October 2023
Positive Camber
With Jeff Clark, President and Turbo, illustration, Roger Warrick
Wish I had something pithy and noble to write this month. I do not. The muse has escaped...
Notes you guys need to be aware of:
The OVR webstore is live on PCA.org (https://www.pcawebstore.org/regions/OHV) We have several items both in womens and mens on that site. It is our goal to have our new website live shortly and the full range of merchandise that will be available through the OVR website. A big thank you to Chuck Lindsey for running with this. Hand to God in several instances in the last few months we would be up a creek without Chuck’s dedication and focus. We are lucky to have him. The new OVR website is in its early stages. We saw the prototypes and we’re happy. Please stay tuned and thank you for your patience. We have great people setting this up for us and we expect great things out of David and his team.
The Harrison - Meckesheim event from Sept 9 was a stunning success and we are looking at ways to expand that momentum in other ways. The sister city signing was a wonderful way to bring that small town together and with the addition of OVR members and cars, the fire department reported 4500+ in attendance at the event. It is by a massive margin the biggest thing we have ever done. Every vendor that was selling the special event brew sold out.
I don’t know how many of you are on YouTube or subscribe to Podcasts. Porsche Club of America has a remarkable channel on YouTube that I highly recommend you check it and subscribe to.
I recently had the new PCCM installed in my 911. Best money spent in a long time. I am now hooked on Porsche themed podcasts. I want to bring to your attention that PCA does a Podcast featuring Vu Nguyen (PCA Nation Director) and Manny Albon ( former club President and now PCA Technical Director) produced bi-weekly. Their guests include Porsche Panorama editor Rob Sass and PCA web editor Damon Lowney along with many special guests. I think they’re wonderful and focus on the topics that get my attention, this club and my car. The podcasts are available on Spotify, Apple Podcast etc. Please listen in and subscribe. You won’t be disappointed.
Questions or concerns feel free to call me
Jeff
Board Minutes
Chuck Lindsey, Secretary, Ohio Valley Region, PCA
No Meeting Was Held In September
Alcohol And OVR/PCA Events
Jeff Clark, OVR President
I have been recently asked about PCA policy regarding the use of alcohol at any of our events. It is as follows:
“THE PCA ALCOHOL USE POLICY The consumption of alcohol during competitive driving events is forbidden. After the competition has been completed, a driving event can be treated like any other gathering of PCA members. At such gatherings of PCA members, the availability of and consumption of alcohol is not forbidden. Further, PCA insurance policies do not prohibit the consumption of alcohol at PCA gatherings. However, good risk management practices require a common sense approach to the administration of PCA gatherings where alcohol is available. Many Regions already utilize intensive and well thought-out practical measures to control the availability and consumption. There are a number of risk management techniques available and Regions are encouraged to share techniques that have been utilized successfully with fellow Club members. PCA’s objective is to practice good risk management at PCA events in order to protect our Club and its members from incidents and accidents.”
Views From The Hill
2023 Bellefontaine Hill Climb photos Stan Yarrish/Ted Hunter
OVR Members Take Third Straight BSA Charity Kart Race Win
For the third year in a row, Team Z, with OVR members TJ Pugh, Kumar Viswallingham and Jeff Woodard along with Jon Carrigan, took First Place at the recent Boy Scouts of America Charity Kart Race held at MCC.
Let’s Play 22 Questions
words: Jeff Woodard
We have been blessed with a strong group of volunteers at our DE events who do an incredible job of keeping our events running smoothly. Every position they fill is critical to a successful weekend and during that time they are approached by the drivers and their families with a lot of questions. What follows are the most frequently asked questions our volunteers hear.
• Can I take my wife or friend out on track during a run group? Our insurance through PCA only allows for registered event participants (drivers) to go on track throughout the day. Anyone not registered for the event may not go on-track during regularly scheduled run groups. The only exception is during lunch when any driver can tour the track at highway speeds (Ohio speeds, not Texas).
• Why do I need waivers for my wife/kids/friends? We already have wristbands from the gate when we arrived. The wrist bands you receive at the gate are for the Mid-Ohio track waiver you submitted. PCA has an entirely different waiver and anyone visiting or participating in an HPDE weekend must also sign the PCA waiver. This means that everyone in our paddock will have two wristbands.
