Category Archives: News

Red Lines – Lynnsey’s President’s Message #3

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As I sit here getting ready to write this, I am gazing outside on this beautiful Saturday, February 22, 2020.  It’s near 50 degrees out, with a slight breeze.  I can feel the spring light coming in the window, teasing me, but I know it’s about to duck down behind a cloud and soon to follow, behind the horizon.  Yes, the days are getting longer.  Yes, it’s getting a bit warmer overall.  Then the National Weather Service has to ruin my ruminations by telling me that this coming week, Winter will be back for a little while. That’s Montana, doing what she wants. 

I’ve had it: I’m going to pack up my bags and run away. At least for a little while.  I’ll be off to Palm Springs at the end of this week to attend the Zone 14 President’s meeting.  We had this bright idea last year while in Saskatoon to jaunt off to the warm lands of California!  And I’m super glad we all agreed!  The meeting will take place at the same venue that Parade will be in June.  I’ll give you all a full report when I return.  I have talked to a few of you, but please don’t hesitate to let me know any questions or concerns that I can take with me regarding our club, Parade, or PCA in general—I will take them along and address them with many in the PCA executive council.

Thank you again to the Kruegers and to everyone who came to the Baked Potato Party last weekend.  A wonderful time was had by all!  I can’t wait for our next jaunt with you all! 

The next thing on our agenda is the Tech Session on March 21, and then our first drive of the season, Road to Chico, April 25 & 26, 2020.

Last night we watched Ford v Ferrari starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale.  It was up for four Oscars, and won two—Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Editing.  I can attest to it being deserving of both.  The cinematography was also wonderful: I felt like I could smell the gasoline on some of those scenes. Christian Bale’s portrayal of Ken Miles while driving made me feel a bit like someone was filming me while driving, the way he talked to the car and praised her and asked her for more.  I want to know more back story of how Carroll Shelby got to where he was with Ford Motor Company.  Yes, yes, I know I’m being a little blasphemous by going on about all these “other” marques, however, Shelby does drive a Porsche Speedster in the opening scenes.  It’s good to see it, although you cringe when he does a U-turn across multiple lanes of traffic while a bit angry.  Not to worry, Porsche Purists, film and television have ways of keeping those vintage cars pristine: it’s called, not using a vintage car at all!  For film, if you’re using a car in a scene, you usually must have at least three cars, so any one car has two backups.  There’s not a lot of vintage metal just laying around that can still run.  A lot of film cars are replicas, and there’s a lot of magic that goes into making us suspend our disbelief.  But let us not fret—ALL the Cobras were replicas.  Ford v Ferrari was a great way to spend two and a half hours, cheering and crying, crying and cheering. I highly recommend grabbing some popcorn and turning it up—get ready to smell the rubber.

Red Lines – Lynnsey’s President’s Message #2

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Hello All,

I heard that in Pennsylvania on Sunday Punxsutawney Phil predicted that we should have an early spring.  Take that as you may, since Montana seems to do whatever she wants with the weather!

One thing is for certain: we will have the Ninth Annual Baked Potato Party regardless of the weather!  We have two venues available, thanks to the Krueger’s, and we will distribute the address of the appropriate Billings location depending on the weather a few days before.  Please RSVP to me by February 13.

Also, I wanted to remind you that registration for our annual drive to Chico Hot Springs is open and there are a few overnight rooms left.  Thanks to Jack and Herb for securing a wonderful half price rate on our rooms this year;  Chico always proves to be a fun time.  Call Chico at (406) 333-4933 and mention that you’re with the Absaroka Porsche Club to get the great rate!

At the end of this month, I will attend the Zone 14 Presidents Meeting.  This is the time for me to relay your questions and concerns to our Zone Representative, Peter Spencer.  If you have any questions for our Zone or for anyone in the National Committee, please relay them to me.  I have a few things to put on the meeting agenda, but I need to hear from you all as well.

And lastly, anyone thinking of going to Porsche Parade this year, it is in Palm Springs.  Registration is open. You can find all the information on the PCA website with your PCA login. Early registration gets a discount.

See you all at breakfast this Saturday!  Remember, it’s at the Laurel Golf Club, 9am

Red Lines – Lynnsey’s President’s Message #1

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Guten tag friends!  Happy New Year!  I hope everyone is as excited about the coming year as I am!

