Summer is on the way & so is the fun!

 

Our April 15th meeting at Red Rocks Café was a fun night, We had 38 members including 4 new members join us for a nice outdoor dinner on the patio. We welcomed Pete Leonard, Steve Dixon, Todd & Melanie Bogdon, Josh Fuller to the Metrolina family. We covered all of the fun drives, tours and driving events coming up the next few months.

Iris Burnett our Membership Ambassador gave us an update on her Porsches & Pearls events listed on the new calendar features now available on our Carolinas Region website, be sure to check it out. https://www.carolinas-pca.com/Calendar

Our April split the pot winner was Tom Raymond who most generously donated it back to the pot benefiting our charity fund that supports Samaritans Purse and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte. “Many Thanks Tom”. In addition, our door prize winners this month were Tim Gelbar who won a cool GT3-RS model car, Arnie Watchempino won a Porsche wine tote, and Tom Raymond won a nice set of slate Porsche coasters and Mark Fuller won a Carolinas Region PCA umbrella. Congrats to all for your support!

Our April 18 drive to Buffalo Baker winery was a super fun drive and great destination. We had cars join us for a nice drive around the South Mountain in NC which offered lots of twisties and beautiful farm country scenery. Definitely Porsche country!!

Once we got to Buffalo Baker Winery, we staged the cars along the hillside by the big red barn and enjoyed live music and some tasty wines and the Food Truck featuring a selection of lobster taco’s and more. Many Thanks to Mike Becker our Drive & Tour Coordinator for mapping this out and organizing a great drive!

METROLINA PCA Upcoming Events:

Sign up now to join us

May 16 - Beavers Den Charity Car show:

https://clubregistration.net/events/event-details.cfm?event_id=16958

May 22-24 – Pinehurst Concours

May 24 Porsches & Pints: 

Open Tap 2-4 PM 5010 Carmel Ctr Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226

July 17 – Drive up Hwy 66 to Kayak the Dan River –

https://clubregistration.net

Fall Tour – Sept. 16-19

https://clubregistration.net/events/event-details.cfm?event_id=16858

October 20. Raffaldini Drive & Car Show:

https://clubregistration.net/events/event-details.cfm?event_id=16858

COMMUNICATIONS: Be sure to check out the calendar on the Carolinas Region PCA website (Carolinas-pca.com) and also watch for updates & announcements on our Carolinas Region PCA Facebook page and in the digital Tobacco Roads.

Sincerely,

Doug Strait - Metrolina Area Director

Spring has sprung, so lets get out & drive!!!

 

Our March 18 meeting at Red Rocks Café had a great group. We had 42 members including 4 new members join us for a tasty dinner and fellowship. We welcomed Spencer Gates, Shawn Garrett, Ryan Lind & Andy Kay to the Metrolina family. Glad you could join us! We had the big screen rocking with pics from past LuftWasser events showcasing what a fun event this is, that many of our members will be attending this year. See you all there!

Iris Burnett our Membership Ambassador gave us an update on the new calendar features now available on our Carolinas Region website, be sure to check it out. https://www.carolinas-pca.com/Calendar.

Spencer Gates with Hagerty Insurance, gave us an update on the exciting upcoming events sponsored by Hagerty like the upcoming Pinehurst Concours April 24-25, and the 10/10ths Concours April 11, with a special Porsche coral for our cars. Stay tuned for more details. Many thanks to Spencer Gates & Paul Kaperonis for your support throughout the year and including us in your fun events.

Our March split the pot winner was Larry Jerge who most generously donated it back to the pot, benefiting our charity fund that supports Samaritans Purse and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte. “Many Thanks Larry”.. In addition, our door prize winners this month were Andy Kay who won a cool 1961- 356 cab model car, John Connoughton & Gary Helms won a nifty Porsche wine tote, and Mike Becker won a nice set of slate Porsche coasters, Congrats to all for your support!

Mike Becker, our Drives & Tours coordinator, covered all of the upcoming drives & tours planned for this year. Be sure to keep your eyes on clubregistration.net & Tobacco Roads and our Carolinas Region web site and Face book page for dates and details on upcoming drives & tours.

