President’s Message for May 2008
This year, so far, has started off on the right foot for Mardi Gras Region. We presently have 155 regular members and 110 affiliate members. It also means we have 155+ Porsches! Imagine if we could get most of them together at one event (hint, sign up for the Galatoire’s Party because rumor has it a group picture is in the works).
We began 2008 with a very well-attended DE in January at “No Problem Raceway” and we’ve just completed another successful DE at NPR last weekend. As I’ve told our members before, you’re not driving a Volvo or a Prius, so get the Porsche out to the track and let her run hard! It’s true, you never recover those days you keep your Porsche in the garage.
Our next get-together begins with the customary round of adult beverages at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at Zeke’s Restaurant, followed at 7:00 p.m. by our monthly meeting. Zeke’s is located at 1519 Metairie Road, in the shopping center behind the Aucoin Hart jewelry store. For those of you who haven’t ever attended a MGR monthly meeting at Zeke’s, it’s in Metairie, Louisiana, and not Atlanta, so you have absolutely no excuse for not participating.
Last weekend was the first annual “Operation Crawfish,” where member/racer/instructor Chris Wilken brought 150 pounds of crawfish to Memphis in connection with a MGR visit to Mid-South Region’s two-day DE at Memphis Motorsports Park. Congratulations and thanks go to Chris for making the Friday night party such a huge success. Pictures are attached.
Then, beautiful weather greeted us Saturday and let me, Chris, and MGR’s Teddy Busick run full throttle on a track with a straight over twice as long as the one at NPR. There is some speculation that because Teddy’s 959 body replica racer was once owned by the late chicken magnate Al Copeland, it is now more of a collector’s car. He has been promised a big Popeye’s Chicken sticker for his hood to memorialize the aforementioned Mr. Copeland.
Sunday in Memphis was pouring down rain, but it wasn’t too wet to keep the dedicated enthusiasts off of the track. Unfortunately, this resulted in two wrecked Japanese “sports cars,” but no harm to their drivers.
More fun is planned for June, when – rumor has it – the MGR travel squad will journey to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham (only 5 hours away up I-59) and dispense grilled oysters, jambalaya, and strong drink to our many fans in Alabama. If you’re a club racer, this is the park for you. If you’re a DE driver, we’re working on a bit of lapping for you. Stay tuned.
A two-day MGR DE is scheduled for August 30th-31st at NPR, so put it on your calendars now.
The 1st Annual Ferdinand Porsche Birthday Anniversary Party on September 6, 2008 at Galatoire’s Restaurant. This is going to be a great party, and it is getting attention from region members in several other states. I’m in the process of getting hotel rooms and parking lined up. And, if we’re lucky, John Crosby’s cousin, who’s a priest at St. Louis Cathedral, will help us with a “blessing of the Porsches” on the Jackson Square Mall in front of the Cathedral. We will also introduce “Miss Blastin’ on the Bayou 2008” at the Galatoire’s luncheon.
Lastly, you can sign up for any DE at any Porsche Club Region (and the big Galatoire’s party too) by going to www.ClubRegistration.net. Don’t be late for the Galatoire’s party because seats are limited and once they’re gone, they’re gone until next year.
RENNSPORTFUEHRER
FROM HIS GARAGE
