiple segments and momentum building through the first quarter, all eyes now turn to April. Headlining the month is Broad Arrow Auctions’ Air|Water all-Porsche sale, which has quickly become one of the more anticipated single-marque events on the calendar. If the first three months of the year are any indication, expect more of the same, strong results, competitive bidding, and a market that continues to show depth across both modern and vintage offerings.
David K. Whitlock is a writer for The Stuttgart Market Letter, a daily market update for Porschephiles. www.stuttgartmarketletter.com
Where’s PANDO?
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jon Esparza
PANDO is at the Castillo San Cristobal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Fortress of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. The Spanish started construction in 1634 and work was completed in 1783. It is the largest European fortification built in the Americas.
Daytona
Paul Friedman and Ed McNamee
Paul Friedman and Ed McNamee attended the 24 hours of Daytona this year, It was a fantastic weekend as Porsche/ Penske won the overall!
Aspen, Colorado
Rob
and Michelle Ryan
Michelle and I in Aspen again with our Cayenne. We had a great road trip. Sedona AZ, Grand Canyon, Durango CO, Copper Mountain, Aspen Snowmass, then Moab UT, Canyonlands, Arches, down to Los Alamos NM, Santa Fe, Winslow AZ, Oatman (with donkeys), and home. The Cayenne is great in the snow. We followed a snowplow over Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado at the end of a snow storm. A new pickup truck spun out in front of us while we had no trouble with our Porsche.
Like Love at First Sight,
In the late 80s my niece, Adelina (Sosa) Mageno, was saving for her first car, adamant that it be a Porsche. When she was ready to buy, she asked that I accompany her to the dealership where she picked out a brand-new Guards Red 1989 944 S2! I immediately fell in love with it, wishing it could be mine.
One concern with Adelina’s purchase, it had a manual transmission, and she’d never driven a manual. So, I drove her new 944 home for her from the dealership. What a thrill it was for me driving that brand-new Porsche. I soon taught her how to shift its gears. Those are memories I will never forget.
Years later, with Adelina now married to her husband Danny, and starting a family, she wasn’t driving the Porsche much, so she offered to sell it to me. I couldn’t resist the offer. I now owned my first Porsche!
In 1999 I was looking to buy a townhouse and decided to sell my 944. Upon the sale, I asked my buyer, Mike Paluck, to keep me in mind for the first opportunity to buy back the 944 whenever he would decide to sell it. He agreed. I figured I’d never hear from him again.
I immediately regretted selling my S2. Four years later I bought a black S2. That second 944 carried all of OCR’s
1992 - Adelina and Danny leaving their wedding reception in her 944.
1998 - My first Porsche and I at El Dorado Park, Long Beach.
21 Years Later
Goodie Store merchandise to the monthly Breakfast Club throughout the years I was Goodie Store Manager. But I always missed my first 944.
In 2019 I received a surprise email from Mike Paluck. He still had the 944 and was considering selling it. He had kept me in mind. I just never thought he’d keep the car for 20 years!
When Mike was ready to sell, I drove up to Walnut Creek where he lives now. It was like love at first sight when I saw that old 944 again after all those years. We agreed to a deal.
By Dave Miranda
A week later my best friend Patrick Smith and I drove back in my Cayman S to pick up the S2. Patrick then followed in my Cayman as I drove my 944 home. I was now the happy owner of my first Porsche once again!
I still can’t believe after 21 years of separation, I own my first Porsche a second time. It needed lots of “cleaning up” to restore it, and I’m proud of it. It gets compliments wherever I go, and there’s a good ol’ feeling whenever I drive it. After all, it was my first Porsche!
2020 - Mike Palluck and I, the day I bought back my 944 from him.
2022 - My 944, my first and fifth Porsche.
IThe First Drive
By Raghav Saxena
had been looking for my perfect spec Boxster all over the U.S. for a little less than two years. When the perfect example popped up in Santa Barbara over Christmas last year, I rushed over to make sure that I didn't let this one get away.
Two trips to the dealership and millions of signatures later, the Boxster S was mine.
