PCA: Worth joining?

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Been a member since 2001. PCA's DE and AX program taught me how to drive a performance car at speed at the limits. That's invaluable.

I also got involved with the club - I served on my region's (NNJR) board of govenors from 2003-2007 - three years at the tech tech chair, and 2 years as the program chair. Both positions taught me a great deal, and I was exposed to some neat stuff.

PCA is only worth as much as you are willing to invest in it, IMHO.

-Z-man.

Very true, I have been active on our board most of my 20+ years as a member of PCA, but sometimes you need to step back. Like PP, there are people (could be local to you too) who, like to work on their cars, and like to help others with their cars for nothing more than a hearty Thank You and maybe a beer. What are you looking for in a club?? I can honestly say that I have met some people who have turned out to be great friends, and not short term either. Do you want to do track events or auto crosses?? You can go to events and if you meet one person, who is like you (and will feel the same way) it is worth it. I was lucky, the very 1st guys I met at one of my 1st club meeting have turned into life long friends. Today we sit back and watch the club drop, only because, we are tired of fighting the posers, but there is still a few events, with the club that we are active in. At a party my attorney hosted on NYE, he introduced me to a buddy of his, who has a few old 911s, but doesn't know much, but wants to learn how to drive and everything else. He wouldn't sign up because he was worried about Tea Totalers & posers ( and this is a retired guy, early 50s maybe, living in a multi million dollar ocean front home)
Z put it best, you get what you put in, you can always find the good, the question is will it out weight the bad

[azasadny]

Our region (Rally Sport Region in SE MI) is definitely worth it!!

[JeremyD]

DE and Autocross makes it worth it - but like most things in life - you get out of it what you put into it. I tend to avoid the whine and cheese bunch.

[Moneyguy1]

Racer:

THAT is what I was looking for in both locals I have been a member of; a camaradarie. Unfortunately, that is not what I found. Wife and I went to the meetings, met a few fine people but none who worked on their own cars or who were willing to help someone else. We have out here (a woman) who, according to her, spent $64,000 on a 1984 911 to make sure it would win every concours event it entered. At meetings, she would rant on and on, Kathryn would nod and smile, and the lady's husband (who owned a Corvette) would sit beside her and simply roll his eyes. Back East if you didn't own a late model 911, you didn't own a real Porsche. At the time I had a 924 that had been completely gone over (new paint, upholstry, refreshed mechanicals) that won at local car shows but it simply was "Just an Audi".

Maybe we, here, at PPOT are just a different breed.

[Manny Alban]

I guess I'm biased since I'm on the PCA national BOD, but the price of membership is a great deal. For many, membership is a means to a subscription of Pano, for others it is part of the Porsche ownership experience. Most of my best friends are PCA folks Just like in every organization, there are great people and there are jerks. Having traveled throughout the country, regions can differ greatly in their interests. The club is what you make of it. We had a guy in our region who liked to do tours, but no one was doing them. So, he started to organize them himself. A year later, a light turnout for a region tour is 60 cars. I joined PCA when I was 29, I'm now 42 and I'm still having a great time.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Racer:

THAT is what I was looking for in both locals I have been a member of; a camaradarie. Unfortunately, that is not what I found. Wife and I went to the meetings, met a few fine people but none who worked on their own cars or who were willing to help someone else. We have out here (a woman) who, according to her, spent $64,000 on a 1984 911 to make sure it would win every concours event it entered. At meetings, she would rant on and on, Kathryn would nod and smile, and the lady's husband (who owned a Corvette) would sit beside her and simply roll his eyes. Back East if you didn't own a late model 911, you didn't own a real Porsche. At the time I had a 924 that had been completely gone over (new paint, upholstry, refreshed mechanicals) that won at local car shows but it simply was "Just an Audi".

Maybe we, here, at PPOT are just a different breed.

Bob, when I joined PCA, I too had a 924, but these days the

Back East if you didn't own a late model 911, you didn't own a real Porsche

don't even own their cars, they lease them And I let them know that if I wanted va new 996, I could have one, but I own my cars & my 914-6GT clone has more money invested in it that their 986 booked for.
Fact is, that if members like you & I don't be active, others like us will never join & we will most likely never meet them. What is really funny is that these lease guys, can't understand why the guys with the vintage race cars and high end collectibles invite me to their homes and on trips, they just don't understand real car people as they (like the chick you speak of) are too busy trying to impress others. We can't roll over & let the poser/leasers maintain control of an club started by people who worked drove & owned their Porsches!!!

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Manny Alban

I guess I'm biased since I'm on the PCA national BOD, but the price of membership is a great deal. For many, membership is a means to a subscription of Pano, for others it is part of the Porsche ownership experience. Most of my best friends are PCA folks Just like in every organization, there are great people and there are jerks. Having traveled throughout the country, regions can differ greatly in their interests. The club is what you make of it. We had a guy in our region who liked to do tours, but no one was doing them. So, he started to organize them himself. A year later, a light turnout for a region tour is 60 cars. I joined PCA when I was 29, I'm now 42 and I'm still having a great time.

You have a black RSA don't you, and hang out with Pete Tremper??? Will you be with him at the Dark Side event?? You are correct about the people.

[Moneyguy1]

Racer:

Today my renewal came. I am of a mind to drop out. I will have to think ove your thoughtful comments.

