PorscheFest '99

Carolinas PorscheFest’99

by Chuck Zachman

In case you missed all the pre-event hype, Carolinas Region held the third annual
Carolinas Region PorscheFest the weekend of May 21-23, 1999. PorscheFest’99 was
again this year a rousing success with PCA members attending from all corners of
the Carolinas.

Entrants were greeted at the Hyatt Charlotte at Southpark Friday evening by Registrars
Walter and Susan Stone. Once registration was complete, attendees could relax with
their favorite adult beverage and satisfy their need for anything Porsche with the great
selection of boutique items supplied by one of our major sponsors, Hendrick Porsche.

The parking deck at the Hyatt became the place where old friendships renewed and
new friendships started. It was also the place where participants were making final
preparations for Saturday morning’s Concours d'Elegance.

Saturday came all too early for some, myself included. The crack of daylight signals
time to finish that last minute cleaning. I arrived at the Concours d'Elegance site at
approximately 6:30 a.m. to find several participants already with beads of sweat from
removing that last spec of dust. Last minute site preparations of hanging banners and
aligning cars and we were under way. What a spectacular sight, 35 of the cleanest
Porsches you will find. Almost every Porsche model is represented from the earliest
356 to the latest 996. Every year we learn something new.

              Chuck & Tina's GT at the Concours

At PorscheFest’98, the heat was almost unbearable and to make matters worse there
were no refreshments. This year we had a new shady location and a concession trailer.

About the time the rally is to get underway, the skies begin to threaten. Will it rain or
will we be lucky again this year and have a dry event? The rally again draws the most
participation. The line of Porsches waiting to depart into the rural areas around Charlotte
is quite impressive.

Another one of those things we learned from 1998 was the need for a new starting point
for the Rally. Last year we started from the Hyatt parking deck and completely shut down
the in or out traffic. They were not pleased. Our Concours d' Elegance site also doubled
as the starting point for the Rally. Participants were given a list of questions and driving
instructions to the first of three checkpoints.

                              Ready for the Rally!

The objective was to pay attention to the surroundings, answer the questions, and make
it to the checkpoints with minimal directional errors because mileage counts. Reports from
ralliers are that about 30 minutes into the rally, the skies opened up for a brief heavy shower.

Oh well, the concours is over. By 5:00 p.m., all have returned to the hotel and take the
opportunity for some relaxation before the evening's festivities get under way.

                       Sharing a cocktail and a few stories.

The afternoon shower and cloudy skies serve to cool the early evening heat and make
for perfect conditions to hold a reception in the courtyard prior to the awards banquet.
Awards were given out to top performers in the Concours d'Elegance, Rally, and to the
PCA member who traveled the longest distance from their home to attend PorscheFest’99.

This year, the award for the members who traveled the farthest from their home went
to former Carolinas Region members Gary and Maggie Hibler. Two special recognition
plaques were also presented to our major event sponsors, Hendrick Porsche and Hilliard
Lyons, for their long and continued support of PorscheFest. After all the awards and
door prizes were handed out, a group adjourned to the hospitality suite until the wee
hours of the evening.

With great anticipation we depart Sunday morning for Concord Motorsports Park. This
year, I know the autocross course. It's the same layout as last year. If you have never
participated in a driving event I strongly encourage you to do so. The adrenaline rush
is amazing! When these cars are driven like they are engineered to be driven, you really
begin to appreciate the performance capabilities of these cars.

                        Let the Autocrossing begin!

All in all, PorscheFest’99 was a very successful event. The list of people to thank is a
lengthy one. Hendrick Porsche and Hilliard Lyons have been major sponsors of PorscheFest
and without them the event is not possible. I am always amazed at the number of volunteers
that come together to make this event happen. Event chairs, Concours d'Elegance judges
(some of whom traveled from Columbia early Saturday morning just to be judges), people
to tally concours results, rally check point workers, registration organizers, folks to gather
door prizes, tech quiz authors, people to hang signs and banners, and corner workers
at the autocross, just to name a few. Some of these folks weren't even able to attend the
event.