The first order of business was driving from Santa Barbara back to Orange County. Fortunately, that route included a bit of the PCH and then the Santa Ynez Mountains. Leaving the dealership and trundling through traffic, I found myself sitting in the driver’s seat wondering if I’d built this moment up too much in my head over the last two years. I had that sinking feeling of, “Is this it?”
But then we left the traffic behind and pointed the car upward into the Santa Ynez mountains with our first stop planned in Ojai. My mind was making lunch plans until I hit the first set of switchbacks, and then everything clicked. In that single stretch of mountain road, every doubt I had just fell away. The engine sang out, the mid-engine balance made the car feel like an extension of my body, and the steering came alive in my hands. I realized that this was exactly what I had dreamed of. Every time I dove into a corner, it just made my heart feel full, and I felt more and more confident in the decision I made. After descending the mountains, it was a straight cruise down the 5, and I discovered how good it felt to just cruise with the top down too. Just before we got home, the moon showed up. Cruising under the moonlight, I felt like I was flying.
Since that afternoon, the honeymoon phase hasn't ended. Whether it’s a quick grocery run or a dedicated Sunday morning blast through the canyons, the car turns every mundane errand into an event. And with the weather here in Southern California, it’s always top-down weather. These days, I find myself waking up a little earlier just to have an excuse to get back behind the wheel.
He Wanted Black
By Jeff Potter
On May 23, 1959, a San Francisco man named Haldor Nielsen walked into German Services at 323 Geary Street and put down a $500 deposit on a Porsche 356 Convertible D. He wanted it black, with a red interior, and factory delivery in Stuttgart. Receipt number 00541.
Four days later, German Services wrote back. Black wasn't available. The choices were ruby red, meissen blue, ivory, or silver metallic. Nielsen chose ruby red.
I own that letter. I own thirtythree pieces of original documentation for this car. Every letter, invoice, receipt, and shipping manifest from the day it was ordered to the day it cleared US Customs in New York Harbor. Duty paid: $153. Nielsen was home for Christmas.
The car eventually passed to Haldor Nielsen Jr., and then to Clyde Winters, a graphic designer who had lived on Telegraph Hill for twelve years and was a 356 Registry member who understood exactly what he had. He showed the car at the 1982 Monterey Concours d'Elegance. He died on December 31st of a brain hemorrhage at 53, stricken the day after Christmas.
In June 1990, the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California filed a Notice of Trustee's Intent to Sell a 1959 Porsche Convertible D, Vehicle I.D. #86809. Sealed bids.
I won.
I drove it to Telegraph Hill. Saints Peter and Paul Church spread out below, the whole city behind it, the car pointed into a deep blue San Francisco sky. The photograph exists. What I didn't know when I took it was that I was standing on Clyde Winters' street, where he had lived for twelve years with this car.
I know it now.
Eventually I let it go, a decision I've spent years reconsidering.
In 2020, I spent eighteen months trying to buy it back. I contacted the 356 Registry, ran notices, and followed a lead to Santa Barbara. An expert told me what I didn't want to hear, the car had almost certainly been purchased and returned to Europe. A ruby red 1959 Porsche 356 Convertible D, the color Haldor Nielsen chose because Porsche wouldn't build him a black one, back on the continent where it started.
I never found it. So I bought a 718 Spyder instead. Some losses you carry. Others you replace with 414 horsepower. If you know where chassis 86809 is, I am still looking.
The First Drive That
In May of 2024, I took delivery of my new Porsche GT3 RS in Bend, Oregon. I had waited a long time for that car, and the drive home was going to be an event.
A week later, I pointed it south toward Lake Tahoe. The roads through Oregon were everything you would hope for. Open, sweeping, and largely empty. By the time I crossed into California, the GT3 RS had made its case rather convincingly.
About fifteen miles past the state line, red and blue lights came up behind me.
A California Highway Patrol officer approached the window with an expression somewhere between professional composure and genuine disbelief. He told me he had never, in his career, seen anyone travel that fast. It had taken him twelve miles to catch up.
I considered my options and decided honesty was the best policy. I told him I was really on it—and that he probably only caught me because I had stopped for gas.
