Happy 4th of July to you and yours…
(Photo by the author)
Happy 4th of July…
6
If Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
If Imitation is in fact the sincerest form of flattery, Porsche would have been very pleased by one very unique car making its debut on Saturday morning, June 22.
By the time I arrived at my weekly car show, the vehicle in question was already parked along Porsche row, positioned next to another of the unique Porsches in attendance; its neighbor was the white with blood orange striped,1967 Porsche 911R tribute as shared previously on this blog. However, the car drawing the largest crowd was the silver roadster seen below…
I had received some inside information ahead of time, and knew the true identity and origins of this car. And thanks to a friend who had contributed to its build, I knew that this silver roadster had been built as a tribute to Porsches first car, the 1948 356-01.
This tribute / recreation was correct right down to its mid engined configured, healthy cc infused, 4 cylinder motor and transaxle as seen below…
Interior details, complete with its period correct Porsche “Banjo” style steering wheel…
This tribute / recreation even incorporated the correctly positioned cooling slots found on 356-01, located and aligned along the edges of the rear deck lid and engine cover.
The company responsible for this tribute / recreations debut that morning was Vintage Replicar, located in Vista, California, and the only firm that I know of producing a 356-01 recreation. Their website can be accessed using this link.
The fit and finish of this car, both inside and out was excellent, and anyone interested in driving a unique Porsche recreation, can be assured of owing a car that will stand out in a crowd for many years to come.
(Just for comparison, the following two photos were taken of Porsche 356-01, during my first visit to the Porsche factory back in July of 1977).
(All photos by the author)
It was only a matter of time…
Looking back over the past five years of my weekly participation in one of the local car shows, there have only been a handful of mornings that I can remember where one single car has generated the amount of interest, as the car seen below did the weekend of June 8th…
As this low slung hot rod made its way into the parking lot, ushered in by the rumble of its motor, it was greeted by a gathering crowd waiting for it to stop and park, in order to get a better look at this mysterious vehicle. As I approached, there was something familiar about this hot rod. And then it hit me… I had seen this very same vehicle featured in a video several weeks prior, along with an accompanying article written by its owner / builder; collectively they showcase the performance capabilities and describe the inspiration and influences behind this build, posted together on the website StanceWorks.
The foundation of this creation is based upon a 1928 Ford Model A pickup, but when it came to choosing a motor, the owner/ builder ignored the traditional selection process and instead took a european detour, incorporating a brand he was very familiar and successful working with; BMW, and picked one of their M60, 4.0 liter OHC V8’s, harvested from a 1995 BMW 740 donor car.
Walking around the pickup, there was evidence of other subtle BMW influences…
In addition to the motor, the next most visible, German automotive inspired detail were the unorthodox, highly modified 4″ X 17″ BBS / RS wheels as seen below, wrapped in a set of skinny, Excelsior Competition V tires.
And enveloping the entire car was a dusting of dried lake bed silt, still clinging to the pickup after its recent foray to El Mirage for its video shoot.
So rather than my attempting to summarize the owner / builders narrative, or sharing more photos from my own encounter, I would suggest checking out the video and build description as penned by the owner, in addition to the beautiful photography included with the narrative, via this link.
I hope you enjoy the back story and visual imagery as much as I did, and come away with an insight into a decidedly different approach to hot rodding; It was only a matter of time…
(All photos by the author)
The 2013 Boys Republic / Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle show, or how I survived 104 degree temperatures…
Saturday morning June 1 dawned cool and overcast as I prepared for my first time visit to the Boys Republic and the Friends of Steve McQueen Car & Motorcycle show for 2013. Half an hour later, I was entering the grounds of the Boys Republic property located in Chino Hills, California. Growing up in Southern California, my awareness of the Boys Republic had been due to my mom’s yearly purchase of one of their Della Robbia Christmas wreaths. What stuck with me all these years was the visual impact created by the inclusion of two bright red apples and one single lemon, contrasted against the green foliage of the wreath and the collected seed pods; a design element unique to the Della Robbia wreaths. To view the wreaths or to inquire about purchasing one in the Fall (with the proceeds going to the Boys Republic), please click here.
