A stranger in a strange land…

Posted on May 21, 2012 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning May 12 saw many of the Porsche faithful return after their previous weekend’s RGruppe Treffen event in Solvang, California. The discussions that morning focused on personal accounts from the previous weekends activities, along with a rumor that one of the rare, standout cars from Solvang would be attending Cars&Coffee on this particular morning. And as if on cue, a Mexico blue Porsche 993 was seen entering the driveway into the parking lot, aimed towards Porsche row.

Once parked, the view from behind revealed this 993s true identity. This particular car is not only an example of the rare, european only Carrera RS models, but also has the distinction of being one of the limited production, highly desirable performance variants – a 1996 Carrera RS Club Sport.

For 1995, Porsche produced a total of 1130 Carrera RS models, followed in 1996 by a final batch of only 57 RS models, making this particular car by virtue of its build date one of the last type 993 RS models produced. And from the total number of Carrera RS models that Porsche produced, only 47 examples were constructed to accommodate the right hand drive (RHD) marketplace.

Three visual cues can be used to differentiate and identify a Club Sport variant from its base Carrera RS sibling. The first and most obvious is the large dual plane, adjustable angle rear wing and with added cooling and induction intakes, instead of the flat profiled, whale tail spoiler found on the base Carrera RS. The two remaining cues are both found within the car: the pair of lightweight sport seats ( reported to save 66 pounds each over a stock seat), and an installed welded in roll cage, instead of a bolted together cage.

Returning to the exterior, another prominent but unique detail to the Carrera RS are its wheels. For both the RS and Club Sport models, the cars came equipped with 18 inch, Speedline 3 piece modular 5-spoke race wheels as seen below; sized 8″x18″ up front, and 10″x18″ at the rear…

Speedline 10″X18″ rear wheel (as shown above)

Speedline 8″X18″ front wheel (as shown above and detail below)

Another unique, yet less obvious performance component fitted to the Carrera RS Club Sport model is the front hood. For this model, Porsches weight savings efforts focused on material options, and as a result manufactured all of the RS Club Sport front hoods from aluminum. This demonstrates a classic example of Porsches attention to detail; studying the cumulative effect of component weight reduction for an increase in vehicle performance.

The photo above and those following provide a glimpse of the design evolution that occurred between 1996 and 2011, as witnessed by the recent performance offering; the 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 parked beside the Carrera RS Club Sport. It was also interesting to observe one of Porsches latest color offerings, especially this interpretation of blue. Case in point, the 2011 Type 997 GT3 dressed in Porsches Riviera blue. Each of these cars when viewed by themselves appeared to be very similar in color to the other. However when parked side by side, their subtle color differences became much more apparent.

Residing beneath the Carrera RS Club Sports rear wing is Porsches purpose-built, 3.8 liter motor, tuned to deliver 300 horsepower. This potential translates into 0-60 times of 4.7 seconds, with the capability of producing a terminal velocity of 174 MPH.

Parked side by side, these two Porsches provided the casual observer an opportunity to view the design changes that have occurred over the past 16 years, not only to the overall styling, but to Porsches revised approach towards aerodynamics.

Once again, I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience this car in person given its rarity, and to have recorded each encounter photographically. This type of experience is what makes events like Cars&Coffee or an RGruppe Treffen so amazing; one never knows exactly the type of vehicles that await discovery…

(All photos by the author)

From the outside looking in; Observations from the 2012 RGruppe Solvang Treffen

Posted on May 12, 2012 by digitaldtour

As noted in my last post, I had been invited by one of the members from the RGruppe (Porsche car club) to drive up to Solvang on Saturday May 5, spend the afternoon hanging out with the group, shoot some photos, and experience Porsche 911 overload as only the RGruppe can deliver.

The club’s home base for the weekend would be in Beulton California, specifically at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel, located just off of the 101 freeway. The Marriott’s proximity to the 101 freeway as well as highways 246 and 154, afforded the members easy access to a wide variety of back roads to explore, and on which to gauge the latest modifications made to their 911s. The hotel also offered up a secluded, secure parking lot out back, and which was large enough to contain the 100+ Porsches that turned out for the event. And turn out they did, from club chapters across the United States and even Mexico.

So Saturday morning May 5 saw my wife and I pack up the Carrera, and head North on the 101 freeway to Solvang. When we arrived at the Marriott around noon, the parking lot was bare, with only a handful of Porsches present.

Apparently the majority of cars were still out on their morning tours, enjoying the warm, sunny spring weather, clear blue skies and twisty roads. Instead of waiting at the hotel for the cars to return, my wife suggested we drive into Solvang and grab some lunch. So we fired up the Carrera, and headed off to explore the town. After a short 3 mile run down highway 246, we found ourselves right in the middle of Solvang, and looking for a place to grab some lunch. After parking the car and a short walk, we found a restaurant (The Mustard Seed) situated right off of the town’s main street (highway 246). They even had a patio out front, so we took advantage of the weather and sat outside. Halfway through our lunch, I heard the unmistakable rasp of a Porsche sport exhaust, and looked up just in time to see a trio of Porsche 911s exploring the rpm range of second gear. Unfortunately, several of the patrons at the restaurant (obviously Solvang locals) took exception to the drivers exuberance, and began yelling and waving at the cars as they passed. We even heard the guy at the table next to ours tell his friends the joke about the difference between a Porsche owner and a porcupine. His friends thought it funny; I found it in poor taste and rather judgemental.

