Hey there…well sometimes like today….I wonder why I didn’t bring my Porsche to an event. In this case it was the Monthly Members Breakfast. I love an excuse to get in and drive whether it’s 10 miles or a 1000 I am in. But there are certain circumstances that have me at a disadvantage compared to other owners….but maybe not. Comment on your thoughts.
This weekend I had, well lets just say a boat load of stuff to pick up and there was no way I thought I would get it all into the Spyder, so I opted for a JEEP. Well, the reality at the end of the day was …. I probably could have gotten all the stuff in the SRS but inclement weather threat had me second guessing myself.
I live in BFE…better known as Fontana, where the wind is so ridiculous that our youngest learn that the wind can get so strong it will lift you off your feet just trying to get in the car. No, not kidding, children learn to hold on to the door handle a different way, knowing they can practicing there super man pose at any moment….doors dents and hinge damage is a common problem here in Fontana when the wind is blowing. Our city is sets its standards for 125 mph winds because…well…it happens. We consider a breeze anything under 70 mph, when everyone else considers it a wind hazard we barely notice.
So today when I got up… I noticed the typical wind and damage. Downed tree limbs and debris, everywhere. I was debating uncovering the SRS and braving the exit of Fontana. Once, you leave Fontana, the winds calm down drastically so it’s just the entering and leaving of Fontana thats the game of chance. To get the SRS out of the garage its game of “tile slide puzzles” moving the cars around to clear a path. During this process one gust of wind caused the car door of the daily ride to fling open and that was enough to say…nah…not worth it…so I slid the puzzles piece back behind the SRS and took the JEEP.
Needless to say every mile was a regret thinking I could have made it out of the garage and a few miles west where the winds were not an issue. Thinking about what a beautiful day it would have been for a top down rid. Instead I was in a JEEP doing 65 because thats what we JEEP owners have to to do.
I made my way to the El Monte, had a fantastic time with everyone there. Met some new member and had a great time. Then alert that was over….I had to make my way back to the parking lot and remembered I brought the JEEP. Dont get me wrong, I love my JEEP! It’s just not my SRS.
I spent the next 3 hours in the JEEP heading to OC grabbing some items I needed to get and thinking the entire time I should have been in the SRS…until…I got back to Fontana. The wind was still going nuts. The JEEP window was pelted with bugs of every kind, tree branches, dirt, sand it all hit the JEEP as I existed the freeway entering the city. Then it dawned on me I made the right decision.
For those that love their Porsches as much as I do…and dont want to risk bringing it to an event for whatever reason… I get it! Better safe than sorry.
Not to mention, the amount of work required to clean your beloved ride after being slammed with a barage of bug goo.
For me there are four things that keep me from bringing my SRS top an event: snow, rain, day after rain and wind.
Wind I have just described. Snow..although not the norm or even typically considered does happen here in Fontana so no…no taking the car out in the snow. Rain…oh my…I have cup 2s….and let’s say rain is like ice skating when you don’t know how to ice skate….at least for me. The day after rain…seems like it would be ok..but this seems to be the worst day for loose rocks, gravel, etc. So…I avoid driving it on any day following rain…the more days of rain…the more days of dry I want before I get back on the road.
Not sure what your thoughts are or if I’m just a crazy first time Porsche owner. Let me know how you handle inclement weather.
John Ramirez.
John Ramirez
Anna Wong
Lon Salgren