He stared at me for a moment.
Almost Wasn't
Then he laughed.
Whether it was the candor, the car, or some combination of the two, he let me off with something far more valuable than a ticket. A few minutes on the side of the road, lights still flashing, while he admired the GT3 RS up close, I tried to look appropriately humbled. We took some photos. He wished me a safe drive the rest of the way to Tahoe.
I obliged, at a more considered pace.
By Chris Hoskins
That stop on the California shoulder wasn't exactly the first drive I had planned. But in a strange way, it captured everything about what it feels like to get behind the wheel of a car like that for the first time. The GT3 RS doesn't ask you to hold back. It doesn't reward timidity. It wants to be driven, and on that particular stretch of highway, with nothing but open road ahead, I gave it exactly what it wanted.
The CHP officer understood. I think most Porsche drivers would too.
FBuilt for You
By Robert Thompson
or years, my family came first. That was never a complaint; it was simply the life I chose, and I chose it gladly. A sports car was never in the cards.
Then, in 2021, my family changed that.
My son had just bought his first Porsche, and he arranged for me to experience the Porsche Experience Center in Carson. I cornered hard, and braked harder. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, something clicked. I priced out a Turbo S Cabriolet right there on the spot, felt the sticker shock, and walked away. But I couldn't walk away from the feeling forever. It was something that lingered, nagged, and continued to chip away at my conscience.
A year and a half later, I took delivery of one of the first three 2024 911 Turbo S allocations for the United States. Some decisions take time. Some are worth every minute of the wait. The first morning I took it out, I pointed it toward Pacific Coast Highway with the top down. The light was doing what Southern California light does, pouring itself over everything in liquid gold, glittering off the Pacific, and turning an ordinary Tuesday into something cinematic. The engine woke with that unmistakable Porsche voice. Precise. Confident. Alive.
The 911 doesn't merely move down the road. It dances. Every curve of PCH felt designed for this machine. The taut steering, the effortless grip, the way it settles into each bend with total authority. Salt air mixed with warm asphalt.
The ocean flashed beside me, blue and endless.
At a stoplight in Laguna, a kid in a backseat pointed. A guy crossing the street gave me that subtle nod, the universal sign for Yeah, that's the one. But that wasn't the real thrill. The real thrill was what happened the second the light turned green. Somewhere near Crystal Cove, I stopped thinking about horsepower and price tags. All of that faded. What was left was simpler and better. The warmth of the sun on my forearm. The pull of the wheel in my hand. The flat-six singing into the open sky.
My family gave me my first drive. PCH gave me everything after.
Some experiences are luxurious. Some are exhilarating. A few are unforgettable. This was all three.
992.1 Carrera T
By Jon Pena
My first drive didn’t start on the road—it started at Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles.
I took delivery of my 992.1 Carrera T in Gentian Blue there, and even before turning a wheel, the experience already felt different. Walking into the delivery showroom and seeing the car sitting under the cover—knowing it was mine—was surreal. There’s a pause in that moment where everything slows down. You’re not thinking about specs or options anymore just, this is happening!
Being PECLA Delivery #1241 made it feel even more special— like a small place in Porsche’s story.
But the real “first drive” moment came on the track.
Before I ever drove the car on public roads, I was out on the circuit with a driving coach, pushing the 911 in ways I never would have on my own. Feeling the grip, the balance, the way the car rotated under trail braking—it completely reset my understanding of what the car could do. It wasn’t just fast—it was precise, alive, and incredibly communicative.
That session did something important, it built trust. By the time I finally left PECLA and pulled out onto the street, I wasn’t just excited—I felt connected to the car.
So, my first drive wasn’t a single moment. It was the reveal under the cover. It was the first lap on track. And it was that quiet drive out of PECLA,realizing, “this is mine, and I actually know what it can do.”
TVentura Venture
ucked between two scorching heat waves, in March no less, the weather cooled that Saturday as PCA-OCR club members gathered around Town Center Drive in La Canada for a sixhour drive through the northern sections of Southern California. The weather was super. The drive was sublime.
