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Spring Cleaning and Auto Detailing: Tips for Keeping Your Luxury Car Looking Fresh this Spring

As you gear up for a deep spring cleaning, be sure to include your luxury vehicle to the list of items that need a spring time tune up.  Proper detailing improves and maintains the health of your car, similarly to changing the oil and the spark plugs. While detailing takes quite a bit of effort and is an expense, the safe, reliable, and beautiful result is priceless. We contacted one of our own auto detail experts to get the inside scoop on how to give your luxury vehicle new life this spring.

When Should You Detail Your Car?

A vehicle should be detailed at least every 6 months, immediately after a large spill or bad smell, before a vehicle is sold, and before you decide to buy a new vehicle.  Buffing and Polishing a vehicle protects the paint from harsh winter weather and the blazing summer heat.  Not only will it leave it gleaming, but a quality detail will maintain the value of the car which is important if you decide to sell your car.

If you have an itch to purchase a new vehicle because your current vehicle may lack that something special from when it was first bought, it’s key to invest in a good detail.  A full exterior and interior job will leave the worn exterior vibrant, and the grungy interior brightened- and thus, brings back the same feeling of appreciation you had the day you received the keys.

Why Should You Invest in a Spring Time Detail?

Spring time allergies can be a nuisance, but did you know that your vehicle harbors lots of dust and dirt that can set off your allergies? During the detail process, the vehicle will be blown out, seats wiped down, carpet shampooed, and vacuumed out. That means less pollen and dust in your car’s system to make you sneeze on your daily journey.

 

What can potential threats can you avoid to protect to your vehicle’s value?

First, avoid bird droppings. There is nothing more harmful to a nice paint job than dried set of bird droppings. They eat through the clear coat quickly and should be removed immediately to avoid damages to the paint. Avoiding parking under trees will not only help you avoid your luxury car becoming a public restroom, but it will also reduce the amount of tree sap or wax that leaves a thick film on cars.

Once you have successfully avoided parking under any trees, also remember to stay away from water sprinklers. The minerals included in these lawn sprinklers help plants grow, but leave permanent water spots on the vehicle’s paint job and windows.

Other Spring Detailing Tips, Tricks, and Notes from Our Experts in Detail Excellence:

  1. Always wet the vehicle with plain water before washing it
  2. Armor All on the interior can look/feel greasy
  3. Always use different towels for different jobs, like only for windows, body, interior, rims, etc.
  4. Be careful of non-manufacturer type products
  5. Tuff Stuff cleaner and terry towels work great for cloth seats. Do not spot clean cloth seats, but always clean by section.
  6. Park in the back of parking lots to avoid tight parking spots. Those small spaces almost guarantee an unexpected scratch or ding.

If you have any questions about Auto Detailing needs, at home care, or pricing- please do not hesitate to contact our service teams, or schedule your spring detail today at one of our Park Place locations.

 

 

 

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McLaren Dallas Delivers Million Dollar Senna

McLaren Dallas recently delivered a McLaren Senna valued at more than $1 million to long-time client Josh Snowhorn at a private reception at Park Place Premier Collection on Lemmon Avenue.

“I was born into cars,” says Snowhorn. “In 1970 my Dad picked me up from the hospital in an Aston-Martin DB5 Vantage – the James Bond car. My first car was a ‘bass boat blue’ Karmann Ghia with a white convertible top.”

Snowhorn is founder and Chief Strategy Officer of EdgeMicro, one of the most successful Edge Data Center companies in North America.

“My love of McLaren started when a friend of mine came to Dallas for a conference. I’d already been in his McLaren and had the lust for it. He said, ‘well let’s go down to the dealership,’ and he took me to McLaren Dallas. They let me have it for an hour test drive and I was ruined. I had to have it.”

The Senna is the most track-focused road car McLaren has ever built. It’s also the lightest. While it is street legal, it is “not sanitized to suit it,” according to McLaren’s website.

“I started with a 12C and went on and on. I bought lots of McLarens. The cars are amazing – that goes without saying. Other manufacturers also have great cars. But McLaren is family. From Tony Joseph, McLaren North America’s president, to the designers and engineers, the race team and the pit crew, they’re all approachable and accessible. I challenge you to find that with any other brand. That fabric is what makes McLaren so special.”

