Close encounters with a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Posted on November 28, 2011 by digitaldtour

My Saturday mornings usually begin with my attending a weekly car show located in Irvine, California called Cars&Coffee. Participants begin showing up as early as 5:30 am (I usually try to arrive by 6 am) with the show lasting until 9-9:30 am. Because of the popularity of this event, and to get a good parking spot for the display of ones car, you need to arrive early. Getting there late can result in either being directed to the overflow parking area, or even worse, not being able to find any parking and being turned away.

My worst fear however, was realized this past Saturday morning, as I overslept, and did not arrive at the show until 6:45. Fortunately, I was able to find a spot towards the back of the parking area, but well away from the row that I usually park in with my friends. Given the summer like weather that we experienced here in Southern California over the Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday morning delivered a very diverse collection of cars for viewing. Parked just across the row in front of me were the following three cars: a Volcano Orange McLaren MP4-12C, a Matt Black Lamborghini Aventador, and a Red Lamborghini Gallardo. And further down the row at the end of the aisle were two more cars, both Ferrari’s; a red 458 Italia, and a black Enzo…

Of the many Porsches in attendance that morning, there was one in particular that caught my eye… a black, 2011 GT3RS 4.0. This particular car represents one of only 600 produced for worldwide consumption by Porsche, and which according to reports sold out within 14 days. So given the rarity of this particular model, seeing one in person was pretty amazing. However, I consider myself fortunate to count this as my second encounter with a GT3 RS 4.0, since my first sighting was of a white RS 4.0 model, that had been on display at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV event back in October (see photos below).

And so now I was face to face with my second GT3 RS 4.0, and this time it was the evil twin. This particular car, dressed in black right down to its centerlock wheels, was much more sinister looking than its white-painted sibling, shimmering in its flawless, reflective black mirror- like finish.

As part of Porsches weight savings endeavors with the RS 4.0, several very subtle measures were taken to reduce the vehicles overall weight. At the front of the car, the hood has been manufactured from carbon fiber (very similar to the hood found on the Porsche GT2RS). However in this case, to save additional weight Porsche paints the RS 4.0 ‘s carbon fiber hood to match the car, instead of finishing the hood using the clear resin coating found on the GT2RS ( which ironically turns out to be a heavier production process). Another weight savings effort is the use of a decal for the Porsche hood crest, instead of using the traditional metal Porsche hood emblem.

Moving to the back of the car, located beneath the massive rear wing, resides the 4.0 liter, 500 horsepower engine, able to propel the car from 0-60 in a neck snapping 3.9 seconds, driven through a six speed manual transmission.

The rear wing also holds several secrets to this cars enhanced performance; the rear wing end plates have been modified over those found on the 2011 3.8 liter GT3RS, and the angle of attack for the GT3 RS 4.0 rear wing has been increased to 9 degrees, instead of running the stock setting of 6.8 degrees as found on the 3.8 GT3RS, for even greater downforce.

And just as quickly as the RS 4.0 had arrived that morning, the owner returned, jumped in, fired it up and drove away. As I watched the car drive off, a couple of guys came over and asked me if I had seen the white GT3 RS 4.0 that was parked in the overflow area. I asked if they were serious, and they assured me that it was in fact another GT3 RS 4.0. Off I went in search of the White GT3 RS 4.0. Unfortunately I was too late, and the car was nowhere to be found. Oh well, only 598 to go. And there is always next weeks show…

(All photos by the author)

Porsches at Petree Hall… The Los Angeles Auto Show 2011

Posted on November 24, 2011 by digitaldtour

The Auto Show has once again returned to Los Angeles, and for local Porsche owners, it’s that time again to return to Petree Hall to check out the latest and greatest offerings from our favorite Marque, before viewing the rest of the show.

So on Saturday that’s exactly what we did. My wife, son and I all headed off to the L.A. Convention center, where we met up with one of my Porsche buddies.

