HCP Open Roads

Twenty members of the Hudson Champlain Porsche club gathered for a scenic drive through the Catskills toward a destination of the Rail Explorers. But the first stop was the Phoenicia Diner, originally built in 1962 and then moved to the Catskills in the ‘80s. Fresh food mostly sourced from the Catskills and Hudson Valley fortified the group before heading to their destination.  

The next stop was the Catskills Division of the Rail Explorers! The idea was originally conceptualized by Mary Joy Lu while watching a Korean soap opera. All the details on that on their website, but suffice it to say, after lots of planning and several years of hard work by Mary and her husband, Alex, they now run four locations. Pedal-powered rail vehicles date back to the 1850’s when they were used by maintenance workers to travel along the tracks. But don’t worry! Their custom-built Explorers are the latest development of this technology, and are the global leader in safety, design, and ease of operation. You can find all the info here.

For 2 1/2 hours, club members pedaled 4.2 miles down along the Esopus Creek which was the same path traveled by the Ulster & Delaware Railroad that ran through the Catskills.  With all the rain, the scenery was, of course, lush, and beautifully green.   

Those smiles don’t lie! A fun time was had by all.

See you next time! 

The August monthly meeting of the HCP club took place at The Shop Automotive Detailing located at 3223 Guilderland Avenue in Schenectady. 

Dawud Haider, the manager, took us on a tour of the facilities, with an extensive presentation – from the indoor wash area, to the detailing area with two light tunnels, to the cleanroom used for the application of the ceramic coating and protective film. 

A very impressive facility includes an incredibly knowledgeable staff and excellent products.

Afterward, we were treated to a delicious meal including salads, pastas, and barbecue items from the Wagon Wheel Catering. Everything was delicious!

The meal was followed by the club’s monthly Membership meeting.

The Shop Automotive Detailing offers:

• Wash, Interior Detail, Exterior Detail, and Full Detail.
• Hybrid-nano ceramic coating with professional real-world durable maintenance and protection. Perfect against road salt build-up and other debris/contaminants.
• Paint Protection Film creating and ensuring a perfect finish for years to come to prevent rock chips, scratches, scuffs, and more.
• Winter Services whether you’re storing your vehicle for winter or ending the harsh long winter season, provide your vehicle with the utmost level of cleanliness to ensure it continues looking its best for years to come.

Visit their website at https://www.theshopdetails.com   

Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/theshopautomotivedetailing/

Support those who support the Club!

It was raining hard the morning of the picnic. But club members were undeterred by the weather and were treated to tasty club cooking from the grills manned by several great cooks from our club. And the weather ended up cooperating!

The cars were parked in the lot with care in hopes that the vote count would make them a winner in the eyes of their peers. 

Andy Dorman brought his collection of race cars and the kids, young and old, had an absolute blast! 

The club held an impromptu meeting to discuss upcoming events. 

Be sure to stay tuned to the club’s calendar to keep informed on all club activities.

Bocci, anyone? After all, it isn’t just about the cars; it’s about the people!

A wonderful time was had by all.

Not since March 2020 has the Hudson Champlain region had a chance to gather indoors for an evening of companionship, food, and an exemplary collection of rare air-cooled Porsches. 

In addition to this being a social gathering of 130 club members, the event was also a welcoming event for our 2020 and 2021 year-to-date new members for which we had a great turn-out of 31 new members and their guests. 

We celebrated getting out again with a great family-style Italian dinner, a raffle of Rare Air gifts, and a donation collection of $1830 for our charity — the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY!! 

Many thanks to all of you who made a donation as it was greatly appreciated by the food bank.  

John Pellerin

The May 9th “Porsches on the Lawn” event has been canceled by the Saratoga Auto Museum.  It may be rescheduled to August.  The “Rare Air” Porsche exhibit inside the museum will still be opening to the public.  

Saturday, May 15th from 9:00am – 3:00pm:  Spring Auto Show at Saratoga State Park

Please join us in the Saratoga Spa State Park for the annual Spring Auto Show on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome. Enjoy great food and amazing automobiles!

Vehicle pre-registration is $15 and day of registration is $20.  When you register, please indicate in the appropriate field that you are part of Hudson Champlain Porsche Club so that we are grouped together on the show field.  If you don’t wish to show your car, admission is free for spectators but a $10 parking fee does apply, per spectator car.

Information and pre-registration can be found here:  LINK to Spring Auto Show or http://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/events/2021/05/15-spring-auto-show

Per NYS regulations, face masks and social distancing MUST be used and followed while attending.

Friday, May 21 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm:  Hudson Champlain Social and New Member Mixer

We will be having a club social and new member mixer inside the Saratoga Auto Museum where we will have private access to the “Rare Air” air-cooler Porsche exhibit.  We will get reacquainted and welcome our new members.  See the flyer here: FLYER

We will be providing a casual dinner, dessert and beverages.  