And now back to the primary purpose behind my trip to the Boys Republic; The Friends of Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle show. Many of my car friends have shared stories of their experiences at past Boys Republic / Steve McQueen events, so there was no way I was going to miss this years show.
After parking, I made my way over to the track and field area, where parked within the grassy infield area were two long rows of Porsches on display…
Parked further up and across the row from the 911s, was the first of the Porsche 356 models being displayed…
More of the long hood Porsche 911s being displayed, in this case a beautifully restored black 1973 911E and friends…
In addition to Steve McQueen’s appreciation for four-wheeled vehicles ( with a special passion for Porsche street and race cars), he was equally enamored with motorcycles. As a result, a large part of each years show is devoted to two-wheeled vehicles. The following photos represent a small sampling of the many motorcycles present this year, including a number of Husqvarna 400 models, in no small part due to Steve McQueen’s preference for this make.
An amazing 1969 BMW R60/2 motorcycle, equipped with its rare German, 1952 vintage Steib sidecar…
Another BMW motorcycle, but with a custom fabricated, hot rod influenced sidecar. This 1970s vintage BMW R60/1000 with side car, was modified and owned by Southern California pin stripe legend “Von Dutch” (aka Kenneth Howard).
Another of the rare motorcycles on display was this 1953 Vincent Black Shadow (below). According to its owner, this is a documented Korean war model, complete with black wheels (due to the limited availability of chrome plating during the war).
Located along the outside of the track, and situated beside their fellow vendors, was the display by Los Angeles based Kott Motorcycles, arranged beneath a brilliant blue canopy. Their creations are derived from Honda’s classic 1970s vintage CB series motorcycles. Each of the Kott motorcycles possess and convey a very clean, stripped down purpose built aesthetic. The craftsmanship, finish, material selection and attention to detail on each bike was amazing and obviously made an impression…
Another creation by Kott Motorcycles (as seen below); a daily driver named ” The Patina”. Upon closer inspection, it became obvious why the bike was given its name. A number of key components had been copper plated, and with normal wear and exposure, all have begun to develop a patina, similar to that found on a penny.
(Below) A trio of motorcycles originally owned by Steve McQueen; two Husqvarna 400s and the silver Honda Elsinore…
After checking out the motorcycles, I headed over to the baseball field and discovered a beautifully restored, vintage car transporter, loaded with classic cars (below), part of the Dunkel Brothers fleet…
As the morning progressed, the temperatures began heating up along with the activity throughout the property. At 11 AM, a WWII re-enactment began, which was themed to this years selected Steve McQueen film “The Great Escape”. In addition to a staged prison break, military tank interaction, simulated gun fire and a motorcycle jump, aerial realism was included in the form of a P-51D Mustang fighter plane circling and making passes overhead. Plus there’s nothing like the distinct roar of a soaring P-51 Mustang at speed, to get ones attention…
The outfield area of the baseball field served as an additional display area, which in this case was home to the Ford Mustangs, as well as multiple examples of the “Bullitt” model, along with a variety of classic Airstream trailers…
One of the biggest surprises of the show was finding this immaculate 1931 Ford 5 window coupe hidden behind the Mustang display…
My next stop was to the third and final display area, which was home to some other very cool cars… the first being the Red, 1970 Porsche 917 Salzburg re-creation seen below.
Another of the unique Porsches: in this case an orange, 1976 911 Turbo with IROC styled front bumper and massive, race derived rear whale tail spoiler.
The final Porsche race car being displayed was this impressive turquoise blue, 1988 Porsche Kremer 962C “Leyton House” sponsored coupe.
The 1988 Porsche Kremer “Leyton House” 962C showing off its highly evolved, low drag profile…
Parked across the grassy field and behind the Porsche 962C, was this spotless, dark British Racing Green 1961 Cooper T-56 race car, originally owned and raced by Steve McQueen.
