The year has started strong with well-attended Social Events as our Porsches huddle from the cold in their garages. Think about joining us during the month at one of our socials: Black Mountain Perks for coffee, the Social Mixer for a beer or the Ramble for Breakfast.
The February Griot's Car Care Clinic from Tech Chair Dan Dazzo and Co-Concours Chair David Butler brought out 69 members from four regions in the area. A new Sim Racing League was established on Saturday mornings that provided our HPDE drivers and other members with a chance to hone their track skills with a little simulated wheel-to-wheel racing. Mike Delaguardia was crowned Sim Champion this last Saturday with Sean McDonald in second and Greg Carder and David Wells tied for third.
March is Car Control Month as we have a Classroom Mountain Driving Clinic and a hands-on session at the Michelin Proving Grounds. The hands-on session is sold-out but you can still attend the Classroom session.
One of our initiatives for 2022 is to gain additional sponsorship to further enhance our events. Sponsorship Chair Yohan Sookdeo has been busy making contact with prospects and we hope to have news in the coming months. To indicate value to the sponsors we provide them with an overview of an Appalachian Region Porsche owner that you may find of interest too.
There are currently 559 total members in the Appalachian Region consisting of 358 primary members and 201 affiliate members. The Appalachian Region grew 15.5% in 2021 versus 2020. A Porsche owner has an income in excess of $100,000 with owners being 85% male and college graduates. The average age of a Porsche 911 owner is 52 years old, while a Macan owner is 51 years old and a Boxster/Cayman owner is 47 years old. These are overall Porsche demographics. We are unable to be specific for the Appalachian Region.
What we can be specific about is Porsche ownership in the Region. 40% of Appalachian Region members own a Porsche 911, with 15% being a classic air-cooled 911. The second most popular model owned by 32% of our members is a Boxster/Cayman. The four-door Porsches (Macans, Cayennes and Panameras) make up 13% of our ownership. As of now there are no electric Taycans that are reported in the Appalachian Region.
Almost half the members of the Appalachian Region have been PCA members for over 10 years so we will start recognizing significant anniversaries with this newsletter.
To achieve our mission of "Having fun with Porsches!", the first step is to attend an event. Look at the March Sign-ups for our drives starting in April and/or join us at one or our socials.
March Sign-up for April Driving
Registration for two April driving events opens for registration on March 15, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. One is a new member drive on Saturday April 2, 2022 intended to introduce new members to the popular Drive & Dine tours. The general membership drive for April features a different format where we will have a casual breakfast with the cars and then drive.
New Member Drive April 2, 2022
The New Member Drive is a new event on the calendar to introduce new members who haven't yet tried one of our popular Drive & Dine events. You'll be driving with experienced drive leaders who will introduce you to the fun, safe event of a group tour through the mountains that culminates in a lunch at the end for socializing to meet other members. These tours consist of two groups of 12 Porsches enjoying a tour together through the mountains. Experienced lead and sweep drivers keep the group together driving at speed limits while enjoying the handling characteristics of a Porsche with fabulous mountain scenery. Tour Leader John Goetzman will send an email to all new members from January 2021 onwards who have not tried a Drive & Dine. For details on the event click this link: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/events/appalachian-event/972-apr-tech-session-or-drive220402
A "Southern Morning" Drive April 9, 2022
The drive will start with an outdoor breakfast with the cars at Eggs Up in Hendersonville and then we'll gather to drive south on what will be a new drive route for most of us. Sign-up opens on March 15, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Click on this link for details: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/events/appalachian-event/1083-skyuka-mountain-drive-and-dine
Mountain Driving Clinic March 14, 2022
This is a March event with registration already open, but if you plan on driving with us in 2022 we strongly encourage you to attend this classroom Mountain Driving Clinic where Chief Driving Instructor Dan Dazzo will lead a discussion on safe driving techniques for our mountain roads. If you still want to sign up for this clinic use this link: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/events/appalachian-event/1040-apr-car-care-clinic-220305
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers are needed to work the Car Control Clinic at the Michelin Proving Grounds on March 19, 2022. We will need you to assist with cone set-up and car staging. Please contact me if you are available to assist from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
