BEND
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Jay Seeley President, High Desert Region PCA president@highdesertpca.org
I’m excited to announce that Joe Lawrence, O of Porsche Cars North America (and now a Bend bout Porsche’s product planning process. Joe’s year other marques should make this a lively and fascinating event. It will be held in March, check the HDR club calendar for details.
Are you interested in volunteering? Club VP Randy Lervold is our Driving Events Chair and is putting together the Arrive & Drive Schedule for the year. As part of that process, he is looking for a few more volunteers to be Group Leads for the drives. This is a great way to get more involved in some fun events. Randy will be holding an informational meeting later this month for interested members; to learn more, please email Randy for the details: vp@highdesertpca.org
Our first Arrive & Drive this year will be on the morning of April 11th, specifically for our new members. If you’re new to the club in the past year, I encourage you to join us for this fun drive and meet some fellow members. We’ll leave from Bend and take the Crooked River Scenic Byway, ending up at Brasada Ranch for brunch. Details and registration information are on the website.
Speaking of volunteering, Club Secretary Stein Nielsen is developing some new Social Events and multi-day tours, and is looking for members interested in helping out with those events. We aim to offer a variety of different experiences throughout the year, so we always are on the lookout for new ideas and volunteers to help make them happen! Please email Stein if you’d like to get involved: secretary@highdesertpca.org
This summer we are bringing back the Twilight Drives. These are short (about an hour) midweek drives on a scenic route in Central Oregon, starting around 5:30 and ending with a bite to eat at a convenient food truck pod, like Eurosports or The Barn in Sisters, Wild Ride in Redmond, or one of the many in Bend. More on these as the day get a bit longer!
Finally, the club’s 2025 year-end financials are included next page. . As I reported earlier, our 25th anniversary year was a successful one. Membership has grown by nearly 20% over the past 5 years to about 550 members now in the High Desert Region of Oregon. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments on the club financials.
Cheers, Jay
HIGH DESERT REGION-PCA LEADERSHIP TEAM 2026
Executive Board
Jay Seeley, President
Randy Lervold, Vice-President
Jeanine Faria, Treasurer
Stein Nielsen, Secretary
Directors (Board Members)
Fred Nielsen, Prior President 2024-2025
Mark Taylor, Membership
Lisa Sarmiento, Safety and Insurance
Hack Heyward, Tech Team
Volunteer Leadership
Ralph Anzellotti, downshift Editor-In-Chief
Linda Anzellotti, Event Calendar Maestro
Laura Clark, Webmaster
High Desert Region PCA Post Office Box 113 Bend, Oregon. 97709
HDR-PCA Established April 29, 2000
www.highdesertpca.org
EDITOR RAMBLINGS
Typically, this time of year most of our Porsches are tucked away for the winter and HDR club activities are either socials, tech sessions, or Cars and Coffee events. These winter events are the main way we keep connected to our HDR friends and HDR membership. .When you see an event posted make an extra effort to attend, otherwise you will get a severe case of FOMA.
The new HDR Board is in full swing for 2026. Stay tuned for an exciting list of events already scheduled and more to be added as time rolls on. We can help support their efforts by volunteering and attending.
if the weather in Centeral Oregon continues to be mild, perhaps the driving season could start early this Spring?
Ralph
advertising@highdesertpca.org
DOWNSHIFT Magazine
Published near the first of every month Deadline 10th of each month
HDR-PCA Email Contacts
president@highdesertpca.org (Jay Seeley) vp@highdesertpca.org (Randy Lervold) secretary@highdesertpca.org (Stein Nielsen) membership@highdesertpca.org (Mark Taylor) safety@highdesertpca.org (Lisa Sarmiento, Monday Announcement) socialevents@highdesertpca.org (Stein Nielsen) tours@highdesertpca.org (Stein Nielsen) carevents@highdesertpca.org (Randy Lervold) advertising@highdesertpca.org (Ralph Anzellotti, downshift) webmaster@highdesertpca.org (Laura Clark) merchandise@highdesertpca.org (Stu Malakoff, Online Store)
Get ready for a high-octane, culturally rich journey across Germany with the “Germany Full Throttle” adventure (Sept 26–Oct 6, 2026). We’ll begin in the charming historic town of Speyer, where we’ll explore its medieval heart and glide through the vineyards in a vintage bus.
