I guarantee you it won’t be as far as Mike Holtzclaw, PCA Anchorage, Alaska’s President. PorschePurist.com’s Andrew Granieri sat down with Mike at this year’s PCA Parade to ask a few questions after seeing Mike’s ’85 911 covered in 3M Painters Tape arrive at the 2010 PCA Parade.
Mike arrived to this year’s PCA Parade with plenty of stares, likely a result of his car’s unique appearance. Of course, by ‘unique’, I mean filthy! His 1985 Porsche 911 was caked with more bugs and mud than a Louisiana picnic after Hurricane Katrina hit – but what do you expect? After all, he did drive his car here from Anchorage, Alaska! I got to sit down with Mike and ask him about his 3,804-mile journey here and his enthusiasm for Porsches.
Andrew (PP): Mike, thanks for taking some time to answer some of these questions. First, could you tell us about how you got into Porsches, what model was your first, that sort of thing?
Mike Holtzclaw (MH): When I first started working in Anchorage, there was a bank across the street from where I worked with a red Porsche in the parking lot; when I started working, I told myself, “One day, I’m going to own that car!” As it turned out, it is my car now! My first Porsche! I used to be a Corvette guy and I was looking to get into a 911 Turbo, but this one just caught my eye. It was actually a funny story, getting that car.
PP: I’m all ears!
MH: The owner of the bank also owned the car; it had spent a year just sitting in storage, so the banker’s wife actually put an ad for it in the paper and didn’t tell him about it – as soon as I saw it was for sale, I jumped for it! I had the money together and everything, but he still drove it for a week after I had paid for it. I remember driving back into town one day, seeing him tear off in the other direction with his wife and kids! I pointed to it and yelled, “Hey! That’s my car!” The whole misunderstanding was smoothed over, though; he’s actually a good guy. He has been active in our PCA region for some time now.
PP: How many active members does your region have?
MH: We have 107 active members and growing. We’re going to have 108 members very soon; a friend’s son recently purchased a 944 with a busted head gasket for $400 bucks – that’s with the title included! The boy’s a mechanic, so as soon as he gets that car put back together, he says he’s going to join. We’re very close, and very active.
PP: … In Alaska? Really? Doesn’t it snow almost year-round?
MH: Hey – we have four months of summer! Anchorage only has about 300,000 people, but there are Lamborghinis, Porsches and Ferraris –you name it – all over town. During that window of warm weather you see them come out of the woodwork in droves! It’s like a swarm of exotic cars descends on the town and then – poof! Snow hits and most cars are placed back in storage. Not mine, though; I drive that car year-round.
PP: Awesome! But there must surely be some weather conditions that prevent your winter setup from being effective…
MH: I have a Ford Excursion that’s my business car, so I drive that when it gets really bad, but other than work and five feet of snow, it’s the 911! She’s my workhorse.
PP: How so?
MH: Well I go moose hunting and that’s the car I’ll take hunting… I’ve hauled quartered moose with it, I’ve hauled a lawn mower, I haul tools; any time there’s an opportunity for me to use the car, I use it!
PP: What state was your favorite to drive through?
MH: You know what? I always try to stick to back roads whenever I can on these trips. You get to see things, smell things, hear things that you don’t get to experience on a highway. I loved every minute I spent behind the wheel, in every state I drove through there was something so beautiful or spectacular to see that I’d have to stop and pull out my iPhone to take a picture. I always find something great when I go on these trips, though. When the parade was in Charlotte a couple years back, I finally got to see the Smokey Mountains in person, and they were so majestic, I knew right away why people so enjoyed living in that region. It’s the same feeling everywhere I go. I cover a lot of ground, barreling down the back roads but I always find something that makes me want to stop and take a picture. It’s easy for me to say that these beautiful cars and these wonderful people here at the parade are the reasons why I come every year now, but it’s really the drive that drives me, so to speak.
PP: When you said you cover a lot of ground….
MH: I got here in five days! It could have been a little faster if I’d gotten off the back roads. I try to drive my car to the limit! I admit I’m an active autocross participant, but I haven’t been to any road courses and I’ve never driven in rallies or anything, but when I’m on the ALCAN and on a nice back country road – as long as it’s safe, and there’s no animals or other cars, I really let the 911 open up!
PP: So how many tickets do you average for each trip?
