Close up of rotor and caliper face. Improper servicing can cause vibration and dreaded brake squeal. (Photo by C Kugler)Brake squeal is really a high frequency vibration. In disc brakes, it can be caused by vibrations between the pads and rotors, the pads and calipers, or the calipers and their mounts. We can't stand it, even if it is "normal" for many vehicles today. Most people want nice, quiet brakes that stop smoothly with a reassuring "shhhhh' sound. No scraping noises. No high pitched squeals. No concerned looks or stares from passengers, other motorists or nearby pedestrians who wonder if the vehicle is going to stop or not.

Leonard Turnbeaugh explains his race car setup to Siegfried Fiolka after a practice session (Photo-C Kugler)The 2009 Reno Historic Races are now history and a sigh of relief is in order. We organized a Porsche Corral for the Saturday race and had 115 Porsche Club members sign up for the BBQ lunch at the track. Weather forecasts called for rain and we were concerned that Nevada’s spring weather wouldn’t cooperate. Luck was with us – it was a breezy overcast day but no rain- and we had a spectacular event.

Ernie Nagamatsu and the Kilpatrick Speedster on the front straight at Reno-Fernley. (Photo-C Kugler)Porsches, with their racing heritage, reliability and durability, seem to be at the forefront of vintage racing. While there are many cars and many stories, one which caught our attention recently is the 1958 Porsche Speedster owned and raced by General James Kilpatrick: the “General’s Speedster”. The race history of the car is a true testament to the ability of the early cars and their drivers to be competitive and perform at high levels over long periods of time.

Taylor Mihalko, Debbie Dell and Alice Strom at Tahoe Ridge Winery (Photo-C Kugler)Seventeen beautifully dusted Porsches headed out from Gilson’s Auto Body on a perfect spring day. After Porsche Club members learned how to make their cars gleam at the paint maintenance tech session they were ready to take them out and show them off. After leaving Gilson’s, the cars headed up Geiger Grade where the snow capped Sierras provided blue sky views. Members had to do double duty because in addition to admiring the sights along the way they had all been given the Dust Off Challenge. They were asked to look for falling rock, cemeteries, animal caution signs, and posted speeds.

Meguiar’s rep Hollis Foltz demonstrates how to correct scratches in his paint at the Paint Care Tech Session. (Photo by C Kugler)As Porsche owners we are very particular about keeping our cars looking great and that means high gloss, immaculate paint. For our third tech session this Spring, Gilbert Dayao sponsored a Paint Care tech session which was presented by Hollis Foltz, a Meguiars Professional Products Line rep. Thirty members were held in rapt attention while Hollis explained the basics of paint care and then demonstrated both paint care products and techniques on his own car.

Left to Right: Members Sid Rice, Trish Thiele, Peter Rice, Donna & Guy Archambault enjoy breakfast at the Tamarack before the test drive. (Photo by C Kugler)Growing up, I remember my grandfather called all cars “machines”. While I thought this was funny at the time, little did I realize that I would come to appreciate the complexity of a real “machine” one day. On Sunday, April 19th I came to the realization that Porsches represent that complexity in an elegant form. Our friends at Porsche of Reno gave the members of Sierra Nevada region an opportunity of a lifetime.

On the grid before the first run, Rich Wyett gives words of encouragement to Craig Kugler while wife Cindy looks on. (Photo-ML Kugler)With the cancellation of the SCCA’s Autocross School and the unforeseen delay to the AX season in northern Nevada due to the track surface problems at Stead, a number of SNR members suddenly found they had a “hole” in their driving schedules. Undeterred, Cindy and Rich Wyett and Mary Lou and I quickly found a PCA AX option and decided to take a drive to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton for Sacramento Valley Region’s (SVR) first AX event of the year. The great weather guaranteed a good turnout so we decided to go for it.

Preston removes tire from a GT3 rim (Photo-R Chew)Wow, impressive and serious are the first three words that come to mind in describing the Tech Session hosted by Gilbert at Gilson Autobody in Sparks. The twenty or so club members who attended were treated to a dazzling array of equipment and cars in Gilbert’s new garage—located behind the auto body shop—that opened in January.