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We can begin several weeks ago with the first DE of the '03 season, which entailed a trip to VIR. Caravanning down with friends is always fun as there's a lot of time to catch up on the CBs, after a long cabin-fever winter. The Weber’s were on their shakedown trip with their new Ford dually diesel and two car trailer and if you didn't know otherwise you'd have thought Dave had been driving the rig his entire life, born to the road. So we (along with Bill Hawe, Doug Adams and Don Moberg, also driving his brand new diesel rig, in fact as I think about it now I was the only non-diesel in the group) were among the first to arrive the day before the event and had our pick of locations in the paddock. Before we had unloaded our track cars we were joined by most of Team Northeast (Steve Boris, Andy Jenks and Steve Berry) who'd taken the coastal route down, and Brian and Louise Gill who had driven up from FL to join us. If we count the Gills who will always be NER people in our minds, there were 11 NER drivers, quite a Northeast representation. In fact, there was a majority of the NER Board of Directors at the event. I highly recommend VIR to any of you who want to get an early start on the season or finish up late in November. The facilities are wonderful, well maintained, and the track is great fun to drive and in top condition. We had 3 days of 75-80° weather with only one run group that was spoiled - for some – by rain. Remember that while we were sweating in the sun, New England was experiencing freezing, wet weather. Frankly, I was looking forward to a wet track as I had new rain tires that I was anxious to try out. I'm glad to be able to report that the Toyo Proxes RA-1(R compound, unshaved for rain) is very good on the wet track. I've yet to run them in a deluge but on a moderately wet track they were fantastic. Sunday afternoon we split into several groups, leaving at different times and headed in different directions. Don and I stayed for the last run as we were driving home together. And that last run of 55 minutes was the best, and absolutely the most fun of the entire 3 days, worth getting a late start home. I hooked up with another Club Racer from MD and we spent the entire run exchanging lead position and we both had our best times of the 3 days. The following morning when Don and I reached WV we also reached the snow and sleet that had been forecasted to move into New England. We were hoping to out run it and finally did when we reached the NY/NJ border. Fortunately very little of the precipitation was sticking to the roads and while we had to chip of several inches of ice from our trucks' grills when we stopped for fuel, the trip home was uneventful. Back home to put the final touches on next weekend's first ever, NER Instructor/Advanced Driving Seminar. The Club's good friend, "Racetrack Rick" Scourtas and Ira Porsche had very willingly agreed to sponsor the event at their facility including the chairs and tables necessary, coffee and donuts followed by lunch between the two seminars. To say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement as we had 59 instructors and instructors-in-training in the morning session of which about 1/2 stayed for the afternoon session when we were joined by 22 advanced drivers. Except for driving events and the Annual Dinner it was the largest turnout for an NER event I've seen. While most of the drivers were NER people we also hosted folks from CVR, NCR, HCR and Down East. The speaker and seminar leader was Mark Hamilton Peters, a Skip Barber racing and driving instructor for 12 years and prior to that with the Jim Russell Racing School both in CA and England. Mark has also raced professionally both in the UK and here since 1987. It was clear that he knew his topics inside and out from first hand experience, the best way. A few comments from the questionnaires will better portray Mark's content and speaking ability than my paraphrasing them." Informative, entertaining, with real-world advise." "Very good at explaining concepts." "Fabulous individual speaker, entertaining, informative." "Very good insight to how to communicate with students." "Great depth of knowledge." Everyone including hardened, long time instructors felt their time was well spent and in fact, enjoyed themselves. The Track Committee is already at work on next year's seminar and figuring out how to improve on a great rookie start. So, now we're up to this coming weekend, as write this, when Joyce and I will be driving the Ramble route for the final time prior to Ramble 2003 on April 26. My modus operandi has worked well in past years and is really quite simple. First, the roads must be clear of snow...otherwise I wouldn't know if I was on a dirt or paved road. With the very late winter, and heavy snow covering this year, I was not able to begin until the end of March, which put some heavy time pressure on planning the route. Second, I drive the route alone, planning and changing as I go, as things are usually not as they may appear on a map. Doubling back, and re-routing due to paved roads turning into dirt after several miles, bridges collapsed, and other such situations usually doubles the actual route miles on my first run. Then it takes one or two more trips to refine the route and correct errors. Then finally, Joyce rides shotgun to ensure that the route and instructions make sense to drivers and navigators who've never seen it before. By the time we take this final drive, I'm so familiar with the route that I don't need a map anymore and may sometimes miss something due to familiarity. Finally we're up to the weekend of April 26 and Ramble 2003. There are 123 cars registered and 244 people. This year out limiting factor was dining space and overnight accommodations at The Woodstock Inn, which generated a waiting list of expectant drivers and companions. As space is not a problem at our registration location and lunch stop, I offered those on the wait list the opportunity to drive the Ramble and have lunch if they wished to handle dinner and overnight accommodations on their own. Everyone accepted the plan and in the ensuing days due to some cancellations, all but 2 who wanted to stay and dine at The Woodstock are able to do so. A cautionary note here for next year, get your registration and check to me early, don't hem and haw and get wishy washy about it if you want to participate in the best Ramble in the country. Well, Ramble 2003 has been a rousing success and put to bed with everyone having had a grand time, a great meal with wonderful friends, a sound nights sleep and maybe a visit to the health spa, or exercise area or even a round of golf on Sunday and then found their way home safely. But wait, when you're booking all or most of a resort hotel you can't wait until 2 or 3 months before your trip to reserve those rooms and the main ballroom for cocktails and dinner. In fact, the two properties that are being considered for Ramble 2004 require our commitment by the end of May, 2003. Why consider only 2 resorts? Simple, there are not many from which to chose, and we need reasonable time before returning to one we've done previously. Many that we've gone to in the past are now too small for the size of our group. The property must be within an easy one-day drive of Eastern MA as our Rambles are one-night affairs, not 2 nighters. And finally, some resorts require a minimum of a two-night stay. So, the following weekend Joyce and I are off to Maine to look at a resort that appears very interesting if one can judge from their literature. The following weekend is the Mid-Ohio Club Race, which means 1 1/2 months without a weekend together at home. It's a good thing that this is all Porsche and NER related. And then blessedly we have several weekends at home to get the gardens planted. The seedlings are doing well in their basement light stands, which in itself is a wonder as we've had little time to nurture them. Great Quotes From Ladies
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