As we made our way towards Petree Hall, the Yokohama Tire exhibit caught my attention, especially since they had a day-glow orange and silver mylar film wrapped, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car on display. My first photo-op of the show…

So after grabbing a couple quick shots, off we went to find Petree Hall…

Once inside, the first car we came across was a green and white 911 GT3 Cup car, and one that I happened to see compete at the recent Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca back in October.

And here’s a shot of the same car in action, taken at Rennsport Reunion IV… (This car was also the winner of the 2011 ALMS GTC class Championship)

The central focus of the exhibit however was on the two new models making their Los Angeles debut; located to the right was the new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S (type 991), 3.6 liter, 400 horsepower, with a 7-speed transmission.

And located to the left of the Porsche Type 991, was the other new model making its debut – a Carmine Red (an exclusive color to this car) Panamera GTS…

The new Panamera GTS is based upon the Panamera S, and comes equipped with all wheel drive, a 4.8 liter, 430 horsepower motor, upgraded brakes ( with optional PCCB brakes / in yellow), a suspension lowered by 10 mm, and a high performance sport tuned chassis with revised Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM).

Surprisingly low-key and casually placed against the wall, to the right of the Porsche 911 Carrera S (Type 991), was this display model (see photo below), showcasing the new Porsche Experience Center, having just been announced by Porsche on Thursday, November 17th.

This new facility is to be constructed in Carson, California, near the junction of the 405 & 110 freeways, on a 53+ acre parcel of land. The facility is being modeled after the original Porsche Experience Center that was built at the Silverstone Circuit, in Great Britain. The California Center will be one of only 5 in the world; the remaining Porsche Experience Centers are located in Leipzig, Germany, Shanghai, China, and the first announced for the United States, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Porsche Experience Center for Atlanta will be constructed as part of and along with their new U.S. Corporate Headquarters.

The California-based Porsche Experience Center is being designed to include a test track and handling course, with special areas able to replicate rain, ice and snow handling conditions, as well as a separate off – road course to exploit the attributes of the Porsche Cayenne, a Customer Delivery Center, the Porsche Human Performance Center, a Gift shop and Cafe. Also available will be performance driving courses, for students of all ages, and even special programs geared towards educating young children. The facility will also provide track access, corporate and conference space, access by car clubs, and support Corporate client based events.

A slightly different aspect to the Porsche Experience Center will be their Porsche Human Performance Center, which will focus on personal fitness, wellness and offer training for drivers interested in serious competition. The program will address subjects such as hydration and the importance of heat acclimation. (I recall reading an article in Excellence magazine about Patrick Long , that when not road testing cars for their article, his habit of driving Porsches with the windows up and the heater going full blast in the summer; those comments now make perfect sense given Patrick Long’s success and abilities behind the wheel of a race car).

The project architect selected for this project ( buildings and facility) is the firm Cooper Carry, out of Atlanta. The test track Architects and engineers (for the driving facilities) are the firms Giffels / IBI and Tylke Engineering. Ground breaking is scheduled for the summer of 2012.

For a sneak peek at what we can expect to experience at the California-based Porsche Experience Center, check out the following link to Porsche’s Silverstone facility: http://www.porsche.co.UK/experience

The following photos are a few of the other Porsche models on display throughout Petree Hall. Just like in previous years, some of the Porsches are unlocked and can be sat in, and some remain locked. However, this year to my surprise, one of the two 2011 997 Turbos on display was actually unlocked, and as a result, had a huge crowd waiting for their turn to be the next to sit inside. Unfortunately, the blue turbo was getting covered in fingerprints, and I actually saw several small children running across the leather seats… both a Porsche owners nightmare.

