Upcoming Events
President's Message
Chip Witt
President

June 2020 President's Message
 
I hope this message finds you all healthy and doing well. My spirits are much higher after taking a short break from the rest of the world on a little drive this afternoon. Having little incentive to drive lately, I’m afraid I’ve neglected poor Sasha (and myself) these last few months. Nothing like a fast, beautiful car on the road in the bright sunshine to make you smile. Despite all that is going on in the world, please do not forget to occasionally take a breath, be thankful, and, perhaps most of all, take care of yourself.

As we went through May, I think I had still had some hope in the back of my mind that we’d be able to return to some modified events to get our club calendar back on track by the time I had to write the June President’s Message. A “tried and true” gathering of Porsches with slight social distancing modifications sounds very comforting about now. Afterall, we still had an entire Summer of events to look forward to, including Porsches on the Plaza in Sonoma, the Porscheplatz at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and Werks Reunion. I’m sorry to report, if you were not already aware, Porsche on the Plaza, Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and Werks Reunion (and likely others to come) have all been cancelled due to continuing concerns for public safety. This means we will continue to have to make do with a limited calendar, and will absolutely need to double-down on some innovative thinking to kick-start some club fun that can be enjoyed as a group...separately. I still await definitive confirmation that our insurance companies will accept e-waivers for driving events, as the challenges of safely handling that required aspect of a rolling outing will demand it. As I understand it, we have some regions in our zone that are hosting some upcoming autocross events, so I will be interested in hearing how the modified safety programs adopted for it work out. I remain hopeful that we will be able to pull together a Redwood hosted tour of some sort soon. Please continue to stay tuned.

As I believe I mentioned previously, current social limitations have given me the opportunity to become reacquainted with sim racing (or eSports sim racing or iRacing). This can be fun as an individual endeavor, but a little over a year ago, e-racers from the Peachstate Region shared their club’s love for sim racing with PCA National. Interest grew quickly from there and in all turned into a very well-managed virtual racing community of PCA members from regions coast-to-coast (including Canada) that mirrors PCA’s real life club racing in many respects. In recent months, this took on an international feel with a pair of special events where drivers from the Porsche Club of Great Britain and Porsche Club of America went head-to-head for bragging rights. The next “season”, Series 5, of PCA Sim Racing doesn’t begin until September, but they are currently hosting a fun “Summer Interim” series, in which I’ve been able to participate the last couple of weeks. Like most PCA events of this type, eDE (virtual driver education) is provided (during the week ahead of the race night), as is great “pit” comradery and friendly tips, and, of course, some very serious competition. If you think you could get interested in something like this given a little encouragement, hit me up and let me encourage you . I can think of nowhere else you might get the opportunity to secure bragging rights on definitive, immutable proof that you’re faster than your club President at Sears Point (I mean, Sonoma), Laguna Seca, or even Le Mans...and I could use a few more drafting partners for the long straights.

As always, I’m happy to hear from members. If you have ideas, concerns, questions, or anything else you’d like to share or discuss, please let me know . In the meantime, stay safe and take care of yourselves!
From the Zone
Collin Fat
Zone 7 Representative

 Members Making a Difference:
I know that many of our regions and members are trying to figure out how to keep active and to encourage more club events during this unique time. One region that has stepped up to the plate in a very creative and community orientated fashion is Yosemite Region. On Saturday, April 25 th , the region, under the guidance of club president  Brian Sturkie  and event chair,  Larry Inman , hosted a food drive to benefit the  Harvest Food Bank . They collected more than 150 bags of groceries and members from Zone 7 came from as far away as Redwood Region, Loma Prieta and Sacramento Valley to support the effort. I understand that 24 cars registered ahead of time for the event and with a volunteer staff of 8 members from Yosemite Region manning the drop off and logistics, the event was a resounding success. This is the way we as members of PCA can stay active and yet come up with an event that also benefits the community. We have all seen and heard about the thousands of citizens in our community who are in need and this event targeted just that need. Congratulations to Yosemite Region for a job well done!