Then, it’s pedal to the metal at the legendary Hockenheimring for an unforgettable solo drive in a Porsche handling course and drifting included. Next up: a scenic drive through the Moselle valley to the fairytale Castle Cochem, followed by wine tasting at Schloss Lieser, and a dive into history in the Roman city of Trier and the bunkers of Fort Casso. Cruise the legendary roads of the Black Forest, tour the Porsche factory and museum, and explore automotive culture at Motorworld Böblingen.
The trip finishes in style with a private morning tour of the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle, a brewery visit, and two days in lively Munich — historic walking tours, a visit to the BMW Museum, and a guided tour of the magnificent Nymphenburg Palace. Included are boutique 4-star accommodations, expert private guides, select lunches and a dinner, plus group transportation for a maximum of 20 people idea in one amazing journey. Soun
Vicky Malakoff Owner & Fearless Travele
Phone: 609-933-1763
Email: vicky.malakoff@d
Web: www.destinationun
“Porsche’s
in Heels’ New Members New Events Fun and Frolics
Audrey Moore, HDR’s past Tour Director, will be focusing on Porsches in High Heels in 2026. Stay tuned for a ladies lunch invite in February to share ideas and to bring back the excitement of HDR’s unique women's group.
If you prefer to be a passenger at a driving event, you are most welcome to attend and Audrey will match you up with a Porsche driver.
P.S. No high heels required!
O W N S H I F T F E A T U R E D
VOLK und PORSCHES Porsches and Sardines
Article and photos by Andy Burke
My friend asked this: “So you flew all the way to Portugal and back for a screwdriver?”
“Well, not exactly. And it wasn’t just any screwdriver. It is the yellow handle only and was the last missing piece from my tool bag,” I said.
“Julie and I also hiked quite a bit and enjoyed the food-especially the grilled sardines.”
“Grilled can of sardines??? Sounds yummy…Not.”
“No man. Fresh sardines, grilled over an open fire. Olive oil. Salt…Ok, Never mind…”
“Ok, that plate looks somewhat doable. Take me back to he screwdriver handle. Can’t be any stranger than grilled sardines” he said.
“To have a complete tool bag in an older Porsche is critical to happiness. Complete tool kits sell for thousands on Bring a Trailer.”
“Bring a what?”
“Again, never mind. I rea Porsche shop in Lisbon called SportClassse and I thought I would stop by and see if they had the screwdriver handle I need.”
“Are all Porsche owners nuts like you?”
“No. Some are really serious about their cars.” I replied. “I emailed Sport Classe and asked if I could stop by and mentioned I was interested in said screwdriver handle. Nice email back invited us ‘of course to stop by, happy to meet you’ but made no mention of the handle. So that’s what Julie and I did. Uber’d to this industrial area of Lisbon and quickly found this amazing facility. We were escorted to the company’s classic Porsche division. Wait, let me simply show you these images. The place was mind blowing.”
Friend was impressed with Porsche collection but really liked the VW Van hidden up in the rafters. “Well big question…Did they have the screwdriver handle for you?” he asked.
“Sadly, they did not. They offered to sell a complete tool kit but not what I need.”
“What now? Check out a trade show in Beijing?”
“Pretty funny, man. No, I did find the correct part online in jolly Olde England and it is being shipped to me as we speak.”
“Let me get this straight…You ordered a screwdriver, um screwdriver handle from England in the time of tariffs and crazy shipping costs?’
“Yep.”
“You Porsche guys are nuts.”
