20 replies to this topic

[lbpesq]

With Covid in the rear view mirror, I thought I would gauge interest in a 2023 West Coast Gathering.  May I suggest the following:

 

Sometime in the Spring, perhaps April or May, Monterey Peninsula area.  We would likely see temps from mid 60s to mid 70s.

 

Drive day and relaxed fun day.

 

Drive Day: Approximate time - a little over 4 hours driving + stops (Pinnacles?  Wineries?  Maybe a picnic somewhere?)

 

101 from Monterey to CA-25 (just South of Gilroy).

CA-25 South through the San Benito Valley, past Pinnacles National Park to CA-198.

CA-198 West to 101 at San Lucas.

101 North back to Monterey.

 

Fun Day:

 

About 45 minute drive to Big Sur.

Wandering around Carmel.

Lunch/dinner - one in Carmel, one at Nepenthe in Big Sur?

 

So is there interest in doing something like this?

 

Bill

[MCL968]

Sounds good, should we discuss dates and hotels?

[lbpesq]

How about May 19-22 (Fri-Mon)?  The previous weekend is Mother's Day and the next is Memorial Day.  A quick check on Tripadvisor reveals that we could get a hotel in the area in the $150-$200/night range.  I suspect if we are booking numerous rooms, we could work out a discount.   Of course there are fancier, more expensive places to stay, but inasmuch as we'll be spending most of the weekend in the cars and outside activities, I figured a fancy hotel was unnecessary.  Just one with good parking.

 

If there is enough interest, I'd be willing to drive down in advance, scout the roads and potential stops along the way, and report back so we could finalize the itinerary.   For those who have never attended a WCG, they are always a lot of fun.  People have driven their 968s from Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, all over California, and even flown out from the East Coast and rented a car to join us.  No one has yet come up with a rental 968 (that would be a feat!) but we've had some Mustangs and Corvettes join our little parade.  You'll get some quality time behind the wheel on some great driver's roads, have a relaxing day of sight-seeing, etc., and meet some of the nicest people around. 

 

So, can we get a count of who might want to attend?

 

Bill

Edited by lbpesq, 11 October 2022 - 02:43 PM.

[Kaj Hallstrom]

After two big operations the last year and a half I will not be able to help you with the planning. However it's a great idea to bring the WCG back to life. I will love to participate and throw ideas at you as we go.

[tejon007]

Those dates work for us, but willing to be flexible. The sooner dates are confirmed, the better.

The Monterey Pennisula in April or May is a very very good choice and likely to have nice weather with some chance of showers.

(Of course, we like the Reno/Lake Tahoe area too - something to consider if lodging becomes an issue & the area has plenty of non-Porsche activities if your partners want to do things other than drive around).

[lbpesq]

So far it seems we have three cars interested in attending.   In the past, we usually had about a dozen cars or so.  It would be nice if we had at least six, but the more the merrier.   Anyone one else considering attending?   No commitment necessary at this point, just trying to gauge if there is enough interest to move forward.   One idea that has been floated in the past is to expand it to the other classic FWD Porsches, the 924 and 944.   (By “classic FWD” I mean NOT Cayennes, Panameras, or whatever SUVs they’ve come out with).   I don’t know if there is a separate 924/944 club, or perhaps a sub section of PCCA where we could send an invite?

 

Bill

Edited by lbpesq, 15 October 2022 - 03:39 PM.

[Rap]

You might dilute the strain.

[lbpesq]

With only three 968s so far, it may be necessary if it happens at all.

Edited by lbpesq, 16 October 2022 - 12:00 PM.

[MCL968]

The following weekend would be better for me. That is Commencement weekend at UNR and I have some grad students completing, thus I need to need to attend the ceremonies.

 

Once we get the dates set and the word out I expect we will have more people attend. We have always had more interest as the date got closer.

 

M-

[lbpesq]

The following weekend is Memorial Day Weekend.  I would expect less hotel availability, higher rates, and a lot more traffic on the roads.  Being that the previous weekend is Mother's Day weekend, we would either have to look at late April, (with more iffy weather), or start looking at June.

 

Bill

[Kaj Hallstrom]

I often thought we should include the 924 and the 944 to these events....any comments?

[ds968]

I often thought we should include the 924 and the 944 to these events....

No 928s ?   

[Kaj Hallstrom]

We could include the 928. Certainly not opposed to that. I drove one for 5 years. Loved it. In that case it will be the Transaxle West Coast gathering. Not a bad idea!!!!

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Edited by Kaj Hallstrom, 19 October 2022 - 08:09 PM.

[94SilverCab]

As hard as it is becoming to gather more than a handful of 968s I wouldn't be in favor of introducing the whole transaxle family, perhaps a separate event?

 

JMHO,

 

Jay  

[Chris Vais]

I'm definitely interested. May 2023 is a bit over the horizon for me to get my head around. We've been very focused this past year on getting our home in Santa Rosa squared away that I've lost sight of everything else including getting some postponed maintenance done on the 968. The nearest reputable service, to me,  for these cars is in Novato. I'll be checking them ut next week.

[dlearl476]

With Covid in the rear view mirror…

 

Bill

Not to be a wet blanket but I caught Covid in August (at a Porsche gathering no less) and although the illness itself wasn’t too bad,* it looks like I’ll be on supplemental O2 for the rest of my life as a result. 
 

* Thanks to Vaxxed, boosted, and Paxlovid. 

[lbpesq]

Admittedly it’s still visible in the rear view mirror.  I’m anticipating/hoping that by next May, it will have dropped out of sight.

 

Bill

[MCL968]

I'm definitely interested. May 2023 is a bit over the horizon for me to get my head around. We've been very focused this past year on getting our home in Santa Rosa squared away that I've lost sight of everything else including getting some postponed maintenance done on the 968. The nearest reputable service, to me,  for these cars is in Novato. I'll be checking them ut next week.

Chris, let me know if you want me to put you in touch with my guy in Reno. He is great and it would make a nice drive from Santa Rosa.

[lbpesq]

Based on the responses so far, and expecting others once it gets closer to happening, I think we will be able to get at least six 968s attending which, IMHO, is the minimum.   Any less and we would need to open it up to 924/944/928.   Since everyone can’t make the weekend between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, how would a weekend in June, other than Father’s Day weekend, work?   Either June 2-4, 9-11, or 23-25?

 

Bill

[tejon007]

Bill, Those dates work for us & we're willing to be flexible.