March Events
For details on each of the events use this link for the March Appalachian Region Calendar: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/events?month=3&year=2022&next=1
Black Mountain Perks (Coffee Social) on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m., Monte Vista Hotel, Black Mountain, NC
Mountain Driving Clinic on Monday March 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., AB Tech Classroom, Asheville, NC
The Social Mixer on Wednesday March 16, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., The Wedge at Foundation, Asheville, NC
Breakfast Ramble on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m., Pigs & Grits, Burnsville, NC
Other Appalachian Region Events Occurring in March, but are closed for registration
- Werks Reunion Amelia Island, March 3 & 4, 2022
- HPDE at CMP, March 12 & 13, 2022
- Car Control Clinic at Michelin Proving Grounds, March 19, 2022
Events in the Region
Luft Wasser Returns to a Spring Date: May 14, 2022
The Luft Wasser Porsche Celebration in Brevard is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2022. Registration will open on Friday April 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. We will be continuing with the guided tours to Brevard from five cities in the region and will be adding back the parade into town for those finding their own way to Brevard. Luft Wasser will now become a fund raising event with a $25 registration fee to support a local charity that is being identified by our new Public Service committee. Use this link for info on the 2022 Luft Wasser: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/events/appalachian-event/1044-luft-wasser-220514
Carolina's Region "Fruehling in den Bergen": May 4-6, 2022
The Carolina's Region multi-day, multi-event is in our backyard with a base at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Cherokee. The event will have a Concours, socials and drives throughout the mountains. The Casino with their fabulous restaurant offerings should make this a great event to consider. Details are available at this link: https://clubregistration.net/events/event-details.cfm?event_id=12267
Smoky Mountain Region "Spring Fling": May 20-22, 2022
The Smoky Mountain Region continues its multi-day, multi-event Spring Fling event in Johnson City, Tennessee the weekend of May 20-May 22, 2022. The event consists of a Concours, Drives, a Gimmick Rally and an Autocross. At last year's event Appalachian Region had winners in the Concours and the Autocross. To register for this event click on this link: https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/spring-thing-2022-carnegie-hotel-millennium-center-pca-smoky-mountain-561808
News in the Region
For up-to-date stories and news in the Appalachian Region, be sure to check out our Web Site on a regular basis and click on the "News" tab: https://aprpca.org/356B/index.php/news
For the month of February you'll find stories and pictures on most of our events:
- Griot's Car Care Clinic
- Black Mountain Perks
- The Social Mixer
- Sim Racing
- General announcements
Anniversaries in the Region
A new feature to the newsletter will be to recognize significant anniversaries of members with PCA. This month will be catch up month as we recognize anniversaries from January, February and March of 2022.
30-Year Anniversary
- Terry and Celeste Cole, Swannanoa, NC
- David and Mary Stori, Clyde, NC
25-Year Anniversary
- Perry and Rheta Wall, Fleetwood, NC
20-Year Anniversary
- Eric and Diana Burns, St Petersburg, FL
- Steve and Mary Jo Goodman
15-Year Anniversary
- Harry Harper, Weaverville, NC
- Dan and Linda Rives
10-Year Anniversary
- Thomas Farmer, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- John and Jaime Franzen, Asheville, NC
- Robert and Jean Larsen, Waynesville, NC
- Michael and Cheri Madsen, Tallahassee, FL
- Britt Webb, Asheville, NC
5-Year Anniversary
- Robert Bruker, Candler, NC
- Joel Kelley, Asheville, NC
- Ron Klahr and Betty Kjera-Klahr, Bat Cave, NC
- David and Kate Wells, Asheville, NC
Welcome to New Members of the Appalachian Region
The Appalachian Region would like to welcome new members and transferring members that joined us in February. The Appalachian Region now has 559 members. A Big Mountain Welcome to:
- Thomas Cowles, Maggie Valley, NC, 911 Carrera (Transfer from Sacramento Valley)
- Richard del Monte, Asheville, NC,GT4 (Transfer from Maverick)
- Bruce Rogow, Cedar Mountain, NC, Cayenne Turbo
In passing...
Many of you may have known a fellow Appalachian Region member who left us last year. Howard LaPlante passed away in September 2021. Howard and his wife Elfie, were regular attendees at many Appalachian Region events. A memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville at 11:00 a.m. on April 2, 2022. The address is 2 Edwin Street at Charlotte Street in Asheville.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor
See you at an Appalachian Region Event!
Jim Moore – President. PCA member since 1998