“Want me to crack a tin of sardines? I’ve got some saltines too.”
SPORTCLASSE?
The rest of the story…..
WHY DOES PORSCHE PUT THE
IGNITION ON THE LEFT SIDE?
Submitted Ralph Anzellotti
Ever noticed that your Porsche key tends to sit on the left side of the steering column? It’s a question that many Porsche enthusiasts and new owners find themselves asking.
Why exactly is the key designed to go on the left? This seemingly small detail actually ties deeply into Porsche’s rich history, meticulous design philosophy, and even functional practicality.
Understanding why Porsche places its key on the left reveals more than just a quirky design choice — it uncovers the brand’s commitment to tradition, safety, and driver experience. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating history behind this characteristic, how it differs from other luxury brands, and what practical and aesthetic considerations influence this feature, all of which contribute to making Porsche’s design distinctly unique.
There are several practical reasons that explain why Porsche keys are positioned on the left side of the steering column. First, it allows for a more ergonomic and speedy start-up process. Drivers can instinctively reach for the key with their left hand while their right hand remains on the steering wheel or gear shift, facilitating a smooth pre-driving routine. This placement also minimizes the risk of accidentally knocking the key out during tight maneuvering or in crowded parking scenarios, as it’s housed conveniently near the driver’s natural reach.
In traditional manual transmission Porsches, left-side placement makes it easier for drivers to start the vehicle without interfering with their control inputs. Lastly, this location aligns with the overall design language of the car’s interior, maintaining symmetry and aesthetic consistency while offering practical benefits for daily use.
Porsche’s design philosophy revolves around marrying form and function creating vehicles that look stunning while offering intuitive usability. In line with this ethos, the position of the key on the left side isn’t just about practicality; it also contributes to the overall harmony of the vehicle’s interior layout.
By placing the key on the left, Porsche maintains a clean, uncluttered center console and a balanced dashboard design, emphasizing symmetry and craftsmanship. This subtle detail resonates with the brand’s attention to detail and its desire to uphold a timeless aesthetic.
SAAB Key Placement
Submitted by Ralph Anzellotti
This article is a continuation of the article of Porsche having the ignition key on the left. Saab cars were known for having a key on the center console next to the gear shift. There are unique reasons for this odd location.
I owned a Ruby red Saab 900 SE 1996 Turbo, high performance manual shift, “Ruby” was a rocket by anyone’s standard. The horse power and performance was severely underrated to meet EPA -EU standards. Third gear, hard acceleration, turbo screaming,, Ruby was pure driving heaven.
The real reason for the placement of the ignition was because it was too easy to steal Saabs and the placement of the key ignition was more secure and also locked the transmission. Problem solved. .
The ignition key placement was funny especially when dropping off the car for valet parking,.
Many parking attendants did not know where the key fit the ignition and driving a manual shift with a high performance clutch was a challenge. It was fun to watch these attendants sit in the driver seat confused where to put the key and why is there a third pedal?
Saab's Unique Ignition Placement Historical Context
Saab has a long history of innovative engineering and design. The placement of the ignition switch by the gear shift, specifically on the transmission tunnel, dates back to 1969. This design choice was made for practical reasons, including security and ease of access.
Security Features
Rational Design: The ignition switch's location was intended to enhance security. By placing it between the seats, it was less accessible to potential thieves.
User Convenience: This positioning allows drivers to easily access the ignition while shifting gears, promoting a more streamlined driving experience.
You must shift into reverse before removing the key a very Saab-specific quirk that surprises first-time drivers.
Brand Identity
Distinctive Engineering: The ignition placement became a hallmark of Saab's unique engineering style. It set Saab apart from other manufacturers and contributed to the brand's identity.
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PORSCHES
IT’S ABOUT THE PUPPIES!