We will likely be restricted to 150 people occupancy and per NYS regulations, face masks and social distancing MUST be used and followed while attending.  Therefore, an RSVP is required for food and headcount planning purposes.  

Please RSVP to hcppca1959@gmail.com by May 14 with the names of those attending. 

A wonderful Fall weekend was the backdrop of two great events within our Hudson Champlain PCA community.

On October 10th, two of our esteemed club members Amanda Brinke (Membership Chairperson) and Andy Dorman (Chief Instructor and Historian) exchanged vows and became a married couple under their new collective name of “Amandy” Dorman! We wish them all the best for a happy, healthy future life together with many trouble-free Porsche miles ahead.

On Sunday October 11th, our friends Aaron and Amelia Ambrosino didn’t disappoint as hosts in making for the ideal day for HCP’s first ever off-road foliage tour on Sunday, October 11th with cool, crisp Fall air, clear blue skies, peak foliage colors and cider donuts.

A group of 10 vehicles, 22 humans, and 5 dogs all gathered together in Arlington, Vermont for a leisurely drive starting with Aaron and Amelia leading us through a classic Vermont covered bridge and along a gravel road that took us through the Green Mountain National Forest with spectacular foliage vistas along the route. Our tour ended at the Stratton Mountain Resort with a village open for strolling, food, drink and pre-season ski apparel and equipment sales.

Several of the group took the gondola to the top of the mountain to get a panoramic view looking out over the Green, White and Berkshire mountain ranges and some hiking to the fire tower.

With this first off-road tour under our belt, we look forward to many such future trips for our Cayenne and Macan Porsche owners given the scenic venues around our area.

As we’ve all witnessed, 2020 has been a sparse year for Cars & Coffee events in the area, yet the Hudson Champlain PCA Region managed to squeak one in for the Fall season at the Saratoga Auto Museum in the Spa State Park.  

 

All in all, the day was an exceptional showing of the club’s members, friends and family and the general public strolling through the park.  

Special thanks to Fran McLeod for her excellent organization and execution of the event, Megan Hennessey and the volunteer staff of the Saratoga Auto Museum for hosting us, and Christian Trujillo from Porsche of Clifton Park for financial support of the event and the Taycan display vehicle.  

Please enjoy these pictures from the event!

The weather was perfect for our event at Sabba Vineyard on Sunday, August 30^th.  While the sun slanted over the hill offering a break from the seemingly unrelenting heat of the summer of 2020, laughter and conversation rippled across the open fields as the members of the Hudson Champlain Porsche members caught up after months of quarantine.  

Usually, conversations at these gatherings run more to cars and upcoming events, but this time owner, vintner, and artist Abby Youghabi shared information about his wines and the inspiration for his artwork that graces the surrounding fields. Some members chose to do the wine tasting, which boasts a full six types of wines—two whites (Riesling and Chardonnay), three reds (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon), and an ice wine. Others sipped slowly as they took in the day.

Although Sabba Vineyard has only been open a couple of years for tastings, the farm has been up and running since 2012. A few years ago, Abby decided it was time to open a tasting room, so he decided to convert his horse barn, which is now decorated with an eclectic mix of art and wines.

If you weren’t able to join us for this great trip, take a ride out to see what it’s all about. You will not be disappointed. Sabba Vineyard is open Fridays and Saturdays from 3 pm – 8 pm, Sundays 2 pm – 7 pm or any time by appointment. Thank you so much to Ken Blass for setting this up!

If you missed this event, the club picnic is scheduled for September 20^th!

Hudson Champlain Region PCA Annual Picnic at Henry Hudson Park, Selkirk, NY

At the capable hands of our Vice President, Eric Spooner, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting our HCP Annual Picnic on Sunday, Sept 20^th starting at 12:00pm at the Henry Hudson Park in Selkirk at:

157 Lyons Rd, Selkirk, NY 12158

(Click here for Google maps link)

We will have a very large covered pavilion and lots of space to spread out with great views of the Hudson River.  We will also have a very informal people’s choice “Concours d’ (Not So) Elegance” so bring your Porsches in their full glory.  The picnic will happen rain or shine.

Food will be provided by the Club and we are working with a caterer whom will be preparing sandwiches (subs or wraps), potato salad and a cookie.  We will also have drinks and other snack foods available.  Your food selection is part of the mandatory RSVP process for you and a guest.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• RSVPs are MANDATORY by Sept 13^th by responding to this LINK:  Hudson-Champlain PCA Picnic Registration
• We are restricted by local municipal authorities to 50 people.   If we have more than 50 people RSVP’ing, we will break the picnic into 2 sessions (12:00-3:00pm, 3:00pm-6:00pm).  Please indicate your session preference in the Picnic Registration.  We will notify you if we are doing a single session or two sessions once the RSVPs are tallied.

• An active COVID waiver is required – if you’ve signed and submitted one already, you need not sign and submit again.  You can bring your own waiver printed in color (COVID WAIVER).  We will also have blank waiver forms available at the picnic.
• NY State Mask and Social Distancing protocols are in effect and to be followed.