MH: NONE! I owe Mike Valentine a big “THANK YOU!” for that! I have a Valentine V-1 unit in my car that has saved my bacon more times than I can count! You know, he had a GT3 that was sold to someone in my region, and I wanted to call him to speak with him about the car and thank him for making such a great product – but I only got his assistant or somebody on the phone, so…
PP: There’s a chance he reads PorschePurist, how about thanking him now?
MH: Sounds great! Thanks, Mike! You’ve really saved my butt out on the road! I say my ‘butt’ because my wallet is usually close by!
PP: Did you enter in the Concours?
MH: (Laughs) No! I refused to wash my car when I got here – that mud all on the back is from Utah, the bugs are from Montana, I don’t really see the need to wash it. Now, some of the guys here have been giving me grief over that, so I’ll probably wash it sooner or later. It cleans up really well; that’s why they’re getting so upset with me, I think. If I took that painter’s tape off and washed the car, it would blend right in with all the other 911s!
PP: I may hold you to that claim. Speaking of the painter’s tape, how many times was that reapplied to the car?
MH: It wasn’t! It lasted all 3,804 miles! I think it’s a testament to a great product from 3M. It lasted through the rains, through the wind – and I mean winds, because I was flying down the roads to get here – it survived driving through gravel in Montana, it was perfect. When it slid around the body driving in the rain you could slide it back and it’d dry off sticky again. It kept most of the bugs off the paint, too.
PP: Back to your drive down here – what did you bring along with you?
MH: Everything you could think of, man. On the Alcan Highway, you’re really on your own. On either side of the border there’s a few hotels and gas stations, but the hotels own the gas stations – and they’ll shut them down at night, but they’ll keep the rooms open to sort of trap you there. So I’ll sleep in my car to avoid getting ripped off. I carry a lot of tools in case I break down. (Before we could ask how often that happened, Mike quickly added) Not that I’ve broken down before! I also bring a lot of food and a lot of cash with me. In Canada, there’s a lot of towing companies that are privately run, so they don’t take credit cards. But they will take your cash. Out there, AMEX and Visas aren’t worth a dime. Money talks!
PP: You were pretty quick to point out you’ve not broken down – seriously, nothing’s gone wrong with this car?
MH: Let me tell you, these Porsches are workhorses, man! I perform every scheduled maintenance task when it’s needed and I haven’t had a problem yet. Well, I had a starter die on me, but that wasn’t a big deal. I fixed it and got back on the road.
PP: What oil do you put in your Porsche?
MH: Mobil1! I use Mobil1 exclusively in this car and I have not had a problem with it, I love it! My mechanics back home keep trying to make me switch to Castrol because they offer some blends that they tell me will keep my temperature a little lower. I tell them, “My temperature’s not been a huge problem, and I don’t see why I can’t keep using my 15w-50.”
PP: It seems these long trips have made you quite the seasoned driver. Can you share any tips with PorschePurist readers?
MH: I practice safety – all the time. (I start laughing) Hey, I’m serious! Safety is paramount to me. If I’m not in a safe place to go fast – if I’m in a position where my actions will directly harm another person or thing, I won’t play around. People need to remember that, there’s too many who get in wrecks and hurt bystanders because they’re playing around where they shouldn’t be. So be safe out there, these cars are magnificent, and they’re capable of more than some drivers will ever know, but they command a lot of respect, and they have my respect. I try to make myself a better driver every time I go out for a drive. Here’s a random tip you can tell your readers that a cop told me: Have you ever been caught in a huge downpour; one so bad you can’t see anything in front of you? Polarized glasses. It cuts through the rain and you can see well enough to drive. Learn little things like that and they’ll go a long way. One more thing; unless you race professionally, you probably can’t drive the car to its limits, so drive it to yours, and learn all you can about these wonderful cars.
PP: I’ve been sitting on this one for a while now, and I’m dying to know. Mike, what do you have to say to all the ‘Garage Queen’ Porsche owners?
MH: You know, first and foremost, I have to say I have no problem with someone who wants to purchase a car like the Porsches we’ve seen this weekend and just keep them in perfect condition, as a museum piece or whatever. I think that’s wonderful and it really takes a lot of passion and a commitment to keep it looking good. You want my opinion? You gotta let it go once in a while! I think these cars are like books. Each one has a vivid story to it that’s found in a new corner or a daily drive. I respect the folks who keep the cars permanently on display, but I almost feel sorry for them because it’s like they’re missing out on the opportunity to live in the story of their car! If you don’t drive these cars the way they were made to be driven, you’re not reading the whole story. As I drive my 911 more and more, there’s almost a bond you get with the car. You get to know it; how it works, when it feels best. You get to know its story because you’re a part of [the story].
