[ds968]

the only reason for me not to drive the 968 is not the distance but the fact that as I drive the car even locally more things break. Recently the oil pickup line broke and the front suspension needed to be lowered in order to get access to the oil pan. Needless to say it was a very expensive repair. As I am not a mechanic if my car broke on a long trip I would be screwed. I recently drove from Portland OR to NYC in 4 1/2 days and then 5 days later drove it back in reverse. I basically was able to drive 12 hours per day. But that was in my Minivan which is more comfortable and much quieter than the 968,

 

Ditto.  One of the key reasons I'm not participating anymore.   

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[Langley968]

Keep in mind the PCA Parade is in Spokane, WA in July 2017. Parade only happens every so many years on the West Coast, so some might be looking at that as an event to participate in. Just saying...

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[williamoss]

Well here is an idea. Why not time the 968 2017 reunion in Vancouver  BC after the parade. That way we could do both and the drive for the Californians would be doable as you would first go to the Parade then drive up to Vancouver for the 2nd half of the trip. or it could be before the Parade.

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[az968]

We've already had this conversatiom. Parade is officially Sunday July 9 - Sat July 15. Immediately preceeding Parade is 4th of July week. So that would not be a good time. Right after would be weekdays, not sure many people could be gone two weeks from work. Just get together during Parade? Possible. How many Forum membees are planming to go to Parade? Wouldn't be a special 968 gathering, just part of the Parade crowd.


That's why I was staying away from Parade. Round trip to Spokane for me is 2,600 miles, and it's 3,000 miles to Vancouver - too far to drive my car. I think that's too far north for those of us in the southwest.


If someone wants to organize something in the Pacific Northwest, that's fine with me, I don't "own" this event. I'll continue to work on the one in Mendocino

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[williamoss]

what actually goes on at a Parade? I have never been to one.

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[94SilverCab]

OK, what's magical about Northern CA? Why not have the event in Phoenix, closer to your home, at a time of year when the tires won't fry off the cars?

 

I hear AZ is beautiful, I've never been.

 

Jay

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[ds968]

, at a time of year when the tires won't fry off the cars?Jay

So the meeting will be on Jan 22nd , between 3 am and 5 am ?

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[az968]

Well, Scottsdale in the winter is beautiful (70's) as everyone knows and the mountains are beautiful in the summer (70's and 80's) but we don't want the rest of the country to know! I don't think many people would want to drive to AZ from the west coast, maybe I'm wrong. So I was looking for a geographically central place that would be of interest to west coast owners. N. CA seemed appealing due to nicer weather, fewer crowds and some fun drives, and not too far from people in the Pacific NW as well as So. Cal. LA area, and places like Paso Robles, are very hot in the summer, at least to me (I live in the mountains). Maybe in 2018 we could find a place in So Cal that will have fine weather and few cars (does such a place really exist?)


So Parade. Lots of Porsche activities. Big Concours one day, autocrossing, a rally, social events, big dinners, very full week, 2000 people, etc. If you are a PCA member, it's worth attending But a lot of forum members aren't in PCA so they wouldn't be coming.


Someone that is planning to attend Parade could certainly organize a small gathering but overall it would be shared with all manner of Porsches.


So I wanted to be elitist and only play with 968's :-)

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[lbpesq]

I'd go to Phoenix if it was in late February or in March, so we could attend some Srping Training games. Phoenix is quite nice that time of year. Of course all the roads I've driven on in the area are long, flat, and straight. Vancouver/Spokane is probably too far for me. That's a lot of time, and longer trips require more luggage for She Who Must Be Obeyed - problematic in the 968.


Bill

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[az968]

Spring training is the best baseball there is!  Affordable, the players are having fun and you can actually talk with them. It's played outdoors on real grass, like it should be. Beer is reasonably priced. Those are the only games I attend anymore.  But, Bill is right, the roads are flat and straight and clogged in the valley.  You have to drive an hour at least to get onto more fun roads.

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[94SilverCab]

Sounds wonderful...JMHO

 

Jay

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[flash]

lol - better make it fast if i am going.  i may be moving to ireland.  working on it right now.  already found a house we like.  talking to some people about it on sunday.

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[94SilverCab]

I have been looking at Valencia, Spain or Lisbon...can't decide if I want to be on the Atlantic or the Med.

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[Chris Vais]

Why is it that so many of us are unwilling to drive our cars for some distance? I driven mine back and forth to Montana many times, never had any mechanical problems. The couple of times I've been stranded by the car where all within a few miles of home. I wouldn't hesitate to drive mine to Vancouver nor would I hesitate to drive if to Arizona.

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[flash]

the biggest reason i can see for not having faith in the car is that most people don't actually take good enough care of them, and only do the absolute minimum, rather than preventative maintenance.

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[williamoss]

I disagree as I take meticulous care of my 968. The reason for my hesitancy is if something broke I would be screwed. I am not a mechanic like Flash who could probably fix his car with a Swiss army knife. If mine broke it could cost me $1000 - $1500 to have it transported back to Portland from Southern Ca. Just last month as I drove into the parking lot of my Minivan, I heard a loud noise from the engine of my 968. I was only 5 miles from my house. I immediately turned off the engine, and ultimately discovered that my oil pickup tube had cracked and no oil was getting to the top of the engine. After all the work was done it cost me $4000 to fix the tube as it was difficult to diagnose and difficult to get to the oil pan. Imagine what it might of cost me if I had been in Phoenix AZ or in Southern CA. or someplace else that did not have a mechanic who knew how to fix a 968.

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[flash]

before you disagree, i consider a head gasket at 80k and a clutch at 60k preventative maintenance.

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[lbpesq]

Flash moving to Ireland! How long until we start seeing after-market upgrade parts for the DeLorean?


hehehehe


Bill

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[flash]

lol - yeah - eco-friendly flux capacitor replacements

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[az968]

So it's time to start serious planning for the West Coast Gathering 2017.

 

The hotel in Mendocino has changed, it's now going to be at the Hill House Inn. http://hillhouseinn.com/

 

It's owned by the same company as the Mendocino Hotel but it will be nicer and less expensive, better parking, etc.  For those of you old enough to remember the old TV series "Murder She Wrote" with Angela Lansbury, this is the "Cabot Cove Lodge". Yep, Hollywood filmed a series supposedly based in Maine in N. CA, the shock of it all! More fake news!

 

The hotel will make the lounge area available to us separately where we can bring in our own wine, etc and visit into the evenings. There are many other places in the area at higher and lower rates for those who want to have more and those that want to spend less. I've stayed here before and enjoyed it.

 

Anyway, let's talk about the dates.  Originally scheduled for June 23-25 (Friday-Sunday) with a room rate of $139/night.  Several people commented that the Porsche Club Parade was going to be in Spokane WA (it's the week of July 9 - 15) and maybe more people would attend the gathering if it was tied into that week so only one trip north would be involved.  The hotel does have space July 14-16 (that would be Friday-Sunday) at a rate of $149/night.

 

My personal preference would be the June dates as the area is less crowded, the roads would have less traffic. But, I'd like to hear from people that would attend the gathering only if it were the same time as Parade.

 

So, who would only attend if it were the end of Parade week vs who would rather attend in June?  Post responses soon so I can lock down the dates.

 

We have a couple of group dinners planned, a drive down PCH (Highway1) to Bodega Bay with spectacular scenery, a great twisty mountain drive with a winery stop (or two, maybe a brewery stop ), and plenty of time to socialize.

 

Let's get this set up soon!

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