After a hiatus of Porsche Club events due to COVID, the Hudson-Champlain Porsche Club got together twice this past week.

Happy Birthday, Steve Marlow!

The July 15^th birthday celebration for long time member Steve Marlow was a surprise drive-by event that attracted nineteen Porsches and one Harley-Davidson.

As we rounded the corner to enter Steve’s neighborhood, the sound of resounding horns echoed all through the area. Signs, balloons, and lots of cheerful happy birthdays made for a touching and festive atmosphere. Club members donned masks to sing a booming round of happy birthday while Steve, Lydia, and family beamed in their driveway.

Afterward, the group gathered at Mama’s Ice Cream for a sweet treat.

Thank you so much to Ken Blass for suggesting the event.

Rolling Along Route 20

Then on Sunday, July 19^th, we once again gathered. The Hannaford Plaza in Altamont was unexpectedly busy while we signed paperwork and said a quick hello before heading off on a gorgeous drive west out Route 20.

What a perfect day for a drive! The lush greens of the scenery were a soft yet vivid backdrop to the rolling hills and clear blue skies. With temperatures closing in on 90 degrees, we arrived at Dairyland in Sharon Springs.

Some fourteen (plus or minus) cars parked on the lawn leaving the shade of two majestic willows to provide shade for our members.

Dairyland is a local establishment first opened in 1963 by locals Harold Lappeus and Dwight Lane. At the time, it was the only restaurant of its type for miles around and drew crowds from the surrounding towns for burgers, hotdogs, fries, and of course, ice cream! Since then it has been sold twice and is currently owned by twenty-eight-year-old Cyle Conley. Our group was greeted by Cyle’s mom and dad who were duly impressed with the beautiful assortment of Porsche’s.

As the socializing wound down, members climbed back into their cars and headed off in their separate directions until the next drive. 

Thank you so much to John and Fran Pellerin for planning and leading the drive. There are some ice cream loving Porsche drivers who are grateful for your introduction to Dairyland!

The holiday in any language is filled with fun and festivities, and the Porsche Club party was no exception. It was already in full swing when we arrived at the home of Ken and Karen Blass on Saturday, December 7^th. 

The evening was a wonderful mix of food, drinks, conversation, music, and desserts (a special thank you to Ken from me for the incredible cheesecake).

The deep piles of snow along the driveway only added to the festive atmosphere as we stepped in out of the cold, wiped the salt off our feet, and added our coats to the colorful pile of outerwear, scarves and gloves on the bench. Hearty hellos and happy holidays filled the hallway as we made our way to the kitchen where we would search out an empty space on the table to add our offering. The table was dressed in holiday style and was overflowing with scrumptious looking snacks, hors d’oeuvres, casseroles, festive meats and of course desserts! We were immediately offered a glass of wine, and while Rick set up his guitar and amp, I fell into conversation with the party-goers.

On a sad note, we received notice of the loss of club member, Dan Nugent.

Dan’s wife says, “Dan was a wonderful husband and father who was adored by his family. He owned a red 1995 air-cooled Porsche Cabriolet, which he adored. He enjoyed many outings with the club, and especially the Finger Lakes weekend. He also looked forward to the annual dinner and Christmas party. He cherished his relationship with the Porsche club until the end.”  Dan will be missed.

Delivery of donations for the Toys for Tots organization will be dropped off soon. Thank you, everyone, for your generosity.

So, this wraps up the 2019 Porsche Club year. Thank you to Rick Beauchemin for the music, to Ken and Karen Blass for once again opening their hearts and home to the members of our club, and to each club member. Have a wonderful holiday season!

The sky was threatening upon arrival at Moore Field located at Fort Devons in Devons, MA on September 14^th,  but that did not stop the Hudson-Champlain Porsche owners who were looking forward to the Zone 1 autocross weekend. Club members that participated were Rick Beauchemin, Andy Dorman, Amanda Brinke, George Cruden, Donna Hughes, and Aaron Ambrosino

.

The first step was to remove everything from the car before driving to the tech inspection, which was led by our own Andy Dorman and Amanda Brinke. (That’s Andy there by the silver Boxster!)

With tech inspections completed, the group was broken into two groups—one to drive and one to man the cones.  Before starting, the whole group walked the course to get a feel for the landscape. Our group was lucky because we had experienced drivers like Andy Dorman and Aaron Ambrosino to offer advice on how to drive the course. One memorable piece of advice from Aaron was “Drive fast. Take risks.”

As day one drew to a close, the group gathered for a conversation where old and new friends came together to enjoy a tasty barbeque.

The following morning, which dawned sunny and bright, the entire process was repeated with the only difference being that the course direction reversed.  

When the day wound down, awards and recognition for the fastest driver and fastest teams were announced. Donna Hughes, Andy Dorman, and Aaron Ambrosino were among those recognized.

