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From the Archives #8, October 2022

Our Las Vegas Region started out its 1975 year with big plans and a new President, Paul Riley.

Their first year, 1974, had finished up with several cars participating in an autocross/time trial (they don’t seem to differentiate and use the two terms interchangeably) at the Ontario Motor Speedway, and an LVR Christmas party that had an accordion player (!) for entertainment (Why don’t we do that?). The time trial featured a 3.2-mile course, including a 1-mile straightaway. The several 356s entered reached 120 mph on that straight, which is just about exactly their top speed. There was no mention of the speed of the accordion player at the party.

At the first Board meeting of the year, it was pointed out that the Region Newsletter (still unnamed) cost $200 per month. They agreed to try to meet this cost by way of advertisers in the Newsletter. In looking through the year’s issues, we note that there were quite a few ads from restaurants, none of which still exist today.

Neither does the Ontario Motor Speedway.

The Region planned a ski trip to Brian Head in early February 1975, at the cost of $8.00 per night per person. We’re looking into where they planned to stay, to see if that deal is still available.

And the LVR members were clearly technically-oriented in 1975, since there was usually a lengthy tech column in each Newsletter. One column said that one of the best toolbox items to have was a battery post cleaner. How many of you have one of these in your Porsche? All of you do I bet.

And then you should certainly know how to repack and adjust the front wheel bearings on your Porsche. All you’ll need is a pair of needle-nose pliers, a small screwdriver, a pair of water pump pliers, a hardwood drift, and a heavy mallet. Plus, of course, the instructions from the old Newsletter and a lot of wheel bearing grease. So go to it.