The Senna sports a mid-engine twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, sending 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. That translates into a 0-to-60 time of 2.8 seconds… 100 mph in 5.1 seconds… but with an incredible aerodynamically designed down-force to keep the beautiful beast on the pavement.

“I own or have owned a McLaren 12C, 675LT, 570S GT4, and a 600LT. I now have my McLaren Senna (chassis #264) and will soon have a McLaren Senna GTR. My McLaren 570S GT4 (chassis #003, the first one ever in private hands,) is a legitimate racecar. But it’s forgiving to a gentleman driver like me. I’m no pro. I’m just a guy having fun with my friends.”

While Snowhorn lives in Austin, he’s quick to tell you McLaren Dallas is “his place.”

“This is my original dealer. Everyone here has always been so incredibly supportive. When I need something, it’s taken care of right away. It’s sort of an extension of the corporate McLaren family I mentioned earlier. McLaren Dallas is like home.”

From Left to Right: Heath Strayhan, General Manager of McLaren Dallas, Josh Snowhorn- McLaren Dallas Client, Tony Joseph- President of McLaren North America
From Left to Right: Heath Strayhan- General Manager of McLaren Dallas, Josh Snowhorn- McLaren Dallas Client, Tony Joseph- President of McLaren North America

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

 

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Park Place Racing Places 6th at Sebring Twelve Hour

Despite a seasoned Sebring race team with both Patrick Long and Patrick Lindsey tracking multiple runs at this raceway,  the course provided some uncharacteristic challenges during the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.  This was the fifth year for Patrick Lindsey, 16 show at Sebring for Patrick Long, and Nick Boulle’s debut  at Sebring’s Twelve Hour.

Round Two of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship presented many issues for the No. 73 de Boulle Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. The team faced twelve hours of unknown mechanical gremlins causing misfires in the engine and smaller fuel load capacities. However, endurance driver Nick Boulle, Porsche Factory Driver Patrick Long and Team Principal Patrick Lindsey bested the odds and delivered an unscathed Porsche and a sixth-place finish. 

Prior to the race, the team’s drivers gave fans and track rats alike insights into their minds as Sebring approached. The Patrick’s of Park Place Racing gave us a couple different perspectives, priming fans for not just the race technique,  but the historical significance behind Sebring Raceway.

“I love the history; the bumps have a lot of stories to tell but in its roots as World War II Airbase where they trained men and women who went overseas,” comments Lindsey, “For us, it’s a long time racing here. It’s my 7th year at IMSA and it’s our 5th year at Sebring in the twelve hour.” 

Patrick Long, a well-known Porsche Factory driver and 16 time veteran at Sebring, shared his objectives for day to night race: “Survive the bumps,  survive the heat, and be there at the end.” 

Mechanical Issues: Still A Top 10 Finish

Lindsey, who finished third in Friday’s 1,000 of Sebring with the FIA World Endurance Championship, drove a majority of his Sebring Twelve Hours under green. Though the mechanical issue never fully dissolved, it did subside aiding in his ability to also keep the car within the top 10. The Park Place Motorsports drivers spent the majority of their race within the top of the field, only dropping out of it upon pit cycles. 
 
The finale of the race brought the only other sense of fracas. With 15 minutes remaining a car went off course bringing out a long-desired caution. Having previously pitted for service, all teams were ready for a fight to the finish after being packed up for a restart. With seven minutes outstanding, the field received the green. Long defied all statistic measures making the jump from eighth to sixth where he would defend until the finish. 

Final Thoughts

Patrick Lindsey, Team Principal and driver No. 73 de Boulle Porsche 

“This was the longest Sebring weekend and the toughest Sebring weekend I’ve ever had,” Lindsey said. “At the same time, this was also one of the most rewarding. We don’t typically have the best finishes at Sebring. I think sixth is one of our highest finishes. That’s a testament to all the hard work this team is putting into our program. They’ve all taken ownership of their work and this team. We succeed and fail together. Right now, it feels like we’re only succeeding. We really pushed through some trials today and survived another wet race.”

Nick Boulle, Driver No. 73 de Boulle Porsche

This was my first time driving in the 12 Hours of Sebring, so it was very special to me,” Boulle said. “I was disappointed with my qualifying result, but thankfully we were able to resolve those issues before the race. Even in the rain, I could feel how much better the car was. I’m pretty confident in the wet, and we were able to gain a few positions at the start of the race, so that was exciting. My second stint was in the dry, and it was the best I felt in the car all weekend. The car was so drivable. The car was rewarding to drive, and you could trust it. I’m excited for the rest of the season and seeing what more we can do with the car.”