When are We Going to Get Back to Normal?
Your guess is as good as mine and based on the most current announcements by Governor Newsom the earliest we will be allowed out is June 1st. I am not sure if the state will do the back to normal gradually but I suspect it will happen in phases per the state’s plan. When I read between the lines, we will be living with some restrictions to prevent a flair up of outbreaks for some time or until a vaccine is developed. What does this mean? In my opinion, the professional baseball and football seasons may still play but in empty stadiums, fall college sports like football will be postponed or the season shortened as college athletic directors struggle with how to keep spectators as well as players and coaches safe. Not sure I can personally handle 1-2 year old repeats of games completed yesteryear! Sports including professional golf, motorsports, hockey, track and field, and others just to mention a few will likely present themselves in a different way and could follow in the footsteps of the Pebble Beach Concours, Porsche Parade, Treffen Broadmoor, PCA Club Racing schedule changes, and region dinners, tours, concours, track days and autocross. The pandemic is here to stay with us and put restrictions on any and all events our members have come to expect from their membership. There could be a resurgence of the pandemic as some experts have cautioned. I urge all members to be patient and to do their best to keep safe and healthy. Better times are certainly just around the corner.

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that all counties in the state have started phase two in his reopening plan. Some counties receiving waivers to go deeper into phase two. Restaurants, shopping malls, casinos, and other businesses have been allowed to open on a limited basis. In addition, several tracks in Northern California have also will be opening or have already opened including Thunderhill Raceway Park and Laguna Seca. This bodes very well for future PCA Club Races and national events such as Werks Reunion Monterey and Porscheplatz at the Rolex Monterey Historics in August.

PCA national has responded to the situation and has developed or is working on procedures to deal with the additional safety required for our events to protect our members and is a fluid situation.

PCA to Require All Event Attendees to Sign New Communicable Disease Waiver:
In addition to an effort to protect our members from contracting or spreading covid 19 during events, PCA has also taken the step to protect the club and its volunteers from potential liability as it relates to this disease. Effective immediately, all event attendees will be required to sign this new waiver. In addition to all moving car events, the waiver will also be required for dinner events, tech sessions, cars and coffee, monthly breakfasts, training schools such as the Zone’s annual concours judge’s school, and any other club sponsored gatherings. This waiver is separate from our standard PCA waiver that is required for all moving events. The waiver is good for one year and is available electronically for events and clubs who use MSR, motorsportreg.com, to handle event registration. However, please note that MSR will charge your club a monthly fee for this service. If you are using another platform such as Eventbrite and think you can get the waivers signed online on this platform please do not. PCA will not recognize waivers signed electronically on other event registration platforms as being in compliance with this new requirement. For those clubs who opt not to use MSR or to pay their monthly fees you can still provide the waiver for your attendees at each event or email attendees and have them bring a signed form. Remember, the form needs to be printed in color.
The form states that it is valid for a year but the implications of managing who and who has not signed the waiver is a huge administrative burden at the club and national level. Having a national data base of who has signed the waiver is a huge undertaking and regions contemplating tracking compliance at the region level will face a huge workload in keeping up with activities and compliance moving forward. In my opinion, it is so much easier to just have members sign the form at each event.

It is likely that this will put a burden and require extra volunteers and different logistics for an event such as a cars and coffee to control entry and exit to insure compliance. Knowing what an inconvenience this will cause for our event chairs and volunteers, please know that PCA is looking at the best interests of the club and to reduce the risk of liability for volunteers, event chairs and your board of directors. A summary of the new release waiver is below as a link to download the form .

Attached is a  Communicable Disease Spectator and Participant Release  as liability protection for PCA. PLEASE BEGIN USE IMMEDIATELY.

  • This is required for ALL events, meetings, etc.
  • ALL attendees (members, guests, sponsors, etc.) must sign the Release to enter the facility/event or participate in the activity.
  • You may complete "Fill in Track/Facility Name Above" as "All PCA events" for a one-time signature for events held May 15, 2020 through May 15, 2021.
  • Attendees may print and sign the Release at home and give it to the Chair/Registrar on-site.
  • MotorsportReg.com is working on a SpeedWaiver module where the region can load both the PCA waiver and the Communicable Disease Release, allowing a PCA-acceptable electronic signature (available around June 1).
  • NO OTHER TYPE OF DIGITAL WAIVER is acceptable.
  • Regions are to develop their own tracking system to ensure compliance.
  • Preserve the Release for 95 months from the date of expiration.


