The Coastal Empire Region of the Porsche Club of America (CERPCA) was formed from the southern counties of the Palmetto Region in September 2001. 60 PCA members living in the southern areas of Palmetto Region petitioned PCA National to form a new region because of the more than 100-mile distance to the Charleston SC area and frustration at the lack of Driver Education and social events in their local area. The new region was approved and received its charter in December 2001. Coastal Empire Region includes Hilton Head Island, SC, Savannah, GA, and covers Beaufort and Jasper counties in SC, and Bryan, Bullock, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Screven counties in GA.  The Coastal Empire Region is assigned to PCA Zone 3 and is one of four PCA Regions in Georgia and one of three in South Carolina.

Coastal Empire is an active group with various activities throughout the month. We attempt to hold at least one “caravan” or “dine and drive” social event each month. Our events normally consist of a drive to a Low Country attraction such as museum, roadside or auto themed attraction, followed by lunch or dinner at a featured restaurant or diner. Coastal Empire has organized trips to the Porsche North America Headquarters in Atlanta, GA, Werks Reunion and Amelia Island Concours in Amelia Island, FL, and participates annually in the Hilton Head Island Concours It is quite a sight to see a convoy of 15-30 Porsches from 356, to Speedsters, Cayman, 911s of all model years, SUVs and classics all cruising down the road together! All members are invited to attend all of these events to talk Porsche, meet new people, and get out and see the picturesque and historic area we call home.  

Coastal Empire Region provides High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) courses throughout the year. These events are not racing but rather Driver Education and feature capable, experienced, certified instructors in a safe, learning environment. Drivers are organized into groups based on experience starting with beginners and extending through instructor. Our HPDE program has been recognized as one of the safest and best run programs by both our Zone 3 and National PCA leadership. Our HPDE events are held at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA, at least three times annually. As a Coastal Empire member, we encourage you to attend at least one HPDE to explore your wonderful automobile and improve your driving proficiency. Additionally, our members frequently attend events at race tracks across the southeast from Alabama up to Virginia 

The Coastal Empire Region Board meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month and the minutes of the meetings are available to all club members upon request. Members are encouraged to attend in person meetings and to become involved in some of the leadership positions of the club. 

This is your club and we encourage your involvement. If there is an event or attraction you would like to visit or you would like to host an event, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Chances are very good there are other members interested in the same activity. So have some fun with your Porsche and meet new friends. Come join us!

CERPCA By-Laws

CERPCA History

Before 2001, this area of South Carolina and Georgia was part of the Palmetto Region Porsche Club of America, based in Charleston, SC. The southern most members of the Palmetto region became frustrated with the distance they had to travel to attend events around Charleston and the lack of a High Performance Driver Education program. Palmetto region members in the Charleston area were more focused on caravan and concours type events. Several of the Hilton Head and Savannah area members had substantial experience and considerable interest in track events, Driver Education, Autocross and even PCA Club Racing. The close proximity of Roebling Road Raceway only served to be a constant reminder of these members desires and increasing motivation to establish a club base in the Hilton Head/ Savannah area.

After considerable discussion and attempts to move forward with a DE initiative within the Palmetto Region, it became clear to the local group that it would be best to form a separate Region in order to pursue a different direction that included track events as well as offering members better geographic access to the Club meeting location. During the summer of 2001, Paul Jones, former PCA National Vice President, organized 60 local members to petition PCA asking that a new Region be formed. This new region would include the Beaufort and Jasper counties in South Carolina, and Chatham, Liberty, Bryan, Bullock, Effingham, Evans, and Long counties in Georgia. By vote of the original 60 petitioners, the region was to be named ”Coastal Empire’. The petition was sent to PCA National Headquarters in September, 2001.

On Dec 15, 2001, Paul Jones received notice from Porsche Club of America that the petition was approved and the “Coastal Empire Region” was granted its’ charter. The boundary limits were set as requested and CERPCA was born. Members of the new region celebrated with a Chartering Event, a dinner cruise on board the Savannah River Queen, on June 1st, 2002. The first Board of the newly formed Coastal Empire consisted of the following officers:

President - Paul Jones
Vice President - Carlton Joyce
Secretary - Al Travison
Treasurer - Richard Pattisall

Right away, CERPCA member and Driving Event Chair, Al Travison, organized the first High Performance Driver Education event at Roebling Road Raceway. The HPDEs, which were at least in part formed the impetuous for forming the Coastal Empire Region, are still a very important part of the Club activities with regularly scheduled events. CERPCA members also enjoy additional opportunities to participate at other important tracks including Barber, Carolina Motorsports Park, Daytona, Road Atlanta, and VIR.

Very quickly CERPCA members began organizing and attending many social events including “drive and dines” to various interesting and historical locations in and around the Hilton Head/ Savannah area such as the historic Civil War era Rose Hill Plantation and trips to Amelia Island Concours near Jacksonville, FL, and Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, GA. CERPCA also participated in the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’ Elegance. Coastal Empire Region has also been active in supporting several charity activities including “Heroes on Track” events that honor wounded service members, a local Boys and Girls Club Car Show that highlighted the kids and support of the Colonial Museum in Midway, GA. 

In 2010, Savannah, GA, was selected as the location for the 2011 National Porsche Parade. Coastal Empire Region members celebrated their 10th Anniversary with PCA members from across the country with this fantastic, week long, Porsche Club tradition. CERPCA member and Chief Driving Instructor, John Myer, stepped forward to lead the Coastal Empire contribution for this event, gaining PCA National recognition and making the 2011 Porsche Parade a great success.

From a fairly humble beginning of 60 Charter Members, today Coastal Empire Region has flourished and grown to over 600 primary and affiliate members.

COASTAL EMPIRE REGION PRESIDENTS:

2001-2002
Paul Jones

2003-2004
Al Travison

Jan-Jun 2005
Tom Hoffman

Jun-Dec 2005
Jim Izant

2006-2007
Dennis Leadbetter

2008, 2009
George de la Bruyere

Jan-Jun 2010
Buddy Brown

2010 2012
Dave Grandt

2013
Ed Kriscunas

2014
Buddy Brown

2015, 2016
Dave Grandt

2017-2020
Audrey Woodman

2021
Jerold Pyle