European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 8, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Porsche crawl into East Berlin Story and photos by Leah Lankin features editor he soviet sentries at checkpoint Charlie Woren i impressed another Day anole car Bui when the procession of ton porsche waved through she Tea tic at Alexande Platz the Mam Square in East Berlin Heads turned. A line of these sleek cars following one another is _ Likely to draw attention anywhere. But in East Germany where me average worker must save for years to buy a Liny simple Easl German Trabal a porsche is a rarity. Ten of them together is mind boggling. The porsche club of America. Germany Region sponsored a fourth of july weekend trip to Berlin. Tho were some 40 participants both members arid guests. Several chose to drive roomier cars to accommodate More passengers. The Day in the Easl. With time Tor shopping sightseeing and doing. As Well As driving was special. Having the Opportunity to go to East Berlin was said club member Ron arms it was in resling to see How the people Are contained to see that they Don t have the Freedom we Artis. A Stafl sergeant who is a lab technician at the 10th medical Laboratory at the Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center has been in Germany 4 i years but this was Hie first trip to Berlin. Introducing people to the City was one of the objectives of the trip said Bill Simon the porsche club member who organized the even Berlin is a neat City. Many people who Are stationed in Germany Don t see it. Theydon l know what it s about " said the retired air Force officer who now teaches for the University of Maryland in Berlin. It s fun Eta Berliner Cheek out the mean machines Horn the West to get the porsche group together and this is a in place to do Simon As Well As some of the members who participated in the trip were concerned about giving the wrong impression when driving their Alai fit cars through the East. Chuck Stalham a Lovico Togiol at the the 10th medical Laboratory at lands Uhl said he did l want to be an ugly i Don t own a porsche to impress people. I own it i. _.-,. Izzi Kii memo rep in enter lir where Ere buried. Because it s a lifelong dream that i be had since waking at a Gas station As a he said. I noted the ices of the d ids in East be Linthe teen agers with their cameras out. A was exciting Lor them. 1 Hope they Don t think it was americans showing off but i Don t think that was the this was the third porsche club trip to Berlin. As in the past. This year s event also included a Day of slalom racing with members of the City s German porsche clubs on the taxiways at the British Royal air Force base Al gatow. Sightseeing shopping and driving were also on the Agenda in West Berlin. Restaurants chosen for evening meals were on the outskirts of the City. Getting there in a Convoy through City Ira tic was is Tough As holding the porsche Down to the 100 Kil melor per hour Speed limit on the drive through East Germany to reach the cily. The evening drives wore educational As Well As challenging. Most members had no idea West Berlin was so huge with vast areas o Forest and even a Beautiful Largo Lake the wan see Complete with impressive yacht size sailboats tied up at the docks. As a Berliner. I m Happy to see americans gel to know the City the situation said German club member Thomas Lund who has garlic impaled in All three Berlin events. The trip is a Good idea. Ii brings Berlin closer to the the porsche club of America. Germany Region has about 300 members. The club sponsors slalom races driving trips rallies and technical sessions throughout the year. The Berlin trip is Likely to be repeated next year i suspect
