Horizontally Opposed (HO) is the official publication of First Settlers Region (FSR), Porsche Club of America (PCA). All opinions, views and information appearing in HO are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the PCA, FSR, its Officers or the Editor.
The HO Editor reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. Permission is granted to reprint any material provided that full credit is given to the author and to Horizontally Opposed.
This publication, and previous publications of Horizontally Opposed, are available to view on-line at www.fsrpca.org.
Advertising rates, schedules and commercial partner marketing support is available to all parties interested in engaging the members of the First Settlers Region of the Porsche Club of America. Please contact HO Editor, Brad Jublou, at editor@fsrpca.org for more information.
Presidential Musings, Erik Apotheker
As I sit down to write my final message as FSR President, I find myself feeling both grateful and nostalgic. It took me some time to find the right words, but here we are. I want to thank everyone who contributed to FSR’s journey, past and present. Each of you has played a part in shaping this organization, and I’m deeply appreciative. Whether or not we agreed on every topic, I have always respected your viewpoints, your passion, and your dedication.
The achievements of FSR are the result of countless voices, ideas, and efforts—not one person, and certainly not the President alone. My role was simply to guide, absorb the tough moments, pass along the credit, and, above all, prioritize the club’s best interests. I believe that together, we have honored that responsibility.
One day, the true impact of my time here will be seen more clearly. Regardless of how that legacy is viewed, I know every decision was made with the sincere belief it would best serve FSR in the long term.
I want to recognize some extraordinary individuals whose contributions stood out:
• Melinda Cagle, for always being available to discuss any issue and taking on a second term as Past President even as your own career demands grew. Your dedication never wavered.
• Mike Ball, who blended his passion for Porsche and photography to elevate our visual presence and membership experience. Hosting “meet the new members” gatherings was another invaluable addition.
• Jerry Kent, who, despite claiming to be “floppy-disk-era,” was instrumental in developing strong operational budgets and keeping us all accountable to them. Our club has a business side, and his work strengthened it.
• Greg Kahles and Keith Stone, for keeping our calendar vibrant with diverse activities, always ready to innovate.
• Marco Estrada and Michael Shammas, for their strong leadership in HPDE. You made sure our events were well planned, expertly orchestrated, safe, educational, and fun.
• Brad Jublou, who transformed our magazine with a clear vision and dedication. Though we’ll miss you as Editor, you’ve created a strong foundation for future growth.
• Ken Thomas, whose warmth and energy as Membership Chair and Air and Auto Sponsorship Chair brought us to unprecedented heights. You defined what it means to be an FSR ambassador.
• Ruth Apotheker, my steadfast partner through many challenging moments. Your insightful feedback and willingness to act have positively shaped FSR’s development. Thank you for enduring the headwinds with grace.
While I hope our outgoing board members will stay engaged with FSR, it’s time for the next generation of leaders to step up. They’ll navigate challenges like rising HPDE costs, membership retention, and the complexities of our digital world. Congratulations to our incoming Board of Directors:
• President: Rich Cao
• Western Vice President: Bill Smith
• Treasurer: John Schwaebler
The future isn’t something to fear—it’s an opportunity we should embrace. Thank you for the honor of serving you. Until we see each other again…
Keep the Porsche spirit!
Picture that the late Vic Elford sent to Erik, the genesis of Erik’s tagline
Charity Committee Update,
Ruth Apotheker, Charity Chair
The 2024 Charity Committee, which consists of Ruth Apotheker, Jenny Kay, Betty Kendall, Michele Curtis and Ernestine Hibbert, has been working hard all year at the Chesapeake Breakfast raffles, raising almost $3000 for the club’s charities. This summer we also planned a few Friday Porsche visits to the Horizons Hampton Roads’ Summer Camps and thank you again to those members who came out to support this program.
Air & Auto 12 was a great success; the Charity Committee raised $1800 with our baskets using all donated items. Two of our charities participated in this year’s Air & Auto: CHKD had their lemonade stand and Horizons students had an information table and volunteered to help. The students also presented for the first time Children’s Choice ribbons to their favorite cars.
We are working on another career night event in February 2025 for the Horizons students, so if you would like to come and speak to the group about your career, please reach out to anyone on the Charity Committee. The last career night was a great success for both the students and the speakers, and it is a great opportunity to give back to the community
Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank Luana and Mark Hugel for opening their beautiful home for the 2024 Turkeys in the Trunk Friendsgiving themed event which is sure to be a great success!
Ruth
New Members August, September and October, 2024
Welcome to all our new First Settlers Region Members! We are happy to have you join us. Please come to an event soon and meet some fellow members, have some fun, and see a lot of beautiful Porsches.
August 2024
Les Thompson
Jeffrey Consroe
Matthew Branham
William Hargis
Paul Berman
Jake Strevell
Richmond 1964 356
Williamsburg PCA Test Drive
Virginia Beach 2014 Boxster S
North Chesterfield 2009 911 Carrera S
Midlothian 2013 911 Carrera
Virginia Beach 2018 718 Cayman S
Katie Stanley Virginia Beach 2024 911 Carrera 4S
Ted Antzoulis
Dina Scott
Patrick Sachs
Dan Sybert
Samir Torres
Mark Kerner
Larry Caudle
Joseph Sifen
Rory Walter
Kirk Poynter
Erik Shanahan
Chesapeake 2001 911 Turbo
Chesapeake 2024 Macan T
September 2024
Virginia Beach 1987 944 Turbo
Midlothian PCA Test Drive
Norfolk 1998 Boxster
Chesapeake 2018 911 Carrera
White Stone 2024 718 Cayman
Virginia Beach 2023 911 GT3 RS
Midlothian 1984 944
Moseley
2004 911 Turbo Cab
Norfolk 2025 718 Cayman GTS
Glenn Horst Hopewell 2015 Cayman
David Scott
Travis Teate
James Mccollum
Richard Hanes
Russell Lanning
James Halter
Christian Croes
Virginia Beach 2005 911 Carrera 4S
Yorktown 2012 Cayenne
Richmond 2012 911 Carrera S
Manakin Sabot 1976 914 2.0
Williamsburg 2007 Cayman S
Williamsburg PCA Test Drive
Manakin Sabot 2015 Boxster S
October 2024
Phil Rackliffe Henrico 2020 718 Cayman S
Armando Rivera Torres Yorktown 1987 944
Patrick Lewis
Portsmouth 2018 Macan GTS
Robert Lloyd Chester 2015 Cayman S
Tess Baker
Chesapeake 2010 Cayman S
Christina Ross Norfolk 2001 911 Carrera Cab
Brennan O’Connor
Billy Yao TI Schattenbaum
Chesapeake PCA Test Drive
Norfolk 2020 Macan - 4 -
Member Anniversary Milestones for the 4th Quarter 2024
Ken Thomas, Membership Chair
55 Years Andrew Chisholm
30 Years Anthony Cosma
25 Years
David Anderson
20 Years Kenneth Dodd
15 Years
Todd Bassett
Brent Mihills
Congratulations to all our members who celebrate membership milestones in the second quarter of 2024. Thank you for your loyalty to the Porsche brand, Porsche Club of America, and First Settlers Region. We hope you are enjoying your membership and all the benefits that are available to you. If you haven’t come out to an event lately, consider joining us for an event this year. First Settlers offers many popular events throughout the year with a focus on driving, social, and charitable activities. Our monthly breakfasts are very popular also. Hope to see you at an event soon!
