Porsche Club Insider

On this episode, Harley Magden joins us in studio to discuss a variety of topics around his obsession for cars. He’s primarily a Porsche guy but his collection varies widely and changes often. He and his brother started a successful window business that enabled them to purchase a car dealer that feeds their car collecting habit. It’s a fun hour of getting an inside view of someone who turned his hobby into a business.

We got to spend an hour, talking racing and history, with Gunnar Jeanette from AO Racing during Monterey Car Week. Gunnar was one of the youngest drivers to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was born into a Porsche family since his dad was a mechanic and crew chief for many Porsche teams during the 935 and 962 glory years. After racing, he partnered with a friend to start AO Racing which is more famously known for the team cars, Rexy, Roxy and Spike. Gunnar’s story telling is on point and he’ll keep you glued to hear the end of each one.

We talk about what we saw and did during this year’s Monterey Car Week. Of course, it was with a focus on our favorite brand, Porsche. We cover the major auction houses and the Porsches we saw. Plus, we chat a bit about this year’s Werks Reunion, some other shows we visited and spending a day with the folks from Gunther Werks at Laguna Seca. So much happened, we hope you enjoy us sharing it with you on this week’s episode.

Peter Simpson joins us again to reveal the 996 that Porsche Owings Mills prepared for the Porsche Restoration Challenge this year. The twist with this car was that they had to make it a wide body to accommodate the Gemballa wheels that had purchased. They didn’t use C4S fender flares. Instead, they widened it themselves along with many other mods. It’s a enlightening podcast that sheds light on this popular competition among Porsche dealerships.

Most everyone dreams of owning a Porsche 904, but it’s current value makes that dream nearly impossible. For guest Chip Reichhart, the solution was to purchase a recreation at a much lower price. Chip joins us in studio to discuss his Beck 904. He goes over why he decided to buy it, what the differences are between the replica and real one, as well as what it’s like to drive it. He also goes over the buying experience and why he decided to spec his the way he did. As an owner of several vintage Porsches, he is well versed in their driving characteristics and it’s interesting to hear his take on his Beck 904.

On this episode we have Rob Sass in studio who helps us navigate the most interesting Porsches coming up for auction in Monterey. We start off by chatting about what we did over the Porsche weekend. This includes tire repair, air conditioning and fan resistor tips as well as why Orlando Bloom is promoting the PCA Porsche Design watch. We then go over cars from RM Sotheby’s, Gooding, Broad Arrow, Bonham’s and Mecum auctions in Monterey. This one is a little longer than usual but as always, it’s filled with great information.

Damon Lowney shares with us his ownership experience with his 2005 Cayenne V6 that he purchased earlier this year. Damon has racked a good amount of miles on the car and has a list of things that need to be fixed. Vu also shares his ownership experiences he’s had with his 2006 Cayenne he’s owned for almost 20 years. If you are in the market for an older Cayenne and are tempted by the low prices or even if you’re not going to buy one, it’s still an interesting show to learn more about Porsche’s first SUV.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Alois and Aloisa Ruf during the Porsche Parade to hear their story of how the company started, recent innovations, and their current line up. We hear about how Ruf and Gran Turismo exposed the Ruf brand to gamers who are now buying the real cars. We also hear about the first Ruf built, Alois’s connection to PCA and Oklahoma. Plus Aloisa tells us what its like to grow up a Ruf. There’s a lot covered in less than an hour. If you’ve heard the name Ruf but weren’t sure how it was associated with Porsche, this is the episode for you. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:33) - Guest introduction, Alois and Aloisa Ruf(00:02:14) - What is Ruf?(00:05:01) - Early years of Ruf(00:06:31) - The first Porsche in the Ruf family(00:10:09) - What’s it like growing up Ruf(00:11:23) - Fascination video(00:12:53) - What inspired you to modify 911s(00:16:17) - Why did Ruf become a manufacturer?(00:17:41) - Selling the 356 Notchback(00:22:00) - How does Ruf position itself with other tuners?(00:25:14) - What did Ruf change when it received the 911 chassis from the factory?(00:26:16) - Ruf’s employee structure(00:31:10) - How Ruf’s lineup is structured(00:36:11) - Is there a Hybrid or EV future for Ruf?(00:39:29) - How Ruf keeps the new cars feeling like the old ones(00:44:33) - Gran Turismo and the Yellowbird(00:46:41) - Review of the current RUF lineup(00:49:12) - The new RUF 993 lighting system(00:50:12) - Alois’ connection to Oklahoma(00:54:00) - Upcoming PCA events