My eldest son and his girlfriend were supposed to have met us for lunch, but because they were running late, my wife decided she would stay behind in Solvang to wait for them. Their delay allowed me to head back to the hotel a bit sooner than planned, but with hopes of finding a good selection of RGruppe Porsches on site, ready to be photographed.

I knew as soon as I pulled into the parking lot that the afternoon was going to be amazing…

Just one of the several, real 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS models in attendance…

Parked amongst the other RGruppe 911s, was this beautiful silver 1968 911L coupe. I recognized this car immediately, having seen it in person at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV in October 2011, and from photos posted on the owners blog -www.werkcrew.com

The owner (Bob Tilton) has written about a variety of his Porsche projects on his blog, and includes some very creative photographs to document his process and progress, most recently his extensive cockpit renovation efforts, in preparation for the RGruppe’s Solvang Treffen. Bob’s posts afford the reader an insight into the thought process and attention to detail that he applies to each and every one of his projects.

I have long admired Bob’s blog for its content and his photographic skills, and had the pleasure of meeting him in person on this particular Saturday afternoon. Ironically, my introduction occurred as a result of my friend Dave and I walking into a low perspective shot that Bob was composing from behind of one of the many 911s assembled. After apologizing for our misstep, and a formal introduction made by Dave, I spent the next 40 minutes talking with Bob about Porsches, graphic design, creative influences, writing a blog and photography. I was also able to share with him that my reading of his blog was what had inspired me to create a blog of my own. After thanking him for taking the time to talk with me, we both returned to our individual photographic explorations.

As the car below pulled into the parking lot, I watched as a crowd gathered, and immediately began looking at the back of this red 911. Out of curiosity, I went over to see what was happening. As I approached the back of the car, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did this rear deck lid actually have dual grills? Was this a long-lost prototype deck lid developed by Porsche, as a variation on the dual grill deck lid theme as produced for the 1965 Porsche 356 C models, but adapted for an early Porsche 911?

It turns out that this dual grill rear deck had its origins from the parts inventory out of the Vasek Polak Porsche dealership some time ago, and had been in the possession of a gentleman who had been very active in the Porsche community back in the day. The current owner encountered the rear decklid and had the chance to purchase it, which obviously he did. And what better event to choose for showcasing a one of a kind, custom early 911 rear decklid…

Located on the opposite side of the parking lot was this Mexico blue, ultra rare European only model, 1996 Porsche 993 Carrera RS as seen below.

I had mentioned that there were even participants who had traveled from Mexico to participate in the weekends event. The four Porsches seen above (the red 911 in the foreground, the yellow Carrera RS, the black Carrera RSR clone and the Salmon colored Carrera RS) along with their owners had traveled all the way from Monterrey, Mexico to participate. And once again the event was a showcase for rare models; both of the Carrera RS models were the real thing and not clones…

Another of the rare Porsches in attendance was this yellow Porsche 356 super 90 as seen below. Rumor has it that this is one of only six built…

The last car shown is a 1970’s vintage, factory built rally /race car, complete with twin, triple throat weber carburetors and twin plug ignition…

I’d like to thank Dave Eck for the invitation to experience their event firsthand this past Saturday, along with the other members of the RGruppe for the opportunity to hang out with you, photograph your cars and experience your Treffen as a friend of the RGruppe.

(All photos by the author)

Three to get ready and Porsches to show…

Posted on May 4, 2012 by digitaldtour

100

The last Saturday in April saw a full house at Cars&Coffee/Irvine, in part due to the crisp, clear morning weather that was once again served up but without the threat of rain. And by 7 AM, “Porsche row” was filled entirely by a variety of Stuttgart’s finest.

Several of the cars were even seen previewing the latest magnetic backed graphic, celebrating an RGruppe event…

Over at the “Featured lot” there were a variety of cars on display, and one in particular that stood out from the rest was this beautiful blue Ferrari 275 convertible seen below…

And tucked into the back corner was this stately trio of Jaguars, each having mirror-like paint finishes and brilliant, chrome trim, and all readied for the mornings event.

Located perpendicular to the Jaguars and just one row west, was this beautiful silver Porsche 356A coupe, as seen below.

After admiring the 356, I headed back to the main parking area to see what other cars of interest awaited. And half way up on the second row, was another Jaguar in black. But in this case the model was an E- Type coupe, and absolutely flawless. The owner had opened up the hood and rear hatch, and as I passed by I noticed a flash of blue color being reflected into the surface of the rear hatch. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the reflection from a Mexico blue Porsche 911 parked behind the Jaguar, just one row over…

The next aisle encountered was “Mercedes-Benz row”, and as I have noted in previous posts, is the gathering area each week for a wide variety of Mercedes -Benz vehicles.

And parked just several spaces over, was this 1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Cabriolet A as seen below.

This is just one of the many models showcased by the folks from the Mercedes-Benz Classics Center, also located in Irvine. In addition to their Restoration and Parts facility, they also have an automotive museum , so there is always a variety of very interesting cars for them to choose from.

