Bill Myrick advertising the 1992 San Diego Region Porsche Parade
First a little about Bill Myrick
Bill Myrick worked for McDonald-Douglas and was sent to Vietnam in support of the company’s military aircraft in use during the war years. It was while Bill was stationed there that he began his love affair with Porsche cars. He had always wanted to own a sports car. But he wanted a sports car with 4 seats so he could go on double dates with his soon to be teenage daughter, Terrie. The Porsche 911 was the one sports car that met his requirement of 4 seats.
During the 5 years he was in Vietnam he received combat pay which he put into a special car fund. In 1970, while still stationed in Vietnam, he ordered his Porsche 911 and paid $6,400 for it. When asked what was so special about the Porsche that attracted him to that particular car, he answered, “It was the ability to maneuver.”
Upon returning from Vietnam, Bill and his wife traveled from the West Coast to Florida to visit his mom, then up to New York where he picked up his 911 from the docks. He was worried about breaking his new car in on the long trip back across the US. He drove very cautiously at first but about mid-way in the trip home he read in the owner’s manual that he could take it up to 4,000 RPM (about 70 to 80 miles per hour), it was then that he (as he said it) “put the hammer down.” He stopped long enough in Iowa to replace the oil and transmission fluid.
Bill never sold that 911, though he had to put his car in storage while he was the base manager at Clark Air Force base in the Philippines from 1972 to 1980, much to his displeasure. Upon his return to San Diego he was on the road again.
In April of 1980 Bill joined the Porsche Club of America, San Diego Region where he remained active until his passing. He served as President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Board Member and driving instructor as well as working on many different committees.
One quality about Bill that was extra special was his ability to get along with people. He loved people and had friends all over the world. Bill was the type of person who would literally do anything for his friends. He was always there to help. He was the kind of friend everyone needs.
This quality in Bill was exemplified in his infectious enthusiasm for the Porsche Club and its members. Bill welcomed and befriended new members and was always there to lend a helping hand. If it needed to be done, you could count on Bill to get it done. In memoriam after his death in late 1999, the Enthusiast of the Year award was named in his honor so that this special man and his never ending contributions to PCASDR would never be forgotten.
Bill Myrick Enthusiast of the Year
2011 Angela Avitt
2010 John Straub
2009 Tom Brown
2008 Steve Grosekemper
2007 Keith Verlaque
2006 Bob McLaughlin
2005 Gary Burch
2004 Mary Clark, Larry Clark
2003 Dan Chambers
2002 Greg Phillips
2001 Bill Smith
2000 Marlee Shaw
1999 Skip Carter
Enthusiast of the Year
1998 Bob Schang
1997 Susan Brown, Keith Verlaque
1996 Diana Schang, Bob Schang
1995 Steve Hall
1994 Paul Young
1993 Bill Myrick
1992 Chrissy Roberts
1991 Susan Tracy-Dente
1990 Bob Lemke
1989 Bill Bogusch
1988 Cecelia Knauf, Vince Knauf
1987 Steve Hall
1984 John Straub
1982 Margie Smith-Haas
1975 Bill Bartee
1974 Ralph Hurty, John Straub