Noreen McDonald
10 Years Nick Layes
James Ortiz
Derrick Aikens
Tim Cahill
Steve Terrell
Orice Collins
5 Years Matthew Huddle
Raymond Culala
Stuart Stone
T Peaseley
Richard Aufenger
Bret Jacobson
John Lee
Beth Wiegan
Tom Vergona
James Hamel
Robert Hobbs
Vincent Canepa
Fred Dantonio
Randy Brown
Greg Ewald
Ken
News from the Secretary, Carl Bess
This quarter’s submission consists solely of highlights of the September Board of Directors (BOD) meeting minutes. Notes from the annual Open Board meeting this November will appear in next quarter’s H.O. (I know, I know… in the last issue I wrote that November’s notes would be in this issue as well, but publication deadlines dictated otherwise!) Regardless, all BOD meetings are held on ZOOM, and they’re open to all to attend, so if you’d like to sit in, just let any BOD member know and you can get the ZOOM link in advance.
In the September BOD meeting, Jerry shared a financial update, reporting a bank balance exceeding $143,000, new member payments totaling over $3,300, and a pending $42,000 check for track fees. Some concern was expressed about the current event registration policy, which bills attendees only three weeks before events, creating a potential cancellation risk. For example, six refunds, totaling around $4,000, were processed from previous events. Managing refunds and deferrals is time consuming for our volunteers and the Board asks our members to fully commit the best they can when registering and paying for events.
Upcoming events were highlighted during the meeting, including a trivia tour, trivia drive, and a Porsche experience event in Virginia Beach. Membership numbers are slightly below 900, with a concern over non-renewals and the potential discontinuation of the dual-member program, which has seen five members drop out.
The Board also discussed confusion around zip code alignments with regions, noting that some recruitment practices are inconsistent with the club’s values. Additionally, challenges in maintaining regional engagement, particularly in areas closer to other active regions, were discussed. To improve event participation, the Board plans to gather feedback through a survey and test different event formats, as well as to continue hosting events in neighboring areas to foster broader community involvement.
Lastly, by the time of publication, we will know the results of our Region’s elections and welcome our new President, Western Vice President, and Treasurer. On a personal note, I wish to congratulate our new officers and offer my sincere thanks to Erik, Mike, and Jerry for their guidance and leadership, and look forward to our continuing friendship!
That’s it for now. Hope to see many of you at breakfasts and Fun Runs and, as always, thanks to all those who volunteer for your Board!
Editor’s Corner
Brad Jublou
On the cover:
The 996 version of the 911 doesn’t have much in the way of Porsche branding emblematics on its exterior, and for many owners, that’s a problem. One owner, Richard Lantz, decided to take matters into his own hands and do something about it. He took the larger Carrera emblem off the back of his car, added PORSCHE, and then added a smaller Carrera emblem underneath. Problem solved! Read about some of FSR’s 996s and see Richard Lantz’s member profile later in this issue.
It’s funny, sometimes, what you DON’T know.
When I was in college in the mid-70s, trying to decide what my first car should be, I thought variously about a Porsche 914, a Datsun 260Z, or a Triumph TR6. Eventually I went the OPPOSITE of sports car and bought a Toyota Land Cruiser (I guess a bone in my head broke!). That served me well for a while, but after college I joined the Navy and my first duty station was on the other side of the country, so I sold the Land Cruiser and got on a plane for Naval Air Station Alameda in California.
Getting married shortly thereafter, and having kids a few years after that, the succession of cars in my life, like for many of us, were all very practical: four-door sedans and vans or minivans, many of them bought used. So my college-day’s dreams of a Porsche or other sexy sports car were long forgotten. Then in 2018, a co-worker of mine, who was moving from Norfolk to D.C., casually mentioned at his farewell luncheon that he was taking his 1973 914 up to a garage in D.C. that he had previously arranged for. I was thunderstruck; I worked with this guy FOR YEARS and he never told me he had a 914?!? In the ensuing conversation, it turned out that he found it on bringatrailer. com, went all the way to San Francisco to pick it up, and had been enjoying it for years.
This was a revelation to me. I could buy a used Porsche in decent condition for a fraction of the new car price? There are multiple websites out there to search with? I had just never thought about it before. Armed with that knowledge, and with the help of a legit “car guy” at work, I eventually bought a 2004 911 Carrera. It was 14 years old at the time and had only 45,000 miles on the odometer. The CARFAX was clean, it had obviously spent a lot of time garaged, and it had never lived north of Virginia Beach (meaning it had rarely, if ever, travelled on salted roads).
The car mostly got a thumbs up during the Pre-Purchase Inspection, but it did have a leaky rear main seal and of, course, an Intermediate Shaft (IMS) bearing that had to be dealt with. It was in the shop for the needed repairs the week after I bought it.
It had taken me six or seven months of looking before I found a 911 that fit all my requirements. And of course as I got better informed about Porches, my requirements got refined. I knew about the IMS bearing problem in the 996s, so I had that question ready for the salespeople when I went to look at prospective cars. But what I DIDN’T know was that the 996 was considered by many Porschephiles to be the “red-headed stepchild” of the 911 lineage! And although I think I paid a fair price for my car, if I had known that fact ahead of time, I probably would have negotiated harder when I purchased it.
But something that maybe only 996 owners know, or maybe also the people who habitually read Rob Sass’ work in Panorama know, is that despite the IMS bearing, despite having the same front end and headlights of contemporary Boxsters, and despite the possibility of bore scoring, the 996 version of the 911 is an awesome sports car. To bring that point home, last issue I invited 996 owners to write in and tell us why they love and/or hate their 996s. A few complied, and you can read their perspectives later in this issue.