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2025 Porsche Parade in Oklahoma City, on the fourth day of Parade. Vu, Manny, and Damon welcome Nathan Merz to the podcast. We talk about all we did at Parade, which includes setting up, concours, RC cars, Tech Tactics, bowling, and more. This was a very memorable Parade and hopefully this episode will convince you to come next year.

This is a special episode that was recorded several weeks ago since this car was still a secret. It is split into three sections because we wanted to interview the key people involved with the development of the newly announced PCA70 911 Club Coupe. We start off with PCA President Aaron Ambrosino, who details how the Executive Council conveyed their wishes to the staff the Porsche Exclusive. We then bring on Michael Tam, PCNA's Product Manager for sports cars, who details how special cars like this are planned and executed. Lastly, we bring on Alexander Fabig, VP of Individualization & Classic at Porsche AG, and Grant Larson, renowned designer and Director Special Projects, Style Porsche, Porsche AG. They give us the story of what happened with the car in Germany and how so many of the special details came to life. PCA Club Coupes only come around every ten years, so we are super excited to bring you behind the scenes. Chapters (00:00:00) - Show introduction(00:01:23) - Guest introduction, Aaron Ambrosino, PCA National President(00:04:01) - History of Club Coupes(00:06:35) - When did planning start on the 70th Club Coupe?(00:12:40) - How was the color chosen?(00:16:27) - What’s special about the interior?(00:17:42) - The story behind the No Delay button(00:19:07) - How do you buy a 70th 911 Club Coupe?(00:20:00) - Guest introduction, Michael Tam, Product Manager, Sports Cars at Porsche Cars North America(00:23:16) - What are the first steps when planning a special car?(00:27:38) - Why was the Carrera T the perfect choice for the Club Coupe?(00:29:12) - What can you NOT get on the Club Coupe?(00:30:06) - How much difference is creating a Club Coupe as compared to a regular model?(00:31:02) - What’s the relationship between Porsche AG and PCNA for a model like this?(00:32:04) - How much work was involved in bringing the debut 70th Club Coupe?(00:33:46) - Where is the customization work done?(00:38:39) - Will you be overseeing the delivery of the Club Coupes in North America?(00:38:49) - Guest introductions, Alexander Fabig, Vice President Individualization and Classic and Grant Larson, Special Projects Style Porsche(00:39:36) - Did you look back at previous Club Coupes for inspiration?(00:42:36) - What role did In and Out have with the creation of the Club Coupe?(00:46:07) - Why was the 911 Carrera T chosen as the base for this car?(00:47:52) - Tell us about the color from a designer standpoint(00:50:39) - Explain how you came up with the wheel design?(00:54:36) - Special Easter eggs on the car

On this episode, Mia Walsh, who is PCA’s National Drivers Education Committee Chair, joins us in studio to talk about what a rookie can expect if they come to a PCA DE. Along with hearing about Damon’s recent HPDE with Nord Stern Region at Road America, we chat about what you’ll need to participate, how PCA trains its instructors, and how PCA teaches you how to be safe while having fun. Plus we discuss Porsche news. Chapters (00:00:00) - Show and guest introduction(00:02:25) - Damon’s day at Road America(00:13:45) - What is Driver’s Education?(00:17:00) - Which cars can’t participate in DE?(00:18:00) - What’s required of your car?(00:21:49) - Should you modify your car for DE?(00:24:29) - How PCA trains its instructors to teach students(00:37:00) - Is DE just like racing?(00:40:29) - What you’ll need prepare you come to your first DE(00:45:48) - Do you need a driving suit?(00:50:19) - Are race tires necessary?(00:53:24) - Windows up or down while on track?(00:57:13) - Day of the event, what do I need to bring?(01:01:10) - How fast can you expect to go?(01:03:50) - Is this an activity for both men and women?(01:09:01) - What happens when something goes wrong on the track?(01:11:30) - Is there classroom instruction?(01:13:30) - What if my car breaks down?(01:18:47) - Porsche News: Porsche comes in fourth at 6 Hours of the Glen(01:20:07) - Update on PCA videos(01:23:17) - Upcoming PCA events

