The elusive white Porsche GT3 RS4.0 finally captured, and more…

Posted on January 17, 2012 by digitaldtour

Well, it finally happened Saturday morning. I finally came face to face with the elusive white Porsche GT3 RS4.0 that I have been chasing since December. But first, the events that led up to my Saturday morning encounter…

The first part of my morning was spent making my way up and down Porsche row and visiting with friends (“the Porsche faithful”, aka members of the RGruppe). Project cars were on display, with discussions of ongoing restorations and techniques used, and with hoods, doors and deck lids opened to showcase the recent work. A prime example of this process was represented by the beautiful silver,1973 Porsche 911S seen below…

This particular car is a European model, having been delivered by the French dealership Sonauto. This association was commemorated by the small metal badge affixed to the lower edge of the rear deck lid.

And tucked in beneath the rear deck lid was a beautifully restored, 2.7 liter Carrera RS motor. This was the motors first showing, since the completion of its cosmetic restoration as undertaken by the owner, with a re-sealing of the motor performed by ex IMSA racer Wayne Baker out of San Diego, California. This motor was spotless, and looked like it had just rolled off of the assembly bench in Stuttgart, circa 1973.

Up front the same attention to detail was carried through to the assembly of the european spec (French) amber headlights and fog lights. The headlights had been restored using a combination of period and backdated parts; rings, buckets and clips, and highlighted by the rare Cibie Biode headlights, but in this case the proper amber-colored (French) units.

The front trunk lid was then opened to reveal its contents; a new, plastic molded fuel tank, visually perfect and Porsche correct, but re-manufactured using present day technologies, which included a date stamped of 2011, and serves as a direct, bolt- in replacement for the original 39-year-old fuel tank. And as the photo illustrates, the finish and detail found within the trunk, was equal to the attention paid the rest of the car.

And parked one spot over to drivers left, was this equally impressive Polo red 1966 911, showcasing a beautifully restored 2.0 liter motor…

And parked to the left of the 1966 911, was this beautifully restored Tangerine colored Porsche 914-6; yet another car that appeared to have just rolled off the assembly line in Germany…

After completing my journey down Porsche row, it was time to check out the remaining cars on site. My next stop would be the parking area immediately to the right of the main entrance. And on this Saturday morning, said lot had a very decidedly British flavor. Tucked back into opposing corners of the lot was a collection of Triumph sports cars, and aligned right next to the Triumphs, was an equally impressive collection of Austin Healey roadsters.

And believe it or not, classics wrapped in domestic sheet metal also attend the show each week. Below is an example of an all american made classic; a 1946 Ford woody wagon…

And over in another section of the parking lot was this classic, two – toned Buick “Caballero” station wagon…

And tucked in by the entry to this portion of parking lot, was this very cool, red 289 F.I. A. spec’d Shelby Cobra…

After completing a thorough review of the Cobra, I headed out toward the center of the lot to see what other surprise awaited, and I was not disappointed. Parked next to a lime green Lamborghini Gallardo, was this Carbon black on red McLaren MP4-12C, once again brought out to the show by Newport Beach McLaren. This is the first Carbon black MP4-12C that I have seen, and this color really compliments the contours and body lines.

Another subtle detail was the inclusion of the “Stealth ” finished wheels, which were in turn set off by the visual “pop” of the bright red calipers…

…which in turn was carried over into the black interior and integrated as red leather sport seats with black inserts, and the red dash and door accent trim.

Parked several rows beyond the McLaren, was another black beauty; in this case a beautiful black on red, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster, wearing its optional hardtop…

And two spaces down from the 300SL, was this equally impressive black on tan Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster…

As I made my way through the several remaining rows yet unexplored, and just as I rounded the end of the previous row, I spotted a white Porsche 997 parked half way up on the left side, sandwiched between two cars. As I approached, the car to the left pulled out, revealing GT3 RS4.0 graphics on the side of the white Porsche. Could this be the RS 4.0 that I had seen back in December? It had the optional silver wheels which I remembered seeing, but the proof would be its license plate. Sure enough, the California license plate on the back confirmed to me that I had finally caught up with my elusive GT3 RS4.0.

