After a year away, the Ladies Drive returned in September. A baton of sorts was passed to me—it was my first time organizing the event. There’s always a bit of trepidation when taking over something so well-loved: will it live up to expectations? We gathered late in the morning under perfect skies— bright sun, blue above, and ideal temperatures.

Words: Lisa Molzon. // SEMPCA President

Read more in our November/December 2025 P4 Newsletter

Though we always plan to go rain or shine, it’s hard not to smile when the weather cooperates. Fifteen ladies joined this year’s drive, piloting ten Porsches in shades of gray, silver, blue, red, and purple. Some drove solo, others shared the wheel with a co-pilot or navigator. The group included familiar faces—Linda Walton, Dawn Martindale, Peggy Goldberg, and Suzanne Gilson— alongside newcomers like Dalila Zarate and Patrice Rowbal. Ages spanned nearly half a century, creating a lively mix of personalities and instant camaraderie. Once everyone had arrived and signed the tour waiver, we reviewed the route and “rules of engagement.” With navigation apps set and printed maps in hand, lead cars were assigned, and we were off.

Many thanks to Donna Loeber and Joann Coobatis for guiding us safely. As always, SEM tours use lead cars every few vehicles for safety—and a Sweeper at the end to ensure no Porsche is left behind. From my spot as Sweeper in the Macan S, I had the perfect view of the colorful parade ahead. The route wound through some of our favorite back roads— first navigating downtown Clarkston before escaping into open countryside. It was fun to see pedestrians stop to watch our Porsche caravan pass by. One dad even counted each car out loud to his children. Now that’s a creative way to teach numbers!

From Clarkston we headed east through Lake Orion, Oxford, Ortonville, Groveland Township, Holly, Rose Center, Highland, and finally Milford. Nearly 60 miles later—and about an hour and a half of driving—we’d enjoyed a perfect mix of lakes, parks, farms, and tree-lined scenery. As the sun climbed higher, windows came down, sunroofs opened, and a few tops dropped. Though fall weekends often bring plenty of car clubs to the roads, ours was the only one out that day—aside from two friendly motorcycle groups who waved as we passed. Our lunch stop, Anna’s House in Milford, offered the perfect setup: a quiet, tree-bordered lot for our lineup of Porsches and a bright, welcoming restaurant. Inside, the conversation flowed easily. We swapped stories from the drive and agreed that this smaller, more personal event has a different, refreshing energy from larger Club tours—a great reminder of how diverse SEM’s activities truly are. As we said our goodbyes, many participants promised to return next year. I certainly will—rain or shine.