official newsletter finger lakes region porsche club of america
TRANSCRIPT
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FINGER LAKES REGION
PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA
FRONTRUNNER PG. 2
Fall, 2013
On The Cover
President’s Message 3 ¡A Toda Velocidad! 4 Calendar of Events 2013 5 Lunch with Brian Redman 6 Finger Lakes Region Summer Run 8 Porsches at Monticello 10 Pace Car at the Clash 16 Fifty Year Love Affair 22 Membership 24 The Exchange 25 Finger Lakes Officers and Volunteers 25
On The Cover: Porsche 911 Targa.
Photo taken by Art Salo
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The Frontrunner is a publication of the Finger Lakes Region of the Porsche Club of America. All rights are reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce any material published herein, provided the full credit is given the Frontrunner and the author. Material published herein, reprinted with the permission or courtesy of another agent may NOT be reproduced unless permission is granted from that entity. They reserve all rights to their material.
Editor/Designer: Karen Schwartzman ([email protected]) Advertising Rates: Single Issue: Full Page: $100, ½ page: $75, ¼ page: $40, 1/8 page: $25 Full Year (4 issues): Full Page: $250, ½ page: $200, ¼ page: $150, 1/8 page: $100, Business Card: $50
FRONTRUNNER PG. 3
Sue Miller models new name tag.
Name tags are now available for all Finger Lakes PCA members. Contact David Schwaner or Mike Horiatis.
Finger Lakes Reflections
Wow, the summer has flashed by quicker than a 911 GT3 running hot laps at “the Glen.” Our monthly “Meet-ups” are continuing to grow in popularity as we had 17 PCA members at the Meet-up at our home in July followed by 21 members and affiliates at the end of August at the New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua. We have been sharing our social calendar with our friends at the Niagara Region which was in evidence at the August Meet-up as Niagara outnumbered the FLK contingent. But getting to know other members of PCA with our shared passions is what these Meet-ups and tours are all about.
I still have a batch of our new name badges to distribute. All you have to do is come out to a Meet-up or tour, or have a PCA friend pick it up for you. Our next Meet-up is at Belhurst Castle on Wed. Sept. 25
th. For those of you in
the Rochester suburbs, we can arrange an informal Meet-up in Monroe County to facilitate the distribution of these badges. If that is an idea that has some merit, just let me know ([email protected]) and either I or Membership Chair Mike Horiatis will set it up. These name badges look terrific (see photos) and are suitable for all PCA activities including Zone 1 events, DE at the “Glen”, Niagara Region events and the annual PCA Parade.
There’s still a few more weeks left for touring the vineyards and wineries of the Finger Lakes area which is accompanied with stunning vistas during the upcoming foliage season. On that note, be sure to mark your calendar for the annual Fall Tour on Sunday October 6
th.
We’re meeting at the parking lot of the Bristol Mountain Winter Resort located on NY Route 64 in the town of South Bristol in Ontario County. By the time you’re reading this, you will have already received one or more emails regarding this event together with menu selections for dinner at the North Shore Grill in Lakeville. Tour “Meister” Art Salo has put together another gorgeous drive through our beautiful Finger Lakes region with interesting roads and valley views suitable for the foliage season. I hope to see you all there.
David Schwaner
President
FRONTRUNNER PG. 4
¡A Toda Velocidad!*
Luis A. Martínez
Welcome to the Fall 2013 edition of The FrontRunner! I think we’ve had a splendid year and we are ascendant in terms of event variety and participation. While I’ve personally missed
out on some of the Last Wednesday Meet-Ups (due to my busy travel schedule), I have seen the photos and read the write ups and wished I had been there.
We have two more major events for you this year! On Wed., September 25th we will have our last Meet-Up at beautiful Belhurst Castle, on Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY. If the weather is nice, we will sit outside with our food and drink and take in the magnificence of Seneca Lake in the late afternoon.
Then on Sun., October 6 we will cap our 2013 activities with a Fall Run and Dinner. PCA member Art Salo has put together a fabulous fall foliage drive through the Finger Lakes. The tour concludes at the Conesus Lake waterfront with dinner at the North Shore Grill in Lakeville. Mark your calendar now!”
