Photos from the Everglades Region Autocross - December 14th

HOLIDAY PARTY 2014 PORSCHE CLUB EVERGLADES REGION – sponsored by Porsche of Naples/Fort Myers

Everglades Region Porsche drivers set out on their third annual Halloween Road Rally this month. Forty club members travelled along 110 miles of gorgeous scenery through the back roads of Lee, Hendry and Collier counties in SW Florida, testing their powers of observation, searching for answers to cryptic clues, and enjoying the art of Porsche driving in its purest form. They topped off the day with refreshments and a casual lunch at Cactus Jack’s Southwest Bar and Grill overlooking the beautiful Caloosahatchee River. Congratulations to winners Chris and Tom Pitser with the most correct answers, followed closely by Deb and Jim McCarthy, Jeff and Shari Rodgers, and Maria and Carlos Vasillo. The traditional Halloween Art Task produced some truly frightening results, with Mary Jo Michel and Mike Andrade capturing the first place prize. Submitted by: Faith Leavitt

Porsche of Naples Autocross on September 27th

On June 21 we had a very nice Beach Potluck in Marco Island. A wide variety of food, perfect sunset, everyone had a good time.

Although our region is relatively small it’s members know how to have a good time whether it be autocrossing, dining out or rallying. Our 3rd WOTY is the social highlight of the year and took place in the historic Terrace Hotel in Lakeland, Florida (Central FL).

We had a great time during the Olive Oil tasting pot luck, Roberta and David Raass hosted.

Mystery Rally February 9th 2014 Everglades Region PCA Mystery rally February 9th 2014 The morning was overcast and cool but the forecast was for sunshine! Undaunted the best turn out for a rally yet (the club started these in 2008!) assembled in the rest stop by exit 131 on I75. There is always a feeling of great pride when you see such fine machinery lined up with their bright hues capturing passerby’s attention. After a good chat the driver’s and navigators set off to search out the clues and identify the random pictures. The route went inland via the North River road to La Belle and then east to the Palmdale area then returned west and south of Arcadia it then wended it’s way north almost to Ona- north of Arcadia. There were lots of scenic spots along the way and two opportunities to drive unfettered by questions along fine windy back roads. None of the participants had been to the destination of Solomon’s Castle before! David Noelken and JP Petracco acted as excellent parking attendants arranging the cars in a photographic setting! Solomon and four generations of his family live in this very unusual castle compound! He has a great sense of humor and love of the absurd. This is reflected in all his art work and buildings! The tour of the castle is carefully scripted and full of puns. The lunch in the Lighthouse was excellent and the sun shone throughout! Winners in the rally were Peggy and Bob Raynor and Renee and Carlo Valvasori with 38 points out of a possible 42! Renee and Carlo won the previous rally. Other winners were Pete and Carol Roberts, John Pokorny and Jane Campbell, Adrian and Bonnie Simonet, Dan and Cathy Alberson, Carlos and Maria Vasallo, Diane Iverson and Jack Smith, Donna Lachenmayer and Joe and Duffy and Lalita Cofer. A fun day!

Pictures provided are from the Everglades Club unique event at the beautiful Island of Useppa.

It was a lovely evening for the large number of people who came to stroll around and admire. And there was a lot to admire! Hendrick and Elly had their fine garage open with many of their cars on display amid the restored gas pump and art work. The realistic mannequins made it very welcoming! Dieter and Marceline also opened their garage with a wonderful collection of Porsches to drool over. The art work and display was again outstanding! It was a good thing it was not a competition as it would have been hard to judge who had made the most effort. Three other garages were open – Ron Howard’s - where we ate when we asked him where his collection of cars were (at home!) he said he kept his tires and a recliner in the garage!! The pot luck supper was set up in his garage. A large Peterbilt tractor with a huge car transporting semi-trailer appeared and unloaded some fine antique cars so we could admire the truck and visit that garage and yet another garage was open with an interesting collection of 30’s cars. The swap meet part was small and maybe this idea will be dropped as it does not seem popular. Everyone had a great time and a big thank you to the organizers!

On Sunday 3rd November the biggest turn out ever -30 Porsches - assembled for a Photo/cryptic clue rally in Riverside Park –Old Bonita Springs. It was a beautiful, sunny day with a light wind. After chatting and tire kicking the multi hued cars all set off. A new member asked if anyone ever got lost and was told confidently “no!” That turned out to be prophetic as Jenny and Chris had omitted a turn right in Immokalee instruction! Everyone had a sense of humor thankfully and the sight of the cars criss crossing Immokalee in search of the Sunoco gas station mentioned in the instructions must have been something! Everyone used their ingenuity and found their way back to the rally route. (Fortunately this was a clue free bit of the route.) Everyone finished the rally and enjoyed a good lunch at Marker 8.5 Goodland Yacht club. The group were very enthusiastic and even joined in the “origami “task! The rally winners with 30.5 out of 40 questions were Carlo and Renee Valvasori closely followed by JP and Valerie Petracco ,seven other crews scored well and received prizes. The best origami car contest was won by Bruce and Ruthi Sannerman. Judging by comments and e mails everyone had a good time! The Coastal Breeze publication will feature the rally in their newspaper with lots of photos!