As I waited to speak with the owner, I stepped back to admire the RS 4.0, and add some more photographs to my GT3 RS 4.0 collection…

Once the owner had finished his conversation, I approached and introduced myself, and shared with him my interest in the Porsche GT3 RS4.0 model. I told him of seeing my first RS 4.0 on display at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, and about my success in having spotted four other GT3 RS 4.0’s since Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV held back in October. Seeing his car today would now bring my grand total up to five cars. I also shared how amazing it has been for me to have personally seen this many, given their very limited production (only 600 worldwide). Obviously, my next question was to ask if he could share with me the series number of his car. The owner was gracious enough to reveal that his car is # 270.

After our conversation, two gentlemen standing nearby approached, obviously friends of the owner, to discuss some work planned for his RS4.0. The two men turned out to be the owners of the performance tuning company “GMG” / Global Motorsports Group (James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba), based in nearby Santa Ana, California. My interests in the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 were once again shared with them, and as a result I learned that there may be several additional RS 4.0 models residing right here in Orange County.

Now all I have to do is hope they find their way to Cars&Coffee…

(All photos by the author)

A unique automotive offspring, a Goggomobile, car badging, Porsches and more…

Posted on January 11, 2012 by digitaldtour

What would you call the offspring of a Ford Mustang fastback and a Lamborghini Gallardo? A Forghini, or maybe Lambostang? The answer is neither one, as the badging on said offspring at Cars&Coffee on Saturday morning read “Tractorri”.

Visually, the car appeared to be a lowered, customized Ford Mustang fastback, however upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the low profile wheels, tires and running gear had been sourced from a Lamborghini Gallardo. And looking beneath the opened rear hatch revealed another surprise; the heart and soul of a Lamborghini Gallardo – a mid – chassis mounted, Lamborghini V-10 power plant. And keeping in character, positioned along the rear flanks, and located just behind each door, were truly functional air intakes.

And located out back, a set of Lamborghini Gallardo tail lights and a vertical, rear mesh grill had both been seamlessly integrated into the Lamborghini contoured rear fenders and bumper.

Inside, the cockpit was a lift right out of a Gallardo, correct right down to its black leather dash, door panels and seats, all with the contrasting stitching.

With the front hood opened, yet another surprise was revealed…a relatively empty front “engine” compartment, with the exception of the strut bar, cockpit ventilation / blower assembly, anti-lock brake system and a painted and striped sheet metal shroud (all located where the Mustang power plant and radiator would normally reside).

For the rest of the morning, this car was surrounded by a crowd that was at least 3-4 people deep, which made getting additional photos of the car difficult. (These photos of the Tractorri were taken at 6:30 AM while still under the cover of darkness, and before the arrival of the crowds).

Talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And what about that name…

Was this perhaps an obscure reference made by the builder of this car, as a tribute to Ferruccio Lamborghini’s business interests prior to the building his automotive empire?

(For those of you unfamiliar with Lamborghini history, Ferruccio Lamborghini was the premier manufacturer of tractors in all of Italy, prior to his start as a manufacturer of exotic sports cars).

The Porsche community was once again represented by a diverse cross-section of models, color and vintage…

My next stop was to check out the British imports assembled. I started by checking out this nice black on black Triumph TR3, identical to the one my dad owned when I was 5 years old.

I then came across a trio of Austin Healey roadsters, each one a different model representing the 3000 series. From left to right, a red, 3000 Mark II series, in the middle, a green 3000 Mark III series, and on the right, a red 3000 from the original series.