Many thanks to the outgoing members of FSR’s Executive Council. Erik Apotheker, Mike Ball and Jerry Kent have all served with distinction over the last four years, and their dedication to the club and its membership has been exceptional. I also want to add my personal thanks as Editor of HO because all three of these gents have been incredibly supportive of the magazine, and they have all helped me out numerous times in numerous ways. Thanks guys! See you out on the Twisties!
Help wanted. As mentioned last issue, after 2+ years and nine issues (including this one) I have decided to relinquish the Editor position of Horizontally Opposed. This was not a decision I made lightly, but it’s the right one for me. My intent as Editor was to try and cover major National PCA events, as well as local FSR ones; bring you quarterly updates from our Board of Directors and the various appointed Chairs; include a technical article in every issue for those who like to do their own wrenching; and to find or write stories that would interest our club members. Part of my editorial philosophy was to encourage participation in all of the many activities available to us, and to educate newcomers (like me) about some events they might not know about.
But now I’m ready to pass the baton to someone who wants to bring their own vision to our club magazine. It really is easier than it probably looks; there’s a whole team that does much of the “heavy lifting” in the layout, production, printing and mailing of the magazines. It really is a fun and rewarding experience. If interested, drop me a line at editor@fsrpca.org.
Cheers,
Treffen At Sea - An Alaska Adventure
by Mark Hugel
It was Christmas of 2019 and my wife Luana and I were looking for a vacation opportunity with our grown children to share as a Christmas gift. I had visited 48 states at that point, but had not visited North Dakota and Alaska, so we decided to take the kids on a cruise to Alaska. Plans were made for our cruise and we were scheduled to depart at the end of June 2020. Then COVID struck and our plans were put on hold.
Fast forward to Christmas 2021 – the pandemic was starting to subside and cruise opportunities became available again. Our postponed cruise to Alaska was rebooked and off we headed with our immediate family to visit the inland passage on Princess Cruise Line. It was a wonderful and busy trip, as Dad was responsible for scheduling fun for us all. I discovered that getting underway with no responsibility to “stand watch,” perform maintenance or keep the ship clean and painted was actually a good opportunity to relax! We unpacked our bags at the start of the trip and didn’t have to repack until a week later when it was time to debark.
Fast forward again to spring 2024 – we had heard stories from Treffen at Sea 2023 in the Caribbean and discovered that PCA and Princess were collaborating on another cruise for Treffen at Sea 2024. Hearing that Treffen 2024 was headed to visit the Alaskan inland passage brought back fond memories of our vacation with our kids, but this time, no kids! We contacted Princess Lines’ PCA concierge to book passage from Seattle to Alaska and returning to Seattle. The end of July 2024 arrived and off we went again.
Upon arriving in Seattle, we deposited our luggage at a hotel and grabbed an Uber to Columbia Valley Luxury Cars in Redmond, WA, where the owner (a Porsche fanatic and PCA member) hosted the Treffen at Sea attendees for a pre-sail event. Most of the PCA leadership attended and there was a nice turnout of local Porsches from the area – a great way to welcome us to the Pacific Northwest.
The next day, we boarded the Majestic Princess (interestingly, the same ship we cruised on with our kids two years earlier) and set sail that afternoon up the Puget Sound and headed to sea. While at sea, we enjoyed the normal cruise entertainment events, but also were invited to many
PCA events onboard throughout the weeklong stay. We ate too much, drank too much, and enjoyed slowing our pace to relax. PCA hosted two “formal” dinners onboard – some came “dressed to the nines,” but a sport coat and collared shirt were formal enough for our needs.
Alaska cruises visit many of the same ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway are typical stops on any inland passage cruise. We visited all three with our kids and returned with Treffen. The weather in the summer along the Alaskan coast can be rainy, and we had some rain and fog along the way, but the weather cooperated for our shore excursions. There were whale watching trips, lumberjack shows, the White Pass scenic railway, helicopters to glaciers, dogsled training camp visits,
As we neared the end of our trip, PCA and Princess Lines announced that discounted bookings for Treffen at Sea 2025 were available to us while onboard. We talked things over and decided to reserve our cabins for next summer. Treffen at Sea 2025 is available now for bookings. The itinerary begins in New York City, and the cruise will visit the New England ports of Newport, RI, Boston, MA, and Portland, ME, and then on to St Johns and Halifax in Canada before returning to New York. Treffen at Sea 2025 gets underway on August 30 and returns to New York on September 6th. It will be a fun getaway, and we encourage you to consider joining us!
and many other shore excursions from which to choose. Many of the shore excursions were PCA only, which assured that Treffen attendees had access to nearly every excursion – even the ones that were booked to capacity by the other passengers.
Air and Auto Classic 12 Car Show Awards
Best in Show
Dave Linn, 1955 Chevrolet
Best Detailed Mark Hayes, 1973 Plymouth Barracuda
Founders Choice – Domestic Ray Brown 1921 Willy
Founders Choice – Import
Sharon Fisher, 1960 Volkswagen Bug
Organizers Choice – Domestic Scott & Mary Carine, 1965 Chevrolet Corvair
Organizers Choice – Import Wolfgang Hustedt, 1973 Triumph TR6
Children’s Choice
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Peoples Choice Domestic
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Hon Mention
Peoples Choice Import
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Hon Mention
Import – Modern (2001 – newer)
1st Place
Chris Kinsey, 1973 Volkswagen Bus
Tim Fanugao, 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium
Ernestine Hibbert, 2014 Porsche 991.1
Bud Cooke, 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
Bobby Griggs, 1979 Chevrolet Scottsdale Stepside
Dickie Clifton, 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Max Wildermuth, 1941 Ford Deluxe
Tim Fanugao, 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium
Andrew McCulley, 1993 Porsche 928GTS
Sharon Fisher, 1960 Volkswagen Bug
Ed Merry, 2019 Porsche 911T
Tim Moody, 2014 Lamborghini Aventador
2nd Place Casey, 2018 Mercedes Benz AMG GTR
3rd Place Neil L, 2003 MG TF
Import - Late Model (1986 – 2000)
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Andrew McCulley, 1993 Porsche 928GTS
Jeff Hutchison, 1996 Porsche 911
Tom Spina, 1991 Nissan Figaro
Import – Mid-Year (1970 – 1985)
1st Place Terry Telke, 1971 TVR 2500
2nd Place Chris Kinsey, 1973 Volkswagen Bus
3rd Place Dudley Dix, 1971 Lotus Europa 52
Import – Classic ( – 1960)
1st Place Bob Leitzinger, 1960 Austin Healey 3000 MK1 BN7
2nd Place Gary Baskin, 1960 Porsche 356B
3rd Place Chuck Hadley, 1968 Pontiac GTO
Import – Vintage (1961 - 1969)
1st Place Brian Gravely, 1958 Volkswagen Beetle
2nd Place Martin Rutkowitz, 1986 Triumph TR250
3rd Place Skip Patnode, 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto
Domestic – Modern (2001 – newer)
1st Place Mike Williams, 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
2nd Place Gordon Bowe, 2015 Ford Mustang GT
3rd Place Thomas Curtis, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Domestic – Late Model (1986 – 2000)
1st Place Mike Marushia, 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1
2nd Place Joe Geib, 1986 Chevrolet El Camino
3rd Place Larry Crutsinger Jr., 1993 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Domestic – Mid-Year (1970 – 1985)
1st Place James Solomon, 1977 Ford Bronco
2nd Place Glenn Miklos, 1972 AMC AMX
3rd Place Don Cook, 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS
Domestic – Classic ( – 1960)
1st Place Randy Overacre, 1932 Ford Roadster
2nd Place Max Wildermuth, 1941 Ford Deluxe Thunderbird
Domestic – Vintage (1961 - 1969)
1st Place Scott & Mary Carine, 1965 Chevrolet Corvair
2nd Place Bud Cooke, 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
3rd Place Rick Seaman, 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Replica / Tribute Car
1st Place Bernard Greig, 1952 Fiberfab MD TD
2nd Place Dale Schumacher, 1952 MG TD
3rd Place Edward Ericson, 1952 MG BCW Model 52
The 996: Some Owners Speak Out
Editor’s Note: Perhaps no version of the 911 has been more cussed and discussed than the 996. It was the first water-cooled 911, breaking from the air-cooled tradition due to the requirements posed by increasingly strict EPA mandates and the inexorable demand by Porsche customers for more horsepower. And although they’ve been much maligned by many traditional Porschephiles and some in the automotive press, Rob Sass, Editor of Porsche’s Panorama magazine, who has owned four 996s, has called them “criminally underrated.”
