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Thankfully the weather has improved and we can get outside and do things... I recall the Porsche Derby weekends as we watched the weather. Glad we aren't having a PD this weekend as rain is forecasted. I recall one PD when we 'judged' the cars under the portico at the host hotel (now Sullivan University residence dorm). I recall another Concour at Farmington when it poured buckets. When the PD started we had many folks involved and the enthusiasm was strong. As the event aged the enthusiasm waned and folks burned out. We lost money on the last couple and decided it was time to let the Porsche Derby die.

Later we had events at the Corvette Museum. Nice venue, etc., but as I recall all the income went to the Corvette Museum. We worked and they collected. Somewhere in the Corvette Museum's patio is a brick that we bought with the Kentucky PCA's name on it.

Then we tried the Autumn Derby. A nice event but it never caught on. In the fall we would have the Oktoberfest, generally in the city park across from the Zoo. It was a one day event and we made it an 'all German' event and invited the BMW, Mercedes, etc. to participate. It also faded and was dropped. My point in listing past 'things to do' is to illustrate that times change. When the PD started we had about 15 folks involved in the administration of the event. As it aged, the last PD only had 4 or 5 folks doing it all. Burnout came fast. Today other activities have replaced the PD and the drivers' school at Putnam is a success. Times and interests change, for the good.

When John and Shelly Howe, Mike Long, Andy and I hosted the 356 Registry East Coast Holiday at West Baden last September it was a 9 month project that took all the spare time the 5 of us could spare. Fun, worth it and it was a great event.

On 22 May we will again be going to the Tenn. Tubs BBQ. Richard Hughes is the contact, 270 991-4848. This has been a great trip and always another way to meet and greet. The Louisville folks meet at the Cracker Barrel at Brooks Road and caravan to Bowling Green where we meet up with Richard Hughes and caravan to the event. I will post details on the KY Yahoo list as they are confirmed.

Another event that many of us will participate in is the Stoddard Swap meet 12 June. We have been going to this meet for at least 20 years. In the 'old days' swap meets were the only way to find parts for our old cars. Today 'evil-bay' and the internet have made finding parts much easier. But you just can't beat seeing a part, holding it in your hands and having a face to face negotiation with the seller. It's also good to see old Porsche friends and meet new ones.

We will be leaving Louisville Friday morning 11 June for the 6 hour drive to Willoughby (Cleveland area) and be staying at the Super 8 in Mentor Ohio. The rates are about $69. Don't take the 'safe' option and save a buck. Friday evening there is a 'literature' meet inside Stoddard's warehouse. This is where the pricey trinkets will be as well as books, shirts and other Porsche related memorabilia. We also have a table reserved and will be selling some of my spares... Saturday morning we set up in our usual space and again this year Tony Proasi will have the space next to Andy and I. In mid afternoon it will start to slow down and folks will be packing up for the trip home. We usually get back home around 10 pm. The 1951 356 Porsche motor is finally finished. It has been a two year project. Finding and making parts really slows projects.

It is not the record for 'slow' though. I have been working on Jim Perrin's Denzel motor since 2002. There are very few Denzel cars remaining and even fewer motors. Wolfgang Denzel developed a custom bodied sports car based on 356 parts. The motor was based on the early 356 'two piece' motor block but with a different crankshaft, cam, Pc's and heads. Some of the engine tin is different to accommodate the engine bay in the Denzel body. I have most of the motor assembled but am still waiting on more parts. When all parts are here, I can do a trial fit and take the tin back off and have it stripped and powder coated. Don't want to do any thing until all parts are here and fit is confirmed. I keep telling Jim that neither of us are getting any younger...

Off on another subject...I see that the 'powers that be' are still debating the bridges. It will be a many, many million dollar project when you consider that part of the project is to revise 'spaghetti junction'. My idea is to build the east end bridge first. When it is finished, then do a traffic study and reevaluate the need to have a second downtown bridge. Every truck and car that is coming from the Lexington area and heading to Indianapolis and points north will happily use the east end bridge to save time and avoid downtown Louisville. The traffic thru Louisville will be reduced and possibly the need for a second bridge and the $$$ savings can be better used. But that is just me...

I am still concerned about at the new downtown arena. I understand that the 'powers that be' wanted a signature arena in downtown Louisville. They also had dreams of a Pro basketball team. Fat chance...The KFEC would have been the perfect place for the new arena, plenty of parking, easy access to interstates and the airport. Freedom Hall could have been remodeled at a far less cost.

We have nobody to blame but ourselves. We elected those bozos....Maybe November will change things. Finally, I am in an 'empty the attic' mode. Andy came over and removed 12 boxes of old records. As I go thru them I am reminded of days gone by, like gas at .65 a gallon. One box had the records from the Louisville Automobile Museum that closed in 1997. As the last director, I saved all the records. We saved them in hopes of opening another car museum here in Louisville. It ain't gonna happen so I am tossing all the old files, the policy books, tax records, personnel records, member files with the cars we had, etc. It was a great memory trip of a wonderful experiment. I did save some of the clippings and pictures, just because. Saturday there is free shredding at the Zoo and I will be there with several boxes of records that I don't want in a landfill.

Something to consider...

Here's a solution to all the controversy over full-body scanners at the airports. Have a booth that you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you. It would be a win-win for everyone, and there would be none of this foolishness about racial profiling and this method would eliminate a long and expensive trial. Justice would be quick and swift. Case Closed! This is so simple that it's brilliant. I can see it now: You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system, "Attention standby passengers we now have a seat available on flight number.........."

(And don't forget the other announcement... "clean up on scanner #7"!)

The real question is: How many American lives are you prepared to sacrifice, in order to spare a terrorist from experiencing distress?

Ken Daugherty