My favorite way to enjoy our fantastic cars is on the track. Elsewhere in this edition, I’ll be discussing some of my track events.
Speaking of which, please take and submit your own photos and notes and articles too about your activities and fun as Porsche owners. Let’s enjoy our Club right here in a region that others can only dream about – beautiful lakes, adjoining roads and villages, wineries, historic sites and a world renowned sports car racing track. Enjoy our paradise!
*At Maximum Speed!
UP NEXT…. FINGER LAKES REGION PCA
September 25, 2013
Meet-Up
Belhurst Castle Seneca Lake, Geneva, NY
October 6, 2013
Fall Run and Dinner
North Shore Grill Lakeville, NY
FRONTRUNNER PG. 5
Take a look at our Calendar for 2013. Pencil in some of those events. Sign up and bring
out your cars, your family and friends. Experience the joy of your Porsche in the
inimitable environment of the Finger Lakes.
Porsche Club of America Finger Lakes Region
CALENDAR 2013
“Let’s be on the water…”
January 12 Finger Lakes Region Annual Planning Meeting, Inn on the Lake Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24 at Daytona, FL February 23-24 Tech Tactics East, at Porsche Technical Facility, Easton, PA March 14-16 12 Hours of Sebring, FL March 22-24 Zone 1 President’s Meeting in Latham, NY April 20 Finger Lakes Region Spring Run to the Glen, Watkins Glen Opener April 20 Central PA Porsche-Only Swap Meet, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA May 18-19 Zone 1 Rally & Concours May 27-28 Driver’s Ed, Niagara Region, Watkins Glen May 29 Finger Lakes Reg. Meet Up, Seneca Harbor Station, Watkins Glen May 31-June 2 Porsche Clash, Watkins Glen, Zone 1 Club Race June 9 Finger Lakes Region Meet Up and Car Show, Hammondsport, NY June 14-16 Zone 1 48 Hours Driver’s Education at The Glen June 19-20 Driver’s Education, Niagara Region, Watkins Glen, NY June 23-29 PCA Parade in Traverse City, MI June 26 Finger Lakes Region Meet Up, North Shore Grill, Lakeville, NY June 28-30 Sahlen’s 6 Hours at the Glen, professional racing July 4-6 American Le Mans Series race at Lime Rock Park, CT July 5-7 SCCA Glen Double Nationals at Watkins Glen July 13 Finger Lakes Region Summer Run July 31 Finger Lakes Reg. Meet Up, Dave & Sue Schwaner, Canandaigua August 24-25 Zone 1 Autocross, TBD August 28 Finger Lakes Reg. Meet Up, Wine & Culinary Center, Canandaigua September 6-8 U.S. Vintage Grand Prix Festival, Watkins Glen, NY Sept. 25 Finger Lakes Region Meet Up, Belhurst Castle, Geneva, NY October 6 Finger Lakes Region Fall Run & Dinner, North Shore Grill, Lakeville Oct. 24-27 PCA Escape 2013, Los Angeles, CA November 9-11 Zone 1 President’s Meeting in Latham, NY
FRONTRUNNER PG. 6
PORSCHE 917K BRIAN REDMAN/JO SIFFERT – WATKINS GLEN 6 HOURS JULY 11, 1970
Lunch With
Brian Redman
Luis A. Martinez
Monticello, NY, August 2013 – As I arrive at
the track to check in with my boss about my
Track Instructor assignments (more on
Monticello Motor Club elsewhere), I can’t
help but see the person in the lobby who is
commanding the room with his presence.
His visage is instantly familiar, as I’ve met
him before, but it’s been 15 years.
Brian Redman was present at the 1998
Double 50 at Watkins Glen International
(WGI, or The Glen as it’s more
affectionately known). I attended the Double
50, a grand event featuring Porsche’s 50th
birthday, together with The Glen’s 50th
birthday. But Brian’s appearance at
Monticello was as a celebrity host to the
many members of the Club. I did not miss
the opportunity to chat with Brian, and I had
a chance to sit with him at lunch - one on
one!
