Hoffman Cup Event – Found Nowhere Else
“930” closed out the 2017 CVR AutoX season with a turbocharged kick. That end-of-September event offered one last chance to boost your season-long ranking, and for some the chance to make the coveted Top-20. All participants received an AutoX University shirt to celebrate another great year of elevating driving skills to a truly high level.
Starting with a morning AutoX, that day represented the essence of CVR AutoXing. It featured a deceptively challenging course that was easy to follow but required full application of all your accumulated driving skills to squeeze time from the clock. It also had an abundance of CVR’s unique ambiance, where the group cheers each other on to do their best, and freely offers feedback and tips to go even quicker. Conciliatory “oooohs” were voiced when physics prevailed and a few cones were flattened. As the morning AutoX finally wound down, anticipation grew and grew until the featured stars arrived, the Hoffman parade was here!
First in the parade was a Hoffman truck packed with a classy, table-clothed, luncheon for all. Tasty people fuel wet our appetites even more for the special afternoon event, the fourth annual Hoffman Cup Runoff. Moments later, the mystery Hoffman Cup Runoff car appeared. Glistening and stunning in metallic white, it was a brand new 718 Boxster S! Wow, what a beautiful and potent car! Fred Stone and his team from Hoffman Porsche outdid themselves again. Hoffman’s slogan is “Driven by Trust” and they repeatedly demonstrate that they live by those words. For perspective, what Hoffman Porsche does to support our CVR AutoX program is truly unique and unparalleled across the country.
As the final 2017 CVR Championship AutoX results were crunched, we dined al-fresco surrounded by the 718S and a parking lot full of Porsches and friends. The Top-20 results were then announced one-by-one to applause from the crowd. Just like how you get to Carnegie Hall, the best way to make the Top-20 is by “practice, practice, practice”. CVR’s AutoX-U lessons at each event, and CVR’s AutoX instructors, greatly accelerate that process. This year’s Top-20 list again showed that the driving-skill pool gets deeper each year. 2017 season scores also show that no car modifications are needed to make the Top-20, just modifications to the “nut behind the wheel”.
In randomly drawn sequence, all 20 drivers stood helmet-in-hand as the climatic Hoffman Cup Runoff began. Three rounds through the line-up would determine who would shine the brightest that day and earn a placard on the perpetual Hoffman Cup trophy, proudly displayed for all to see in the Hoffman Porsche showroom. The whole group watched every nuance of each other’s runs looking for an edge, but never losing the CVR ambiance of offering tips to anyone that wanted advice. Clearly there was an urgency to make each run better than the last. Like an old-west gunslinger, you couldn’t rest on previous performances. One mistake would end hope for that year of being the closest to perfect. Who would that be?
Hot from the beginning, Ed Bogue was crowned winner of the 2017 Hoffman Cup trophy, and also became the first repeat winner. Ed continues to inspire us with his barely restrained, aggressive style that exemplifies “Better Driving…Faster!” Even more impressive, Ed is one of the most enthusiastic instructors at CVR’s AutoX-University and was one of the most vocal people helping other Runoff participants throughout the day. A classy, fast, and fun, nice guy. Congratulations Ed!
This driving “test” was not only about each driver’s performance, it was also a rare test of how current Porsches perform while being pushed flat out. In a word, “amazing”! The bone-stock 718 proved to be one full second faster on the same course, with the same drivers, than all other Porsches that day! The Boxster S bested even the fire-breathing Modified cars and dialed-in Improved cars. Previous Hoffman Cup cars proved the exact same thing. Driving the 718 PDK has made converts out of many of us “purists”. A stunning looking modern Porsche that has daily driver practicality, smokes pure race cars, and is available at a performance/dollar trade that cannot be touched. “Woooow” was blurted out repeatedly as each driver emerged from their runs. Launch Control, Sport vs. Sport Plus, stability control on vs. off, and paddle shifting vs. letting the factory shift for you; were all explored and openly debated. In the end, consensus was that the factory knows best, just focus on your driving. Each of us profusely and sincerely thanked Team Hoffman for their trust and for the AMAZING day!
“930” was so overwhelmingly cool that it was almost too much to absorb that day. Solidifying how remarkable their support is, a couple weeks later Team Hoffman then hosted a special reception to celebrate the 2017 Championship AutoX season. What a great way to savor and appreciate such good driving and such good CVR and Hoffman friendships. Wonderful conversation, fine food and drink, generous and thoughtful door prizes, it was a very nice evening indeed. We are very fortunate to have such a truly unique relationship with, and such great friends at, Hoffman Porsche.
For 2018 I invite each CVR member, whether you are already a skilled DE Instructor or just interested in learning to appreciate your Porsche more, to try our AutoX program. You’ll find out how welcomed you are and how special the CVR AutoX Championship Series presented by Hoffman Porsche really is. All of you are guaranteed to learn “Better Driving…Faster!” and to be part of the fun and camaraderie of the CVR AutoX program, found nowhere else.
Joining us is super easy and very inexpensive. Just go to our cvr.pca.org\AutoX web page for details on how to register, and for other helpful information for these 2018 dates:
2018 CVR AutoX confirmed dates:
- May 12 – Pequot St, Hartford
- June 9 – Pequot St, Hartford
- July 21 – Pequot St, Hartford
- August 11 – B Paddock @ Lime Rock Park
- September 8 – B Paddock @ Lime Rock Park
- September 29* – Pequot St, Hartford
* morning AutoX then Hoffman Cup Run Off

The stunning 718 Boxster S Hoffman Cup Run-Off Car rests while the drivers dine at the Hoffman Luncheon and anticipate their Top-20 standing that Randy Kudra (seated in tent) would soon reveal.

Fred Stone (right) presents the Hoffman Cup to Ed Bogue as the Top-20 Drivers celebrate the 2017 season and the special “930” event. Tony Bogue (holding Hoffman Cup sign) has been helping at CVR AutoX’s for years and will be enrolled in CVR’s AutoX-University before you know it!

Fred Stone, uber-enthusiast from Hoffman Porsche, receives custom art from Paul Kudra as a thank you for the special relationship he and team Hoffman provide to CVR’s AutoX program.

Big smiles! The Hoffman Celebration evening gave everyone a chance to savor the 2017 AutoX season, the unique Hoffman Cup event, and the special camaraderie and friendships that have developed. Thank you Hoffman Porsche!
CVR AutoX – 2017 Award Winners
Another great AutoX season. “Better Driving…Faster!” is the AutoX slogan for good reason, that’s just what happens! Congratulations to the 2017 CVR Championship AutoX Series and Hoffman Cup run off event winners:

Brian Ruggerio, Rookie of the Year; Jeff Fournier, Most Improved; Ed Bogue, Hoffman Cup Champion, and (pictured below) Paul Kudra, Autocross Overall Champion