PCA member and internationally recognized expert on James Dean, Lee Raskin, joins us in studio for a lesson on everything you didn’t know about James Dean and his love of racing Porsches. Lee explains to us how he got hooked on James Dean, what he’s discovered over the decades of research and investigating James Dean, his cars, and that fateful day. If you want to hear accurate information on this fascinating topic, this is the podcast for you. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:00) - Guest introduction, Lee Raskin(00:03:50) - Why did you get interested in James Dean?(00:08:10) - James Dean books that Lee authored(00:11:49) - How did Lee get into Porsches?(00:15:56) - Why did James Dean drive Porsches?(00:26:20) - How did the 550 Spyder and James Dean come together?(00:40:05) - Why was Dean heading to Salinas?(00:45:45) - What happened on that fateful day?(00:59:05) - Investigation of the accident(01:02:20) - What happened to the wrecked 550 Spyder?(01:14:49) - Porsche News: Porsche 963 finishes third in IMSA Detroit race(01:16:59) - PCA events update(01:17:37) - PCA video update

Michael Maurer was a salesperson at Porsche dealerships for four decades starting in 1982. He tells us what it was like to sell during lean years, what the 944 and Boxster did for salespeople, the coming of the SUV and luxury four door sedans and the threat of a Porsche bankruptcy. We talk about how people used to buy Porsches, discounts, selling during the pandemic and much more. It’s an interesting peek into the dealer sales side of the Porsche world.

Michael Levitas, owner of TPC Racing, joins us to discuss whether Porsche has lost its way with the new cars. Michael owns a variety of Porsches that range from a 1971 911S to a 2024 911 Carrera S. He also owns several examples of Porsche’s competitors that he uses to develop aftermarket suspension and tuning products. We chat about whether newer cars are still visceral, do driving aids make bad drivers seem great, and whether or not it is still possible to modify and improve what the factory produced. It’s always interesting when Michael joins us and this episode doesn’t disappoint.

On this episode we chat about our turn at the 911 GTS T-Hybrid as well as what we thought about the Macan Turbo EV. Damon fills us in on his first ever SCCA Pro Solo event. Manny gives a report on doing the Porsche Driving Experience at New Jersey Motorsports Park as well as taking his sub-100 horsepower 914 on a PCA rally. We also touch upon people behaving badly in Porsches on public roads as well news, event and PCA video updates. We cover a lot of Porsche content in 70 minutes, don’t miss it.

Calvin Kim, Porsche Cars North America’s Product Spokesperson for Four-Door Porsches, joins us at Porsche Headquarters in Atlanta. Calvin doesn’t only work for Porsche, he wrenches on his own 996, does crazy road trips, and is a dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast. He gives us some insider perspective into all four lines of the four-door Porsches, why they built certain models, which ones are most popular, and much more. It’s an interesting 75-minute peek into Porsche’s best-selling vehicles.

Casey Parkin, owner of Group C Curation, visits us again in studio to discuss what he does everyday. Casey maintains several collections which feature Porsche predominantly. We delve into how he keeps track of maintenance, how often they are driven, what it’s like to work with the owners and much more. It’s an interesting peek into the collectors mind and how they expect their collections to be taken care of. Plus, we chat about what to do with fuel when storing your Porsche, the Porsche-only swap meet in Carlisle, PA, will Porsche build a street 963 as well as Porsche news, upcoming PCA events and current PCA videos.

