Editorial Ramblings

Zone One Concours Report

By Dave Getchell

Jeez, whatta blast it was to attend the Zone One Concours, May 12-14 in Lake Placid NY.  Organizers Steve Turco, John Paterek and crew really put on a class event at the Olympic speed-skating oval. Maybe I'm biased, because the "clipboard contingent" (ie the judges) really liked my unrestored 911T, awarding it second in the Early 911 Class. My car turned 99,000 miles on the way to the show, which evidently made a strong statement compared to the trailer queens that normally rule the concours circuit.

Several PCA folks told me that the Zone One Concours is every bit as tough as the National Parade each year, so I'm honored to do well amid such immaculately prepped cars. It does appear that well-preserved, unrestored Porsches are being better received these days: A baby-blue original 356 named "Heidi" trophied among its obsessively restored siblings. 

Fancy trailers cradled beyond-perfect 356s, hot-rodded 914-6s, pristine 49-mile 911 Speedsters and similar exotica.  Doug Brown's incredible Speed Yellow 73 Carrera RS won Best of Show, squeaking past Stuart Zeh's incredible Parade-winning ruby-red Speedster (complete with outrageous gangster whitewalls) by 1 freakin' point. Brown's RS was functionally (or more to the point, un-functionally) perfect: 299.5 points out of a possible 300. It's been driven a grand total of four miles since restoration and winning Best 911 honors at the Tremblant Parade. 

I really learned a lot from the other competitors, particularly from PCA concours guru John Paterek and former Zone One Rep Doug Troyer.  These guys add real value to PCA membership with the knowledge and experience they share so freely with the "new kids." Tips and tricks they showed me over two days of prep work helped me score 280 points (thanks to extra points awarded for actually driving 425 miles to the event), edging out several trailer queens. 

Paterek and Zone One Rep Pete Tremper got all psyched about DER sponsoring the Zone One Concours for 2003 and having it at Portland Head Light.  When old-timer PCA types saw the Maine plates on my car, they launched into stories about how much they LOVED the 1984 Maine Parade, and how fondly they remember the field of gleaming Porsches arrayed around the lighthouse grounds.  Here's a chance to generate some good energy and publicity for DER over the next couple of years....something to chew over at our club meetings!  Any word if Tom McKenny has plans for a Maine Parade somewhere up his sleeve?

Dave

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