And for those of you who were worried, please be assured that no cones were harmed over the weekend!

Our return to the Zone 1 Autocross this year was a bittersweet one, as it was an opportunity for us to catch up with old friends from afar. It was also a chance for those of us to remember the ones we have lost this year.  Last September at this two-day event the HCP team made a great showing, bolstered by the ever-confident presence of Allen Schwartz.  Allen was always cheering us on, keeping track of our times, and reveling in his steady improvement as he strove to shave “just a few more seconds” off of his time.  Over dinner he told us this was one of his favorite events, commenting on his surprise at the level the camaraderie everyone exhibited at such a competitive event.  Sadly the 2018 event was his last with us so we took a few moments at the Driver’s Meeting in the morning this year to let everyone know how much Allen enjoyed this event, how much he enjoyed the people he had met, and most of all how much he felt he learned not just about his car but about how such a diverse group of people could bond so well over a shared interest of finding the quickest path through a sea of cones.  We all miss Allen very much and this event will always remind us of those lessons he shared with us that weekend.

There is no other way to describe the fall getaway this past weekend (September 27^th through 29^th) other than fantastic. The air was chilly as thirty-eight members of the Hudson-Champlain Porsche club gathered in Schodack for a run-down on the weekend plans before heading off with Ken and Karen Blass leading the way. The scenery treated us to an early taste of fall with touches of red and yellow.

Around one bend a wall of fog sandwiched between the hills served as a reminder to turn on our headlights as we drove toward our destination of Newport, Rhode Island.

Upon arriving, we gathered for a quick lunch before jumping on board the trolley that would take us on a tour of some of the highlights of the area.

We were introduced to mansion after mansion after mansion with our group finally splitting up to tour either The Breakers or the Marble House, both built by the Vanderbilts.

Along the way, we learned of the The 400, an elite group chosen by socialite Caroline Astor. Her requirements to be accepted as part of the group were three generations of non-working family members and a million dollars in the bank, which is equivalent these days to twenty million.

After a rather harried ride to the train station Friday evening during which Donna Hughes showed off her autocross skills, everyone enjoyed dinner aboard the train running out of Portsmouth Junction Station while a murder mystery played out around us.

Good job Stanlee getting into the part of “Danny” and Dave bringing to life the part of “Lucky”! They don’t call him Lucky for nothing!

Saturday morning dawned clear, windy and a perfect day for sailing. Our group split up to sail on the  America’s Cup 12-Meter Charter vessels while others toured the bay on the Rumrunner, a prohibition era boat. Still others decided to tour the town. With our bellies full after a delicious lunch at The Lobster Bar, our group decided a walk to the Audrain Auto Museum would do us good.

When we arrived we were treated to a tour by the museum’s director who knew all the ins and outs of the thirty concept cars on display there until the end of November. If that wasn’t enough, our group was treated to a tour of the tennis museum followed by drinks and dinner.

Sunday morning began just as beautiful as the rest. While some of us lingered well beyond breakfast enjoying the incredible weather, others toured the Newport Auto Museum, which opened in mid-2017 in a former missile manufacturing facility in Newport. Because the day was so beautiful, many members originally slated to spend time at the museum decided to take the Cliff Walk, which is the scenic 3.5-mile walkway that borders the back lawn of The Breakers and many other Newport mansions. For those interested in seeing the cars you missed, this link will take you to a site resplendent with pics. Thank you, Bill Pollack, for setting this up for the club members!

What a full weekend! Thanks so much to Ken and Karen Blass for making the arrangements and handling all the details that made the trip feel seamless.

 On June 23, 2019, seventy-eight members of the Hudson-Champlain Porsche club gathered at the Saratoga Auto Museum to begin the celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the club. Sponsors included Brewtus Coffee by owner and member Steve Pivonka of Delmar, NY, The Saratoga Auto Museum, New Country Porsche of Clifton Park and R&D Automotive Bavarian Rocket Science of Albany. The smell of coffee mingled with the fresh air as members gathered.

Some chose to tour the museum while others opted to chat, but by at 10:30 a.m. sharp a parade of Porsches left the museum and headed north for a leisurely drive through the Adirondacks with a destination of Lake George’s Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center.

The atmosphere was lively as the cars were parked around the lawn to be judged and awarded by sponsors New Country Porsche and R&D Automotive.  Club members sat on the veranda sharing cocktails and conversation on what many agreed was an absolutely perfect weather day.

When the judging was over, everyone wandered inside to have lunch and applaud the winners. Afterward, club leadership talked about the history of the club, and historian, Andy Dorman, discussed the items on the display table in the front of the room, which included the club charter and the citation from the Porsche Club of America in recognition of our 60^th Anniversary. 

