How many are PCA members?

[MarkY]

I'm curious as to how many Pelican Parts posters are PCA members. I was thinking of entering my 911 in a concours show and have been told that in order to enter anything other than the "wash & shine" division, I have to be a member of the PCA.

I've been to a couple of the local PCA events in my area and came away with some unpleasant feelings about the whole thing.

I'd like to enter the car but I'm not sure I want to join the PCA in order to do so.

Comments?

[lendaddy]

I am a member, it is pretty much useless except for "Panorama" the monthy rag which is quite good. Most of the people in my region are dorks who are more interested in food than cars. For instance the guy who sets up our autocross tracks feels the need to "make sure they are fair and safe" for a few HOURS the day before each event. Needless to say he usually gets FTD. What a joker. All in all, the rag is worth the expense alone.

[Jdub]

Like every other club you get what you give. I have found that showing up and getting to know the folks overcomes the intimidation of the first/second visits. I am a member of many different MC and auto clubs and do find that, as an example, the BMW Airheads bunch is a lot looser than say the Mercedes Benz Club of America. It also makes a difference in what you drive and what you know about the vehicle.

Give it a shot for a year and be persistent and not shy. Things come around.

Jw

Edit: spelling, sheesh!

[This message has been edited by Jdub (edited 10-02-2001).]

[dtw]

I'm an in-it-for-the-fishwrapper member too. Used to go to the odd event when I had a Porsche with wheels on it. Now that I've just got a zinc-phosphated hulk in a garage I don't go to anything. Sorta feel like a turd in a punch bowl with no car

-d

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Dave
'72 911T to '73 RSR Replica Project

[GIBSON]

I've been a member since '78, went for a time without doing anything except read Pano, then got active, then really active, burned out and now am back to reading a few articles in Pano and that's about it. I think a lot of members go through that experience, a period of very big involvement followed by the "I need a break" period. Others just seem to get involved and stay there, they really keep the local regions running. The local regions are really different. Some are heavily social, lots of parties etc. Others are more technical/competition oriented. If you get lucky and belong to a region that matches your interests, you can find a lot to do.
I'll always keep my membership, don't know if I'll ever be as involved as I once was.
Clubs and regions go through cycles. So do people. I agree with the idea of trying your local region. If you enjoy it, it can be a lot of fun.

Bruce Herrmann

[Obin Robinson]

Originally posted by MarkY:
I'm curious as to how many Pelican Parts posters are PCA members. I was thinking of entering my 911 in a concours show and have been told that in order to enter anything other than the "wash & shine" division, I have to be a member of the PCA.

I've been to a couple of the local PCA events in my area and came away with some unpleasant feelings about the whole thing.

I'd like to enter the car but I'm not sure I want to join the PCA in order to do so.

Comments?

join on up! my wife and i have been members since 1998. we are the newslette editors for the Finger Lakes region. we have a TON of fun!

some regions are not as friendly as others, but don't let a few bad apples sour your feelings towards the other 46,000 or so of us.

obin

[davis911s]

I also am a member, and the club is located 5 hours from me. I have done NOTHING with this region (due to distance) but my old club WILD ROSE REGION, I did a drive through the mountains to Montana. That alone was worth the $

I say at least try it and if you don't like it, or the area you're not out anything. (you get Pano).

Shawn

[thabaer]

I stay a member mainly for Pano. The local gang (Rocky Mountain Region) does a good job getting an interesting subject for the monthly meetings, which I usually miss. Last month I got home, checked my mail, discovered in the just received RMR news I was missing Price Cobb telling stories down in Westminster that night.

It depends on your area, I guess, mebbe you kin help push yer gang into some more interesting/fun happenings ?

The quality of the club is determined by the members; if you consider yourself a good example and don't join, who does that leave in PCA ? ( mind you, based on your feelings, I understand it may feel like beating your head against a brick wall for a while )


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Charlie Baer
'79 Euro 911SC

[gaijinda]

The PCA lets out a wide net. The number of new members in the monthly newsletters is amazing. It makes sence that most are never active. I think they give out apps at P-dealerships.
I have taken part in a bunch of DE and AX events this year, and I am constantly amazed how much work is put into these events. I do appreciate these folks.

[88911coupe]

The region here in Dallas is very good but I don't get to go to as much as I'd like. The volunteers work very hard to put together events and try to keep everyone as happy as possible. There's a good mix of social and AX DE stuff to pick from. As many said already at least you get Pano. You don't have much to lose by joining and a lot to gain if you get involved.
Buck
88 Coupe

[Randy W]

PCA as national is one thing and the local region is usually another, for better or worse. Pano is useful for the ads, but mostly features old information on new cars, and the national club is notoriously political. I'm lucky in being in the PNWR, where we have a great autocrossing program under the guidance of Greg and Jodi Fordahl, with Leeds Gulick and Doug Hebenthal helping as well. These people are extremely knowledgeable and helpful competitors. I don't participate in any other events except the DE program, which is improving. On a national level, I actually feel much more a member of the R Gruppe, but this is for early (pre 74) sports purpose 911s only. Maybe somebody will form a "Classic" Gruppe for owners of 65-89 911s that have sports purpose mods - now that would be worth something - oh, we already have that here!