A few row over from the Healeys, was this stately Jaguar sedan…

And another couple of rows over was this amazing Rolls Royce…

Another interesting aspect of this show for me is the ability to focus in on just details, whether it be unique wheels, hood ornaments, badging or reflections…

Out towards the back rows of the parking lot, I came across this pair of McLaren MP4-12C’s. The “McLaren Silver” MP4-12C model below is the first example I have seen with the “Stealth” finished wheels…

This Volcano Orange MP4-12C is apparently a demo model from the local McLaren dealership located in Newport Beach, and has become a frequent visitor to the show.

As the parking lot began to thin out, a tiny red and white car was revealed. The badging identified it as a 1958 TS 400 Goggomobile; a rear engined, rear wheel drive “Micro car” complete with suicide doors…

The rumor was that the car was powered by hamsters, as evidenced by the little guy caught resting and still in his wheel, tucked in behind the driver’s seat…

However, in reality the car is powered by a 400 cc, 2 cylinder motor, good for a whopping 20 horsepower.

Another facet of this event is the opportunity to observe and attempt to decipher a multitude of personalized license plates attached to a broad range of vehicles. Some can be very challenging, whereas others are pretty basic. They also appear to reflect the passion found throughout the Southern California car culture. The following are just a few recent observations…

(All photos by the author)

London fog, Jaguars, the Porsche faithful, the fraternal GT3 RS4.0 twins and more…

Posted on January 4, 2012 by digitaldtour

A fog, like something out of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, descended on the Orange County, California coastline last Saturday morning, and stretched inland well past the 5 freeway. As I made my way south down said freeway, I began hitting patches of very heavy fog with severely reduced visibility, and then a few miles further south, clear sections with no fog at all. Unfortunately, the closer I got to Irvine, the heavier and wetter the fog became. By the time I arrived at Cars&Coffee, my car was cloaked in condensation.

After parking, and while visiting with several friends, I noticed a white Porsche GT3 RS as its headlights pierced the fog drifting through the lot, on its search for a place to park. As it approached, I realized it was actually a GT3 RS4.0, and perhaps the one I had been chasing over the past several weeks to photograph. However as it passed, I noticed it was missing the rear license plate, which meant that this was not the car I had seen previously, since the other wore a California plate. This Porsche would be my first photographic subject of the morning, but not until I made my way to the catering table to get some hot chocolate and a doughnut, in an attempt to thaw out from the cold and damp. However, on my way back to my car to collect my camera gear, I stopped to check out the white GT3RS 4.0. While I circled the Porsche, and worked on finishing my doughnut and hot drink, I began to notice a few subtle changes made to the car.

Viewed from behind, one not so subtle change was the inclusion of a white roll cage, adorned with an RSS graphic. As several others stopped to question and comment on the origins of this roll cage (was it factory or aftermarket, and how much larger was the tubing diameter over a factory cage?), a gentleman approached and confirmed that it was in fact a larger diameter, aftermarket cage, supplied by the firm RSS. It turned out that he was in fact the owner, and after we began talking, was kind enough to share some of the details regarding the modifications made to his car.

Starting at the back, I learned that the rear wing struts had been powder coated black, and that the exhaust had been upgraded with the addition of an RSS X -pipe.

In regards to the running gear, the suspension components had been upgraded and the suspension lowered (below an already low stock ride height). The centerlock wheels were now in black, and the rotors and hats had been swapped out to compliment the Porsche Big Red calipers, instead of running the standard issue, yellow Porsche PCCB brake calipers and rotor sets. The interior had also been altered, with the removal of the stock Porsche sport seats (with the red Alcantara inserts), replaced by a set of all black Recaro race seats, each equipped with its own set of competition belts.

I happened to mention to the owner that his car was the fourth GT3 RS4.0 that I have been lucky enough to see in person, and that my first sighting was at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV in Monterey back in October. Much to my surprise, this owner knew who the other owner of the RS4.0 from Rennsport Reunion IV was by name. Out of curiosity, I asked the owner what number his car was out of the 600 produced; turns out his GT3RS 4.0 is number 257.