And immediately to the right, was this Silver Mercedes AMG SLS, complete with its gull-wing doors…

This weekend I will once again be absent from Cars&Coffee, and instead be heading North (by invitation) to participate photographically in a special Porsche event. There are some references placed within this post that will serve as a clue to the event in question. So please stay tuned for my next post, which will recount and reveal this weekends special event…

(All photos by the author)

California Festival of Speed, and two new Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings…

Posted on April 27, 2012 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning, April 21 dawned warm and hazy. However, on this morning I would not be making my weekly trek down to Cars&Coffee/Irvine, but would instead be driving out to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California to catch day two of the scheduled three-day “Festival of Speed” event. The weekend was marketed as an “Event for Porsche enthusiasts”, however there were other makes and models of street and race cars also present.

After arriving at the race track, my first stop was at the registration building. After signing the required liability waiver, I was issued a black & white checkerboard wristband (secured onto the left wrist of every participant by the registration staff), and given my parking pass. Now it was time to drive over to the infield parking area that had been designated for the weekends festivities. By now, the sun had begun to burn off the mornings haze, and was starting to bring some heat to Fontana. Exiting my car, I could hear the unmistakable sound of Porsche race cars with their distinctive exhaust notes echoing off of the grandstands, as they screamed past the start/finish line, beginning another lap.

As I made my way past the entry portal that divides the parking lot from the infield garage area, I noticed a cast bronze plaque mounted onto the vertical support column and went over for a closer look. It turned out to be a dedication plaque honoring Les Richter, for his contribution to the construction and completion of this racing facility. It also acknowledged his involvement in professional sports with inductions into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Now it was time to find out what treasures awaited out in the infield garages…

First up was this Gray Porsche 997 GT3RS, prepared by the folks from the GMG /Global Motorsport Group.

Its stable mate to the left was this black, GMG prepared Audi R8, with what appeared to be a combination of components sourced from Audi’s R8GT3 and LMS parts bin, and powered by a V-10 motor.

Located on the other side of the block wall, opposite the Audi R8 bay, was a bevy of Porsche GT3 Cup cars, all being prepared for the days scheduled events…

A Porsche 996 GT3 Cup car…

Now imagine my surprise when I looked over and saw this black 2012 Porsche GT3 RS4.0, casually tucked in amongst its GT3 brethren. This is the first and only RS4.0 that I have seen configured for racing, and also marks my 9th GT3 RS4.0 sighting. After I finished shooting the car, all that remained was to discover the series number for this car. A quick look inside, specifically at the cars glove box door ID plaque, revealed this car as being #239 out of 600.

O.Z. centerlock racing wheels…

Positioned next to the Black RS4.0 was the “DISCOUNTECHNOLOGY”, 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup car, and seeing it in person was one of those deja-vu moments; my son and I had watched this very car compete at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV back in October at Laguna Seca. Here’s the same car at speed, shot while competing at Rennsport IV (see below)…

And located just one bay over to the right, was this spectacular blue 2011 997 GT3. This is the only Porsche GT3 that I have seen wearing this particular shade of blue. After shooting multiple images of the car, my interests in this particular GT3 finally caught the attention of its owner, who came over and introduced himself. I soon learned that this particular color (Aqua Blue metallic), was in fact a very rare color to be seen on a GT3. And apparently the people from Porsche were just as impressed, after seeing the car in person at Rennsport Reunion IV. Because of the rarity of this color being optioned on the GT3 model, the owner was asked by Porsche to put his car on display at Rennsport Reunion IV. The collective belief is that this may be one of the only 2011 GT3’s in North America painted Aqua blue metallic.

A very cool set of GMG / WC-GT centerlock race wheels…

My next stop was Garage 2, where I found even more Porsche GT3 Cup cars…

One of several examples of Porsche brand new 2012 GT3 Cup cars (seen above and below)…

And one of the largest torque wrenches you’ll ever see; the perfect tool for torquing down Porsches GT3 centerlock race wheels to approximately 340 ft lbs…

Located outside and parked in the rows between Garage 2 and 3, was this immaculate gray and red GT3RS, with its identical twin parked just off to its right…

After making the rounds at the two garages, it was time to check out the vendor row. The blue Porsche 997 turbo seen above was on display courtesy of Walter’s Porsche, and paired with a new black Porsche 991 cabriolet. In talking with the sales rep, I learned that this particular color had been sourced from Porsches 356 color palette, originally available for the 1957 to 1959 models, and known as Meissen Blue.

Situated down the row from the Walter’s Porsche display, were these seat shells from Lou’s Metal Shaping (phone# -562-201-4658, email – mr_mallet@yahoo.com). These beautiful, hand formed aluminum seat shells are intended for use in Porsche 356 speedsters, 550 spyders, and for Porsche 911 owners wanting an aluminum Scheel seat shell/s for their 911…

By now it was getting close to noon time; time to grab some lunch and something cold to drink. With food, drink and camera in hand, it was time to find a shady place to sit down, eat and get ready for the afternoons PCA (Porsche Club of America) club racing to begin. Fortunately, this track has covered infield seating that sets on top of the pit lane suites, and runs the length of and overlooks pit lane, offering up a great view of the racetrack, especially the start / finish line.