Patrick Long, Driver No. 73 de Boulle Porsche 

“I was pleased with the balance of the car for the entire race,” Long said. “We unloaded really strong this weekend and went up from there. Unfortunately, we had a few unforeseen challenges in the race that meant we were offset with our strategy and had to take an extra stop at the end. This caused us to fall to the tail end of the lead lap, so I had to battle through the field after that restart with seven minutes remaining. We were able to pass a few cars and battle up to sixth. It’s ironic how racing is, somedays a sixth-place feels like a podium and tonight that was the case. I’m really proud of the Park Place Motorsport guys for sticking with it even when it didn’t look promising. They worked nonstop for twelve hours and never gave up.”

Next Up: Follow the series to Long Beach, California for Round Three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship April 12-13. Round Four reunites all four IMSA classes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course May 3-5. The event features a two hour and 40-minute sprint race and kicks off the GTD Sprint Championship. For a detailed schedule visit http://imsa.com.  

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Adapting to Ever-Changing Consumer Expectations at Park Place Select

It’s Client-First at Park Place Select

Would you be surprised to hear that the consumer (client) experience is shifting? That it’s not only about how the product fills a need, but rather how the team that delivers the product, benefits and positively affects the day to day of a client? Think about it, whenever a negative experience is had- say you ordered a hot coffee and they handed it to you iced, and after asking for hot again, the barista still gave you an iced coffee- it’s not the product you’re frustrated with, but rather it’s the barista who wasn’t listening to your needs and wants that earns those sentiments.

This change in consumer expectations when being sold or serviced isn’t just present in commodity operations, but has shifted the world of automotive towards a human-centric approach which provides GREAT experiences and creates EXCEPTIONAL memories that accompany their new and pre-owned automobile.

Delivering a Positive Experience at Park Place Select

Whether it’s a new or pre-owned purchase/lease or a service visit, Park Place strives to provide our clients with exceptional experiences for each and every client. As of last year, the same mission applies to Park Place Select, our luxury automotive subscription service, where each one of our team members from our Director of Operations to our Concierges, are dedicated to creating memorable experiences every time they perform a flip, i.e. switching a client’s vehicle. Once a flip is requested, we are not simply delivering another car, but providing the Select Subscribers with a service that uniquely enhances their individual lifestyle based on their wants, needs, and of course, schedules. 

For Dorian Alves, a self-employed Park Place Select Subscriber, this program has taken the hassle out of vehicle maintenance, adding the luxury of convenience to his day to day.

Park Place Select has taken the hassle out of maintaining our vehicles which is such a convenience in addition to being able to drive current year or better luxury vehicles. We had family fly in from out of town and were able to have an SUV available the next day to pick up the crew from the airport.

The program works great for self-employed clients and subscribers who may enjoy a bit more variation in their daily routines because of the ability to quickly adapt your daily driver to fit an unexpected need or upcoming circumstance. I chose to become a member of Park Place Select because it’s the perfect program for someone like myself who gets tired of vehicles very easily and looks forward to changing constantly.

Consumer Feedback: A Must to Making Waves in DFW

Alves first heard about the program from his brother, who is also a Select Subscriber and fellow car enthusiast: “We are both car enthusiasts and enjoy the different beauty and performance that each car brings.”  So far, his favorite flips have been Mercedes-Benz or Porsche models, but he looks forward to experiencing AMG performance with the simple click of a button.  “I love driving anything AMG or supercharged! I’m hoping to get into a 911 or anything close to a supercar soon. 

Of course, no service is perfect, so when feedback is provided, it’s important that the Park Place Select team recognizes opportunities to further enhance the Select experience.  Alves noted that scheduling flips as of late has not been as easy as it was when the program first launched, a concern our team most certainly understands.

“Park Place Select Leadership is constantly looking for ways to improve the subscriber experience incrementally, which has resulted in the addition of new models and overall program expansion,” says Douglas Schnitzer, Director of Operations for Park Place Select.

After all, it’s great to be heard, but it’s even better to know that your feedback has been taken seriously and acted upon. Recently, the Select team introduced the Premier Tier, featuring Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Series.