Club Members were treated to an incredible array of art currently on display at the Baker Museum. A few of the Collections enjoyed at the Baker Museum: The Ahmet Ertegun Collection The Sculpture of Hanneke Beaumont The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave

Photos courtesy of Mary Jo Michel, who also organized the Lunch Travel on August 3, 2013 to the FORDS Garage in Cape Coral.

Everglades Club had a “culinary travel” with excellent food and a lecture about interesting background info’s about the Peruvian Kitchen.

W.O.T.Y Weekend of the year 2013 It is hard to beat the “rush” as a line of Porsches peel off on a drive! On Friday 26th April most of our W.O.T.Y group met in Manatee Park Fort Myers and set off as a convoy for Suncoast Porsche of Sarasota. The day had a perfect azure sky as our multihued fleet sped north. Suncoast Porsche welcomed us to their splendid dealership and after everyone had collected a goody bag and lanyard for the weekend program we sat down to a fine lunch right in the showroom. Gordon Hunter – the Sales Manager- introduced his team and we enjoyed hearing about the dealership’s many features including a very extensive mail order parts department. The dealership had 7 cars parked at the hotel which created quite a buzz in the hotel. The group, which now numbered 55, met for cocktails in Bentley’s hotel bar and went to Rosebuds restaurant just down the road for an excellent meal. The next day everyone set off on a 100 mile photo rally which ended at the Beach House on Anna Maria Island for lunch. The evening started with cocktails in the bar and then a fine meal in the ballroom with live music sponsored by F1 Exotics and Imports of Naples. The theme for the evening was “rock and roll” and lots of people entered into the theme with gusto! Everyone had a ball. Steve Wassersug led the “ladies” in a rendition of “Tiptoe through the tulips” complete with tulips for which he was suitably attired! Prizes were awarded for the rally (1st place went to the Petraccos with the Pitsers in 2nd place) and for the costumes (Maxine Shapiro won with the Wassersugs in 2nd place). Porsche prizes were kindly given by Suncoast Porsche. Bentley’s hotel really put themselves out to make the weekend great. On Sunday morning most people went to Ringling Museum and then we all met at Turtles restaurant on Siesta Key for lunch. Judging by the comments and e mails it was a great success. Next year you should plan to make it to the W.O.T.Y !!

Photos from Wootner's Car Condo Potluck, courtesy of Mr. Bob Puckett.

Valerie and JP Petracco hosted another exciting basketball event for 30 Everglades Porsche Club members at the FGCU arena. Club members had great seats to watch both the Ladies’ and Men’s FGCU Eagles basketball teams defeat Mercer College from Macon, GA. As usual, the women managed to devour their opposition with great offense and defense and many three-point shots. The men had an exciting game scoring the last 6 points and winning a close contest of speed and skill. The Eagles Mascot, Azul, posed for pictures with club members before the game and entertained us with his lively antics throughout. Between the two games, members enjoyed a pizza dinner and birthday celebration for a club member, as well as comments by Ken Kavanaugh the Athletic Director and Butch Perchan, Sr. Athletic Director. During the men’s game, several former players and Lady Eagle coaches sat next to us and provided information about the games, and why they all enjoy wearing high heels on the courtside during games. The men’s FGCU basketball team will now go on to the NCAA tournament, having placed first in their A-Sun tournament; a first for the men, and first NCAA tournament team men’s pick in 2013. Go Eagles! JP and Valerie are not only ardent FGCU basketball fans but also play a key role in University fundraising programs. We were especially thrilled to watch JP receive an award on court at half-time for his efforts as past foundation president and for his efforts in behalf of returning Veterans.

On Sunday February 10th the largest number of Everglades Region Photo Ralliers (30) so far lined up and prepared to set off across inland Florida. The route took us through farmland, groves and sugar cane fields. The questions were testing but the group were up to the challenge.They were also up to the "Porsche back roads" arriving at the restaurant near Okeechobee earlier than we thought possible!! Lightseys did an incredible job presenting us with delicious and interesting food- especially fish. Their motto is- " if it hops, swims or crawls we cook it!" The first three winners of the Rally were;- 1st Jack and Anna Mowrer - 2nd Jim and Debbie McCarthy- 3rd Bob Smith and his sister Joan. The runners up were not far behind! It was a fun day with perfect weather. Well done everyone and thanks for coming! Jenny and Chris

EVERGLADES REGION PADDLE-WHEEL DINNER CRUISE.

