UNPRECEDENTED TIMES call for unprecedented measures!
With coronavirus social-distancing restrictions still firmly in place and nowhere else to go, PCA UCR jumped on the Zoom bandwagon in May, taking its usual social online with three very special guests from Porsche Canada — President and CEO Marc Ouayoun and product managers Primus Tien and Kush Obhrai.
Over the course of two hours on the evening of May 12, over 160 club members, including many who had just signed up in the previous few days, and their guests tuned in to connect and catch up.
Live from France where he was visiting family, CEO Marc Ouayoun opened the event and welcomed everyone. He spoke of how clubs play a very special role in the Porsche universe, especially in these trying times, and it is important to come together in any way possible. Case in point: He said he just celebrated 30 years since first joining a Porsche club.
It goes without saying that he is, of course, a passionate card-carrying member of our very own Porsche Club Of America, Upper Canada Region — the largest region of the biggest car club.
He mentioned how Porsche Canada and the various Porsche Centres are very much here for all owners in these trying times. Porsche Canada employees are working from home, supporting customers and dealerships across the country. Dealerships have modified their ways of doing business in a safe and “contactless” way to ensure health and safety, front-line works are being given priority so that they and their Porsches can get to and from work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Porsche Canada Product Manager Primus Tien then offered an engaging, and exclusive, slideshow presentation on the company’s latest and greatest halo car — the mighty 911 Turbo S, powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-litre boxer engine that puts out 640 horsepower and a top speed of 330 KPH. It’s amazing just how much detail goes into one of these cars, from active and passive aerodynamics, to special styling flourishes that pay homage to decades of history.
Then Product Manager Kush Obhrai presented a slideshow on Porsche’s first all-electric vehicle, the Taycan, again highlighting the various aspects that make this such an extraordinary machine and, above all, a true sports car possessing all the expected DNA of Porsche.
President Michael Pohlmann welcomed new members — Shane Gifford, Juan Pena, Colin McDonald, Michael Schuler, Justin Warren and Dan Wong. Club pins have since been mailed out to them.
A special guest from PCA Rennsport Region also joined us, Robert Batsch, social chair.
Then we had a trivia with questions derived from the latest issues of Provinz magazine, 12 lucky people who quickly typed the correct answer into the chat function are getting Porsche prizes in the mail.
“Really great speakers on interesting topics,” observed club member Mark Lowrie. “Full success in my view!”
“It’s nice to get together even if it’s just virtually,” commented Adam Henderson, 928 special interest group advocate. “Going stir crazy here at home.”
Driving tour host, track volunteer and 2019 Enthusiast Of The Year Larry Funnell echoed that sentiment, “It was good seeing people, even if only virtually.”
“That was great tonight, thanks!” said Andrea Heitz.
Dave Gartside: “Hey Stefan, I left my phone in the car last night, oops.”
Stay tuned to the club website and E-blasts for the next virtual social. And hopefully we will be out again, back together, in-person soon. </>
