58TH PORSCHE PARADE
Traverse City, Michigan
June 23-29, 2013
Parade Registration is open! Go to http://www.pca.org/Activities/Parade/Register.aspx
JOIN US! We encourage you to share the fun with Porsche friends both new & known, in Traverse City, Michigan this summer! The Grand Traverse Resort is full, and we are working with a variety of other hotels to accommodate all participants! In its 87th year, the local Cherry Festival will begin their celebration on June 29th, as those of us in PCA are enjoying the final day of our Parade. This makes a small town very busy, & rooms are filling quickly. We will post new information and lodging options as we have them available, but encourage you to browse locations of interest and reserve on your own at: http://www.traversecity.com/lodging-5
The 2013 Porsche Parade returns to Traverse City, Michigan after 24 years! The event will run from June 23-June 29, 2013, and our host hotel will be the Grand Traverse Resort. This was the site of the 1989 Parade and one of the most requested sites to repeat for a Parade.
There is the full slate of Parade activities, centered on the four competitive events: Concours, Autocross, TSD Rally and Tech Quiz; along with a myriad of fun social activities. Traditional activities will include: the Art Show, 5k Run/Walk, Golf Tournament, Gimmick Rally, Banquets, R/C Car races, the Michelin Drive & Compare and many wonderful driving tours. Registration will open March 12, 2013.
Porsche Parade is the PCA's annual convention. It is a week long extravaganza of car events, tech sessions, social events and FUN. Whether you like to autocross, rally, tour or concours, there is plenty to do and see. Attendance is roughly 2000 people, most of which arrive in their beautiful and much loved Porsche automobiles. In addition to all these fun activities (see the schedule page) the Parade is a great family vacation. It provides you with the opportunity to visit a different area of the country each year, as well as the chance to catch up with all your Parade friends that you only see at Parade.
In addition to the traditional car related activities you can enjoy a golf tournament, a 5K Run/Walk, RC Car racing, and the Tech Quiz. We will offer numerous tours to local attractions to introduce you to the great Traverse City area, as well as give a little free-time to relax and enjoy it. We also promise plenty of opportunities to socialize with friends new and old. The Parade is the best of PCA all in one action packed week. Don't miss out! For more information, please browse the rest of this web site or see http://www.pca.org/Activities/Parade.aspx
CHECK-IN
Parade entrants should check-in for Parade on Sunday, June 23rd between 9 am and 5 pm. This is the only time all event chairs are together to answer questions and ensure you and your car are correctly classified for the competitive events. At check-in you will select your seats for the two formal banquets—the Concours and Victory dinners, receive name badges (which are required for entrance to all activities), a goodie bag, and reacquaint with old friends while meeting new ones!
On-site Check-in is mandatory prior to event participation and there are deadlines for checking-in prior to the competitive events. (Missing a deadline means you will not be able to compete). While late check-in is available during the week, the most fulfilling Parade experience starts with checking in on Sunday. See the Parade Competition Rules on www.pca.org for details.
BANQUETS
We will have the five evening banquets, all at the Grand Traverse Resort. The Welcome Party will be a buffet dinner, outside on the golf clubhouse lawn. The remaining banquets will be inside, in the Governor’s Hall ballroom. We are bringing back the popular Casino Night (at the Rally Banquet) this year! We hope you all buy the meal package and join us for all of the evening festivities.
There are two “open” evenings (Monday and Thursday) as well, where you have the opportunity to enjoy local restaurants and nightlife on your own.
Sunday—Pirelli Welcome Party: A great casual dinner to kick-off the festivities.
Tuesday—Porsche Concours Banquet: The Concours Awards will be presented along with the highly contested national awards. This is the most formal and grand evening with a menu that won’t disappoint!
Wednesday—Mobil 1 Rally Banquet: The TSD Rally Awards make their entrance this evening, and we’ll enjoy casino games too.
Friday—Michelin Autocross Banquet: After two days of competition, the Autocross Awards come to the front and center.
Saturday— Reliable Carriers Victory Banquet: A final chance to “Share the Passion” of the marque. The 60th Porsche Parade site will be revealed, Technical/Historical Quiz awards presented and the “Trip to Germany” Grand Prize announced.
Please remember, to be eligible for an evening’s door prizes, you must register for that banquet. And you must be present to win!