• When is “taste of the track” (a.k.a. “lunch laps”)? Lunch starts at 12:10 and we start the laps within 15 minutes. A couple things to remember, we do check wristbands to make sure that everyone in the car has signed both the Mid-Ohio and PCA waivers. The other thing to remember is that we have both a lead and a follow car to keep everyone within normal highway speeds. Both cars do have radios to communicate any problems back to the staff.
• Do we need to tech our car every day? I know that some regions still do daily tech, but we are not one of them. For our Novice and intermediate drivers, you will do tech either Friday night at the hotel/registration or first thing Saturday morning along the fence line outside garage 7. Approaching the registration line without the tech form completed and signed off by our tech team will create a delay for your registration. Always go to tech first.
• Do you have helmets? Yes, we have 30 loaner helmets and continue to replace them as they expire. We ask that you get fitted correctly in garage 7 prior to your first session on track and then return the helmet at the end of the day Sunday. Should you be going on track with an instructor who has a roll cage and harness we will ask that you also sign out one of the three Hans devices we have available. We will also ask that you return that to garage 7 as soon as that session is complete.
• If we leave for lunch or gas, do we need to sign back in somewhere? The short answer is “no”. Once you have signed both the Mid-Ohio and PCA waivers you will be sporting a wrist band from both. Just show those at the gate to re-enter the property. You will be able to come and go between 6:30 am and 7 pm Friday through Sunday.
• Where on my car do I put my run group sticker? This is to be placed on the upper windshield on the driver’s side. If you are a novice or intermediate student that receives a “solo” run sticker, please place this either next to your run group sticker or in the side window directly behind the driver.
• On which arm do I place my wrist band? We do not require a specific arm but do suggest that drivers place it on their left wrist and instructors on their right wrist. This allows you to hold that arm out the window when approaching the pits to easily confirm that the drivers band matches the run group sticker on the windshield.
• Do you have an extra form? This typically refers to tech forms as you should now be doing your waiver via club registrations e-signature. Yes, we do have extra forms. However, this does raise red flags as we must consider that you may not have spent time preparing your car prior to the event. Expect additional scrutiny from our Tech team if you do not have a prepared and signed tech form when you approach registration.
• Can I pet your dog? This question leads us to a couple things. Yes, pets are allowed on the property but must always be on a leash. Please always ask to pet someone’s animal and should you ask them it is best done with a proper treat in hand.
• Can I drive without my instructor? This is what we call a “solo” driver, and that decision is made between the driver, their instructor, and the chief driving instructor. A driver in novice and lower intermediate may not go on track solo without the approval of their instructor. A “solo” sticker will be issued at that time signifying to the “pit boss” that the car proceeding into pit lane is an approved solo driver.
• How do I find my instructor? There are two answers to this question. The first is that all instructor/driver pairings are completed a week prior to the event, and we ask all instructors to email their drivers at that time. The second answer to that question is that following the Saturday morning drivers meeting all drivers will meet their instructors in person (if they’ve not done so by then).
• Can I trade in my shirt for a different size? We place the order for the shirts/jackets/pullovers several weeks prior to the event. We use the information that you have provided in sizes and then increase the number by a best guess of un-registered drivers. We would ask that if your item doesn’t fit that you hold it until mid-day Saturday until registration is complete. If we do have additional inventory in your size, we are happy to exchange it for a better fit.
Here are some of the questions that we get prior to our twice a year HPDE weekends:
• What do I need to do to my car? Just get it teched by a qualified mechanic and follow any suggestions they might have. There is nothing special to prepare. In fact, we prefer that you bring the car to the track in the same set up that you use every day. This allows you to focus on the learning experience not trying to adjust shocks, brakes, and various other performance upgrades.
• How much wear and tear will I experience? Our best estimate is that you will do about 200 actual track miles over the course of a weekend. The best guess is that you will wear the car as though you’ve driven 800 miles (4 times your actual driving miles).
• How dangerous is HPDE? It is commonly said that it is more dangerous to drive to and from the track than it is on track.
• Where should I stay? We use the Quality Inn and Suites in Bellville Ohio as our official hotel. However, you may need to register early as this hotel not only hosts our group but also wedding parties, quilting events (yep), and regional corporate meetings.