PP: What’s the most interesting thing that happened on your drive to the parade?
MH: Well, I was speeding through this mountainous road and as I round a bend in the road, I start to see that the road is full of buffalo! I mean, they’re packed on the street, off on the sides, they’re everywhere. The pavement heats up during the day, so they were lying on the road to keep themselves warm. I had to jam the brakes really good to stop in time! I didn’t know how I’d get around them!
PP: But you did!
MH: Yes! It was like a slow autocross. Buffalo are pretty much like cows with attitude. They’re wild, and they have those horns on the males. They spook easily, like cows do. But unlike cows, they’re liable to charge your car – I did not want to frighten them and risk damage to the 911! I recorded the whole thing on video on my iPhone here… (See the YouTube video below) Keep in mind this was in Canada, so within that region it was still daylight at 11 PM when I recorded this. The herd was resting for the day. I’ve also got some footage of bears along the side of the road, too. I try and record this stuff when I can.
PP: If you could get another car, what would it be?
MH: There’s an off-color expression for what I’d give to have a 959! (Laughs) I’ve been looking really hard for a 1997/1998 993 Turbo car, with the AWD I know I could make it a real daily car in Alaska, and I’d have even more fun driving down here. I’m also interested in finding a 997 Carrera 4S, if the price is right. It’d be such a thrill to jump from a 140mph car to something that tops out closer to 180mph! I know I’d be getting to these parades a lot faster if I had one.
PP: You mean you’d drive those cars just as hard as your 85?
MH: No – I’d drive them harder! They’re newer cars, with more modern technology and they’re equipped for higher rates of speed! I’d push those cars harder and faster than I push mine! You have to live the dream – I try to, I really do. People here own Porsches that don’t get driven the way they’re designed to be driven. Every time I get in my car, I try to drive it the way it was intended and that’s the dream for me! I’ll do it in an ’85 911, I’d do it in a 993 Turbo, I’d do it in one of those new GT3 RS cars, too! Oh, but the ground clearance on those may not be so good for driving in the Alaskan winter… Long story short, I’m keeping my eyes out for the right car to follow the 1985 911, but I still love driving what I have.
PP: Mike, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions and share some of your stories. Enjoy the rest of the week here at the parade!
MH: No problem! Next year, stay the week!
Believe it or not, this is an extremely abbreviated version of my conversation with Mike. He had many stories to tell – it was really a challenge trying to pick the best ones to share with you all! He was kind enough to tell me all about his journey over a beer, and as I mentioned up above, he is going to give us his iPhone footage to upload for all to see. His passion for the marque, for the cars and for – as he said – the drive itself, offered a unique perspective for the one event that PCA has few, if any, rules to follow: getting there. Yes, many, many people came out to St. Charles, driving their Porsches in from California, Florida, Maryland – all over the United States. Mike just happened to drive the farthest. When the miles in your journey start to hit quadruple-digits, the journey to the event becomes an event in and of itself, especially if the event is the Porsche Parade.
While Valerie, Christian and I were sent to cover the activities from the weekend, I feel like we only got to scratch the surface of this event – partly due to our early departure. Mike shared some great stories with us here for Porsche Purist, but he’s not the only one who drove to the parade. Many readers from the parade likely drove their Porsches to the parade, too. I’m sure, as Mike said, those Porsches have a story to tell as well. I’d ask you to share a memorable part of your trip with us in the comment section below – or, if that’s not enough room, send it in to be published!
Porsche Club of America was founded to bring passionate Porsche people together. Perhaps this interview will inspire a few readers to share some fun road trip stories with us. Better yet, I hope it inspires readers to drive their Porsche to its first PCA parade next year! For what it’s worth, after hanging out with Mike and many other wonderful people this weekend, you’d better believe I’m driving my Porsche to the 2011 PCA Parade!
As our coverage of the 2010 PCA Parade comes to an end we want to thank Mobil 1 for the opportunity to, once again, attend the parade and share our experiences with you. This year, Mobil 1 sent three of our writers (Valerie, Christian and Andrew) to cover the TSD Rally and as much of the parade as we could for the benefit of you and all PorschePurist.com readers.
