PacWest R Gruppe Meet at Portland's Rainbonnet

[a911s]

I would like to invite you all to an informal PNW Chapter R Gruppe meet next week. The meeting spot will be Portland International Raceway on Sunday, November 7th. There is a DE event, along with Drivers Skills and an Autocross, associated with Oregon PCA's Rainbonnet that day. It's a great place to gather as a group - plenty of open area parking and a good atmosphere. Earl Green is planning a fun run that will leave from there about 3pm and end up at a local eatery/pub, just like last year. This will be a great opportunity to meet, share our cars and stories before winter sets in. I will be driving at the track some on Sunday and staying at the official hotel for Rainbonnet on Saturday and Sunday night (Monarch Hotel - 12566 SE 93rd Ave, Zip 97015, Phone 800-492-8700). For those who want to come to Portland on Saturday, there will be some casual R Gruppe gatherings going on that day. Also, R Gruppe's co-founder Freeman Thomas is Saturday night's featured speaker for Rainbonnet (see www.oregonpca.org for details). PM me if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

[HarryD]

I would like to invite you all to an informal PNW Chapter R Gruppe meet next week. The meeting spot will be Portland International Raceway on Sunday, November 7th. There is a DE event, along with Drivers Skills and an Autocross, associated with Oregon PCA's Rainbonnet that day. It's a great place to gather as a group - plenty of open area parking and a good atmosphere. Earl Green is planning a fun run that will leave from there about 3pm and end up at a local eatery/pub, just like last year. This will be a great opportunity to meet, share our cars and stories before winter sets in. I will be driving at the track some on Sunday and staying at the official hotel for Rainbonnet on Saturday and Sunday night (Monarch Hotel - 12566 SE 93rd Ave, Zip 97015, Phone 800-492-8700). For those who want to come to Portland on Saturday, there will be some casual R Gruppe gatherings going on that day. Also, R Gruppe's co-founder Freeman Thomas is Saturday night's featured speaker for Rainbonnet (see www.oregonpca.org for details). PM me if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the plug. If you are planning on attending the full program (Fri/Sat/Sun), you can preregister by Nov 1 and be assured of participation in all activities or take your chances at the door.

I have some unfortunate news that Freeman Thomas will not be at Rainbonnet. Hopefully, this will not dampen your (and others) enthusiasm to the point you cannot attend.

[pwd72s]

Randy...had hoped to be there Sunday with elephant racing bushings, other minor stuff done to the car...alas, my hoped for shop time this week is not to be. Maybe next week. Would you guys still talk to me if I show up in a Ford? Everthing up in the air right now...Paul

[a911s]

Randy...had hoped to be there Sunday with elephant racing bushings, other minor stuff done to the car...alas, my hoped for shop time this week is not to be. Maybe next week. Would you guys still talk to me if I show up in a Ford? Everthing up in the air right now...Paul

Come all ye faithful....whatever your ride may be. There will be some empty passenger seats as well.

[RickS]

Hi Randy,

Would love to attend the event, but the wife is getting her new clinic up and running and have been designated finishing carpenter, plumber, painter, and quasi-electrician, and executive gopher (I will need at least 4 more of me). You and the faithful have a great time and save a spot for me next year.

Get lots of pics!

[a911s]

It was another beautiful Rainbonnet weekend - some cold fog turning to sunny skies on both days. On Saturday, eight PacWest R Gruppe members met at Gordon Ledbetter's BIG garage/workspace. Gordon's yellow '73 racecar with twin plug 3.0L MFI was on the lift and his white Euro '73 S was nearby (the door pulls on that car are the best I've felt). Monte Curtis showed up in his 911T Targa, and Keith Jones and his wife attended with their midnight blue metallic '70T/RS look "hot rod" with 2.6L MFI! Jeff Smith brought his silver/red sunroof '72S, in which he "wowed" the crowd with a "Gammy" style burnout on the tour later that day (I know I shouldn't encourage the young man ). Also there on Saturday were Howard Lazarus driving his short geared low mileage '71S in Conda Green, as well Oregon Chaptermeister Earl Green in his new-to-him burgandy '70E with "BA Spec" 2.7 motor. Tom Wilkinson drove his 2.5L 914-6, and Steve Barragar brought his '71E in Light Ivory. The drive was a blast with me chasing Herr Schmidt in matching '72S's with 2.7RS MFI engines and 911R wheels. Some of us met for food and drinks after the tour. Sunday dawned under red skies, as Earl and I drove to PIR. Scott Bradley, Monte, Earl and I participated in the DE track day there. Afterwards, Earl, Graham Hill, Brooke Stabbert (in his Irish Green '70S with new hood mounted rally lights) and I drove on a fun run along some twisty leaf strewn country roads to a local pub. A great weekend to close out the PacWest activities for 2004. Much more to come in 2005!! See you there..

[Earl Green]

Randy gave me a h*ll of a ride around PIR for our last session. He was driving his 72S at the limits of adhesion and a little bit more!

Thanks to EVERYONE for showing up!!!

71E BA Spec 2.7
R Gruppe #259

[pwd72s]

I'm sorry I wimped out on you guys...hoping that Tom passed on my regrets.

[Chuck Miller]

Earl,

I've been in that passenger seat... and learned about the joy of drive'n, and shear car control...

... I've got some 'game' ... but not in the same league as our friend Randy

Looks like you guys had a GREAT time...

Cheers

[a911s]

Your being modest, Chuck. You got it, and good.

Special thanks to Earl Green for coordinating our fun runs and for his company over the weekend. Thanks also to Gordon and Randi Ledbetter for opening up their home to us on Saturday. And thanks to everyone who showed up - that was a fun weekend!