Thirty-nine (39) Porsches of all makes and models with approximately 55 participants of all shapes and sizes, started off in four separate groups, which immediately put everyone on Angeles Crest Highway. Joining us on this 227-mile marathon drive was former CEO of Porsche Motorsports and Co-Founder of ANDIAL, Alwin Springer in his limited-edition Porsche S/T.
The Ventura Overnighter was underway and once we veered left at Angeles Forest Highway, the experience was overwhelming. It was a splendid spritely sense of sights and sounds and steering. Uphill and upshifting, downhill and downshifting, blind bends and open straight-aways, a few narrow roads, using 2nd and 3rd gears, working the wheel lock to lock, feeling G forces, going from shady tree line stretches into bright sunlight, to 6th gear sweepers, it was a self-controlled roller coaster ride
Story by Glenn Billings & Elena Thenard
by Jim Storms & Paul Lawrence
Heading toward Palmdale, the topography of the forest changed into a spattering of charcoal blacken trees still recovering from past fires Douglas firs and Pine trees gave way to desert flora of Chaparral white thorn and bush poppies. This was the first sighting of many colorful wild flowers we observed on the trip. Yellow, white, and orange flowers covered most of the outlying hills, which contrasted with the intense cloudless sky of Porsche cobalt blue. After a ten-minute rest and pit stop at Pelona Vista Park, we started uphill again into the forest canopy with a beautiful view of Lake Elizabeth off to our right. From the Oak and Ponderosa Pines, to the vast rolling grasslands to the desert blooms. Elevation changes from 4500 feet to zero. You could sense the weather cooling and the elevation lowering as this long ribbon of tarmac came to an 8-mile-long flat expanse of farmland where Pistachio orchards were diagonally lined up for miles.
Toward the end of the drive, we now enter caverns of 8 story high jagged rock faces with black moss like wallpaper clinging to their sides. We traveled through tunnels revving engines and tooting horns before getting a glimpse of civilization
Photos
again It was quite a letdown to have to join city traffic again. However, an evening of reminiscing with tacos and quesadillas waiting for us at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Ventura overlooking a crowded harbor of sailboats and the Pacific beyond. Jay Stephensen was our host and Tour Meister on this epic journey and it was a superlative effort over monumental tasks. Jay has scheduled a one day tour down San Diego way coming soon, come on board!!
Our hearts and prayers go out to Rick Eckelman’s family.
You Drive 2,947 Miles to Do What ?
My buddy looked at me as though I had a few screws loose. Or should I say lug nuts? Yes, I calmly replied as though it made perfect sense. I drove almost 3,000 miles so I could drive another 489 miles. Please expound, he responded, his incredulity not reduced in the least.
I explained that I drove to Kerrville, Texas to participate in the 25th Annual Hill Country Rallye. It is impossible to put such an electrifying event into words. It is one of those happenings that you have to be there to understand. The Rallye is not a competitive event. There is no timing or scoring. It is simply a chance to drive fantastic roads in the Hill Country of Texas in a car that Porschephiles love to drive. Just as importantly, it is a social event that provides a great opportunity to make new friends and reconnect with old ones who share similar interests.
I had heard of the Hill Country Rallye before and had met people who reported a wonderful experience. It seemed similar to the Targa California, a spirited drive through the back roads of California that I have done three times, so I thought I would give it a try.
The event organizers connected me with another entrant I will call HotShoe. We agreed to drive to the event together in our 45-year-old cars, citing the old maxim of safety in numbers.
On the way to Santa Fe, disaster struck. I had a blowout. Fortunately, I had a portable air compressor and was able to mount my space-saver spare. HotShoe was kind enough to carry the damaged wheel in his Targa, and I limped about eight miles into town. First thing the next morning I found a tire shop, got two new tires, and we were back on the road by 10:00 AM. We drove about 500 miles to Abilene, Texas, and had an easy final day covering the last 200 miles to Kerrville, completing a 1,672-mile drive one way. When we pulled into the parking lot of the Y-O Resort, we were greeted by dozens of Porsches.
But not just any Porsches.