The stuff dreams are made of; my son and his girlfriend both enjoying a Porsche moment…

It looks like the Southern California Porsche community is going to have allot to be thankful for in 2012 and 2013…

(All photos by the author)

“All good things got to come to an end”…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 7

Posted on November 13, 2011 by digitaldtour

As my son and I continued our trek through the Porsche parking corral, we came across even more clusters of GT3’s. I was now on GT3 overload, and here in front of me sat my personal dream car, a 2011 GT3 3.8 model (my favorite) in silver on black, sandwiched between two earlier GT3’s…

A little further down the row, we found a solo example of a 2011 GT2RS, parked well away from the GT3’s.

And then a couple more GT3RS’s thrown in for good measure…

At the other end of the Porsche corral, we encountered what had to be a one -off, “sample to match”, painted 997 (see photo below). The only other time I have seen a Porsche even close to this color, was my friend Ian’s 964, a right hand drive model built for the Hong Kong market.

But now it was time to watch the Group 3 race, so we headed off to turn 2 to catch the start. The following images are just a few from the race:

By the time the race ended, it was noon, and the Porsche owners who had signed up for the on track “parade laps” were being staged within the Porsche corral area, and arranged in rows to enter the track, starting from turn 5.

Once the parade laps were done, two of the new 2012 Porsche 991’s were unleashed onto the track for some fast laps; below the red, 2012 Porsche 991 at speed, turn 5.

When they had finished their laps and came off the track, we headed back to Cayman island for one last look at two friends cars that had been on display in the 911 chronology display.

For our last race of the day, we decided to watch from the grandstands located between turn 11 and the start/ finish line. The next class scheduled was Group 6, a mixed class of 911’s and the “Cayman Interseries”cars…

And with that, our Porsche Rennsport Reunion 4 weekend came to an end. It was an incredible 3 days, and an experience that I was fortunate enough to experience and share with my son.

The sign out front had predicted an epic weekend, and delivered beyond all expectations. And based upon the reported overwhelming success of this event, I suspect that we will all have in three years time, the opportunity to once again return to Laguna Seca Raceway, and experience Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion V…

(All photos by the author)

(P.S. – SPEED TV began broadcasting their one hour coverage of Rennsport Reunion IV today / November 13. Their broadcast scheduling is as follows /all times shown are Pacific Time):

November 13 -Noon ( I caught today’s broadcast – Excellent coverage by SPEED TV)

Monday November 14 -Midnight

Saturday November 19 -1 PM

Wednesday November 30 -11 PM

Thursday December 1 -1 AM

Like a million little crossroads…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 5

Posted on October 29, 2011 by digitaldtour

The final two events on Saturdays schedule were the Parade / exhibition laps around Laguna Seca, made by vehicles considered as “significant” Porsche race cars, and concluding event for the day; the Concours on Pit lane.

“Significant” Porsches queued up and ready to go…

After the parade laps ended, these cars and others proceeded over to Pit Lane to be arranged and readied for the concours. As we approached pit lane, it became obvious that the crowd had already descended for a close – up view of these incredible vehicles…

Coming shortly, Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 6

(All photos by the author)

Wide awake in dreamland…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 4

Posted on October 28, 2011 by digitaldtour

As we continued our photographic quest through the paddock, we found ourselves in front of an enormous, white circus style “big top tent”, under which even more rare and exotic Porsche’s awaited discovery…

Anchored at the end of the tent was the vintage,1968 Mercedes-Benz transport, originally converted by Porsche for the hauling of its race cars of the day. The transport was restored in the early 1990’s by Porsche expert Gerry Sutterfield, and shortly after was added to the Brumos Porsche collection.

As Saturday afternoon wore on, and as temperatures warmed up, we decided to head over to the Porsche Club of America’s hospitality tent, located out on “Cayman island”, just outside of turns 2 & 3. After checking in at the membership/ registration table, and being issued wrist bands, my son and I headed over to the tent to get something cold to drink and rest in the shade for a few minutes. This was a classic example of “membership having its privileges”; this facility and services (cold drinks and a place to sit and rest) were provided to all registered members of the Porsche Club of America throughout the weekend, staffed by volunteers from the many PCA regions located across the United States. This was also the perfect opportunity for Porsche owners not yet members of the PCA, to learn more about the club and witness its benefits firsthand.