On this episode we have Linda Goodman, PCA’s National Historian, on to discuss the history of how PCA became the world's largest car club with over 103K primary members. We start from the humble beginnings when it was just owners looking for technical support to the Porsche Parades, Panorama Magazine, factory Treffens, partnering with Porsche to build special cars and so much more.

Peter Simpson, Service Manager for Porsche Owings Mills in Maryland, visits the podcast studio for a 60 minute discussion on a variety of topics. We cover the car they are going to enter in this year’s Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge (hint: it’s a 996), what a Service Manager does all day, are Porsche customers are different than Hyundai’s and how he landed in this busy role. If you wondered what goes on once you drop off your car at the dealer, this is the episode for you.

Bob Miller of At Speed Motors joins us for this week’s episode. We discuss every Porsche cup car from the 944 to the 997. We cover what they’re like to live with, how easy they are to drive and whether or not you need a crew to run them at the track. If you’ve ever wondered what’s the story behind these Weissach built specials, this episode will answer a lot of your questions.

Jay Gillotti, PCA member and noted author, joins us in studio to discuss his two Porsche books, Gulf 917 and Porsche Decades. We learn about the 917 and its origin, how the Gulf sponsorship and Steve McQueen came together to do a movie and what he though about Seinfeld’s 917 that went to auction. We also chat about his latest book, Porsche Decades and why it’s the perfect book for those new to the Porsche world or anyone who is looking for one book that will cover a lot of history. It’s a fascinating podcast where you’ll definitely learn something new like we did.

David Whitlock of the Stuttgart Market Letter joins us to go over the auctions held in Miami and Amelia Island in March. We learn which cars surprised us, which didn’t sell and which met expectations. Plus we touch upon the affect of tariffs on the collector car market.

Unbelievably, Tom Thalmann has driven his 996 Turbo to over 700K miles. He’s in studio to share his secrets to keeping the car running reliably and looking like new. We learn his secrets on maintenance, oil changes, driving through Boston winters and why he choose a 911 Turbo.

We recorded this episode as we were watching the last 15 minutes of the Projekt964 auction on Bring A Trailer. We discuss the history of the car while anxiously awaiting the final bid. Plus, we talk about our visit to Scottsdale, Arizona where we visited the Avante Garde Collection, Roger Penske’s newest dealership-Porsche North Scottsdale. We also get special access to an amazing private collection with a dream garage of Porsches. The trip concludes with a tour of Patrick Motorsports and all the wide scope of cars and services they are working on.

Every year the Amelia Island car week starts the car season on the east coast. This episode we take you along with us as we visit different events and Porsches. Our guest is Carl Scholz who attended is first Werks Reunion this year. We cover both the Gooding and Broad Arrow auction previews, the Reverie party, Werks Reunion and ending with the Amelia. We finish up the episode with Melanie Williams, PCA Event Manager, who gives us the lowdown on registering for this year’s Porsche Parade in Oklahoma City as well as what the organizers have in store as we celebrate 70 years of the PCA.

PCA has decided to sell its 1990 911 Carrera 4 on Bring A Trailer. Matt Crandall who owns Avante-Garde Collection and is also known as 911R on Bring A Trailer, is taking care of it for us. We find out what they did to the car to prepare it for the auction, how he started his business of helping enthusiasts sell their car, and lots of stories. Also joining us is PCA Treasurer Richard Strahota, who has used Matt’s services and shares his experiences as a seller.

On this episode, Damon answers the critics about his detailing video. In the studio is Kurt Felmar, professional detailer, who joins us to discuss what went right and what didn’t when Damon detailed his Cayman. Even if you didn’t watch the video, you will learn some new detailing tips and better understand ceramic coatings.

On this episode we invite Porsche savant, Nathan Merz, on the podcast to discover what he really thinks on a variety of Porsche topics. From how he got hooked on cars and Porsches to whats his forever Porsche. He tells us which model would he never buy and which GT3 generation is the best. If you enjoy watching Nathan’s videos, you’re going to learn even more about the guy in front of the camera from this episode.