Another very rare and seldom seen vehicle in the U.S, was this freshly restored 1956 DKW Schnellaster Kastenwagen. In talking with the owner, I learned that this is the only restored DKW Schnellaster model in the United States , and this very event marked the DKW’s car show debut.
A look beneath the DKW’s hood, revealing a restored, three cylinder, 2 stroke water-cooled motor, and a display of some very creative thinking regarding the vehicles headlight and city light placement.
One of only two Italian cars on display, and the sole Alfa Romeo; This beautifully restored, red 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV – AM race car…
and what Italian race car would be complete without the installation of a L’ROMANELLA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, engine oil / breather catch tank as shown below.
Representing the classic touring cars of the 1930s, was this stunning, black 1934 Packard Super 8 Dual Cowl Phaeton.
It’s always very cool to see an owner of a flawless, museum quality car share it with the public at this type of event. With each new show that I attend, I see and learn something new, and this stunning Packard gave me a whole new appreciation for the 1930s classics. As the photos reflect (no pun intended), everything about this car was spectacular. This Packard had by far the best black paint finish and chrome plated components I’ve seen, and at the end of the day, the owner and his wife were presented with a trophy for winning their class.
The two trophy tables ready and awaiting the awards ceremony. Each of the trophies were hand-made by the students at Boys Republic, and incorporated the appropriate parts or components based upon the specific award, which varied from either car, motorcycle or items related to this years featured film, “The Great Escape”.
Prior to the trophies being awarded, it was revealed that next years show will be themed to Steve McQueen’s film “The Thomas Crown Affair”, to be held on June 7, 2014 (the first Saturday in June), hopefully under cooler weather conditions than those experienced this year.
As I made my way back to my car and opened the door, I was greeted by a blast furnace wave of heat exiting the interior. While I waited for the air conditioning to begin cooling, I noticed my ambient air temperature gauge reading 104. I had survived the heat, and as I cooled off, I reflected on a great first time experience at the 2013 Boys Republic / Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle show. I would highly recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of Steve McQueen’s work, or has an interest in cars or motorcycles. I know I will be back for next years show…
(All photos by the author)
A glimpse into the RGruppe 2013 Solvang Treffen, and my chance meeting with a designer of Porsche’s 918 Spyder…
I was fortunate to once again have several members of the Southern California chapter of the RGruppe club tell me of their upcoming Solvang Treffen, scheduled for May 16-19. Consistent with previous Treffen, the first day is set aside as a track day out at Willow Springs Raceway, for those owners who enjoy competing in club racing and time trial events. This track focused group usually arrives at the event venue on Friday, while the balance of the group enjoys day tripping through the hills and back roads of Solvang and destinations North and South. This year, a number of the participants headed North to Morro Bay on Saturday morning, to check out a car show celebrating the Porsche 356.
What is normally a 3+ hour trip from my home to Solvang, on this particular Saturday took 4 1/2 hours, in part due to an inordinate amount of traffic. It turned out that the delay was in part caused by the Oxnard Strawberry Festival, which was taking place this very same weekend. Fortunately, once past Oxnard, the traffic was clear all the way up to Buelton, and the Marriott hotel which was again home for this years Treffen. As we pulled around the back and into the rear parking lot, we were greeted by the colorful collection of Porsches gathered for this years event.
And now the fun could begin; getting the opportunity to walk through a parking lot filled with nothing but RGruppe prepared Porsches, being able to photograph these amazing cars, visit with their owners and listen to the stories behind each car.
My first in – depth subject of the afternoon was this stunning 1972 Porsche – Kremer 911S re-creation, in Viper green with bold yellow and red graphics. This re-creation was based upon the actual Porsche – Kremer 911S race car built, campaigned and co driven by Erwin Kremer, with his lead driver John Fitzpatrick. This team and their 911S went on to win the 1972 European Grand Touring Car Championship; John Fitzpatrick was also successful in winning the Porsche Cup in 1972, with Erwin Kremer collecting 13th place.
The interior, complete with its vintage Prototipo steering wheel and commemorative 911ST re-creation dash plaque, signed by John Fitzpatrick…
and out back, the twin plug, hi-butterfly fuel injected boxer six motor, with its unpainted, period correct fiberglass shrouding.
