pacesetter november 2015
DESCRIPTION
Monthly newsletter of the Kentucky Region Porsche Club KYPCATRANSCRIPT
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 1
Cover photo from Edward Hessel. See page 12-14 for more photos.
NOVEMBER 2015
Page 2 PaceSetter November 2015
NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Roosters 10430 Shelbyville Road
Louisville, KY 40223
Monday Nov. 9
7:00 PM
This casual meeting involves anyone interested in all types of cars. It's a free event, however it is a
benefit for Dystonia, so please make a donation and/or buy some coffee or breakfast to support the cause. It is weather-pending, but only
depending on what conditions you're willing to bring out your Porsche. Just show-up whenever you can. Who knows, maybe some of us will go
for a drive afterwards?
Cars & Coffee is always held on the second Saturday from 9-11AM in the parking lot of
Captain's Quarters Restaurant on River Rd. Now $5 per car.
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 3
2015 KY Region PCA Calendar www.kypca.org
Table of
Contents
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Club Contact Info Page 4
President’s Report Page 6
The MART
Page 8 Hubers Photos
Page 12-14 Bourbon Tasting Pho-
tos Page 16-17
Swap Meet Photos Page 18-19
Membership Info Page 20
Editor’s Desk Page 21
Advertisers Index Page 21
Pedro’s Tech Article
Page 22-24 Badler’s Column
Page 26-27
APRIL MAY JUNE
JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMEBR
9—Membership Mtg. Roosters
14—Cars & Coffee ??
14—Membership Mtg.
Mellow Mushroom
All events are subject to change due to weather and availability.
Central KY SCCA Autocross Schedule
www.ckrscca.org
Central Indiana PCA Calendar
www.cirpca.org
KYRSCCA Autocross Schedule
www.kyscca.com
Page 4 PaceSetter November 2015
President: Jason Miller
Crestwood, KY (502) 253-5704 [email protected]
Vice President: Jeremy Miller Fisherville, KY
(502) 396-9111 [email protected]
Secretary: Granger Adams Louisville, KY
(502) 457-7624 [email protected]
Treasurer: Richard Darnell Louisville, KY (502) 889-8120
[email protected] Membership:
Gene Hoffman Louisville, KY (502) 435-4981
[email protected] Activities Committee:
T.H. Morris—Chair (502) 548-3275 [email protected]
Beth Bynum 502-472-9580 [email protected]
Gene Hoffman (see above)
Deborah Schultz (502) 417-6715 [email protected]
Tracy Smithcudnik (812) 725-4352 [email protected]
2015 KENTUCKY REGION PCA OFFICERS & BOARD
PaceSetter Editor: Belinda Schweinhart
Goshen, KY (502) 228-9725 [email protected] [email protected]
Website Chair: Mark Bos Louisville, KY
Board Members:
Matt Innes (2014-15) (see below)
Mark Bos (2015-16) (see above)
Edward Hessel (2015-16)
Louisville, KY (502) 541-5253 [email protected]
Past President: Matt Innes Prospect, KY
(502) 552-5487 [email protected]
Southwest KY PCA Rep Debra Marie Pollock (270) 791-4044
Stay informed and participate! Join the KYPCA mailing list and be notified of upcoming events, club news, and
membership information. Remember, it’s your participation as
a member that makes the club successful.
Please visit the below website and sign-up today!
www.kypca.org (mailing list sign-up for Pacesetter, Driver Education and general information)
www.kypca.org/club-news/ (club activities, meetings, or general announcements from KY Region PCA, the
latest issue of the Pacesetter (our monthly newsletter), announcements of new models, racing news)
www.kypca.org/document-library/ (club specific documents, upcoming club
events, frequently asked questions, mailing list sign-up, Web Links)
www.kypca.org/club-events/ (photos and videos from club events (member submitted or just something we think is really cool and Porsche related))
Having trouble viewing the kypca.org
website? Do you have a suggestion on how we can improve it? Please send any feedback you might have to
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/50109424636/
KY PCA Website www.kypca.org
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 5
Page 6 PaceSetter November 2015
President’s Report
November 2015 Jason Miller—KY Region President
Saturday, October 10 marked our first annual German Festival and Bourbon Tasting at the
beautiful home of Steve and Bernadette Doolin. Their log home set on 10 acres of secluded wood land provided the perfect backdrop to a great
evening which included a bonfire, German treats, and a blind bourbon tasting. The 6 bourbons sampled were from distilleries toured during our
drives this past year. It was a perfect night, and plans for next year’s event are already under way.