This was a new idea. We gathered to sell/buy/swap car items primarily. As it was near Christmas we had items that would be suitable for gifts too. We had a delightful breakfast courtesy of Elly and Hendrik and everyone had a good time. This is an event we will do next year and try for an even larger crowd. If you did not come you missed a great morning so be sure to look out for it!

Club members enjoyed a relaxing day at Manatee Park.

The day was perfect for a drive. The sun was shining and the humidity down. We met in Manatee Park in North Fort Myers and everyone went to see the manatees which gather in the warm waters that flow from Tice Power Station! You could see them swimming and playing and hear them on the sonar device. We then all drove the back roads to Punta Gorda, crossed the Peace river and arrived at Portofino Restaurant overlooking the water where everyone enjoyed lunch and a good chat!

21 Porsche club members kayaked across the Tarpon Bay sanctuary into the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Lead by private guide and naturalist Wendy Rex, they brushed up on their paddling skills, boarded their kayaks and set out to learn about and experience the unusual and beautiful natural treasure that exists right in our backyard. Wendy described the powerful Calusa nation that thrived here until the mid 1700's when the Spanish arrived, taught us about why the mangrove forests are so critical to sustaining this part of Florida, and named the countless birds seen on the journey. The trip back was challenging thanks to the 15-20 knot winds and outgoing tide, but everyone toughed it out, came home safe and dry, and celebrated their accomplishment at a pizza lunch at the Wassersugs. Trading their cars for a kayak for two hours fulfilled a bucket list for some, gave others the appetite to kayak again, and demonstrated the necessity of working with partners (like our Porsche rallies) in the "tandems" to deal with the winds and tide. Let us know whether you would like to kayak with the Club and areas of interest in SW Florida. See the pictures that Elly and other of the adventure.=

Everglades Region Team Challenge Autocross from November 2012

It was perfect Porsche autumn weather - sunny and cool! 20 cars lined up in the park on Livingston Road where they were much admired by people coming to use the facilities. After time to chat and exchange Porsche stories they set off to solve the cryptic clues and find the items in the photographs along the way. The route went through the farming area of central southwest Florida and a section that was question free gave drivers the chance to “play”! Half way everyone stopped at Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki the Seminole museum and many had a good look round this fascinating tribute to the tribe. As well as the testing clues each couple was given a small china pot and asked to collect things to make a Halloween table decoration! Everyone had fun and the decorations were outstanding items of imagination and beauty. It was hard for the judge Terri- the Camillia Street grill owner in Everglades city where we had a super lunch to decide on winners. The rally was popular as always and new participants gave the more experienced ralliers a run for their money!

Everglades Region won the "Most Factored Growth" Award during the 2012 Porsche Parade. Chris and Jenny Branston accepted the award on behalf of all Everglades Region Members.

25 members with 16 gleaming Porsches attended a tech session at Gulf Coast Motorworks. We were treated to breakfast and lunch. They were very knowledgeable and kept everyone's attention with dyno tests on Tom Lindsay's Turbo, which after some tweaking, produced enough bhp at the wheels to make Tom smile. After this technician and club member Kevin Myers gave an excellent talk on brake fluid changing (everyone suddenly started to think about about when theirs was last changed!). Finally we were treated to a demonstration of wheel balancing on high tech test equipment. The workshop personnnel were great and everyone enjoyed the morning. A big thanks to Tom Huckelberry for organising it. Chris Branston

On a beautiful Saturday - May 19th - a large group of Porsche Everglades members arrived at Porsche of Fort Myers, who kindly sponsored the event, to have breakfast and enjoy a session in the workshop under and around the Porsches on ramps with their hoods and trunks open. The techs on hand spoke knowledgeably about the cars. Then it was off en masse to drive by an attractive route to St James City on Pine Island. The sounds and the sight of 26 Porsches sweeping into the parking area at Woody’s restaurant on the riverside as enough to excite the most hackneyed observer. The lunch was delicious and the setting by the water much admired. Over lunch the group was invited to make a Porsche themed collage from magazines. Everyone started chopping and sticking! What a lot of artistic talent! It was hard to Judge but 3 winners were rewarded with Porsche items presented by Wayne Ram, Service manager of Fort Myers Porsche. The winners were 1st Carlo and Karen, joint 2nd Mike and Mary-Jo and Debbie and Charles . Everyone had a good time- it was great fun!

35 members of the everglades region met to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Porsche Club America. We enjoyed a varietyof chilis and then cut the beautiful Porsche cake ! There were nice brownies to suppliment the sweet tase buds. A fun evening ande an excellent turnout for the club!!

Pictures of the skeet shooting group at the Everglades shooting club. Other members shot the Sporting Clays course. Everyone had fun!

