European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Profile porsche club keeps rolling in Europe by Randy Barnett Auto motor sports editor Twenty five years ago this month a Small band of porsche owning americans formed an overseas Wing of the porsche club of America. That was on August 15,1963. Today the club counts a membership of 350 enthusiasts from corporals to colonels to civilians and All goes Well during its anniversary year. The official name of our organization is the porsche club of America Germany Region says Jerry Pearce the club s president and while most members Are stationed in Germany we also have people out there from All Over  Pearce also led the club in 1978, the year of its 15th anniversary. The a Offenhausen Headquarters near Stuttgart Are Only a relatively Short drive away for the German based club members and these americans enjoy a close relationship with the porsche factory people a relationship that the porsche clubs in the . Can Only envy. Factory Tours and porsche directed technical sessions Are annual events and the club counts such notables As Jurgen Barth Winner of the 24-hours of be mans in 1977, As an honorary member. The porsche factory also helps sponsor Many of the american club s act tivies. A Usa eur Safe approved private Goodyear a porsche 944 negotiates a slalom course earlier this year on the Goodyear circuit at Colmar Berg Luxembourg. Organization the porsche club of America Germany Region is the 10th largest regional club from a total of 100 regions. The Germany Region Falls into zone 11, which includes Hawaii and Alaska and All porsche owners with Apo or Fpo new York addresses Are eligible to join. To join one must own a porsche and pay annual membership clues of $30. Pearce says the Apo Fpo address situation makes for some widespread membership because in addition to Germany we have members in saudi Arabia Sweden Belgium Norway England Holland Austria and other countries mostly military people or people affiliated with the military. Along with military members the charter also allows for a Small percentage of american civilians and europeans. We be added 50 new members so far this year. Our club is one of the oldest within the porsche club of America Structure Pearce says and we re proud of that. We re also an extremely Active club and we re proud of that too. Our annual schedule always includes a visit to the 24 hours of be mans and the setting up of our porsche club hospitality tent there porsche sponsored factory Tours and technical sessions plus our own technical sessions. We also have two rallies six slalom various Tours of the Countryside and then the social events at thanksgiving and christmastime. So we keep Busy. Next year we May add a slalom in Stockholm As the swedish porsche club has invited us to compete up  along with the Competition activities and social aspects porsche club members enjoy Mutual assistance on repairs and Upkeep because Many club members work on cars some professionally and they Are Able to help other porsche owners when it comes to mechanical problems or parts problems. To celebrate its 25th anniversary the club is staging a special slalom event on saturday and sunday at Rhein main a. It s being sponsored by Ruf automobile and Yokohama tires. The Ruf firm is a builder of some of the world s fastest cars with Many of them featured in leading american automotive magazines. Alois Ruf the firm s owner is also a member of the porsche club of America Germany Region and he will be present at the slalom along with several officials from the porsche factory in a Offenhausen. Wilma White the zone 11 representative in the United states will also attend the 25th anniversary Celebration. Saturday s slalom action at Rhein main is scheduled from 9 . To 3 30 ., to be followed by a cookout and anniversary activities at the Rhein main recreational area across the autobahn from the air base. The slalom on sunday begins at 9 . And ends at 4 30 ., with awards ceremonies set for 5  The saturday sunday slalom will take place rain or Shine porsche s Pearce says. Porsche owners interested in joining the club  Contact Mike Steffen the membership chairman at Mainz army depot Box 11, Apo 091 85. Club president Jerry Pearce converses with Chuck Statham at the wheel of a 425hp Ruf porsche. Goodyear August 11, 1988 stripes Magazine