First Settlers Region has a lot of 996 owners – 91 of them, if the latest roster from the PCA database is to be believed. In the last issue of HO I made a call for 996 owners to tell our readership what they “love and/or hate” about their 996s. I got a few replies. I’ll go first.
Brad Jublou. I provided the backstory of how I got my 996 in my Editor’s Corner column earlier in this issue (If you skipped it, and are interested, take a moment to go back and read it now. Go ahead, I’ll wait.) Now then: love and/or hate. “Hate” is a strong word, so maybe I’ll go with “dislike” instead.
I dislike the fact that the normal Porsche “branding emblematics” are missing from the back of my car. It just says “Carrera.” Where does it say Porsche? Low on the back window. It’s almost unnoticeable! Why would they do that? Only other places it says Porsche on the exterior of the car is on the crests on the frunk and hub caps. And it doesn’t say “911” anywhere! UNacceptable.
I didn’t like the fact that the car had five previous owners, and it was 14 years old when I bought it, yet none of the previous owners replaced the Intermediate Shaft (IMS) bearing. No big deal, though – I had it replaced as soon as I bought the car. The cost was well worth not ever having to worry about it destroying my engine.
I miss not having a more sophisticated entertainment system. I’ve got an AM/FM radio and a CD player. That’s it. No Bluetooth – not even a USB port for my old school iPod Nano to plug into! And I know that updated entertainment systems are available for 996s that fit into the console where the current system is, but I admit to wanting to keep my car as stock as possible, so I live with it as is.
I wish my car had a backup camera. Parking on the street where I live in the Ghent section of Norfolk is all parallel, and I feel like I’m risking the paint on my bumperettes every time I park.
I like – no, I LOVE how the gauge cluster is completely visible through the top of the steering wheel. I also love the fact that the gauges are all analog (except for the digital speedometer readout – a feature which I also love).
I like my headlights. There, I’ve said it. Notably, my 996.2 has the “comma” headlights and not the “fried egg” headlights, and I’m happy about that, but interestingly, people who don’t know much about Porsches have no problem whatsoever with 996 headlights, no matter which variety. They just see a 911. I think the headlights are very cool, and I’m not alone in that. In fact, when one of my co-workers saw my newly purchased P-Car, he asked me if I got the “machine-guns-behindthe-headlights” option.
I love the fact that the car itself is almost completely analog. There’s something very “clean” about having very little between the driver’s direct inputs via steering wheel, stick shift, clutch/accelerator/brake and the road. It’s a pure sports car experience.
John Michalowski. My fellow PCA member and owner of many Porsches both past and present, Jay Jason, turned me on to the 996 about 9 years ago, and it’s simply one of the best models ever produced by Porsche. With each successive model the 911 became better. The 996 model was the bridge between the air and water generations as well as the analog to digital cars for Porsche. The 996 was still based more towards the analog design. Simplicity meant that a skilled amateur mechanic could work on these machines. Easily customizable with an abundance of aftermarket performance options allowing you to create your perfect driving experience. I’ve either installed the parts myself or had the highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals at both LMN Motorsports in Virginia Beach and R2 Motorsport in Castaic, CA, do it. The 996 is more about the pure driving experience whether you’re driving on the street, track, back country roads or SoCal canyons, than flash and sparkle, and that’s the reason the 996 is the perfect performance car for me.
Drew Bergan. I purchased my first P-Car, a Guards Red 996 c4s, on bringatrailer.com eleven months ago. Wow, what a journey it’s been going back to well before that fateful day when my wife, Kelsey, turned to me and said, “We won!”
After many months of research, I was familiar with all the common gremlins in the 996 from the IMS bearing, to bore scoring, the AOSthe list goes on. Despite all the challenges, I was hooked on the 996 after a few test drives. I tried unsuccessfully to find the right car for me using PCA classified ads, auto trader, and online auctions for what seemed like an eternity. A couple weeks before my birthday I saw the auction listing for a c4s with a nearly mint black leather interior, turbo twist wheels, and 55k miles. The car appeared in good condition except that the photos revealed some spots of cloudiness in the paint. The listing didn’t have all the details of a thorough PPI. I decided to take a gamble since all the available information checked out and the mileage was relatively low. The auction was scheduled to end while we were on the road and, being my turn to drive, I reluctantly handed over my phone and bidding.
Fast forward a few months and what a blast the car has been. Our kids love going for rides in the “red car.” In spirited driving the car’s composure through the corners and the sound of the flat 6 are intoxicating. I’m still learning the car on and off the road. I’ve fixed some minor issues like a finicky turn signal and noisy brakes. I have verified the paint is experiencing clear coat failure, and so eventually a paint job will be needed. It looks great from a few feet away so I’m just enjoying it for now. I recently completed a bore scope and the bores look good; what a relief!