As was the case last year, there’s simply too much to do at Parade and not always enough time to get it done. Valerie and Christian spent a lot of time on the Concours and driving the TSD Rally. Andrew, on the other hand, explored the family and personal side of the parade as well as acting as the PorschePurist.com official photographer. This was Andrew’s first parade, so his experiences are even more special as a result.
The two articles above don’t conclude our Parade coverage. Over the next week or two be on the look out for an interview and videos with Mike from Alaska (you may remember he drove his ’85 911 to Parade this year), a drive and compare article on Michelin tires and the new Boxster Spyder, and we’ll also speak to Cam Ingram of Road Scholars to see just what kind of magic their restoration shop performed to enter four Porsches in the Parade Concours and come out with four wins!!!
The 55th Porsche Parade is closing up shop in St. Charles, IL. Even as attendees, organizers and sponsors pack up and head home, planning is already underway for next year’s Parade in Savannah. (In fact, if you were lucky to attend, you may have noticed that the goodie shop was already selling Savannah tees).
Over the last half-decade, the Parade has grown from a simple gathering of Porsche owners to a complex, week-long event with activities to satisfy all Porsche lovers, from 2-92. The amount of work put in by the corps of volunteers is impressive. From the Concours showcasing a Porsche to suit every taste (be it pristine show cars to well-loved driven cars) to the PCA Art Show, to the kids’ activities and the grownup entertainment, the goodie store, road trips, and rallies, there truly is something for everyone at the Parade. The variety of Porsche-activities alone is reason enough to check out a Porsche Parade at least once in your lifetime.
Although for the most part most Parade events reoccur every year. there are always surprises each year. At last year’s Colorado event, for example, the Panamera unveiling drew oohs and aahhs from many. Generally, host regions contribute to the planning of activities and give them a local flavor. But, as is often the case, it is the unplanned that makes the weekend most memorable.
The GT3R Hybrid, with its beautiful and aggressive orange and grey livery and “PORSCHE INTELLIGENT PERFORMANCE” decals, was equally impressive visually and technologically. The Hybrid race car boasts two additional 80 horsepower electric motors that feed the the front wheels. Attendees were enthralled with the large inertia flywheel where the front passenger seat would normally be in their own street cars. This system–part of Porsche’s “Intelligent Performance”–is a KERS system (or Kinetic Energy Recovery System), reportedly licensed from Williams F1. This eco-friendly Porsche is also 100% race car, and it’s a wonder to see.
Nearby, and under cover, the aqua blue metallic Boxster Spyder, sans fabric top, drew quite a crowd, curious to examine the newest 987 “cousin”. Porsche has hit a serious home run with the Boxster Spyder. With 320 hp and weighing in at only 2800 lbs (10 more hp than Boxster S and 200 lbs less weight), it made itself impossible to ignore. Not only did the car show beautifully on its tidy platform under the Porsche Owner Relations tent, but it performed impressively, too. The day after the Concours, Christian Maloof got behind the wheel of two Boxster Spyders at the Michelin ‘Drive and Compare’ event. He found the Boxster Spyder very eager, accelerating with linear ease and aggression. He loved the initial turn in, describing it as “crisp and immediate,” and the overall road hold and excellent bite and modulation of the brakes. The balance was very nice and light. He needed no time in the seat to feel at home (perhaps because the reclining sport seats were particularly good?). But we digress…how easy it is to get lost in the love of Porsche at the Parade! (Results of our “Drive and Compare” experience coming soon along with our review after spending a week with the new Boxster Spyder!)
A particularly challenging Mobil 1 TSD Rally
While time-speed-distance rallies are supposed to include complex directions, traps and a good dose of challenge, we heard from many participants (both novice and experienced) that this year’s rally was particularly difficult. The PorschePurist team, cameras in hand, waited at Checkpoint 5 well over 40 minutes beyond what we had calculated it would take participants to arrive. Apparently the traps devised by the rallymasters this year were particularly effective and many drivers took long–albeit scenic–detours through the Illinois countryside. We can’t wait to see what the rally at Savannah will hold in store for those brave enough to participate again!
The Heat
With temperatures hovering near 90 degrees for the better part of the Parade, attendees were heard to remark that this year’s event was “good practice” for Savannah in 2011. Indeed, while the heat did not deter the crowds from attending events both inside and outside, Porschephiles did seem to move far more slowly than at last year’s Colorado event. In addition, there was a higher concentration of Porsche lovers by each of the three pools at Pheasant Run resort (not surprisingly, with highest crowd density at the poolside bar).
