A summary of our recent and upcoming events.
Message from the President...
We ended the driving year with one of the best weather days so far this fall helping us to enjoy one of the Region's premier events, Oktoberfest.
This year we hosted 184 PCA members, guests and sponsors at The Old Bishop Place Farm in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina. Besides the fun of driving, eating and socializing, we made Oktoberfest a fundraiser for MANNA FoodBank.
Member donations provided 60,000 meals for WNC neighbors facing food insecurity issues. Thank you for being so generous. Take a moment to read about the event and view photos of the day by clicking this link.
The Region also stepped up with the call for volunteers to lead activities in 2024. New Chairs have been appointed for Autocross, Events and SIM Racing with additional on-the-ground assistance for Luft Wasser.
- Autocross: Jake Kooser
- Luft Wasser: Mike McLain will assist Chair Jim Moore as the on-the-ground Brevard resident
- Events: Yohan Sookdeo
- SIM Racing: Kirk Fleeman
We still have openings for a Breakfast Ramble Chair and a Tours Chair. Contact me if you are interested.
The final events of the year are coming up with the Annual Meeting on December 2 and an Intro to SIM Racing event on December 9. Save the dates. The regular monthly socials, Black Mountain Perks and the Social Mixers are also on the calendar.
Porsche Asheville's Audi/VW facility is under construction causing space issues for the Holiday Party so a back-up plan is underway. Information will be provided in a coming email.
Take a moment to enjoy the club at one of these events. Drive on!
Jim Moore, President
Upcoming Events
Visit the Porsche Certified Collision Shop K&M Collision - November 11
On Saturday, November 11, 2023, Appalachian Region PCA members can travel to Hickory to visit region sponsor K&M Collision. We hope you never need their services, but accidents happen so it is good to know that a Porsche-Certified Auto Body Shop is around the corner from us as one of the Appalachian Region Sponsors.
K&M have more than doubled their size and services since we last visited them in 2020. You'll be amazed as they take us around their shop as you see not only Porsches, but Ferraris, Bentleys, Teslas and almost any exotic in the shop as they are factory certified for most of the high-end exotics.
The Bradshaw family, owners of K&M, will be on hand to explain their specialized services and help you understand why you want to use the Porsche-Certified shop if or when you need auto body work on your Porsche.
Please register by clicking on this link. We will work at arranging car pooling to Hickory. For those who are interested we will also look at joining together for lunch after the tour.
Have a Coffee and a Pastry at Black Mountain Perks - November 14
Join Richard and Barbara Little as they host Black Mountain Perks at The Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain. As the weather starts to cool, you may find us around the fire on the patio, or if it is too cold, we'll be around the fireplace in the lobby.
A Coffee and pastry package for $8 plus tax is served starting at 9:00 a.m. when club members start arriving for socializing over a coffee.
No registration is necessary.
Enjoy a Beer at BearWaters Brewing in Canton - November 15
This month the Social Mixer will go west, as the Appalachian Region visits BearWaters Brewing at 101 Park Street in Canton. BearWaters sits on the Pigeon River and features a great kitchen for eating while you are socializing.
This is an open house type event; come and go as you please between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Have a glass of beer, a bite from the kitchen, or just some fine conversation with fellow Appalachian Region members.
No Registration is necessary.
Save the Dates for Upcoming Events
December 2 Annual Meeting at Prescott Auto Reserve
This year's Appalachian Region Annual Meeting will be held at the Prescott Auto Reserve near the intersection of Asheville Highway and I-26 in Hendersonville.
We'll recap 2023, and announce 2024 events and the results of the Board election for new officers for 2024. After the meeting, you'll be able to tour Prescott Auto Reserve to view the cars in storage and the lounge area for socializing.
The meeting is from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023 followed by a tour of the facility.
Prescott Auto Reserve, 37 Maxwell St., Hendersonville, NC
April 27 Luft Wasser Porsche Celebration in Brevard
The Luft Wasser Porsche Celebration in Brevard will once again kick-off the year for Appalachian Region as 200 Porsches take over Broad Street in Brevard.