Looking Forward: Recognizing the Shift in Expectations to Continue Making an Impact

The client experience is shifting, and, with products and services becoming more multi-faceted than ever, we at Park Place understand the importance of adapting our business in order to continue to provide our current clients the luxury experience they’ve come to expect from Park Place, and now Park Place Select.

We certainly look forward to making the Park Place Select Experience unforgettable by not only providing some the world’s finest vehicles at our clients’ finger tips, but by delivering personalized service, exciting new models, and authentic feedback opportunities that remain unparalleled in DFW. 

Learn more about Park Place Select, and about newest Tier addition by visiting www.ParkPlaceSelect.com

 

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Park Place Motorsports: Bringing Porsche Track Performance To You

Blending Luxury Cars and High-Performance Experiences for a Partnership that Just Makes Sense.

Park Place Motorsports is the arm of Park Place Porsche and Porsche Grapevine that embodies the racing spirit and pedigree built by the Porsche brand.  In 2013, Park Place teamed up with Porsche Motorsports as the official sponsor of a Porsche Motorsports team led by Team Principal, Patrick Lindsey. 

As one of DFW’s leading automotive dealers of both the luxury vehicles and high-performance experiences, putting the Park Place name on the track was and still is a natural extension of the Park Place brand.

So, What Is Park Place Motorsports Exactly?

Park Place Motorsports is a professional Porsche race team which not only focuses on professional track performance, but focuses on building a client racing program through driver advancement and trackside support initiatives. So really, a major part of this partnership is to not just to provide you, our clients and Park Place followers, with a team to cheer on during FIA or IMSA events, but also with specific ways to enhance your ownership experiences with professional track expertise and support. 

The Race Roster frequently sees updates and changes depending on the challenge ahead, but three consistent faces of Park Place Motorsports include team Principal Patrick Lindsey at the helm, with Patrick Long, an icon in the Porsche space, and Nick Boulle, a Texas resident and prominent member of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. 

The partnership between Park Place Dealerships began more than 5 years ago. It’s been a successful past year with multiple podium worthy track weekends and the opening of Park Place’s second Porsche dealership in Grapevine. To top off track success and dealership growth, the Park Place racing team relocated this past year to Dallas after opening a new shop just down the street from Park Place Porsche Dallas.

Porsche Artistry and Intelligent Performance

Park Place Motorsports and Park Place Porsche mirror the utter artistry and intelligence performance embodied by the Porsche brand.  The Park Place team currently races the iconic 911 RSR, GT3 R, Cayman GT4, and GT3 Cup in both FIA and IMSA sanctioned competition. 

Park Place’s positive reputation and strong relationship with Porsche Cars North America, is key to the success of this relationship.

“Park Place has given us an invaluable relationship that allows the race team to execute at a level of excellence that makes us stand out in the race paddocks,” says Lindsay Lindsey, representative for Park Place Motorsports. “Series, drivers, and teams equate our name with a well-run, well-groomed team. When others compete against us, they know they are racing a tough rival. When a competitor seeks us out to join our team, they know they’re joining a program that will care for them and challenge their skill level.”

A My Place Moment for Patrick Lindsey

The iconic #73 has seen some showroom and service action at both the Dallas and Grapevine dealerships, but what brings this sponsorship full circle is the relationship our Park Place Porsche team members have cultivated with our racing team.

Patrick Lindsey, team Principal, is one of the strongest connections to Park Place, not just because of the name on his racing suit, but also because he’s chosen Park Place Porsche for his day-to-day ownership experiences.

“…. the Park Place team takes extra care in the way they handle client and car service from the moment I hit the service drive to the moment I leave- and even after with their follow up and attention to detail,” says Lindsey, “We have definitely borrowed some valuable lessons from watching the way Park Place Porsche builds corporate pride within its members and the way we do the same within our competitive, professional race team that represents the Park Place namesake.”

Follow Park Place Racing and Join the Park Place Motorsports Movement

We invite you to join the Motorsports fandom, and follow @parkplaceracing and @parkplacetexas, or visit us on our racing hub to stay up to date on all things Park Place Motorsports. There’s more to come this year from both Park Place Porsche and Park Place Motorsports, to further bring the track experience to your daily driver. So stay tuned, and share the #ParkPlaceRacing love by commenting, sharing, and posting if you’re watching a race, cheering on the team, or want tips on how to better handle your Porsche (or other daily driver) from the track experts.