Everglades Region PCA newest event – Cars and Cocktails – began successfully with a Porsche only parking section at Agave Restaurant in North Naples on Wednesday May 2, 2012. This new venue allowed more than 20 Porsches to be on display for members and friends to admire. Lots of new faces were seen proudly sharing information, comparing notes on the proper wheel size for a given model, and making plans to attend the next event – whether it be at Sebring, an autocross, or an upcoming Tech Session! We enjoyed good food, great cocktails and beautiful cars and hope to see you at the next event!

Everglades Potluck at Steve and Faith Wassersung's

March 24th Everglades Autocross

Everglades Region PCA celebrated the inaugural Weekend Of The Year on March 3&4 2012. The event kicked off with a welcome breakfast at Porsche of Ft Myers where participants were given a welcome packet by event organizers Jenny and Chris Branston with information on the weekend's itinerary and t-shirts. Scenic driving instructions were provided to get drivers to Bok Tower where everyone enjoyed lunch, touring the gardens and listening to the carillons. Next stop was our hotel in Lake Wales, FL - Chalet Suzanne which was reserved exclusively for Everglades PCA members that weekend. Members gathered before dinner to meet Zone 12 rep Dave ONeal, and to test their Porsche parts knowledge with a quiz on ten specific parts for our beloved cars. Winners Carlos Vasallo and Mike Andrade should be proud! The highlight of Day 1 was dinner at the hotel's restaurant and a talk by Derek Bell who was the honored guest for the weekend. Our region is always honored when Derek Bell is able to join us for events. Day 2 began with breakfast and gearing up for the photo and clue rally to lunch - it was a true test of observation and not speed. All navigators on the Sunday rally should be able to compare some of the twists and turns we made to those seen on World Rally Car races! The winners for the rally were Chris & Tom Pitser, followed by Mark & Pam Graham-their first event! Ron & Amy Howard, Mike & Mary-Jo Andrade and Carlos & Maria Vasallo rounded out the top 5. Porsche of Naples & Porsche of Ft Myers' General Manager John Harris and his staff were very generous by sponsoring the weekend and helping to make it a success. Thank you to everyone who participated - see you next year!

On Saturday, February 18th, at FGCU John and Valerie Petracco hosted this month's Porshe Potluck. Porsche Club members showed strong support for the FGCU's Women's Basketball Team, and the Lady Eagles responded with a convincing victory over Stetson, 79-56. Saturday was a wonderfully entertaining event and a special thank you goes out for the FGCU President, Women's Basketball Staff & Team, and John and Valerie Petracco.

