Hot Roads, Cool Cars, and One Stellar Weekend at Old Kinderhook
For some time now, since I joined in 2024, I’ve wondered why we haven’t had an overnight tour somewhere. I’ve read about other regions doing it. When I learned about this trip, my anticipation started building. Just before the tour, I was on a Caribbean cruise where I caught myself daydreaming of driving Highway 94 again in the Carrera.
The departure day started early with final preparations for the road trip and packing the car was surprisingly easy; lots of room in a Carrera and I hear a Boxster/Cayman as well. Try doing that in any other two-door sports car! Before long, we were pointed toward the rally point at Francis Howell High School, just off Highway 94—a familiar landmark for anyone who has taken the fall Hermann or Washington tours.
Highway 94 Never Disappoints
The tour began on the always-familiar Highway 94. It is a road many of us know well, but somehow it never gets old. It remains one of the great sports car roads in the area, and this time we continued past the usual turn toward Hermann and headed for Jefferson City doubling our driving pleasure.
There were long stretches of straight, level road—perfect for changing the music, checking navigation, and keeping an eye on vehicle pressures and temperatures. Then the straights gave way to a few roller-coaster sections, just long enough to convince me that I am a great driver—at least in my own mind.
Our first stop came at a Marathon gas station after just over an hour of driving. Many lamented there was only one restroom for men and one for women, although the women were happy that for once, they didn’t have a long line. Still, the line became its own social hour as everyone chatted about the drive so far and what they were looking forward to next.
The second stop, at a Phillips 66, featured restrooms that were roughly double the number of the first stop. As you can imagine, we finished twice as fast. With that important milestone complete, our next target was Jefferson City and on to the Ozarks.
Heat, Traffic, and a Harmonious Strand of Porsches
Heading south on Highway 54 toward our destination was mostly uneventful—except for traffic that seemed determined to separate our group by inserting random cars between our string of Porsches. Fortunately, the ventilated seats helped me stay frosty in the 97-degree heat, which reportedly felt like 115 degrees outside the car.
With deft precision, we managed to work our way back into a coherent strand of Porsches.
A Warm Welcome at Old Kinderhook
We arrived at Old Kinderhook Resort in a rain shower, where the resort staff had reserved the parking spaces in front of the lodge for our cars. Unbeknownst to me, they were also judging the cars as we pulled in, which explained the extra attention our arrival seemed to attract.
The lineup quickly became a curiosity for the neighborhood, with residents and visitors stopping by to admire the roundup. Check-in was efficient, and we soon made it to our room with about an hour to prepare for the group dinner.
At about 6 o’clock, we gathered in the Hearth Room for a buffet dinner. To my delight, it turned out to be Mexican cuisine—my favorite. Before dinner, we enjoyed a brief happy hour filled with friendly conversation about the day’s drive and upcoming activities.
Before dinner wrapped up, our event host, Chuck Grbcich, welcomed everyone to Old Kinderhook and shared the results of the parking lot judging. Greg Goodman’s 2021 718 GTS won first place! After dessert, we retired to our rooms, full, happy, and ready for day two.
Saturday: Breakfast, Photos, and Launch
Saturday morning began with an 8 a.m. breakfast back in the Hearth Room. For breakfast, we were met with ‘big as your head’ homemade biscuits - perfect for carb loading - to start an exciting day. Near the conclusion of the buffet, we received brief instructions for the day’s tour. By 9:45 a.m., all cars were prepared for launch, and group photos were taken to commemorate the event.
The morning tour launched in three drive groups, and the region delivered exactly what Porsche drivers hope for: roads rich with curves, elevation changes, and scenery. After about an hour of driving, we arrived at Ozark International Racetrack around 10:45 a.m.
Parade Laps at Ozark International Racetrack
The owner met us at the gate and invited us in, and we soon made our way to the garages. There, we learned a brief history of the track along with some finer details about navigating it at speed. We were also reminded, more than once, that we would not experience the full design of the track because our laps would be well below race speeds.
The parade laps were uneventful—as they should be. Twenty-five minutes later, we were off the track and back at the garage, bringing the organized portion of the event to a close. By 12:30 p.m., everyone was off to lunch on their own.
One for the Annual Calendar
As for me, I stayed one more night at the resort to take in more of the area and its offerings. It was another fabulous event in the record books, and one I am sure we will want to add to the annual calendar. Great roads, great cars, great scenery, and of course, great people—what more could a PCA member ask for?