Parked nearby were several more highly modified Porsche 911s, having taken a cue from Porsche’s 911 ST rally cars; each car was equipped with some serious supplemental lighting, in the form of fog and driving light sets…
Even this cars headlights below received modification; in this case the installation of a set of French, amber hued lights.
This years event once again attracted members and their cars from as far away as Europe, as witnessed by the Mexico Blue, Porsche 993 Carrera RS Clubsport model seen below…
and the Viper Green 911 Carrera RS, with its rear grill and badge (as seen below on its ducktail spoiler), representing Mexico.
A beautifully detailed 1972 911ST re-creation in Signal Yellow, as featured in the February 2013 issue of Porsche Panorama.
The equally impressive front trunk compartment, detailed and finished to the same level as the rest of the car.
The power plant for this re-creation received a substantial bump in displacement over the traditional 2.5 liter motors that were normally installed into 1972 911ST’s. This particular motor was built to 3.2 liter specifications, which included a twin-plug ignition and 1972 Bosch mechanical fuel injection system. Breathing is accomplished through a modified Porsche 911 air cleaner as seen below.
And over on the opposite side of the parking lot, even more colorful Porsches to enjoy…
A unique set of Porsche 908 – inspired air cleaners, installed onto this Weber carbureted, twin plug motor…
Making a return visit to its second Treffen, was this very cool Fly Yellow 1967 Porsche 911R re-creation. The car had been highlighted in Excellence magazine back in December 2012, as one of its featured articles, wonderfully written by Randy Wells…
and its shiny, reflective neighbor… a black 911ST.
Another rare sight; a Porsche 964 RS America, equipped for competition…
And yet another row of beautifully prepared Porsches. The green metallic 911 Targa with dual stripes and RGruppe club logo seen below, is owned by a member from Arizona.
Tucked in among this row of Porsches, was a classic example of an RGruppe hot rod; this particular white, 1972 911 below is owned by photographer, author and RGruppe member Randy Wells…
Caught in the act… a quick detail / wipe down by Dave Eck on his beautiful Signal Red 1966 Porsche 911, upon his return from the Morro Bay Porsche 356 car show held that morning.
Just as Dave was nearing completion of his detailing efforts, another of his friends came over to check on his progress. As he was nearing completion, Dave turned around and motioned for me to come over to where he was standing. I was then introduced to his friend Thorsten Klein, who it turns out is the Lead Interior designer for Porsche, and responsible for the interior design of the soon to be manufactured Porsche 918 Spyder! I was in shock, and how amazing an opportunity!
Our conversation of course was focused on Porsches, and ranged from the 918 concept that had been displayed at Rennsport Reunion IV, to Thorsten’s passion for early Porsche 911’s, his ownership of a modified 1973 911, and most recently, his design challenge of creating the exterior graphic schemes for each of the 918 Spyder prototypes. Experiencing firsthand his enthusiasm and passion for his job and the Porsche brand, it’s obvious that Porsches design future is in very capable hands.
With Dave’s cleaning now completed, his 911 was once again spotless and ready for its next road trip…
Another friends car (Chuck Miller’s beautiful blue 1973 911S), upon his return from the day’s road trip and Thursday’s Willow Springs track day.
Hey, where did everyone go? It must be time for Saturday evenings Treffen barbecue…
I would once again like to thank the members of the RGruppe for allowing me access to this years Solvang Treffen, to photograph their cars, and share my experiences with their club and the Porsche community via my blog.
(All photos by the author)
Hidden in plain view: the small details overlooked…
Lately, I’ve found myself taking a slightly different approach in photographing the multitude of vehicles present at each weeks Cars&Coffee / Irvine event. With the clear, sunny springtime weather, there has been an abundance of interesting lighting conditions to work with, as well as some amazing, highly polished, curvaceous and reflective vehicle surfaces to study. I’m frequently stopped by vehicle owners or passerbys and asked “what are you looking at” or “what are you shooting”? When I show them my captured imagery, the common response is “how did you see that” or” I’ve never would have noticed that”. My response is that it’s just a function of how we look at objects in general, and that when you slow down and take your time to really study an object, the end result can often be very surprising and rewarding.
