PCA: Worth joining?
 

In your opinion, is it worth my time and money to join PCA? What region is RI? Benefits?

My only experience with it is going to the Newport Concours every May. SmileWavy

They have a pretty good website. It has info on regional divisions. Most regions have a website and on-line newsletter.

I have belonged for years, been a member of two "locals"; one back east and one out here. I have found a minority of good folks in both and also a bunch of elitist snobs as well. I am, after ten years of membership, opting out this February. But, that s only a personal decision, and depending what your interests are, you might find membership worth while. Don't expect to find many who do their own maintenance.

Like what Bob saids, depends on the region, we use to have a great region, now the Wine & Cheese pussies have taken it over. We acually had one guy (Boxster leaser) argue that a swap-meet held in a different location from a concours would not conflick, after all concours people don't want dirty old parts:rolleyes:
Our region is the closest one to Daytona, most of the local PCA board skipped RRRIII to do a drive & dine, what kind of Porsche person skips the biggest Porsche event of the year when it is in there own back yard(I even skipped going to SEMA to be there)?????

But, like all groups, you will find some good people who would rather own their Porsches and still enjoy driving & working on them over just sayin I still enjoy Pano too and am a 20+ year member:eek:

I like the free sticker :)

Free sticker, discounted parts from stealership, (sometimes buy my oil filter there if needed quickly), discount on DE here in the lone star region.

It's very worth it to me. Beechmont Porsche in Cincinnati gives a PCA member discount on parts that makes them cheaper than nearly all online parts suppliers, Pelican included. The will also price match online suppliers if they are more expensive after the discount. I spend more than enough each year in parts to offset the membership fees.

Panorama alone is worth the price. The folks in this region are great many DIY'S mechanics here.

Strange, one of the reasons I let my membership lapse was the weak Pano. Ever see BMWCCA mag?

No, but I forgot that by joining PCA, you local regions dues are free. So for price of 1 you get 2.

I don't even open Pano. Maybe if I had a bird.....


But the DE discounts can more than offset the cost of membership.

What I think..
Have met a few dedicated members,,but as Pelican heads, I and maybe we, do not fit their idea of a car
I , we , as P.People have probaly taken on a older car made changes fixed a bunch of stuff and a member of this board.
My exp. with every PCA member I have talked to is like this
Me - "how did you do this or that"
Their ans. " I had so and so do it"
So to me I find we and them on diff pages , They do their events and stuff
and I do mine in the garage and here on the board..
Maybe it is a economic thing...If I had more $$ maybe I would own a newer P car and have so and so fix it too ! ?? ( not)
For now I am a bit ....huffy at them - LOL
That has been my exp and in no way relects the kind you may have.
This par. has been G rated, formated to fit your screen. and not have to hide it from your children other eyes that may look on.

On the fence here. Currently a member, but I debate it around renewal time. Pano is OK, except for the big section in back with "news" from the different regions. Cotton is fun to read. Oursler is not bad either. The local folks are more into the "Social Scene" than I am. I'd rather crawl under the beast than talk about it.

Being in RI would put you in the Northeast Region. You can get the link I believe from the PCA website. I used to be active years ago but have stayed away lately mostly due to other activity conflicts. Since they are a large region, there is something for everyone, but it is skewed toward the spendy crowd. Plenty of good folks and contacts. If you want the Pano, it doesn't matter. If your looking for local activities, I'm sure you can go to some of the meetings and stuff and try before you join. You need to be a member for the DEs I think

I'd suggest you sign up, try a year, decide for yourself. My final PCA event was a "whinery tour" that Cindy thought might be fun. We were thoroughly snubbed. We never went back. I dunno if it was age discrimination or they didn't like my old car, or what. I didn't renew my dues for the 40th year, but then I'd already decided to pass the car on to Evren.

I enjoyed PCA for quite some time...but it seems to have "evolved".

Don't let my experience influence you...different regions have different people, and I'm sure there are some true enthusiasts left in PCA...

I've enjoyed PCA very much. Autocross, Skills class, DE etc. Some nice people in the club, but at 32 years old my wife and I are usually the younger ones.

The social aspect isn't really something I'm into, as I turn 30 in a few months and my girlfriend is a few years older...and we aren't exactly 'bushwood material'. I think we'd be a bit out of place in more ways than one.

However, things like DEs, A/X, learning how to really drive the car, meeting other (DIY) enthusiasts, tech articles etc is exactly what I'm after. And if the local stealership honors the PCA discount...

Hmmm. Thank you for the feedback.

Dan, I still belong to PCA because of, and only for the DE and autoX events. I found that the Connecticut Valley Region was more active with this, so I switched from NE to CVR. This is going to change however with the new situation at Lime Rock - fewer days at a higher rate - so I probably will look at other alternatives.

if i wanted to go do skills days and DE's i had to sign up with someone. why not the ones that are affiliated with the car i own...

only done one tour so far and the people i met were friendly...but then i also do 95% of the work on my cars too.

I was a member. Went to 2 meetings, and was bored senseless. It was a an older group (not that there is anything wrong with that) that liked Porsches, but were not true afficianados. You know the type....they no that the 72's have a flap on the side for oil.....

Anyway, I didn't see any value with the membership, so I let it expire. If I was doing driver ed's than it may be different.

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.