For information on upcoming races, team updates, and general racing news follow and bookmark the below pages:

Websites:

ParkPlaceMotorsports.com

ParkPlace.com/ParkPlaceMotorsports

Instagram:

@ParkPlaceTexas

ParkPlaceRacing

Facebook:

@ParkPlaceTexas

@ParkPlaceMotorsports

Twitter:

@ParkPlaceTexas

@ParkPlaceRacing

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Jaguar I-PACE Wins European Car of the Year, Drivers’ Choice Awards

It has been a year to remember for the I-PACE as the electric vehicle (EV) model has claimed 55 awards worldwide spanning multiple categories, which is quite the electric start- literally- for this 100 % percent EV leader. The introduction of the I-PACE contributed to Jaguar’s 1.2% Y-O-Y sales increase during January – December 2018. 

And as of last week this innovation in Electric Vehicle design won the European World Car of the Year at the Geneva Autoshow, a first for the United Kingdom automaker. The European Car of the Year is voted on by 60 automotive expert journalists from 23 countries and recognizes technological innovation, design, performance, efficiency, and value for money.

“For our first electric vehicle to also be the first Jaguar to win European Car of the Year gives us a huge sense of pride,” said Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover. “I-PACE was designed and engineered in the UK from a clean sheet of paper. It is the most technologically advanced battery electric vehicle. It’s a true game-changer. Winning European Car of the Year is an honour and real recognition of what our world-class team has delivered.”

The Jaguar I-PACE also won the MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award in the Best Luxury Utility category and overall Best of the Year. The Drivers’ Choice Award recognizes vehicles in multiple categories based on driving performance, technology, practicality, fuel efficiency, and value for the dollar. 

“It is a great honor to have the Jaguar I-PACE named 2019 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Luxury Utility vehicle and Best of the Year by MotorWeek,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President, Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “With the I-PACE, Jaguar’s design and engineering teams created a world-class SUV that that builds upon the brand’s amazing history for innovation, design and performance.”

Other notable honors for the I-PACE include the Popular Science Best of What’s New Award in the automotive category and UK Car of the Year.

Jaguar features a 90 kWh battery inside the I-PACE that delivers an EPA estimated 234 miles on a fully charged battery with a 0-mph time of 4.5 seconds. The mid-size performance SUV also carries the sleek styling that the PACE family of SUVs has established within the automotive market.

Inside an I-PACE are innovative tech developments highlighted by the dual combination of touchscreens, in which the I-PACE became the first Jaguar to incorporate the Jaguar InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. Its human-machine interface (HMI) is designed to reduce driver distraction by separating information and interactive controls but still creating a physical connection between car and driver.

You can become one of the first local Jaguar drivers to enjoy the worldwide phenomenon by purchasing your I-PACE at Park Place Jaguar DFW. Visit https://www.parkplace.com/ to search for your 2019 I-PACE vehicle within our available inventory. You may also contact our Sales team to learn more or schedule a test drive about the electric SUV.

 

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The Park Place Luxury and Supercar Showcase is Set to Return on September 28, 2019

IRVING, Texas (March 4, 2019) – The 3rd Annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, Dallas-Fort Worth’s premier luxury lifestyle and automotive event, will return this fall to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2019.

“The community has come out in force to support this event the last two years,” said Ken Schnitzer, Park Place Dealerships founder and chairman. “The third annual event will again showcase some of the most exotic and exciting vehicles that will please enthusiasts of all ages. What began three years ago as an engaging opportunity to celebrate our 30th anniversary has quickly turned into the foremost luxury lifestyle and automotive event in this region.”

Park Place Dealerships represents some of the most coveted brands in the world, including Rolls-Royce, Maserati, McLaren, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar which will all be featured at the event.

In keeping with a true lifestyle event, Park Place will expand its fashion, food and retail offerings within the Porsche Pavilion. There will be music performances on the Lexus Live Stage and beverages at The Mercedes-Benz Beer Garden on the lush Four Seasons TPC Championship golf course.

Within the event will be a juried Collectors’ Concours, featuring a diverse selection of rare supercars, luxury, sports, vintage and classic cars from private collectors.  The motoring festival also will include a Car Club Expo powered by Park Up Front as well as the beloved Kid’s Zone. 

Iconic luxury shopping and dining destination, Highland Park Village, will present a runway show produced by Jan Strimple Productions for the second year. The fashion show will feature looks from prestigious brands presented exclusively in the climate-controlled pavilion on the resort grounds, with retail pop-ups for guests to shop the day of the event.