And now with summer rapidly approaching, there have been a number of winter automotive projects finally seeing the light of day, making their debut under warm, sunny skies.
So with the sun on the rise, I headed off in search of a new batch of photographic subjects. As I walked down Porsche row, the lighting across the hood of a 1967 911R tribute caught my eye. The combination of the highlights and shadows not only defined the shape and detail lines of the hood, but added further interest in the form of the shadow cast by the centrally located fuel filler cap, with its blood orange stripe providing just the right amount of accent color…
Even shooting a close – up of the amber-colored euro lens covering the Cibie biode headlight internals, revealed an unexpected surprise; the captured reflection of the owner and a fellow Porsche 911 owner discussing the merits of these new headlights.
The early morning light also created the perfect accent across the rear decklid, highlighting its stripe and 911R graphic, and offering a glimpse of the custom fiberglass intakes and water shields residing behind the grill…
One of my mornings reflective studies, using a black 2013 Porsche type 991, 911 Carrera S coupe as the subject, showcasing the latest in headlight technology and the by-product of a flawless paint finish.
Another graphic display of how shadow, light and foliage effects, when combined can visually enhance the profile and contours as those found on an early 70’s Porsche 911 front hood and fenders (as seen below).
Porsche 914-6 GT reflection captured in the front fender of a black Porsche 993 coupe…
A beautifully restored, vintage Chrysler Town & Country convertible, complete with wood cladding on its sides and trunk area as shown. Even the woodwork was finished and polished to a high level matching that of the paint job.
And looking closer, these reflective properties were carried over to the vehicles rear fender, which offered up a clue to its surroundings.
Up front was another surprise, hiding beneath the opened hood; an immaculate Dodge Viper V-10 motor, transplanted into the engine bay and appearing as if it had been original to this model, as delivered by Chrysler.
Over in the main parking area, I discovered another example of a beautifully restored engine compartment and motor, as found on this 1970’s vintage Chevrolet Camaro…
and a close – up shot, revealing some very cool reflections captured in the chrome valve cover and breather.
Nothing screams hot rod like highly polished chrome injectors and brightly colored accents, in this case the go fast accessories found within the engine compartment on this black 1962 Corvette (below).
A Mercedes – Benz Sedan and a side mirror with a secret…
A pristine chrome grill and hood emblem, as observed on a beautifully restored,1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL coupe…
including some equally impressive grill and trim reflections.
And a full shot of the beautifully restored 280SL, the source of hidden detail.
(Below), amazing detail awaiting discovery in this contemporary version of the Bentley hood ornament…
Rear window reflections, when viewed from the proper angle…
Reflecting on several early Porsche 911s…
and an upside reflection, as seen in the hood of a 1987 black Porsche 930 turbo.
A 1930’s vintage Ford Tudor coupe, capturing its surroundings, via its headlight, paint finish…
and its classic, chrome plated Ford radiator /grill surround.
The latest iteration of Jaguar badging…
as displayed on the back of this brand new, dark green metallic 2014 Jaguar F-type V8 S Roadster.
A trio of the brand new 2014 F-Type models on display, courtesy of Jaguar.
So the next time you find yourself looking at a car, take an extra moment to stop and look a little closer, as you may be surprised by the hidden details previously overlooked, but now revealed…
(All photos by the author)
Atlas staged, plus a colorful collection of eclectic cars…
Webster’s Dictionary defines the word eclectic as “selecting what appears to be the best in various doctrines, methods or styles”: “composed of elements drawn from various sources”. Both of these definitions were equally appropriate in describing the vehicles that turned out for the Saturday April 27th gathering of Cars & Coffee / Irvine.