I have now been fortunate enough to have photographed 4 out of the 600 produced. I thanked the owner for sharing the details of his car with me, and then I was off to check out the remaining cars at the show.

Now located just two cars in front of the Porsche, was this stealthy, Black on Black Callaway Z06 Corvette.

Both the hood and rear deck were opened, revealing the contents. Out back, was a custom roll cage complete with chassis bracing, and finished in a dark charcoal gray.

However, up front was an even bigger surprise; mounted on top of the Z06 motor was a shiny silver supercharger, framed on each side by a set of Callaway carbon fiber coil pack covers.

And perched on top of the hood, was a louvered, carbon fiber cowl induction insert…

Now it was time to check out the Porsche faithful, lined up along the first two rows…

( I asked the owner about the significance of the red bow; it turns out that it was the cars 1 year anniversary since being debuted here at Cars&Coffee, upon the completion of its restoration).

Located over in the parking lot, just across from Porsche row, were these two amazing British racing green Jaguars; one an E- type 4.2 liter and the other an XK roadster…

After shooting the two Jaguars, I noticed a white Porsche parked at the opposite end of the row. As I approached, it appeared to be a GT3RS, however as I got closer I saw the telltale stripes of a RS4.0. I could hardly believe it, two out of 600 worldwide, and both in the same parking lot at the same time. However, this car in addition to being brand new, was also completely stock, so only a fraternal twin to the other GT3 RS4.0.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find its owner, to inquire about this cars series number out of the 600 produced. Maybe next week…

The rest of my morning was spent walking the parking lot in search of the next hidden automotive treasure. The following photos represent just a few of the other jewels found scattered throughout the lot…

(All photos by the author)

Looking Back on 2011, Cars&Coffee style, Part 2…

Posted on December 31, 2011 by digitaldtour

Here’s a few more shots, reflecting back on the remainder of the Cars&Coffee events held during 2011…

Wishing you all a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year…

(All photos by the author)

Looking back on 2011, Cars&Coffee style…

Posted on December 27, 2011 by digitaldtour

With the year rapidly winding down, I felt this would be a good time to reflect on 2011 and a few of the vehicles found Saturday mornings at Cars&Coffee / Irvine…

Stay tuned for Reflections on 2011, part 2

(all photos by the author)

Christmas Porsches, a McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador, and a chance encounter with two of Southern California’s car culture giants…

Posted on December 18, 2011 by digitaldtour

A week before Christmas and all through the lot, the Porsches were searching for that ideal parking spot… I arrived this week at Cars and Coffee a little earlier than usual, and was able to watch under the cover of darkness, the assortment of multi hued Porsches, and the other makes and models of cars arrive. The Porsche faithful were queued up in their usual row, with these two beauties positioned towards the middle of the row, in holiday color thus the title “Christmas Porsches”…

And assembled on each side, were a variety of other Porsche present for the mornings event…

The folks from Truspeed were once again in attendance, this week sharing their red Outlaw 356A coupe.

And a few more Porsches parked along the row…

Also on display was this low slung, hip high example of a Factory Five, GTM coupe, with a highly modified appearing big block motor…

Located several rows over, was this beautifully restored, silver right hand drive Bentley, complete with pristine red leather interior, burl wood dash and stunning chrome trim. My friend Dave had passed this car coming off the freeway, and had mentioned seeing a pristine, right hand drive silver coupe, possibly a Rolls Royce. Now we had located that very car, which turned out instead to be a classic Bentley…

In close proximity, just up the row from the silver Bentley was this stunning green on green, Jaguar XK 150 roadster…

Then several more rows over, located towards the back of the parking lot, was this beautiful, curvaceous slate blue Morgan coupe.

Surprisingly, each of the rear windows opens up towards the centerline of the car, similar to the opening and closing movements of a butterfly wing.

