Author Archive: Phil Reese

By Phil Reese

The last Saturday in October, being a close-to-perfect day, the roadster said he wanted to take a drive. After some discussion, I said it would be ok, but only if he stuck to roads he has travelled before.

Since he was already full of gas (and other things), I went down to the garage, and he was already out in the driveway, ready to go. And he had Linda with him.

After a partial loop of the 215, he (with Linda aboard) approached the gate at the southern entrance of Lake Mead national recreation area.

I hadn’t realized it, but he interpreted literally my admonition [...]

From the Archives #9, November 2022

The Las Vegas Region newsletter, named “Sandscript” for the first time in February 1975, asked readers to support the advertisers. It was noted that without the advertisers, the monthly newsletter wouldn’t be possible. The issue contained 14 ads. These included a beauty salon, a jeweler, three restaurants, two gas stations, a printing shop, a house painter, a real estate agent, and four having to do with Porsches. The latter included a half-rear-cover ad from Sunland Motors, the Porsche-Audi dealer of the day. This was the largest and most expensive ad, so good on Sunland.

The February Sandscript included a listing of the PCA Zone 8 events scheduled for the 1975 year. It pointed out that the Las Vegas Region was the smallest Region in Zone 8, and that the LVR was fortunate in having such a well-organized and active nearby Zone in which to participate. (Nearby??) I can’t resist [...]

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 [...]

From the Archives #7, September 2022

We’ve decided to take a short break from relating the Las Vegas Region’s past from fifty years ago, and instead jump to a time only fifteen years ago… 2007 (BTW, how can 2007 be 15 years ago? It was just yesterday.)

The newsletter, Sandscript, announced that after a two-year wait, the Las Vegas Region polo shirts were in hand and ready for sale. Only $20 each, with a pocket in front and the Region’s logo on the back. (We don’t have Region shirts any more, do we?)

AND, …..2007 was the year that the “Team Porsche” demolished the competition for the fifth consecutive time in the open-road race (ORR) called the Pony Express 130. As it was run in 2007, this was an 83-mile ORR (yes, 83 miles of open road racing, right here in Nevada). On State Rt. 305 (look it up), traffic is halted, and a legal [...]

From the Archives #6, August 2022

We’re going to call December 1974 the last month of our Region’s first year, even though it had been chartered for only nine months.  We’re doing this because they started 1975 with new officers (Paul Riley, President; Carl Young, VP), and a new-look newsletter numbered Vol II No. 1.

So…. Our predecessors had quite a start. They put a lot of emphasis on “autocrosses/time trials.” They held events at (can you believe this?): Ontario Motor Speedway, Willow Springs, Riverside Raceway, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Holtville, and the Las Vegas Speedrome. At least three of these six sites no longer exist and the Convention Center parking lot isn’t available today (well, it’s available, but other folks are using it all the time.)

They held tech sessions, enjoyed dinners, happy hours, picnics, and pool parties.

They organized and participated in rallies, although the type of rally isn’t known.

They held [...]