On this particular morning, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company, participants were greeted by a concept vehicle on display, staged over in the featured lot. However, instead of a car, the vehicle in question was a concept truck. In this case, a silver Ford “Atlas Concept” crew cab pick up, with an abundance of custom features, including active wheel shutters (shown in their closed position), as visible on the driver’s side wheels…
Wheel shutters in their open position, as seen on the passenger side wheels (below).
Parked over at the opposite end of the featured lot, the Mercedes-Benz Classics Center was showing several rare, beautifully restored, vintage treasures from their museum…
I overheard (while shooting the red model below), that this particular vehicle is a one of one; the only example of this vintage beauty in existence.
Parked just to the right of these two Mercedes, was one very cool and beautifully restored two toned DKW (Auto Union) Schnellaster panel van (aka DKW F89 L), produced from 1949 to 1962 as seen below. These vehicles were initially powered by a 700 cc, two-cylinder, two-stroke motor. Then in 1955, the Schnellaster received an upgrade to three cylinders, increasing the displacement up to 900 cc, good for 32 horsepower!
Who copied who? This two toned color palette appeared very similar to color schemes observed on several early 1950’s Volkswagen Type II transporters.
Over on Porsche row, it was one of those rare mornings that saw 100% occupancy by Porsche models only. And due to the clear, sunny springtime weather, a truly colorful collection of eclectic Porsches turned out in force…
Situated just opposite of Porsche row, was this spectacular 1970s vintage Datsun 510…
with an equally impressive turbocharged motor lurking under the hood, ready to shame any unsuspecting rival.
As I continued on my trek through the parking lot, I came across several other Porsches that obviously arrived too late to park along Porsche row…
And just two rows over was a collection of Dodge Vipers, three in the blue with white stripe combination. A closer look revealed the center blue viper as one of the brand new 2013 SRT models.
Representing Ford’s endurance racing efforts from the 1960’s, were these two Ford GT 40 tributes…
Also encountered and scattered throughout the parking lot, were several beautiful examples representing another of the German marques, in this case BMW…
Representing the Italian manufacturers was a line up of jellybean colored Lamborghini, parked together out on the very back row.
So with summer just around the corner, one can only speculate regarding the possibility of a Stingray sighting, or when the next Saturday mornings colorful collection of eclectic cars will occur…
(All photos by the author)
California Festival of Speed 2013, Part 2; Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts…
Having spent the better part of the morning pouring over and photographing all of the participants and activities associated to the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, it was time for me to pursue another of my photographic passions; the purpose-built Porsche race cars of the Club racing program.
So as I made my way towards Garage 3, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a car up to that time that I had only seen in photos, but never in person until earlier that morning at check-in. Now I was face to face with the car, and ironically it was parked immediately across from the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the 911 display. The car in question belonged to none other than Magnus Walker, a high-profile member of the Southern California Porsche community, recognized collector of early 911s and creator of the Urban Outlaw brand. Now in front of me was the latest project come to life; his 1972 Porsche 911STR #002.
Magnus’s signature cross drilled and re-chromed door handles..
The spartan, 911ST inspired interior, enhanced by a vintage Racemark steering wheel…
The very cool, gold satin finished Group 4 PAG 15 wheels mounted up front -15″ x 8″ rims on Hoosier tires (as seen below)…
and out back – 15″ X 10″ Group 4 PAG 15 wheels, also on Hoosier rubber.
from the back, even more visible examples of Magnus Walker’s signature details; the Porsche side stripes, louvered rear deck lid, and the custom profiled fender flares (front and rear), complete with integrated 911R inspired tail lights…
The race inspired Porsche graphics installed on the louvered rear decklid, sourced from graphic designer, photographer, Porsche owner and blogger Bob Tilton of werkcrew.com.
Now it was time to visit Garage 3 to see what photographic opportunities awaited…
As I rounded the corner, I caught this silver Porsche GT3 below just as it was pulling back into the Garage area, and in time to watch one of the crew approach with one of the specially designed torque wrenches, specially created for tightening center lock hubs. What I found surprising was the amount of re-tightening that each wheel required. And as the morning wore on, this was a scene I saw repeated by the majority of teams running Porsche GT3 Cup cars. And if I recall, the center lock hubs need to be torqued to approximately 340 foot pounds, thus its overall size in order to generate sufficient leverage, and achieve the required torque setting.
