The Story Behind the Sunrise to Sunset Porsche Rally

Sunrise to Sunset Rally
Chasing the Florida sun from sea to shining gulf
By David O’Neal

Where else in America could you watch the sun rise over the ocean and drive to see it set over another in one day? In Florida, PCA regions – Space Coast, Florida Citrus and Suncoast – joined together to stage the third incarnation of the celebrated Sunrise to Sunset Rally (S2S3). The first two rallies were held in 2000 and 2001. This year’s organizing team included Florida Citrus’ Bill Davis and Kerry Flankey, Suncoast’s Bill and Ellen Riley, and Space Coast’s Tom Gorsuch and Brian Reinert. Kevin Duffy again served as rally master for this year’s event, having served on the inaugural two rallies.
The first challenge for competitors was to secure one of the 70 precious slots available on-line’ there were gone in less than four hours. The event began on Friday night with the “Blue Sky and Green Lights” kickoff party at Space Coast Region’s unofficial clubhouse – Porsche of Melbourne – hosted by Shay and Monica Rowe, the dealership’s owners and S2S3’s primary sponsor. All Porsches were parked nearby where tech inspections were performed while Mercedes R-Class transporters whisked their passengers to/from the gala.
Special events shirts featuring the three PCA regions’ logos were provided by Porsche of Melbourne as the teams checked in for the event. A small combo entertained the crowd of almost 200 guests while a generous supply of food and beverages were served. The highlight of the evening was provided by legendary driver and five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, who in a very entertaining chat recalled several of his milestone achievements in Porsches, including early testing of the wickedly fast 917.

Sunrise
An hour before sunrise, people began to trickle onto the beachside deck, watching the incoming tide and listening to the rhythmic crashing of the surf. The Crowne Plaza’s friendly and accommodating staff placed coffee carts along the railing so that we could keep out eyes focused on the purple and orange hues of the brightening horizon. As the crowd assembled, a substantial buffet breakfast (sponsored by Porsche of Melbourne) was unveiled and the faces of the lucky participants – some familiar, some not – scattered to white-clothed tables under a large, open sided tent. Without a great deal of fanfare, o’ Sol did not disappoint as it rose quickly over the breaking waves off the Indialantic shoreline causing the group to pause and capture the moment.
Rally master Kevin Duffy explained the special theme for the rally: to review police reports and evidence of an actual double homicide, provide a strategy to solve an additional hypothetical murder, and complete an application to become a detective for the Porsche Club of America. In addition to plotting a portion of the route which included the original crime scene and houses of actual witnesses, Kevin was one of the first police officers responding to the murder scene in 1988.

Ready... set… read…
With 69 cars leaving at one-minute intervals, plenty of time was available for cleaning windshields, chatting with friends, and viewing the vast array of cars that spanned over 40 years of production: 356s, 911s, 930s, SCs, 944s, 993s, a 968, a GT2, Boxsters, Caymans, a Cayenne, and all variants of 996s and 997s – coupes, Targas and turbos. Under the hotel’s porte cochere, a pile of documents were distributed to each team including the rally instructions, a job application/score sheet, and the first evidence files packed with police radio transcripts, reports and 10-codes. While Space Coast photographer Blake Blakely snapped a shot of each car, Derek Bell waved the Porsche flag to signal their start. I could hardly reconcile the irony – Derek Bell was watching us drive off.
The one-minute spacing evaporated soon after the first couple of stop lights. Five cars pulled over simultaneously to record the name of a person who, for about an hour, was the most popular real estate agent in Brevard County. We headed north and continued to answer questions while weaving our way along the Indian River and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a cruising superhighway for motor yachts, sailboats and trawlers that stretches from Miami to New York City. This was our home driving ground; the roads here were familiar and the route was confirmed by our Targa 4S’s onboard navigation, a definite advantage when the roads became unfamiliar later in the day.
The tour continued up Merritt Island’s eastern shore along the Banana River. Question: Who is guarding the gate at 4060? Answer: Lions. Near the entrance to Kennedy Space Center, we turned westward towards the mainland traversing the brackish marshes along the Canaveral National Seashore. As we entered Orange County, our car sailed past a group of realists crossing the broad St. Johns River who had been bunched together.