• Can I get a refund if it rains? Nope!
• How much time on track do I get? We purchase an extra 90 minutes from Mid-Ohio on Saturday to extend your on-track time as long as we can. This means that you get about 4.5 hours on track over the course of the weekend.
• How are instructors assigned? This is a process handled by our Chief Driving Instructors about a week prior to the event. Their first guideline is to try as best as possible to match the car you’re driving with the car the instructor drives. Should you be in a GT3 and your instructor is in a Honda, you might be surprised to find that the instructor owns and drives a GT2. There are a lot of variables that go into the “pairings”. They have a huge amount of experience doing this so expect that the instructor you have is the best person for you.
• Where do I park in the paddock? The only rule is to stay away from the row in front of the garages unless you have paid for and been assigned a garage. Anywhere else is open. After a couple events you will find some friends and begin down that road of visiting tracks with them. Enjoy your time in the paddock as well as on the track.
• How do I learn the track? The first place to go is one of the many videos that are available. Beware that some are better than others. With that said, there is no substitute for going on the track and working your way up to knowing the nuances of any track.
• How fast do you go? This is an old favorite and one that I avoid answering. Top speed has no bearing on total lap time. We regularly have drivers with lower horsepower cars that have an absolute blast through the turns that will catch and pass higher horsepower cars in the turns (advanced, expanded passing group). These cars might hit 100-110 on the back straight against those hitting 140. How fast you go is up to you as we do not have a speed limit at Mid-Ohio!
Thank you for your time and I hope to see you at Mid-Ohio with the Ohio Valley Region! On the track or on the road always keep those eyes up!
2023 356 East Coast Holiday,
Blowing Rock, N.C.
words: Stan Yarrish, photos: Stan Yarrish, Ted Hunter, Dave Witty
The 2023 356 Registry East Coast Holiday was held at the beautiful Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina from Sept 20-24.
What a great venue situated right near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather was outstanding with a bit of a chill on Saturday from the remnants of the tropical storm that was making it’s way up along the Carolina Coastline. Daryle Higginbotham and Don Trexler were the event co-chairs, and with the help of a large group of committee volunteers, pulled off one of the best 356 Holidays that I have attended.
The DSG was well represented. Making the trip were Peter Boettcher and friend Kathy Marshalek, Stan, Nancy and Lauren Yarrish, Tom and Ada Oerther, Gary and Jan Dunbar, Russell Clarke and Lynda Hall, Ted and Kathy Hunter, and Glenn Patterson and Becky Mitchell.
The downtown of Blowing Rock was full of interesting shops and restaurants. The mountain vistas were everywhere and especially the lookout at the famous Blowing Rock on the outskirts of town.
There was ample time in the event schedule to explore the area on your own. Thursday’s highlight drive took us 42 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway to a quaint stop to the Little Switzerland Restaurant and Village Shops. Great drive with many scenic overlooks along the way. The Welcome Reception was held in the evening outside in a huge party tent!
Friday’s agenda was full. Optional drive on historic Highway 221 ending the Blowing Rock historic site attraction. The 356 Tech Quiz was held in the afternoon, followed by a fabulous evening at Chip Perry’s Car Barn to have drinks and heavy Hors D’oeuvres surrounded by one of the most significant Porsche and British car collections ever. This building was no barn. It was the most elegant car collection building that I have ever had the pleasure of entering. Fabulous place!
Saturday dawned a bit breezy with a slight mist from the outer bands of the tropical storm making it’s way up the Carolina coast.
That didn’t stop over 125 356’s from taking their rightful places on the Concours fields. The 356’s were all arranged by model, e.g. Pre A, A,B,C, Speedster, and Outlaw. It was a very cool setting around the Chetola lakeside.
The Holiday is the premier event of the Porsche 356 Registry, dating back to 1975, when Ginny and Bob Gummow had a great idea: a national 356 owners get-together, where members who read the Club’s magazine could meet in person, share information and show off their cars, and spend a few days immersed in all things 356. Two years later Bob Raucher brought the idea to the West Coast with a San Diego Holiday in July of 1977. In 1976 the second East Coast Holiday was held in Cincinnati and was organized by OVR and DSG member Tom Oerther. Tom has attended almost every Holiday event!