COMPETITIVE EVENTS
Porsche Concours d’ Elegance—The Concours will be held on Monday, June 24th on the resort’s golf course. A very short walk from your hotel room brings you to the venue where we hope to host 200 Concours cars as well as the Historic display. New this year, we are introducing a Concours “Street” Class; a new Concours entry level class. In the new Street Class, only the exterior, including wheels and tires, and interior will be judged.
| New this year: we are introducing a Concours “Street” Class; a new Concours entry level class. In the new Street Class, only the exterior, including wheels and tires, and interior will be judged. |
Mobil 1 TSD Rally—The TSD Rally on Tuesday, June 25th winds through the rural Michigan roads. The rally master will have something for all levels from beginner to expert. To help you prepare for the rally (both basic and advanced topics covered), attend the TSD Rally School on Monday, June 24th.
Michelin Autocross—On Wednesday and Thursday June 26th and 27th, the always exciting Autocross will be held on the Antrim County airport runway. This will be a very fast track! The two day format once again allows us to accommodate all drivers who wish to participate.
Technical/Historical Quiz—This challenging test of knowledge will be held on Friday, June 28th. The subject matter ranges from general, mechanical and historic aspects of the Porsche family, business, and model line. There are 50 general questions for everyone and an additional 25 questions that are model specific (you choose the category). Additionally there are seven tiebreaker questions for all that do not count in your score, but are only used to settle tie scores. The questions are either multiple choice or true/false. Source materials for the questions are available on the Parade website.
PARADE KIDS
2013 Parade Kids will have plenty of fun and adventure as we visit Traverse City, Michigan. There is so much to for families to do, especially for those who love the outdoors. Kids will have access to their favorite Parade activities: make and take crafts, pool games, RC cars, the ice cream social and the hilarious “Anything Goes Autocross”! The Photo and T-Shirt design contests have become hugely successful traditions that will continue.
Registered will receive a Kids Parade T-Shirt and goodie bag at check-in.
There are multiple no-cost activities for kids everyday – Please refer to the Kids Schedule for details.During the Concours and Victory Banquet evenings we will again be offering childcare for $20 per child which includes: games and activities, movies and a kid-friendly buffet.
Thursday (June 27th) night we are going to “Lucky Jack’s” for a night of family FUN! 2 games of Bowling, Arcade Games ($15 of play), 2 slices of pizza and soda! $20/person – please pre-register. For more information, in Word Doc or Adobe PDF.
HOSPITALITY
Please join us in Traverse City for a great Hospitality as we take over one of the three ballrooms. We will have room for you to meet new and old friends during the weeklong event. Wrapping around the room will be your favorite vendors.
You will find the Internet Café in Hospitality. Bring your laptop or use one of the computers available for checking e-mails and accessing the web. We will have 4 x 6 photo paper so you can print a favorite Parade photo or two to share with friends, along with a plain copy printer.
Did you know this region is one of the centers for wine production in the Midwest? Well, we plan on having some great wines for the wine tasting event along with some wine makers to answer your questions about their wines. We will also bring in some local breweries, which is always a treat.
Plan on joining us after the day’s events for a cool drink, a snack, check event scores, post a reminder or find an extra dinner ticket. Remember, Hospitality is where you find it all. See you in June!
GOODIE STORE
A great collection of items available for purchase: Porsche merchandise, PCA-logo merchandise, Parade-logo merchandise, models, books, special interest items and lots more.
GIMMICK RALLY
The Gimmick Rally, to be held on Thursday, June 27th, is designed to provide a scenic, fun and relaxing outing for everyone (families included). The “gimmick” of the rally will unfold as you drive the route and there will be no tricks or traps. Both novices and experienced gimmick rallyists will enjoy! Entrants may drive this rally in a rental car or a tow vehicle.
DRIVING TOURS
The Tourmeister has assembled five driving tours during the week that include a variety of points of interest. They all include lunch and spectacular scenery and driving roads.
Mackinac Bridge and Island Drive Tour
Join us for a day of relaxation as we travel north to the world famous Mackinac Bridge. At 5 miles it is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Enjoy the scenic drive across the bridge over the Straits of Mackinac. There is a short drive into St. Ignace where you will board a passenger-only ferry boat for the crossing to picturesque Mackinac Island. There you will find yourself back in time where there are no motorized vehicles or hurried lifestyle. Relax and enjoy the horse drawn carriage ride up to the world famous Grand Hotel, with credits that include the longest front porch in America and the filming location for the movie Somewhere In Time. Upon your arrival at the hotel you will fall back into another period, one of grace, elegance and Victorian charm. Following your buffet lunch at the hotel, enjoy the short downhill walk or a carriage ride back into town to explore the many shops, historic sites and period military reenactments at Fort Mackinac. Alternately, you may wish to rent a bicycle, carriage or horse to explore the islands wonders at your own pace. Either way it will be a memorable day.