The return and latest iteration of the DiscounTechnology Porsche GT3 Cup car below, which made a similar appearance at last years event…
And parked to its immediate left, was this pair of orange 2007 Porsche GT3 RS…
Keeping with the Porsche theme for the weekend, was this beautifully restored Porsche Junior Diesel tractor and trailer, parked outside of the 911 Design hospitality tent (which was located between Garage 3 and 2), which I had watched navigate throughout the parking lot.
Another beauty parked outside of the 911 design tent; a white 911 GT3RS…
And parked immediately to its left, was the centerpiece of the 911 design display: their Porsche 996 GT2 RSR. This is the same car that was featured on the cover of Excellence magazines May 2013 issue, and which was the subject of one of several featured articles.
A truly unique, highly modified custom one of a kind 996 GT2 from any angle…
As I continued through the parking lot, I came across a familiar looking GT3RS 4.0. and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be series # 239, making an encore appearance at this years event. I first encountered this very same car during last years event, and quickly added it to my growing list of GT3 RS4.0 sightings…
My next stop would be Garage 2… Once inside even more Porsche GT3 Cup cars to experience…
Venturing to the north end of the garage, I came across a bevy of GT3 Cup cars from the folks at TruSpeed…
Below, the tails of TruSpeed…
And for couple of little kids, there was even the opportunity for a thrill ride through the parking lot, courtesy of Continental tire (as seen below)…
My next destination would be to the east end of the covered seating area overlooking pit row. This additional elevation affords a great view of the cars flying by on the banking, as they approach turn one…
With the queuing up of the GT class cars in the grid area (below), this signaled the completion of the current on track session, and preparation for the next event…
The first lap formation at speed, accelerating from the start / finish line…
At the completion of the cup car event, and as I prepared to wrap up my shooting for the day, I came across this red 991 pictured below, which turned out to be the track escort for the weekends racing events.
So if this years event, and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Porsche 911 utilized a 2013 991 Carrera S as the lead, escort car, what do you suppose the lead car for next year event will be? Perhaps one of the new 991 GT3’s, since 2014 will witness the return of a Porsche LMP-1 race car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans? I guess we’ll just have to wait until next year to find out…
(All photos by the author)
California Festival of Speed 2013; A 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts…
This years California Festival of Speed, held at the Autoclub Speedway in Fontana California, during the weekend of April 5 – 7, was once again advertised as the “Biggest Porsche Event in the Southwest”. Based upon my observations and the comments I overheard, this years event more than lived up to the claim. In addition to the regular activities listed for the weekend (Swap meet, Concours, Zone 8 Club Racing and Autocross, and Vendor row), Saturday had been selected for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911 event. Given the sheer number of people crowded around the 50th anniversary display, this focused event would prove to be a huge success (see photo below).
But even before entering the track’s infield area, there were plenty of Porsches to be found within the Porsche Corral (i.e. Porsche only parking lot). This area became its own mini car show, with a diverse cross-section of model years and body styles represented. I later came to find out that the trio of early model Porsche 911’s that I was parked next to, belonged to three generations all from one family; the grandfather and his white 1967 911S, his sons silver 1972 911S, and his grandson’s orange 911T.
Even more impressive was the fact that the grandson had just learned to drive a manual transmission vehicle three days earlier, behind the wheel of the very same orange Porsche 911 T that he drove to the show. Three generations all with a passion for Porsche, and just one of many examples reflective of the success of the Porsche brand.
Word had gone out to the Porsche community back in February, that the Porsche Club of America was looking for owners (from within the Zone 8, PCA regions), with Porsche 911s representing model years 1964 through 2013, to participate in a 50th anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, to be held at the California Festival of Speed weekend in early April. Owners were requested to submit information about their car and also include a photo for review. Given the sheer number of Porsches that reside within Southern California, this challenge was quickly met, and on the morning of the event, every production year was represented. PCA had located models from the earliest example represented (an ultra-rare 1964 Porsche 901), to the present day model, a 2013 Porsche Type 991 911 Carrera S. The display was arranged by model year, beginning with the earliest model, starting at the left end of the row and then moving chronologically to the right. Each vehicle was also displayed with a printed biography, mounted behind each car on the chain link fence, and which served as the backdrop for the entire display.
