Arizona Region PCA History: 1959-1969

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June 1948: The first Porsche sports car, bearing the name of the prominent automotive family who had several generations working in the field by that time, was road certified. The 356, dubbed “No. 1”, soon won its first racing victory in Austria. As the 60th anniversary of this event approaches, we can only marvel at the fact that a scant ten years after that first Porsche, there was already in Arizona a group of Porsche motor car enthusiasts eager for the camaraderie of racing, rallying, discussing, and socializing around their own cutting-edge sports cars.

The first PCA region formed in Washington, D.C. in early 1955. Three years later, Eugene Bussian of Scottsdale organized a group of Porsche aficionados who met in his home on 62nd Place for an organizational meeting in November 1958. On February 12, 1959, the group met to approve officers and request a charter from PCA, naming itself Arizona Region of the Porsche Club of America, Incorporated. The charter was granted on or about March 7, 1959, and there were thirty members by the end of 1959. The first region president, Glenn Kelty, owned a 1957 tan 1600 Normal Porsche and had “plans to move up to a Super 90.” Kelty was a former Seabee and a mechanical engineer, and referred to himself in a club newsletter as “a frustrated hot-rodder.” The membership of our Region reached nearly 40 by 1964, and held steady in thehigh 40’s throughout the rest of the decade.

Newsletters from that first decade reveal that the region was populated by a bunch of fun-loving folks who enjoyed Porsche performance related events, such as gymkhana (similar to autocross), rallies, and non-competitive (individual) races. One rally to the Grand Canyon in 1959 included a briefing packet that gave directions in nautical miles, requiring some math on the part of the navigator, and also a mandatory tire change which left the Native American onlookers baffled! Given the lack of interstate highways at that time, the rallies often used unpaved roads including Schnebly Hill Road in 1963 Sedona, where nowadays-rugged jeep tours are conducted. Imagine trying to set something like that up today with the Club. These demanding, all-day events make our Sunday Drives seem a bit tame by comparison. Tech sessions of the time included a “Porsche IQ” event where participants had to identify disembodied parts (and some tricks – like onion soup!). In 1968, members were treated, after the monthly meeting, to a private showing by Morgensen Motors of the "new" 911-L Sportomatic Porsche.

Members also drove their Porsches for social activities as in a scavenger hunt requiring the acquisition of a size 11 shoe and a copy of a then, quite-racy movie, “Forever Amber,” among other items. Annual swim parties at the Safari Hotel were very popular. The Christmas parties began during this decade. In 1967, the party was at the Saddleback Inn, with a dinner choice of Lobster Tails ($6.75) or Filet Mignon ($5.75)! When we attend Driver’s Ed, enjoy a Sunday Drive, or laugh with friends at the Christmas party, we are carrying on a tradition that is well established in the Arizona Region PCA.

by Denise and Charles Brasile