Leelanau Peninsula Drive Tour
Experience the beauty of the Leelanau Peninsula and its many twisting and undulating roadways as you pass by old farm houses, vineyards, catch a glimpse of historic light houses and the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The scenic overlook reveals breathtaking views of the endless sand dunes. Along the way you will stop in Leeland and its historic Fish Town area with its unique market for smoked whitefish, salmon and chubs, as well as other shops with period charm and goods. There we will pause for lunch at the Cove Restaurant overlooking the river and fish ladder. While at the Cove, you may want to sample their Bloody Chubby, a favorite local concoction that combines a hot & spicy Bloody Mary with a smoked chub garnish – delicious! The return drive takes you to the east side of the peninsula and Suttons Bay. Yet another small village full of unique shops to again tempt you before the return drive to the Grand Traverse Resort.
Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lakeshore Drive Tour
“It is peaceful and serene. A place where gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery and humans are just a very small part of it all. Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature”. “Most Beautiful Place in America” ABC Good Morning America
After this memorable driving experience through the sand dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan, select your lunch from a specially prepared menu at Arcadia Bluffs Country Club’s beautiful sunroom or terrace. From this vantage point you will have the best views of the lake across the links style golf course in a truly fresco setting. A five foot high wind break keeps the sometimes gusty lake breezes at bay and the generous amount of outdoor seating under umbrella festooned teak tables beckon you to dine in the out-of-doors. Alternatively, there is indoor seating in the sunroom or at the club’s traditional bar.
Our return drive, though more direct, will also offer the beauty of Western Michigan as the summer season begins.
North West Lake Michigan Drive Tour
One of Michigan’s most spectacular drives, Highway 119 begins at Cross Village. There we will begin our drive south through Michigan’s famous ‘Tunnel of Trees’. Winding along this naturally forested, barely two lane roadway, there are spectacular overlooks onto Lake Michigan, each framed by natural wooded settings. The beauty is so spectacular people often drive the route from both directions to both see the increased vistas and to also allow the driver and passenger to change positions so each can take in all the beauty without the distraction of driving. Speeds along Highway 119 seldom exceed 25 mph so this seemingly short drive on the map often takes much longer, all the better to relax and enjoy. Just before we enter the quaint community of Harbor Springs, we will stop for a buffet lunch at Birchwood Farms, a quiet golfing community nestled deep within the woodlands.
Following lunch we will continue south through Harbor Springs, the Victorian town of Petoskey and further through the lakeside town of Charlevoix. One or all may capture your interest and call you to stop and sample their local shops. The group will then continue south to Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Resort.
Inland Lakes and Petoskey Drive Tour
Join us for a casual late morning drive along the back roads hugging the east shoreline of Torch Lake as we make our way north and east to Lake Charlevoix and even further east along Walloon Lake into the Victorian Village of Petoskey. Here we will enjoy an elegantly prepared plated lunch featuring North West Michigan’s finest food offerings at the historic Stafford’s Bay View Inn. Stafford’s is famous throughout the tri-state area for its Victorian Old World Charm and Hospitality. Afterwards, do enjoy a brief walk in the area and down to the waterfront and see if you can find a Petoskey Stone. These are pebble shaped rocks, actually fossilized coral, formed as the result of glaciation where sheets of ice plucked the now stone bits from the bedrock and began to grind off the rough edges, then depositing them along this areas Lake Michigan Shoreline. Afterwards you may want to take in a bit of shopping in Petoskey or, further down the road, Charlevoix, both unique villages with special shops not often found in larger cities.
VAN/MOTOR-COACH TOURS
Platte River Canoe Trip
Saving those beautiful Porsche leather seats from what will become your wet and sandy bottoms, we will transport you from the hotel to the beautiful and gently flowing Platte River with its easy gradual turns and sandy bottom. You will board your 2 person canoe in the sandy shallows of the livery and begin to paddle effortlessly down river. After a bit the river opens into the calm waters of Loon Lake. At this part of the lower Platte River you will continue to paddle, along the northern lake shore, soon to pick up the river once again. You will also pass along one of Michigan’s many fish weirs that have a gate which can be lowered into the river to slow or stop the seasonal flow of salmon migrating up river.