2011 TUSCANY PORSCHE FEST---ONE FOR THE BUCKET LIST! In the February 2011 edition of Porsche Panorama I read the advertisement regarding PCA Treffen Tours and a few pages later the article titled Treffen 2010. As we had purchased our first Porsche last year, my wife Anita and I were captured by the opportunity to visit Stuttgart, Germany to tour both the Porsche factory and museum and drive a Porsche 911 on the “no speed limit” Autobahn, and through the mountains of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. After contacting Peter Sontag, owner of Fast Lane Travel, Inc., and learning that he has personally conducted Porsche driving trips (Treffens) to Europe for over 37 years, we were ready to sign up for the 2011 Tuscany Porsche Fest—16 days of excitement!! We departed Naples on Friday, September 9 for Stuttgart. After two days of exploring the town, we joined the 11 other Treffen couples (8 had participated in previous Treffens) for great dining at the Stuttgarter Staffele wine cellar and the Dicker Turn castle (and wine cellar). On MONDAY morning, after a short driver briefing, we headed south in our black Porsche 911 4S Cabriolet to drive the 325 kilometers to the Interalpen Hotel in Telfs, Austria. Leaving Stuttgart and entering the Autobahn we quickly realized how Fast Lane Travel got its name! Our group of six cars (there were two groups) was led by Peter Sontag. When we were approaching the end of the Autobahn speed controlled area, the message over the two-way radio was “let’s fly”—and we did, with speeds approaching 165+ mph. After lunch at the Rasthof Zugspitzblick, we entered Hahntennjoch Pass—a narrow, winding road with scenic mountain views—ending at the foot of the Austrian Alps, in Telfs. On TUESDAY morning we were “rolling wheels” toward Italy as we climbed to 8,300 feet crossing the “Timmelsjoch” with its challenging, narrow curves and stunning mountain views. By mid-afternoon we arrived at Castle Fragsburg, in Meran, Italy—our destination for the evening. Our 5 star dinner was held on the hotel terrace overlooking “Passeier Valley”. Everyone slept well in the castle that night. On WEDNESDAY morning we were off to Tuscany. The 500 kilometer drive on the Autostrada took us past Modena, Florence and on to Siena and from there to the Tuscan village of Buonconvento. We had the entire village police fleet—one car—guide us the final 4 kilometers to Casali di Bibbiano (a 125 acre vineyard), where we were greeted by owner Alberto Guadagnini—our host for the next week. After settling into our villa, we headed to the terrace—overlooking the vineyards-- for a wine tasting and next to the crystal clear swimming pool. That evening Alberto prepared a special dinner, served on the terrace as we watched the sun set over the vineyards. Later, with fellow Porsche lovers we enjoyed a fine cognac and cigars while toasting to Ferdinand Porsche. The next five days went by too quickly. First, a drive to Siena to explore the town and see the Plazza del Campo, known for the famous horse races with very few rules. Next, came a drive to Montalcino, known for its world famous Brunello wines and then on to Pienza for lunch. On Saturday, we left the Porsches at the Casali and traveled in a private motor coach to Florence (driving through the narrow streets of Florence and finding secured parking for 12 highly valued Porsches was not recommended). We had a full day of planned activities with the assistance of an extremely knowledgeable guide. Highly recommended were the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, Duomo (cathedral) and the statue of David. We returned that evening to Casali di Bibbiano for a surprise BBQ dinner poolside along with Italian Operatic entertainment---and of course, a wide selection of Bibbiano wines. SUNDAY was a day to relax, participate in the grape harvest, take a horseback trial ride or take your Porsche and explore on your own. Alberto also scheduled a cooking class. Everyone attended the morning cooking class as lunch was the result of our efforts---good or bad. After lunch we drove to the charming village of Buenconvento, where a street fair was occurring and then on to the private 19 hole hillside golf course of Salvatore Farragamo . The evening ended with another special dinner entree—wild boar—served on the terrace overlooking the valley with a view of Montalcino in the distance. MONDAY was Tuscan Photo Rally day. We were given 15 photos to identify during the 3 hour drive through the villages of Torrenieri, San Quirico, Bagna Vignoni (known for its hot springs), Chianciano and ending up in Montepulciano. Montepulciano is known world-wide for its fabulous wine-- Vino Nobile. The rally was very challenging for us since several Treffen members had participated in prior rallies created by Peter Sontag. Little did we know that during the rally briefing when Peter stated “if you don’t know the answer WHO CARES” was really one of the answer clues. Well, the good news is we placed first—among the four couples on their first Treffen—but fifth overall. And yes the correct answer to two questions was “who cares”. The Rally Dinner was followed with “valuable” prizes awarded to each couple. On TUESDAY, we said goodbye to Alberto and Casali di Bibbiano as we traveled north 580 kilometers on the Autostrada into Austria and across the Brenner Pass—with its winding roads and hair-pin curves. The exclusive Castle Schlosshotel Igls on the mountain outside Innsbruck was our home for the night. After a long day of challenging driving we were rewarded with an exquisite 5-star dinner paired with fine wines. On WEDNESDAY, we traveled another 420 kilometers as we headed back to Stuttgart, Germany. We crossed the snow covered Austrian Alps on our way to the beautiful town of Lindau on Lake Constance for lunch at the Bayerischer Hof. Later on the Autobahn we had more opportunities to renew our membership in the 150 mph club---and we did! After driving almost 2500 kilometers our journey was coming to an end. THURSDAY was Porsche day in Stuttgart. First, there was a guided tour of the Porsche Museum followed by lunch in the world famous Porsche restaurant Christophorus. Next a visit to the Porsche Classic factory where the 1972 911T (which was the PCA raffle car this year) was meticulously restored. Next came a tour of the Porsche Exclusive and TeEquipment Department for a look at available factory custom options. The next day we visited TechArt--the international premium brand for individualization of any Porsche model. Finally, as a bonus, we were in Stuttgart for the start of the local fall festival celebration called Cannstatter Volksfest (October Fest). You have to go there and experience it yourself. But as one Treffen member stated “seating for 5000 but tickets for 7000”. I consumed my fair share of the outstanding beer brewed annually for the Volksfest while Anita was looking for earplugs. The sound of thousands of people yelling, singing and dancing to the local Bavarian music was deafening. What a fitting way to remember Stuttgart! On the flight home the next day, Anita asked “what should we do for a vacation next year?” We looked at each other and said…another TREFFEN!!! Memo: The Treffen experience allows you to legally drive a Porsche at speeds above 150 mph and the narrow, twisting mountain roads are as challenging as any autocross. When paired with both 5 star hotels and dinning, a Treffen definitely should be on YOUR bucket list. Anita and Ed Brust

ART & AUTO POTLUCK – Nov. 12, 2011 The idea was to have a different kind of pot luck - In a Garage – the home of our cars - With a local Artist showing his work and see him work Auto’s and Art belongs together. When you produce a new picture or a new car, the first spirit starts in the brain. Painter and car designers, especially Porsche designers are special people. The idea worked out very well, as we had about 50 people and the garage was packed. Lot’s of good food, good discussions, we all had a good time. Anyone who missed this event can see Kevin O’Briens art on his web site www.kevinobrienart.com . Elly Bloksma

Everglades Region Members Enjoyed a Holloween Potluck hosted by the Rassa's.

