December '01

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Presidents Remarks

Our good friend Bob Dideriksen is back home and doing well as he recuperates from a sudden illness that required serious surgery.

Bob had intense headaches for several weeks. Shortly after Thanksgiving, flu like symptoms added to his discomfort and his condition became worse. Tanya took Bob to Emergency at Mercy Hospital where he was diagnosed and immediately transferred to University Hospital for neurosurgery. Bob went home from the hospital last Saturday and is feeling much better. His condition will require additional treatment and therapy.

Bob always enjoys hearing from his friends. If you would like to send a card or give them a call, the address is:

    Bob Dideriksen
    2335 Mulberry St.
    Coralville, IA 52241

    319-338-8403

Are you still Christmas shopping?
Take someone to the Auto Show!


Chicago Bus Trip to Auto Show

Once again, the Central Iowa Region PCA will host the annual bus trip to the Chicago Auto Show in February. The trip will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2002.

The bus will depart from Tri-State Tours at 32nd St. and 1st Ave. in Cedar Rapids at 7:15 AM. Be there by 7:00 AM.  Another pickup point is Oakdale Campus at Coralville, departing there at 8:00 AM. To get to Oakdale take Exit 240 of I-80, then north on 965 to Oakdale Blvd. The bus will be in the first parking lot on your right.

Cost for the event is $35.00 per person, which covers the cost of the bus and the pre-purchased auto show ticket. All seats must be pre-paid to Tanya Meyer no later than January 1, 2002. Seating is limited, so order today.

Send your check with names of all participants to Tanya at: 2335 Mulberry St. #6, Coralville, Iowa 52241.

If you have questions call John and Maralee at 319-335-9843 or 319-337-5367.

 
Christmas Party

We had a wonderful time at the Amana Holiday Inn for our party.  There were door prizes for all and a little fun with the exchange gifts.  Thank you all for participating in this yearly event.

 

Get Hooked Up!

If you have e-mail and are not getting notices of Porsche Club events, please update your e-mail address by contacting: john-dyson@uiowa or jmdyson@home.com or, phone 319-337-5367 or 319-335-9843. If you have a FAX number we can send information by that method.

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.

 

The Club's Web Page

Jason Walter is our Porsche-webmiester.  He is doing a great job of keeping up the Central Iowa Region page.  If you wish to look at the page go to, www.pca.org/cia If you have any ideas for the site or contributions please let Jason know at jasonray@sbt.net .  Please visit our website, www.pca.org/cia  Check out the pictures and our events calendar.

 

Just the Details:
Detailing Upholstery

By David Bynon, San Diego Region (from The Windblown Witness)

David Bynon operates the website Autopia-Carcare.com. Visit his site for more information about car and as a source for most of the products and tools seen in this column.

Regular vacuuming and dusting of your car's interior is the best way to keep it looking good. Surface cleaning alone is not enough. Two to three times a year you need to detail the upholstery to keep it looking its best. This article addresses how to best detail fabric, vinyl and leather upholstery.

Detailing Fabric Upholstery Fabric is the most difficult upholstery to detail. Unlike vinyl and leather, fabric upholstery easily soils and stains. You should expect to spend  2-3 hours detailing a sedan with fabric upholstery, a little less time for a truck or two-seater.

There are two basic methods and product choices to clean fabric:

1. Spray-On/Wipe Off Cleaner (foaming or non-foaming) - These cleaners penetrate and lift dirt and stains to the surface where you can wipe them away.

2. Shampoo - A sudsy soap solution that requires agitation  with a brush or sponge and rinsing.

For quick spot cleaning, I recommend the spray on/wipe off type of cleaner. These cleaners are strong, and get deep into the soil or stain to thoroughly clean. However, for a complete cleaning, I prefer good old soap and water. Before using any product on your car's fabric upholstery, test for color fading (colorfast) by cleaning a small, inconspicuous area. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric's color or texture.


If there is any "detailer's secret" to shampooing car upholstery it's in the rinsing. If you don't rinse, the dirt and soap remain in the upholstery. Rinse water must be removed with a  vacuum. Use a shop wet-dry vacuum, a coin-op car wash vacuum, or a carpet wet-dry machine rented from your  local grocery store. Make sure you have the vacuum before you get started. Follow these easy steps:

1. Spray spots and heavily soiled areas with a good spot remover.  I recommend Eimman Fabrik Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner or Eagle One Zap.