The river depth typically averages between 2 - 3 feet at this time of year making this a relaxed family outing. The total canoeing time is 2 ½ hours and ends at a sandy beach near Lake Michigan. There you will leave your canoe and enjoy a Box Lunch in the adjacent picnic area with modern rest room facilities. After lunch you will re-board the bus/van for the ride back to the Grand Traverse Resort.
Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park
Your motor coach will take you directly from the hotel entrance to the Frederik Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids which integrates the experience of great gardens with great art. The emphasis is on horticulture displays showcasing a beautiful array of plants appropriate for the Midwest and specialized plants from around the world. Within the indoor Tropical Conservatory are over 500 tropical species from five continents of the world that are displayed in a magical setting including waterfalls, steamy streambeds and majestic rock work. Stroll into the Victorian Garden and relax on ornate furniture among plants used in the classic Victorian Garden Parlors during the turn of the last century. Outdoors, the plant presentations range from planned and manicured, such as in the English Perennial and Bulb garden and continue throughout the natural trail areas. Internationally renowned, the Sculpture Program at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park features more than 160 works in the permanent collection sited both outdoors and indoors on the 132 acre property.
Through the permanent collections and ongoing exhibitions, Meijer Gardens has developed the reputation as one of the most significant sculpture collections in the nation. Enjoy lunch at Taste of the Gardens Café, with its dazzling ceiling sculpture by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. The indoor area includes booth seating and the outdoor terrace features a picturesque water fountain. Free wireless internet is available. Enjoy the enticing menu within a lovely setting.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour
Board your motor coach at the hotel for a relaxed day of beautiful vineyards and scenic vistas, tasting excellent wines of your personal favor and a box lunch at a lake view setting. Northern Michigan is home to numerous wineries with the majority being in the Traverse City area. Lake Michigan provides some moderation of temperature and the grapes flourish in the sandy soil.
You will travel to the Old Mission Peninsula for this private wine tasting event. Jutting north between the azure arms of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay lies Old Mission Peninsula. Situated at the globe's 45th parallel – the ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes – the seven distinct wineries that comprise this stunning appellation have been well recognized by international wine enthusiasts. Discover the beauty of the Old Mission Peninsula and experience its award-winning wines: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, sparkling varieties and the prestigious ice wines. You will visit 3 different wineries, sample the many types of reds and whites produced by each and have the opportunity to purchase your favorites for later enjoyment or to share with friends.
Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour
Board your motor coach at the hotel for a relaxed day of beautiful vineyards and scenic vistas, tasting excellent wines of your personal favor and a box lunch at a lake view setting. Northern Michigan is home to numerous wineries with the majority being in the Traverse City area. Lake Michigan provides some moderation of temperature and the grapes flourish in the sandy soil. Vintners have been producing fine wines for a number of years in Michigan and these include varietals from Germany doing especially well just as award-winning Rieslings (ranging from dry to late harvest sweet) and many internationally acclaimed reds with Merlots and Meritages as well as other blends.
You will travel to the Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan's oldest & largest wine trail, for this private wine tasting event, visiting 3 different wineries to sample the many types of reds and whites produced by each and have the opportunity to purchase your favorites for later enjoyment or to share with friends.
TECH ACADEMY
The Tech Academy will be in session on Friday, June 28th and is conducted by leading technical experts. Be prepared for some interesting topics/sessions—guaranteed there will be something of interest for all.
MICHELIN DRIVE & COMPARE
The Drive & Compare event will be held at a large parking lot near the resort where we will have a small, autocross-style course set up. Michelin will supply two types of tires, a competitive street tire and another high-performance tire, on two identical Porsches and drivers will be given the opportunity to compare their performance. Sign-ups for the event will be available prior to Parade and during Parade Check-in.
GOLF
This event is on Thursday, June 27th. The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort golf course demands precision on every tee, emphasizing accuracy rather than distance. The tournament is a scramble format with a shotgun start. Prizes will be awarded at the luncheon following the round for the lowest team scores, longest drive (men and women) and closest to the pin (men and women).
PARADE OF PORSCHES
The Official Porsche Parade, will take place on Saturday afternoon, June 29.
