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Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region

Upshifting

By Bruce Hauben, Bruce993@PorscheNet.com
NOR'EASTER Online - November 2003
Northeast Region Logo
  • As I write this month on a gorgeous New England fall day wishing I were outside enjoying it, I'm listening to WEEI sports talk radio, picking up the depth of emotion in Red Sox Nation after last night's 11th inning loss. By way of full disclosure I must admit several points before proceeding. 

    •   
    First, I grew up in Yankee territory in NJ and in fact was a rabid Yankee fan in the days of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Billy Martin and of course Mel Allen et.al. I'm sure my parents tired of my reciting batting averages, ERAs and many other such stats. One of the highlights of my early teen years was being at Yankee Stadium when Don Larsen pitched his perfect game in the 1956 World Series against the then Brooklyn dodgers - a true subway series. Funny how selective our memories are, seldom do I or others remember how mediocre Larsen actually was. While pitching in the majors over 14 years with 10 different teams his combined won/loss was an abysmal 81-91, pitching a total of only 1,548 innings, giving up 1,442 hits, walking 725 and getting 849 Ks. In fact in '56, one of his best years, his won/lost record was only 11-5.
       
    Roger Maris was another of those very mediocre players with a single claim to fame. His 61 homers with the Yankees in 1961 stood for 27 years until Mark McGwire with 70 and Sammy Sosa with 66 broke it in 1998. Maris's next best home run year was 1960 with only 39 and during his 12-year career hit a total of only 275 while McGwire hit 583 in 16 seasons, Sosa 499 in 14 seasons, and Mantle 536 in 18 seasons.
       
    As sportswriter Arthur Daley once wrote, "A baseball fan has the digestion apparatus of a billy goat. He can - and does - devour any set of statistics with insatiable appetite and nuzzles hungrily for more." Jim Bouton has said, "Statistics are about as interesting as a first base coach" and infielder Toby Harrah astutely pointed out that "They both (bikinis and statistics) show a lot, but not everything."
       
    Second, I lost interest in baseball when I left home for college and have never regained my former enthusiasm for the sport. The season is so long, and free agency has created journeyman teams to the point that team loyalty is so much more difficult today than it was 50 years ago - yes, heresy to any Red Sox fan - that I only become really interested in post-season play. And without a doubt I signed on this year with the Red Sox, watching every post-season game and feeling deflated after the 11th inning last night.
       
    And finally, as far as WEEI goes, I rarely listen to "talk" shows and the only AM radio I ever tune in is WEEI for some commentary on particular games or sporting events. So what does all this have to do with cars and Porsches you may rightfully ask? Well, I was at first surprised and then upon reflection realized that it showed the very wide spectrum of sports' fans; after all these media buyers live with stats and usually know what they're doing.  I first heard a commercial (the reason I rarely listen to anything other than NPR and why we watch much of our TV from tape) for a mortgage company that guarantees to write your mortgage regardless of how bad your credit ratings may be. If you can't get a mortgage or re-write your present mortgage anywhere else, they'll get it done for you. Of course there's no mention of the exorbitant rates you'll pay. That was followed immediately by a commercial for Ira Porsche - a long time sponsor and advertiser with NER - and their great lease terms for Boxsters and 911s. 
       
    NER's final DE of our seven-event season was successfully held at Mosport at the beginning of October. Yes, I had to scrape the frost off the windshield in the morning but so did our friends who went to the Summit Point Club Race the same weekend far to the south in the corner of VA, MD and WV. Our days warmed up very nicely and in between a very few showers, the skies were wonderfully clear.
       
    The pizza party that we hosted at the local Holiday Inn was great fun due to the inclusion of Tom Hnatiw, one of the hosts of "Dream Car Garage" seen on Speed Channel. I've yet to see the show, but Tom was a very entertaining speaker, and coming from this curmudgeon that is the highest praise possible. Checking their web site I see that the show's times have changed to 5:30 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM on Sundays, so at least now I know when to tape it. We have our visiting pro and friend, Rick Bye to thank for getting Tom to our event.
       
    I occasionally hear that someone is concerned about crossing the border in and out of Canada and may not attend a DE for that reason. Let me assure you all that it is not much more difficult than a toll both on the MA Pike. Make sure that you have your passport and proof of ownership of vehicles and it's a piece of cake. The major highway crossing points may involve a short line but generally not more than five minutes and if you're adventuresome like me and hunt out less traveled roads, there is no wait, in fact you may have to wake up the customs person. AND, the duty free shop at the border coming home may pay for your trip in the savings on beer, perfume and other such items. 
       
    There are wonderful restaurants near the Canadian tracks at a fraction of the cost of equal dining at home, and while our dollar has lost a bit to the Canadian this year, there is still a significant advantage in our favor, and the tracks themselves...great. There's simply no reason for anyone not to give them a try next year. The Track Committee is already hard at work on next year's schedule so watch the Nor'easter for those dates and plan to join us often in 2004.
       
    Have you ever had a teaser for a teaser? Well, our 2004 Spring Ramble is in the final stages of preparation and the next issue of the Nor'easter will provide further information. Remember that when the registration information appears in the January issue, get yours in soon as the event sells out every year.
       
    According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's probably shouldn't have survived.
    • We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, and we rode our bikes, often creating our own cross country trails...without helmets.
    • We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were home when the street lights came on.
    • The term "play date" was not known. We didn't require organized teams. We'd ride our bike or walked to a friend's house, knocked on the door or just walked in and talked to them.
    • We went down the street and yelled for our friends at their homes to come out and play ball.
    • We played dodge ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt.
    • We'd choose up sides and some were always the last to be picked. Maybe their self esteem was jeopardized but they always came back the next time and had fun.
    • We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?
    • We made up games with sticks and tennis balls or Spaldins, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put our eyes out.
    • No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!
    • Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment...remind you of life?
    • Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.
    • This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever.
    • We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility - - and we learned how to deal with it!
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