John Greene. This is probably the last article I’ll write about my 996, as I sold it, or will officially, by the time you read this. It’s been a good ride…a great ride, actually. The only reason I’m letting it go is, sadly, it’s tougher and tougher to get in and out of (yeah, I know, suck it up), so I’m switching to a Macan S or GTS; I’ll decide once money’s in hand.
All that said, I bought it in 2009, so it’s been 15 good years. 122K miles and everything that needed to be replaced has been. 2nd and 3rd gear are the best, and I still enjoy flying by the occasional VW, Honda or Subaru that stomped on it at the light.
A post-retirement trip to Quebec, Canada, through Maine and Acadia National Park rang up 3000 miles shortly after purchase. Parade in 2013 put another 3000 miles on it. Trips to Durham, NC, with an FSR group to see the Ingram collection; Boardwalk Reunion; and many FSR overnights and Fun Runs. My wife Gayle and I did “Tail of the Dragon,” but in the Nissan, so that doesn’t count! All good stuff, though!
For anyone who has a 996, I can’t imagine they don’t enjoy it. If you don’t, there’s something wrong! I’ll still be “in the club,” just with a different ride. See everyone around!
Hot Track!
with guest host Rob McMahon
Story by Cathy Rossini Lapierre
“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you.” - Alexander Den Heijer
“Why did you decide to do this?”
Growing up, I was the oldest of three girls who were the daughters of a gear-head. I think he figured if he didn’t have boys, he’d share his love of all gas-powered “things that go fast” with his girls. I was told my initials, C.A.R., were because cars were my father’s favorite thing. (All three of us were “C” names.)
We started with snowmobiles. Racing on snow, ice, and grass. Then a boat: 1987 Checkmate Ambassador with a big block Chevy.
When we learned to drive, we all learned how to change the oil, change a tire, and use jumper cables. I remember flooding my 1978 Chevy Nova and being taught to take off the air filter, stick a screwdriver into the butterfly of the carburetor, and then turn it over again and it would clear out and run.
Our dad owned a car wash and detailed high-end cars for Wayne Carini (before Wayne was a big deal). I got to sit in Ferraris and Lamborghinis. I fell in love with the Countach.
Dad also sponsored a kid who raced at Stafford Speedway every Friday night. We thought he was soooo cool! We always hung out in the pits.
Right out of high school, I wanted a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang. After trolling Hemmings catalogs for what seemed like forever, I found a solid body in Rhode Island. The interior, engine and drive train were all out of the car. Dad and I drove a flatbed out there and picked up all the boxes and the car and brought it home. Dad and I worked on it for about a year. Wayne’s shop painted it. I spent many Friday nights cruising the Berlin Turnpike and weekends at car shows. I even made the cover of Mustangs Unlimited (well, the car did…).
I got to run my Mustang at Lebanon Valley Dragway. We got slicks, a fire extinguisher, and I filled the tank with Turbo Blue. I have a VHS tape of me racing sideby-side against my father in his souped-up 1986 (87?) Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Christmas tree lights and all. I treasure that.
My dad died when I was 26. He died in a snowmobile accident in town. He was taking the snowmobile out in a meadow for a test run before he left for a trip to Canada. He was alone. In hindsight, it may have been a heart attack. And that was hard.
One day maybe a year later, my car wouldn’t start. I used my mother’s car to jump start it and something popped. I burst into tears and said I couldn’t do this anymore without my dad. One of the guys from Mustangs Unlimited found me a buyer…I got $9,500 bucks for my baby and I never saw her again. Now you cannot even touch one in crappy shape for under $30,000. Hugely regret that decision. Starting my search to replace it.
Fast forward. I am 56 years old. Wife, mother of 2 and full-time realtor. All of a sudden all that is 30 years ago. And I’m feeling “stale.” I used to be so cool….
I spent my last 2 birthdays driving at the Thompson Speedway in Skip Barber classes. Even took my (then) 20-year-old son and his friend with me. Then, Hoffman (a Connecticut car dealership) invited women entrepreneurs to Lime Rock Park to drive Porsches. Apparently, Porsche is pursuing the women’s demographic. So I had a taste of a road track…and wanted more.
I got an email about an all-women event at VIR in October. It included everything and we would be driving Porsches, Ferrari’s and Aston Martins. Surprisingly, they did not get enough women to sign up and it was cancelled. They’ll try again next year. However, Kira Mellups, who I had been communicating with, knew I was disappointed and suggested I jump into the HPDE session offered by PCA’s First Settlers Region a couple days later. Sure, why not? I just have to find a car, right?
I still had the momentum of the event that got cancelled, and I didn’t want to lose it…so I jumped into the PCA event. The good news is, I didn’t realize that this would be “the deep end of the pool” for someone who had never done this before. The better news is, everyone involved helped me accomplish this. I rented a car (Thank you Quantum Speed Works). I found an Airbnb. I booked a flight. And I went.
When I got to Virginia, I picked up my rental car and drove straight to Quantum to get fitted and familiar with my car. And I started to get nervous. This was a big deal. But I dug into what my fear was…and it was about being embarrassed or looking foolish. And that never happened.
Quantum dropped off my car the next morning. When I got to the paddock at 6:30 am, I parked near my car and wandered over to register. I was warmly greeted by name… they recognized me because I was one of only six women…and they all knew the other five! I got to meet Kira in person.
I then went back to my car and met three of the head instructors: Rob McMahon, Jim Graham, and Mark Devlin. I thought I was at the Quantum trailer, but it actually belonged to DBAD Racing (you can ask them about that acronym). They were surprised to find out I had travelled down there alone and invited me to share their space. They were very kind and helped me understand the process and included me in their weekend. I met April, who would be my instructor all weekend. She was amazing and patient and she even took me for a ride-along to get a feel for the track and how it should be run. She was a great role model.
Cathy (right) and her instructor April Curtis
The first day was overwhelming…there was so much information. I had never realized how many things you need to pay attention to. Anticipating turns, flags, rear view mirror, shifting, speed. I was physically and mentally exhausted by the end of day one. I wanted a hot shower and to go to sleep. I wasn’t sure I wanted another day of this.
Cathy at Thompson
The crew that took me under their wing cheered me on and told me all my learning would marinate overnight, and the next day would be better. And they were right.
Day Two was incredible. I returned…and I knew the people from the day before and met more. I understood the process. My driving improved. I understood the car, the track, and the dynamics of braking into turns. It was truly amazing.