The last planned drive of the year is
Saturday, October 17. It is our 14th annual Huber’s Winery Drive. The
drive will once again be led by Steve
McCombs and as in years past we will meet up with the Central
Indiana Region. The weather this time of year is hard to beat, making this a can’t miss drive.
Every October brings with it the need to elect new Club Officers. Only the seats of the President and
our Board Members are term limited. As my two-year term as President is coming to an end, it is time to elect a new President. The office of
Secretary and one Board position are also being vacated. Hence, at our October meeting a quorum
of members elected Steve McCombs the 2016 President. Dan Stewart was elected Secretary.
And, Steven Rountree was chosen to round out the Board. All other offices will remain intact.
Discussions for our January Holiday Hangover Party have begun. This will be mid-January as usual and details will follow as things come
together. Lastly, suggestions for meeting locations as we prepare the 2016 calendar are appreciated.
Preferred criteria include: a FREE meeting room, good parking for the Porsche, and quality
affordable food. Please e-mail me:
[email protected] Our November meeting will be Monday,
November 9 at Rooster’s, 10430 Shelbyville Rd. The meeting starts at
7pm, but many arrive as early as 6:30.
Jason Miller
“The weather this time of yeat is
hard to beat…”
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 7
Page 8 PaceSetter November 2015
THE MART
The Mart Rules The Mart Ads are free to all PCA members. It will appear for TWO issues and can be relisted by contacting
the newsletter editor. All ads must be car related. To place an advertisement in “The Mart” contact the Pace-
Setter editor.
For Sale
White on brown 1984 944, 76,000 miles. Garage kept and meticulously maintained with most service records and paperwork since new. Car is in Little Rock, Arkansas and can be shipped.
Originally brought to Arkansas by one of the Firestone family members, it was purchased by a car
collector and then my father purchased it. Selling because it is rarely driven as the current owner is having knee pain when getting in and out of the car.
The car is an automatic. Asking $5,500 obo. Please contact John Ackerman with any interest/questions [email protected] and 502-819-
0935. (This is Lucy Innes’Dad.)
Brushed aluminum rims are 7"x17" $350 for both Crome are 7"x17" and 9"x17" $700 for all 4. All tires shown are no good. Rims will fit on a 944 with spacers. Contact Matt Innes at [email protected]
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 9
The PCA Member Only Fall 2015 Raffle is now open!
All Paid Entries Received By The Deadline Will Be Accepted
MORE ENTRIES, MORE PRIZES!
Up to 8,500 entries for Initial Grand Prize
After 8,500 entries, a Grand Prize will be added every 4,250 entries sold thereafter Winner announced by: January 31, 2016
Entry Price: $50.00 US
Entry Deadline: December 1, 2015
Click here to purchase your entries or find official raffle rules.
https://www.pca.org/news/2015-10-06/fall-2015-member-only-raffle-911-carrera-grand-prize
Winner need not be present to win. Cash price in lieu of vehicle and additional cash prize listed above, $80,000 US.
Page 10 PaceSetter November 2015
Good Afternoon Motorbooks Friend, We are excited to announce that Motorbooks is celebrating our 50th Anniversary this fall.
It's amazing to think what started in the garage of a passionate Minnesota gear head has grown into the world's
leading book publisher in this category. It truly is a remarkable story of one man's drive (yes, pun intended).
Please consider helping us celebrate this important accomplishment by sharing the information below with your car club members.
1 LUCKY READER WILL WIN 50 BOOKS OF THEIR CHOICE!
To show our appreciation to our passionate readers, we are giving 1 lucky winner 50 BOOKS of their choice (valued
at $50 or under per title). Entries are being accepted through the following ways. I encourage you to tell your mem-
bers to register to win! Deadline to enter is 12.31.15.
• QuartoDrives Facebook page (contest tab here: http://gvwy.io/u216zzv)
• Send a “Happy Anniversary Motorbooks” video greeting to [email protected] (details below)
SHARE AN ANNIVERSARY VIDEO GREETING BE REGISTERED TO WIN 50 BOOKS! We are asking your club members to share a quick “Happy 50th Anniversary Motorbooks” video. We encourage par-
ticipants to also tell us their favorite car from the last 50 years in the video. We will be sharing these messages on
social media over the coming months.
All video entries are considered a registration in the chance to win 50 books! Grab your smart phone, take a quick
video and email videos to [email protected] .
