On this episode, Mia Walsh, who is PCA’s National Drivers Education Committee Chair, joins us in studio to talk about what a rookie can expect if they come to a PCA DE. Along with hearing about Damon’s recent HPDE with Nord Stern Region at Road America, we chat about what you’ll need to participate, how PCA trains its instructors, and how PCA teaches you how to be safe while having fun. Plus we discuss Porsche news.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Show and guest introduction(00:02:25) - Damon’s day at Road America(00:13:45) - What is Driver’s Education?(00:17:00) - Which cars can’t participate in DE?(00:18:00) - What’s required of your car?(00:21:49) - Should you modify your car for DE?(00:24:29) - How PCA trains its instructors to teach students(00:37:00) - Is DE just like racing?(00:40:29) - What you’ll need prepare you come to your first DE(00:45:48) - Do you need a driving suit?(00:50:19) - Are race tires necessary?(00:53:24) - Windows up or down while on track?(00:57:13) - Day of the event, what do I need to bring?(01:01:10) - How fast can you expect to go?(01:03:50) - Is this an activity for both men and women?(01:09:01) - What happens when something goes wrong on the track?(01:11:30) - Is there classroom instruction?(01:13:30) - What if my car breaks down?(01:18:47) - Porsche News: Porsche comes in fourth at 6 Hours of the Glen(01:20:07) - Update on PCA videos(01:23:17) - Upcoming PCA events
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1:26:27
What Really Happened With James Dean and the 550 Spyder?
PCA member and internationally recognized expert on James Dean, Lee Raskin, joins us in studio for a lesson on everything you didn’t know about James Dean and his love of racing Porsches. Lee explains to us how he got hooked on James Dean, what he’s discovered over the decades of research and investigating James Dean, his cars, and that fateful day. If you want to hear accurate information on this fascinating topic, this is the podcast for you.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:00) - Guest introduction, Lee Raskin(00:03:50) - Why did you get interested in James Dean?(00:08:10) - James Dean books that Lee authored(00:11:49) - How did Lee get into Porsches?(00:15:56) - Why did James Dean drive Porsches?(00:26:20) - How did the 550 Spyder and James Dean come together?(00:40:05) - Why was Dean heading to Salinas?(00:45:45) - What happened on that fateful day?(00:59:05) - Investigation of the accident(01:02:20) - What happened to the wrecked 550 Spyder?(01:14:49) - Porsche News: Porsche 963 finishes third in IMSA Detroit race(01:16:59) - PCA events update(01:17:37) - PCA video update
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1:22:30
Highs and Lows of Selling Porsches Over Four Decades
Michael Maurer was a salesperson at Porsche dealerships for four decades starting in 1982. He tells us what it was like to sell during lean years, what the 944 and Boxster did for salespeople, the coming of the SUV and luxury four door sedans and the threat of a Porsche bankruptcy. We talk about how people used to buy Porsches, discounts, selling during the pandemic and much more. It’s an interesting peek into the dealer sales side of the Porsche world.
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1:26:20
Has Porsche lost its way?
Michael Levitas, owner of TPC Racing, joins us to discuss whether Porsche has lost its way with the new cars. Michael owns a variety of Porsches that range from a 1971 911S to a 2024 911 Carrera S. He also owns several examples of Porsche’s competitors that he uses to develop aftermarket suspension and tuning products. We chat about whether newer cars are still visceral, do driving aids make bad drivers seem great, and whether or not it is still possible to modify and improve what the factory produced. It’s always interesting when Michael joins us and this episode doesn’t disappoint.
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1:11:26
Porsche 911 Hybrid Driving Impressions Plus Doing A Pro Solo In A Porsche
On this episode we chat about our turn at the 911 GTS T-Hybrid as well as what we thought about the Macan Turbo EV. Damon fills us in on his first ever SCCA Pro Solo event. Manny gives a report on doing the Porsche Driving Experience at New Jersey Motorsports Park as well as taking his sub-100 horsepower 914 on a PCA rally. We also touch upon people behaving badly in Porsches on public roads as well news, event and PCA video updates. We cover a lot of Porsche content in 70 minutes, don’t miss it.
If you want to hear about Porsche and only Porsche topics, then Porsche Club Insider is the podcast for you. Accurate information and thoughtful opinions are what you’ll find in this premier, Porsche only podcast. Join us for a 60 minute conversation of Porsche news, inside information on both Porsche and the Porsche Club as well as funny stories that only those who have been behind the scenes can tell you. Your Porsche Club Insider crew features Porsche Club of America National Office staff: Vu Nguyen, Executive Director for the past 17 years; Rob Sass, Editor in Chief of Porsche Panorama Magazine; Damon Lowney, Digital Media Coordinator who brings us weekly top notch Porsche related videos and Manny Alban, Technical Director and Past National President.
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