This beautiful two toned, Tri-5 Chevrolet Bel Air ( below), is part of the K&N Filters show car fleet, and another beautifully prepared car. The attention to detail, and fit and finish on this car were spectacular…

Parked immediately behind the Bel-Air, was this brand new, Volcano Orange McLaren MP4-12C, courtesy of the local dealership, Newport Beach McLaren. And parked right next to the McLaren, was a brand new pearlescent satin white Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador, on display for the morning courtesy of Newport Beach Lamborghini.

As the event began to wind down, and the cars began thinning out, we came across this very cool black, full fendered 1932 Ford Roadster.

As I was shooting the car, the owner walked over and introduced himself as ” Bruce” to my friend Dave and I. I suddenly realized that “Bruce” was in fact Bruce Meyer, the renowned Los Angeles based car collector and active participant on the classic, hot rod and sports car scenes. He shared with us that he had come to Cars& Coffee that morning with his friend, Barry Meguiar. Yes, that Barry Meguiar, of Meguiar’s car care product fame, and the host of the cable TV show Meguiar’s Car Crazy.

Bruce proceeded to tell us a little about his car, and our discussion then shifted over to the custom wheels. If you look closely, you will note that they are in fact a center lock set up, complete with safety wired knock-offs. We learned that these wheels and hubs were period correct, and just happened to be vintage Indy car racing parts from back in the day.

Our conversation then shifted focus to the car’s power plant, and with the release of two spring-loaded latches, Bruce opened the louvered hood, revealing a 350 c.i. small block.

Bruce then mentioned someone from his group that morning making a comment that he and Barry Meguiar were like” two peas in a pod”, to which they responded saying they were more like “two B’s in a Rod” (Bruce and Barry and the ’32 Ford). With that, a photo opportunity was warranted, to document the two friends enjoying the mornings car show and Bruce’s ’32 Ford roadster…

This encounter was the epitome of what the car hobby and the Cars&Coffee event is all about; the opportunity to share ones passion for cars with friends, and the making of new friends along the way. With our impromptu photo session completed, Bruce and Barry wished everyone a Merry Christmas, the roadster was fired up, and off they rumbled to continue on their morning drive.

“Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” to all from digitaldtour…

(All photos by the author)

Porsche GT3 cup cars, the elusive White GT3 RS4.0, a Scion FR-S and more…

Posted on December 13, 2011 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning as I pulled into the parking lot at Cars and Coffee / Irvine, and made my way towards the row where I usually park, I was greeted by the lunar eclipse bathed, silhouettes of two Truspeed Porsche GT3 cup cars parked diagonally in formation, anchoring an all Porsche row. Mixed in amongst the row were several Porsche 356’s , a couple early 1960’s short wheelbase 911’s, a Porsche 924, 914-6, and a handful of 911’s from the 1970’s, ’80’s and 90’s. And aligned like bookends, opposite the cup cars were two matching speed yellow Porsche 996’s: one a tricked-out 996 GT3 and the other, a 2003 GT2.

Now back to the two GT3 cup cars…

Car # 45 (below), the Truspeed / Privacy Star Porsche GT3 cup car, is the 2011 World Challenge cup series winner, as driven by Patrick Long, the only American driver with Porsche factory driver status…

The car below, the # 29 Porsche GT3 cup car, was fresh from its second place finish at the 25 hours of Thunderhill race the previous weekend. It still wore its acquired patina of race rubber, bugs and dust across its exterior, as evidence of the previous weekends battle. The strange luggage rack looking devices spanning the front hood as I found out, and as were demonstrated, were high output LED light bars, perfect for lighting up a racetrack in the dead of night. These two light bars combined with the headlights and dual sets of driving and cornering lights recessed into the front nose, were more than sufficient for lighting up a dark racetrack, and getting the attention of the driver immediately ahead on the track.