Okay, what did he say? Astonishingly, he
said he was a racing driver because he
couldn’t do anything else. Really? “Brian,
did you attend college? Did you study
engineering?”
“Nah, I wasn’t very good in academics.
That’s why I was a race car driver.”
But what really astounded me was his
memory. Brian was born in 1937, in
England, and when asked, he remembers
exact details of races when he competed
40 or 50 years ago! He remembers not only
his co-drivers (Jo Siffert, Jacky Ickx, Vic
Elford, and
many
luminaries),
and the cars,
but also in
what state of
the
development
they were. For
example, he
hated when
Porsche would call him to test drive a new
car, because he knew that aerodynamics
were poorly understood. The Chairman of
FRONTRUNNER PG. 7
Porsche at the time, Ferdinand Piech,
believed in straight line speed and no drag
(no wings); those cars had fabulous power –
even 1,000 horsepower – which sent them
flying off the track. But good soldier that he
is/was, he would drive those beasts to the
edge of calamity, then come back and
report.
Brian competed in Formula racing, open-
wheelers, Can-Am, IMSA and FIA, driving
for a wide
variety of
factory teams
such as
Aston Martin,
BMW, Ferrari,
Ford, Jaguar
and Porsche.
Redman won
the Formula
5000
championship three consecutive times from
1974-76. He also won the 1981 IMSA
Camel GT title, and was part of four World
Manufacturer championship teams.
I recognize Brian mostly for his success as an endurance driver, winning for example, the Targa Florio in 1970, a 43 mile race with 900 corners, through the villages of Sicily. Don’t miss this two minute video of Brian practicing, sans helmet, for the Targa Florio in a 911 Cabrio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHnJ8kojKA
“Brian, did you ever drive Spa
Francorchamps, the infamous Eau Rouge
(a downhill with a curve and uphill that only
the immortals can drive flat out in top
gear)?”
“Oh, yes, many times, and Eau Rouge is not
the only difficult part of that track.” In fact,
he had a bad accident at Spa at Malmedy
corner.
Pick any race at any point in his career and
Brian will expound in granular detail how he
qualified on the grid, his lap times, his co-
driver or competitors’ lap times, their
mechanical issues, ad infinitum. Incredibly
indelible memory.
Brian preferred sports cars in his racing
career. After driving for Ferrari in F2, Brian
turned down a Ferrari F1 drive because he
saw that they were ruthless in their
management of the factory drivers and
thought he’d die trying. Brian had three
major accidents in his career. Trackside
medical support was not what it is today,
and in one instance at the Targa Florio in
Sicily, he crashed and was burned when the
fuel tank exploded. He was so far away
from the pits that they had to send a
helicopter to find him and take him to the
hospital. Later, at the hospital, Ricky
Attwood and Pedro Rodriguez picked him
up and took him back to his hotel so a
German doctor that Porsche had brought
could treat him for pain. Oh, and for all that,
he was paid $750 per race, and a little more
for the longer endurance epreuves like Le
Mans, Daytona and Sebring.
What a joy and privilege to share lunch with
a legend – Brian Redman.
Redman shared this Porsche 908 with Jo Siffert
at the Nurburgring in 1970.
FRONTRUNNER PG. 8
Finger Lakes Region
Summer Tour
By David Schwaner, Tour Leader
The 3rd annual FLK Summer Tour held on July 13th commenced at the parking lot of the Steamboat Landing Restaurant (closed) on Lakeshore Dr. in Canandaigua. This tour has been slowly gaining in popularity as we nine cars participated (all Porsches except Luis in Sharon’s Jag). Planning a weekend afternoon in the summer for a Porsche event is fraught with possible conflicts, known and unknown. Tour “Meister” Art Salo who spent considerable time drafting and driving the tour to be sure there were no dirt roads or roads that were recently “painted” with tar & gravel was unable to attend the event. It seems an out of town daughter had purchased tickets for the annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival at Watkins Glen on Sat., July 13th. Yup, Art and Julie were at the Wine Festival with their daughter!
