September 2024
With Jeff Clark, President and Turbo, illustration, Roger Warrick
“The world is nothing but change, our life is only perception.”
I have yet to begin to accept that summer is coming to an end. Like a kid, by the middle of March (March 11 actually), I am already proclaiming the imminent arrival of spring. My cars have been uncovered, then covered up then uncovered because the temps keep swinging high and low. By the time May rolls in, it's short weather and I'll only put on proper pants if I'm seeing clients. In the summer I want the option of being outside so the weather is expected to be glorious. So here we are in late September and our season is winding down. I hope it's been as good for you as it has been for us planning and executing the season. We're working on 2025. Stay tuned.
“The day, the car, the road, your mood.”
I love the feeling of pre-dawn, going into my garage, and opening the driver's side door of my 911. The smell of the leather hits your sinuses, the feeling of the seats, the familiarity of the cockpit. I push the key into the ignition, turn it halfway, and let the car do its diagnostic thing, the oil level is perfect. Turn the key the other 50% and up comes the wonderful rumble that you feel in the seat of your pants. Plug in my Valentine, push her into first gear, and let out the clutch. Careful not to rev too much lest I wake the neighbors and as quietly as one can, roll to the bottom of the hill. I then literally flip a coin, heads go left, tails go right. The car is starting to warm and I await the needle going due north, optimal temperature. Then it's crunch time. Accelerator goes to the floor and she's totally lit.
If you have the chance in the next few weeks please get your cars out. Find the roads you love and drive them. I've lost track of the mornings that I've taken my cars out before the sun comes up, it's glorious. There are very few of us out there who truly get what this means, they have other hobbies, other preoccupations, and that's great but we know what feeling alive is really like.
Get on with it, cold weather is coming, and sooner than you want to believe you're prepping your cars for winter and you'll be waiting till April.
Wife’s Race
I brag about my wife, sue me. This past weekend in the heat and an incredibly bright Saturday and Sunday I was the support crew for my wife. The job is to make sure she's getting enough fluid, is not overheating, make sure her socks and shoes are changed frequently, take care of blisters, make sure she's eating, keep track of the laps and lap times, cheer her on and talk her through the pain. She came in first among all women and third overall. She ran 102 miles in 24 hours. It's pretty cool.
Business
Gemeinschaft "End of Season" Closer Event
The OVR season has been packed; we've been able to stack events and still get excellent attendance. We no longer have to organize our schedule so we don't have overlap, member involvement increases every week.
Our numbers have grown quite well since Jan of ‘21 when we had 1135 primary members and 608 associates to 1307 primary and 682 associates, a roughly 12% increase. More to the point our members are happy. Goal Achieved.
Please check the club calendar as it is updated several times a week. Calenadar
Our “Season Closer” of Gemeinschaft is October 13 at the Monkey Bar—big shout out to JC and Betsy Stadnik for taking the reins of these events. You guys are wonderful, thank you.
October 5th is the “Autumn Concours on the River” in New Richmond. Thank you to Mark Wilson, Trevor Barber, and Fred Zacharias.
OVRPCA Elections
We are at that time of the year when the election of our board members is at hand. If you are interested in being a board or committee member please get your name to us ASAP. We will be producing a ballot in the next couple of weeks for voting. As you know these positions are volunteer, despite the belief that the board is made up of highly compensated people, it's not.
Requiem
We lost one of our own this past week, Mr. Mike Valentine. Mike has been one of the best friends of this club since he joined decades ago. His passing was unexpected and a shock to everyone who knew him. We wish peace and comfort to his family and while we hope for rest for our friends that depart us, I doubt that Mike is sitting still.
Godspeed brother Mike. You are indeed missed.
Jeff Clark
President Ohio Valley Region
Porsche Club of America