Dallas’ Mad Hatter Shane Walker will return to judge the 2019 Haute Hat Contest on The Million Air Stage with categories for stylish men and women. Guests are encouraged to pair a hat with their favorite resort-inspired ensemble.

Ranging from $25 – $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP All Access, which includes the VIP Lounge with complimentary food and beverages from dozens of the area’s finest restaurants, tickets are on sale at LuxurySupercarShowcase.com. VIP Tickets are limited and have sold out the previous two years.

In 2018, the top Collectors’ Concours award winners were presented with the “Spirit of Park Place” hand-crafted sculpture by Dallas artist Brad Oldham:

  • Best of Show – 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C
  • Chairman’s Choice Award – 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II
  • Salesmanship Club Award – 1980 BMW M1

A Thank You To Our Returning Sponsors

Returning partners include the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, VIP Lounge Sponsors Allie Beth Allman & Associates – A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate|URBAN, Captain’s Lounge Sponsor Celebrity Cruises, The City of Irving, Hill & Wilkinson, Hagerty, Event Architecture, AT&T Business, AVSD Productions, Digital 3 Printing, Fauxcades Décor, Brad Oldham Sculpture, D Magazine and NBC 5.

Restaurants featured in the VIP Lounge include The French Room, LAW, III Forks, Cool River, Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Wild Salsa, Oven and Cellar, Outlaw Tap Room, Kai, Toulouse, Whiskey Cake, Texas de Brazil, Princi Italia, CRU Wine and Food Bar, Pacific Table, Cork & Pig Tavern, Make Your Life Sweeter, and Carlton Provisions.

Additional sponsors include Lilium Florals, Perks & Provisions, Promo Resources, Sunnyland Furniture, RideCentric, iDesignMeetings, Marquee Event Rentals, Bachendorf’s, Jack Black, Maui Jim, Renegade Cigars, Tito’s Vodka, Peroni Beer, Waste Management, GL Seaman, Ratcliff Financial Services, Garages of Texas, Thermal Printing, and MarineMax Yachts.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

 

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Park Place Racing Owns COTA

Park Place Racing Owns COTA For the Overall and Class Win in Austin.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 3, 2019) – Park Place Motorsports took home first place overall in Race Two and second place overall in Race One at Circuit of the Americas for round one and two of SRO Pirelli GT4 America race action. The overall win is the team’s first victory at its home track since inception in 2013.
 
Drivers of the No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman led 11 of 23 laps in the GT4 America series for the overall win in Round Two and bounced back from an early spin due to on-track drama in Race One to finish second overall. In addition to conquering the GT4 series, Brynjolfsson and Hindman dominated the Pirelli GT4 America EAST, running in the EPro-Am class. Together they took home first in Round One and Round Two.
 
Stacking up a record of firsts, Park Place Motorsports’ overall win in Round Two was Brynjolfsson’s first win as the closing driver a professional race. A personal best leads Brynjolfsson into round three and four on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida- his home race. He will carry confidence in machinery and team into the next weekend with his first solo appearance of the 2019 season in the Pirelli GT4 America Sprint series. 
 
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend kicks off Friday, March 8 with practice sessions taking place at 9:05 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. ET. Saturday, March 9 begins with qualifying at 9:15 a.m. and closes with a 50-minute Race One at 4 p.m. The weekend comes to a close with a second 50-minute sprint Sunday, March 10 at 11:20 a.m. For a weekend schedule or to live stream the races visit http://world-challenge.com.
 
Park Place Motorsports Weekend Quotes
 
Alan Brynjolfsson, Driver of the No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR
“Before I even started I was confident Trent would hand me the car in first place with 25 minutes to go,” Brynjolfsson said. “Sure enough the wonder boy did it and handed it to me in the lead. I had a pair of big shoes to fill but I did my best and we were able to win it. Really proud of the work our guys did this weekend.”

Trent Hindman, Driver of the No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR
“I went into Race Two not wanting to start from fourth because I knew we had a better car for qualifying,” Hindman said. “I knew it would come down to me being aggressive on the start especially because yesterday everyone shot into Turn One on the inside. I braked a bit later into the turn and pass two people on the outside and then make a pass for the lead later in the lap. The conditions were quite different than yesterday so I had to dial in the ABS and brake bias which caused me to lose a position. Once we had a restart I knew it was extremely important that I get the lead and pull a gap.

