Meet Patrick Schmidt

1. How long have you been a PCA member?

I have been a member of the PCA for 25 years! In GE they called that the Quarter Century Club.

2. What first interested you in Porsche?

I was blown away by the PORSCHE 917s that raced in the Can Am Series at Donnebrook in Brainerd, Minnesota in 1972. Amazing! I also had several cousins on the East Coast that owned 911s. They cherished their Porsches. I became quite an admirer of Porsches.

3. What was your first Porsche and why did you purchase it?

When we first moved to California in 1983, I knew I wanted a sports car and searched out a Porsche that I could afford (while raising three children). I wanted a fun car that I could use as a daily driver — Porsche. Engineered for Magic. Every day. I found an original owner of a 1972 Porsche 914 that worked for Berkey Porsche of Pleasanton. She had all the service records and working for a Porsche Dealer, she had every service as scheduled. The 914 had 95,000 miles on it and it ran great. I read an article in the Panorama about tracking your Porsche that suggested you could either buy a full blown race car and work to get your skills up to the Porsche's capabilities or you could buy a "Street" Porsche and make small improvements over time and build your skills with each improvement. That was the route that I chose as I started my 17 years in Autocrossing. Great fun!

In 1999, my son, Justin, was rear ended by a 1983 Chrysler who was in a high speed chase by CHP in San Francisco. Justin was at a stop light and the Chrysler was not slowing down, but just changing lanes at 45 mph when the front third of the Chrysler hit the back half of the 914. One quarter of the driver's side rear wheel was dented by the impact. The mid-engine design by Porsche helped absorb the impact and Justin walked away from the accident with no injuries. The insurance company called me and said they were having a difficult time reading the odometer - it read 7,000 miles. They asked - "Is that really 7,000 miles?" I said, "No. That is 307,000 miles." They said - "We probably cannot pay you anything for that car." I responded that "If I need to buy a replacement, I would show them what it is worth." After several conversations with Bruce Anderson and confirming a few comparable sales by Sergio Meza, the insurance company paid me one-third more than I paid for the car 17 years earlier and after adding over 200,000 miles! Porsche. Engineered for magic. Every day! Linda, my spouse, said "As long as you can take the top off the next one, let's get another Porsche!" We found a second owner ready to part with her 911 Carrera Targa - European, Slate Grey.

4. What are your interests (hobbies)?

Driving; Going to the local race events at Sears Point and Laguna Seca; photographing my car in amazing places. I really enjoy helping the Diablo Region by leading day and overnight tours, attending events and meeting the new and active members of the PCA.

5. What type of work do you do and if you are retired, what did you do?

I am presently the Associate Director of Human Resources for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. As BART, from Dublin, is a really easy commute, I now can enjoy my Carrera as a fun car on the weekends and do not need to sit in first-gear traffic very often.

6. What is your current Porsche?

We have a 1984 Carrera, Targa, and European that has been a great car. Today, that Porsche has over 250,00 miles and is running strong.

7. What do you like about your Porsche?

Everything. The previous owner was married to a guy who had a Mercedes AMG and he said they should get a little more horsepower out of the European Carrera that came to the states with 231 HP and 10.3 to 1 Compression Ratio. They had a Flowmaster exhaust system made for the Carrera that really adds a nice tone as well as a few more horsepower. At 2,700 lbs., the extra horsepower power is evident. I have not found a hill yet that the Carrera knows it is climbing!

8. What options do you wish it included?

None. The full, top off feature of the 1984 Targa is great. Full view, open air. In this part of California, that is all you need! I love the Porsche Short Shift, the Turbo Tie Rods that I upgraded to as well as the Flowmaster, exhilarating tone and the ability to have great fun enjoying the Bay Area Canyon roads on a regular basis.

9. Is this your daily driver?

Yes!

10. If not, when do you drive it?

When I teach a few MBA courses at Golden Gate University, I drive to San Francisco and put up with the first and second gear driving during morning rush hour. But in the evening, leaving San Francisco at 9:30 PM, I am back to Dublin in 30 minutes! Beyond my teaching evenings in the City, I enjoy Porsche Breakfast with our Porsche Friends on Saturday mornings in Walnut Creek (or Pleasanton on the Second and Fourth Saturdays).

11.What type of driving do you like to do (i.e. spirited, country winding roads, long interstate trips)?

If you know of some the Tours that I have enjoyed leading, you will probably know that I love the Canyon Roads: Morgan Territory Road; Redwood Road; Polomares Canyon Road; Peachy Canyon Road, Hwy 25 (to Paso Robles). On my home from San Francisco, I frequently get off of I-580 at 35th Avenue in Oakland to head to Skyline Drive and Redwood Road for a 12 mile stretch of two lane road with no cross streets to get to Castro Valley with minimum traffic. Just a nice "commute."

12. What activities do you enjoy doing with the Diablo Region?

Everything. Diablo Region is great Region. Linda and I have enjoyed parties at members' homes, hosting parties at our home, destination tours, holiday parties. It is a great region and those who participate know that.

13. Is there any particular event that stands out as most enjoyable and why?

Yes. Linda and I lead a tour to Newlan Winery and Far Niente Winery in 1988. Bruce Newlan was a member of Diablo Region and invited us to a wine tasting at Newlan Winery in Napa. As one of my first events, I booked the tasting at Newlan and asked the Director of Events if she had any other wineries she would recommend. Far Niente was the place she last worked at and she gave me the contact name. We booked the tour and 35 cars made the tour to Newlan and Far Niente Wineries. At Gil Nichol's Far Niente Winery, we not only got a tour of the Winery, but also a tour of his Carriage House with some of Gil's incredible cars. Thank you, again Gil.

14. Is there any activity the Diablo Region does not provide that you would like to do?

No. The planning meeting at Walt and Jacquie's home seemed to cover many of the aspects of the PCA that Linda and I enjoy. I try to do a few tours or help others put on the tours that they are interested in. After doing four tours in 2010, I was totally surprised and grateful to get the award for "Enthusiast of the year - 2010.

15. If you could have any Porsche, what would it be and why?

The Carrera GT has been a dream car of mine since it was introduced. Mr. John Place has been such a gracious member of the Diablo Region that I have seen his Porsche Carrera GT up close. Amazing! I love the technology, features and sound of the GT. Yes. That would be my dream car. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to these questions. Linda and I enjoy the camaraderie of the Diablo Region and hope that other Porsche enthusiasts say connected and continue to enjoy the Magic Everyday!

Auf Wiedersehen!