Nevertheless, we are all indebted to Art for putting together an entertaining Finger Lakes tour through many towns and villages you’ve never heard of together with a rest stop at a small town park (Havana Glen Park) in Montour Falls with a short walk to a secluded glen and falls (Eagle Cliff Falls). This was a mid-tour stop that was designed to allow our Southern Tier members to join the tour closer to their homes. Sadly only Anne Schneiderman (with Steve Valloney) joined us at the park.
The tour continued to the southeast and eventually turned north to a point just south of Ithaca where we made a hard left turn onto Enfield Falls Rd. This twisty uphill climb past scattered homes and forest areas was probably the highlight of the tour. When we finally got to the stop sign at the intersection at NY Route 79, I was considering a “do over.” I was mulling the idea of a quick right on RT 79 down to Floral Ave. and then south on Floral Ave. to Enfield Falls Rd. But no, I checked my
(CONTINUED)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 9
Finger Lakes Region
Summer Tour (CONT.)
watch and continued north to our appointment for dinner at the historic Taughannock Farms Inn overlooking Cayuga Lake and adjacent to the trails to Taughannock Falls. If you are ever in the Ithaca area, this is a great combo: a walk to the Taughannock Falls (highest falls east of the Rockies) coupled with the amenities of the Taughannock Falls State
Park on Cayuga Lake and then dinner at the Taughannock Farms Inn.
The 2013 Finger Lakes Summer tour embraced the recipe for success. Art Salo’s well designed route, coupled with a warm and sunny summer afternoon, the wailing of Porsche flat six’s accelerating from turns or up hills and the camaraderie of PCA friends at dinner combined for a memorable Saturday afternoon.
Summer tour 2013. Dinner at Taughannock Farms Inn (above). FLK drivers arrive at Havana Glen Park, Montour Falls.
FRONTRUNNER PG. 10
A beautiful morning in August at Monticello Motor Club, all’s quiet before the rip’n roar.
Porsches at Monticello By Luis Martinez Monticello, NY, August 2013. Imagine a country club. But this is no ordinary country club. Imagine a garage full of cars. But these are not ordinary cars. Imagine driving your Porsche. But this is no ordinary ride.
In this village (which reminds me vaguely of Canandaigua), a track was born. Monticello Motor Club is just like a golf club, much like Oak Hill in Pittsford. According to the Wall Street Journal, MMC is a very exclusive automotive resort and private racetrack. Officially opened in 2008 on 700 acres of what used to constitute a general aviation airport, MMC is a driver’s dream. Why? Well, I just love this track. Unlike tracks like Watkins Glen, Pocono, and even Lime Rock, driving this track to me is like negotiating challenging terrain somewhere in Europe. As you peel away from the pit out, there are no grandstands and other manmade structures visible – just a black ribbon of twisting track and woods on either side. Negotiating various turns and even some long straights, all you see are pine trees and
blue skies above. This track features 4.1 miles of twisty asphalt with 18 turns and many elevation changes dedicated to challenging its members and guests – it’s for people who are passionate about high performance cars, who relish the driving experience, and who want to associate in a place of like-minded owners and drivers.
MMC is located 250 miles southeast of Rochester or about 90 minutes northwest of New York City. MMC is more than a racetrack. It is a luxury destination with an array of services and amenities such as professional instruction, track-side support, premium car storage, racecar rentals, private race schools for novice to experienced track enthusiasts, and even karting. MMC is often contracted by companies for corporate events. Recently, for example, Paul Miller Porsche from New Jersey contracted the track and many instructors to take care of a room full of their customers. Paul Miller brought a truck full of specialized, tricked out Porsches which its customers could drive on track while accompanied by experienced, certified Track Instructors.
(Porsches at Monticello continued p. 10)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 11
One member brought a truck full of his assorted classic Lambos and Ferraris, including a Countach, an Espada and a Dino, and he and his family and friends took turns driving each.
As a paying member, you could have your high performance car stored on premises and cared for by the staff and instructors. Or, a client company can organize a corporate event, and pay to have its employees or guests take the wheel of one of 24 brand new Jaguar XKR’s supercharged to 505hp. These rented Jags come complete with an experienced Track Instructor, to optimize the client’s experience.