The Holiday events have become a centerpiece of the club’s activities, and more than seventy have taken place, all put on by volunteers who welcomed their 356 brethren to locales around the USA and Canada.
Holidays are popular enough that often there are two in a year, usually labeled East Coast Holiday and West Coast Holiday, but not always. Info on all past Registry Holidays can be found on the 356 Registry website.
Bellefontaine Hill Climb
Another Chapter In Ohio Sports Car Racing History
words Kurt Niemeyer, photos: Ted Hunter, Stan Yarrish
The fifth annual Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival is now a part of the 70 year history of the Sports Car Hill Climb. It was a spectacular party at Corkscrew Hill with 67 drivers taking 312 passes up the same course used 70 years ago when the SCCA conducted the first sports car hill climb near Ohio’s highest point above sea level. The grade taking the cars from the Mad River Valley floor to the top of the ridge was reportedly the steepest of the SCCA Hill Climb courses.
Porsche was celebrated with a dedicated run group featuring 12 drivers wheeling your favorite models to the crest of Corkscrew Hill. 356, 911, 914-6, 930 and 944 models ascended the hill in hopes of a quick time. The 356 Class was, as always, hotly contested with Bill Myers (356A Coupe), barely besting Dick Weiss (356 A Speedster) and Dick Snyder( Convertible D).
Stan Yarrish left his Concours winning 356 in the garage and competed in his 19788 911SC for the first time after providing several years of support as a volunteer. Five time entrant and sponsor Dale Oakes brought a Porsche for the first time from his Euroclassics shop in Dayton, driving a 911 Carrera to one of the quickest passes up the hill. John Wilding, another five time entrant brought a new Porsche complete with forced induction, his previous ride a normally aspirated 911; what a fantastic opportunity to test your new car! Bill Kief, one of the original supporters of the Hill Climb Revival, five time entrant and Safety Steward made the trip in his familiar Cayman R.
Missing from the 914-6 Class this year was King of Corkscrew Hill Thomas Crihfield as he prepares his Porsche for further conquests; Kara-lyn was nice enough to lend Thomas her Audi TT to keep his skills sharp on the Hill. However, the model was ably represented by veteran Hill Climber Rick Snyder in his race prepared 914-6 and Hill Climb Rookie Jeffrey Fort. Ted Cassell returned to Corkscrew Hill in his beautiful 930 and the power to get through turn one without bogging. Jeff Glancy and his 1977 911 was one of the quickest up the hill overall on the day. The 994s were driven by John Siegel in his ’87 944 and Ben Snyder in his 1989 model; John Siegel and his Dad, Jim Siegel (occasional Boxster Pilot when Martha lets him drive) have both raced in all five Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revivals. Ben Snyder is the first third generation driver in the Hill Climb Revival, Grandfather Dick has competed every year In his 356 while Dad Rick missed only one year; dividing his driving duties with two years in his fabulous 914-6 racecar and two years in his Dad’s 356 Convertible D.
The Hill Climb Revival has a number of Father/Son teams that enjoy playing out a friendly inter family rivalry on Corkscrew Hill. We missed our friend Terry Weiss charging up Corkscrew Hill, a delicious exhaust note from the air cooled flat six filling the air as the sinister black 911 flashed through the trees.
Dick Weiss’ adventure to the Hill Climb Revival was a story of perseverance and capability with his familiar 356 Speedster. Friday started with a planned meet up with some fellow Hill Climbers for the 100 mile drive to Logan County for registration, safety inspection and happy hour! With a tun of the key to flat four spun about half a turn and stopped abruptly! /The 1600 was locked up, going nowhere in a hurry. Realizing that a cylinder was hydrostatically locked with gasoline filling the combustions chamber not allowing the piston to move to the top of the stroke Weiss got to work taking the right side carburetor off the engine, removing the spark plugs, finding the gasoline laden cylinder. A few draws with a baster and the offending liquid was removed from the cylinder, a couple of rotations on the starter motor expelled any remaining fuel through the spark plug holes and it was time for reassembly! Spark plugs back in, carburetor back on, fuel lines reconnected, a turn of the key and the flat four barked into life! On the road Dick still met with his travel companions and off to the races-literally. Registration, Safety Inspection and Happy Hour concluded the day that began with
a heart stopping moment ended on a hi-note with good friends, good food and lots of laughs into the night. Keep in mind that Mr. Weiss has lapped our sun 89 times; his entry is confirmed for his sixth Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival on August 24 2024! This is a shining example of the Porsche Spirit that is so much a part of the marque and the club.