When the petition for charter was presented back in 1959 to the then president of PCA National, Earl Kirschbaum, eight counties in New York, one in Vermont and one in Massachusetts were included in the area chartered as the Hudson Champlain Region on July 17, 1959. The club originally extended from the Canadian border south, well into the Hudson Valley and over to and including southern Vermont and western Massachusetts. Ten founding members accepted the charter most from the Capital Region.

During the first years of the club, Paul Heinmiller, one of the club’s first members, became the editor of Porsche Panorama. Under Paul’s leadership, Panorama was transformed from what was essentially a newsletter into what came to be regarded as one of the finest publications of its kind. For a time, Paul held the office of the PCA National Vice Present, National Executive Vice President, but declined the job of PCA National President as it would have meant leaving his job as the Panorama editor.

The first change in the club’s territory came in 1975 when the Hudson Valley region was chartered. That club was formed by counties seeded from both the Hudson-Champlain and the Metro New York region.

The most recent change came in 1986 with the formation of the Green Mountain region. That club was formed by encompassing the counties in Vermont and New Hampshire. All of this brings us to our current configuration with Zone 1, which can be seen below.

The shaded areas on the map below illustrate the counties within the Hudson-Champlain Region.

As the afternoon wound down and members began gathering their belongings, they were reminded to give a wave to the other Porsches on the road. Or if you get the opportunity to introduce yourself, even better! Most owners enjoy sharing the story of their cars, and they may be interested in becoming part of our growing family!

Here’s to another fantastic 60 years of the fun and friendship with the Hudson-Champlain Porsche Club.

When Rick and I pulled into the Walmart parking lot in Brunswick on Sunday, August 11^th at about 10:10, there were already at least a dozen (maybe more) members milling around under the chilly, blue sky.

We smiled, shared some hugs, said our hellos, and chatted a bit before our fearless leader, Andy Dorman, led us out of the lot at 10:30 to begin the drive through the countryside with a destination of The Ice Cream Man in Greenwich, NY.

In total, seventeen cars wound a colorful line through some of the most beautiful back roads in Upstate New York.

As our group rumbled through Johnsonville into Buskirk, we came across a covered bridge and a black mailbox on the corner sporting the number “911.”

Our travels continued through Cambridge and several other small towns as we took in the scenery including rusted metal roofs on old red barns, numerous colonial brick houses, cornfields and stretches of thick woods.

The sun sparking off the rearview mirror made it a little difficult to get a decent shot of the parade of cars lined up behind us. 

The drive was so relaxing and beautiful that we were almost disappointed when we saw the sign for our destination. 

But the list of ice cream flavors on the board over the counter quickly sucked us in, and we were like a bunch of little kids trying to decide what we wanted. I think most members would agree that it was hard to pick just one! The next decision was small? Medium? Large? The small was pretty darn big, so those of us who are a bit more calorie conscious went for the small, although we some of us couldn’t resist the sprinkles.

All in all, it was a great time. The simplicity of the trip added to the charm and relaxation. Thank you so much to Andy Dorman for setting it up and handling all the details.

Don’t forget these upcoming events!  

August 16 and 17       DE at Lime Rock – For more details, check the calendar!

Sep 14 – 15, 2019       The Zone 1 Autocross is a two-day event. There will be a different course each day. PCA’s Parade Competition Rules (PCR’s) for Medium Sized Regions are used for classifying cars. Entrants must compete both days in order to trophy.

There will be a team Challenge for all PCA Regions. Registration opens 8:00 a.m. sharp, first car off approximately 9:15 a.m. both days. All participants must be current PCA members. Porsche cars only.

Cost:   $70/person early registration on or before 9/4/19.   $95/person after 9/4/19

Online registration via clubregistration.net only.  Registration fees are for one or two days.

No on-site registration the day of the event.   Registration is open until 9/10/19.

Where to stay:  Springhill Suites by Marriott, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA 01434

Phone: 978-772-3030       http://devenscommoncenter.com

Rate: $139/night + tax Refer: “ACP” for group rate or all and reference “Zone 1 Porsche Club”

Who to talk to:   Zone 1 Autocross Chair:   Dan Fishkind, zone1axchair@gmail.com or (631)748-2727.   Zone 1 Autocross Registrar:   Graham Mingst, z1registrar@gmail.com or (516) 939-2287

By John Pellerin

Saturday July 20th was touted by the local news to be a scorcher of a summer day with temperatures reaching near 100F.  Even the Saratoga thoroughbred racing track had declared it a day too unsafe to race!  Nonetheless, a small group of 13 HCP PCA members ventured out unfazed for a drive through western Albany, Schoharie and Delaware Counties to meet up with our PCA friends from the Central NY PCA region arranged by our own Louis Dahoda.  Our meeting point was the New York State Safety Track in Jefferson near Oneonta.  For those not familiar with this official government-sounding track, it is actually a privately owned racetrack (that doubles as an airstrip) that mostly caters to motorcycle track riders but can also be rented for car track day events as well.    You can check it out here:  http://nyst.com/.