And it was here at the PCA tent that we once again encountered Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, who had been visiting with a group of club members, and had come outside to view several of the club members cars. If I recall correctly, the gray Porsche was a 1967 912, still owned by its original owner, and in excellent condition. Dr. Porsche appeared to be enjoying himself once again, and after wishing the assembled crowd well, was off to his next stop.

For more information on the Porsche Club of America, please check out their website -www.pca.org

After being rehydrated, it was time to check out some of the cars out in the Porsche Corral. Located just behind the PCA tent, were rows of gleaming 356’s on display, lined up between turns 2 & 3.

And then we came across a sea of Boxsters, and in the background, rows of 911’s…

Still more photos to come…stay tuned for Porsche Rennsport Reunion 4, Part 5

(All photos by the author)

All this and heaven too… Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 3

Posted on October 25, 2011 by digitaldtour

After returning to the paddock, my son and I came across one of Porsche’s racing displays highlighting Porsche Motorsports. The two cars showcased raced in the ALMS series, and were competitors in the LMP2 class; the RS Spyder. The yellow RS Spyder was campaigned by the Penske / DHL team, and the second, white RS Spyder sponsored by MuscleMIlk.

Immediately to the right of the Porsche Motorsports display was a series of open paddock bays, which revealed a second display, this one a showcase of 911 based race cars. The display featured a range of competition models from the earliest (a 1964 911), to the latest, the 2011 GT3R hybrid.

After shooting this image above ( a 1967 911 R), I was passed by a group of people all moving towards the car for a photo opportunity. I overheard a man ask if he should stand by the door, and when I turned to see what was happening, I realized the man standing by the door of car #181 was in fact Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. What better indication of the significance of this event, than to have a member of the Porsche family in attendance, and obviously enjoying himself. (This would not be the last time that we would encounter Dr. Porsche at Rennsport).

1971 911 STR East Africa Rally car, owned by photographer and race driver Jeff Zwart.

1973 911 Carrera RSR, and the winner of the 68th (and last) Targa Florio road race.

1974 Porsche 911 RSR

1976 Porsche 934 Turbo

1977 Porsche 934 1/2, from the Bruce Canepa collection

1978 Interscope Porsche 935 K3

1986 all wheel drive Rothmans Porsche type 961, as raced at Le Mans. (As noted in its bio, this is the only type 961 in existence).

1995 Porsche 911 GT2 Evo

(Below) 1998 GT1 LM (Le Mans). This was the car that scored the outright victory for Porsche at Le Mans back in 1998, which was added to the ongoing celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary.

2004 911 GT3 RSR.

(Below) 2007 GT3 Cup car – Pikes Peak class winner and record holder, driven by Jeff Zwart

2011 GT3R hybrid, still wearing the track fallout from its last race.

Now it was time to begin exploring the open paddock area, to look for other hidden Porsche treasures…

Gunnar Racing’s 914-6 T (www.gunnarracing.com)

1967 911S

Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 4 coverage to follow…

(All photos by the author)

Pressing my foot on the gas, I’m flying…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 2

Posted on October 22, 2011 by digitaldtour

The next car that we came across after leaving “Porsche Place” was this brightly hued Porsche GT3 RSR, still wearing its Le Mans livery, courtesy of Troy Lee Designs (www.troyleedesigns.com), as raced by Flying Lizards Motorsports this past summer in France. (Troy Lee is also the designer behind Patrick Long’s helmet graphics).

Walking into the teams display area, we caught Patrick Long and Joerg Burgmeister wrapping up a question and answer session about the team and their cars, and on the heels of the teams announcement of a new product line being made available by Flying Lizards Racing, designed specifically for the club racing enthusiast (www.lizardms.com).

Our next stop was the Canepa Design transporter. Bruce Canepa has always had some of the coolest Porsche race cars in his collection, and this time was no exception (www.canepadesign.com). Sitting under the canopy was the still warm, white 1979 Porsche 935 that had recently been parked in favor of his 1969 917K, which Canepa had taken out for qualifying.