To register for the Rallye, your Porsche must be a 1989 model year or older. Air-cooled. No radiators. No exceptions. As the website puts it, if it has cupholders, traction control, parking sensors, power steering, lane assist, ventilated seats,
By Paul Friedman
or any other feature standard on most modern Honda cars, it is probably not invited. There were 337 Porsches registered and 460 attendees, 306 of whom had run the event before. Even more impressive, 22 participants had attended 15 times or more. There were 52 cars from the 1950s and 1960s, and the average age of the cars was 49 years old. The oldest was a 1955 Speedster. Other notable cars included a Convertible D with a 3-liter motor and an early 911 reimagined by Singer. Thirty unique states, provinces, and countries were represented, spanning the US, Mexico, and Canada.
We left at about 8:30 Friday morning with roughly ten cars in our group. Not knowing the area and wanting to keep my eyes on the road, I asked to run near the front to reduce my chances of getting lost and was put second in line. My car is a 1979 911SC with a 3.2-liter motor and rear tires that are 10.5 inches wide on 17-inch rims. Our leader was Mike from San Antonio, a 15-time Rallye veteran who knew these roads intimately. He was driving a 1966 912 with a 1.6-liter motor and tires that were 5.5 inches wide on 15-inch rims, and he drove that car like he stole it. We had a wonderful time up and down the hills, through sweeping turns. It was glorious driving the car the way it was meant to be driven.
Saturday brought more of the same on different roads. New people joined the group, others moved on, but I kept my spot behind Mike. We got back to the hotel around 2:30, and I asked if we could go out again. Nobody else was interested, but Mike graciously agreed. We headed back out for another hour and a half through the twisties. That willingness to keep driving just for the love of it was a perfect example of the camaraderie you find at this event.
Saturday night, 460 people gathered in a great hall for the banquet. Stories were shared, contact information was exchanged, and prizes were raffled off. The oldest driver was 85. The oldest passenger was 90. The participant who traveled the furthest covered 3,400 miles to get there. Several people who attended the very first Rallye 25 years ago were acknowledged. Of everyone who has ever attended at least one Hill Country Rallye, 81 percent have returned for another.
I would love to be counted in that group next year. The only hurdle is registration. This year, 337 spots filled in 95 seconds.
I will be ready to click.
Tim Ashcroft, Creator of Doorshield.
The
DIMINISHED VALUE
LOSS OF USE
The cost to rent a similar vehicle as yours during repairs.
PORSCHE SERVICE FACILITY EQUIPPED TO SERVICE ALL MODELS
Mercedes Benz 300SL, 190SL, 230SL-280SL Jaguar XKs & XKEs, Classic Aston Martins, Classic Ferraris
2026 OCR Golf Series
Sponsored by Cape Auto
Where: Oso Creek Golf Course, Mission Viejo
Date: May 20, 2026
First Tee Time: 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $44 per person, includes 9 holes and cart
Registration: MotorsportReg
Watch for email announcements for registration details.
Future golf outings at Oso Creek Golf Course:
g June 10, 2026
g July 15, 2026
g August 12, 2026
g September 9, 2026
g October 7, 2026
*All dates are subject to change, please watch for email updates.
Letter to the Editor
Thank you for printing our story in the April issue. Plus, my wife says she always wanted to be a “Cover Girl.” She was happily shocked!
Sincerely, Mike & Cecilia
Seymour
OCR Membership Updates
Anniversaries :
Congratulations!
May
Anniversaries are recognized every five years of membership.
50 Years
Ranney, Diane
Ranney, Gil
45 Years
Schmidt, Dannielle
Schmidt, Stephen P.
30 Years
Stotts, Paula
Stotts, Philip F.
25 Years
Perissi, Gerald
20 Years
Renga, Gabe A.
Renga, Pat
15 Years
Lawrence, Paul C.
Kearns, Thomas G.
Hughes, Mark
Gelsi, Daniel
Gelsi, Hye Jin
10 Years
Baer, Donald W.
Buff-Baer, Penni
James, Richard
James, Joanna
Stenzel, Reinhard
Stenzel, Mark
Leary, Michael Leary, Mary
Borup, Blake Ta, Thai
5 Years
Lawson, Jeff M.
