Blog 11/22/2022 – Blue Ridge Region

Membership

New Members

Welcome to Antone Byrd from Roanoke, Virginia. Antone drives a 2014 Cayman S.

Also welcome to Adam Cook, also from Roanoke, Virginia. Adam drives a 2013 Boxster.

AND….

Welcome to John Trotter from Halifax, Virginia. John drives a 1998 911 Carrera 4S.

You are all invited to send pictures of your cars for posting in the Blogger!

Rally

We had a wonderful Fall Rally put on by Jim Wallace and Jim Laub. The starting point was across the street from Cave Spring Middle School on Route 221, Cave Spring, VA. (Some of us missed that small detail, “across the street from” but Jim chased us back across the street.) We had 9 cars participating in the rally.

The route was approximately 71 miles taking approximately 90 minutes to complete. The route went up Bent Mountain, an awesome stretch of roadway, double lane, thru some beautiful curves with a spectacular Fall view off to the left.

Then we headed down Shawville Pike

though Allegheny Springs down to Shawville and back east on RT 460.

Then as if that was not enough, we headed through Bradshaw

and up to Mason’s Cove,

ending at Parkway Brewing in Salem on Kessler Mill Road.

It was a “gimmick” rally with a question component and time component. Some of the questions were: a patriotic display, what is it? mailbox with a barn on the top, the color of a star located along the roadway, the Panda Snack (bamboo); whose name on the wildlife park; facility for future Olympians, a place to take your bounty (deer processing plant), etc. Trying to find these places while keeping your car on the road created some interesting interactions in the cockpits of the cars!

The time component was to match the time driven by Jim Laub when setting up the course. Jim did not exceed the speed limits, but was driving aggressively, I suspect!

Anyways the winners were

Bob and Cathy Pinkard 1st
Daniel and Samantha Janko second
Gavin and Amber MacBrien tied for third with Pete Engel

Amazingly a tie for 3rd with over 100 possible points. And Pete Engel drove as a single. How he solved these questions, maintained his speed and did not end up in a ditch is a question to be solved. 1st place received $100 gift certificate with $50 for 2nd and $25 for 3rd. And nothing for the poor Audi driver who got lost at the end!

Activities

Blue Ridge Region PCA Events

Date	Name	Venue
Jan 26	BRR-PCA Holiday Party & Annual Meeting	Hunting Hills Country Club	Register

Visit MotorsportReg.com to register for thousands of autocross, HPDE, race & social events.

Holiday Party

The Blue Ridge Region PCA Holiday Party is taking place on Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm at the Vinton War Memorial in Vinton, VA,

REGISTRATION CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 28!

So far 50 of your BRR-PCA friends have signed up! The club is subsidizing the venue and caterer fee to minimize the attendee fee of $50.

Don’t miss out on a great event !

Silent Auction

We are considering a Silent Auction at the Holiday Party. This is subject to getting some quality donations for the event. If you have something to donate, please contact Beth Heinzelman by November 28th.

Porsche Stuff

Racing Stories

The Miracle

How a Mexican mechanic saved Ferrari.

The untold story “The Miracle”.

In 1950 the Pan-American race arose. One of the most demanding endurance races in history that tested the best cars and the most experienced and daring drivers of the time.

Umberto Maglioli in his Ferrari 375 Plus was in the lead on the fourth and final stage of the race. Shortly before finishing the fourth stage, his car began to fail. His Ferrari 375 Plus had an oil leak through a hole in the crankcase.

In the middle of nowhere and without a spare part for this vital part of the car, hopes of finishing the race were slim to none.

In the fifth stage of the race and when the car was practically about to stop working, Umberto Maglioli made a stop in the middle of the road when he saw a small workshop called “El Milagro”.

Maglioli was received by Renato Martínez who was the owner and only mechanic of the workshop in the middle of nowhere. Renato Martínez confirmed to Maglioli that it was indeed an oil leak in the crankcase and that he had a “creative” solution to repair it in moments. At least to be able to finish his trip.

Renato Martínez picked up a bucket and a large bar of soap. He also took three small bottles of Coca-Cola and gave them to Maglioli saying, “While you drink these Coca-Colas I will fix your car.”.

An Incredulous Maglioli could only sit back, drink the cokes and hope for a miracle. Meanwhile, Renato Martínez disassembled the Ferrari and using the bar of soap began to gradually rub the sump with it. By friction the soap melted and created a paste that sealed the leak hole. The soap “cuts” the oil and sticks to the metal of the crankcase and when it solidifies it became rock hard..

Amazed, Maglioli thanked Renato and took a small Roliflex camera out of the Ferrari, which he used to take a picture of that miraculous moment. “El Milagro” workshop and Renato next to the Ferrari 375 Plus under repair were immortalized..

Umberto Maglioli in his Ferrari 375 Plus, finished the fifth stage of the race in first place and changed the history of Ferrari forever.

Although Ferrari was a well-known car in Europe, it was not in America and the brand was far from being an economically viable business. Ferrari desperately needed to prove to America that its cars were superior, fast and reliable. Winning the race would bring them recognition and with their sales in the United States, which would help them save the brand from bankruptcy..

Some time later, Renato Martínez received by mail the printed photograph that Maglioli had taken of that moment. The photograph was signed: “To my friend Renato M. From Umberto Maglioli.”.

The photograph came along with a letter thanking Renato and saying: “Renato, The Mexican Miracle that helped Ferrari.”

That letter was signed by a man named Enzo Ferrari.