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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Porsche Club of America

Posted by: URY914 Mar 17 2003, 10:36 AM

I've been a member for about 14 years and I'll stay one, but if someone were to ask me if they needed to join I wouldn't know what to tell them. Like everything, it depends on what your looking for. I get more info off the net and the monthly Pano is getting sorta weak, but I realize 914 owners are not the main focus.

What is everyone's thoughts....
Paul

Posted by: tryan Mar 17 2003, 10:56 AM

pca member for 5 years, p car owner for 16. mbca member and owner for 16 years. pelican runs are more fun than pca runs. we where in EXTREME violation of the law this weekend.

Posted by: kdfoust Mar 17 2003, 11:01 AM

PCA member here. Good people and lots of driving ops here in SoCal.

Posted by: MJHanna Mar 17 2003, 11:13 AM

PCA member for 20 years this month, Porsche owner for 25 years. I’ve always gotten some thing out of PCA. If you go to events you can always find someone with similar interests does not matter if it’s a 914 or a 959.

Posted by: Mueller Mar 17 2003, 11:13 AM

My wife and I have been members for 5 years or so....good experiance for us.

Posted by: Part Pricer Mar 17 2003, 11:18 AM

IMO it is well worth the $42 per year. But, I would rate it by the following categories on a scale of 1 to 10. (1=sucks, 10=great)

Pano (2) It's getting very lame and it does not stand up well in the face of more timely information (Internet). I normally get it, flip through it and throw it in the pile. I would guess that it pulls in some significant revenue from the ads, but I'll read the classifieds before any of the commercial ads.

Track Events (10) Here in the Northeast, this is probably the best and easiest way to get on the track. The local region does a great job. Although the DE and Autocross events cost a little more out of pocket, they are worth it. One of the things that the local region does for us at no extra cost are the annual run-offs for autocross. At the end of the season, we get to drive the Skip Barber formula cars at Lime Rock for free.

Meetings (7) Most of the time, the meetings are fairly informative. The nice thing is, they don't just address the 911 crowd. There is always some knowledge that can be gleaned by most members of the audience.

Food (8) My membership fee has been more than paid back by the free food that I have enjoyed at club events. My son often comes with me, so I save some money by not having to feed him too.

People (9) You have to remember that there is life away from the Internet. I've met some great people and gotten some terrific assistance from the folks that I have met through the PCA. I've also met a couple of dicks, but you run into those everywhere.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Mar 17 2003, 11:18 AM

I think it's still worthwhile. A lot depends on your local region, though. Panorama is nice, but the 914 info and interest is relatively small. I really like the articles on the old racing machines, though!

If your local region puts on the kinds of events you like to go to (socials, tours, rallyes, autoXes, DE/TT events, etc.) and the "regulars" are decent folks, I think it's a very worthwhile thing. My locals (Loma Prieta Region) are good, even though I haven't been to many events in recent years, and so I continue to support them. I do wish the newsletter editors would freaking write me back every once in a while. CAVWPGUY is the last one who even acknowledged my notes...

--DD

Posted by: Sammy Mar 17 2003, 11:36 AM

Yup, member in good standing but every year i have to debate whether I will renew.

Posted by: ss6 Mar 17 2003, 12:03 PM

Member almost 5 years. The Connecticut Valley Region was the fastest growing PCA region last year. Great people, well worth the membership fee. Pano is worth only about 10 minutes of attention. Excellent Driver's Ed program (not too many other options over here on the rusty side).

Posted by: Brad Roberts Mar 17 2003, 12:31 PM

This is my favorite:

I have been running PCA events since 1992 or so. I'm STILL not a member. I run their TimeTrials, AutoX, even their DE's and Club Racing. They never check, so I have been cheap. I'll probably have to join this week because of the AutoX coming up. The president of our region know's I'm not a PCA member. Until now it has been more fun telling people I wasnt a member.

Jeez.

I just added up what I pay in membership fees:

NASA
SCCA
Golds
POC

That is over 300$ a year.

B

Posted by: URY914 Mar 17 2003, 12:47 PM

It does piss me off that my region doesn't charge non-members more at our auto-x's. Not a big deal but the club should and could be making more money off non-members.

Posted by: Brad Roberts Mar 17 2003, 12:55 PM

Our region says you cant run unless you have a Valid Ca. drivers license and a valid PCA membership. (insurance reasons)

Neither of which I have.

It will come back to bite me one day.

B

Posted by: campbellcj Mar 17 2003, 01:15 PM

I've been a PCA member since 1992. At this point, it's not much more than a magazine subscription to me. I do try to hit up a couple events per year.

Posted by: JmuRiz Mar 17 2003, 01:22 PM

I'm a member (for the 2 years I've had my car), have yet to get the the Drivers Ed or HPDC events though.

Nathan

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 17 2003, 02:05 PM

Been a member for about 3 years. You have to be a member to go to the PCA AX though otherwise the ricer crowd would swamp us.
I also go to the tech events, dyno days kind of stuff. Gonna try a DE event now that Pacific Raceways is repaired somewhat.
Geoff

Posted by: ChrisReale Mar 17 2003, 03:17 PM

Ive been a member for a few months now. I like flipping through the Pano mag, but the content is pretty dry. AX is my newest craze, so that makes it worth it to me.