I can’t help but smile as I think about the many laps I’ve already driven there, piloting many different types of performance cars – from Shelby Mustangs, to Tech Art Porsches, and of course, many Jaguars. It is totally a rush of stimuli as I help clients find the quickest way around the track, either in their own car, or in one of the rented racers. For example, a few weeks ago I was assigned as Instructor to a member who
brought his 997 Carrera S, which had been worked over by Rick Deman, a renowned tuner. Now this car was immaculately turned out, and the driver was a PCA Club Racer. I doubted myself at first –how can I possibly help this man go any faster? I suited up, hopped in the passenger seat and we went out on the track. After a few laps I began to see his opportunities. I gave him some pointers and he started consistently reaching 145 mph on the long straight. Even with my added weight he was quicker than ever! Wait, there’s more. The long straight has a kink in it, where you have to actively turn right and continue flat out. My client was turning right at 132 mph, pedal to the metal in 5th - to 145 mph before braking hard for a right/left/right switch back. OMG is right. My client was delighted! And I was relieved – phew. (continued p. 11)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 12
The long straight is still used as a runway for some
members who fly in to meet their cars, or land their
VTOL’s on the helipad near the hangar.
As members and guests arrive in the lobby of MMC, they’re greeted by hard working and ever smiling Jenna and Rose, who quickly help them feel welcome and, like good concierges, look after their every need. Oh, did I mention the buffet lunch? No need for members to scrounge in the bottom of their cooler for a soggy sandwich. No sir. MMC has CIA trained Executive Chef John Perruna on site who prepares a sumptuous repast each and every day. Breathtaking!
There’s so much going on here, it’s hard to describe in writing. Take a look at their website. And if someone offers you a guest pass to MMC, then D.E.A.R. – drop everything and run – to Monticello Motor Club.
http://monticellomotorclub.com/
Having a lovely afternoon at the track.
MONTICELLO MOTOR CLUB
I instructed a client in one of the Paul Miller Porsche cars, a substantially modified Techart Carrera.
FRONTRUNNER PG. 13
My friend and fellow Porschephile Chris takes out his 964. We used to run nose to tail at Watkins Glen when I had an identical 964.
My PCA Clash racing client checks his tire pressure. We took his Deman tuned 997 Carrera S to a new level.
MONTICELLO MOTOR CLUB
FRONTRUNNER PG. 14
This is the smallest of three garages full of member vehicles.
I should have my name on this XKR, after all the laps I put into it. So thirsty at 505 hp, we have to fill the tank twice every day on these rockets.
MO
NTI
CEL
LO M
OTO
R C
LUB
FRONTRUNNER PG. 15
MONTICELLO MOTOR CLUB
Nirvana?? Guardian Angel Motorsports rented the facility for an event where I was instructing.
.
This is the correct orientation of the track, with cardinal point north at the top. The track is run clockwise. The green highlights are the straights and the longest (west) straight goes from the 90 degree corner on the south tip northward to the switch back. The track can be configured into two shorter tracks.
Yours truly in my red/black uniform getting ready to lead a 30 minute chalk talk, the classroom portion of the track instruction.
FRONTRUNNER PG. 16
Pace Car at the Clash by Luis Martinez
Pace Car leading part of the Blue Run Group down
The Laces to the Toe of the Boot. This is not even
one third of the more than 60 cars in each run
group.
In the summer of 2000, the first Porsche
Clash was held at Watkins Glen
International. The Porsche Clash is a series
of Porsches-only club racing events held at
many tracks around the country. But, as I’ve
often said, our region is exceptional. This is
because right in the middle of our fabulous
Finger Lakes Region we have the holy of
holies – Watkins Glen International. Sure,
we all live within lunch distance of this
track, so what’s the big deal? That’s like
living within a fly ball of Yankee stadium
and saying, “What’s the big deal?”