Lawson, Lisa Funk, Todd Funk, Erin
Tarlow, Ondar
Dito, Allan P.
TU, K.
Lopez, Kenneth
Housman, Rob
Curry, Richard A.
Marsh, Carolyn Patterson, Thomas Allen, Sean
Miller, Michael
New Members : Welcome!
February
Biles, Nathan
1987 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Capizzi II, Vincent 2026 911 GT3
Davis, David Lee
Davis, Angela 2008 911 Carrera 4S
Devereux, Darrin 2022 911 Carrera
Driscoll, David 1983 944
Eulenstein, Andreas 2009 911 Targa 4
Frank, Kerry
2017 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
Heinzelmann, Roland Heinzelmann, Sheryl 2023 Taycan GTS
2002 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
Himmler, Christian 2014 911 GT3
Kamfar, Kaveh 2023 718 Cayman GT4
Kang, Andrew 2014 Boxster S
Kim, Minjun 2023 911 Carrera T
Kipper, Cory 2006 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Lissoy, Scott A. Lissoy, Christine 2023 Macan S
Nguyen, Danny Vu
Nguyen, Kristina 2016 911 Targa 4S
Ponton, Marty 2022 911 GT3
Rapp, Sterling Micheal 2020 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
Saxena, Raghav Bahadur 2017 718 Boxster S
Sharma, Kristina 2018 718 Cayman GTS
Wakayama, Myles 2015 Cayman
Waxman, Maxwell 1999 911 Carrera
Member Transfers :
Cross, Dilun
Cross, Michael
2017 718 Cayman S
Transfer From: Los Angeles (LA)
Gaulke, David L. Gaulke, Robin 2 - 2007 911 Carreras
Transfer From: Grand Prix (GPX)
Kotchek, Trevor
2016 Cayenne Diesel Platinum Edition
Transfer From: Inland Empire (IER)
Mathis, Mitch D’Arca, Julie
1991 911 Carrera 2
2024 718 Cayman GTS 4.0
Transfer From: Grand Prix (GPX)
Schumacher, Richard Schumacher, Janet
2000 Boxster
2024 Taycan Turbo
Transfer From: Golden Gate (GG)
Membership Benefits :
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
Bob and Linda Griffith / 2018 Cayman / Red
Edwin Yu / 1987 930 / Black
Garrett and Joe Drucker / 2006 997 / Black
Robert Klemme / 2026
Carrera S / Black
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 April 4, 2026
Photos by Monica Asbury
Mazen Fawaz, Chief Strategy Officer, SINGER, with son
Always a special treat when the Springers attend our Club gatherings.
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
Membership
Asbury | 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.
Chair
Denny
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 (3)
FOR SALE: PARTS-911-930-993-986-996-
997-991
FOR SALE: 2025 992.2 CARRERA STANDARD SIDESKIRTS: Standard Sideskirts from my 992.2 Carrera. These are unpainted, black plastic OEM parts and will fit all 991 and 992 variants. They were replaced with more aggressive GT3 skirts immediately after I took delivery, so they're in perfect condition. Asking $300.00 for pair. Call me direct for local pickup Tod. 714-745-6911 or Todmerkwan@gmail.com. OCR (0)
FOR SALE : PARTS-BOXSTER, PANAMERA, CAYENNE & CAYMAN
FOR SALE: BOXSTER 986 PARTS. Porsche Boxster Removable OEM Hardtop in Metallic Black (744). In very good condition with operating latches and defroster cable. $1995.00. Local pick up only in Laguna Beach, CA. Porsche 6 CD changer with magazine and mounting bracket. OEM P/N 993.645.130.00. Stows in front trunk $129.00. Contact Dale at 714-209-6312; DLJ747@gmail.com. OCR (0)
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
Apex Predator, redefined.
THE PORSCHE X
AO
RACING COLLECTION.
Rawr meets race. Porsche and AO Racing present a limited capsule with a prehistoric punch – featuring the iconic duo Rexy and Roxy. Tees, polos, hoodies and caps bring race track energy and comic-cool straight to the street.