Autocross and DE Minimum Standards Update:
National is currently working on revisions to the minimum standards they have issued for guidelines for running autocross and DE events. Currently, with restrictions that have been imposed for social distancing, in car instruction is not in compliance with State of California guidelines nor currently allowed by PCA. It may and probably will change. For PCA DE’s around the country, many regions have considered the local guidelines regarding social distancing and have thought that perhaps a lead/follow format for novices   and beginners would be a solution for in car instruction. However, following an initial rules review along with insurance coverage, this will not be allowed. The DE and AX national committee chairs are now trying to come up with a modification to allow lead/follow for DE events. Event guidelines for both DE and AX relative to coronavirus safety are in the works. The guidelines are expected to be released in several weeks.

Zone Autocross and Concours Series Schedule;
The schedule for autocross and the concours series has been one of constant cancellations and changes due to the coronavirus. Please check the Zone 7 website or your local website or newsletter for the most up to date event schedules. Golden Gate Region as well as Loma Prieta regions are likely to secure a new site for their autocross events so please stay tuned.

Events of Interest:

  • PCA Fall Treffen Registration opens July 15. See item below….event is September 16-19
  •  Zone 7 Concours #4, July 19, Carmel Valley Community Park, by Monterey Bay Region
  • Mammoth Tour by Sierra Nevada Region, July 24-26 CANCELLED
  • Zone 7 Concours #5, August 2, Reno, by Sierra Nevada Region, CANCELLED
  • Zone 7 AX #5, August 8, Thunderhill, by Sacramento Valley Region
  • Werks Reunion in Monterey; August 14, CANCELLED
  • Porscheplatz at Monterey Historic Races, August 15-16, Laguna Seca, by Zone 7 CANCELLED
  • West Coast Series Races, August 22-23, Sonoma Raceway, by Golden Gate Region
  • Zone 7 Concours #6, August 23, Porsche Redwood City, by Golden Gate Region
  • Loma Prieta Region 50th Anniversary Gala; August 29; register at MotorsportReg with keyword search for 'LPR'
  • Zone 7 Concours #3, September 13, Sacramento, by Sacramento Valley Region
  • PCA Fall Treffen at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia; September 16-19; treffen.pca.org. Registration will open July 15 at noon (Pacific Time)
  •  Zone 7 Concours #7, September 20, Ledson Winery - Kenwood, by Redwood Region
  • West Coast Series Races, September 19-20, High Plains Raceway, by Rocky Mountain Region
  • West Coast Series Races, September 26-27, Thunderhill, by Golden Gate Region
  • West Coast Series Races, October 10-11, Sonoma Raceway, by Golden Gate Region
  • Zone 7 AX #7 and #8, October 10-11, Thunderhill, by Sacramento Valley and Redwood Regions
  • Zone 7 Concours #2, October 11, Porsche of Fremont, by Loma Prieta Region

My First AX of 2020
Craig Steele
Past Redwood Region President
2017-2018
Shelter in Place orders caused me to realize how much I miss my PCA community. So when SVR offered an AX event that wasn't being cancelled, I quickly signed up. Since it was at Thunderhill Raceway near Willows, CA, I decided to make a weekend out of it that would also include from Porsche touring.

I first visited friends in Chester by Lake Almanor. Then a drive up the scenic Feather River on Hwy 70E and spent Friday night at a hotel in Chico. On Saturday morning, I made it over to Thunderhill with my mask ready, got my temperature taken, filled out multiple CV-19 releases and checked in to what was the familiar AX prep scene.

What a site! Seven acres of paved asphalt for autocross driving, plus an additional acre for parking, grid and the AX trailer. We were set for a .65 mile fun AX course of speed, spins and slaloms.

There were 60 registered drivers divided into three groups. When your group was up, you either ran, worked or rested. After the driver's meeting the first car was out by 9 am.

With social distancing rules in place, time slips weren't handed out and we checked our times online. The GT-3s, 911s and Cayman Ss grabbed the top time slots. I was in my traditional time location at the top of the bottom third. Oh well. Some things never change.

The grid was constantly hot, with five runs in the morning and three in the afternoon, and the weather was even hotter. Scheduled for 102 degrees, we thankfully only reached the mid-nineties. The constant breeze helped a lot and sunscreen and bottled water made it work. By 3:00 the event was completed and I was heading home.

I was blessed with tracking with two other Porsches for an hour dash drive south before I stopped at the local Walmart for a cold drink.