50% DISCOUNT REMINDER
Just a reminder that our offer of 50% off our books (anything you see on www.QuartoKnows.com) and free shipping
on orders over $75.00 applies to car clubs all the time... no expiration. In addition to car books, we publish books on
gardening, music, cooking, crafting, history, aviation and much more. Your members could take care of all their holi-
day shopping right here with us.
*******************************************
THE MOTORBOOKS STORY
1965: BORN IN A GARAGE
It’s only fitting that Motorbooks story begins in a garage. The year was 1965, and North America was in dire need of
quality car, motorcycle, and racing books. Luckily for gearheads, a transplanted Englishman and lifelong car guy
named Thomas Warth took it upon himself to feed the need.
From the stalls of his humble Minneapolis, Minnesota, garage, Warth launched a modest automotive book mail-order
business selling transportation tomes, many of them imported from England. Thus was born Classic Motorbooks. In
1973, Classic Motorbooks began publishing its own books, which it made available alongside those from leading
transportation publishers around the world. This move put Motorbooks in the driver’s seat, allowing it to define the
best books for enthusiasts and then engage the motoring world’s best photographers and writers to create them an
approach that continues to this day.
Besides our award-winning writers and shooters, we also partner with some of the biggest names in the business,
like Chevrolet, Ford, Hot Rod and Cycle World magazines, Dodge, and SRT- all to give us access to the best stories
and the coolest photography.
Alongside its own titles, Motorbooks continues to offer the best books from the other premier transportation publish-
ers, fine-tuned exclusively for the enthusiast by gearheads who are just as obsessed as you are. For 50 years, Motor-
books has embraced the gearhead life. If it has wheels, we dig it.
*******************************************
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 11
Thanks again for your consideration to help us spread the word about our 50th anniversary.
Nichole
Page 12 PaceSetter November 2015
Exclusive Hubers Membership Drive Photos Photos by Edward Hessel
That’s right—EXCLUSIVE! You won’t find these gems on Facebook. You can only see them here!
ENJOY!!! (Thanks Edward)
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 13
Page 14 PaceSetter November 2015
Hubers Membership Drive Photos from Facebook Photos by Julian Glenn Gabbord
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 15
Page 16 PaceSetter November 2015
1st Annual Bourbon Tasting Photos Photos by Holly Miller
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 17
Page 18 PaceSetter November 2015
Stuttgart Swap Meet Photos Photos by Belinda Schweinhart
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 19
Page 20 PaceSetter November 2015
November 2015
Yrs Name City Car Year, Model, Color
19 David & Callan Handmaker Louisville KY 1989 911 Carrera 4 19 Doug & Tammy Meredith Louisville KY 1984 928S
16 Steve Mccombs Louisville KY 1989 911 Turbo 16 Joe & Daisy Rocha Slaughters KY 1979 911 SC Targa 14 Mark & Sandra Brodsky Prospect KY 2001 911 Carrera
12 Greg & Barbara Huber Louisville KY 1968 912 11 Romeo & Mary Laureano Louisville KY 2005 911 Carrera Coupe Silver 10 John & Cory Moneymaker Louisville KY 1984 911 Carrera Cab Red
9 Michael & Edward Croucher Sellersburg IN 1988 944S Red 6 Jerry Ream & Brian Duvall Glasgow KY 2003 Boxster Cabriolet Black 2 Mark Nally Louisville KY 1978 911 SC Blue 1 Patty Davis Louisville KY 2001 Boxster Convertible Blue
1 Jim Doll Louisville KY 2006 Boxster Conv Seal Gray 1 Mike Winebrenner Sellersburg IN 1988 911 Carrera Coupe Silver **Incomplete profiles are based on the info you filed with National when joining/renewing your membership.
PCA Anniversaries!!
Welcome New Members!!
October 2015
Endre Bujtas Louisville KY 2015 Cayman GTS 2 Dr Black
Chris Dischinger Louisivlle KY 2016 Cayman GT4 Black Aaron & Zoya Leichty Louisville KY 2006 Cayman S Hans Maessen Neerpelt, Belgium* 1998 911 Carrera 4S Coup
Blue Metallic Phil McCauley Louisville KY
* This is NOT a typo!!!!!
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 21
Are you on Facebook yet?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/50109424636/ I barely scratched the surface of the photos available on our
Facebook page. Our region has the best photographers around! Be sure to share any photos that you take with your Porsche too. You might just end up on the next cover!