Luft Wasser sells out within hours so you'll want to be by your computer on March 15 when registration opens at 12:00 p.m. Watch the monthly newsletter for more information as the event nears.
Performance Driving Activities
SIM Racing over the Winter
As driving activities wind down over the winter months try your hand at SIM Racing at The Track at Asheville with fellow members racing Porsche GT3 R's. New SIM Chair, Kirk Fleeman has put together a great three race schedule to keep you driving in January and February.
Three race dates with three different tracks have been set for the championship:
- January 13, 2024 - CMP
- January 27, 2024 - VIR
- February 10, 2024 - Road Atlanta
Sign-up will open on December 15 at 12:00 p.m. For more information on the series, click on this link.
Intro to SIM Racing - December 9, 2023
If you haven't had a chance to try SIM Racing, SIM Chair Kirk Fleeman has set up an Intro to SIM Racing session at The Track at Asheville. Limited to 12 participants: 6 on Advanced Rigs at $60 each and 6 on Standard Rigs at $40 each. The session includes:
- Orientation
- Practice session and race each in 2x cars
- Cars get progressively faster
- Debrief between sessions
Registration will open November 15 with a link in the sign-ups newsletter.
Supporting the Club
November 8 - Driving Tours Planning Meeting at Blue Ridge Auto Club
Driving tours are the Region's most popular activity and we would like your help in planning the drives and destinations for 2024. If you have ideas for driving tours and/or want to get involved in leading or sweeping a tour as a volunteer, then join our 2024 Tour Planning Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on November 8, 2023.
The goal is to look at the months where we will be conducting tours and assigning a team to plan a tour for each month. Don Lowcavage and I will be available to assist you with how you map out a tour and plan a fun day of driving for Club members.
Ralph Griffith, a PCA Club member and owner of the Blue Ridge Auto Club and Conservatory has been so kind to offer us space in the Blue Ridge Auto Club facility the morning of November 8 from 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The address of the Blue Ridge Auto Club is 8 Loop Road, Arden, NC.
If you are interested in participating, there is no registration necessary, just show up at the Blue Ridge Auto Club on November 8.
Get Involved - Help Schedule our Breakfasts
We had a great response to last month's request for volunteers but we still need someone to manage our monthly breakfasts.
We are open to new thoughts for the breakfast rambles, so help develop the next version of breakfast for Appalachian Region members.
If you are interested in helping out planning this popular event, reach out to President Jim Moore by clicking this link and we can talk.
News in the Region
Articles to Read
For up-to-date stories and news in the Appalachian Region, be sure to look at our web site on a regular basis and click on the News tab. Articles to read from the past month include:
- Appalachian Region Recognized for its Community Support
- A Picture-Perfect Oktoberfest
- October Mixer at Burning Blush
- AppCafe´ Porsches & Coffee retires for the year
Membership Anniversaries to Celebrate
Congratulate members on their time with PCA as they celebrate milestone anniversaries with PCA. This month we celebrate some long-term members of PCA.
20-Year Anniversary
- John and Toni Goetzman, Waynesville, NC
15-Year Anniversary
- Joe and Lois Esposito, Asheville, NC
10-Year Anniversary
- Becky Grafer, Naples, FL
- Alan Harle, Naples, FL
- Nicholas Stefanou, Hendersonville, NC
5-Year Anniversary
- Reynante Acosta and Joy DeGuzman, Fletcher, NC
- Robert Anderson, Bakersville, NC
- Marsha Simmons, Dover, NH
Phil Trunnell, Asheville, NC
Welcome New Members to the Appalachian Region
The Appalachian Region would like to welcome new members and transferring members that joined us last month. We now have 447 primary members and 695 total members. A Big Appalachian Region welcome to:
- Robert and Muriel Carter, Arden, NC, 1989 911 Carrera, (transfer from Carolinas)
- Doyle and Suzanne Hilson, Maggie Valley, 2013 911 Carrera
- Michael Holland, Mill Spring, 2017 911 Carrera GTS Cab
- Jeffrey Lund, Bryson City, Test Drive Member
- William Scherer, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2007 GT3 RS, (transfer from Gold Coast)
See you at an Appalachian Region Event!
Jim Moore, President
PCA Member since 1998