Randy Wells

[pbs911]

Mark,
It sounds like you have a specific reason for joining - entering concours events. This should be enough of an incentive to join.

For others who are skeptical about joining, at least my region welcomes visitors at the monthly meetings. No membership is needed. You could probably get away with never joining and go to all the meetings! You won't receive any of the benefits for the members, however, such as Pano, member discounts and the ability to participate in certain events.

Personally, I think the monthly meetings are held too early on Saturday mornings. I got to the last one at 8:00 a.m. and had to park in the boonies. That's the main reson I stopped attending after a couple meetings. In fact, me and the wife still have a name tag to pick up.

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Paul
78SC Targa

[targa88]

Membership is definitely about the people. I can not comment on the National organization; however, our local region Rennsport, can quite definitely be divided into two categories: the "trackies" and the "non trackies".
The club itself has about 600 members. DEW events usually attract about 140 members from all over. Social events like suppers usually have anywhere from 20-40 people.
There seems to be a closer bond with the trackies. Always willing to share: advice, experience, racing line, tools, oil, brak fluid, etc. This is regardless whether you drive a 2001 TT, or a 356 - everyone shares a common experience, even between different run groups. If you are committed to track events, it is easy to find something every month, if not every weekend.
Concours and parades are a different story. Personnally I don't go for the "garage queen" stuff - but that is a quesdtion of preference. I have certainly seen some gogeous cars in exhibition. WE generally have one a year.
Give it a try, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Its about the people

[old_skul]

The 10 to 15% discount you'll get at the dealer or independent on repairs will pay for your membership many times over, unless you do *all* the work on your car. The autox, concours, DEs, and club races are a bonus on top of that.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[John Brandt]

My Region is great, we have 2 driver's EDs a year and a Club Race. We do a couple of go-kart races a year too. The Socials are fun as well. We have a party where the Zoo brings their "Ambassador" animals, (all are friends with Dave Letterman) including a Cheetah and small Leopards, among others, and we get to hold them and pet them. I've establised several friendships and a lot a good acquaintences and even a few business contacts. If I need help doing a clutch, etc, I can pick up the phone and call one of these folks and they're glad to help, as I am when they call for me. Pano is a good resource, but from my experience, getting involved in PCA is the best way to get involved with your Porsche.
Go do Driver's ED and you'll agree

[RLJ]

When I joined the R Gruppe and went to Cambria I met Pete Stout(R Gruppester) the editor of Excellence I figured I didn't need PCA any longer. Pete gives me all of the "Ads" I need and pics and stories of great cars like Mr. Wells's.

R Gruppe gives me a much more focused band of brothers, ones that are more intrested in my car and cars like it. Don't have any Boxter, 993, 996, 944, 914, 928, 924 and 356 BS to but up with. Don't get me wrong I like all Porsches but I'm not intrested in anything but early 911's.

I join clubs for fun, PCA is more into wine, cheese, and who has the biggest one! It's a money show and "Most" young *******s with lots of bucks make me puke.

I belong to R Gruppe and read Excellence.

Randy Jones
1971 911
Pacific Northwest Chapter - R Gruppe

[MarkY]

Thanks for all the great responses. I understand that you get out of a club what you put into it, however, I can't be something I'm not.

What I mean by this is that in the two PCA events I attended, the people were very unfriendly, cliquish, and to put it bluntly, they thought thier ***** didn't stink.

I love Porsches and like to be around others that appreciate them as well. I have my share of faults, but being a phoney snob isn't one of them.

The president of our local association told me that 80% of first time PCA members do NOT renew their membership. I told him that the club ought to take a good hard look at themselves and figure out why that is. He said it was something they were looking into.

Maybe I can join just to enter the concours.

[doofdog]

Im a New member and love my region so far. Cant complain.

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86Carrera
01 saab Viggen
95 Wrangler (winter Porsche)


http://doofdog.homestead.com

[N11Porsche]

Lots of great responses! I've never been to a meeting of my region. (Diablo Region) because they are mostly into social stuff and a few autocross events. There are other regions in my area that are into club racing and D.E events, so I will probably hook up with one of them. You can have dual membership in two regions (for the one membership fee) The Potomac Region, for those of you that haven't tried their bbs is heavy into racing. They are in Virginia but I enjoy their website. (not nearly as many post as this one, though) Here's their site:
http://www.pcapotomac.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi



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Bill Carcot
1979 911SC
Diablo Region, P.C.A.

[stlrj]

I've been a member of the Redwood Region since 1976, but must admit, I'm mostly in it for the Pano.

Here's what happened last weekend at the Ledson Winery:







Joe