I can’t believe this will be my sixth anniversary of being a member of the Absaroka Porsche Club, and I can’t wait for many more!  I became a member by default, when my husband said, “ok, you’re my affiliate member” and I said “what?!?!”  I honestly didn’t know that there was a group for just these cars: and I especially didn’t know that there was a group of people that were so welcoming and fun-loving as the ones in our region.  I was just along for the ride—which is pretty ironic, considering that I get car-sick if I am not the one driving.  This fun fact got me my own car when Anthony got tired of me looking rather green in the passenger seat.  And my first new-to-me Porsche happened to be the same model as the first “sports car” that I drove back in high school.   It was even the same color, Porsche Guard’s Red, of which I’m quite fond.  Ruby Slipper isn’t super fast, but she always has the power to take me home, and there’s no place like home, this wonderful state of Montana we all live and love in.

It just turned full on winter with the passing solstice, and most of our cars are snug away in their garages and under cover.  I encourage all of you in this time of less driving to log on to the PCA website and update your membership record. We have determined that the easiest and most effective way to contact you is through email and text, so please make sure that those are right in your PCA account.  If you do not know how, I can help you at our next meeting, or I am available by text anytime!  We have a lot of fun events planned for this year and I don’t want for any of you to miss out on the fun, from the Potato Party to some cool day drives, tech sessions, and even some overnighters. We are also working to have a weekly Cars & Coffee event with some other car groups around Billings.

Speaking of overnighters, make sure to call Chico Hot Springs and make your reservations for our first overnight event of the season April 25.  There are more rooms and dinner seats available this year thanks to Herb and Jack.  Mention you’re part of the Absaroka Porsche Club to get our group rate.

This year looks to be a fun one! I look forward to serving you as president and having you all as friends. Thanks for making this group so wonderful!

Sartorial Ninja and PCA Absaroka Region President

Herb Stoick (1956 – 2019)

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The day before we celebrate the birth of our Savior, with heavy hearts we learned of the passing of our dear friend and recent past Absaroka Region President Herb Stoick after his recent struggle against cancer. Herb will be missed amongst our ranks.

Herb joined Absaroka Region in 2010 after displaying his first red Porsche 928 he called “HNDBSKT” at the 2010 All Euro Car Show at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Like many since him, his enthusiasm and active participation in our little region showed the leader and friend he was.

Herb was a bit reluctant to be president, but he grew in the role and left a permanent mark on all of us and continued to raise the standards of excellence expected for our region. He led us on new adventures exploring the back roads of Montana like the recent trip aboard the Charlie Russell Chew Choo in Lewistown, Montana. That was a wonderful last drive together.

Herb had a big heart and was a friend to all. He was always willing to help fellow members and he enjoyed having parties at his home on the Yellowstone River.

In 2015, our then Zone 6 Representative wanted to do a “Grand Tour” of the entire zone. It was a monumental undertaking. When the group passed through the Absaroka Region we wanted to do something special for the fellow PCAers to highlight our region. Herb volunteered to have a party at his home on the Yellowstone River and was excited about hosting it. The party was held at Herb’s and it was a massive success. In my travels to PCA events across the county as a former national staff member, the topic of Zone 6’s Grand Tour frequently came up and without hesitation the highlight was always the evening at Herb’s home on the river. He hit a home run with his warm hospitality to PCA strangers.

In 2018 the 63rd Porsche Parade was being held at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. A PCA member from the Alaska Region was driving to Parade in his 928 when he hit a deer somewhere in the wilds of southern Canada. The President of Alaska Region called me, told me what was up, and asked if anyone in our region could help his fellow Alaskan member out with his 928. I called Herb who in turn called the PCA member, and they met at Herb’s place. At the end of the day, the PCAer was back on the road to Parade with repaired body work and a new headlight.

We’re going to miss Herb. We’ll think of him driving in his second “HNDBSKT,” a black and orange 928 S4 on our journeys through our beautiful Absaroka Region. Whether over the Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways, through the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, enjoying dinner at Chico Hot Springs, or on our jaunts into Yellowstone National Park, we’ll miss him and his homemade wine at our get-togethers.

After the death of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, the Brazilians introduced a new word to the world, “Saudade.” It’s described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone. It’s an emptiness, like when someone, or something that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence. It brings sad and happy feelings together; sadness for missing and happiness for experiencing the past.

Saudade, our friend.

Farewell Herb. There aren’t any speed limits in Heaven.