On Saturday, March 25, the Porsche Club has been invited to an open house to see the 2000 PORSCHE models. Josh Johnson will be there to answer our questions and explain the new technical high lights. The service area will be open and the wash bay is available for members that wish to do some spring cleaning on their PORSCHE. The shop is open at 8AM and the technical presentation will begin at 10:30 AM. We’ll all go for lunch around noon at a nearby eatery.

We would like to thank all those who participated in the trip to Chicago for the Auto Show. It was another successful trip. Thank you all for getting your reservations in and showing up for the bus on time. It makes for a good day. We thank all those who brought snacks and treats on the bus.

Special thanks to Tanya Meyer for arranging every detail and we thank Judd Blunk for his generous contribution of the tickets to the show.

We trust you all got to see the new models, the concept cars, and of course the PORSCHES.

Jason Walter has been working on our web site and it has been up and running for several months now. Jason is open for any suggestions you might have for the site. We thank Jason for taking on this task and he has done a great job with it. Check us at www.pca.org/cia .

We would like to say “Welcome” to three new members.

Winston and Sue Barcellos from Iowa City. They have a new 2000 Millienium C4 Coupe.

Doug and Sue Burger are also from Iowa City. They drive a white 1981 928S.

Daniel Kaufmann is from Bettendorf and drives a blue 1988 911.

We are glad to have you a new members and hope to see you all soon at a club function.

1999 Boxster, black with black enterior, 5700 miles, P63 Sports Packaage, CD Changer, $41,500. Contact Dave Everett at 319-846-8083

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2-BFG Comp TA 205/55 VR-16 tires

2-BFG Comp TA 225/50 VR-16 tires

Approx. 75% tread remaining, $200/set

Bob Dideriksen, 2335 Mulberry Street, Coralville, IA 52241, 319/338/8403

I really enjoyed reading Bruce Janecek's most excellent article in the January Scene. It prompted me to finally plan a side trip to see the Porsche works firsthand during my next trip overseas. Thanks to some inside help, I was finally able to make the trip. That inside help was supplied by Andres Urbess, an associate with our parent company in Sussen, a suburb of Stuttgart. As luck would have it, they supply assemblies and equipment to many of the large German automakers, including Porsche. After a few telephone calls, a special visit was arranged.

Upon arrival, it was time to go through the Porsche museum. As you might expect, the collection is extraordinary. Especially interesting was the Police version of the 911. Also on display was a new 996 that had been specially painted with Aboriginal art for a recent PCA (hey mate, that really stands for Porsche Club Australia) celebration.

Another interesting visit was to a nondescript building located just a block from the works. It was Porsche's factory car sales outlet. Want to save 20% on a slightly (I use that word loosely) used 996 or Boxster? They have two floors of demos and executive cars just for the European market...almost all presold.

As we began our tour, we were of course asked to leave our cameras behind. How unfortunate! My inadequate writing ability cannot begin to describe the ingenious use of technology and traditional Schwabian efficiency that was evident throughout the factory.

The first stop was the motor assembly area. Please don't call it a production line! Instead of having each motor move from person to person, a complete motor is assembled by one person. Through simple and efficient organization, it only requires 90 minutes to completely build each one from scratch. As each motor is completed, it is suspended on a pulley system and transported to the testing station. Output horsepower is tested to ensure that each power plant puts out at least 95% of its rated horsepower. If it fails, it is analyzed by a group of technicians and re-tested. And what happens to the motors that produce way more than rated horsepower? Well, that just brought a smile to our guide's face.

Due to limited space at Zuffenhausen, Porsche has had to cope with several difficulties in designing the production operation for the new car line. The primary factor is the severe shortage of available space. The assembly factory is situated on two floors while the painting and stamping operations are located across the street. To keep production at the target of 140 cars per day, several new assembly methods had to be invented and implemented. The first is the computerized transport system that brings the painted bodies from the stamping and painting works to the assembly warehouse. As you stand in the parking area, you can see the painted bodies being transported over the street on a covered conveyor system. Each body is coded and stored waiting for its frame and motor. The doors are also coded and removed. despite the incredible level of activity going on, the correct doors always find their way to back to the correct body later in the assembly process. Since assembly takes place on two levels, a specially designed production system with computer controlled elevators was installed that moves precisely the right body to the final assembly floor at precisely the right time.

The second unbelievable thing about Porsche production is that there are no production runs. Cars are produced as orders are received and processed. A silver Boxster follows a Red Cabriolet which follows a Blue Coupe. Although Porsche has made enormous use of common assemblies and parts, it is amazing to watch the correct seats or dashboard arrive at just the right time to be installed. According to our guide, this method of mixed production allows Porsche to remain flexible in responding to customer orders while keeping just one day's supply of parts on hand at any time.

