Category: Desert Drives

April Update: Full Throttle into Spring

Greetings to our wonderful Porsche family!

March came and went in the blink of an eye, and April looks like it plans to do the same. Is it just my old age, or is time somehow shifting into a higher gear every year?

🏁 HPDE

Our next HPDE event is scheduled for May, and registration is now open, so be sure to reserve your spot early.

We had hoped to run the course in reverse this time, but unfortunately, that will not be happening. No explanation, just a firm “nope.” That said, running the standard configuration won’t stop us from having another fantastic event.

Every time you get out on the track, you learn something new. I continue to be amazed at how much each session improves both skill and confidence. Those car control skills carry over directly into everyday driving and help tremendously when navigating the… let’s call [...]

🏁 Shifting into Spring: Track Days, Tours, and Club Gatherings

Greetings to our wonderful Porsche family!

The year is already off to a fantastic start, and it’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of the first quarter of 2026. February brought plenty of activity for the club, with everything from track time to planning upcoming tours and drives. As always, it’s inspiring to see so many members getting out, enjoying their cars, and sharing the experience with fellow enthusiasts. The calendar ahead is packed with great events, and there is something for everyone whether you enjoy the thrill of the track, a scenic tour, or simply gathering with friends over coffee and great cars.

HPDE

We kicked off the year with our first High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) event on February 21–22, and it was a fantastic success. Our team continues to run a truly first-class operation, and the positive feedback from participants [...]

The Las Vegas Porsche Club of America continues to prove that a passion for performance cars goes hand in hand with a passion for helping the community. This season, club members came together for several meaningful charity initiatives that reflect the heart and generosity of our Porsche family.

Bringing Holiday Joy to Foster Children

The holidays were made brighter through our annual Toy Drive benefiting local foster children. Club members donated thoughtfully selected gifts to ensure children who might otherwise go without could still experience the excitement of the season.

Donations ranged from sports equipment and model cars to more than $500 in gift cards for teens. While the number of gifts was impressive, what stood out most was the spirit of generosity behind every contribution.

“Our greatest horsepower isn’t under the hood — it’s the generosity of our members.”

A Successful Gala Night and Silent Auction

In addition to spreading holiday cheer, the [...]

Gary Lea President

Mark Coronado Vice President

Ed Hanford Treasurer

Marnie Cameron Secretary

Craig Shanklin Director So Utah

Ken Hollman Director So Utah

Richard Burns Director

Chanelle Bautista Director

Val Dodd Chairman – New Members

Brad Cameron HPDE Chairman

Brian Schmitt HPDE Co-Chair/CDI

Paul Jarrett Gaudin Porsche Representative

Reid Smith Immediate Past President

Richard Cruz Drives and Tours

Farhaad Shiekh Social Media / Webmaster

What More Could You Ask For?

Arrival

When the original event was postponed without a new date, we decided not to waste a perfectly good day. Instead, we gathered at Tivoli Village to support two great local businesses: the first anniversary of Scissors & Scotch and the grand opening of JMA Chocolates, located just a few doors down.

About 20 cars rolled in, lining both sides of the street in front of the two establishments and turning the area into an impromptu Porsche display.

The Moment

Friends stopped to admire the cars while members caught up over chocolate and conversation. We were even joined by the infamous duo of Steve and Steve, our good friends from the Mercedes Club, who came out to enjoy the afternoon with us.

The weather cooperated perfectly. It may have been a little warm for February, but the sunshine made for an ideal day to talk cars and enjoy Tivoli [...]

The sound of engines echoing off the mountains and a full paddock of Porsches can only mean one thing: HPDE season is officially underway.

We kicked off the new HPDE season with another fantastic event this past month. We had a terrific turnout with approximately 77 cars, an incredible group of instructors, and an army of dedicated volunteers helping everything run smoothly.

It’s clear that our program continues to grow little by little, and we’re excited to be back to four events this year.

Our next HPDE is scheduled for May 17–18, and registration is already open. Be sure to sign up early so you don’t miss out.

And here’s a little teaser: we may get the chance to run the Charleston Peak track in reverse. That would turn the circuit into a completely different driving experience. Imagine tackling our beloved Corkscrew (currently Turns 9, 10, and 11) from the opposite direction. Whoa buddy… that [...]

We’re excited to announce that we are now accepting photos of our members’ cars for a brand-new feature on the club website.

If you visit the webpage, you’ll notice that the current header image shows my car. That image is not there as a personal perk. Last June, we were notified that several elements of our website, including the header, needed to be brought into compliance with updated rules. Unfortunately, that meant removing the drone footage that had long been featured at the top of the page, and it had to be done immediately.

As a temporary solution, I used a photo of my own car as a placeholder while we developed something better. That “something better” is finally here.

What’s New

The header banner will now showcase a member’s car on the home page of the website for two full months at a time. Each year, six members’ cars will be featured, rotating every [...]

What a fantastic day for a scenic 300-mile round trip through Death Valley and into Beatty, where we’d enjoy a delicious lunch.

It’s been four years since our last adventure, but plans are already in motion for another drive, with side trips to some of the other incredible spots in Death Valley.

We began our morning at the Bass Pro Shop parking lot on Blue Diamond, where we had 27 cars and over 30 people. The weather was sunny and mild, with a starting temperature of 50 degrees. The group was divided into two groups of 13 and 14 cars, respectively. I took the lead of the first group, while Reid Smith took the lead of the second group 15 minutes later.

We set off on Blue Diamond and headed “Over the hump to Pahrump.” Then, we turned southwest on Tecopa Road. There, we picked up Andy Weiss, who was patiently waiting for us. This [...]

The Gaudin Classic Porsche Restoration Challenge winner, a meticulously preserved 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa (M491 Turbo-Look with M470 spoiler delete), has hit the market on Bring a Trailer, giving enthusiasts a rare chance to own an award-winning piece of Porsche history right here in Las Vegas.

This one-of-seven 1986 M491 Targa (a rare Turbo-Look widebody configuration without the rear spoiler) was discovered locally in a warehouse, having been converted to a cabriolet years earlier—a common modification at the time that saw many owners hack off the signature Targa bar. Gaudin Porsche’s expert team, led by Steve Teal, uncovered its true origins through research with the M491 registry and Porsche Classic. They undertook a sympathetic preservation-focused restoration: sourcing a donor Targa bar section, precisely welding it back using factory measurements and reinforcements, performing extensive paint correction (retaining most of the original paint), refreshing the interior without full replacement, rebuilding the engine (including a top-end overhaul), [...]

The Porsche Club Winter Gala was an outstanding evening of camaraderie, generosity, and unforgettable moments—and thanks to our incredible members, local business partners, and supporters, it was a tremendous success on every level.

Guests enjoyed excellent cuisine from Red Rock Country Club, which set the tone for a warm and elegant evening. Adding to the ambiance were several stunning member-owned Porsches generously “loaned” for display, turning the venue into a gallery worthy of the marque we all love.

Our Silent Auction was made possible by the many club members and local businesses who donated thoughtful and unique items, as well as the enthusiastic bidders who helped drive the final totals. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who bid and won items—your generosity directly supports our charitable mission.

A special moment of the evening was the recognition of past president Reid Smith and his wife, Dana, whose dedication and leadership have helped shape our [...]