July - Porsche Club of America – Northeast Region

Upshifting
Bruce Hauben
By the time you’re reading this, NER’s Canadian
DE events will be in full swing, beginning with
our three days at Calabogie, followed by three
days (with a travel day in between) at Mont-
Tremblant during the annual Blues Festival. This
schedule is great for all the drivers who’re doing
both events, as it allows for a single long-distance
round trip with six days at two fantastic tracks,
not to mention the free Blues Festival.
This schedule, however, puts the Track Committee
(TC) under the gun, since the planning and
pre-event work must be squeezed into a shorter
time frame — two events in the time normally
needed for a single event. One might reasonably
say, ”… just start earlier” and, in fact, some tasks
have been ongoing for some time now, but the
crunch always comes close to event time with
late registrations and cancellations necessitating
juggling instructor/student match-ups, re-jiggering
the schedule and worker assignments, etc.,
etc.
Most drivers aren’t aware of the ’fires‘ that get
put out during an event, and what goes into
Most drivers aren’t aware of the ’fires‘ that get
put out during an event, and what goes into
changing schedules on the fly...
changing schedules on the fly due to track incidents,
no shows, instructor and flagger illnesses,
drivers in the wrong run groups, drivers on the
track when they shouldn’t be, etc. That’s as it
should be, and what the TC strives for, a seamless
event that’s both fun and safe where drivers are
aware only of the end result.
As many ‘fires’ as there may be at the event, multiply
that several times over and you get the work
and planning involved for weeks and months
prior to a DE event, the event itself being the tip
of the iceberg.
As Track Chair I’m often the ‘face’ of the TC and
track program by default, the one getting the
“thanks for a great event.” I want you all to know
that your “thanks” and “kudos” are always passed
on to the TC members, without whom there
would not be an NER track program; it’s as simple
as that. It’s a huge undertaking needing a dedicated,
hardworking TC.
I want to give tribute to the TC, most of whom
have been with me for all of my second incarnation
as TC, and some from my first TC tenure.
They’re a fantastic group of committed NER members
who selflessly give their time and effort to
the club to make these events work.
Alphabetically, the TC members are Dick Anderson,
co-Scrutineer; Steve Artick, Instructor Development;
Moe Auger, Novice Development; Ray
Bahr, Ass’t. TC; Joyce Brinton, Control & Charities;
Stan Corbett, Operations; Mark Keefe, Registrar;
Chris Outzen, co-Scrutineer; Peter Tracy, Chief
Instructor; Matthew Wallis, Consultant. Kudos to
all of them.
And speaking of instructors, many thanks to
those of you who have already registered and
paid for NER’s Watkins Glen DE August 27th–29th.
The rest of you have gotten a plea from Chief
Instructor Peter Tracy asking you to please sign
up and pay for the event now, as we have 10 students
on the wait list needing your presence. I’m
adding my plea here and now; please sign up and
pay. Remember that registering without paying
is not signing up at all. Your payment completes
the registration process. There’ll be loads of track
time, drop off your rig in the paddock the night
before, enjoy the buffet lunch in the
Media Building that NER springs for, as
well as the wine and beer social following
Friday on the track.
Most of the above applies to every DE
driver — sign up and pay now to ensure
your space at the Watkins Glen DE. And, Green
and Yellow drivers, don’t let the wait list scare you
away. All PCA instructors are notorious for late
registration; we rarely have been unable to get
everyone into this event. The sooner you sign up
and pay the higher up on the wait list you’ll be.
See you at the track.
N O R E A S T E R page 11