By 1 PM, the first group of cars was unleashed, and the first race underway, complete with an Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo spyder and a collection of Porsche 911’s (see photos below)…

White Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (above), with blue 3M masking tape applied as a protective covering…

The second race of the afternoon was the Porsche Club of America Club race for the GT2A class. The first two photos below capture the start of the race…

In formation, rolling up on the start / finish line, awaiting the drop of the green flag…

Hard acceleration after crossing the start / finish line…

The afternoons GT2A class winner (as seen above), streaking across the start / finish line…

After the races concluded, I headed back into the garage area, to make one last pass through before heading home. As I was approaching Garage 1, I saw my friend Eric sitting on his bike, visiting with his fellow racers. I had been looking for Eric and his race car all morning ( a red,1999 Porsche 996 GT3 Koni Challenge Cup car), but had been unsuccessful in locating him. I soon learned that he had been out on track earlier that morning (apparently while I was roaming the garages), thus I missed seeing his time out on the track. Unfortunately, with the summer like weather and high temperatures on this day, his car had begun experiencing overheating problems. Rather than risk catastrophic damage to his motor, Eric made the painful decision to sit out the afternoon race, and was now in the process of trying to locate a new water pump for his car ( believed to be the cause of his overheating problem). Eric pointed me in the direction of his car (parked over behind his trailer), so I could check it out and get some photos. He then rode off into the pit area on his quest to locate a water pump.

After shooting his car, I ran into Eric and his wife, still searching for the elusive water pump. As they headed back to their motor home to cool off from the afternoon heat, I said my goodbyes and was off for one last pass through the garage areas.

Just as I rounded the corner of Garage 1, the back-end of a white Porsche 911 caught my eye. As I headed in its direction, I initially thought it to be a GT3RS. However as I got closer, and was able to make out the graphics, I quickly saw that it was instead a GT3 RS4.0.

Given the rarity of these cars, I’m still amazed to this day that I have seen as many as I have in person, and now this latest encounter brought my total sightings up to ten. The day had presented me with another amazing opportunity to witness not just one but two of these rare GT3 RS4.0’s (in person and on the same day). I made my way over to the passenger side of the car to get a look at the glove box plaque, which revealed that this car was series # 331 of 600.

Now all I have to do is find one car from the 100 series and 500 series, and I will have experienced a complete sampling of the entire RS4.0 production range. And who knows what surprises or opportunities await tomorrow morning at Cars&Coffe / Irvine?

(All photos by the author)

Up, up and away, and a Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport…

Posted on April 20, 2012 by digitaldtour

As a result of my recent encounter with a white, Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport (two weeks ago at Cars&Coffee/Irvine), and after researching the history of these cars, I have a renewed appreciation for just how rare these cars are and have become since their introduction back in 1981.

Looking back, my first encounter with a 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport occurred back in August 1982, at the Monterey Historics event hosted at Laguna Seca Raceway. We had made the trip up to Monterey for the weekend, to experience and celebrate Porsche being the featured manufacturer for 1982. Little did I know at the time how few of these cars existed, or the impact that this particular model would have on my memory of that weekend.

It was by sheer accident that my dad and I came across this pair of red Porsche 924’s parked side by side in the infield. We had been walking through the infield to access a different section of the race track when we spied these two cars, and quickly realized they were not your average Porsche 924. A close up inspection revealed one to be a 924 Carrera GT, and the second, the race inspired GTS Club Sport model.

I was immediately drawn to the GTS, given its stripped down, race derived look and feel. I have always been a die-hard Porsche 911 fan, but this was a car I admired for its purpose-built intent and aesthetic. It didn’t hurt that its Fuchs alloy wheels and brakes were taken from the 911, or that its trailing arms were cast aluminum instead of the standard steel units, to shave weight yet still retain strength. Its suspension was also altered by the removal of the standard torsion bar setup, and replaced with a more performance derived coil over shock setup. For the interior, a pair of racing seats sourced from the Porsche 935 parts bins were used, along with a full roll cage designed and crafted to meet the rigors of competition and conform to the Group 4 homologation requirements. Ironically, the aforementioned parts when combined with a higher output motor (275 hp vs. 245), and applied to a base Carrera GTS model, created what came to be known as the 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport.

I never realized what constituted the difference between a base 924 GTS and the Club Sport model, until I decided to research the car after encountering and photographing the white GTS Club Sport recently at Cars&Coffee / Irvine. Even with the internet, it’s hard to beat the old school method of fact-finding through the use of books. And my books of choice for studying and researching all things Porsche, have been the three-volume set written by Karl Ludvigsen; Excellence was Expected. These book have proven invaluable for providing me with information, in addition to establishing a perspective and context regarding the history and significance to many of the Porsches I have been fortunate enough to see in person and photograph.

The second 924 to this pairing (as seen above), was a Carrera GT, complete with a trunk full of stuffed cars, and that possessed an interesting story. The owner of the car turned out to be none other than Southern California-based race driver Margie Smith-Haas, and who was also the owner /designer behind the company TFA (Toys for Adults). Their speciality was the design and manufacturing of the stuffed cars as seen in the 924’s trunk. For this event, she was showcasing a variety of her firms Porsche offerings, but they also produced other makes of cars and various race cars of the day, all in a variety of different sizes and color. Shortly after, our household became the owners of two of Margie’s creations; one a stuffed, yellow Porsche 911, and a bit later for my son, a Rothmans Porsche 956.