Posted by: shoguneagle Mar 17 2003, 03:38 PM

I have not joined because I am interested in building 914's; not race cars but street projects. I have owned a junk yard special 914 for about 15 years and it was powered by a Chev V-8. Not exactly acceptable to the Porsche people. I have found instead great people within the 914Club. Their interests meet my needs for now. I am not interested in participating in racing or autx; just building and eventually enjoy the social/road trips.

I am currently converting my 914 to a Porsche Flat Six and making a replica road runner. When this car is done, it will become a touring event car; yes, even going to races and autox's. I enjoy the process of owing a Porsche 914, even the building of one.

When the project is done and acceptable for extended road cruising, then I probably will join the Porsche Club. When this timing is right, I know I will find great people there as we have in Roadglue and 914Club.

Every association is what you make of it and take what it offers. Porsche club does offer many benefits; some great and some not so great; as it is in any club. If there is a need, I would join; for now, I have everything I require in 914Club and Roadglue.

My thoughts.

Steve Hurt

Posted by: dgw Mar 17 2003, 11:54 PM

I've been a member since 1971. Bought my first Porsche the year before.
If you like the events your local region puts on, its well worth it, otherwise???

Other peoples comments about Pano are interesting, its never had great editorial value, since the editors have been the same for at least 32 years. But if you ignore the political pandering some of the articles are pretty good.

Posted by: jimtab Mar 18 2003, 12:40 AM

I was a member back in the 70's and I just recently rejoined the pca I was always a little pissed when I would pull up at an event and would see all the 911 and 356 guys roll their eyes. Now I just don't give a shit. Jim :finger2:

Posted by: boxstr Mar 18 2003, 12:41 AM

Member of the Oregon region since 1975, after I bought my first Porsche a 56 Speedster. Wish I still had that one.....
CCLinLOO

Posted by: Van914 Mar 18 2003, 06:49 AM

I've been a member of The Ohio Valley Region of PCA for 15 years. Here the local club is very active with Track Events, Auto-X, Tech Sessions and great social events. (chili party, wine tasting, dirving tours...) It is well worth the $42. Local clubs all differ and we have members in ours because of the activity that should be in other locals. Your enjoyment as with most things is what you put into it.
Van

Posted by: Racer Chris Mar 18 2003, 07:38 AM

I have been a member since shortly after I bought my first 914 (the one in my avatar) in '85. I find it worth at least $42/yr. I'm still riding high on my AX runoff win with the Skippy cars from '98.

Posted by: joea9146 Mar 18 2003, 08:00 AM

Been a member for about 5 yrs,
have met some good people and enjoyed the events

Posted by: Don Wohlfarth Mar 18 2003, 08:41 AM

Potomac Region for 17 years. We have over 2200 members so we have a lot of events. 4-5 concours, 6-8 ax's, 4-5 rally, picnic, crab feast, couple drive and dine, 2 new members meetings, 1 spring, 1 fall, with maybe 100 new members at each, HPDC, and 8 multi day de's, and 8 tech inspections, 1 for each de event, 6-8 general membership meetings, couple social events such as Fords Theater, Friday night sunset service at Marine Hdgtrs,etc.. Also sponsor club race where we have about 120 volunteers for corner workers, grid, tech support, etc.
Average year the region has about 65 events, enough that you can't do them all.

Posted by: HotRod Mar 18 2003, 11:16 AM

Was a member of the Potomac (Founders) Region here in the DC area for 10 years or so, I let my memberhsip lapse once I realized that Pano was getting weak and I was more involved in SCCA stuff. PCA is great for cheap laping days...I did their club racing for two years and I'll reserve comment on some of the drivers I encountered in that series.

I'm building a 911S for the track and will probably join PCA again for the track days so I can sort the car some.

Overall, I would recommend it to any Porsche owner.

Posted by: Rob Ways Mar 18 2003, 08:15 PM

Been a PCA member for 4 years. Did appreciate DD's contributions when I was the editor (sucker) of a local region. Learned the org inside and out.

Completely agree that life in or out of a club is what you make it. Met some really cool 356 guys that know more about 356s than we know about 914s.

Wish (like roadglue) people just drove somewhere, had a nice meal (beer?) and talked about cars. I'm a 914 gawker.

Wifey and I are in it for the AXs mostly. Would love to see more 914s show up. The wife needs the competition. Might move into TT at some point if we can learn how to drive.

I like PCA also for the cars. Most of the info you get in a Pano is as good or less than an Excellence mag.

Hey Brad, on your list of dues, didn't you forget Girls Scouts of America?

Posted by: Steve Thacker Mar 19 2003, 09:45 AM

I'm not a member yet after three years. I'm too much of a lone wolf I suppose. I just prefer to meet up for a casual drive or go to the classic car shows.

Posted by: Brad Roberts Mar 19 2003, 11:31 AM

Rob,

They kicked me out of the GirlScouts.... FOR EATING BROWNIES.. LOL

B