HOW TO KILL A PORSCHE 911
Jeremy Clarkson in a blast from the past. Not for the faint of heart if you love early 911s.
Category: Porsche Blog
The Road is Calling. from TennXX on Vimeo.
90s R GRUPPE 911
One of the hottest threads on the Early 911S Registry forum was started by my buddy Gib Bosworth extolling the virtues of the Porsche 964. This interim 911 was produced from 1989 to 1994 between the traditional short hood Carrera and the more rounded (and longer geared) 993. It was significantly different from what had come before (better suspension and comfort, more powerful motor and A/C, etc), but was the last model to retain the prominant front fenders, headlamps, and classic shape of the 911. Many early 911 long hood fans own a 964 as well because it still feels nimble while providing a more sophisticated ride. Continue reading “”
YOUR FIRST TRACK DAY
Taking your car to the track is not for the faint of heart. With the cornering forces generated and the speeds achieved, there is only so much car aids can do. The rest is up to the driver. The track can be a safe environment compared to public streets, as long as you approach it with thoughtfulness and respect.
Whether you have been to the track or not, car prep is obviously important. But mental preparation can be just as critical. You do not want to arrive exhausted or upset. Ideally you want to be calm and ready to learn. Remember to keep drinking water throughout the day as you could become dehydrated otherwise. Continue reading “”
BEYOND EXCELLENT
The August issue of Excellence: The Magazine About Porsche features an article of mine on a ’73 911 build titled “The Color of Money.” Nope, this isn’t one of those “cookie cutter” R Gruppe builds with a 3.2 Motronic motor and center fill cap. It’s a no-holds-barred homage to all that is right with this hobby.
Scott Longballa is to be congratulated for taking a hands-on approach in creating this unique and totally intoxicating package – a short stroke MFI powered “RSR” that goes way beyond the expected using only the best parts available. Continue reading “”
BACK FROM CALIFORNIA (AGAIN)
Just home from three weeks in California. Thanks to Curtis Autenrith and Nick Psyllos for their comraderie and hospitality – and all my other car buddies for their generous support. The R Gruppe Track Day at Buttonwillow and Treffen in Monterey were highlights.
It was the most productive automotive trip I have been on. I shot five cars for Excellence magazine, finished the rebuild on my 1972 Porsche 911″ST” and drove it home in time for a track day in Seattle. More to come… Continue reading “”
THE NEW BEETLE
In the wake of Porsche raising $7.1 billion to complete its merger with Volkswagen AG, the “new” sporty VW Beetle has just been announced.
This car has one of the most recognizable shapes in the world. Between 1938 and 2003 the original “Bug” sold nearly 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, with over 22 million built. It was developed by Ferdinand Porsche as the Type 1 Volkswagen – which literally means “people’s car.†The second-generation Beetle was designed by J. Mays and R Gruppe co-founder Freeman Thomas at the company’s California design studio. Since 1997 this very rounded design has become a popular choice for city-dwelling females. Continue reading “”
425 MOTORSPORTS
Local Bellevue, WA motorsports enthusiast Dan Reiss has launched a store that caters to the driver looking to experience everything their sports car has to offer. Continue reading “”
TARGA FLORIO 1973
So were the early 1970’s really cooler than today?
Watch this vintage video, then you decide.
Targa Florio is a Documentary TV Movie on the 1973 race made in Italy in 2005. Director: Cuiri Amelio Ortiz. Cast: Francesco Arezzo, Antonio Catanzaro, Vic Elford, Mauro Forghieri, Giacinto Gargano, Ciccio Liberto, Sandro Munari, Silvana Paladino, Salvatore Requirez, Pao… Continue reading “”
GT2 RS
I’ve never posted twice in the same day, but since I’m on a Porsche roll… Why not.
Here’s a video from Porsche explaining the genesis of the new GT2 RS, the most powerful and exclusive 911 Turbo street car ever. Continue reading “”
DRIVING – MORE POWER OVERSTEER
By popular demand… Fellow Excellence writer Chris Harris explains how to achieve a power oversteer drift in a rear-wheel-drive front-engine BMW M5.
With its lighter front end, the rear-engined Porsche 911 will require some weight transfer under braking on entry to initiate the drift (see previous video). You will also need to apply different throttle as more rear traction is available. Otherwise it’s very similar. Enjoy!
FROM WINTER TO SPRING
Now that we have officially entered spring, here’s a look back at one of the great rally drivers in a 911 and a look forward to some better weather:
EXCELLENCE RSR
The May 2011 issue of Excellence: The Magazine About Porsche is hitting the newsstands now. It features an article of mine titled “The Forgotten One,” which covers a 911 tribute car built by Sam Gassel.
Congratulations to Sam on his amazing recreation of the #6 Penske Sunoco Porsche Carrera RSR. He is one of those guys who makes my job a dream, and he’s deserving of every accolade for a job well done. I wish everyone could see this car in the flesh. It is mind-boggling good. Thanks also to Excellence for continuing to publish my photos and writings on these homages to historic 911s. Continue reading “”
PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION IV
Just back from two weeks on the road – photographing, writing, and playing with cars in LA. Thanks to my good friend Curtis Autenrieth for his generous hospitality and camaraderie. It was great to see all my other Porsche buddies as well.
There is an event coming up that any Porsche enthusiast will not want to miss. Continue reading “”
FASTER
George Harrison was born in Liverpool, England on this day in 1943 and passed away nearly ten years ago. His late ’70’s music video titled “Faster” was dedicated to the memory of Formula One racing driver Ronnie Peterson and includes a cameo appearance by British F1 champion Jackie Stewart.
Inspirational and reflective, George had a deep interest in travel, photography, film making, motorsports, and of course music. As The Beatles lead guitarist, his riffs and songwriting are legendary. He owned a vintage Porsche 911, Mini Cooper, Dino 246, Aston Martin DB5 and was one of the first to purchase a McLaren F1 road car. He was also an avid gardener and introduced many to Eastern thought and music. Continue reading “”
NüRBURGRING NORDSCHLEIFE
Here’s the best instructional video I’ve seen on how to drive the Nürburgring’s north loop or Nordschleife. Watch how Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen gives a guided tour for one lap around this legendary track.
Chasing a gaggle of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Cars in his own matching race car, Sascha provides insightful commentary and shows how “The Green Hell†got its name. With 73 corners undulating over nearly 13 miles, it’s easy to see why this is considered the toughest, most dangerous and demanding circuit in the world.
Located between Cologne and Frankfurt, the Nordschleife is accessible to the public as a one-way toll road. There are no intersections and there’s no general speed limit. I drove it in an Audi rental car, and even that was an unforgettable experience.
PORSCHE SAYS THANK YOU
A special 911 GT3 R Hybrid celebrating one million Porsche Facebook fans (with 27,000 names on its exterior) was revealed today at the factory museum. You can learn more about the creation of this car and look up your own name at the following web page: Continue reading “”