The owner, Margie Smith Haas, taking a moment to detail her car…

So I now have another Porsche to add to my vehicle spotting list, along with the running tally of my ongoing Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings. Given the much smaller number of 924 Carrera GTS Club Sports built versus the GT3 RS4.0 (15 vs. 600), I feel very fortunate to have seen two 924 GTS Club Sport models in person so far. Now only 13, GTS Club Sports to go, compared to my 591 remaining GT3 RS4.0’s…

(All photos by the author)

A tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche at Cars&Coffee/Irvine…

Posted on April 13, 2012 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning, April 7th saw the coming together of the Porsche faithful at Cars&Coffee/Irvine, as a tribute to the recent passing of Ferdinand Alexander (Butzi) Porsche. An email was circulated on Friday April 6, and forwarded to many within the Porsche community about a plan to pay tribute to and honor the memory of F.A.”Butzi” Porsche. The intent was to gather up as many Porsche 911’s as possible, to represent the model range from 1965 up to the latest 2012 iteration. Also hoped for was participation by any of the local Porsche 904 owners. The destination Saturday morning would be the “featured” parking lot area at Cars&Coffee. To further this cause, I forwarded the email to my friends Gene and Dave, both owners of Porsche 930 turbos, in hope of their participation come Saturday morning.

For a change, the early morning skies Saturday morning were clear and dry. As I pulled into the parking lot still cloaked in darkness, I was waved into the “featured” lot, to join the already present assortment of rainbow-hued Porsche 911’s. As I rounded the parking median, I encountered my friend Gene backing his black 930 turbo into a corner parking spot, and after he was settled in, I grabbed the space immediately to his right. As the lot continued to fill with even more 911’s, my friend Dave arrived in his 1984 Slate Gray 930 Turbo, debuting a brand new, upgraded turbo motor. By the time the sun had risen, the lot was filled with an even greater variety of Porsches, and what an amazing, colorful collection it was…

Dave’s slate gray 1984 930 turbo, and the first photos of his brand new turbo motor with mirror polished intercooler…

And parked shoulder to shoulder with the Porsche 911’s was this ultra rare, Grand Prix white, 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport. According to Porsche, a total of fifty-nine GTS Carreras were built (50 to meet the Group 4 homologation requirements back in the day, plus an additional nine for good measure). And of the fifty-nine total cars built, only 15 were further modified to Club Sport specifications…

In fact, this is the only GTS identification displayed on the entire car, and almost invisible due to its monochromatic design…

From week to week, one never knows who might be seen strolling through the parking lot at Cars&Coffee. On this morning, local resident and American racing legend Dan Gurney (in the white jacket and blue sweater) and his wife were present (see photo above), taking in the sights and examining the mornings diverse gathering of Porsches…

And obviously, the tribute email reached the owner of this beautiful Porsche 904 Carrera GTS as witnessed below. A fitting tribute, since the Porsche 904 was the second milestone car penned by F.A. Porsche, shortly after his completion of the design for the 911…

Several other rare and unique Porsche models were also represented Saturday morning, and ironically were each parked in close proximity to one another.

The first was the pristine white, 1962 Porsche 356 Carrera 2, powered by the model specific, Carrera 4 cam motor as seen below…

The second model was a silver,1961 Porsche Carrera Abarth GTL (shown below), also sporting a 4 cam motor, and backed by a freestanding display that chronicled the cars racing history. This particular Abarth GTL is another example of a very rare Porsche, being part of the initial, limited production run of 21 GTL’s from back in 1960. This particular car (serial #1015), was the fifteenth of only 21 produced during that time frame.

And last but not least was the second Porsche 904 in attendance ( the blue model shown below), and the only 904 model to possess a very special connection to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche…

This particular car, a 1964 904 Carrera GTS, serial # 904-002 (of which I have written about previously), is not only historically significant because of its status as one of the surviving pre-production prototype models created, but also because of the unique design features unique to this car only. And no less important is the fact that this is the single 904 Carrera GTS to have been owned and routinely driven by the designer himself (Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche).

Thus the personalized California license plate that adorns the rear of the car; a clue to the cars historic significance, and reference to the identity of 904-002’s original owner.

As the morning came to a close, and the sound of Porsche boxer / flat six motors coming to life echoed throughout the parking lot, it was time to reflect on the event that had brought us all together that morning. And what better tribute and reminder to all present, than the photo of a young Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, photographed sitting on the fender of his design come to life, the Porsche 911. One only had to look at the Porsche participants that Saturday morning, or recall the Porsche 911 parking corrals at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV, filled to capacity with 911’s from every model year and color as far as the eye could see, to understand the impact of this designers creative genius. And hopefully, the DNA from his original 911 design will continue to thrive, for future generations of aspiring Porsche 911 owners to experience and enjoy…

(All photos by the author)

