I hope that even though it has been cold and snowy in the Appalachian Region, that you are having fun with your Porsche and Appalachian Region members in this New Year.
We raced into the New Year with a Sim Racing event that was such a big success that a Winter Sim Racing League was put into place for February. Club members will be enjoying simulated racing of Porsche GT4’s at Daytona, Carolina Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta.
For the non-racers in the Club we had successful social events with a Black Mountain Perks coffee gathering and our first Breakfast Ramble of the new year that saw 20 members beat the incoming snow storm for breakfast at Joey’s Pancake House in Maggie Valley.
Our Tech Session in February occurs this weekend with experts from Griot’s Garage Car Care products demonstrating paint correction techniques to 74 PCA members at the Blue Ridge Car Club in Arden. Watch the Appalachian Region web site and Facebook page for a full report on the event.
The biggest item that I want to make you aware of is a major initiative from the Appalachian Region Board that was presented and approved at the January Board meeting. The new Board created a Roadmap that identifies five main goals for the club to drive activities in 2022.
- Increase engagement among new and existing members.
- Improve the safety record of drives to zero incidents.
- Increase performance-driving involvement.
- Expand the Region’s sponsorship income.
- Establish operational processes for Public Service Support, expense reimbursement, COVID guidelines and Bylaws review.
You can review the complete 2022 Appalachian Region Roadmap on the Appalachian Region web site. The Board has already moved forward with programs to deliver on many of the goals. For more information on these new programs, scroll down through the newsletter.
The Appalachian Region has ambitious goals for 2022 that will require volunteers and participation. I hope to see you all attend at least one event this year. We have social events, driving events and track events so there is something for everyone. Our mission is “Having fun with Porsches!” and the first step is to attend an Appalachian Region event.
See you at an Appalachian Region event! Appalachian Region Platinum Sponsor Since 2015.
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| Appalachian Region Platinum Sponsor Since 2015 |
Requesting Nominations for 2022 Charitable Activities
One of the goals that the Board set for 2022 was to establish a Public Service Strategy for the Region. A Public Service Committee was formed with David Angelus as the leader. Other members supporting the effort include David Butler, Paula Caycedo, Scott Pluene and Yohan Sookdeo. John Goetzman is an Ad Hoc member representing the Board.
The committee has been moving at a fast pace to establish a Public Service Strategy and selection process so we can implement it quickly in 2022. The goal is to maintain a list of pre-approved charities that can be selected as the beneficiary when we want to add a charity element to an event. At the February 3rd Board meeting a strategy and selection process was reviewed and approved by the Board.
You can review the approved strategy framework on the Appalachian Region web site on the Public Service page. If you have a Charity or Public Service Activity that you would like to nominate for Appalachian Region support in 2022 please read the process and submit your Charity Nomination via the submission form on the new Public Service web page. If you have any questions, please reach out the Public Service Committee using the Charity contact page.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2022
New Driving Clinics on the Calendar
Another one of the goals for 2022 is to maximize safety on our driving tours so our Chief Driving Instructor, Dan Dazzo will be conducting a Mountain Driving Clinic to help Porsche drivers navigate mountain roads in their Porsche.
Mountain Driving Clinic on March 14: this is a classroom session being held at AB Tech that will provide driving tips for safe driving in the mountains of WNC. Details here.
Car Control Clinic on March 19: The Appalachian Region will be taking over the Michelin Proving Grounds in Laurens, South Carolina for a hands-on driving clinic. Participants will learn car handling on a skid pad, and braking and avoidance techniques with PCA Certified instructors. Unfortunately space is very limited so we will conduct a lottery among registrants to determine who has the first chance to try this new event. The cost will be $100 for the day.
You can find more details and register starting February 15, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. here. Registration is only open for a week.
PCA National Events to Consider Attending
Porsche Parade at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos. June 12-18, 2022. Phase 1 Registration to attend Porsche Parade is now open using this link: Details here.
PCA Werks Reunion Amelia Island, March 4, 2022 A one-day gathering of PCA members and over 500 of their Porsches, Appalachian Region will be attending with a Caravan drive down the Woodpecker Trail to the Appalachian Region Host Hotel with a dinner the night before and then enjoying the show together. Details here.