Steve Krekeler and the OVR PCA Tour Squadron engineered a driving tour to the Hill Climb Revival through western Ohio arriving in the Mad River Valley around midday just in time for the Parade Laps and to watch the All Porsche group 4 take to the hill. About a dozen Porsches from OVR ventured from a departure point in Milford through the ridges and valleys of southern Ohio north to the gently rolling moraines of central Ohio to Corkscrew Hill just east of Mt. Campbell, the highest point above sea level in the Buckeye State. Queueing up on the False Grid at the Goshen Friends Church, the Tour Participants went on several Parade Laps behind the Pace Cars. While the hill is Short & Sweet, the return roads are fabulous with residents along the way in their yards, on their porches celebrating the history of the Hill Climb, as the cars drive by.
The Tour Group returned to the Paddock at the church as the All Porsche run group 4 lined up on the False Grid for their reconnaissance lap. Hopping on the HH Motorcars Shuttle to the base of the hill for a bit of viewing and maybe a bite to eat from the food truck at the Vertical Drop Ski Shop. After watching the Porsches at the start Line for several Laps the
The Tour Group returned to the Paddock at the church as the All Porsche run group 4 lined up on the False Grid for their reconnaissance lap. Hopping on the HH Motorcars Shuttle to the base of the hill for a bit of viewing and maybe a bite to eat from the food truck at the Vertical Drop Ski Shop. After watching the Porsches at the start Line for several Laps the crowd shuttled back the church, jumped into their Porsches and drove the Bellefontaine as Mark Wilson and the OVR Concours Posse began a Judged Porsche Concours on the oldest concrete Street in America. Steve Southard took the Best Porsche award with his immaculate 1972 911 over a field of exemplary cars.
The Porsche presence at the Bellefontaine Hill Climb Revival has been strong since the inception five years ago. Bill Kief has been one of our key safety stewards and supporting the event as an entrant in his distinctive Cayman R. European Auto Specialists in Blue Ash and Euroclassics on Dixie Hwy in Dayton have sponsored the Revival since the inaugural event 5 years ago; both servicing cars prior to the Hill Climb Revival and bringing Porsches to the celebration. For the 2023 event HH Motorcars came on board to sponsor our Golf Carts through the efforts of Donna Dreher: Donna and Mark Cheadle are the Timing and Scoring Team that works with the Historic Hybrid Timing System employed. Thanks to Donna and HH Motorcars for all the hard work and making the trek from the paddock to the hill a much happier occurrence than in years past.
Other OVR PCA members volunteer for safety, marshals, flaggers, concours judges and a variety of other positions throughout the weekend. The Bellefontaine Hill Climb started 70 years ago using the exact same course used in the Revival started five years ago; there have been in total of 26 sanctioned hill climbs on corkscrew Hill, County Road 28 in Logan county Ohio, Porsche have played a mammoth part in this event. Porsches winning ways started at Corkscrew Hill in 1956 with Don Sesslar taking the laurels in his 550 Spyder on the way to an SCCA National Championship in the F-Modified class. In 1962 Dick Weiss upheld Porsches honor with his victory in the F-Production class, he repeated that feat in 2021. 1966 saw Stephen Payne-Herbert take the fast time in his Porsche 718 Spider over a field filled with F2 cars and sports racers. Lou Gregg from the famous Autohaus in Fairborn was an avid competitor through the years in his familiar 356 Coupe. Todays’ Porsche specialists on the Hill still race everything from the remarkable little 356s to the latest designs and every Porsche from across the decades. Try it for yourself at Revival 6 on August 24, 2024, the organizers are working to bring the All Porsche Concours back to Bellefontaine, along with a driving tour. 2024 will also see an expansion to Sunday starting a new chapter in this extraordinary celebration of Ohio’s rich sportscar racing history.