I encourage you all to attend future PCA autocrosses at this venue. Thank you to the SVR region for putting on such a fine and welcoming event!
Radiator Grills
Jerry Gladstone
Treasurer & Concours Director
Many water-cooled modern Porsches have large air inlets in their front bumpers to supply cooling air to oil or water radiators. These radiators are exposed to having their effectiveness diminished through accumulation of leaves, debris, and large bugs. Expensive Porsche aluminum radiators are at risk of damage by rocks and other hard objects. The solution: radiator grills.

Installing radiator grills is a simple and inexpensive project that can fill some of your shelter-in-place time during this pandemic. There are many radiator grill kits available from aftermarket sources ranging from under $100 to almost $500. Some can be installed without removing the front bumper, others do require removing the bumper. Not wanting to remove the bumper I opted for a set of inexpensive grills from  The Radiator Grill Store  and installed them in less than an hour including cleaning out accumulated “garbage”. These screens attach with cable ties, which does not sound very professional, but the cable ties disappear from sight when done. The grills do a great job collecting bugs and are easily cleaned, and they do not affect oil temperature.
Grill Screen installed on my 718 Boxster S
Board Meeting Minutes
Alan Geddes
Redwood Region Secretary

Our board meetings are on the last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. The next board meeting is June 30th and will be held virtually. Please visit the Redwood Website for login details. All members are welcome to attend. 

You can read previous board meeting minutes  here .  
Membership Report & Information
Tom Short
Membership Director

Note from the Membership Director

I n May 2020, 24 PCA Redwood Region members marked five or more years in the club, including one member who marked their 51 st  anniversary, another who reached their 48 th  anniversary, another with over 30 years in our club, and three more who have been members for over 20 years. Congratulations to all of you for such long-term loyalty and thank you to all of you who are marking anniversaries – I hope you are enjoying your membership. and taking advantage of all the great benefits our club has to offer! 
 
In May we welcomed five new members. You will be receiving a complimentary Redwood Region name badge shortly. Check out our website for upcoming autocross events. Also, you can order a name badge for your associate member there as well. 
 
Regarding our events considering the COVID-19 Virus, the health and safety of our members and fellow car enthusiasts is of utmost importance to the Redwood Region and the broader Porsche Club of America. Considering the state-wide stay-at-home order that was issued to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus through unnecessary social contact, we have responded by keeping our calendar clear of all club events. We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as and when the shelter-in-place orders have been lifted and we’re able to resume club activities. 
 
I encourage everyone to check out the calendar on our freshly redesigned website,  https://redwoodpca.org/ , and sign up for upcoming events once we have received the “all clear” from the California Department of Health and Human Services. Our events are a great way to meet other PCA members and have some fun with great people and our amazing cars. In the meantime, we wish you and your families and friends well during these extraordinary times. Stay healthy. 

 
If you spot any errors or have any questions about membership please feel free to email me at  pcaredmembership@gmail.com
 
Best,
 
Tom Short

der Marktplatz
Classifieds
PCA Panorama Magazines

I have 40 years of Porsche Panorama magazines that I would like to give to a good home. Cleaning out my office and didn't want to throw these away. Hate to put them in the recycling bin. 

If anyone is interested give me a call - Don Canardo 707-291-6321
I have for sale a 1988 factory slant-nose code M505 Turbo 930S Porsche: 24,100 original miles from new; Cassis Red Metallic Exterior/Burgundy Leather Interior. Have all original tools, equipment, books and maintenance receipts; Always garaged and covered; I have owned for about 11 years. Near flawless original interior/exterior. Runs near perfect. Has exclusive options package. Asking $180,000. 

Brian Barber
(707) 548-9972 
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About der Riesenbaum
Der Riesenbaum is the official newsletter of the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region, encompassing Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. This publication is intended to inform Club members about Club activities and other related matters of interest. 

We encourage letters to the editor, feedback, questions and suggestions about our newsletter and the Redwood Region in general. Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit photos and articles  about Club events or related activities. Please submit your entry by the 5th day of the month for inclusion in that month's newsletter. Articles received after the deadline will be considered for the next month's newsletter. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all materials submitted for publication.

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All written content and images in this publication are protected by copyright. Permission is granted to reprint any original content herein provided credit is given to the author, the der Riesenbaum and to the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region. The opinions expressed in der Riesenbaum are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region, its officers, or its members.
Thanks for supporting our Club!

Andy Cole
der Riesenbaum Editor
Porsche Club of America, Redwood Region