BTW..I spoke with the local's Officers months back (before Kathryn died) and suggested that we put in the monthly newsletter an article (which I wrote) seeing if there were any interested in getting together for diagnostics and repair seminars. Even found a couple of outsiders willing to give talks. Nothing came of it..Article was never printed. See what I mean?

If it ain't concours or rallies it just ain't.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Racer:

Today my renewal came. I am of a mind to drop out. I will have to think ove your thoughtful comments.

BTW..I spoke with the local's Officers months back (before Kathryn died) and suggested that we put in the monthly newsletter an article (which I wrote) seeing if there were any interested in getting together for diagnostics and repair seminars. Even found a couple of outsiders willing to give talks. Nothing came of it..Article was never printed. See what I mean?

If it ain't concours or rallies it just ain't.

Bob, you can & should take the lead with a few local shops, I have done that in the past, and met new people who were waiting for just that type of event. On the newsletter bit, been there, done that, save copies of what you write for a chance in the future. A few years back, when I was the "Drive & Dine" chair, I talked to a company who builds custom wheels & a restaurant located at the North turn of the old Daytona beach race track. Lets see, a business that builds custom wheels for Porsches & race cars, a restaurant on an historic race track with old pix from when the cars were racing,

no, we would rather follow balloons

If we give up, they win.

Bob, I know we don't see much eye to eye and we both have had a very bad 2007 (2008 isn't starting much better for me) and what I went through, doesn't compare, but if you ever want to talk (not politics) just PM me for my number.

My region is so bad, I changed to another, smaller region that needed the $15, since I'm not going to be doing anything with the local clowns, I didn't want them to get my $$$$

[Moneyguy1]

Whaddya mean we don't see eye to eye? On what? We do on the important things and that is what counts. Everything else is fluff and provides for both of us a very much needed distraction!!

[450knotOffice]

My region, the OCR, seems to be into both the wine and cheese aspect and the Autocross aspect. I attended a few weekend breakfasts and found the people to be generally friendly, but somehow I always felt like an outsider.

The saving grace for me was (is) the amazing turnout for the monthly Autocross events. These events attract many of the same people who show up at the breakfasts, but really seem to draw out the members of the club who seem to be more into the driving aspect of it. I see a lot more of the older air cooled cars at these events - cars that I never seem to see at the social events.

Now that I participate in the autocross events, I consider the money spent each year to be well spent.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Whaddya mean we don't see eye to eye? On what? We do on the important things and that is what counts. Everything else is fluff and provides for both of us a very much needed distraction!!

You are correct sir, I stand corrected. You should come to the Rolex 24, big party, lots of fun. I'm waiting for my attorney to let me know if he is bringing the Short Bus or if he (and maybe me) will have to crew(I have already turned down 2 gigs as I twisted my knee last month and aren't sure that can work as I should) for a friends team. Ask Scot from PP, I'm pretty from to hang out with.

[Moneyguy1]

Maybe my problem is I am more of a technician than a driver.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Maybe my problem is I am more of a technician than a driver.

Maybe my problem is that I got too old...or didn't dress well enough on that "whinery" tour...or didn't drive a waterpumper 911. All I DO know is that I had a 30 year member PCA decal on a car window...and I was thoroughly snubbed by these newbies in their waterpumper cars. Screw them and the leased horses they ride...PCA has definitely "evolved". If you ask me, not all evolution is good. As I wrote on the "questionnaire" they send when you don't renew your dues..."I'm outahere!".

[Wickd89]

I agree it is almost worth it just for the magazines. Add a DE, add a Meguiars class, and maybe a tech session and you are really filling up your schedule.

Most, if not all, the members seem to be decent sorts, but very clickish. I prefer to hang out with the Pelicans.

Did you guys see the www.911cup.com! Seems like a great option someday..

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Maybe my problem is I am more of a technician than a driver.

You bare a tech, I just get dirty, I do best with susp set up, but I can't call my self a technician I drive & instruct OK, I guess, but I still enjoy building the most

I'm saying come to the Rolex to hang out & BS, buy model Porsches, meets lots of cool Porsche guys, moon the wine & cheese posers (yes, I have been known to show my ass, but not around the one who would like it) and just be guys,(drink, smoke cigars, spit, tell dirty, rude jokes, ect)

[Moneyguy1]

racer

I spent YEARS in the NHRA, worked on just about everything you can imagine. The difference between PCA and NHRA is night and day. In NHRA even the rattiest POS gets attention and everyone's efforts are appreciated. No wine and cheese. More beer and pizza. Hot Rods, customs, one-offs, restos, they were all welcome. Help was for the asking and every different make/model you worked on increased your appreciation for engineering and design. (How would you like to take a ride in an Opel GT with a Roots blown Mustang V8? Now THAT took a LOT of engineering and skill)

PCA: Different world.

PWD...I, too, am "old". That makes a difference as well. Us old people have no place driving anything that says "driver's car". We should all be driving something a bit more in line with our advanced years.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Manny Alban

I guess I'm biased since I'm on the PCA national BOD,
but the price of membership is a great deal. For many, membership is a means to a subscription of Pano
, for others it is part of the Porsche ownership experience. .

The best part of Pano is you get to see what is on sale at Motor meister each month.

[afterburn 549]

They use MOTOR MEISTER !!! ??? Then how could they be wrong !??? LOL LOL ROFL Now I am crying
Now I now why I am not a memeber Thats how in tune they are ????? I would say out of tuch ??