The camaraderie
The Midwestern location of this year’s Parade meant we enjoyed the week with several members from our local region, Rally Sport. If you are active in your local Porsche Club, (whether in social events or at the track) you know the people are a big part of having fun with you Porsche. While it is enjoyable to see a field filled with Porsches, what makes a Parade truly memorable is the new (and old) Porsche friends one gets to visit with. The camaraderie is, by far, the best reason to attend a Parade. We hope to see you in Savannah next year!
The 2010 PCA Parade has passed and I am already excited for the one in 2011. Before now, I had never attended a parade; this is something I regret because I had such a great time this past weekend! I’m sure there are Porsche Purist readers who haven’t attended a single parade – this post is for them. I’d like to write a little about my first Porsche Parade with the hope of convincing readers to make 2011 the year of their first Porsche Parade.
I’d first like to thank Mobil 1 for working with PorschePurist to send me to Chicago for the event! It was exciting to photograph and write alongside Christian and Valerie about a weekend filled with activities: from the Concours d’Elegance to the Time Speed Distance rally and everywhere in between, there was plenty to experience over the weekend!
Friday was uneventful for me – partially because I wasn’t at the parade yet. You see, the parade technically started on Thursday, July 1st for some people – those that drove their Porsches to the event! My flight to Chicago was early Saturday morning, so I had already missed out on two parade activities: driving there and interacting with fellow Porsche enthusiasts while washing my car. As I saw some of the car wash stations set up for the event, I made a mental note to myself to drive my car to the parade next year. For this year’s parade, my wife and I had a Hyundai rental car – which was okay for this year because everything was located (more or less) at the Pheasant Run resort. This is not always the case, as Valerie and Christian said last year’s parade in Colorado was spread out over several miles. Bottom line – bring your Porsche!
I noticed two things while checking into the hotel on Saturday morning. First, there were a lot of people who drove their Porsches in the day before! Second, Porsche Club of America went to great lengths to ensure attendees knew this was no ordinary vacation. Their attention to detail left rooms decorated in some way with something Porsche-related. Even the hotel room card keys were changed to reflect the spirit of the event!
This hotel card makes no compromises!
Sunday was extremely hot, and though rain was predicted to head our way, it was light, lasting no more than five or ten minutes. This year’s Concours d’Elegance brought out some truly outstanding cars. If you’re a regular reader to Porsche Purist, I know you’ve already seen the photographs on Porsche Purist Flickr and Facebook pages. Please check those galleries if you haven’t already!
Monday the PorschePurist team of Valerie and Christian drove in the TSD rally in Valerie’s track ready Cayman S (otherwise known as “Fritz”). Be sure to read about their adventure participating in the TSD as well as their coverage of the TSD educational meeting held prior to the event. I elected to keep the rental Hyundai parked, photographing rally participants’ triumphant return to the hotel instead! Looking back, I think I should have participated more, even if I wasn’t in my Porsche – next year, I won’t make that mistake again. Those who participated in the rally in cars without air conditioning – and there were many of you in early 911s, 914s, 356s – bravo! You deserve a little more recognition than the drivers with newer Porsches; the heat was almost as strong as it was on Sunday.
Porsche Parade Concourse Banquet
The Concours banquet was held on Monday evening. For me, it evoked feelings of both joy and sadness, because everyone speaking at the podium explained to the audience that the fun was only beginning for this week-long parade – yet I had to get up at 3:15AM for the flight home out of O’Hare Airport. The two things that really made this night special for me were the camaraderie and the sense of community I felt from everyone at the banquet. Everyone I spoke to was an instant friend, with a passion for the marquee and a story to tell.
Passion – there’s a word that couldn’t be used enough to describe the evening. Porsche Club of America celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. That means there have been 55 parade gatherings; there were a few people attending their 50th parade this year. That is true passion. One of PCA’s founding members was present, too. I would have wanted nothing more than to speak with some of the folks attending their 40th or 50th Porsche Parade. What were the early parades like? What’s changed the most in these parades – what hasn’t changed at all? Questions like these were racing in my mind. I wanted to talk to more people! I wanted to learn about the road trips and happenings of parades past, but a glance at my watch reminded me of other responsibilities.
Porsche enthusiasts shared stories and made friends over a sumptuous meal.
