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PCA Parades in general

For those of you who have never attended a Porsche Club of America Parade - you're probably wondering what all the fuss is about.

The most common reaction to PCA Parade from non-attendees is “I don't have time to spend a whole week messing around with my Porsche with a bunch of people I don't know.” Well ..... simply put, you really don't know what you are missing.

I'm pretty sure that you must have heard by now, from people who have attended, that it really is a lot of fun. How much fun? Well that depends to a large degree on you and how much you are a prepared to give things a try. If you do decide to go to Parade, then I recommend that you attend as many events as you can. In a nutshell PCA Parade consists of a multiplicity of things to do and there simply isn't time to attend all great things that go on.

There are many special events at each Parade with the local hosting region giving attendees a flavor of how things are done in that locale, but the five major competitive events consitently at every Parade can be summarized as follows:

• Concours:
  This is where show Porsches come together from all over the USA to go on display and be judged for cleanliness and originality. Normally there is also a Historic display of significant Porsches from the local area - this ranges from rare example (e.g. Gmund 356, 904's, 550 Spyders or prototype cars) to exotic historic racecars (e.g. Le Mans winners). There is also usually a Porsche Paddock which is a reserved parking area for PCA members cars grouped by model and on display but not judged.
  
  
• Rally:
  This is a Time/Speed/Distance event where several hundred Porsches set off at one minute intervals - each with a very concise set of instructions to follow a specific route through the surrounding countryside. Along the route are manned checkpoints which, if you are following the instructions carefully, you will arrive at at a specific time. Your arrival time is recorded and points are awarded for being either early or late - i.e. varying from the ideal time. Logically then, in this event ... points are bad! The driver/navigatior team with the lowest points wins. This is significantly more fun than it sounds in this description, and is a really good way to drive some of the locals favorite roads.
  

• Autocross:
  This is where you get a chance to drive your Porsche on a course marked out with cones, in a class of Porsches similar to your own, with only one car going at a time, against the clock. Personally I think this is one of the most fun thngs to do at Parade.
  
  
• Tech Quiz:
  This ia a written quiz with multiple choice questions with classes based on the various models of Porsche. This is a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of your Porsche.
  

You have probably attended some PCA events in your local region - some of which are more enjoyable than others, but if you go with an attitude of “what the heck ... let's give it a try and see what everyone raves about” you will be surprised how many interesting people you will meet and how many fun things are offered. This approach pays off in spades at a PCA Parade.

PCA Regions hosting Parade go to a great deal of trouble to ensure that there are many activities to suit as broad an attendee base as possible - whether you are a full-on track racer, a concours clean freak, a competitive rallyist or a first-timer who just likes to cruise and drive his or her Porsche in a relaxed non-competitive environment. Most Regions focus on giving you a sample of the local area whether it be recipes and food, lifestyle, scenery, culture or a mix of all of the above.

Examples of memorable moments from this year's Parade include chasing a line of Porsches through some twisty roads in the pine forests to turn a corner and see a clear view of Mount Hood towering 11,000 feet above you; standing on a cliff and seeing the Oregon coastline spreading out beneath you with its stacks of rock just offshore; walking a narrow pathway behind a 177 ft. waterfall, or snaking along the road beside the Columbia River Gorge in a line of Porsches watching windsurfers keeping up with you.

Each Parade has a different flavor, but at all of them truly memorable, pleasurable experiences abound.

If you enjoy Porsches, meeting people with similar interests and exploring new areas and activities ..... you owe it to yourself to give Parade a try.