Of Speedsters, Spyders, Porsche GT3 RS4.0’s, and more…

Posted on April 7, 2012 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning, March 31 once again dawned cool, gray and damp. So much for spring weather here in Southern California… and for the past several weeks, we have been witness to storm fronts blowing in, just as the weekend was coming into view. Lately, my Friday evenings have been spent watching the 11PM news, to see what possible surprises Mother Nature has planned that could negatively impact Saturday morning’s Cars&Coffee event. And this past Saturday was no exception. However instead of rain, we were treated to sporadic, light drizzle. Just enough to mess with a freshly detailed car… My first encounter with the drizzle was while heading down to connect up with the southbound 5 freeway. I was definitely becoming concerned, especially with each new pocket of drizzle that I encountered. Luckily, the further south I drove, the drier it became. By the time I arrived in Irvine, there were low, gray clouds everywhere, but no rain. And gauging by the number of cars already present at 6AM, there were a lot of other drivers with similar hopes for a dry morning.

While I was assembling my camera gear for the mornings shoot, I noticed what appeared to be an early 1970’s vintage, white Porsche 911 make its way up the nearby parking row, and come to a stop one row over behind where I was parked, faced towards me. From the sound of the exhaust, it was apparent he was running a modified exhaust system on a healthy sounding motor. After shutting off the motor, the driver exited, locked his car and disappeared into the crowd. The glowing white visage was enough to get my attention, so I headed over for a closer look.

The interior was in keeping with the race inspired exterior; stripped down with an RS carpet kit, door panels, roll bar, RS steering wheel, shoulder and lap belts, and dual racing sport seats…

Even the fuch wheels (front and rear) received the race prepped treatment: long wheel studs with steel lug nuts, to securely anchor each wheel in place.

This is only the third Porsche 911 that I have ever seen fitted with a set of the rare Cibie Biode headlights ( as shown above).

And situated just one row over from this white 911, was Porsche Row. Below is a small sampling of a few of the cars found along the row…

My next stop was over at the featured parking lot, where this beautiful red, Porsche 356 Speedster was being displayed…

This particular car has a rare, hardtop option, which includes a hinged vent window, located just behind each door window…

The Speedster reflected in the yellow, award-winning (European model) Ferrari 246 Dino’s rear wheel knock-off, parked to the left of the Speedster…

And then along came a Spyder…

…a white Boxster Spyder to be precise, complete with Porsche 934 styled rear fender flares, GT3 RS4.0 fender flares up front, and a GT2 RS inspired front hood.

And parked several rows over, back on Porsche Row, was this beautifully restored, green 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS (as seen below). And yes, it is a REAL 911 Carrera RS (# 280), and not a clone.

After shooting the Carrera RS, I moved down the row and noticed some of the reflections being cast onto the cars by their neighbors…

It was while I was walking back to have another look at the red Speedster, that I saw this white 2011 GT3 RS4.0 parked at the end of the aisle. After noticing the red-painted headlight washers, I realized this was a car new to Cars&Coffee, and one that I had not seen before. A BRAND NEW SIGHTING, making this the 9th car to be added to my GT3 RS4.0 sighting list…!

Knowing that the dash mounted plaque would reveal this cars series number, I walked over to the passenger side, and peering through the open window, saw that this car was # 222 of 600.

I suddenly realized that this was A BRAND NEW SIGHTING, making this the 9th car to be added to my GT3 RS4.0 sightings list !

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, as I walked back to my car I spotted a second white GT3 RS4.0 parked right behind my car! Not recognizing any of the people standing nearby, I walked over to get a look at the cars series number dash tag. I immediately recognized the number (#490) as being my 7th RS4.0 sighting, made several weeks earlier at Cars&Coffee. And with different lighting conditions this morning, it was time to capture a few more shots to add to my ever-increasing archive…

(I received an email from a friend this afternoon, letting me know of a special tribute being planned for tomorrow morning (April 7) at Cars &Coffee, in remembrance of Ferdinand Alexander (Butzi) Porsche who passed away on Thursday. Please stay tuned for my coverage from Saturdays event…

(All photos by the author)

A Porsche dream fulfilled…

Posted on March 30, 2012 by digitaldtour

The fascination and aspirations with all things Porsche seems to affect each person differently. Some recount an event in their childhood that created a vivid memory involving a Porsche, while others developed their appreciation for the brand later in life. In my case, it was seeing my first Porsche 911 back in 1966 at the age of 11. However for my friend Gene, it was dreams and aspirations of Porsche ownership that were developed over time, and fortunately one dream that recently became a reality…

I first met Gene back in 2008, when I began attending the weekly automotive gathering in Irvine California known as Cars&Coffee. By virtue of the parking space I selected that first morning, I found myself in proximity to a red Porsche speedster and a dark green metallic Isuzu Vehicross. Within several events, formal introductions were made and I got to know the owners of the two cars; Jeff, the owner of the red speedster, and Gene, the owner of the Vehicross. And within a couple more weeks, a fourth member joined our newly assembled group; Dave and his slate gray, 1984 Porsche 930 Turbo. Since those initial meetings, the four of us have become good friends, and can usually be found parked as a group at each weeks event. Over time, we learned of Gene’s dream to one day own a Porsche 911. But his dream didn’t stop there; within the past 6 months, his focus shifted to mid to late 1980’s vintage 930 turbos. And as far as color was concerned, India Red quickly rose to the top of his list. And what better place than Cars&Coffee, to check out the weeks assortment of Porsche turbos, in a variety of colors, model years and options.