2. Mix two ounces of car shampoo with warm water in a 3-gallon bucket. P21S Bodywork Shampoo, Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo and Eimann Fabrik Power Wash+
all work well.

3. Use an upholstery scrub brush and a sponge in a circular motion to agitate the upholstery. Use the suds from the top of your bucket, and apply as little water as possible.

4. Wipe away the suds with a sponge or damp terrycloth towel.

5. Empty your bucket of soapy water; refill with warm water.

6. Rinse your upholstery with clean water by wiping with a damp terrycloth towel. Rinse the soap from our towel often and wring it out. Use as little water as necessary to rinse thoroughly.

7. Vacuum the upholstery to extract the remaining rinse water.

8. Use a hair dryer to complete the drying process. Be careful not to scorch the fabric by holding the dryer too close.

9. Allow the fabric to dry overnight before using. Keep your windows open slightly to allow the moisture to escape.

To keep your fabric upholstery looking factory fresh for many years, consider using a fabric protectant. My favorite is 303 Fabric Guard. It blocks the sun's damaging rays and repels water, oil, grease and dirt. Use a
fabric guard only on new or just-cleaned upholstery. Your upholstery must be dry. Simply spray it on (two light coats is better than one) and let it dry.


Detailing Vinyl Upholstery

Vinyl is the most durable upholstery, but it is not the easiest to keep clean. Unlike cloth or leather, the surface of vinyl generates static, which attracts dust. As a result, vinyl can quickly become grimy. The good news is, vinyl is the easiest upholstery to clean.

Do not use regular household soap and water on your vinyl upholstery. Detergent will permanently remove the sheen from the vinyl. Choose a cleaner made specifically for vinyl. My favorites are Pinnacle Vinyl & Leather Cleaner and Eimman Fabric Spot Remover. Another excellent choice is XENIT.

Follow these easy steps for the perfect vinyl interior:

1.  Spray vinyl with your favorite cleaner.

2. Work the cleaning solution into seams, edges and seat backs using an upholstery scrub brush. If necessary, use an old toothbrush to get into the small crevices.

3.  Rinse the vinyl thoroughly with a bucket of clean water an d a terrycloth towel.

4.  Dry the Upholstery with a clean, dry terrycloth towel.

5. Apply your favorite vinyl dressing to restore the sheen.

A quick word about vinyl dressings: they're not all the same. Choose a dressing that gives you the look you want (flat to shiny). Pinnacle and 303 create a matte to satin finish. Zymol is satin to shiny. Lexol Vinylex is shiny. Another thing to consider is protection from the sun. Pinnacle, 303 and Lexol Vinylex all offer good ultraviolet light protection.


Detailing Leather Upholstery

There are two cleaning related factors that can cause your leather to prematurely wear. The first is dirt and the second is oil from your skin. The oil from your skin is actually the most damaging to your leather. This is particularly true if you wear shorts or a tank top, and have recently applied lotion or a sunscreen to your skin. Take this into consideration when determining your cleaning schedule.

Unlike fabric or vinyl upholstery, leather should be cleaned one section at a time. This means, when you have applied your cleaner or conditioner to one area, fully wipe down that area then proceed to the next, and so on. Work on an area no larger than 2-3 square feet at a time.

There are many different leather cleaners available. Based on my testing, I only recommend two products: Pinnacle Leather & Vinyl Cleaner and Lexol Leather Cleaner. They both work equally well, but the Pinnacle smells much better and does not leave as much residue to wipe off as the Lexol.

If you have a dark colored leather interior, I recommend cleaning twice a year. Light colored leather will need cleaning more often, even as much as every three months, depending on how easily the dirt is revealed. In between
cleaning your leather (every other time you wash your car), use a clean damp towel to wipe down the surface. This removes the dust and light dirt so it won't have a chance to work into your leather.

Follow these steps to clean your leather:

1.  Apply the leather cleaner of your choice one section at a time and work the solution into a nice lather with a sponge. If your leather is heavily soiled, use an upholstery (interior detailing) brush.