By the end of the second day, I was so proud of myself. I had done this big scary thing that most of the population will never experience. I did it by myself, but not alone. I was part of a village. These were my people, they embraced me. I conquered this…nothing will ever seem scary again. The accomplishments went far beyond driving.
I think this is a hidden gem that is available to everyone who wants a taste of driving. There is a level for everyone, and everyone is welcomed enthusiastically. It didn’t matter that I was older…or female. The only obstacles were in my own head.
HPDE stands for High Performance Driver Education. There are events all over the country. This is what I was looking for (though I didn’t know it existed). You can bring your own car (to a certain extent). You will get training on basic tech. There is classroom time and plenty of opportunity to drive. There are instructors who love the sport and want to see more people join. And the skills translate to everyday driving. It’s about being aware of your surroundings; it’s about peripheral vision; it’s about learning how the weight of the car shifts when you accelerate or brake; it’s about looking up and ahead at what’s coming. While I participated with the Porsche Club of America, you do not need a Porsche to join. There is even an inexpensive “sample” opportunity for people who aren’t sure they are ready to commit.
This was an amazing journey that I would encourage everyone to try. For me, this was an opportunity to re-light a spark…maybe bring me back to my dad. Everyone should do more of what sparks a light in them
Afterword by Rob McMahon
I first met Cathy at about 6:30 in the morning on the first day of our twice a year First Settlers Region High Performance Driver Education event in October of 2024. When she told us that this was on her bucket list, that she had come alone, and rented a spec E46 BMW with a manual shift transmission, we had instant respect for her. We welcomed her into the DBAD motorhome and gave her coffee and a bite to eat. We had three Spec E46 race cars parked outside the motorhome and trailer.
Quantum Speed Works built the cars for us, and we had them wrapped identically with our sponsor’s name, Wenzel’s Farms Meat Snacks, and Quantum Speed Works on the cars. Seeing the cars and the logos, Cathy assumed that we worked for Quantum and therefore we were there to support her as the renter. The more we got to know Cathy, and what her goals were, we decided to do everything possible to make her weekend everything she wanted it to be. As Chief Track Instructors, Jim Graham and I want to make sure that everyone who turns up for an HPDE event has fun, learns something about high-performance driving and car care, and spreads the enthusiasm for the sport throughout the paddock. We want every HPDE participant in whatever skill level run group they are in to come find us at the DBAD racing/Wentzel’s Farms area of the paddock and let us know what their goals are, and we will do whatever we can to help achieve them. Over a delicious Wenzel’s Farms meat snack, we can discuss car set up, how to attack various parts of the track, braking techniques, and next steps - even into wheel-to-wheel racing. With our partners Bill Hatfield and Mark Devlin and our other instructor friends, we have decades of HPDE and wheel-to-wheel racing experience to freely share. We certainly would welcome more female drivers like Cathy to come participate. While her early experience with cars certainly qualifies her as an “OG car guy,” you don’t need to be a mechanic or have a fancy car to come learn high-performance driving. Josh Gorrea at Quantum Speedworks has many cars available to rent, from BMWs to Porsches to Audi R8s. We guarantee that you will learn valuable skills and make some great new friends. Our two 2025 events at VIR are being held 25-27 April and 11-12 October. We hope to see you at the track!
An Interview with Jimmy Anderson
General Manager of Checkered Flag Porsche
by Brad Jublou
When I sat down for an interview with Jimmy Anderson, he had achieved his one-year anniversary as General Manager of Checkered Flag Porsche in Virginia Beach the day before. I thought it might be interesting to find out a little bit about the recently minted GM of one of the two Porsche dealerships in First Settlers Region, and also find out more about the dealership’s major construction project currently in progress on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Before coming to Checkered Flag Porsche, Jimmy worked at other dealerships at Checkered Flag for 17 years, attaining Sales Manager at their BMW dealership before moving to the Porsche GM position. “My career at Checkered Flag started when I brought my BMW into the dealership for servicing one day,” Jimmy said. “I had just retired from my job in the engineering field, and I was looking for something else to do. Unexpectedly, the GM offered me a job, and over the years I worked my way up.” Jimmy explained that it was a kind of an inside joke that nobody wakes up in the morning and says to themselves that they want to be in the car business. “Everyone has this preconceived notion of what the car business is like, but there’s so much more to this business lying underneath,” Jimmy said. “It’s like an onion that just keeps peeling back. It’s been one of the greatest educations that I’ve had, ever.” Jimmy credits the Snyders, the owners of Checkered Flag, for nurturing and supporting him. “They’ve just been great,” Jimmy stated. “And I’m very grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me.”
There was a pretty big leap that Jimmy had to make when moving from a famous German brand like BMW to a famous German brand like Porsche. Jimmy stated that he came to the brand expecting that the two would be very similar behind the scenes, but that turned out to be anything but true. “They were not at all similar – in fact they are polar opposites,” Jimmy said. “Porsche is very much more structured than BMW behind the scenes. They are very directive in all kinds of things: how you present certain things, how you communicate with your customers, etc. There are a lot more guidelines. And here’s another thing: Porsche does not consider themselves to be in competition with other dealerships; they are in competition with themselves. This car is solely a lifestyle choice. It is not by any means considered ‘basic transportation’ by anybody.” To prepare him for his new role, Porsche gave him his “baptism.” Jimmy stated that “Porsche basically said ‘We’re going to give Jimmy everything he needs to be successful.’ I had every aspect of Porsche national converge on Virginia Beach over a two-month period. I’ve met everybody from the top echelon down to all the people I now interact with daily. This never happened with this store before.” Much of the training involved conveying Porsche’s image properly; Jimmy indicated that they are super protective of it. “The way the Porsche organization does business is very precise, and they hold everyone to the same precise standards,” Jimmy said. “So I was like, I’m going to do this. I am going to learn this and become immersed in this. And I understand their thinking because I was raised in Germany – their thinking is very analytical. But Porsche also puts the pulse of the brand with the actual client/family.” As part of his baptism, Porsche sent Jimmy to several training courses, including brand ambassador training at the Porsche Headquarters in Atlanta, where he learned not only what they do, but why they do it. “They give you a lot of resources that you wouldn’t normally have.”
Jimmy lived in Germany for the first 17 years of his life. His mother is German, and his father was a soldier in the Army who eventually retired as a Sergeant Major. English is actually his second language, and he had to get a speech therapist when he went to college. “It’s too bad I don’t still have the German accent,” Jimmy quipped. “It would come in really handy now!” He made what he considers to be a significant commitment to the brand by buying a 2024 Targa 4S. “That’s what I drive when I want to clear my head,” Jimmy said. He hand washes the car almost every day before putting it in the garage and covering it up. “My wife drives it occasionally, and she picked up a rock chip on the hood while driving it on the interstate; you would have thought we’d lost our firstborn child!!” But he got it fixed and then put paint protective film over the whole thing. “You really want it to look the best it can all the time.”