Our March 21 New Member Drive to Grassy Creek Winery was a great success and a lot of fun. We had 12 cars & 17 new members join us for a nice spring drive through the NC wine country up in Elkin NC. Great roads and lots of country scenery to take in. We met at Northlake Porsche for coffee and donuts and a tour of the new dealership and to stage our drive.

Many “Thanks” to Joe Schedeler and the good folks at Northlake Porsche for hosting us.

Once we got to Grassy Creek, we staged the cars in front of the winery and enjoyed some tasty wines and the Food Truck featuring a selection of lobster taco’s and more.

Many Thanks to Trevor & Cynthia for hosting us at your winery.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 11 – 10/10ths Concours Charlotte hosted by Hagerty Insurance

April 15, 2026 Metrolina PCA Meeting at Red Rocks Café

6 – 8:30 PM.

Address: 4223 Providence Rd #8,

April 19 Autocross #2 Michelin Proving Grounds – clubregistration.net

April 25 – Luftwasser Brevard NC by Appalachian PCA

GREAT EVENT & DRIVES

April 26, Sunday Porsches & Pints: @ Open Tap @ 5010

Carmel Rd. 2-4 PM

May 16 - Beavers Den Charity Car show – details to follow

May 22-24 – Pinehurst Concours

Sincerely, Doug Strait - Metrolina Area Director

Our Feb.18 meeting at Red Rocks Café was well attended.

 

We had 45 members including 4 new members join us for a tasty dinner and fellowship. We welcomed Tyler Lovett, Jill Curb, Kelly Frenzel and Ryan Beske to the family. Glad you could join us!

We had a guest presenter this month, Paul Kaperonis with Larry Helms Insurance representing Hagerty Insurance, who gave an in depth update on current car values, market changes and many new coverage options Hagerty now offers. Many thanks Paul for your presentation and support through out the year!

Mike Becker, our new Drives & Tours coordinator, had a drive & sweep orientation meeting on Feb. 12, for those interested in participating on our drives to help with leads and sweeps to keep us all on track and safe on our drives. Be sure to keep your eyes on Tobacco Roads and our Carolinas Region web site and Facebook page for dates and details on upcoming drives & tours.

New Member Drive: March 21 to Jon G’s BBQ sign up on clubregistration.net

Our February split the pot winner was Gary Helms, and our door prize winners this month were Kelly Frenzel who won a cool 1961- 356 cab model car along with a Porsche wine tote, Greg Turner won a set of slate Porsche coasters, Lloyd Von Cannon won a Porsche wine tote. In addition, Chris Tettmar & took home some nice Hagerty swag. Congrats to all for your support!

MARCH EVENTS:

March 7-8: DE at CMP, Kershaw SC. Sign up at Clubregistration.net

March 5-8: Amelia Concours d’Elegance : Main Concours:

Saturday, March 7, 2026. Stop by the Hagerty tent and say hi to Paul and Spencer

March 18 (Wednesday): Metrolina PCA Meeting at Red Rocks Café 6 – 8:30 PM.

Address: 4223 Providence Rd #8, Charlotte, NC

March 21: New Member Drive to Jon G’s BBQ all are welcome; Sign up at Clubregistration.net

March 29: Sunday Porsches & Pints: @ Open Tap @ 5010

Carmel Rd. 2-4 PM

May 10: Beavers Den Charity Car show – details to follow

COMMUNICATIONS: Be sure to check out the calendar on the Carolinas Region PCA website Carolinas-pca.com and also watch for updates & announcements on our Carolinas Region PCA Facebook page and in the digital Tobacco

Roads.

Sincerely,

Doug Strait - Metrolina Area Director

February was a Blast!

 

Our 2026 January 21 kickoff meeting at Red Rocks Café was a blast. We had 54 members including 5 new members join us for a fun evening catching up with everyone and hearing about some cool Christmas gifts they got and including a new Porsche.

Many thanks to all who made our charity fund raisers this year most successful! Jim Hess and I presented a check today for $4462.51 to Donna Ragan-Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications chair of Second Harvest Food Bank. Donna explained that amount will fund one of their programs for a month, and that this year they have seen the largest increase in need from our local areas mostly for children and seniors.

“So many thanks to all for your support throughout the year!”