Shortly after taking this last picture, a blue and orange Porsche 908/02 spyder pulled up in front of the transporter, the driver revved the motor several times and then shut it off. As the crew came over to attend to the car, the driver removed his goggles and began taking his helmet off. It then became apparent that the driver was in fact Brian Redman.

The next car to arrive on the scene was a Gulf-Porsche 917K, #21 driven by Chris MacAllister, and followed by a second Gulf Porsche 917K, driven by Bruce Canepa.

Our next stop was the Brumos Porsche transporter…

(www.brumosracing.com)

After a short break for lunch ( bratwurst and hot links), we headed off to the area outside of the track, between turns 3 & 4, to check out the Porsche 911 chronology display staged on the lawn; the models represented ranged from the earliest 911’s ( 1965 /1966), to the latest iteration, the 2011 911 GT3RS 4.0.

(www.porsche.com/usa/)

We then wandered over to check out the Mothers car care products display. A friend had been invited to show his car at their transporter, and the crew from Mothers had worked their magic to optimize the shine on his red 993 speedster. They also provided their other invited guests with products for detailing and touching up their cars ( for the removal of spectator’s finger prints). And tucked in at the far left end of this display, under the transporters awning, was the Mothers Porsche 911 GT3RS, resplendent in its flawless gray and red paint scheme, serving as a rolling showcase of the company’s car care products.

Continued coverage of Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 3 to follow…

(All photos by the author)

Reading the signs on the road, I write you…Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV

Posted on October 20, 2011 by digitaldtour

The marquee out front of Laguna Seca raceway, facing highway 68 said it all, as we pulled up to the track Friday afternoon…

Parked along the “A” roadway leading up to the track (and set back from highway 68) was another rare sighting – a Porsche Rothmans 959 rally car. The first photo opportunity of many to come, and we weren’t even officially at the track yet…

As we approached the crest of the hill, the unmistakable sound of Porsche race cars at speed could be heard echoing off of the surrounding hillsides. My son and I looked at each other with huge smiles on our faces, knowing that this was going to be the start of an epic weekend. After flashing our 3 day passes to the admissions gate crew, we were waved through and sent on our way to look for parking. Fortunately we found a spot on the hill located just behind (for this weekend) the Porsche Hospitality suites, which overlooked the start / finish line, and affords a panoramic view of the majority of the racetrack. It was then a short walk down the hill to the pedestrian bridge, which crosses over the front straight just beyond the start /finish line, allowing access to the infield portion of the racetrack.

Once inside the infield, we headed directly over to the Porsche Park, to see what amazing treasures awaited discovery. As my son and I rounded the corner, there sat Porsche 935 / 2.0, affectionately referred to as “Baby”.

This was a car I first learned about back in April 1977, just as my parents began planning a family trip to Europe for mid june of that year. And since we had already decided to make a stop at the Porsche factory for a tour and to pick up some parts for our 911’s, my dad thought why not inquire about the possibility of attending a race as well. So a letter was sent off to Porsche, explaining that we would be vacationing in Germany during June and planned to visit the factory, and pick up some parts for our cars, and attend a Porsche race if possible. So imagine our family’s surprise when we received a letter back from Porsche, confirming receipt of our letter and sharing with us the details of a tour upon our arrival. But it was the last part of the letter that really got my dad’s and my attention; we had been invited to attend a skhakedown race of the 935/2.0 “Baby”, as guests of Porsche. This was the car that I had just read about, and now we were going to see it race in person; it was almost too much to take. Needless to say, waiting for our summer vacation to begin for me was agony. However all of that frustration was erased when we pulled up to the gates of the Porsche factory, and were directed over to the building where we would meet our contact. And imagine our surprise when we were met by Manfred Jantke, who just happened to be the manager of the factory race team. So off we went on our insiders tour, led by the race team manager. Wow…