2.  When finished scrubbing, be sure to remove all soap  from the surface with a damp towel.

3.  Rinse and wipe several times, then dry the leather with a fresh, dry terrycloth towel.

By the way, water will not hurt your leather. Most leather is actually made (tanned) in water.

After the your car's leather has dried, apply the leather conditioner of your choice. Choose a leather protectant that gives you the look you want (flat to shiny). Pinnacle and Connolly Hide Food create a satin finish. Lexol is shiny.

Just like cleaning, apply leather conditioner one section at  a time using a foam wax applicator. Work the conditioner in thoroughly. Allow the conditioner to sit (soak in) for a minute or two, then buff off the excess with a dry terry cloth towel. It's important to buff off the excess. If you allow the excess to stay, your seats will be slippery. After a few minutes of soak time, your leather has taken in all the moisture it can. The remainder will simply evaporate, leaving that nasty film on the inside of your windows.

 

PORSCHE RELAUNCHES
ONLINE CATALOG FOR
NORTH AMERICA

From  mailto:newsletter@porsche-www.porsche.de

In November 2001, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) relaunched their secure online shopping Web site http://www.porsche.com/shop/ for Selection, the Porsche line of genuine branded merchandise. The new Web site gives Porsche customers and enthusiasts a new and convenient way to shop for products ranging from Porsche clothing and luggage to tennis racquets and road and
mountain bicycles.

The Web site creates a new distribution channel for Porsche's merchandise line. North American shoppers can still buy Selection items through authorized Porsche dealers or through the Selection catalog, which is available by calling 1-800-PORSCHE.

PCNA will continue to update the site and tailor it to ensure optimal usability. While customers worldwide can access the PCNA Selection site, merchandise delivery is only available for the United States and Canada.

The online catalog for Selection is also available in Germany at http://www.porsche.de/deu/default.asp. Other national Porsche sites provide a service with product and price information. To purchase, please visit your nearest Porsche dealer.

PORSCHE TRAVEL CLUB

From  mailto:newsletter@porsche-www.porsche.de

The Porsche Travel Club offers innovative and exclusive  Porsche adventures among kindred spirits. Experience an unforgettable Porsche weekend, the fascination of a desert adventure in Dubai, a winter training in Finland or a historic "Castles Tour". Find out more about Porsche with a "look behind the scenes" and make use of Porsche's motorsport and ticket services. The Porsche Travel Club offers for racing enthusiasts, clients and fans of the brand an extraordinary exciting and manifold program. Visit our redesigned internet offer!

http://www.porsche.com/english/events/travelclub/default.htm

Origin of the Porsche Crest

by Terry Lovett, Porsche Club of Canberra, Australia

THE CREST: In 1951 Porsche was finalizing plans for its move from the war time sanctuary of Gmund back to Stuttgart. Importers and agents selling his product made it clear that customers wanted some sort of trademark or badge to identify their vehicles, which till then only carried the word "Porsche" on the bodywork. In 1952, Professor Porsche had devised the basic design of the crest. Folklore has it that he sketched it on a serviette during a luncheon. Whether true or not, it was Messrs. Lepper and Riemspiess of the publicity and design studios who carefully finalized the design.

There are three components: the family name, of course, is positioned at the top, while the other two components reflect Porsche's gratitude for the rebirth of the company in the Stuttgart area. The red and black bars with the antlers are from the coat of arms of the State of Wurttemberg, and the horse is from the coat of arms of Stuttgart, capital of Wurttemberg. The origins of Stuttgart developed from the royal patronage given in historical times to the area. A fine horse stud developed here. So (Stud Garden) Stutt
Garten and Stuttgart.

The crest first appeared on a Porsche in 1953, but was limited to the interior of the car on the horn button. It was not until 1957 that the crest joined the word Porsche on the front bonnet of a 356 Coupe.

THE COLOR: Maroon or claret has appeared on the driver's hand-books, service manuals and official letterheads since 1951. The choice of color was due to necessity rather than any romantic design consideration. After the second World War, colored inks were in very short supply and colored papers were only just being reintroduced. It was in this environment that the first handbooks were produced. To maintain an attractive design within the shortages of the period, black ink and colored stock was chosen. The small printer Glauner happened to have some colored paper in maroon. It was a case of no alternatives. No one could imagine the precedent that this would set.

