Slipstream - July 2003

Road Ramblings
by Keith Olcha, Maverick Region President
July is here and we’re into the second half of
the year’s activities. July and August are the
months that I tend to find more time for our
socials and tours, as I’m not a big fan of hotweather
competitive driving. There is no relief
waiting to drive, it gets even hotter when you’re
driving, and very hot late in the afternoon after
you’ve driven. I use the extra free weekend or
two in July and August to work on summer projects. This year
one project is to install an additional oil cooler inside the left front
fender of my 1993 RSA to match the factory cooler on the right
side.
I’d like to take some time a cover two personal topics that
recently came up. First, Dennis Chamberlain mentioned that
some people were curious where my list of all-time favorite
Porsches came from and did I own or ever drive any of them?
Alas, the answer is not really. Of the 10 cars I listed, I’ve owned
none and I’ve actually driven two- the GT2 and a 1973 911 RS.
Seven more of the cars I have seen in person (and even touched a
few), but one of them- the 959 I have only seen in pictures,
magazines, and literature. Some of the racecars are in the Porsche
Factory Museum. Generally, think of me and my relationship
with those cars like that of the boy Ralph in “A Christmas Story”
and his obsession with the Red-Ryder Double-Action Carbine
BB-Gun.
The second topic concerns my obsession with my car
number of 27. I was asked why I have had that number for so long
and fight to use it in events. Lately, because I registered late for
events, I’ve had to run number 72 as my friend Rod Johnson from
Memphis Tennessee has claimed the number by registering ahead
of me. The funny thing is that besides having the same car
number we both also have identical racecars. My use of number
27 came about by accident actually, as it was assigned to me
several years ago in another region that had permanent car
number assignments and I stuck with it. Upon further research,
however, it has belonged to a few drivers who did credit to their
number: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Gilles Villeneuve, John
Watson, and Patrick Tambay. Besides these Formula One drivers,
I plan on searching for other drivers with that same number from
the NASCAR and sports car ranks.
I saw my first Cayenne up close at the “May at Mayos” dinner
social. It belongs to Lee and Linda Wilkins. I was able to look at
it and sit in it. I know many of you have stopped by dealerships
to see them or take test drives, but for me I never feel I know
anything about a vehicle with a dealer test drive. I always feel like
I’m imposing unless I’m ready to buy, etc. And I feel overwhelmed
by the presence of a sales representative sitting with me or I
wonder how long I should stay out, etc. Sometimes these 15-
minute drives just give me sensory overload if you know what I
mean. For a vehicle whose purpose is more defined, I would
probably get a better feel for the Cayenne with a “day-in-the-life”
type test-drive. I’d be able to get everyone in my family to try it
out and run a few errands and try the roads around my house
instead of the test roads around a given dealership.
On the subject of area dealers, I would like to thank
Boardwalk Porsche for sponsoring our May club race at Texas
Motor Speedway, and Park Place Porsche for sponsoring our June
Drivers Education at Motor Sports Ranch. If it weren’t for our
sponsors, we would have to charge about 20% more money for
our various racetrack events. The money is not going to the clubit
is going back to you. For example, the going rate nationally is
about $130 per day of driver’s education. That typically does not
include donuts and coffee, an event shirt, and water like we
provide. That would even add at least another $10 per day to that
$130 figure. Our Maverick events are running about $100 per day,
and that is directly attributed to our sponsors. Frankly, all of our
sponsors give out a lot of free advice and assistance also. I enjoy
their company and I truly feel all of our sponsors and Slipstream
advertisers deserve a thank you as well as our patronage. I know
that we live in an age of spin selling, commercialism, and stadiums
with corporate logos on them. And I will be the first to admit that
I’m thrifty (cheap okay?). However, if I can only save a few
dollars through the mail or the Internet on a particular part
versus our dealers and independent shops that provide the same
product I will opt to buy it locally or ask them if they can match
the price in other cases.
This month I’ll be at the McKinney Public Library Concours,
the autocross at Pennington Field, the Whitesboro Tour (my first
this year) and the post-parade dinner social. I’m hoping to get to
as many other events as possible, and I hope to meet some more
new members. Till next month then…
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