A monthly feature by Audrey Moore Lisa, Dave, and Buddy Sarmiento
We love ‘Puppies and Porsches’! When we buy a new Porsche, we think success. When you foster a dog, which, by the way is not a permanent situation, and then fall in love with that dog, and then adopt that dog, you are known as a ‘Foster Failure’. What? What’s wrong with that picture?
Well, Lisa and David did just that. Buddy, an 8 year old Tibetan Terrier, was in desperate need of a permanent home when David and Lisa generously opened their doors to foster Buddy.
Little did they know that this 35 pound love bug would capture both their hearts. (Hence the Foster Failure.) Not only did Buddy capture their hearts, but he came in a time of need, selflessly stationing himself at their daughter’s bedside as well, as she was battling cancer.
Today, Lisa describes Buddy as a Diesel Cayenne! Full throttle and ready to go, but then content to cruise along. Buddy’s favorite ride is their Platinum Edition Cayenne which has been outfitted for his comfort and safety, known as the Custom Canine Mobile Throne!
Foster Failure? Nope. A Foster Success!
In Search Of Curves - Part One
My lifelong craving for curves
By Randy Lernvold
It started when I was a teenager progressing through the ranks of alpine skiing, I found I especially enjoyed the challenge of carving turns on hardpack think slalom or giant slalom ski racing. It then progressed to motorcycling and learning how to navigate the tightest set of curves I could find — I wasn’t happy unless I was scraping parts on the side of the bike and the edges of the tire tread. Cars were up next and I discovered how challenging, and thrilling when done well, twisty roads could also be in my first Porsche, a yellow 1973 914 2.0 that we bought from my wife’s boss in 1975.
In the years and decades that followed I never lost that attraction and always made time to get my fix of curves at every opportunity. Sometimes that meant just driving home from workby a creative route. Occasionally I’d think about the origins or cause of this attraction and concluded that there really is a commonality in carving turns in all these activities, and that at the core of it was the kinesthetic sensation. You likely know the feeling… the g-forces building up as you turn in on the perfect line, the car is communicating with you through all your sensesas you make microadjustments through your steering and brakes. You nail the apex exactly where you want and start opening the steering while squeezing the throttle to launch for the next turn. Over time you develop discipline with your vision being able to precisely place your inside tire right where you want it yet still keep an eye down the road so you know what’s coming next and can connect the corners correctly.
After decades of pondering all of this I can now summarize this attraction with a term: kinesthetic dopamine. Google it, even though I made up that term it turns out it actually is a thing!
To bring all this to present day, in hindsight I now know threethings with certainty:
1. I understand and accept that I have a deep attraction to the physical thrill and challenge of cornering, and I am most fortunate to now have the opportunity to spend more time pursuing it.
2. This is why I own a Porsche and how I like to use it.
3. Porsche, there is no substitute. No better way to say it.
My planning process
Though I’ve taken lots of motorcycle and car trips over the years, and have developed quite a list of planning tools, it wasn’t until I arrived in Bend that I had the time to start fully utilizingthem. One place I’d read about over the years that had been at the top of my list for its world class motorcycle riding was the “Lost Coast”. This is an area in Northern California that starts at the border with Oregon, extends South to around Fort Bragg, and is defined East/West by the Pacific Ocean on the West and I-5 (or as Californians would say “the 5”) on the East. This is a somewhat sparsely populated area which has no major freeways, rather a network of secondary two-lane highways and roads. It’s also quite mountainous, which means all of these roads need curves in them.
My research of this area started years ago via a website called www.pashnit.com. The site was put up by a motorcyclist named Tim Mayhew who made it his project to document virtually all of the roads in Northern California that would be interesting to motorcyclists. You could subscribe to the site for $25/year to access all the information, which I did for many years, but was so busy with work and other commitments that I never once had a chance to actually take a trip there. Tim has since transitioned his business into guided motorcycle tours of which he now does about 25 per year.