On this episode we highlight PCA member Joe Hikel who not only acquires but drives his collection of Porsches. Some are modified, others stock, some classic, others modern. He tells us what attracted him to the various models and how they’re used. He also tells us what it’s like to own an Emory Special as well as a Singer 911.

On this episode we review some of the interesting Porsches that will be going up for auction at Amelia Island and ModaMiami. Joining us is Bob Miller of At Speed Motors who gives us a market perspective and insights of what these cars will sell for.

On this episode, we discuss what are our personal ‘red flags’ are which will make us walk away from a potential Porsche purchase. Our guest is PCA Member, Paul Gentile, who has bought a good share of Porsches and other cars. While not a dealer or broker, he is very representative of many members who are simply looking for a Porsche to purchase as long as it meets a certain criteria. Listen and let us know what your red flags are and what it takes for you to walk away from a car you’ve fallen in love with.

On this episode we have Steve Postol, who is the current General Manager for the Porsche Hunt Valley dealership. Steve’s been in the car industry his whole life and tells us how he overcame challenges to rise from salesman to general manager. He gives us insights on how allocations for in-demand Porsches work, what he think of ADM’s, what’s it like to work with the Porsche brand and much more. This is a long episode but Steve’s candid answers to our questions kept the conversation going.

This episode we discuss Porsche’s US and worldwide 2024 sales report and what it means to enthusiasts. We also ponder how much the manual really matters now that Porsche has eliminated that option on the Carrera S. Plus, we talk about what we did with our cars last week as well as upcoming events and videos.

Have you ever wondered how drivers prepare for a 24 hour endurance race? What’s it like to drive in one of the world’s most famous endurance races? Is it possible to race and own a race team at the same time? PCA member Ted Giovanis races professionally in IMSA and joins us in studio for a fascinating discussion about what it takes to run a race team as well as drive at the pro level. Since the Rolex 24 is this week, this is the perfect episode to get your ready for the twice around the clock classic.

PCA’s newest member of the Executive Committee, Stan Thorne, joins us for this episode. Stan is the new National Secretary of the club and has an interesting story of how he joined PCA, got involved by volunteering and how he made it to the Executive Council. We also learn what Porsches he drives and what events interest him. Here’s your chance to get to know your PCA leadership.

This episode the Vu, Manny and Damon discuss a variety of topics to include what they did over the holidays to their cars, PCA’s 70th anniversary in 2025, National events to attend, our new podcast sponsor and Bring A Trailers Top Ten Porsches sold in 2024

On this episode we have Michelin’s Business Development Manager for Vintage Tires and PCA member, Kim Barnes, on to talk about all the interesting cars she has owns. Kim is very well regarded in the car hobby and has been featured in magazines, podcasts and has been asked to judge at various nationally known concours events. Her car knowledge seems limitless which is helpful when you are representing such a well known brand’s vintage tire line. Plus, she has two very rare Porsches in the collection. This was a enlightening discussion and you’re sure to learn something new.

On this episode, we hear from Vu’s recent trip to Germany where he spent time at the Porsche factory, attended the annual Porsche Motorsports banquet called “Night of Champions” and visited Motorworld in Stuttgart. Plus, he also tells us about visiting the headquarters for Ruf Automobiles as well as Hans Peter Porsche’s toy museum called TraumWerk. We also discuss the latest Porsche news, upcoming PCA events and what we did while Vu was away. It’s another entertaining, Porsche themed episode.

This episode we go over a list of online sites that may or may not be favorable to finding quality Porsches. We also discuss some of our positive and negative experience buying Porsches. Guest Bob Miller of At Speed Motors bring his decades of experience inspecting and purchasing Porsches to the discussion. You may agree, you may disagree, but you’re bound to learn something from this episode. It’s informative even if you’re not in the market to buy or sell a Porsche.

This episode we catch up with what we did while we were out in California. From unStock 2024 to recording podcasts with Michael Allan Ross and Sam and Gianni Cabiglio. Damon tells us about driving the air-cooled BB 911 Targa Hybrid and Manny and Vu discuss the recent tour of part of Jerry Seinfeld’s Porsche collection. Plus we talk Porsche news, events and much more.