Our day started bright and early with all of us meeting at HCP member Steve Pivonka’s Brewtus Roasting in Delmar for a shot of coffee.  You may recall from our 60^th Anniversary Cars and Coffee at the Saratoga Auto Museum that Steve graciously provided the excellent barista service.  We had a small but wide-ranging collection of 6 cars from a 1971 911E Targa to the latest GT3 RS to a Chevy Colorado pickup truck. 

After a group photo, we went on our way with a route led by Louis along some beautiful winding and hilly country roads south of I-88.   As we headed towards Jefferson, we all enjoyed a quick stop at the Conesville Country Store in Gilboa for a break, souvenirs and some snacks.

Arriving at the NY State Safety Track, we were welcomed by a crowded paddock of RVs, trailers and pop-up tents to rival that of any HPDE track event at Watkins Glen.  These motorcyclists were a serious bunch with tricked-out track bikes, full leather racing suits, tire warmers and all the associated gadgets and go-fast stuff.   It was familiar in many ways to our Porsche track days, but everything was oriented to things on 2 wheels versus our 4 wheeled toys.    While waiting for our Central NY PCA friends to join, we were able to get a great vantage point of the end of the straightaway that led to a series of downhill esses.  It was quite a sight to see the more experienced riders dragging a knee just like the pros. 

Our Central NY PCA friends arrived and everyone introduced themselves and mingled a bit.  Rush Pond, Central NY PCA’s Vice President, welcomed everyone and laid out the day’s events which included wandering the paddock to chat with the track riders, doing a few parade laps around the track followed by a catered lunch cooked by the track owner’s mom.   Several people from both regions talked about how nice it was to get together with each group doing their own backroads drive to meet up for some socializing and food at an interesting spot.   We’ve already talked about a few ideas to do this again in 2020.

If you are wondering how miserably hot it was, you may be surprised to hear that the top temperature we saw in Jefferson was 83F and it was an overcast, breezy day which kept it comfortable.  Lessons learned…..(1) don’t always believe what you hear on TV or radio weather and (2) take a day to enjoy a nice drive with your HCP colleagues! 

We hope to see many more of you at the August 11^th drive that Andy Dorman will lead eventually taking us to the Ice Cream Man in Washington County. 

Although it was a chilly start to the day on Saturday morning, the sun broke through the clouds as Rick and I made the drive in our Boxster from Malden Bridge to New Country Porsche in Clifton Park. It would be our first time attending the Cars and Coffee event. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were immediately struck by the number of people milling around. If you’ve ever been to one, you know what I mean, and if you haven’t, you really need to check it out. As we wandered to the dealership, we exchanged greetings with those admiring the impressive cars parked both inside and out. But it was the car parked in front of the dealership that seemed to be getting the most attention. When I asked what all the fuss was about, I learned that the car was valued at over a million dollars. Now that’s a car worth checking out!

Inside, the air smelled of coffee and event goers were partaking of bagels and muffins provided by the dealership. There were lots of smiles and car talk as we caught up with those club members we haven’t seen in a while.

At 10:00 am, Lou Dahoda rounded up those of us who would travel to The Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT where we would have lunch at the Marsh Tavern. With the inside scoop that there was a 100-mile bike race taking place along our route, Todd and Caren Braiman took the lead position. Six Porsches and an Audi carrying a car seat occupied by a future Porsche club member followed! We pulled out of the dealership to begin our drive through the winding roads and the beautiful country lying between Clifton Park and Manchester.

Is This the Place?

The ride was gorgeous as the sun peaked in and out of the cloud cover. Flowering trees were in full bloom, and the colorful outfits of the 100-mile bikers pedaling alongside our Porsche parade only added to the springtime mood. Before we knew it, we were pulling into the impressive Equinox Resort complex. Finding our way to the Marsh Tavern took a minute or two, but when we found the place, we were greeted with wide smiles and warm welcomes from the staff. Long wooden tables and light filtering through the floor to ceiling windows added to the ambiance of cordiality and friendship. The menu was amazing and the waitstaff wonderful. We were even able to meet the chef who came to our table with a firm handshake and a smile that lit up the room. We laughed, took pictures of our food to send to Ken Blass, and talked about what was available to do in town.

After lunch, some Porsche club members wandered around town while others joined the Land Rover Experience. I hear it was an incredible time!

Once again, thank you to Lou Dahoda for handling the details. We appreciate you!

May 11, 2019

Drive and Dine to Equinox Hotel

9:00 a.m. Leave  New Country Porsche, 205 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY

Drive to:  Manchester Vermont.

Noon: Lunch at the Marsh Tavern located at:

Equinox Golf Resort

3567 Main Street, Manchester, VT

After lunch On Your Own:

1) Walk through town and visit the outlets

2) Enjoy a spa treatment (Be sure to book in advance!)

3) Play a round of golf at the Equinox (Again, book in advance!)