For those unable to attend the event, the following photos represent each of the participants from the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911; every car has been documented by a front view shot and is then followed by a close up photograph of its biography…
Several overview shots of the collective “50th anniversary of the Porsche 911” lineup below…
Around 11:30 AM, all of the participants and their cars were gathered up for a group photo, to be taken out on the race track at the start / finish line; queued up on pit lane, ready to head out onto the track (as seen below).
Once all of the cars had gathered on pit lane, they were then released out onto the track to begin their staging for the group shot (see below).
The early 911s beginning to be staged on the track at the start / finish line (below)…
Heading to the start / finish line to be staged for the group photo…
The first row of the early 911s being moved into position…
Cars and owners lined up and ready for their close-ups…
Fourth row of assembled Porsche 911s from the group photo (below).
Back row from the group photo…
With all of the cars aligned and the owners positioned outside of their cars, a series of photos were taken, and upon completion, the vehicles were quickly reorganized and then sent off to enjoy several parade laps around the race track.
Please stay tuned for my continued coverage from the California Festival of Speed / Part 2; featuring Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts.
(All photos by the author)
Under the influence…
What type of cars influence your automotive tastes? What current design or styling trends have made an impact on you recently? Do you prefer the classics over contemporary models? Regardless of your favorite make or model, design influences can be found everywhere, even in non automotive fields. Automotive designers have long been known to seek inspiration from the worlds of high fashion, jewelry, print. textile, sculpture, sports, military, aeronautical and Motorsports. And there is always the ability to draw inspiration from a manufacturers own design history and their brands genetic DNA.
A current trend making the rounds within the Porsche community is a renewed appreciation for the classics; be it the early 911’s (1964-1973)…
or a 1967 911R tribute…
or a celebration of Porsche’s 911ST models…
These latest trends have now overshadowed the previous craze of 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS recreations. And how appropriate that these newest trends are surfacing in 2013, a year in which Porsche celebrates their 50th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 911.
The focus and theme for this post came to me after a recent review of my slide archives, especially after coming across several images of an orange, 1967 Porsche 911 that I shot way back in May of 1974 at the Ontario Motor Speedway, two years after buying my very first Porsche 911 (a 1966 coupe).
This particular orange 911 ended up making a huge impression on me back in 1974, in part because of my growing interest in Porsche race cars (in particular the 1967 911R and the new for 1973 & 1974, Porsche 911RSR).
The modifications made to this car really spoke to me; from its Carrera RS front spoiler, to the full race, fiberglass whale tail out back, its lowered stance and the mini-lite racing wheels wrapped in Goodyear racing rubber. And with the removal of the bumper and rocker deco trim, it conveyed the purpose-built simplicity of a 911R. Ironically, several of these styling cues would find their way onto my 1966 911 over the next several years. It began with the addition of a 911S fiberglass front spoiler, and continued with the removal of the front, side and rear bumper deco trim, and in regards to my wheels, I decided to polish out my set of 4 -1/2″ X 15″ Fuchs 5 spoke alloy wheels, and concluded with the lowering of the suspension and adding a set of Koni shocks (see below)…
Which brings me back to the subject of influences. With this weekends upcoming “California Festival of Speed” event to be held at the AutoClub Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 5, 6, 7), this is the perfect venue for being exposed to and learning about all thing Porsche, as well as witnessing firsthand some of the coolest trends being cultivated within the Southern California Porsche community. And with the 50th anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911 event being held on Saturday (April 6), what better way to view firsthand, examples of every production 911 model, culminating with the current 2013 type 991, 911 Carrera model. And who knows, you may even find yourself leaving the show under the influence…
(All photos by the author)
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