High Performance Drivers Education Schedule Announced
The Appalachian Region High Performance Drivers Education (HPDE) Committee led by David Wells has set the 2022 calendar for HPDE events. The Appalachian Region attends HPDE events hosted by other regions so the committee chooses three events for our HPDE members to drive together to enjoy Appalachian camaraderie at the track.
The first event at Carolina Motorsports already has ten members attending, including three first-time drivers. Jim Moore is coordinating activities for the first-timers so if you want to try a track event, now is a great time. Contact Jim if you are interested trying the track.
- March 12 & 13: Carolina Motorsports Park
- June 4 & 5: Road Atlanta
- November 18-20: VIR (Virginia International Raceway)
Events on the Calendar
Black Mountain Perks (Morning Coffee). Wednesday, February 9. 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Monte Vista Hotel, Black Mountain, NC. Details here
Evening Social. Wednesday, February 16, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Burning Blush Brewery, Mills River, NC. Details here
Breakfast at the Dixie. Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Dixie Diner, Hendersonville, NC. Details here.
MANNA Foodbank Public Service: Monday, March 1, 2022. Details here.
Welcome to the New Members of Appalachian Region
The Appalachian Region would like to welcome new members and transferring members that joined us in December and January. We now have a total of 559 members in the Appalachian Region. A Big Mountain Welcome to:
| Ralph Anderson | Tryon, NC | Test Driving Porsches |
| Robert & Brenda Brewster | Spruce Pine, NC | 911 Turbo S |
| John Cheadle | Glenville, NC | Test Driving Porsches |
| Kevin & Holly Dooling | Young Harris, GA | Boxster (transferring from Peachstate) |
| Brad Ettestad | Hendersonville, NC | Test Driving Porsches |
| Curtis & Kara Greenwood | Pisgah Forest, NC | Panamera 4 |
| Dean & Beth Gurnack | Biltmore Lake, NC | GT3 |
| Jamal Haddad | Waynesville, NC | 911 Targa 4S & 914 |
| Richard Hoyle | Arden, NC | Cayenne GTS |
| Gregory & Suzanne Jones | Weaverville, NC | Macan (transferring from Peachstate) |
| John Johnson | Columbus, NC | 911(996) Carrera Cab |
| David Major | Shelby, NC | Cayenne Turbo |
| Linda Price | Travelers Rest, SC | 911 Targa 4 GTS (transferring from Carolinas) |
| David & Michele Reed | Rutherfordton, NC | Boxster |
| Sean Rubin | Shelby, NC | Cayenne |
| Talmadge Shuler | Whittier, NC | 781 Cayman S |
| Shane Van Oostendorp | Arden, NC | 911SC Targa |
We hope to see you at an upcoming Appalachian Region event.
COVID Guidelines for Appalachian Region
At the January Board meeting, the Board approved COVID guidelines for events. It was agreed that the Region will apply CDC, National and Local government guidelines, and PCA National guidelines for Appalachian Region events. The approved Appalachian Region COVID guideline can be found on the Region's web site.
Buncombe County (Asheville, Black Mountain, Arden, etc.) has a mask requirement for all indoor public spaces. Therefore masks will be required at our upcoming Griot's Car Care Clinic and the monthly Black Mountain Perks coffee social.
New Chairs Appointed for 2022
The Board of Directors voted and approved a new slate of Committee Chairs to execute the 2022 Roadmap to deliver on the five goals. Many of the Chairs are a carryover from 2021, but some new faces now appear to help drive the Appalachian Region so members are "Having fun with their Porsches!"
The new Chairs appointed for 2022 are:
Audit: Bob Poe & Jim Symington
Public Service: David Angelus
Luft Wasser: Gerhard Hillmann
Social Events: Dave White
Membership: Don Lowcavage
Social Media: Bill Price
New Member Picnic: Carole & Gene Carter
Sponsorship: Yohan Sookdeo
Thank you to all the Committee Chairs for volunteering your time and expertise to drive Appalachian Region to Success.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor
See you at an Appalachian Region event In February!
