The history of INWR:
The Inland Northwest Region (INWR) is part of Zone 6 within the PCA. The boundaries and charter that define the INWR reflect the evolution of the Inland Northwest since its formation in 1959. The Pacific Northwest Region (PNWR) of the PCA received its charter on November 15, 1959, and initially represented the entire state of Washington. Its headquarters were based in Seattle, about 280 miles away from Spokane, connected by a highway that crossed the Cascade Mountains. As interest in Porsche ownership grew, a small group of 15 Porsche owners gathered at Bright Motors in Spokane in 1962 to form an informal club, marking the beginning of what would become the INWR. Over the next three years, the group organized races, drives, and picnics. However, from 1966 to late 1971, as members moved away, interest in the club waned.
On December 5, 1971, around 60 Porsche owners met at the Valley Porsche/Audi dealership in Spokane to adopt bylaws and formally request a charter to establish a new region east of the Cascades. The first officers were Mark S. Smith (president), William C. Kelly (vice president), Richard Bennett (secretary), and Sue Dooley (treasurer). The Can Am Region, headquartered in Spokane, received its PCA charter on March 30, 1972, with 27 members transferring from the PNWR. Shortly after, members organized a charter banquet and an event called Can Am Day, which included a concours, rally, and autocross, drawing participants from across the 30,000-square-mile region.
The Letter of Petition for the Can Am Region outlined the geographical boundaries that included parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Canada. This included the counties of Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, and others in Washington, as well as several counties in Idaho and Montana, and parts of British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.
In 1980, PNWR president Theresa Sullivan sent a letter to Harold Copeland, former president of the Can Am Region, officially relinquishing PNWR’s interest in several counties in Washington. This change was made in the best interest of PCA members who lived east of the Cascades, where Porsche and Audi dealerships existed within the Can Am Region.
In 1975, with changes in leadership and term expirations, the Can Am Region's leadership moved to southeastern Washington. Ben Staples, Spence Mitchell, and Bruce Klos from Kennewick and Walla Walla stepped up as president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer. In 1978, the region’s headquarters moved from Spokane to the Tri-Cities. The first meeting of the newly incorporated board of directors took place in Richland, Washington, on June 7, 1978. The officers elected were Harold C. Copeland (president), Thomas N. Zirbel (vice president), David S. Ullman (secretary), and Spencer L. Mitchell (treasurer). The Can Am Region celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1982, and by 1983, the region had around 80 members enjoying a full calendar of activities.