4) Contact Lou Dahoda NOW to book a Land Rover Experience

     a) $150.00 each

      b) Located two and a half blocks from the hotel

Please RSVP now for lunch and the Land Rover Experience

Louis.Dahoda@edwardjones.com

June 23, 2019

60^th Anniversary HCP-PCA Celebration

8:30 am: Start the day with Cars and Coffee at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

(Coffee donated by Brewtus Coffee. Thanks to  Steven Privonka, a long-time member of our club.)

10:30 am: Start a leisurely drive through the beautiful Adirondacks heading to Lake George

Noon: Arrive at Fort William Henry Hotel and Resort

Cars to park on the front lawn between the lake and the resort. This will be a great photo-op so take advantage of the beautiful setting!

Hor d’oeuvres sponsored by

• New Country Porsche
• R&D Automotive

Dinner plans will be announced when they have been nailed down.

Hudson Champlain Porsche Club Visits the Northeast Classic Car Museum

The Drive

The trip to the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, NY was worth the beautiful, snowy drive. Yes, it was snowing as we drove over the back roads to Norwich!

Once there, we parked our cars and rushed into the museum to escape the cold and wet wind. We were immediately warmed not only by the warmth of the lobby but by the gracious greeting by the museum staff. Tickets were purchased as club members chatted and we all waited expectantly for our tour guide. And what a tour it was.

Stepping Into the Past

As we stepped through the entrance to the exhibits, it was like being transported back in time. Bob Jeffrey, the executive director of the museum, first shared a little history of the area, which he describes as thriving until the 1990s when two companies left the area leaving 5,600 people jobless. After sharing some interesting stories about the conceptualization and initial planning of the museum, he turned us over to Richard Schutt who would be our guide. And what a tour it was!

If you have never been to the museum, it is definitely worth the drive. The museum holds more than 150 vehicles within over 89,000 square feet of floor space. There is some impressive information about the museum and its content at Exploring Upstate New York if you’d like to see some great photos and more detail on the vehicles. It’s impossible to do a quick recap of the cars, motorcycles, trucks, airplane propellers and more, so I will leave it to you to check out the website, or better yet, take a drive out.

Throughout the exhibits, we were also treated to dress of the eras courtesy of the Chenango County Historical Society. Each outfit is representative of the period of the cars in an exhibit. We smiled at the whole kit and kaboodle of fashion including driving coats, goggles, wedding dresses and fancy cocktail dresses.

Lunch and Conversation

A few of us hungrier members snuck out of the museum a few minutes early to meet at the Wild Owl Café for lunch, while the rest of the members joined us soon afterward. The meal was delicious and, as usual, the conversation lively. All in all, it was a great time.

There was so much information about the founders, the cars, the restorations, and more that I would leave it up to you to take a trip there!

A huge thank you to Lou Dahoda for planning the event!

A Porsche Drive and Dine to FASNY

Impressive is the only way to explain what I thought as I pulled into the parking lot of the FASNY Museum. FASNY, an anacronym for Fireman’s Association of the State of New York, is the largest museum of its kind in the United States, and our Porsche club is lucky enough to have it right in our backyard. I wasn’t able to go to the Porsche Drive and Dine event on March 23^rd due to a prior commitment, so I took a trip with Ken Blass last week to check it out. What an incredibly cool place! I’ll share only a very few of the highlights below.

We were met at the door by Molly, a dalmatian therapy dog employed by the museum. We learned through Ashley, the head of education, that Molly takes her therapy-dog job seriously, and is a whole different animal without her vest.  

As we explored the sprawling 50,000 square feet of museum, Ashley explained that the goal has been to make the museum more interactive, since research shows that the best teacher for kids (and adults) is by touching and doing. One of my favorite exhibits is called a “We All Suck!” that explains if you’ve used a straw, you understand the idea of drafting water from a source into a truck. The cistern exhibit illustrates the idea of a “well” as a source of water (the same as in a fire truck).

There are so many incredible pieces in the museum, but one especially intriguing display is the Newsham engine, which is New York’s oldest authenticated fire engine. The Newsham engine has a 170-gallon lead lined cistern (well), which makes it extremely heavy. Because the Newsham engine has no “traveler” (fifth wheel above the wheel axles), the engine had to be lifted manually by firefighters!

We were treated to some great stories about the trucks including the engine that saved Barbara Bush’s wedding day, the sled engine for those snowy winter days, the bucket engine from which much of the water splashed out on the way to a fire, and so much more. The exhibit area traces the history of volunteer fire fighting from its humble beginnings until the present day.

As we finished our tour, we learned that the museum is out of space for storing the equipment it continues to acquire. The organization is currently in the process of preparing to break ground for a 30,000 square foot expansion in order to display engines now stored behind fake walls and at other facilities, as well as to expand the education programs and event planning — expected completion late fall 2020 or early Spring 2021.

If you haven’t been to the FASNY Museum, you are in for a treat. A repeat visit to the FASNY Museum might be a great idea for another drive and dine once the upgrade is complete. I’ll definitely be there next time!