Well, let’s hear from Finland (I’ll get back to
the Clash in a moment). Recently, I was
instructing a PCA member driving a mint
condition Porsche 968. The gentleman racer
was Finnish. He had a rich racing history
and many stories about his spec Formula
and sports car racing days in Europe. He
had driven, and won, in iconic race tracks
like Brands Hatch, Magny Cours,
Silverstone, Spa Francorchamp, and the
mack daddy of them all - the Nurburgring.
With such a rich history of track
experiences, why did he bother to come
and tool around in such a backwoods track -
Watkins Glen? He looked at me,
incredulously – “Because this track is
second only to the Nurburgring! Duh!” He
wrote me off as a duffus. Okay, now we
have the Finnish opinion. But really, my
new Finnish friend has a lot of company -
racing sophisticates who recognize The Glen
as the American mack daddy for racing. And
this becomes all the more evident every
June during the Clash at the Glen.
Entrance to the “second only to the Nurgburgring.”
So let’s go back to the summer of 2000. The event was presented by the Riesentoter Region of PCA (Philadelphia), of which I was a dual member, and I was there for the Driver’s Education event. Incredibly, Riesentoter found a way to manage a Driver’s Education event right in the middle of the Clash, so sometimes we were out on track for DE, other times they were racing for the Clash. But today, with so many racing cars, that’s unthinkable.
(continued)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 17
Pace Car at the Clash (cont. from p. 16) But come to think of it, the Ferrari Club of
America did that exact same thing again this
year, on Labor Day weekend, but not with
so many cars.
Now fast forward from 2000 for 13 years.
This year the 13th Annual Clash at the Glen
welcomed 280 racers in about 250 racing
cars (that’s a lot of racers – can you imagine
if NASCAR put 250 cars on track at the
Glen?) To manage such a torrent of racers,
the competitors are divided into one of four
categories based on speed potential, from
the slowest (green) to the fastest (red). But
you can do the math - on average, there are
at least 60 cars on track for any race.
Pace Car leading Blue Group around Turn 6 into
The Laces
It was my privilege, for the fourth
consecutive year, to drive the Pace Car for
all three days. Pace Car duty consists of two
extremes – everything is going great,
quietly, or all heck is breaking lose. When
things are going great, the cars are racing
around the circuit while Botho Von Bose
(owner of the Pace Car – a Canadian GT3)
and I are parked near Pit Out. We just sit in
his car and monitor our friends as they race
by.
Our view from the Pace Car while standing by.
During Sunday afternoon, three 944’s stop for
mandatory five minute pit and driver change.
But now and then we hear the radio chatter
from the flag stations, frantically calling in:
“Able, station seven waving yellow!” The
hair stands up on the back of our necks
because we’re seconds away from being
called out to the track. There are 17 flagging
stations (more than the 11 turns at this
track) and they have to identify themselves
to the lady in control of all the flaggers,
code named ‘Able’. When a station calls on
the radio and says ‘waving yellow’, it means
an accident has just occurred, and the
crashed car is obstructing the track so they
wave the yellow flag to race cars
approaching the scene. A waving yellow
condition also means that the Pace Car will
probably be called out to the track, to get
out in front of the race leader and slow
down the field while they clean up the
mess. We hear the Race Steward calling us
from the tower: “Steward to Pace Car.”
(continued)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 18
Pace Car at the Clash (cont. from p. 17) “This is Pace Car.”
“Pace Car, stand up!”
Botho’s 2004 GT3 – The Pace Car.
“Roger, Pace Car standing up.” Botho turns
on the yellow flashing lights on the roof and
I move the Pace Car from out of sight to in
position at the end of the Pit Out, but not
yet entering the track.
“Pace Car, your leader is 5-7-1 black,
rounding station 17. Now coming under the
bridge!”
“Copy that, 5-7-1 black, we’re going out.”
I accelerate out the Pit Out road to get out
in front of the leader; he’s a black Boxster
car number 571, fast approaching Turn 1 at
120+ mph. I time it just right exiting Pit Out
as he accelerates out of Turn 1 and closes in
fast on me. By getting out in front of him
I slow the leader down to about 60 mph
and wait for further instructions. The field
of 60 other cars closes ranks quickly behind
the leader, but they know to stay in the
same position relative to each other.