Today, all official stationery, driver's wallets and even the exterior color schemes of the new factory building in Stuttgart utilize bold stripes of these colors.

THE SCRIPT: The Porsche script has undergone a  number of evolutionary phases since it appeared on Porsche No. 1 at Gmund in June 1948.From the outset,
the square shape of the letters was apparent. Initially, letters were placed individually in a curved pattern on the front of the cars. In 1950, a horizontal underlining bar joined all the letters into a single unit. In 1952, the letters became more squat (extended.) This design remained unchanged for the remaining life of the 356 series. In 1963-64, the 911 came on the scene. The word Porsche reverted to a series of individual letters of a thinner and more open shape. In 1974, the metal letters were no  longer used. Instead they were depicted on the reflective panel separating the tail lights of the 911. To end, I quote Tony Lapine, head of styling studio: "More than any emblem or logo, Professor Porsche himself represents the bond between tradition and progressive technology that makes Porsche such a unique company."

 

Your Tires Old?

John Mingst, Metro NY PCA

How old are your tires? Many tires have a build code that is three digits following the DOT mark. Look for the this mark, it says "DOT" then three digits ex. "260" This means that this tire was manufactured during the 26th week of the year 2000. This is a great piece of knowledge when buying used tires, and the seller tells you that he just got them last year.

 

Porsche Responds to National Tragedy
By PCNA

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 countless acts of heroism and generosity brought out the extraordinary nature of ordinary citizens. Around the nation - and indeed, around the world - people have come forward with a sincere desire to help in many ways. Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) is proud of its employees' efforts to help, and the company was also honored to participate in events that contributed funds for those in need.

"We were very saddened by the unthinkable events that occurred on Sept. 11 and wanted to do our part to support the relief efforts taking place in New York and Washington D.C.," said Fred Schwab, PCNA president and CEO.

Porsche Foundation Matches Employee Donations

PCNA employees stepped up to help during the national crisis, raising $1,634 in donations for the United Way's September 11 Fund. The Porsche Foundation matched the contribution, adding $1,866 to make it a round $3,500. A late
addition from another employee brought the figure to $3,550. The funds mailed on Oct. 2, reported Stacey Hirsch, market representation coordinator and co-chair of the Community Involvement Team.

Drive For Hope Donates 20 Percent to NY Firefighters Fund
The 50-State Porsche Drive For Hope, originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 20, instead kicked off on Oct. 18 with a broadened mission. The record-setting challenge, intended to help The Hope Foundation raise funds and awareness for cancer research, will donate 20 percent of its proceeds to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.

Three 911 Turbos traveled 11,000 miles through all 50 states, leaving Honolulu, Hawaii by cargo plane and ending in Las Vegas eight days later. Ten sponsors each pledged one dollar per mile, plus additional support. PCNA Sponsors Seinfeld and Friends Benefit Show For years, Jerry Seinfeld gave TV viewers a skewed look at life in New York City. In reality, he and fellow comedians care deeply about the city and its
people. After the tragic attacks of Sept. 11, Seinfeld decided to put together an all-comedy benefit, including some of the biggest names in comedy: Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell of Saturday Night Live, Colin Quinn (formerly of Saturday Night Live), stand-up comic George Wallace, and Alan King, known to comedy audiences since "The Ed Sullivan Show."

An avid Porsche enthusiast and collector, Seinfeld contacted PCNA for help, and the company agreed to become the event's sole sponsor. Carnegie Hall was able to open Monday, October 8 for the show on short notice. With ticket prices ranging from $50 to $2,500, the event took in more than $1.8 million. All proceeds went to the Twin Towers Fund and the New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund.

Lug Nuts

John Mingst, Metro NY PCA

Lug nuts: Always torque your wheels to recommended specifications! This will keep you from over torqueing the fragile alloy nuts. The last thing you ever want is to have a nut head separate from the flange portion. This can happen from a lug nut put on to tight, or removing them when hot. The other bonus to torqueing the lug nuts is that you will prevent warping of the wheel on the hub. My advice for track use is to use the steel open head nuts for the track and  Save the alloy's for the street.

 

 
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Last modified: December 20, 2001