Old Florida Rally September 11th 2011 Immaculate Porsches of various types and colors together with a very large Dodge pickup with Porsche decals gathered in the early morning heat at Manatee Park on the Caloosahatchee River on September 11th. After studying the route and discussing all things Porsche the participants set off at about 9am. The route went to the historic town of Arcadia on side roads passing through farmland and citrus groves. It was then on around Charlotte Harbor to the Gulf Coast and on to Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone enjoyed the drive as they puzzled the location of photographs and the answers to cryptic clues! The lunch spot was on the beach at the southern end of the island where the gorgeous views and excellent food were enjoyed by all. A couple of our new members did the rally in a 914 which had been converted to all electric drive – unfortunately it only just made it to the restaurant and had to spend a couple of hours charging up after lunch. It is not clear if it managed to make it all the way home to Fort Myers Beach! We were impressed by the 39 out of 48 score by the Ron Howard team (in the pickup!) he and two others managed to answer the tiebreaker asking for the number of cabriolets produced by Reutter Coachworks in 1950 (5)!. A good Porsche day was enjoyed by all.

The Sepetmber 10th Technical Session was a big hit with Craig Lortie from Porsche Cars NA visiting. Craig spent time introducing the 991 to 30 of the Everglades region members. Also reviewed was the Hybrid technology used in the Panamera and Cayenne.

Twenty six Everglades Region members met at the Bratwursthaus in Fort Myers to enjoy some german food. Peter Schutz was on hand discussing his time at Porsche as well as book signing.

Pictures from May Potluck at Mehrer Residence

May 21st 2011 Everglades Region Clay Pigeon Shoot Although there were only six of us it turned out to be quality not quantity! As everyone had shot before we opted to do a round of “Sporting Clays” (where the clays are thrown to imitate different types of birds) rather than shoot skeet or trap. We made a great squad for the sporting clays layout and had a good time in the scenic backwoods and the “newcomers” all improved as we progressed around the 100 bird shoot. After we had finished we enjoyed a good barbeque lunch at the gun club. It was a great success and all of us want to do another shoot!

Noggin and Natter ( translation:- Drink and Chat!) at the Doubletree Inn North Naples 2nd Wednesday of the month The first meeting was very successful. Over thirty people came and enjoyed meeting each other and sharing common interests. Judging from the chatter volume no one had a problem finding something to talk about! The hotel was very welcoming. The members enjoyed meeting the board of Everglades Region and we enjoyed hearing your thoughts about the region. Come to Wednesday May 11th the next Noggin and Natter and see why we had a good time!!

April 2nd Everglades Region Porsche Club kicked of the first Technical discussion meetings at Porsche of Fort Myers. Topics were covered from pre delivery inspections, 997TT power plant to specific questions on members cars.

Club members gathered at 9:30 AM parking their cars in a prominent area of the Garden set aside for them. The next two hours were spent touring the Botanical Garden in two groups, each with a docent tour guide. One group toured the Children's Garden and Florida Garden while the second group toured the Brazilian Garden and the Asian Garden. Time was left to explore gardens not seen on the tours. Many went through the gift shop in the visitors center. We then headed off to the Real McCaw restaurant that is just up Bayshore Drive from the Garden for a delicious lunch and lots of camaraderie.

Thirteen of the Everglades Region members attended the 2011 Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance. The show is quite popular as there were many people and cars from across the country. You will find a sample of some of the cars that were showed.

The early morning fog cleared off as the Packard Rally participants headed off on the initial 35 mile quiz. The group was a mix of seasoned rallyists and new folk. We even had a photographer who is registered blind who was kindly driven by a member. Ave Maria center was closed off for a car show and a diversion route was signed! But our resourceful members parked and found the picture clues. After the quiz part of the route everyone headed off through the sugar cane area via twisting back roads to the Fort Lauderdale Antique Motor Museum – Packard Museum. About 100 miles of testing but great Porsche driving roads! The answers were marked over lunch in the museum and after the prize giving a detailed tour of the museum was given. The guide was very knowledgeable and he had a wealth of anecdotal stories which were well received. Eight of us ate a delicious meal at the 15th St Fisheries in the evening. Twenty four people attended this repeat event and all seemed to enjoy the challenging route and the interesting museum.

The Everglades Region Porsche Club joined this years Cars on Fifth Car Show. There was a wide range of cars from 356, 912's, Carrera, Boxsters, 993, 996, 997 and a Cayenne as well. Some of the club members enjoyed lunch at Ristorante De Angelis.

This month's breakfast club was held at Naples Motorsports in Naples. They had quite a range of cars ranging from a Carrera GT, Ferrari, Lamorghini, Aston Martin, Bentley and Maserati. Thanks Naples Motorsports for a great event!