The following photos are courtesy of Kevin Van Genechten. 

As we stepped out of the car into the parking lot at the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, NY, our senses were immediately engaged in the delicious scents wafting through the campus. As we climbed the stairs, and then entered the restaurant building, we joined the rest of the club members who had arrived early for a tour of the facilities. With the tour finished, we stood in front of the restaurant doors with anticipation. The waitstaff beckoned us in, and we found our seats. We were ready to start our next culinary adventure. 

The Culinary Institute of America is the brain-child of Frances Roth, a Connecticut based attorney. It is not known if she ever worked at the restaurant, but she was determined to establish a school that would become the culinary center of the nation. With the help of Katharine Angell, wife of then president of Yale University, James Angell, Ms. Roth turned her passion into a new vision for the education of chefs. The original school was opened in 1946 in New Haven, CT and was the first and only school of its kind at the time. 

The number of students grew exponentially over the years, and by the late 1960s, the school began looking for new facilities. They considered locations in Chicago, Atlanta, and Columbia, MD, finally setting in Hyde Park. In 1972, the doors opened at the present, and a year later in 1973, the college opened its a first on-campus restaurant.

As you would expect, the food was excellent. The meal started with appetizers and fresh homemade bread including sourdough and rolls. The salads were fragrant and lightly oiled and herbed. The soup was creamy, and from what I heard, delicious was an understatement. I had the best risotto I have ever tasted. I didn’t finish it, though, because judging by the scents wafting through the restaurant, the pastry chef was hard at work creating some delectable desserts Smoking Desert Video Clip. Suffice it to say; we were not disappointed! 

One of the most fascinating things about the experience was speaking with the waitstaff who are all students there. One young woman serving our table was from Germany, another young man from California, and still others from varying places in the nation and across the world. They explained that their education includes every part of the restaurant experience including food preparation, desserts, wine and cocktail pairings, and more.

All in all, the experience was something that we hope to do again soon. If you missed out on this experience, it is definitely worth the drive, but be sure to call for reservations well in advance! 

The snow was falling, and there wasn’t a Porsche in sight when we pulled in to the Prime parking lot this past Sunday for the first club event of 2019. Thanks to Lou Dahoda’s technical abilities, the gathered club members had roadside seats at the Daytona Rolex 24 that ran despite the torrential downpours. There was lots of drama as the cars hydroplaned around the course. Fernando Alonso, the winner of the race, admits to wanting the race stopped several laps before the final call even though he was in second place at the time.  In his words, “The visibility was nearly zero, we could not be flat-out on the straights, the car was moving, the TC (traction control) was coming in sixth gear at 200 mph, there were parts of different cars in different parts of the track, because people were losing bodywork here and there.” A recap of the race is here.

Since every Porsche event needs to include great food, Prime was the perfect place. As the drama played out on the television screen over the table, club members were not disappointed as they relaxed in to enjoyed the incredible feast that Prime offers; fresh omelets, roasted meats, salads, fruits, pastries and so much more. It seemed that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal.

Lou Dahoda shared a quick run-down of upcoming events noting that the February 15th event at the CIA has been sold out. However, you can catch back up with the club on March 23^rd at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting in Hudson. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 3 and older. Further, he said that you may return to the museum after lunch at no extra cost and that the Museum participates in the Empire State Reciprocal Program and NARM. Members of these programs will also receive FREE admission. (Good to know!) Dinner afterward will be at Kozel’s Restaurant in Ghent. Kozel’s is a family-owned restaurant known for its wide variety of “home-cooked” food and a popular destination for people in the surrounding area. Please RSVP to Lou Dahoda by March 16th at  Louis.dahoda@edwardjones.com.

It was a great night to recap the year for the Hudson Champlain Region of PCA.  Fun, food and charity were highlights of the evening’s agenda at Mallozzi’s Clubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course.  Outgoing President Jim Morgan, along with various committee chairs, took members through the year’s various activities — from Driver’s Education, Track Events and Autocross to Drive & Dines and overnight getaways, there was a full slate in which HCP club members participated during the year.  Outgoing Treasurer, Will Waldron also walked attendees through the year’s finances.

This annual event also provides an opportunity to thank our various sponsors throughout the year, many of which host our monthly meetings or support various club endeavors.  Additionally, thanks to the many donations by club members, the silent auction raised funds for the American Cancer Society.

And perhaps, most importantly, Jim introduced the incoming elected club officers:

President – Chris Klapper

Vice President – Lydia Marlow

Secretary – John Pellerin

Treasurer – Audrey Englesberg

Past-President – Jim Morgan

Don’t forget, the annual Holiday Party is set for Saturday, December 2nd, at the home of Ken & Karen Blass, 357 Pitts Road, in Old Chatham.  If you plan to attend, please bring an unwrapped toy for a child, as we will be providing them on behalf of the club to Toys For Tots.