The second annual Turkeys-in-the-Trunk was a huge success! The great fall weather was a perfect setting for the social event but the real highlight was the atmosphere and enthusiasm of the 70 members who showed up with over 3200 pounds of donated Thanksgiving dinner fixings pouring out of their Porsche’s trunks. Think of it this way: we donated about the weight of a GT-3 in food for the people who need it the most during this holiday season. This food will serve 15,000 meals during the holiday season.
The event started at Checkered Flag Porsche again this year. Richard Hutsko, the General Manager, was very generous with sponsorship and provided lunch for everyone. They cleared out the parking lot to make room for our 35 cars and opened up the entrance to the service bays for the weigh-in. Thanks to the many volunteers who jumped right in, without being asked, to start unloading the trunks as the cars rolled in. Although the weighing was expeditious, the totals were kept secret until the time limit expired, keeping us all in suspense until the end. Everyone enjoyed the lunch while we waited, catching up with friends and talking, mostly, about cars.
As we wrapped up the phase one of the event, we gathered for a group photo in front of the impressive array of Porsches that ranged from early SC’s and 944’s up to a nearly new 911 Turbo. Richard Hutsko pointed out that when we come back next year, we’ll be in a brand new Porsche showroom as the existing facility is going to be torn down soon.
The caravan then set off, westbound along Virginia Beach Boulevard, toward Pembroke Mall and the 15th annual Mayflower Marathon. We got reorganized in the mall parking lot and waiting for the word from coordinators from the Food Bank. When they were ready for us, the line of Porsches drove off, then snaked around the tractor trailers filling up with food. We pulled up to a loud, raucous and enthusiastic crowd of volunteers who helped unload the cars. In the meantime, Dave McFaddin, First Settlers Region President, and Josie Grandfield, our Charity Coordinator, met with representatives from the Food Bank and Mike Arlo, DJ extraordinaire from FM-106.9, to donate over $3200 from the club. The proceeds came from charity events held throughout the year, including the Air and Auto Classic car show, Drivers Education charity laps and the monthly raffles at both the Richmond and Southside breakfast locations. Thanks to everyone who participated and contributed!!
Once we lightened the loads in our cars and returned them to a more normal weight balance, we were off on a fun run through Chesapeake and the Pungo region of Virginia Beach. A spirited drive on country roads draped in fall foliage, with a large group of like-minded enthusiasts, listening to the sounds of the (mostly) flat-six engines, and looking at Porsches both forward and back, is certainly one of the highlights of PCA membership!
Although some drivers in the group ‘opted’ for a variation of the planned route, everyone eventually made it to final destination of Waterman’s restaurant on the oceanfront at 5th Street. We had the ‘outside’ room with a bar and a pair of bartenders all to ourselves. The hors d'oeuvres and the first round of drinks were on the club as a small token of thanks to our members for their generous donations in support to the Food Bank. The conversations never stopped until the last bite of crab dip was swiped out of the final bowl and the crowd filtered away.
Thanks to Checkered Flag for their continued sponsorship and to all the members who participated by donating food to this very worthy cause. Special thanks to David Jones for bringing 21 turkeys! That jacket will look good on you!!