Unfortunately, it was during our walk that we learned from Herr Jantke that the race we had been invited to attend at the Osterreichring had been cancelled, and that the 935 / 2.0 “Baby” would not be competing. So imagine finally getting getting to see the car in person, at Rennsport Reunion 4 after being so close 34 years ago in Stuttgart…

“Baby” did go on to compete in two races; the first unsuccessfully, resulting in a retirement of the car and its driver (Jacky Ickx) due to heat exhaustion. However, for its second race, Jacky Ickx qualified the car on pole, a full 2 seconds faster than his closest competitor. Ickx and the 935/2.0 went on to dominate the race, and at the end, finished a half lap ahead of the second place car (a Ford). Porsche had demonstrated that they could compete and win at all levels, and shortly after, “Baby” was retired to the works museum.

Located 90 degrees from this gem sat another Porsche jewel, the Porsche 918 RSR hybrid; 560 horsepower from its direct injection V8, supplemented by dual electric motors residing at each front wheel. With the inclusion of these two electric motors, and in conjunction with its KERS system (Kinetic Energy Recovery System / located in the space normally occupied by a passenger seat), Porsche is able to boost the horsepower up to 767. Hybrid technology for supercars, taken to a whole other dimension by Porsche.

Positioned another 90 degrees from the 918 RSR Hybrid was a one-off factory creation; the 1971 Porsche 16 – cylinder. The motor in this car was developed as a result of a rule change made by the FIA at the end of the 1972 racing season. The Sports Prototype series was to undergo a reduction in engine displacement, dropping from 5 liters to 3 liters, thus making Porsche’s previous 917, flat 12 -cylinder motor obsolete. Porsche’s solution was to develop 2 different motors in parallel; The first being the 16 -cylinder, which was designed to accommodate a range of displacement from 6.0 liters, all the way up to 7.2 liters. In the 7.2 liter configuration, this motor could produce 880 horsepower, making it the most powerful, normally aspirated engine ever produced by Porsche. However, it was the second motor under the parallel development program that rose to prominence. The 12- cylinder, 917K motor with turbocharging added, was now able to produce 950 horsepower. And by the conclusion of the 917/30 Can- Am program ( and running twin turbochargers), the motor was putting out 1200+ horsepower. And according to the vehicle biography on display, this is the sole remaining Porsche 16-cylinder motor.

In sharp contrast to these three, purpose-built race cars, were two examples of Porsche’s new production models for 2012, and making their US debut at Rennsport; the 911 Carrera and Carrera S (type 991).

Stay tuned for Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 2 coming shortly; more photos and less narrative.

(All photos by the author)

A passel of Porsches – Laguna Seca, August 1990

Posted on October 13, 2011 by digitaldtour

In anticipation of Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion 4 descending upon Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to look back at an amazing collection of Porsche race cars assembled at this very location back in 1990.

The following photos are a look back at a weekend in 1990, but perhaps will also offer up a preview of the cars in attendance at the upcoming Rennsport Reunion 4.

(All photos by the author)

Apple’s iPorsche of 1980

Posted on October 4, 2011 by digitaldtour

With all of the commotion over today’s release of Apple’s 4S iPhone, few people will remember one of their earlier contributions made to the world of Motorsports; the iPorsche 935. The following photos are evidence of this previous collaboration, as witnessed at Riverside Raceway in April of 1980.

And funny how an endurance race pace could suddenly change, and turn into an all out Sprint…

(All photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Category Archives: Porsche

Close encounters with a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsches at Petree Hall… The Los Angeles Auto Show 2011

“All good things got to come to an end”…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 7

Like a million little crossroads…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 5

Wide awake in dreamland…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 4

All this and heaven too… Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 3

Pressing my foot on the gas, I’m flying…Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 2

Reading the signs on the road, I write you…Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV

A passel of Porsches – Laguna Seca, August 1990

Apple’s iPorsche of 1980