This episode we have on Sam and Gianni Cabiglio, who acquire vehicles for and maintain the Seinfeld collection. The Porsche 917, now owned by Jerry Seinfeld, that Steve McQueen drove, in the movie Le Mans, which is being featured in an upcoming Mecum Auction. We hear how the 917 was acquired, restored, and why it’s now for sale. Sam also tells us how he got started in the car business and ended up selling and buying cars before there was the. Internet. There’s a lot of great stories in this episode that you’ll love hearing.

his week we have on Michael Alan Ross who has recently released a book focusing on modified Porsches and the builders behind them. Normally, Michael’s work is seen every month in Porsche Panorama. He tells us how he started, transitioned into photography and decided to do a book. Plus, we talk about driving the new 911 Carrera T, latest Porsche news and much more.

In this episode, we reminisce about the start of PCA's YouTube channel on February 15, 2010 and several of our earliest videos — because we reached and surpassed 100,000 subscribers! We thank you all for watching our videos and subscribing and ultimately reaching this milestone. Here's to 1,000,000! In other news, Vu went to SEMA and shares what he experienced — including Griot's Garage's tearable microfiber towels(!); Vu also has a show-and-tell of new parts for his 356; Damon is trying a different kind of gear oil in his Mazda; and much more!

In this episode we find out about the 1959 356 that Vu bought recently. We have Pete Tremper, the previous owner who stored the. sold the 356 and Bob Miller, owner of At Speed Motors, who awakened the car and prepared it for the debut. You’ll hear how it the original color was discovered as well as the secret behind the engine. If you wondered what’s it like to find a 356 in a barn, this is the episode for you.

In this episode we welcome Richard Baron, the Creative Director for Porsche Panorama magazine. Panorama is PCA's monthly printed magazine and Richard is the primary reason why it’s such a visually stunning publication. Richard also was the Head of Design for Road and Track for many years as well as being responsible for the design of many famous automotive books. He regales us with stories from the past, including how the RUF CTR was given the name "Yellowbird." We also cover the latest Porsche news, upcoming events and PCA videos.

This episode we have Sam Alexander, Sales and Special Events Manager at the PEC ATL (Porsche HQ), on to tell us all about what goes on inside the same building that Marvel’s Avengers once called their HQ. Sam has been around since the beginning of the center and has seen it grow through the years. You’ll find out how you can visit Porsche’s United States headquarters, what visitors can do, the different tracks and driving experiences as well as the cool restaurant and café. If you’ve ever wanted to spend a day there, this is the episode for you.

This week Peter Smith, a factory trained Goldmeister technician and long time PCA member, tells us stories from his forty plus years in the automotive repair industry. He has worked on every Porsche model and doesn’t hold back. This is a true insider episode.

This episode we welcome Ayesha Coker, Vice President of Marketing, Porsche Cars North America. A dynamic skillset and an engaging personality help her oversee Porsche’s experiential brand marketing, motorsports in North America, as well as the partnership with the Porsche Club of America. It’s a fascinating look into how Porsche views its customers and attracts new fans to the brand.

Join Vu, Manny and Damon as they welcome PCA member, Chuck Goldsborough. Chuck has a thousand stories and is in stories to tell us about how he started in professional racing and then moved onto buying a well known Porsche repair shop. Along the way, Chuck convinced Lexus to race their luxury cars and how he bought the trademarks to the IROC brand name. He also tells us what challenges independent Porsche repair shops face and which models he prefers not to work on. It’s a fun and interesting episode. Of course, we cover the latest Porsche news, PCA videos and upcoming events.

Join Vu, Manny and Damon as they talk about the Porsche stuff they’ve been doing the past few weeks. From touring the new Porsche Classic building in Atlanta, to a 365 mile Porsche bike ride, to doing a last site visit before this year’s unStock event, you’ll hear about it on this episode. Plus, Damon tells us how he fared in his most recent autocross with the Cayman. We also talk about the ‘behind the scenes’ of recording the podcast with the CEO of Porsche Cars North America. There’s also updates on Porsche news PCA videos and upcoming events.