The dinner party went on into the night, but I had to quietly slip out to pack my things. The great thing about having a job is that it affords one the opportunity to go to fun events like this one. The terrible thing about having a job is that one can’t always take a week off for a Porsche Parade. Before I left, I did manage to photograph the cars that won Sunday’s Concours. Below are the winners (if you’re viewing via email, you may need to click on the title of this post to visit the site and see the picture slide show):
On a personal note, this was also the first PCA Parade for my wife, Andrea. Not so much an automotive enthusiast as she is stuck with one (for better or for worse!), we initially saw this trip as separate opportunities: For me, it would be a trip filled with cars, people, writing and photography. For her, it would be one of relaxation, a break from work with as few car encounters as possible. For better or for worse, right? All kidding aside, she quickly came around. I’m not saying she’s as obsessed as I am about Porsches, but she was pointing out the cars she wouldn’t mind us having in the future (I believe my third Porsche is now going to be a 964, as per my wife’s recommendation!). Andrea also assisted me with some of the photography during the Concours show. With all the cars that were on display, I was especially grateful to have her assistance.
Monday afternoon, she started to ask: “So when we come here next year…” She wants to spend a week with me at the 2011 Porsche Parade in Savannah, Georgia? I didn’t assume this would be something she’d want to do again, and here she is, looking forward to attending a parade for a full week! She claims it’s only because she wants to see Georgia, but I think we all know the real reason she wants to attend, don’t we?
It’s settled: Next year, I will attend the parade properly; driving my own Porsche to the event alongside my wife, with a week’s worth of luggage and everything I need to bring the event to PorschePurist.com!
Bring ‘em! Porsche Club America understands that unlike your favorite cars, having children is full of compromises. All week long, PCA has Parade Kids and Parade Teens events scheduled to give children something to do. Drooling over cars is involuntary for newborns and enthusiasts, but it can bore most small children after five or ten minutes (we’ll try to forgive them, right?) . To keep everyone happy, children get their own exciting activities; today among movies and games, they have R/C cars!
When I was a child, the most frustrating thing about cars was that I wasn’t allowed to drive them! Today, the practice track opened for the R/C Porsches – with practices throughout the morning and an R/C challenge in the evening! Here’s a few future Porsche drivers turning their first corners.
Of course, there’s also activities for children here that aren’t automobile-focused, but what’s the fun in writing about that?!
The morning started off early and warm, and before long several hundred Porsches were off competing in the Mobil 1 TSD (time-speed-distance) Rally. Held every year in conjunction with the Porsche Parade, the rally is an extremely challenging way to enjoy your Porsche while safely competing against a few of your closest Porsche rivals.
Christian Maloof and Valerie Roedenbeck Prepare for the Start of the Mobil 1 TSD
Armed with a “cheat sheet” provided by Linda and George Guttman, this year’s rally masters who had invested over 5000 miles to bring this event to fruition, we set off from the Mobil 1 start at the Pheasant Run resort. Soon the roads took us away from the bustle of St Charles for a scenic ride past corn fields, famhouses and barns surrounding the Fox River Valley.
The route, which took us through Blackberry, Sugar Groove, the Fabyan Forest Preserve, the Lone Grove Forest Preserve and many other scenic areas of Northern Illinois, proved challenging for many seasoned rally participants. “The directions were hard this year,” said Ellen Beck, navigator for Robert Gutjahr in their 1979 924 Sebring Edition Porsche.
Adding to the challenge? The heat. At the final checkpoint, we found Ellen and Robert lying down on the grass under a tree. “This is a Concours car, so the seats are covered in neoprene so they were clean but hot!” said Ellen, who had to contend with the 90+ degree temperatures for the four hour duration of the rally.
Lee Lichtenstein's limited edition orange Boxster takes the 3-minute break at checkpoint 6 to take notes
But the challenge of high temperatures remained second to the difficulty raised by the rally directions themselves. “Ask me if I’m having fun yet!” joked Lee Lichtenstein as he took a short break at the fifth checkpoint, “we’ve gotten lost a few times!” His co-pilot, seated in their orange limited edition Boxster, smiled in quiet agreement.
For a while we followed Porsches of several vintages along the course. One of the best moments occurred when we found ourselves sandwiched between a 1967 912 and a 2011 3.8 GT3 RS, both driving at similar speed along the route. The sounds they made were worlds apart — the 912′s 2 liter engine vs the GT3′s 3.8 — but both distinctively Porsche. Had you asked us which one we liked best, we would have had a hard time deciding.