Porsches & Pearls Chair, Iris Burnett covered the upcoming driving event scheduled for February 20–22, 2026. So check out the Porsches & Pearls Facebook page for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=porsche%20and%20pearls

Ladies, start your engines… Registration is officially OPEN!

We are thrilled to announce our first-ever PORSCHES & Pearls Track Weekend in partnership with Hooked on Driving at the stunning Atlanta Motorsports Park — February 20–22!

This is not your average track event. The Porsches & Pearls  Track Experience is where high-performance driving meets elevated, feminine, community-driven luxury. Expect:

• Track time

• Driver development with classroom + personal coaching

• A supportive space highlighting underrepresented groups

• Community, confidence & unforgettable memories

Let’s hit the track together and make this our best weekend yet!

Our January split the pot winner was Eric Stein, who most generously donated it back to the pot which will benefit our charity fund this year. Door prize winners were Chris & Julie Tettman and Greg & Monica Turner who won a nice set of Porsche slate coasters, Lee Anne Franscona won a very cool Porsche GT3-RS model car and Cheri Sivak won a nice Porsche wine tote. Congrats to all for your support!

Mike Becker, our new Drives & Tours coordinator, covered the plans to do some great drives, tours and other fun  events planned for this year and the need for volunteers to help us make our drives safe and fun. Mike has a drive & sweep orientation meeting scheduled for Feb. 12 for those interested in participating on our drives. You can sign up on clubresistration.net to attend this meeting; https://

clubregistration.net/events/event-details.cfm?event_id=16781

FEBRUARY EVENTS:

Wednesday Feb. 18, 2026 Metrolina PCA Meeting

Red Rocks Café 6 – 8:30 PM.

Address: 4223 Providence Rd #8

Sat, Feb 21 - Sun, Feb 22, 2026 Porsches & Pearls

Driving experience, see link for registration and details.

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/driven-by-youporsche-pearls-registration-atlanta-motorsports-parkhooked-395645

Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 - Porsches & Pints: @ Open Tap

@ 5010 Carmel Rd. 2-4 P

COMMUNICATIONS: Be sure to check out the calendar on the Carolinas Region PCA website (Carolinas-pca.com) and also watch for updates & announcements on our Carolinas Region PCA Facebook page and in the digital Tobacco Roads.

“Thank You” all for your Support this year and have a Happy, Healthy and prosperous new year in 2026!!

Sincerely,

Doug Strait - Metrolina Area Director

Happy New Year 2026 Metrolina!

 

Our December Christmas Party at Red Rocks Café was a fun night. We had 37 members join us for a wonderful Christmas dinner and sharing plans for the holidays and resolutions for the new year. Santa gave everyone and nice set of Porsche slate coasters compliments of the Metrolina Porsche Club of America..

I want to extend a “BIG THANK YOU” to our donors; GMP, Jeff Mathews and Paul Kaperonis-Hagerty, who provided some nice Santa gifts for Santa to give away. We raised $300 for our charity fund that will go to the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte, whom I’m sure can really use it this year.

We had the big 75” TV screen running some cool wintery Christmas Porsche pics that set the mood for the evening.

Santa had a great time MC’ing the evening and giving some cool gifts to all the good kids this year!

Porsches & Pearls Chair, Iris Burnett & her crew shared her plans for the upcoming year with a fun driving evert scheduled for February 20–22, 2026. So check out the Porsches & Pearls Facebook page for more details. https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=porsche%20and%20pearls

Ladies, start your engines…

Registration is officially OPEN!

We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever PORSCHES & Pearls Track Weekend in partnership with Hooked on Driving at the stunning Atlanta Motorsports Park —

February 20–22!

This is not your average track event. The Porsches & Pearls Track Experience is where high-performance driving meets elevated, feminine, community-driven luxury.

METROLINA PCA UPCOMING EVENTS

Metrolina Jan. 21, 2026 Meeting at Red Rocks Café:

6-8PM

COMMUNICATIONS: Be sure to check out the calendar on the Carolinas Region PCA website (Carolinas-pca.com) and also watch for updates & announcements on our Carolinas Region PCA Facebook page and in the digital Tobacco Roads.

“Thank You” all for your Support this year and have a Happy, Healthy and prosperous new year in 2026!!

Sincerely,

Doug Strait - Metrolina Area Director