“Steward to Pace Car, where are you?
What’s your speed?”
“This is Pace Car, approaching the Bus Stop
(the chicane at the end of the back straight)
doing five five.”
“Pace Car, pick it up to speed you’re
comfortable with. But don’t spin the Pace
Car!”
“Copy that, picking up to seven zero.” Botho
and I grin at each other, because they
reminded me not to spin the Pace Car.
Botho and I are in street clothes, no
helmets. As I’m driving the Pace Car, if I get
out of control and spin out in front of 65
racing cars, well, that would be a hot mess.
I put the car on cruise control at 70, and I’m
not using the brake so that the race cars can
follow quickly behind me. This means I’m
taking some sweeping corners VERY fast.
“Pace Car, speed and position.”
With Botho Von Bose.
(continued)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 19
Pace Car at the Clash (cont. from p. 18)
A sudden downpour on Sunday afternoon as
viewed from the Pace Car. Many race cars
were still out on slicks, some to their demise.
“This is Pace Car approaching Toe of the
Boot at seven zero.”
“Pace Car, slow it down to four five on the
Sole of the Boot.”
“Copy that, four five on the Sole.”
The cars are now closer to me as I approach
turn 8, the Heel of the Boot, followed by
Turn 9, the Off Camber. By now, the tower
can visually see the Pace Car and the pack
of cars behind us.
As we come around Turn 9 and into the
short straight towards Turn 10, I hear: “Pace
Car, turn out your lights and come in!”
“Copy that, coming in!” Botho switches off
the lights and I accelerate to as fast as I can
(around 80 mph) while rounding Turn 10,
and floor it again towards the Pit In
entrance, then stand on the brake, turn
right to enter the Pit entrance and get hard
on the gas again into the pits as the race
cars behind and on my left get a green flag
from the Tower to restart the race. Sixty
racing engines roar in my left ear, and they
rocket down the front straight. I was able to
get away from the race cars every time
except once, when the four lead cars in the
944 spec series all roared passed me while I
was still on track. For safety reasons that’s a
fault on their part, and they had to come in
for a stop-and-go penalty (thou shalt not
pass the Pace Car). This faux pas was amply
reported by Ted West in an excellent article
about 944’s and The Clash in the August
Porsche Panorama magazine (don’t miss
it!).
Pace Car duty goes on hour after hour, for
three days of racing, rain or shine. In fact, it
rained very hard and very suddenly on
Sunday afternoon, catching many enduro
racers on track with slicks (tires without
tread), causing one after the other, four in
all, to slide helplessly in front of us at Turn 1
and crash into the tire wall. It’s a sad thing
to watch, nothing anyone could do. The
cars were damaged, some heavily, but the
drivers all walked away. (continued)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 20
Pace Car at the Clash (cont. from p. 18) Driving the Pace Car for four
years has been a privilege for
me. And at the Glen, no less.
This volunteer activity inserts
Botho and me into the hour by
hour, moment by moment
drama of sports car racing at
Watkins Glen International.
There’s nothing closer to actual
racing than that, and for that -
I’m ever so grateful.
Beautiful examples from
Automotive Associates in the
paddock.
This 1969 blue Carrera runs in Stock G, Jeffrey
Neiblum.
Ken Boyd’s 2005 GT3 runs in Stock J class.
(Continued)
PA
CE
CA
R A
T TH
E C
LASH
FRONTRUNNER PG. 21
The Red Run Group includes professional teams: Kelly Moss, The Racer’s Group,
Berg Racing, Flying Lizard and many others who use The Clash to test and tune.
Tyler Comat’s beautifully prepared 1991 944S2 was a prime contender and featured
in a comprehensive article in most recent Panorama magazine. Read all about it!
PA
CE
CA
R A
T TH
E C
LASH
FRONTRUNNER PG. 22
Fifty-Year Love Affair
In 1962 a certain young man’s fancy turned
to love. So this young man, we’ll call him
Hank, decided to expedite the girl catching
process by acquiring the best flytrap he
could think of – a red convertible. But not
just any red convertible – a new, red
Porsche 356 Cabriolet.
