69 replies to this topic

[az968]

HI, everyone.  It's time to start discussing a possible West Coast Gathering for 2019.

 

Major catch is that Linda & I will probably not be able to participate this year due to some major trips being planned.  (I know, don't everyone hiss all at once ).  Plus I'm the events chair for our new PCA Region so my plate is pretty full this next year. Thus my time to help plan an event is limited to "consultation".

 

In speaking with Kaj, he will also have limited time this year to help plan.

 

So is someone interested in leading the organizing of the event for this year?

[lbpesq]

Bummer! You guys and Kaj would definitely be missed. I hope things pan out where you can join us, even if you don't have the time to help with the planning.

I wouldn't feel comfortable taking on the whole shebang myself, but I'll help, including scouting some roads since I often travel for work. In fact, I was recently in South Lake Tahoe and decided to look for a more scenic route home. We took 89 south out of SLT to 88. WOW! 88 runs along the top of the Sierras (up to 9000 feet) for quite a while, as I recall at least 60 miles. Beautiful road with great curves, spectacular views, and little traffic. Tina and I were both thinking this would be a great drive for our group.

Bill

Edited by lbpesq, 08 December 2018 - 11:10 AM.

[tejon007]

Bill, good idea. I like Lake Tahoe, Reno, & Sparks...close by too. However, we could make it a real west coast gathering again and go up and down PCH/Hwy 1 - Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Pebble Beach, etc.

[Kaj Hallstrom]

We briefly discussed Pao Robles and San Luis Obispo last year. Another option. I certainly would love to participate (if possible) I just don't have the same amount of time to do the planning. Help is definitely needed.

[lbpesq]

As I recall, last year we quickly dismissed Highway 1 as it was closed. That's no longer an issue. But I don't know how much fun the drive would be on a weekend day in warm weather with tourists and RVs.

Bill

[ds968]

But I don't know how much fun the drive would be on a weekend day in warm weather with tourists and RVs. Bill

Yup, that's the thing which I found incredibly annoying at many of our gatherings " fun runs ". The fun was often ruined by those slow pokes, and to make things even worse the majority of them were either clueless or simply did not want to observe the common courtesy of pulling over for a few seconds to let us go by ..

[tejon007]

How about this:

Fun = driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, warm weather, top down (unless you're challenged by a metal hardtop), ocean and mountain views to the sides, ocean breeze in your hair (unless you're hair-challenged), easily passing any slow-pokes or RVs in your awesome German sports car...on a very nice and smooth highway - with good friends. or maybe less driving and more hanging out at a coastal hotel?

Otherwise, Lake Tahoe...

[Rap]

You seem to conveniently forget that many coupes have moonroofs! 

[tejon007]

...Conveniently, I did not forget.

In fact, I have owned/driven for many years...a non-Porsche car with just such a roof.

While I enjoy both models, we both know that a moonroof in a coupe isn't the same driving experience as a cabriolet...

[ds968]

the 968 coupe's removable roofs are so large the car is essentially a targa .. I drove a 968 cab, and the coupe with the roof off and windows down , and quite honestly the "experience" difference was negligible .  except the ride is far more solid in the coupe           

Edited by ds968, 10 December 2018 - 12:54 PM.

[Waylander]

You guys have such fantastic places to go

[Kaj Hallstrom]

Gentlemen...you are drifting...back to the subject please!!

 

...and yes indeed...we have so many great places to visit and so many fun roads to discover.

 

What about Lake Honey and Lake Davis both north of Lake Tahoe?

Edited by Kaj Hallstrom, 10 December 2018 - 06:01 PM.

[Rap]

Dan can you imagine comparing a non Porsche car with a Porsche? The roof comparison really depends on the targa year. Mine is larger than ours. Tejon no disrespect intended.

[tejon007]

the 968 coupe's removable roofs are so large the car is essentially a targa .. I drove a 968 cab, and the coupe with the roof off and windows down , and quite honestly the "experience" difference was negligible .  except the ride is far more solid in the coupe

I won't go down the rabbit hole of debating whether the cabriolet or the coupe has the better driving experience (even though cabriolets are sexier ).

Just like I won't mention that I drove a sportbike, and quite honestly the "experience" difference was huge, the ride is far more responsive and way faster...and I think you would have to admit that sportbikes do put more wind in your hair, right??

[tejon007]

Kaj, Yes, back to the subject...

I'm with you that the area around Lake Tahoe would be good. But, I'm more with Bill on south of LT because we did spend time north of there about 3 (?) years ago??

But, basing the get together in Lake Tahoe and whatever route from there (except for the count-maintained roads or non-main hwys) would be great I think.

[ds968]

You won't get any disagreement from me ( and possibly no one else ) that indeed the cabriolets are sexier and also less "dated" looking than the coupes. But driving-wise the difference is night and day in favor of the coupe , and it's not a subjective issue either .. To bring a cab up to a coupe driving experience you're probably looking at $ 25 K worth of mods ..minimum . Not just for the 968, but pretty much any make and model cab vs, coupe.

Sorry, had to take the bait on the never ending coupe vs cab debate, but now back to the topic - I actually think Paso Robles would be a suitable venue once again . Alternatively, something north of San Francisio ( but not necessarily on the PCH itself ) would be also ok , but I'm not a fan of anything too far east of the coastal area..

Edited by ds968, 10 December 2018 - 06:31 PM.

[lbpesq]

Even if you can pass the RV, (assuming there is not already a parade of several cars stuck behind), I would hardly characterize the coast road as "a nice and smooth highway". Rather, it is more like a corkscrew often requiring you to slow down to under 20 mph through the numerous tight curves.

Kaj, are you familiar with the roads near Honey Lake and Lake Davis? What would we be looking at? And what's the hotel situation -nearby towns with lodging?

And can we please move the beaten-to-death cab vs. coupe argument to another thread?

Bill

[tejon007]

Dan, no disagreement and complete respect...coupes vs cabs...a stock coupe has the performance edge (except I'm not sure about the performance differences of a tiptronic coupe vs. a manual cab?...not that I really need to know).

But, my cab isn't a race car nor will I turn it into a muscle car (I won't be dropping in an LS3 anytime soon, no cage, mostly stock suspension OK, etc.). I'm very happy with the way the Porsche engineers designed it (mostly...in spite of some minor modifications I've made)..

[ds968]

No worries, they're both great and I wasn't really talking about performance , acceleration wise - just about the body / chassis flex tendencies of the cab. But even though I have some ( inexplicable ) aversion to DRIVING any convertibles, the 968 cab , IMO it is a lot prettier than the coupe and looks as if it could be a contemporary car, whereas the coupe ..as beautiful and classic as it is in its own right...well, the hatchback kinda' dates it .
Still , a myriad of 968 cabs and coupes roaring along on a nice scenic road is a sight to see , even in the rearview and side view mirror of that 25 MPH RV towing a houseboat in front of us for " the next " ten miles of narrow turns ;-) :-) So we have to pick a course where that possibility is lessened

Edited by ds968, 11 December 2018 - 07:01 AM.

[lbpesq]

Hey, this is the 2019 WEST COAST GATHERING thread. Anyone who wants to debate cab vs. coupe, PLEASE take it to another thread.