The scene of the crime
Leaving late in the starting grid paid some benefit at the first check point near Fort Christmas. There we learned that a turn ahead in Seminole County had been omitted from the rally instructions and the first 40 or so cars had to improvise until the mistake was identified and the corrective instruction called back to the checkpoint. Not a fatal flaw, but confusing to those unfamiliar with the area. Such is the fun of rallying. Question: What do you have to do to fly at Rocket City? Answer: Be a member.
Soon we were cruising along the north shore of vast Lake Monroe. The route was lined with live oak trees that spread their Spanish moss-draped arms across the roadway, a hallmark of old Florida. A historical marker at a nearby elementary school related that the area encompassed by Orange, Seminole and Volusia Counties was originally known as Mosquito County – accurate, but not very marketable for the world’s top tourist destination.
In no time we were in Volusia County and at the location of the crime – a grizzly, drug-related execution followed by the car containing victims being set afire. The crime scene, once a remote wooded area, is now a newly opened park. The families roaming the lawns stood in stark contrast and were oblivious to its infamous past. After crossing into Lake County and a vigorous run along the southern edge of the Ocala National Forest, we traversed the aptly-named Thrill Hill Road. This hidden little gem of a road dropped, without warning, nine stories in a parabolic arc over a distance of a few hundred feet. Where on Earth in flat-Florida did that come from>
The sun had caught up to us and loomed overhead as the drivers and navigators arrived at the designated lunch location in Eustis. The place, which shall remain unnamed, featured a one-price-fits-all buffet that contained every type of comfort food know to humankind, few of which would be acceptable to my endocrinologist. But hey, this was a special day, so why not splurge? I’m sure that was fat free, sugar-free yogurt in the machine.

Scenic surprises
One of the highlights after lunch was delivered on Sugarloaf Mountain Road. I thought previously that the only mountains in Florida were built by Walt Disney: Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. This road took us directly to the top of one of the highest hills on the Florida peninsula, 302 feet above sea level with a commanding view of Lake Apopka, downtown Orlando 30 miles away, and the surrounding orange groves. A little trivia: the highest point in Florida is only 345 feet above sea level, the lowest high-point of any state, and is located on the state line with Alabama.
The tour wound its way past Lakes Minneola and Minnehaha as we searched, seemingly forever, to answer the questions “How many acres are not high and dry?”
Finding this sign released up to track down the final check point in Pasco County and pick up another set of instructions that tested our recollection capabilities. Were those lions back on Merritt Island sitting, standing, or pawing? We closed in quickly on an arctic silver 997S cab that instantly got into the spirit of things and led our little pack of enthusiasts on an invigorating romp down twisty and obscure Green Pond Road.
The final set of driving instructions took us into Hillsborough County, through Tampa, across the Tampa Bay causeway into Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, and to our final destination in Redington Shores. A long and satisfying day of chasing the sun in our vehicles was completed, but still more fun awaited the rallyists.

Sunset
Score sheets and applications were submitted to the waiting rally master. While the documents were evaluated, a beachside reception and drawings for stays at Hotel Isis were hosted by rallyist Kathleen McDonald and her sister, the co-owners of this cute, boutique property. In casual dinner attire, the upbeat crowd strolled to the nearby Doubletree Hotel. Dinner was served in a room that opened onto a balcony overlooking the wide, sandy beaches of the peaceful Gulf of Mexico. Several diners recessed to the balcony to witness the large red disk of the sun set behind the cloudless horizon. With a smattering of applause acknowledging the end of an enjoyable and beautiful day, we reconvened to learn the results of our day’s efforts.
Rally master-turned-emcee Kevin Duffy began to review the bizarre highlights of the submitted detective applications. One person feared arrest as a sexual predator; another offered that he was “willing to learn,” a third asked “does stalking count?” Others listed such qualifications as: “owning the complete Matlock DVD box set,” “possessing handcuff,” and getting a job…to earn money…to buy guns.” All of it in good fun…I hope.
The most outrageous application belonged coincidently to the winning team: Suncoast’s George Kleter and Piper Lanson scored a one night stay at the Redington Beach Doubletree and an autographed “in Car 956” DVD featuring Derek Bell as driver/commentator. Second place was earned by Bill and Prudy Davis from Florida Citrus; third place went to Space Coast’s Jeff and Ramona Beyer, who submitted an over-the-top essay that could have been penned by Eddie Haskel. Florida Citrus won the overall region challenge by posting four of the top ten scores; Space Coast and Suncoast tied for second with three each.
After distribution of door prizes furnished by Fast Lane Travel, Bert Smith Euro Collection, International Motorsports Academy, and Suncoast Porsche of Sarasota, the audience confirmed enthusiastically their interest in making the S2S an annual event. Such a memorable weekend was not possible without the dedication of the organizing committee and a host of volunteers’ and the generous investments made by our primary sponsors: Porsche of Melbourne, the Hotel Isis and the other supporting companies listed above – thanks to you all. Come and join us next year for another day of touring the Sunshine State from sunrise to sunset.

May 2008 Space Coast Porsche Club Newsletter 

Article posted on: 08-Jul-04