ART SHOW
This traditional event at Parade continues with categories in fiber arts, jewelry, painting, crafts and photography (both amateur and professional divisions). All Parade entrants may participate, including children.
AND MUCH MORE
The Parade Committee is still hard at work to bring additional options to the week. There will be an on-site Parade Concierge all week to assist you, along with Parade 101 classes for first-time attendees.
VOLUNTEERING
The Porsche Parade is 99% volunteer supported! Volunteers are very much needed with the numerous tasks to help make this event run smoothly. Please take a moment and look at the Parade website to see where help is needed. As a thank you, you will be eligible to attend the exclusive Volunteer Party Luncheon on Saturday, June 29th—there are numerous door prizes too!
ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY
Only registered attendees may participate in Parade activities. Entrants and co-entrants must be PCA Members, but they need not be family or affiliate members.
Junior Participant Program (JPP) entrants are children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of PCA members who are 16 or 17 years old. College-Aged Family Program (CAFP) entrants are children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of PCA members who are 18 – 25 years old. JPP and CAFP entrants are required to drive the same vehicle and in the same respective men’s and ladies classes as the PCA member hosting them.
Other guests are welcome; however, only the entrant, co-entrant, and JPP/CAFP entrants may enter the competitive events (exception: children ages 13 -15 may register for the Technical Quiz). If other guests are PCA Members, they must submit their own registration and pay their own registration fee to enter the competitive events.
The TSD navigator may be any registered entrant or co-entrant, except that JPP participants must navigate for their sponsoring PCA member.
AUTOMOBILE ELIGIBILITY
Automobile eligibility for the Autocross, Concours and TSD Rally is outlined in the Parade Competition Rules (PCR’s). An entrant and/or co-entrant may enter up to two automobiles (thus separate automobiles for the concours, rally and autocross), and only Porsches as defined in the PCR’s may be registered. Entrants may participate in the TSD Rally in any Porsche that is registered for Parade. For the autocross, there is a limit of two drivers per automobile (unless JPP or CAFP of which the limit is four in any combination amongst both automobiles). Entrants may participate in other events in any automobile, even if it is not a Porsche.
PRIOR TO REGISTERING FOR PARADE
Download the 2013 Parade Registration Guide as a Word Doc or as a PDF
Ensure you have an account for the member only portion of www.pca.org. You will need to login to register for Parade. Check to see that all your information is up-to-date and current, especially your email! All pre-Parade materials are sent to you via email, and are posted on the Parade website Parade2013.pca.org. Before you register, at the very least, you will want to know:
--The banquets you would like to attend
--Volunteer selections and T-shirt sizes for volunteers
--Competitive event selection for each participant, and the class for each event
--Ages of all children attending
--Other events each participant wants to enjoy
The easiest way to prepare is to download the pre- registration form, read through it and use it as a guide for the online registration. Remember to review the PCR’s, available on both of the above mentioned websites.
REGISTRATION
Download the 2013 Parade Registration Guide as a Word Doc or as a PDF
Registration for the 2013 Porsche Parade opens on Tuesday, March 12th, 2013. All registrations entered by midnight Thursday March 14th will receive equal and highest priority. There will be no paper registration. If you do not have access to the online system, call Kathleen Behrens, Parade Registrar, at 503.579.3423, and you will be able to register over the phone.
It is extremely unlikely that the Parade and competitive events will be over-subscribed (sold out), but many of the tours will be limited in the number of people/cars we can accommodate.
REGISTRATION FEES
Everyone signing up for Parade must pay an entrant fee of $159, which covers the entrant and co-entrant. Fees for the four major competitive events are: Concours--$30 per car, Autocross--$30 per driver, TSD Rally--$15 per car, and Tech Quiz--$15 per person.
Entrant fees for guests are as follows:
JPP/CAFP $20
Child age 13 -15 $15
Child under age 13 $10
Adult guests $30
Additional fees apply for banquet/meal tickets and for selected other activities
ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY—THERE IS NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION DURING PARADE.
Parade registrations are not transferable. Fifty percent (50%) of your registration fee and 100% of your banquet fees will be refunded if your emailed cancellation request is received on or before June 15th. There is no refund for cancellations made after that time. You may make changes to your registration at any time before June 15th.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions regarding Parade, please consult the Parade website at Parade2013.pca.org. If you are unable to find your answer there, email Kathleen Behrens, Parade Registrar at tsgrp@att.net or call 503.579.3423 (please leave a message).