The gold mine of the do-it-yourself info is still there on his site, but it’s a bit buried and not laid out in a way that lends itself to putting a trip together with it. I suspect that’s deliberate so as tosteer riders to his guided tours.
Being determined, I developed my own planning method using three primary sources: Tim’s pashnit.com site and Butler G1 maps to identify the puzzle pieces, then Google Maps to put the pieces together into a trip plan.
Assembling an actual trip such as this without pre-running it is a very time-intensive process, but of course also a labor of love. There are lots of considerations that need to be built into a plan: how many days, how much driving each day, headquarter in one town and take day trip loops each subsequent day, or stay in a different place each night? Then there’s timing: avoiding tourist traffic peaks, weather considerations for the time of year, etc.
In 2022 I spent the first 4 winter months carefully assembling a plan for myself for my first trip. This was going to be a solo trip, just quality bonding time between me and my car. Based solely on my own preferences I set up a four-day trip: Monday drive down, Tuesday a loop out and back with a pre-selected lunch stop, another loop out and back on Wednesday with lunch, and the drive home on Thursday. Given the location of the roads I wanted to try, and after hours of staring at Google Maps and thinking through different ways to fit the pieces together, I chose to stay in Eureka, CA as my headquarters.
With the length of the trip and the routes of the trip decided I then needed to select the dates. Having started the trip planningin January and it now being April I was itching to get going. I hypothesized that the week just before Memorial Day would be good because the tourists are not quite on the road yet, and it was late enough that there should not be snow on the roads in any of the mountains on the way to/from Eureka, and four days just felt about right to me.
My first Lost Coast trip
Exactly as planned I departed before dawn on May 22nd, 2023 for my first Lost Coast trip. I am most pleased to report that all aspects of the trip more than met my expectations. The routes were truly outstanding, just the right length to provide enough driving each day yet still leave a bit of flex time to relax and stay in touch with the rest of my world. The roads were as good or better than described on pashit.com they were adventurous, scenic, and most importantly included hundreds of curves. Suffice it to say that at the end of each day my craving for curves was satiated, for the day at least… never thought that would happen!
When 2024 rolled around I had had such a good time that I repeated the exact same trip again. Same result, weather was perfect and I now knew what to expect in every regard. After taking and enjoying this trip for two years I thought I’d expand my repertoire. As you can see on pashnit.com there are quite a few good roads to the East of the Lost Coast, in the Norther Sierra Nevada mountains, basically from Lake Tahoe to the North. I spent early 2025 working a brand new route to that area and took the trip in my new-tome 991.2 during the same week in May. Overall it was a good trip but I had to admit it just didn’t have the magic of the Lost Coast trip, my plan for 2026 therefore is to just repeat again.
Is there an HDR Tour here?
But wait, this story’s not quite over yet. As word of my trips circulated through the HDR ranks over the last three years Fred Nielsen finally heard about it. He then spent the second half of last year trying to talk me into making my 2026 trip an HDR Tour. I thought to myself “Hmm, why ruin a good thing?”, but in the end he and new prez Jay Seeley convinced me to give it a try.
I’m therefore pleased to announce that the I will be leading the first tour of 2026 which will be the Lost Coast CornerFest. This will be the same exact trip I’ve described above. Look for full details in next month’s downshift. The dates will be May 18th – 21st.
SkidCar Training
Desch y g ement program taught with the aid of the SKIDCAR System. The SKIDCARframework attaches to the suspension of a vehicle to allow the front and rear tires to be lifted or lowered independently with a controller. The system allows drivers to experience the inclement driving conditions that cause a vehicle to lose traction in a safe and controlled learning environment. The course costs $100.00 and is available through Deschutes County Risk Management and sponsored by the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners.