After I finished shooting the Porsches, I noticed a crowd gathered around a low black coupe parked in the end space of the smaller perpendicular parking lot. As I made my way through the crowd, I saw a badge on the nose of the car that read Scion. As I got closer, I recognized the car as the new collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, with the Scion being Toyota’s version. It also wore some subtle Greddy graphics displayed about the car. The badge on the back identified this car as an FR-S model, although the Subaru model will wear BRZ badging. Out back, the blue tipped, dual titanium exhaust dominated the view, framing the rear diffuser panel. After a few minutes, the hood was opened up to reveal a Subaru boxer motor, and a few go fast parts, such as the purple anodized, front shock strut adjustment plates. The car appeared to have been lowered, and was riding on a set of silver Rays wheels, wrapped in 245/35ZR-19 rubber. Given the crowd around this car and the buzz it was generating, it sure looks like Toyota has a hit on its hands…

As I was walking away from the Scion, I caught a glimpse of a white Porsche moving through the parking lot. As I got closer, I realized this was the elusive white Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 that I had heard about the previous week, making its way out of the parking lot.

So far I have been lucky enough to have seen three GT3 RS 4.0’s since October, out of a total of 600 produced. Now only 597 to go…

(All photos by the author)

Good Karma, an assemblage of Porsche 993’s, Pantera’s bearing gifts and the Woody car club hosts Toys for Tots……

Posted on December 7, 2011 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning, December 3 started off cold and breezy, as the sun began to rise over Cars&Coffee in Irvine, California. As the cars made their way into the parking lot , still under the cover of lingering darkness, a low slung, silver sedan caught my eye as it made its way into the lot in search of a parking space. As the car drove up the aisle towards where we were standing, it suddenly dawned on me that due to the lack of engine noise and the cars unique styling and profile, that this was in fact a Fisker Karma.

(I had seen a white Fisker Karma at this years SEMA show back in November, however this was my first public sighting).

As soon as the driver had parked the car, and exited along with his passengers, the Fisker was mobbed by those already at the event, wanting to get a closer look. I decided to wait until the mob thinned out, before going over to take a closer look. As soon as there was a lull, I headed over with camera in hand to capture the moment.

Another very subtle design detail is the seamless integration of the solar panels into the center section of the roof…

My next stop was to check out the assemblage of Porsche 993’s that had begun arriving in mass, around the same time as the Fisker. Due to the size of the group, they chose to park towards the back of the lot, to ensure there were enough spaces for all of their group.

It was now time to make my way over to where the Pantera Club had staged, ready to deliver all of their collected toys to the Marines who were on site to collect for the Toys for Tots toy drive.

Located just across the parking lot, opposite from the Pantera row, were the cars representing the Woody club. The members of this car club have been responsible over the years for organizing and hosting the Toys for Tots toy drive, and coordinating the presence of the Marines on site to collect the toys from the Cars & Coffee participants. A great group of people, and a beautiful selection of Woody wagons on display…

On a personal note, in addition to being able to experience all of these amazing cars in person last Saturday morning, I also found it very rewarding to witness the car community come together to insure that the children of families in need will be assured of having a Merry Christmas.

(All photos by the author)

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)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Tag Archives: Automobiles

The elusive white Porsche GT3 RS4.0 finally captured, and more…

A unique automotive offspring, a Goggomobile, car badging, Porsches and more…

London fog, Jaguars, the Porsche faithful, the fraternal GT3 RS4.0 twins and more…

Looking Back on 2011, Cars&Coffee style, Part 2…

Looking back on 2011, Cars&Coffee style…

Christmas Porsches, a McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador, and a chance encounter with two of Southern California’s car culture giants…

Porsche GT3 cup cars, the elusive White GT3 RS4.0, a Scion FR-S and more…

Good Karma, an assemblage of Porsche 993’s, Pantera’s bearing gifts and the Woody car club hosts Toys for Tots……

Close encounters with a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsches at Petree Hall… The Los Angeles Auto Show 2011