And so the search began. Gene would share his latest leads each week, and ask for our collective opinions on his latest finds. We watched him experience the frustrations we had all experienced firsthand; of locating a car only to learn that it had just been sold. And then there were the dry spells, where no new 930 Turbos were to be found. Gene then expanded his search to beyond California, where he soon found several more Porsche 930 turbos of interest. However, it was a one owner, very low mileage (25K), black on black 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo located up in Washington State that got his full attention. After multiple conversations with the owner and some negotiating, a purchase strategy was put in place contingent upon the outcome of a PPI (pre-purchase inspection). Gene had arranged for the PPI to be performed by a local Porsche mechanic up in Washington State. Upon completion, the mechanic’s report would be sent to Gene for review. Fortunately the car had been very well maintained and cared for, so it passed the inspection with flying colors. The negotiations with the owner were finalized, and back in early February, I received an email one evening from Gene, sharing with me that he was now the owner of the black on black, 1987 Porsche 930 turbo. His next challenge would be to arrange for the shipping of his new purchase down to Southern California.

After researching the options available for transport companies who offer enclosed trailers with lift gates and GPS tracking, he made several calls to different firms requesting a quote. After comparing numbers, he decided to get on the waiting list with one of the high-profile vehicle transport companies. Unfortunately, after waiting for 2 weeks, he received notification from the company that they would be unable to accommodate his request for vehicle transport. By now, it was the end of February and Gene was still without his car. So he contacted another of the major automotive transport firms (Passport Transport), and luck was on his side. They had a truck that was scheduled to make a run up to the Seattle area, and yes, they would in fact be able to transport his car. Four days later, he received confirmation, along with several photos of his car being loaded onto their transport, and prepared for its journey to Southern California. And on March 11, the transporter pulled up to Gene’s home, to deliver his long-awaited Porsche 930 Turbo.

Now came the challenge of out-of-state vehicle registration and the nefarious California smog test. But first there was the matter of correcting the one single item from the PPI list; the replacement of the motors catalytic converter. Wanting to use only factory replacement parts, Gene went on a search only to learn that the local stock of factory 930 turbo catalytic converters was entirely depleted. Fortunately within Southern California, there is a wealth of Porsche resources only a phone call away. After following up on a couple leads, he contacted Hergesheimer Motorsports. After explaining his situation, Gene was told that they could get him the new factory part within a week, and then install it so he could continue with his registration process. After the cat was installed, it was time for the smog test. Once again, good fortune was on Gene’s side, and the car passed without a hitch. So armed with his smog certificate and car sales documentation, it was off to the DMV to finally register his car, and get his new California plates.

Cars& Coffee / Irvine on Saturday morning, March 24 witnessed the formal debut of Gene’s new Porsche 930 turbo. And what an amazing and beautiful car it is; even more impressive considering it’s 25 years old. The following photos are just a few of the images taken that morning…

And throughout the process of realizing his dream of Porsche ownership, Gene was able to share the experience with his son Ryan. And that’s what the car hobby and the Porsche community is all about; the shared passion for the automobile regardless of your vehicular preferences. And as witnessed from the first portrait taken of Gene, Ryan and their new Porsche (seen below), with each displaying broad smiles, it just shows that it’s hard to beat a pristine black 930 Turbo. So guys, welcome to the Porsche Family…

(All photos by the author)

Of Ford GT’s and the “Gumball Rally” 427 Shelby Cobra…

Posted on March 20, 2012 by digitaldtour

While still under the cover of darkness, I made my way south on the 5 freeway towards Cars&Coffee / Irvine on Saturday morning March 3. As I neared Irvine, I noticed in my rear view mirror a pair of headlights closing quickly. And in a matter of seconds, a low slung, black Ford GT with white stripes and large white meatball with a black number 2 centered on its door was right next to me. As we continued south, the driver accelerated and pulled ahead by about 3 car lengths. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a California Highway Patrol cruiser with yellow lights flashing passed me and took up a position right behind the black Ford GT. And instead of pulling over, the Ford GT continued southbound with the CHP right on its bumper. While watching this event unfold in front of me, I heard a loud rumble, and looked over to see a bright yellow Ford GT pull up beside me, also watching the events ahead. We continued south, running side by side, and watching the CHP and Black Ford GT running nose to tail for about a mile. And then the strangest thing happened. The CHP cruiser pulled out, passing the black Ford GT, and sped away with its lights still flashing ( guess it was the Ford GT owners lucky day). The yellow Ford GT then picked up his pace, and with a single upshift, spit a pair of blue fireballs out of it dual exhaust, and began accelerating away from me. But I had already dropped down a gear, and accelerated to match his pace. I tucked in behind him and we ran like this all the way to the freeway off-ramp, where I was once again treated to a light show of blue colored fireballs erupting from the exhaust with each downshift. By the time we arrived at the parking lot entrance to Cars&Coffee, I immediately knew what the featured make of car would be for the day. Both the black and yellow Ford GT’s were soon waived into the reserved parking lot, to join the cars already on display. After finding a parking space, and having consumed my breakfast, with camera in hand, it was time to head out and see what amazing cars Saturday morning had in store…

Walking through the Ford display area, I encountered the Black Ford GT with white stripes and racing number that I had watched being stalked on the freeway earlier that morning by the CHP…

The yellow fender showing in this image above, belongs to the fire-ball spitting GT 40 that I shadowed on my way to the show that morning…

Intermingled with the Ford GT’s were other Ford powered vehicles, ranging from Shelby Cobras, Sunbeam Tigers and an assortment of Pantera’s.

