Columns Editor's Notes

Happy New Year!

New Year; New Editor

They say you always remember your first.

I was sitting in our living room, computer on my lap, TV on in the background making appointments to see venues for our wedding.  My husband Andreas (then fiancé) was out with his cycling club getting his morning work out in.   As I glanced at my extensive wedding “To Do” list, I heard the front door open and happily anticipated a warm breakfast sandwich and hot coffee.  Instead, Andreas burst thru the door, huge grin on his face, “Hey, I hear there’s a Porsche for sale in Orange.  Should we go see it?”.

Here, in the midst of wedding planning and, not to mention, house hunting, a new car was quite the proposition. It would seem to some, perhaps, that between funding a wedding and a house, an additional car would be a horrible, no good, very bad  great idea.  With promises of croissants and the elusive hot coffee, we went out that very same day and within a week we were the proud owners of our first Porsche and consequentially began our relationship with PCA/CVR.

They say in marriage you need to take an interest in your partner’s hobbies, so I dove in.  Learning about the history of the brand, the cars and most importantly CVR.  I instantly fell in love with the club, activities and most importantly, the warm and welcoming members.  I have 15 years of experience in marketing, so when the position for Advertising Director of Challenge became open, I jumped at the opportunity.  I worked closely with Challenge’s former editor Eric, handling all aspects of digital advertising.  This led to working with the Club Race team on sponsorships. When Eric departed, I volunteered to take on the Editor-in- Chief role as I have extensive experience within the publishing industry – a few notable publications include SHAPE, Muscle & Fitness, OK! Magazine, and Playboy.

While Eric’s shoes are large to fill, I hope to step into the role as an adequate replacement. Eric seamlessly adapted the print magazine into our current digital format.  We are one of the only clubs to have a completely interactive digital platform for their magazine.

Speaking about our digital magazine, inside this month’s issue you’ll hear about several upcoming events which you will want to mark in your brand new Challenge calendar. Within Pylon Place, Paul Kudra highlights this year’s sure-to-sell-out Porsche Parade while providing insider tips you won’t want to miss!  Dave Vaccaro’s Driver’s Education Column provides all the information you need for one of DE’s first events of the year: the 5th Annual Winter Workshop Car Control Clinic.  While you’re getting your Porsche ready for the season, make sure to stop at the CVR online store to grab limited edition Pig Pink gear – Joe Kunecki’s sure they will sell out soon.  On the note of limited editions, check out Jeff Coe’s feature, you’re sure to be entertained by his latest test drive – no spoilers here.

I hope you enjoy the first issue of Challenge of the New Year.

Happy New Year!

Caroline Abba

PSSST:  I would love to hear from you!  Do you have a great story about your first Porsche purchase?  Any suggestions for a new column?  Or perhaps just a story of an awesome route that ends at the perfect dinner spot that you want to share?  Send me a note and I will work to get the word out.

8 Comments

  1. John Linderman

    Caroline:
    Great opening and wish you well as the new editor

  2. Congratulations, Caroline! Your first editorial is a home run!

  3. Allen Fossbender

    Hello, Caroline,

    Congratulations on your inaugural issue of Challenge as its new editor-in-chief. I enjoyed reading your article, and I am impressed by your exceptional editing throughout the issue. Your competence and enthusiasm are invaluable and timely gifts to CVR.

  4. Caroline,
    Congratulations on a great issue and your start as Challenge Editor! We look forward to your new perspectives and are excited to see where your enthusiasm will carry it.

  5. I have to say, well done, Caroline. As “the former guy” I can say that I wholeheartedly support the Club’s decision (not that THAT matters), and you’ll have no trouble at all filling my size 10 shoes.

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