On December 4th a small group of Everglades Region member joined the Gulfcoast Autocrossers in Fort Myers. In the morning there was a novice school for those who have not attended an autocross event which helped on learning about the course and car dynamics. Lunch was provided by Gulfcoast Autocrossers. The afternoon session we drove the timed course along with many other cars ranging from a 997GT3, Corvette Z06 and miata's. The Gulfcoast Autocrossers put on a great event and Everglades Porsche Club plan to coordinate another event in the near future.

Wine Tasting Notes: 2nd Annual Wine Tasting, November 13, 2010 34 lively and thirsty Porsche Club wine lovers gathered last night to sip, slurp and rate 21 bottles of wine –15 reds and 6 whites. This was quite a jump up from the 8 bottles sampled last year, and the Porsche Club members did them justice! Here are the results of the tasting (note: where wine information was not provided, web research helped to fill in some details) GROUP 1: 7 REDS 1st PLACE: 2007 Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry" Reserve Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 93 points Wine Spectator: "Shows excellent structure, intensity, depth and concentration, with a mix of spice, dried currant, blackberry, mocha, cedar and licorice. Full-bodied, at points rustic and chewy, yet also elegant and refined, ending with earthy graphite tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2011 through 2020." $38.00 2nd PLACE: 2008 Monte Marie Chianti 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Medium bodied, intense ruby color, hints of mature cherry. Good balance and structure. Great Tuscan classic, fine grapes and a delicious finish. A deep red color and velvety taste of mature fruits with smooth tannins. A delightful and rich reserve, very smooth on the palate and a terrific red wine to accompany red meats and cheeses. $6.99 GROUP 2: 8 REDS 1st PLACE: 2006 Tin Roof Merlot California Offers ripe, luscious black cherry and plum fruit aromas and flavors characteristic of the Merlot variety, enhanced by hints of tobacco, herbal spice and chocolate. With smooth, supple tannins and a long, rich finish, it pairs especially well with grilled red meats, herb-roasted chicken, pork chops, red-sauced pastas and flavorful hard cheeses. $13.00 2nd PLACE: 2005 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia Deep crimson with purple hues. Rich fragrant blackberry and plum with a hint of spice balanced by integrated coffee/vanilla and toasty cedar oak notes. Intense dark berry fruit flavors, with layers of olive and spice. The 2005 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz is full bodied with velvety tannins which provide the perfect backbone for expression of concentrated, spicy Shiraz flavors. The generous, approachable fruit flavors ensure this wine can be enjoyed now; however the balance and structure of this wine will, if carefully cellared, evolve gracefully for the next 10 years. 89 Points, Wine Enthusiast $17.00 WHITES – 6 1st PLACE: 2008 Sterling Vineyards Napa County Sauvignon Blanc Opens with classic aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and honeydew melon. The perfectly balanced flavors echo the bright fruit aromas, picking up stone fruit (apricot and peach) notes before culminating with a crisp finish. Intriguing hints of minerals and lemongrass, typical of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, add interest to the fruit character. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine was cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks to capture the vivid fruit expression of grapes from Napa County vineyards. This wine makes a great pairing with seafood, especially cracked crab with sourdough French bread, seafood salads and grilled shrimp or white fish. Have a chilled bottle ready to serve with appetizers, like small grilled chicken brochettes, goat cheese and fresh basil bruschetta or spicy wontons. $11.00 2nd PLACE: 2009 DR Loosen Bros Riesling The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen (pronounced loh-zen) assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, Ernst dramatically reduced his crop size and stopped all chemical fertilization, preferring only moderate use of organic fertilizers. And, most importantly, he turned to gentler cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling and technological meddling. The 2009 Dr. L Riesling from Loosen Bros. is an entry-level Mosel Riesling Wine Spectator Senior Editor Bruce Sanderson, who reviews German wines for the publication, wrote of the 2009 Dr. L: “Sleek and tangy, showing apricot, lime and mango flavors matched to a lively structure. There’s nice harmony and persistence through the finish.” This wine has a touch of residual sweetness, just enough to balance the ripe acidity. Bravo! The wine was rated at 90 points and designated a “Best Value." $12.00 Hands down first place winner in the food department: Anna Hutchens’ unxious and complex cheesecake with perfectly balanced overtones of bright citrus and a long champagne finish. The crown of chocolate ganache dusted with gold provided just the right touch of elegance. Look for it in the Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalogue (congrats Anna!)

This months Breakfast Club was held at F1 Imports in Naples. F1 specializes in service and restoration ranging from exotics to antiques. Thanks F1 Imports for a hosting a great event!