At a checkpoint, we jokingly ask Kathy Baker, the 912′s navigator, if she’s willing to trade her 912 for a Cayman. “No way!” she replies. The car has been theirs for 40 years and they have memories of shuttling their young boys to Porsche events in the back seats. Soon they’re off to complete the rally, so we jump in our car and follow suit.
Stephanie Economu and Kathy Clark turn in their paperwork at the finish line for the Mobil 1 TSD Rally
While some participants’ tempers were frayed by the heat and level of challenge, others, like Stephanie Economu and co-pilot Kathy Clark, first timers at the Parade and at the Mobil 1 Rally, were all smiles all the way to the end. “We made it!” Stephanie exclaimed upon arriving back at Pheasant Run’s Mega Center, where the Mobil 1 TSD Rally team was ready to receive their rally paperwork. Stephanie is a devoted Porsche owner who regularly tracks her car at her home track, Lime Rock. Her Cayman S, she says, “is a great car, so great!” We ask her what oil she uses for her Cayman, and she responds, “Mobil 1, of course!”
The mixture of challenge and fun is what keeps PCA members coming back to the Mobil 1 Rally year after year. For first-timers Mike and Kathy O’Rear, the challenge proved too much. “We gave up around 2:15(start time of 9:20 am), after lunch time it was all down hill both of us must have been suffering from low blood sugar!” said Mike, adding, “but we had a great time and look forward to doing it again next year!” It remains to be seen whether they drive their 997 or the 356 Mike plans on picking up in Boston this week.
Another Mobil 1 TSD Rally is over, and most participants are already looking forward to Savannah in 2011. The 56th Porsche Parade is sure to re-unite Porsche owners new and old to share their experiences about the cars they love best. We’re already looking forward to next year!
Ever tempted to test your keen driving skills but not so keen to buy a helmet, extra brake pads and tires required for racing or a DE event? How about a Rally? This year, Mobil 1 is once again sponsoring the Parade’s “TSD” or Time Distance Speed Rally here in St. Charles. 135 cars, each with a driver and navigator, will embark on a challenging 4 hour drive through scenic Illinois roads.
Armed with their course instructions (given only 20 minutes before their start time) and a copy of the PCR (Parade Competition Rules) entrants do their best to complete each stage within mere hundredth of seconds of the ideal prescribed times.
None of this make sense? Well, you are not alone. Thankfully Jessica & J. Toney, a multiple Rally winning father-daughter team, taught a Rally school class today at the Pheasant Run Theater here at the Parade resort. One of the first things they point out is to think of this as a “Think, Stop, Decide” rally. Here is a list of practice Rally instructions and you will know why;
Mileage
RI#
Instructions
0.0
1
Left onto Main St.
1.23
2
Right at Stop (still on Main St.)
2.57
3
“Cubs”
4.73
4
“White Sox”
6.18
5
Left on 86
6.99
6
“Fox River”
10.91
7
Right on Winding Way
12.10
8
Odometer Check at “Home of Stanley Cup” Do not block this sign, the .1 miles are a free zone (park safely in this area) CAST 30
9
Right onto IL 25, CAST 36. A Right onto Prarie. Pause .50 minutes
10
CAST 30 at “SPEED LIMIT 35″
11
CAST 40 at “SPEED LIMIT 40″
Translation
On line 1 mileage on your freshly zeroed odometer your first Rally Instruction is to turn left onto Main St., then 1.23 miles right at stop (still on main street) then at 2.57 you should see something that says “Cubs” then at 4.73 miles you should see “white sox” and so fourth for the first 8 Rally Instructions. This serves as your warm up and as a way to calibrate your speedometer and odometer as it should take you about 30 minutes and you will have covered the distance they have previously calculated.
Then, beginning at the end of Rally Instruction 8, CAST 30 or “Change Average Speed To” the Rally takes off as you are now integrating your Time, Distance, and Speed into the Rally. Tricks like pause .50 minutes or 30 seconds for those of you who already figured out are thrown in there to make sure you are paying attention. Rally Instructions 10 and 11 are instructing you to change your speed at road signs that you will see on your rally, previous winners suggest averaging about 4-5 mph higher to account for traffic, deer crossing and stop lights. Also times are calculated with instantaneous acceleration – which none of us, not even new GT3s, have.
Sound like fun? More to follow as the Porsche Purist Team will participate in and cover the Mobil 1 TSD Rally later in the Parade.
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