From the Editor’s Desk By Belinda Schweinhart
No comments about the color scheme so I’m sticking with this
one for a while. Maybe I’ll change it in January for a yearly color scheme.
I’ve heard you can print out the Pacesettter from the Issuu web-
site. Can someone tell me how you do it? When I log in it defaults to editor settings and it looks differ-ent.
PACESETTER ADVERTISING RATES
Classified Ads for ‘The Mart’ are published at no cost
to PCA members for 3 months and at nominal cost to non-members. Send copy for ads to the PaceSetter
Editor.
Commercial Rates: 1/4 Page $130, 1/2 Page $250,
Full Page $500, per year. Quarterly terms are
available but require advance payment.
Business card ads are accepted from Kentucky Region members only at $65 per year. Mail your
card and a check made payable to Kentucky Region
PCA, to the Pacesetter Editor.
Advertiser’s INDEX Blue Grass Motorsport………………………………………..5
Lichtefeld Incorporated……………………………………...7 Pedros Garage…………………………………………………..14
Stein Automotive……………………………………..………..7
Stuttgart Specialists………………………………………….15
Page 22 PaceSetter November 2015
Published in the November 2015 issue of “Die Porsche Kassette”
We all love driving our cars, so eventually we’ll get a
�re puncture. I’ve had six in 18 years (265,000 miles) of
Boxstering. I have good news and bad
news for you.
First, the bad news: The newer cars
(981s, 991s, 987s and 997s) don’t even
come with a spare �re, so how can you
avoid ge,ng stranded in the middle of nowhere or
having to wait hours for a tow truck to appear?
Now, the good news:
You can fix your own flat!
Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
•Wheel lug wrench and special
tamper-proof socket if required.
• Jack
•Tire repair kit (plug type). Go buy
one now for each car.
• Electric (12 VDC) air compressor
• Pliers
The older models have an emergency spare �re in the
front trunk, but this �re is to be used at low speeds (55
mph maximum) and short distances (50 miles
maximum). They are also inflated to 60 psi and in most
cases, since they are stored out-of-sight, when needed, the
pressure has slowly dropped to unusable
levels.
In the spare �re’s rim or
in a cubby hole in the
trunk are the factory tools and scissors jack
to perform the opera�on. But I’ve found
that it takes less �me and less effort to
repair your �re (in situ) than to remove the
punctured �re, install the emergency spare,
drive to a �re store, have the puncture
repaired, replace the �re, and store the
spare.
Since the newer
models don’t even have the spare at
all, Porsche supplies the owner with
a fix-a-flat can of “goo”. Although
somewhat effec�ve on the smallest
of punctures, keep in mind that if
you use the goo, it will cost you a
pre>y penny to have the wheel
cleaned, before a new �re can be
installed. That stuff is a nasty, s�cky
slime that is very difficult to wash off.
“That stuff is nasty, sticky slime that is difficult to wash off.”
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 23
I need to point out that not all punctures can be
repaired. If the puncture is on or very near the sidewall,
it should NOT be repaired. However most punctures of
the tread (contact patch) may be repaired unless the �re
has been torn open or has a large gash.
For the majority of punctures, caused by nails,
screws and similar, here’s what to do:
Once you no�ce that you have a flat, carefully
reduce your speed un�l you can safely stop away
from traffic. Avoid driving on a deflated �re,
because the car is more difficult to control and
because the �re will be damaged beyond repair.
When pulling off the road, make sure you don’t put
yourself in danger. Try to stop in more or less level
ground. If you have emergency triangles, place them a
few hundred feet before traffic sees your car. Also make
sure that your emergency
flashers are on and that you are
visible to traffic.
Now you need to find the
culprit. If you can’t see it
immediately, roll your car a few
inches forward or backward and
check the �re again. Once you
iden�fy the cause, you can opt
to fix it in place (if you have
enough room to work) or you
can remove the �re and work
more comfortably.
To remove the )re:
a) Take the wheel lug wrench from the tool kit and
loosen every lug bolt. Note that most Porsches have a
tamper proof lug bolt on every wheel and you will need
to use the factory-provided matching socket.
b) For extra safety, make sure the car cannot roll off the
jack by wedging an object under the other �res, using it
as wheel chocks.
c) Once the lugs are loose, put the scissors jack in place
and slowly raise the car. There’s a jacking point just in
front of each rear �re and just behind each front.
d) When the wheel is off the ground, remove the lug
bolts and pull the wheel off.