Twenty eight cars, mostly Porsches (3 participants drove their “other” car!) sparkled in the early morning light by the lake in Sugden Park. After studying the paper work and a pep talk on how to handle the clues, the 15 random photos and avoid friendship- threatening arguments the cars trickled out to start the rally. The route took them through the Isles of Capri, Marco Island, Port of the Islands across country to see an old oil well, into Immokalee and ended in the newly restyled River district of Fort Myers. The scenery was pretty and it was a perfect South Florida sunny day! A challenge was collected at the Port of the Islands hotel - a Halloween mask to decorate! The masks were very imaginatively decorated and judged by the helpful staff at Joe’s Crab Shack over lunch.The winner s were Chris and Nancy Lombardo. The clues were sufficiently challenging so no one got full marks! Tom and Chris Pitser won with Ron Howard and co pilot second and Nancy and Chris Lombardo third. They were closely followed( these are not in strict order) by Steve and Faith Wassersug, and Jane Campbell with John Pokorny, Maria and Carlos Vasallo, Mitch and Debbie Courte, Mike Andrade with Mary-Jo , and Patsy and Lois. Lots of fun was had by all. We enjoyed arranging the event and hope you will join us on Saturday February 26th2011 to rally across to Fort Lauderdale to the Antique Car Museum full of Packard cars. This is a rerun of last year’s trip as many people missed out when the owners funeral caused a sudden date change. Jenny and Chris Branston

Around 30 Everglades Club Members enjoyed Happy Hour at Sam Snead's and dinner at Olde Europ Bistro. Thanks Ellie Bloskma for organizing a great event.

Everglades Region members Ron Howard, Len Uronis, CXarlos Vasallo and Mike Kim Attending Suncoast & Goldcoast Driver's Education Event at Sebring International Raceway in September 2010. On the weekend of September 18 & 19 Suncoast and Goldcoast PCA Regions held a DE (drivers education) event at Sebring International Raceway. I have spoken to members from our region who have done it before and said it was a fun event so I decided I would try it. Signing up is easy, you go to www.clubregistration.net and sign up for the day or if you're a diehard racer, the whole weekend. It's good to find someone who has done it before so you can get some tips on preparing for the event (many thanks to Len Uronis). One of the most important parts to remember is getting your car inspection sheet completed, signed, and stamped by your technician prior to the event, thanks to my brother Rolando Vasallo who tolerates my Porsche at his Jag/Aston shop. We stayed at The Château Élan Hotel next to the track which is convenient when you are trying to make the 7:00 am registration and final tech inspection. At some point after your registration you will be introduced to your instructor and go out for your first laps. For the DE the same configuration is used as for the famous Sebring 12 hour endurance race!! I have been to the 12 hour race as I am sure many of you have, but being on the track and trying to maneuver 17 turns on a 3.7 mile circuit gives you a whole new appreciation for what it must be like under race conditions. When you meet your instructor, he or she will ask you why you came and what you want to accomplish? I said, I want to have fun, drive my car at track speeds and manage to drive it home at the end of the day. My instructor, Bill Ruff said we can do that as he began to guide me around the Sebring track. The first session is at low speeds to familiarize you with the track. As we drove around I thought to myself, how am I ever going to learn 17 challenging and completely different turns after all this track has a reputation for being tough for a reason, but with every lap you find yourself remembering more and more of the track and slowly improving from your previous session. At noon the instructors have a ride along for charity. My wife, Maria signed up for the thrill ride and now gets to brag that she went around the track faster than I did. There is also a track tour (parade lap) session during lunch time when everyone can drive on the track at slow speeds and see Sebring up close. In between track sessions we walked around the pits and talked to some very friendly Porsche people. The day goes by so fast that before you know it, its' your last time on the track and you find yourself wanting more. My experience was very positive and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be competitive as well as those who just want to have some fun while bringing your baby back home in one piece as I did. Carlos Vasallo DE Car #25 For more information go to: www.clubregistration.net P.S. There is a professional photographer at the tract that will take pictures of you at different spots on the track and give you a nice keepsake and conversation piece, "Did I ever tell you about the time I raced at Sebring". Find them near the tower and register with them early so they have plenty of opportunities to find you on the track.

In February a group of Porsche enthusiasts met off Immokalee road where they perused the challenging clues for the drive! Then they set off on a 30 mile cryptic clue rally followed by a fast pleasurable drive through the back roads of inner Florida. This took in the sugar cane region and was teeming with wildlife. Arriving at the museum we were warmly welcomed and after a boxed lunch had a detailed tour of the museum. The museum is the private Packard collection of Mr & Mrs Stone. There has to be the best memorabilia collection to see as well as the cars! Everyone declared the day a great success! Sadly Mr Stone died 2 days before our intended visit and we had to change the date at the last minute. It was very kind of them to open specially for us. We would like to offer the rally/visit again for those of you who missed it (or want to revisit!) Therefore we have earmarked late January 2011 for it. More information later.

Sebring 48 Autocross