“Commentary”

You will want to be in the Black Hills on the weekend of September 27 and 28! The weekend starts with the 5th Annual Canyon to Canyon Tour. This one-day drive will take you through some of the great Black Hills roads that keep people coming back over and over. The day starts at Koyote Koffee, 3464 Sturgis Rd, Rapid City, at 8:30 with an 8:50 driver's meeting. After a great day on the road, we will end with a group dinner to share stories. There is no registration fee, and we will all be responsible for our own lunch and dinner. RSVP by September 20 to: DakotaRegionPCA@gmail.com AND, as if the Canyon to Canyon Tour isn't enough...

Sunday, the 28th, the Dakota Region is having its first-ever Car Control 101 training. Have you ever really been trained on braking and turning your P-Car at the limit? Have you practiced finding the right line through a corner, giving you the smoothest, safest path? This is your chance to learn from a PCA Driving Instructor, all in a controlled environment. Be at the Central States Fairgrounds, 800 San Francisco St, Rapid City, from 9am to 1pm on September 28 if you would like to test and improve your skills. But, first, you have to sign up by contacting DakotaRegionPCA@gmail.com We all think we are excellent drivers, but for the $50 entry fee, you can see if you really are!

So, we looked at the weather forecast this morning (80 degrees, no rain, no wind) and thought it might be a good day to go for a drive. Being that it's Labor Day weekend, we decided that there might be some traffic on the Black Hills roads, but we figured it wouldn't be really bad. Apparently, we were right; it was a good day for a drive. Along the way, we passed five other DRPCA members out for drives! The leaves will start to turn colors before we know it. Don't let these great, late summer days slip away. Enjoy your four-wheeled P-Toy, that's why you have it. Gas is cheap, go out and burn it!

Dakota Region's Run For the Hills XXIII is in the books. Other than a light sprinkle on Friday morning, the weather was perfect. The state of South Dakota was nice enough to pave a new road for us to use, and use it we did! Both Friday's and Saturday's drives were a hit, and Saturday's wrap-up couldn't have gone much smoother. Thanks to all who attended. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Mark your calendars for the weekend before Labor Day.

A good Husband. A good father. A good person. That is what John Pavone wanted to be remembered for. But we will be remembering him for all that and more. Unfortunately, cancer took John from us on August 20, 2025. He had been fighting it for over a year and appeared to be winning, but the knock-out punch came quickly and swiftly. John, you will be missed. And when we get to Heaven, we will look for the cleanest car and find you there.

One of the best parts of living in the Dakotas is the Badlands and Black Hills areas. Both the North Dakota and South Dakota Badlands. Nearly every car club holds an event in the "Hills" at some point. The Corvettes, Cameros, Mustangs, and even Teslas have come for the scenery and great roads. Right now, we are hearing the roar of Harleys on the streets and backroads. The sound of their V-Twin engines is unmistakable. But it still can't compare to an air-cooled flat six. We will be hearing that beautiful sound a lot in just a few weeks when Run For the Hills comes back for its 23rd year. We can't wait!

For those of you who didn’t participate in the Father’s Day drive, it was a great time. Spending time in Lead and Deadwood, SD, is always an adventure. But doing it with friends makes it even better. From lunch at the world-class 77 Steakhouse restaurant in Hulett, to Devil’s Tower, to the South Dakota grasslands, the weekend was one to remember. I’m sure Scott will have something great lined up for next year as well. Mark your calendar!

I had a nice conversation with a Custer County deputy the other day. He said that I should carry a current insurance card in the car. But he added “I know someone with a car like this has insurance”. Oh, and he also said that I should slow down.

The Dakota Region gathered at Rapid City’s Mr. Liquor 2 on May 3rd for a lively “Tacos & Tequila” event – and it did not disappoint! Over a dozen members attended, including a new couple recently welcomed into the region. Mercy’s Tacos were worth waiting in line for, but we don’t talk about the tequila! A big thank-you to Crystal for planning both the event and the great weather!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Easter with family and friends. Remember, it isn’t all about bunnies and colored eggs.

The last few days have brought what should be the last of the questionable weather for most of the Dakota Region. Yes, we might have a hard freeze or two, but the snow shovels can likely be put away for a while. It is time to swap the shovel for the car wash bucket. I assume that I’m not alone in preferring to clean my P-toy’s wheels than to shovel the last snowdrift that came my way.

Spring is here in most of the Dakota Region. It is time to put some miles behind you and enjoy the windshield time. I hope everyone had time to finish those little P-Car projects that you planned for the Winter. Maybe an updated suspension or mechanical work, whatever your baby needed. As for me, I finished about half of my list. The wheels will wait until next year.

West River Dakota PCA had a great dinner gathering on February 22 at Ma Cualli, a new Mexican Restaurant in Rapid City. Sixteen members, including four newbies, enjoyed a great meal and friendship. You know the food is great when as you leave, you can count the people waiting to get in by the dozens.

If you ever think that new Porsches are a bit overpriced, maybe they aren’t. Last week Ferrari announced their company’s profit report. It turns out that they made over $110,000 profit per car! I think the fun of owning and driving a P-car, along with a few extra dollars in the bank, look pretty darn good compared to having a car you can’t afford to, or are afraid to drive.

Valentine's Day is around the corner. I was going to buy her flowers, but she already has ME! What more could she want? I think I’ll buy some car wax and vacuum the floorboard carpet again instead of the flowers.

Here I am thinking about snow shovels, heating bills, and tax time. When I would like to be thinking about that 2-3 shift coming out of a sharp left-hand turn.

Registration for Run For the Hills hit the magic 40 car mark in about 40 hours! But for those who didn’t sit by their keyboards waiting for the opening announcement, you can still be added to the wait list. Over the next 8 months, plans can and will change for some of the participants.

The extended Fall in the Black Hills ended along with the year 2024. The warm, dry weather that we experienced all the way through Christmas has gone on vacation and probably won’t be back for a few months. The last drive with the P-toy was on Christmas Eve. But rest assured that when the white stuff (I refuse to use the “s” word, it is just fuzzy rain) has melted and the roads dry out, she will be on the road again.

2025 is here! We hope all you PCAer’s had a chance to ring in the new year with a little bit of flair. Some of us are old enough that our “flair” could use more spark. We hope that 2024 treated you all well and that 2025 will be better. And as for those New Year’s resolutions, you aren’t supposed to break them until the last week of January, so hang on a little longer.