Radcap

Guy's, I need your input, I am coming up on a year as a re-owner (20 years ago for 6 months) and although I have bugged some of you for information and learned a lot from all of you on this forum I have yet to look into joining the PCA and its local affiliate. Do most of you, or all of you or non of you subscribe? what does it really offer? and is it worth it?

I am looking for your opinion,

Thanks,

Rod,

Tango635

I just became a member yesterday and have had my first porsche for only 2 weeks. I am not sure of the benefits in particular to PCA, but about 5 years ago I flew out to Sedona AZ from Houston TX to buy an 88 635CSi, with the plan of driving it back home.

The car ran very well initially, but then started sputtering and running very roughly. I was able to limp to the dealer in Sandia NM, i think, on Friday night. I was at the dealership first thing Saturday hoping they would take a walk in. They did, but they diagnosed the car and gave me a whole laundry list of potential root causes, all of which required parts that would need to be ordered and they would need to look at the car again on Monday or Tuesday.

I left there feeling stranded and confused. I was a member of the BMW CCA and decided to call up folks in the area to see if someone could help me obtain some of the parts the tech thought might be the culprit. I started with the President, not there. Then the Vice or chairman, can't remember his title. He says, "sure, bring the car over, we'll take a look"

So I did. I am not kidding when I tell you he had a salvage yard behind his house full of beemers and other old cars and even had one 911 chaisis. He looked over the car and said, "there's nothing wrong with your car except dirty connectors. Disconnect all the electrical connectors in and around the EFI, clean them, connect and disconnect several time to get the spades clean". I did and the car ran like new, as they say.

Anyway, long story but sometimes the benefits of a social network aren't so obvious. Oh yeah, right now PCA members get a 20% discount on parts at local Porsche dealer. Normally, it's 10%, I think.

Carrera3.2LG50

I joined PCA soon after getting my 87 Carrera.

As a general rule, I'm not much of a joiner, but given that Porsche ownership makes me part of a very limited group in general, I wanted to be able to make some like-minded friends, technical contacts, and be able to tap into the collective knowledge of the group.

That's the same reason why I joined this list and I have to say it's already been proven to be worth it to me for those reasons alone.

May911-85

PCA regions differ in their focus to some degree. you can go to their web site to see if your into the same activities as the local chapters... Club Racing, HPDE, Rally's, Concours, auto cross and social events are offered in my region so its very satisfying. Been a member for 6 years.

Brett San Diego

Some regions are very large and very active, some not active at all (minimum standards to be a region). It's a volunteer club. The level of engagement of any chapter depends solely on the people involved. All depends, but once you are a member of any region, you are officially welcome to participate in events of any region. I don't imagine Alberta has a bunch of chapters in close proximity like southern California, so this may not be relevant for you. Tango635 makes a great point about the network of enthusiasts available to you. Also, there is the monthly magazine, Panorama.

Brett

pmason

I'm a member mostly for the drivers ed events, but plan on trying or are least going to some ofo the other events.

whalebird

Being a member has a number of brnefits. Discounts at a variety of parts houses, tires, and coral paking at large events, Panorama - the club magazine is aleays a good read and an insight to the industry. No doubt- the DE events are the best money that can be spent learning your car. I have met some of the most interesting people thru their social events and is a good networking opportunity. Come resale time, a descriminating buyer likes to see a PCA decal on your car - it's a sign of a conscientious owner.
I strongly reccomend joining.

ivangene

I am a member because of track events too... I see plenty of things going on inside of PCA, and plenty on the outside.

but track events require membership and are fun as h&ll !!

whalebird

Any Porsche owner should go around the track in their car to get an idea what it wil do. For a couple of hundred dollars you get the undivided attention of a qualified instructor and proper technique for safe driving our high performance cars. I like to go with a group out of Florida(Crown region) and man do they throw a party. Live music, free drinks, usually a nice Polo shirt with their crest on it and hours of track time. You will meet some really smart people and have a blast. Often the surrounding shops and mechanics will show up for "test and tune" of their track cars. So you get to meet some of the most knowledgeable and helpfull people in the business and see close up how race preparation is done. I was always invited to ride in an instructors car(usually several)and that gives one the abillity to see the capabilities of a highly developed car in the hands of a skulled driver. You may go once, but you will return every year. You will see Porsche ownership in a different light altogether. Only PCA has this kind of a network in place. Take advantage of it regardless of the kind of car you have, or your skill level. It is Drivers Educatiion (DE) on some of the most historical tracks around the country. Do join PCA. It's a huge part of ownership of a Porsche.

ivangene

+1 WB
ride along will open your eyes for sure!

I have been going over 2 years now and most of the time at events we have here called "skills day" they are great - and then at the end of the day we have a very large autoX set up to just run till you hurt your wrist (dont ask)

anyhow I have maybe 15-20 skills days and 2 DE's and I have to say they are amazingly fun.

I tell people that when I started going to these I was already a "really f3cking great driver" and 2 1/2 years of later, after 100's of hours of training, I am an "OK Beginner"

some of you know what I mean, some might wonder - get out there and you will discover a few things!

Norske

A lot depends on your local group. Our group here is fantastic. Very active, lots of DE, drives, BBQ's, wine tours, etc. We meet for coffee every Saturday morning. There are some group that are a little exclusionary if you do not have a 911, but I think most are not that way. It's only $35? for a lot of benefits.

rgrimm

I'll echo "it depends." You can always go to PCA.org and check your region (sounds like you're Wild Rose?). The region's web site will give you an idea of what's going on.

Don't discount the networking. Even if you don't do much with the "full" region, you can easily meet some folks near you and develop some shared interests. Our geography here in the Dakotas is pretty spread out, but we have a local group of people who organize some drives...to a track in Brainerd, MN for Nord Stern's track events--some drive, some as spectators--color tours, car shows or, in our case, numerous drives of 30-40 minutes or so that always seem to end at a Dairy Queen!

Any excuse...

ron mcatee

I've been a member of PCA for 42 years and reason's for my staying active have all been addressed above. the best reason to me is the fellowship with like minded members.

Andrew911E

See Tango635 above and plug in Porsche where you see BMW.

On Saturday morning (June 19) I received a call from a stranded owner of a 1987 911. He is 125 miles from home in a motel parking lot. Car would not start, but had strong battery. He had just purchased the car and had limited tools with him. About 35 miles from my house. I sent out an email to all of the technical types and club racers in my local PCA region.

Short story: In less than 3 hours, a Porsche trained tech, now with a local race shop, arrived on the scene. They "bypassed the dme and hardwired the fuel pump" and the stranded 911 guy drove back home, very grateful not to have to pay for the long tow home or the visit to the dealership. (remembering to remove the pump fuse when he got home.)

Yes, join PCA. I joined in Dec, 1969 and cannot imagine 40 years of Porsche ownership without PCA. The knowledge, networking (see Saturday morning), technical info and just plain friendships to be had make the dues payment an easy decision.

Andrew Chisholm
First Settlers Region, PCA

ofishbein

I'm not really much of a joiner, but I belong simply to take advantage of the online Mart (it's not available to non-members). It's a good place to look for parts and if you're in the market for cars there seem to be a lot there that aren't on the mainstream websites.