As the frame moves down the production line, five minutes is allotted to each assembly operation. Even larger components like suspension assemblies, motors and electricals are all installed within the five-minute window. When the frame/motor assembly is finally ready, it is "married" to the body at the "wedding" station. As a matter of record, the "marriage" process also takes but five minutes.

Upon completion, the doors miraculously appear and are attached with the remaining exterior and interior finishes. Wheels and tires are mounted and installed. Did you order custom-painted wheels? Don't worry, they'll appear at just the right time! Final quality control checks take place. Before you know it, another new Porsche is rolling off the line. However, the birthing process was not yet complete. As we exited the building, the yellow Coupe we saw on the production line was started for the first time and roared by us in the competent hands of a factory driver for its road test.

The visit was over too soon and it was time to head back to the office. It was an enlightening and satisfying experience to finally see The Process behind The Car. Also, another recommendation: unless your willpower to resist impulse buying is enormous, leave the checkbook at home!

The official PCA visit to Germany and the Porsche factory, specially designed for Porsche enthusiasts who have limited time to travel.

JUNE 8-11, 2000

2000 MINI TREFFEN

HIGHLIGHTS
Visit to Porsche Museum
Tour of Porsche Factory
Lunch in the Porsche Casino
Hot laps at Weissach or a Porsche driving experience
Porsche-hosted dinner
Shopping in the Porsche boutique
Countryside excursion to Langenburg

INCLUDES
3 nights accommodations in a first class/deluxe hotel
Hotel taxes and service charges
Full buffet breakfast daily
Two lunches with beer and wine
Three dinners (3 courses) with beer and wine
Deluxe motorcoach transportation per itinerary
Tips to bus drivers and local guides
Langenburg castle tour
Admission to Langenburg auto museum
Special Treffen gifts
Services of GT&I representative

JUNE 08

After having made your own way to Stuttgart proceed to the hotel where you will be pre-registered. (Check-in time is 2:00 p.m.)

The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to get acquainted with Stuttgart on your own. The shops, market, and Schlossplatz are just a short stroll from the hotel.

This evening meet your fellow Porsche fans as you gather for a welcome reception followed by a Schwabian-style dinner. The local specialties will make you feel like a native!

JUNE 09

Begin the day with a full buffet breakfast in the hotel. Afterward, travel by deluxe motorcoach to the Porsche facility in Zuffenhausen where you will first visit the Porsche Museum. (You can purchase some some small Porsche trinkets here.) Next, your hosts from Porsche Club Coordination will guide you on an in-depth tour of the Porsche factory where you will observe various stages of production up close.

Following the factory tour enjoy a three-course lunch in the Porsche Casino.

After lunch travel by motorcoach to Weissach, Porsche's research and development center and home of the Porsche test track. Here you will experience the exhilaration of the hot lap, a ride (or several) around the track with Porsche's test drivers.

The day continues with a stop at the Porsche Boutique at the Porsche facility in Ludwigsburg. You will have ample time to 'shop til you drop' before heading back to the hotel.

JUNE 10

Enjoy another full buffet breakfast in the hotel. Later in the morning travel by motorcoach to the picturesque village of Landgenburg where you will tour the castle (still inhabited). Next, visit the quaint auto museum where a variety of cars and motorcycles are uniquely displayed.

Marvel at the vista of the countryside below as you have lunch (included) at the delightful Schlosscafe, famous for its tarts, cakes, and other delectable desserts.

Return to Stuttgart where the remainder of the afternoon is free.

Tonight's farewell dinner is fraught with surprises and special treats. Don't miss it!

JUNE 11

Another sumptuous breakfast buffet awaits you at the hotel this morning. Perhaps you'll take it on the open patio where you'll have a bird's eye view of the lovely Schlossgarten below.

Afterward, bid 'auf wiedershen' to your fellow TREFFENITES as you continue your travels in Europe or make your own way to the airport.

THE SMALL PRINT: Porsche activities are arranged at the discretion of Porsche AG and are subject to change without notice.

THE DETAILS:

$911 per person, double occupancy; single supplement $200. Airfare and airport transfers not included. A nonrefundable deposit of $100 is required to hold your reservation. Final payment is due April 27. For More Information Contact: GT&I TRAVEL PLANNERS, 30 Zoar Road
Sandy Hook, CT 06482, (203) 426-7833 6:30p.m. - 8:30p.m. EST, or Judy Boles @(203) 894-4690

In just over a decade Porsche’s Wendelin Wiedeking has engineered a turnaround at the automaker nearly as breathtaking as the acceleration of its legendary sports cars. The yellow Boxster S convertible is already doing 160 km/hr on the autobahn outside Stuttgart, but the young press aide isn’t satisfied. “It has six gears,” he says heartily. “Use them!”

We would like to thank all of you who have responded and sent you information to us. We still hope to hear from more of you and we are in need of your phone numbers and e-mail address. There are times that we might need to contact you about an upcoming event that we don’t have time to send a mailing. Please consider getting this information to us. Send information to :