Using pliers pull out the
nail or screw.
Using the special ream tool
in the �re repair kit, ream
out the puncture. Because
of the steel belts in some
�res, it could be hard
work. But this step is
necessary to ensure a good
puncture seal.
Take a plug strand from
the kit and place it in the
“pickle fork” tool, also
found in the kit, and apply
the supplied cement
liberally on both the plug
strand and the (reamed)
puncture hole.
The cement will act as a
lubricant allowing the plug
to go in easier as well as
sealing the puncture.
The pickle fork should hold
the plug strand more or
less in the middle.
Page 24 PaceSetter November 2015
Quickly (before the cement dries) insert the
plugging cord using the “pickle fork” tool. By using
a quick in-and-out motion into the tire. The plug
will remain in place when the tool comes out. You
can now cut the protruding plug off with wire
cutters or a sharp knife. If no cutting tool is
available, leave it. It will wear out as you drive.
Using a portable 12 volt air compressor, inflate the
newly fixed tire to the recommended pressure (+/-
35 PSI). For exact tire inflation pressure consult
the sticker on your driver’s door or door jamb.
If you removed the tire, remount and tighten lugs
lightly. Lower the car and finish torquing the lugs
(96 ft-lb). Store the jack and tools.
The car is safe to drive right away.
It is not recommended that a plugged tire be used
at high speeds, because the tire may loose its “Z”
rating after a puncture. But having said that I have
repaired all of my punctures that way and have
never had any problems whatsoever. The repaired
tires were used normally after plugging and were
replaced when the rest of the set was worn and the
plugs were still intact.
These photos are from an actual in-situ tire repair
performed during the West Coast Boxster Fest
(WCBF ’07) in Lake Tahoe, NV, on my own loaner
Boxster S.
I want to thank MartinJF for
taking the photos and more
importantly, for letting me use
his tire repair kit and his
portable air compressor.
Thanks, Martin. You saved my
day.
For more information on fixing tires and Flushing,
please visit my website: www.PedrosGarage.com.
Happy Porsche’ing,
Ⓒ2015 Technolab / PedrosGarage.com
technolab
Pedro P. Bonilla Weston, FL 33327
(954) 385-0330
www.PedrosGarage.com
www.PedrosBoard.com
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 25
Page 26 PaceSetter November 2015
I Get Around—Cruisin’ For a Bruisin’ By Danielle Badler, November 2015 Rocky Mountain’s High Gear
And so it came around again, the annual Rocky
Mountain Automotive Press Assn. driving event.
Two days in the mountains, all courtesy of a cross
-section of manufacturers, all hoping we’ll love
their wares.
Ok, ok. Through my membership, I do get at
least some compensation as your humble scribe.
Sort of. I get to go. On perhaps the best two
days of the year.
First order of business; no, Porsche did not
participate. I don’t think they’ve ever
participated. Are you listening, PCNA? Why o
why? And don’t tell me you were distracted. This
was before the VW diesel fiasco.
This year we were asked to follow
a pre-set loop of either a half
hour or 45 minutes. The idea was
to give everyone a chance to
sample the goods.
Oh yes. I kept running out of time.
The new Corvette. A Stingray coupe with the Z51
performance package, in Laguna blue.
According to the spec sheet, the car had the Z51
gearing. Whatever that is. I found that, at any
legal or supra-legal speed, I had the choice of at
least three, maybe four, gears. It made no
difference.
Here’s what happened. As an experiment, I
shifted the gearbox (yes GM brought one with a
manual transmission) into seventh and slowed to
60. The rev counter said, like, 1,200 rpm. Which
is a bit absurd, don’t you think? So I tried to
accelerate… and it would. Not quickly, mind you,
but it did. And it went up a hill, without having to
downshift.
This car also had “active rev match.” The way it
worked is, you flip one of two levers on the steering
wheel, about where paddles for manu-matic shifting
would be and, whoo hoo, the next time you
downshift, it blips the throttle and rev-matches right
before your eyes. Faster and more precisely than
you could ever manage. Say going from fifth to
second, it blip, blip, blips you right down.
Did I like the feature? I don’t know. I kept
forgetting that it was there. I kept trying to heel
and toe downshift. Which totally messed up the rev-
matching feature. Old habits are hard to break.
I guess you’d get used to it. I know you’d get used
to the sticker price, $70, 830, reasonably loaded.
