Well here it is Thanksgiving Day as I write
this column (yes Dave a day late). A taste of winter has permeated the
Boston suburbs with a snowy covering after one of the warmest, if not rainy
falls in recent memory. Sad to say outdoor Porsche activity is now on the
back burner but, as always, we will shift into the inside mode starting
with the ever popular Paul Russell tour in Essex next month (see promo
in this issue and hope that the limit on attendance has not been passed).
There we will view the incredible Ralph Lauren collection of cars some
of which were displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts this past summer. In
addition we’ll no doubt be able to see the usual array of customer cars
and the largest assortment of Gullwing Mercedes this side of the Atlantic.
Also planned for later in the winter is a resurrection of our “Coffee Run”
basically a 1-2 hour tour through some nice countryside to a cozy brunch
location for good food and social chatting. Don’t worry a Porsche is not
necessary any vehicle will do, as usual the people are the center of interest
here. Finally word is now out that the 2nd annual “Escape”, an opposite
coast alternative to the parade will be held in early September at the
world famous Watkins Glen area. This is usually a noncompetitive fun long
weekend and will be organized by Zone 1 (encompasses the Northeast portion
of the US and Canada). Look for more details in Panorama in coming months.
A couple of Membership housekeeping notes;
If you are not receiving your NOR’EASTER, have changed your address or
need to correct your address please contact ME, not the editor. He just
has to forward the request to me anyway. Obviously when my term ends at
the end of 2006 someone else will be the contact point person. Second,
if you receive the NOR’EASTER free until the end of the year in which you
joined the club, the following year you must subscribe to continue to receive
our magazine. Unfortunately this is due to our US Postal service in Boston
whose interpretation of the rules of second class mailing is different
than the rest of the country. Third, as some of you have done, I do have
spare copies of the NOR’EASTER if you have some occasion to need them.
if some picture or story strikes your interest and you want to show it
to others or whatever, please feel free to ask. Interestingly I received
requests for additional copies from both owners of the cars featured on
the November cover shot. Finally those six or so members who mailed me
the ballot along with their subscription rest assured the vote tallies
were passed on to Karen Adams this year’s vote teller.
This month’s tech tip concerns 993 coupe
owners and that pesky third brake light. Over time the wiring for that
light, which unfortunately goes thru the rear window, corrodes causing
a malfunction. There are two fixes, first is to string wire around the
window to bypass the corroded section, or see if your friendly insurance
company (Mass. drivers only) would be willing to buy you a new rear window.
This month’s spotlighted member is our
new Admin VP on the Board of Directors for 2006, and a relatively recent
member who has shown great interest in a variety of NER activities. Winfred
Perry, Win for short, joined our group after intending to buy an Audi TT.
After test driving a Boxster on a whim, he bought the Porsche and after
seeing the application for membership for PCA amongst the car papers joined
the club. (Note all new Porsches have a membership application in the glove
box compliments of PCNA).
As with many Boxster owners Win discovered
that autocrossing is the car’s forte and immediately started this endeavor
after attending his first Newcomers Meeting in early spring. After the
requisite “improvements such as lowering, brake upgrade, sport seats, harnesses
and other “questionable upgrades,” Win has since graduated to the Driver
Ed portion of the driving experience. He has since participated in many
of our region events along with events organized by Metro NY, Rennsport
, NCR and Jersey shore at venues which include Lime Rock, Watkins Glen,
Mt. Tremblant as well as our home track of NHIS. At each event he has met
many likeable and like minded PCAers.
On the noncompetitive side of PCA/NER
Win , with his wife, has taken advantage of the social activities of the
club including the Annual Dinner, and plans to attend the Ramble, rallies
and tours. In his spare time Win partakes in his other passion cycling,
some snow skiing, sea kayaking and windsurfing, and also joins his wife
in swing dancing during the non-driving season.
Keeping it in the family, his son Luke
who recently transferred to a local school has started to participate in
the autocross program after doing the same activity in upstate NY while
in school at RIT.
Although the Boxster is Win’s first Porsche
he has owned some rather interesting cars such as a Fiat Abarth and BMW
200CS while in college and graduate school. Professionally he is a chemist
at his own company working on adhesives and coatings and is one of the
early baby boomers in age.
Finally to quote Win, “I would emphatically
suggest that new members try out a range of club activities, there is no
way a new member will not find activities and people to enjoy. |