Conversation then turned to the new building. “This new building is a 17-million-dollar commitment by the Snyder family. And we here in Virginia Beach, this great area, with a lot more people coming into our market, we deserve it; we deserve to have the Taj Mahal of a Porsche center here. This is a Generation 5 building; by the time it’s completed, it will be one of less than 10 on the whole East Coast.” “This will be a destination center,” Jimmy continued, “Not just a transactional
center. How do we make the customer experience that much better? You want to come in and grab a cup of coffee and chat with the staff, play with the new Porsche Binder Builder, and just be there with other like-minded people. How do you do that? You build a Generation 5 building.”
The anticipated completion time is currently early summer. “We’re planning on the Grand Opening being on the 4th of July, but we’re probably going to be open for business some amount of time before that,” Jimmy said. The new building will have 14 service bays, and two additional spaces which will be used as delivery bays. Room for seven cars in the showroom; 35,000 square feet; room on the lot for 130-140 cars. “Do you remember when shopping malls were a big deal?” Jimmy
The Racing Line - where customers can explore vehicle exhibits and get a look at the workshop
allocations for maybe two GT3s a year. With a Gen 5 building, and up to 60-70 new cars on the lot, we’re going to get four to six GT3s a year, as well as good allocations for Turbo S’s, etc.”
It’s obvious that Jimmy truly enjoys his job. He loves being interactive with customers and his staff, and he
conception of the new Destination Porsche center
asked. “That’s the kind of vibe it has; that’s what this is going to feel like inside; and very transparent with lots of steel and glass. The service bays are going to be like operating rooms – and there will be couches where you can hang out and watch the technician work on your car.”
Does a state of the art, Generation 5 building mean the dealership will be getting more of the most desirable models allocated to it? “It’s more complicated than that,” Jimmy said. “There’s a lot that goes into Porsche’s calculations of who gets what. Among other things, it depends on how many cars you sell a year – it’s called ‘turn and earn;’ the more cars you sell, the more cars you earn. Before, we would get
The Fitting Lounge, where client designed vehicles, customization, and audio-visual elements come to life
is extremely eager to inaugurate the new Destination Porsche center in Virginia Beach. “This is a brand that people strive to come into,” Jimmy noted. “I really enjoy facilitating that. Every day is like an adventure.”
Artist’s
FSR Member Profile: Richard A. Lantz
Where do you live?
Chesapeake, VA (Great Bridge)
What do you do for a living?
Indoor Air Quality Specialist. General Manager, Virginia Air Duct Cleaners, Inc.
Certified National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS), Certified Ventilation Inspector (CVI).
Certified Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VSMR).
Tell us about your family.
Married to Janet Lawter Lantz for 53 years. One daughter, Ashley Lantz Gibbs, with two beautiful grandchildren, Haley and Brently Gibbs.
What other hobbies do you have besides driving your Porsche?
Avid motorcycle rider. I take an annual riding trip around the US, with a destination of Sturgis Bike Week in Sturgis, SD. I average around 7,500 miles in three weeks.
PCA member since?
Continually since 2010. And I have been a member, on and off, for over 50 years - whenever I had a Porsche in my garage. Have bought and sold many; some I should have held onto.
What model of Porsche do you currently drive?
1999 Porsche Carrera Sunroof coupe. Ocean Blue Metallic (L3AZ) with Savanna Beige interior
What other Porsches have you owned in the past?
1965 356 S Sunroof Coupe Red/Black
1962 356 SC Sunroof Coupe (White/Red)
1964 356 Cabriolet Silver/Black
1983 911SC Sunroof Coupe Black/Black
1972 911 E Sunroof Coupe Gold/Tan
1977 930 Turbo Sunroof Coupe Garnet Red/Savanna Beige
1971 911 Targa Yellow/Black
1977 911 S Sunroof Coupe Silver/Black
1981 911SC Sunroof Coupe Guards Red/Black
What is your first Porsche memory?
I was raised in South Boston, VA, right down the road from Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Prior to its closing in 1974, I went to VIR where I saw my first 356. It was a four-cylinder, four-cam and when it started, I was hooked!
What is your favorite personal car-related story?
In 1984, while on business in San Diego, CA, I stopped by Symbolic Motor Cars in La Jolla, CA, where I spotted a 1977 930 Turbo. I purchased it and had it shipped to Virginia. Sadly, I sold the car years later and it’s still in the area. Should have kept that one.
Do you have a favorite Porsche?
The 1977 930 Turbo, of course, in Garnet Red!
What’s your favorite Porsche day? FSR events, especially the Fun Runs.
What is on your car-related bucket list?
To own a 550 Spyder…ambitious!
What Keeps you in FSR PCA?
Of course the car, but more importantly…the people and events.
PCM 3.1 Upgrade: Seamless Integration of Apple CarPlay with GTAcar Kits
by Kirk Hibbert
Elevate Your Porsche Experience. Porsche owners are renowned for their appreciation of precision engineering and cutting-edge technology. So, for those DIY’ers thinking about upgrading their audio system, I’ve got a story for you. There are myriad articles, publications, and online forums dedicated to engine performance and suspension modifications. And for those fashion-forward automotive enthusiasts excited to bespoke their coveted Porsche, there are mountains of recommendations for upgrades to guide your curiosity about a venture to take, or not to take. Regarding those with Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 3.1 looking to update their infotainment system to include Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, I took that leap after traversing mountains of information. What many of us “seasoned” enthusiasts referred to many years ago as the “head unit” are now living in a world of digital and smart technologies filled with Apps that have become ubiquitous: Audible, Waze, Apple Podcast, Apple Music, Google Maps, Spotify, Micro Soft Teams, etc. These apps have allowed us seasoned members to connect in ways we only witnessed watching Dick Tracy communicate using his wristwatch! Ahh, the good ol’ days... So, gone are the days when removing the head unit only affected the audio system. Many of us wonder how tinkering with the head unit affects various sub-systems in our cars: GPS, TPMS, security, comfort operations, telephone, g-meters, and other Can Bus connected modules. Those questions can be daunting. To further complicate upgrading the PCM 3.1 by removing it entirely and replacing it with your choice of a high-end audio system includes upgrading the stock Porsche amplifier and most likely speakers as well. Frankly, I’m an audiophile and find that my 991.1 Cabrio has plenty of quality sound. So here we are: I wanted to upgrade the functionality of the PCM, but I didn’t want to upset the harmony that Michael Mauer and his team of designers intended. And finally, I didn’t want to mess around with squeezing modules into the limited real estate behind the PCM....nope, no cutting to make space here. My engineering prowess is limited to theory mostly, and I know well enough to quit while I’m ahead.