Training includes one hour of classroom instruction followed by three hours of hands-on driving in the vehicle. The instructor will cover various techniques, including proper eye placement, acceleration, braking, steering, weight and energy management, as well as proper tire decisions and maintenance. Participants will learn the proper use of anti-lock braking systems and understand the differences between rear wheel drive, front wheel drive and four wheel drive systems, as well as Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control in modern vehicles. Participants will also learn about skid prevention, control and recovery.
https://www.deschutes.org/administration/page/skidcar-training vp@highdesertpca.org Randy Lervold;
HDR-PCA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Mark Taylor, Membership membership@highdesertpca.org
John Rogers
Sunriver, Oregon 97707
2026 Panamera GTS
Steve Hussey
Bend, Oregon 97703 2023 Cayenne GTS
Joseph & Janet Amos (transferred from Ohio Valley Region)
Bend, Oregon 2007 Cayman
Austin Borkoski
(Test Drive Subscriber)
Bend, Oregon 97703
Timothy Caine
(Test Drive Subscriber) Bend, Oregon 97701
PCA ANNIVERSARIES
Tenure Congratulations!
We are very grateful to these members for their membership tenure anniversaries with PCA, not just with the High Desert Region
February 1 PCA Anniversaries:
David & Maureen Vadman: 25 years
Phil Fenn & Kathleen Crowne: 24 years
Scott & Kathryn Loring: 21 years
Robert & Deanna Burpee: 19 years
Bob Fuelleman & Karen Katzbeck: 18 years
Thomas & Myrna Rattle: 14 years
Mark Taylor: 14 years
Hack & Andi Heyward: 13 years
Bob & Suzi Townes: 12 years
Piper & David Muoio: 11 years
Paul Webber & Susie Zeitner: 11 years
James & Bill Gillespie: 10 years
Jeffery & Patricia Katz: 10 years
Gary & Leslie Barbour: 9 years
Robert & Diane Seay: 8 years
Jim & Karen Parlette: 5 years
Kristian & Carolyn Bohme: 4 years
Val & Sandy Wadsworth: 4 years
Cannon & Baron Braatz: 2 years
AJ Garis: 2 years
Charles Massey: 2 years
Rick McGovern: 2 years
Suzanne & Roger McKim: 2 years
Bruce & Tara Barton: 1 year
Mike Gecox: 1 year
This is an aupgrade for your air cooled Porsche, a water circulating pump. Some welding and plumbing is involved. Make offer.
Jay
Enclosed Car / RV / boat / motorcycle storage space available near Redmond airport. Safe, secure, heated, powered, 24/7 access. $300/mo per car or SUV, multi-vehicle discounts. Contact Stu at 609.933.7085.
downshift features FREE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED ads for our club members. Private ads for Porsche related items such as cars, tires, wheels, accessories, or parts. You can place a free ad with a photo and up to 40 words.
For Sale 912 Coupe $75,000. Bought in Sacramento, California where it resided until recent sale in 2022. Numbers match, solid original floors. 2- owner car. original interior. New sport seats. Original seats are included. New OEM Porsche dash pad. Tangerine color. One exterior repaint. All new brakes. All maintenance records. Fresh rebuilt SOLEX carbs. Cary Gressinger Redmond, Oregon 503-780-5730
cgressinger@yahoo.com
Porsche 718 Cayman Indoor Car Cover
$800 for 4 Michelin X-ICE Snow Tires 20" (For front narrow/rear wide staggered Porsche SUVs)
These Michelin X-ICE Snow SUV tires are basically brand new, with approximately 600 miles of winter driving on them. These tires cost about $1,700 for the set from Kendall. ($350 ea. for the fronts and $475 ea. for the rear tires) We just need to sell them to someone who can use them, and to get them out of our garage. They do not fit our new SUV. Tires were always stored in a warm space.
All 4 tires fit 20" rims:
2 tires are 265/45 R 20 for the front
2 tires are 295/40 R 20 for the rear
Tires are for Porsche Macan and Cayenne SUVs with wider tires on the back than the front, with Staggered 20" rim set-up (Also fits with SUV's by BMW, AMG, Lambo, and Mustang Mach-E)
