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PaceSetter November 2015 Page 1 Cover photo from Edward Hessel. See page 12-14 for more photos. NOVEMBER 2015

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Monthly newsletter of the Kentucky Region Porsche Club KYPCA

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Page 1: Pacesetter November 2015

PaceSetter November 2015 Page 1

Cover photo from Edward Hessel. See page 12-14 for more photos.

NOVEMBER 2015

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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.

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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

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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

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

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

[email protected].

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/50109424636/

KY PCA Website www.kypca.org

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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…”

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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]

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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.

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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.

*******************************************

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Thanks again for your consideration to help us spread the word about our 50th anniversary.

Nichole

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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)

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Hubers Membership Drive Photos from Facebook Photos by Julian Glenn Gabbord

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1st Annual Bourbon Tasting Photos Photos by Holly Miller

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Stuttgart Swap Meet Photos Photos by Belinda Schweinhart

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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!!!!!

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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

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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.”

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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.

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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

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.PedrosGarage.com

www.PedrosBoard.com

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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.”

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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

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.