Does that undercut a similarly equipped Cayman S
by a wide margin? Uh, yes.
The Jaguar F-Type R
convertible.
This is the one with the supercharged 5.0-liter V8,
good for 550 hp. Eight-speed auto. MSRP of
$121,350, well-equipped.
Yeah, it’s stunning. And very tight. And it sounds
fierce. Even with the top up. I never did pop the
trunk, though. So I don’t know if I could get my golf
clubs in.
C’mon. If you own this car, are you really going to
brace your clubs against the passenger seat? And
have them clobber you in the arm, the first time you
make an energetic right turn? Hey, if they don’t fit
in the trunk, the Jag mates to the Audi R8 from a
practicality standpoint. And then the 911 wins, if
only because you won’t get beaned by flying objects.
As for ultimate performance potential, the envelope
is so large that only a track will tell. I have no idea.
I’d like to find out.
“As is, it just looks too Tonka-toy for my
tastes.”
PaceSetter November 2015 Page 27
Mazda MX-5 Miata Club.
But I do know the performance potential of this
one. Because, with the latest Miata, you can eke
the last bit out of it, every day, twice a day, on
your daily commute. And maybe that’s the
essence of all the euphoric road tests we’ve sifted
through.
In this incarnation, the interior’s up to date. The
gearbox snick snick snicks. The top slides up and
down by hand in no time at all. It’s fun. And all
accessible.
Except for two things. First, I’m sorry, I wanted to
like the exterior styling a lot more than I did. At
one point I followed someone else in the car. And I
kept thinking the Miata needs a plus 1 or plus 2 tire
fitment. As is, it just looks too Tonka-toy for my
tastes.
And it needs 50 more hp. No, make that 100 more
hp. When you’re yelling “come on, baby, come on,
baby” in passing mode, you know it’s true. As is,
it’s adequate. Which I find boring.
Although that could have had something to do with
the next feline I drove, the Dodge Charger SRT
Hellcat.
Here’s all you really need to know; 707 hp, 204
mph, $70,865, loaded. But that doesn’t tell the full
story. Like the fact you get four doors. An
automatic. You can take it shopping… and, when
you leave the parking lot, you can melt the tires
before you get to the first intersection.
And the sound. Remember the Hemi ‘Cuda? If
you’re reading this, probably not. But you get the
idea. Think top stock eliminator, with real brakes
and anti-roll bars.
Inside, the central touch screen shows all these
axle diagrams. I have no idea what they do. And
I’d probably have to read the manual to find out,
which, of course, I had no time for. But I did find
Sport mode. Which kept the revs up and enabled
instant bellow.
Yes, it’s hard to switch from a Miata into this
homage to retched excess. But just what
exactly is it? Sure, it’s the ultimate MoPar halo
car. But for what? For whom? I kept singing to
myself “Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.”
The rest begin to blur. I wanted to like the
Mustang GT Coupe Premium, with 435 hp and
400 lb.-ft. of torque, at an as-tested price of
$46, 085. But it still drove like a truck. I never
did find the friction point on the clutch, and I
could hardly see anything out the rear. Some
things never change.
I did like the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, though.
Very tactile. A very real American M3, or is it
now M4. This car I could live with. It comes
with 464 supercharged hp from 3.6 liters. The
test car had the “track performance package,”
which included a lot of carbon fiber body bits.
For $74,140. I even liked the latest version of
Cadillac’s folded paper styling. And the manual
gearbox.
Same for the Buick Regal AWD GS. At $44,965,
loaded, with a six-speed manual, 259
turbocharged hp and a Haldex center differential.
Ok, I’ll say it; “that’s a Buick?” No, it’s a viable
3-series alternative. Really.
Oh, I drove the new VW Golf R as well. With the
manu-matic. A confession. My daily driver is
one of last year’s R models. The new R is a very
logical step up, in fit, trim and performance.
Nothing’s lost, it’s an incremental gain.
Although I’d keep the stick.
That’s it. My level of interest faded with the
setting sun. Acura ILX. No time. Did I miss
much? Lexus IS. Subaru WRX. That one I
would have liked to try. A raft of SUVs and
trucks. They all went on a typical teeter-totter
slow-mo off-road excursion. I passed.
Oh well, there’s always next year. My dues are
paid up.
Page 28 PaceSetter November 2015
Photo by Holly Miller. See page 14-15 for more photos. Back cover photo from Edward Hessel. See page 12-14 for more photos.