The Challenge of the PCM 3.1 system. While sophisticated for its time, it may feel somewhat dated compared to today’s smartphone-centric world. Its limitations can be frustrating, particularly for those accustomed to the convenience and features of Apple CarPlay. I spent the better part of a year searching the internet and visiting car audio brick and mortar store fronts, both locally and while away from our area (yes, as far away as the west coast). And pushing back on sales personnel willing to do things with my Porsche that I could not agree to, especially considering my criteria:
• Do not alter the aesthetics
• Can Bus communication must be seamlessly integrated
• Porsche infrastructure Can Bus must remain intact
• Get it done in less than a week
• I shouldn’t have to sell one of my other cars to afford the installation
Well, sales folk, as good as they are, in my experience when they hear the word Porsche there is an upsell in your future. They tell you what “you” want, vice listening to what I tell them I want. Please note there is no intent to throw shade at the good people who want to understand your desires first, but the odds have been against me. So, back to the internet. I have a rule set in my YouTube account that says to find me videos that match my search requirements above. Upselling would leave me with limits to other great things I would rather do with my Porsche— such as spending time with my PCA family at various events, enjoying the twisties, and breaking bread with my fellow First Settlers. I came across the GTAcar Kits YouTube video, then verified that I had a PCM 3.1 (details to follow), and the decision was made, an order was placed, and less than five days later the kit arrived.
Installation and Compatibility. The GTAcar Kits are designed for a relatively straightforward installation process. While some technical expertise may be required, many Porsche enthusiasts have successfully installed the kit themselves. It’s essential to verify compatibility with your specific Porsche model before proceeding. To check compatibility, power up the PCM, then press both the source and information buttons at the same time. The PCM will display the PCM version. If it says 3.1 your car is compatible. The next step was to install the kit; so I gingerly removed the bits and pieces, disconnected the PCM, opened it up, placed a circuit board in it, reinstalled the PCM, and connected my iPhone and Eureka Apple CarPlay! Here are a few tidbits. The disclaimer: I don’t work for GTAcar Kits, so I don’t get a commission, and I understand that Android Auto is also compatible, but I cannot talk to experiences with Android’s compatibility. I did find it slightly challenging to stuff all the wires back in place. It took a few tries, and I realized if I used four feet of cord, I could have had a smoother installation. Here are a few steps that will help to make the installation easier:
1. Tie a strong thin cord long enough to wrap around the wire bundle with enough length to have at least 4 feet of cord available to tug on after wrapping the bundle
2. Feed the cord through the opening where the PCM goes with the cord placed in the void
3. Position the cord to the right bottom of the void and feed the cord from the bottom right corner of the space where the PCM will be placed (the adjacent picture shows a spare PCM cage I had from some maintenance I previously did. The green laser light is where you should feed the cord through the back of the space where the PCM is placed)
4. Pull the cord as you alternate between inserting the PCM into its space and pulling the cord
5. This alternating push-pull will prevent the wires from gathering in spaces that will make it difficult to fully re-seat the PCM
Post-installation. It’s been more than five months since the kit was installed, and I would recommend it to anyone who has criteria similar to mine. I did send a clarification email to GTAcar Kits for the Bluetooth antenna connection (the instructions called for connecting the two antennas in the kit to the circuit board, but there was only one connection point on the board) and a question about jukebox operations. The first thing I noticed was that they responded immediately (although it was a bot) to let me know that the message had been received and that someone would be in touch within 24 hours. Well, they responded in less than an hour, and I had my answer. The antenna issue was due to an upgrade in the circuit board only requiring one antenna and the instruction was not updated to reflect the change. The jukebox question was about loading additional songs to my jukebox. Unfortunately, if you like that feature you will not be able to add more songs to your PCM without removing it and placing the USB cable in its original connection point. The USB cord from the PCM, per the instructions, is dedicated to synching your phone to enable Bluetooth compatibility. The USB connection will not be used after you sync your phone unless you decide to connect a USB drive which you will be able to access through the kit’s home screen. If you have music in your jukebox, those songs are still accessible using the source button. If you like having music on your jukebox, transfer them before you start the installation. Considering that all the songs I have on my jukebox are available on my iPhone, adding more songs was less important than not having to go through the hassle of pulling the PCM back out and adding music. What needs to be understood is that the jukebox comes in handy when you are in areas that have limited cellular coverage. If you only stream music from the internet, and you are in places where there is limited cell coverage, you will not be able to stream music. But if you have stored music on the
phone, you can still send it to the PCM via Bluetooth. For that matter, you will not be able to get reception for anything internet-based with or without GTAcar Kits. So having jukebox music will at least give you some entertainment while in areas away from cellular coverage. All data from your phone will be sent by Bluetooth to the AUX source. You will have the ability to switch between Apple CarPlay and the original PCM by pushing the INFO button. Finally, if this is something you are considering, I’m available for a pro bono consultation.
Would I buy it again? Funny you should ask. My wife Ernestine has a 3.1 in her Boxster and installing it is on her list of things for me to do. She loves its functionality and convenience and I’m sure you will too. Upgrading your Porsche PCM 3.1 with the GTAcar Kits is a worthwhile investment that enhances both safety and convenience by embracing modern technology without sacrificing the Porsche driving experience. For those looking to further refine the sound projection, the kit allows you to shape the music with a built-in graphic equalizer. No, it’s not a digital sound processor, but it allows you to adjust your sound space to be more detailed than mid-range, treble, and bass.
You’ll elevate your time behind the wheel while you listen to old “mix tapes” you digitized, ask Siri to send a text while you are driving with both hands on the wheel and your eyes observing the road, ask Siri to read a newly received text and respond to it, integrate Escort’s Drive Safer App, get weather alerts, run Waze in the background while you have Ride With GPS running (not displayed on screen but the audio will be sent layered over Waze) and sending alerts through the audio. This gives you the ability to get crowdsource road conditions (“stopped vehicle on shoulder ahead”), while Ed Merry’s turn-by-turn information is communicated through the speakers in conjunction with Waze alerts. Any CarPlay App on your phone will be displayed and can be accessed. In the five months since installation, the system has lived up to what was promised without fail or glitches.
The following URLs are provided to help visualize how to do it yourself:
(1) How to determine the PCM version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POGfGakfoM
(2) The GTAcar Kits landing Site: https://www.gtacarkits.com