“It took me a bit longer than I wanted to get the lead but ultimately I was able to achieve it and create a gap. Our pit stop was perfect so then it came down to Alan maintain what we had and bring it home for the win. He really has come such a long way in a year and this is proof of that and proof of what a great program Park Place Motorsports has put together.”

Park Place Motorsports Team Principal, Patrick Lindsey
“The best weekends are weekends you win so I’d have to say we had the best opening weekend we could ask for at COTA,” Lindsey said. “I’m really proud of Alan, Trent and the whole crew. They’re really pushing out there to get the job done and do it right. On top of it all, they’re doing these three race weekends in a row. It’s incredible the fight our guys have, I wish I could be there to celebrate with them all. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in St. Pete. Going in as the leader puts a little more pressure on the weekend but there’s no place, you’d rather be than on top of the leader board.”

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Porsche Interview Highlights: “There is Certainly Nothing Routine About 911 Production”

Porsche is certainly staying busy, and in a good way too. In an interview with Porsche’s Executive Board member for Production, we learn about the important links between the past and future at Porsche, and about his passion for the iconic 911. Read a shortened version of the original review below.

Original Press Release and Full Interview Available Here. 

Mr Reimold, you have plenty to juggle in Zuffenhausen just now – constructing a production facility for the electric Taycan, start of production of the new 911, and also increasing production efficiency overall. How would you describe a typical working day?

Very busy! I have been in the automotive industry for 30 years now, and I can honestly say that establishing a new production facility running at full capacity, with new technology and processes, on a brownfield site – in other words an urban development site – is my biggest challenge yet. And I’ve had to overcome plenty of those over the last three decades. If I had to break my working day down, I would say 20% is taken up by corporate strategy, and at least another 20% goes on production preparation for the fully electric Porsche Taycan – though start of production of the new 911 also requires a lot of attention. Then we have to consider that Leipzig is still a huge site, and keeping staff happy and motivated is also very important for me.

How do you do that; do you entertain them?

I’m not sure if “entertain” is exactly right, but certainly ensuring that our employees have a passion for Porsche is a really important task. Every Porsche should promise its buyer many years of driving pleasure, and that kind of passion and joy only gets infused into our products if employees enjoy what they do and identify with the company and its cars. That is why fostering a leadership culture is very close to my heart, and a responsibility that I take very seriously.

Compared with constructing a production plant for the electric Taycan, is the start-up of an established model such as the 911 rather a routine project?

No, there’s really no such thing with Porsche production. While we do of course seek to minimise complexity in production, assembling vehicles in 60-second production cycles is not something we are aiming for, and is certainly not how we approach the Porsche 911. We see extremely high demand for customisation of our iconic sports cars, and it goes without saying that this is reflected in production. As such, we chiefly work with suppliers who are not focused on mass production, and we expend a lot of time and energy in selection, quality assurance and control, so we always have the perfect material available in the right place at the right time. There’s no aspect that you could describe as an easy routine.

The Taycan, your first exclusively electric model, is currently dominating headlines for Porsche. We are rather worried that the 911 will become something of a stalwart – a model that only exists to maintain the brand image and make the margins needed to complete the changeover to electric…

I can put your mind at rest there. In all of its generations, the Porsche 911 has been an icon, and that will not change. We are working hard to create a new icon with the next generation 911, and we’re having a great time doing it. I’m always fascinated by just how popular our cars are with customers, especially the derivatives such as the GT3 and GT2. When I came to Zuffenhausen two and a half years ago, 200 cars a day were being built – now it is 250.

Will you increase capacity again for the new Porsche 911?

This year we have already made great strides towards increasing productivity so that we can meet market demand. As well as production optimisation, a series of Saturday shifts have also been added. We have a great system in place, which allows us to find out what orders are coming in from dealers, and with which package – this means we can plan our capacities accordingly. But we don’t want to upgrade technical production just so that we are up to 300 units; we would rather leave the line at 250 units, and continue to focus on production preparations for the Taycan.

[So you’re saying that] The 911 will stick with the classic mode of production?

Yes. Starting production of a brand-new car – like the Porsche Taycan – in a completely new production facility requires major investment in new technology, as converting existing systems is not actually cost effective per se. The situation may be different in five to ten years. Of course, production efficiency will still increase considerably with the new Porsche 911, but this improvement will take place within the existing production system.