One of the standouts from the Shelby Cobra’s gathered that morning was this Guardsman Blue, 1966 427 Shelby Cobra seen below. What made this car even more unique, was the role it played in the 1976 movie “The Gumball Rally”. For those of you that remember the film, yes, this is the actual Guardsman Blue, 427 Shelby Cobra featured throughout the movie.

The current owner had even included a biography on the car as shown above, highlighting its history and involvement in “The Gumball Rally”…

Even the Cobra’s license plate was a clue to this cars identity for those in the know. Now all that was missing was a red Ferrari 365 Daytona Spyder and “Franco”…

(All photos by the author)

Reflections on a summery Saturday morning, and two new Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings…

Posted on March 14, 2012 by digitaldtour

For the second weekend in a row, Southern California was once again blessed with summer like weather, complete with warm breezes and sunny, cloudless crystal blue skies. This past Saturday was another stunning example, and what better time to undertake another study of reflections, and explore the contrast of shadow and light and their collective impact on the automotive form.

The following photos represent my latest study, with lighting effects provided courtesy of Mother Nature, and additional fill provided by my Nikon SB600 Speedlight…

After shooting the Ferrari Daytona coupe seen above, I ran into a friend who asked if I had seen the Ferrari Enzo and Bugatti Veyron parked by the catering tables. I told him no, and then asked if the Bugatti was the blue-tinted carbon fiber model that had been at the event 2 weeks earlier. He said no, that this one was a two-tone, red on black, and that the Enzo parked just in front was a blood orange color. So off I went in search of these two cars, which can be seen below. I was definitely surprised to see each car displaying a KONY 2012 placard, an apparent effort by each owner to draw attention to the atrocities committed by African warlord Joseph Kony, against the children of his country…

I then noticed that another crowd was gathered towards the middle of the parking lot and decided to find out what was drawings the crowd. There parked at the end of the row, was a spectacular looking hot rod, and then it hit me. This was a Chip Foose creation, and walking towards the back confirmed it. This was the Foose HemiSFear…

And with the rear deck opened, even the valve covers confirmed that this was in fact the HemiSFear.

My next stop was on Mercedes row, to check out a beautifully restored Triumph motorcycle parked next to an amazing black Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster, both the source of some amazing shadows and reflections…

And now an update on my two latest Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings…

On Saturday March 3, I added another GT3 RS4.0 sighting (#7) to my list of cars encountered since October 2011 at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV. This car was another example of the white exterior with the RS4.0 exterior graphics package, with the white wheel configuration.

After talking with the owner, I learned that he’s had the car for only three months, but from the smile on his face it was obvious he thoroughly enjoys ownership. It was then time to ask him my standard GT3 RS4.0 question – What series number is your car out of the total 600 built? Fortunately, every RS4.0 owner faced with my question has been gracious enough to share their cars series number. And keeping the trend alive, this owner shared with me that his car was #490 out of 600.

Sighting #8, and my second sighting for March, occurred this past Saturday, and was once again at Cars&Coffee /Irvine. This particular car appeared to be brand new; also white and wearing the traditional RS4.0 exterior graphics package, but in this case its wheels were black.

Realizing that this was a brand new car, and not one that I had seen before, I immediately looked around for the owner in hopes of asking him about his car, and adding its series number to my GT3 RS4.0 sighting list. No owner was to be found, so I circled that car a few more times, adding more images to my collection and studying the various reflective surfaces found on the car.

I returned to the car a little later and was lucky enough to catch the owner, just as he was getting ready to leave. I quickly introduced myself, and explained my interest in the Porsche GT3 RS4.0, along with my quest to document each of my RS4.0 sightings since seeing my first at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV. I learned that the owner had also attended Rennsport Reunion IV, and had even participated in the weekends racing. It was then time for me to ask my question, and this owner kept the tradition alive by sharing with me that his car was series #491. I then shared with him that I had encountered another white GT3 RS4.0 one week earlier, which was series # 490. We both agreed on the rarity of finding two cars with sequential series numbers, from such a limited worldwide production.

Now only 592 GT3 RS4.0’s remaining…

(All photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Tag Archives: Cars

A stranger in a strange land…

From the outside looking in; Observations from the 2012 RGruppe Solvang Treffen

Three to get ready and Porsches to show…

California Festival of Speed, and two new Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings…

Up, up and away, and a Porsche 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport…

A tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche at Cars&Coffee/Irvine…

Of Speedsters, Spyders, Porsche GT3 RS4.0’s, and more…

A Porsche dream fulfilled…

Of Ford GT’s and the “Gumball Rally” 427 Shelby Cobra…

Reflections on a summery Saturday morning, and two new Porsche GT3 RS4.0 sightings…