Hank and friend Bertie with his 356 Cabriolet
Hank Kramer placed an order for a red 356
“tub” S-90Cabriolet that year. Then he
waited for the order to be processed and
the car to be built in Germany and shipped
to upstate New York. In the meantime,
Hank stayed active in the dating scene and
met a sweet young girl, Pat. Well, they were
meant for each other, and made plans for a
wedding. And then the car came, a 1963
356 Cabrio. But it was not the red paint job
he had ordered. It was white.
Oh, what the heck, Hank already had the
girl, so he didn’t really need a red one. Life
was good. Hank and Pat were married in
1963, and the clock started. Hank has used
his 356 as a daily driver – For. Fifty. Years.
As members of the Finger Lakes Region, we
met Pat many times. She used to
accompany Hank to many a Finger Lakes
social event, ever by his side. I remember
the last time I saw Pat; it was at Bristol
Harbor for the Fall Tour a few years ago.
Pat has gone on ahead of Hank, and I’m
sure she is waiting for Hank to bring his
Cabrio so they can start their next life
together racing around from cloud to cloud,
Pat’s hair blowing in the wind - in that white
356 drop top.
Want to see more? Don’t miss this short
video:
http://www.ifc.com/videos/welcome-to-
the-family-hank-kramer
Eduardo Torrado and Ivonne have their photo with
Hank’s Cabrio in Hammondsport (June, 2012)
FRONTRUNNER PG. 23
Fifty-Year Love Affair
Opening day at
Watkins Glen
with Hank at the
wheel of his 356
for parade laps.
Hank braved the
cold wind on
opening day at
Watkins Glen
(April, 2010).
FRONTRUNNER PG. 24
FINGER LAKES REGION PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIP NEWS
NUMBER OF YEARS NAME ANNIVERSARY DATE 5 Years Eric Foulke
James Harloff 3/1/2008 2/1/2008
10 Years Steven Cunningham Dwight Stapleton
4/1/2003 8/1/2003
15 Years Ian Morrell 9/1/1998
FINGER LAKES REGION PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA PROFILE
AGE OF OUR PORSCHES NUMBER OF PORSCHES
Less than 5 years 12
Less than 10 years 31
Less than 15 years 41
Greater than 20 years 43
MEMBERSHIP PROFILE NUMBER OF MEMBERS %
Less than 3 Years 27 29.3%
Less than 10 Years 62 67.4
Over 10 Years 30 32.6
TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS 92 100%
FRONTRUNNER PG. 25
The Exchange
Advertising Guidelines Publication of paid advertising in the Frontrunner does not constitute the endorsement by this publication or the Finger Lakes Region of the products or services set forth therein. The Frontrunner reserves the unqualified right to approve for publication all advertising submitted.
The Exchange Guidelines Deadline for submitting ads for the EXCHANGE to the editor is no later than the 15th of each month to appear in the next issue. Advertising Porsches or Porsche parts or to solicit materials is free to members in this section of the publication. Ads will run for two months unless the editor is formally notified. To place your want ad, send a note to the editor containing your copy. Please limit copy to a maximum of six lines. The editor reserves the right to edit as needed for space. Ads can be email to: Veloz36@rochester. rr.com.
Race car for sale: 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo, full
roll cage, interior white metal, two racing seats and
harnesses. Fast and lightweight. Too many options to
mention. Turnkey racer. Many more photos available:
$14,900. Write or call Luis: 585-766-9536 [email protected]
Finger Lakes Region Elected Officers and Volunteers President Dave Schwaner 343 North Main Street, Suite 102 Canandaigua, NY 14424 [email protected] Vice President Rod Pedersen 9025 South Lake Road Hammondsport, NY 14840 [email protected] Secretary Chuck Chada 2525 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14610 Treasurer Jim Butler 184 Park Road Pittsford, NY 14534 [email protected] Membership Mike Horiatis 42 Chelsea Park Pittsford, NY 14534 Safety Officer Art Salo [email protected] Newsletter Editor Luis A. Martinez P.O. Box 242 Pittsford, NY 14534 [email protected]