What role does e-mobility play in the Porsche 911?

It’s still a rather minor one because customers expect the 911 to be what it is. But it’s not entirely out of mind. For example, we have designed the model to enable drivetrain electrification – hybridisation in other words, so we would be ready to implement a change like that.

What has changed for the new Porsche 911 from a production viewpoint?

Lightweight construction is a central issue, as is the plant restructuring that comes with it. For the outer shell, we have completely changed over to aluminium, and we are assembling the bodies in the new body shop which we also use to produce bodywork for the Porsche Taycan. This approach is not just about lightweight construction and increasing efficiency, but also improving the outer shell quality.

A key issue for you has been the establishment of your own tool and die shop. How important has that been in developing the outer shell?

Absolutely vital. There’s a real art to perfecting the shapes and curves of a 911: nothing is “off the peg” here. And you can’t attain perfection with generic tooling. Ultimately, we decided to start producing all our own tooling because without an in-house tool and die shop,  it would not have been possible for us to switch over to aluminium bodywork.     

Stay tuned to Porsche Grapevine and Park Place Porsche Dallas for new inventory updates by visiting us at ParkPlace.com.  

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Racing Jargon: Things to Know Before Watching Park Place Racing Compete

Park Place Motorsports (Park Place Racing) are gearing up for another race weekend in Florida come March: the Super Sebring.  As their sponsor (and might we suggest their number one fan too), we thought it appropriate to share some of their race lingo so that all Park Place members, especially those new to the racing circuit, can expertly cheer on their very own Motorsports team.

First Off, the Cars:

IMSA WeatherTech Championship GTD: The No. 73 in GTD is referred to as the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche for all races except the Sebring 12 Hour, the Watkins Six Hour and the Petit Le Mans in which it will be referred to as the No. 73 de Boulle Park Place Motorsports Porsche.

IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge GS: The No. 7 is referred to as the No. 7 VOLT Lighting Porsche.

Track Terms:

Safety Car: Also known as a pace car, it is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather.

Pitlane: Pitlane is an access road for getting on and off the track usually parallel to the front straight. Teams are each granted a spot on the pitlane used to service the car during a pitstop.

Paddock: A large open area here the team sets up their workspace. The paddock houses everything from the sanctioning body trailers to hospitality areas.

Technical Inspection (Tech): Tech is located in the paddock and run by the sanctioning body. Each car mush go through this inspection in order to make sure

Pass Around: Always performed under a full course caution, a pass around is awarded to cars not on the lead lap. It allows them to drive around the field and the safety car, gaining back one single lap.

Pit Stop: When a car enters the pitlane to be serviced. This includes taking on fuel, changing the tires or changing the driver. Multiple pit stops will be performed throughout the race.

Debrief: Following a driver’s stint they will all with the engineer to discuss the car. This includes talking about how the car performs on track, track conditions, and possible changes they feel should be made.

Morning Warm-Up: A 20-minute practice the morning before a race. This allows the drivers and teams to test out any last-minute changes and to get acquainted to that days track conditions.

Qualifying: A 15-minute session in which drivers compete to see who can achieve the fastest. This determines where the drivers will start the race from.

Kinds of Flags (and What They Mean):

Green Flag: Signals the start of the race or a restart.

Full Course Yellow (FCY): Signals an incident on course. Cars must assume safety car speed and fall in line behind the safety car. Competitors may not race or pass for position under a FCY.

Local Yellow: Signals a minor incident or piece of debris on course. Cars must only reduce speed through the turn in which the flag is flown. Upon exiting the turn, they may resume full speed racing.

Rolled up Black Flag: Signals an issue related to you or your car. This represents a warning. If you do not correct the issue you will be issued a penalty.

Black Flag: Signals you are receiving a penalty and should head to the pits. This is issued in accordance following a rolled up black flag.

Red Flag: Signals for all cars to assume safety car speed and head into the pits. A red flag stops the race, but does not stop the running clock. Red flags are most often thrown for weather conditions or severe on-track incidents.

Checkered Flag: Signals the end of the race.

 

Hopefully this helps you prep for the Super Sebring races mid March. If we missed any terms or you have any questions, send them to social@10.2.54.33. We’ll get our experts (like Team Principal, Patrick Lindsey) to help us respond.