“Thunderstorms hit Southern California”, yet fail to dampen the spirits of those attending the 2014 LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show, and the Phoenix Club’s Porsche show and swap meet…

Posted on March 16, 2014 by digitaldtour

“Thunderstorms hit Southern California”, yet fail to dampen the spirits of those attending the 2014 LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show, and the Phoenix Club’s Porsche show and swap meet.

Below is an example of the crowd present for this years LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show. I was told by friends who had arrived early to be part of the paid “early entry” at 7AM, that they had never seen so many people show up for the early entry, and that the crowds at 9 AM were equally impressive.

One of several display tables with an assortment of driving lights, fog and tail lights.

Vintage Hella tail lights, application unknown. However, the Hella 128 fog lights (as noted by the price tag seen below) were optional on Porsche 911s dating back to 1966. It pains me to see the current asking price for a set of 128s, especially since I sold a pristine pair to a friend back in 1973 for $45.

Several rows over was another table full of favorites; car grill / badge bar commemorative plaques…

all very cool and expensive, with each possessing unique detail and color.

One of the nicest Porsche parts displays present (seen below), showcasing an unrivaled variety of Porsche 356 parts for sale, presented by the firm Stoddard NLA-LLC.

The following day (Sunday) traditionally hosts a larger, outdoor swap meet and car show down in Orange County, at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. In all of my years of attendance, this was the first time rain would impact the event. The Porsche community however is a hearty lot, so a little rain was not about to affect their show…

An early 911 headlight (below), equipped with a European spec, amber French lens.

One highly visible, glow in the rain Porsche 930 turbo.

One rain drenched Porsche super car; the rare Type 959. Even at rest, the rain sheets right off…

One of the Porsche 356 representatives present, showing no apprehension regarding the morning rain.

Proof that water does bead up on highly waxed surfaces.

Representing the early long hood community, was this beautifully prepared Beige Gray 1968 Porsche 911.

Rear decklid and side stripes with a rally sport inspired graphic treatment; could these graphics be the handiwork of werkcrew founder Bob Tilton?

The equally impressive, rally / race inspired motor.

More proof that Southern California Porsche owners drive their cars in the rain…

and the rest of the car covered by the morning rain.

Several of the early morning arrivals, parked up close to the building and protected from the majority of the rain showers.

A pair of Porsche GTs staged out in the rain; a 1972 911 GT and the rally prepared,1970 914-6…

The real deal; a close up view of true 914-6 GT factory fender flares.

Proof of this vehicles pedigree; a record of its previous participant and survivor status in the Panama / Alaska Rally.

One of the early 911S models on display at this years show…

complete with a recent acquisition by the owner, proudly displayed on the dash.

This burgundy 911S was also one of the few Porsches at the show equipped with a roof mounted, Leitz brand luggage rack.

One of the local RGruppe members, displaying a variety of magnetic vinyl club event plaques on his front hood.

One rain-soaked rear decklid, wrapped in Martini racing graphics.

Below, further evidence of the morning drizzle…

on what initially appeared to be an early 1970s vintage Porsche 911. However, upon closer inspection it became obvious that this car was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Concealed beneath its skin lurked a 1986 3.2 liter, Porsche 911 Carrera having undergone a conversion known as “backdating”. That effort combined with the visually correct, optional front and rear bumper overriders, created a convincing 1970s appearing Porsche 911.

Suspicions confirmed… and itemized.

A convincing re-spray, in period correct Irish green.

One of the apparent casualties of the morning rain; a shrunken Porsche 550 Spyder, reduced in size and now able to fit into the bed of a single cab VW type 2, being displayed by the folks from fibersteel.

Even with rain impacting this years event, there was still a huge turnout, illustrating the impact that this event holds for the Southern California Porsche community. And based upon the variety of different foreign accents overheard during the weekend, it’s easy to see the wide reaching pull that this event has on Porsche fans from around the globe.

The next event coming up for the Southern California Porsche community will be the California Festival of Speed, at the Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, California from April 4-6. Let’s all hope for a warm sunny weekend…

(All photos by the author)

Heavy crowds, no rain, Porsches out in force and a few other surprises; the first cars&coffee/Irvine of 2014

Posted on January 16, 2014 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning, January 4, 2014 dawned cool and clear, good weather I thought for the first cars&coffee of 2014. However, on my drive down to Irvine and just as I passed Anaheim, I was greeted by a dense fog bank that had descended across the freeway. My immediate concern was that this fog was going to remain for the remainder of my drive. A couple of miles further south, the fog broke and once again I had a clear view. But unfortunately, as I approached Irvine, and starting at the Sand Canyon off ramp, the fog reappeared, now draped over the entire region. So under the cover of fog, I arrived at cars&coffee. Much to my surprise, Porsche row was almost completely filled, and it was just 6AM ! I was lucky enough to snag one of the last two remaining parking spaces on the row. And keeping with tradition, my first stop was for my weekly donut and hot chocolate, and on this morning, hopefully it would be enough to fend off the damp, foggy morning. After grabbing my camera, it was time to begin my search for awaiting treasures.

An extensive cache of Porsches assembled along Porsche row (below).

A return visit by the special order, Riviera Blue 2014 Porsche 991 coupe, wearing its Aerokit Cup option package.

With the return of heavy crowds and no rain, those cars arriving late were relegated to the overflow lot. The following photos represent several very cool Porsches that found themselves redirected to the overflow space.

The first Porsche encountered was the charcoal gray 930 turbo below.

The second Porsche was the 997 GT3 seen below, complete with an extensive graphics wrap.

Back on Porsche row, a friends signal red 1966 911, having shed its Fuchs 5 spoke alloy wheels for a set of original issue, period correct 4 -1/2″ X 15″ steel wheels.

Given the number of cars assembled each week, it helps to have friends who walk the rows, and check out the cars present. That way, if something really catches their attention, they are nice enough to share their discoveries with me for photographic consideration. That was exactly how I learned of the Koenigsegg CCX, parked out in the back rows of the lot. I had only seen the car in magazines, so this was my first time seeing one in person. Not knowing much about the details relating to this car, I decided some research was in order.

I quickly learned that the mid engined super car seen below was manufactured in Angelholm, Sweden and that this was a CCX model, and equipped with the optional rear spoiler. The CCX designation stands for “Competition Coupe 10”, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the first Koenigsegg competition coupe produced. The CCX model was produced from 2006 through 2010, with only 14 CCX models delivered.

Located beneath the rear glass window, is the Koenigsegg’s aluminum, DOHC 4.7 liter, twin supercharged V8, producing 806 bhp. Power is transferred to the rear wheels by a 6- speed transmission, reported to be good for delivering a top speed of 245 mph.

The 12 spoke wheels found on the CCX are a unique Konigsegg design, and sized 9.5″ X 19″ up front, 12.5″ X 20″ out back. Grip is provided by a set of Michelin Pilot sport tires, with stopping power provided by a set of Brembo 8 piston calipers up front, and AP racing calipers out back.

Another exotic parked only several rows away was the Ferrari F12Berlinetta seen below.

At first glance, I thought it to be a Ferrari 599, but as I got closer, I realized that it was in fact a brand new F12Berlinetta. Ferrari designed the F12 as the replacement for their 599 model, with production initiated in 2012. Propulsion for this model is provided by a 6.3 liter, V-12 motor, producing 730 horsepower, able to deliver a top speed of 210 + mph.

The wheel / tire combination for the F12Berlinetta is as follows: Front tires are 255/35ZR20, mounted to a 9.5J X 20 wheel. The rear tires are sized at 315/35ZR20, and mounted to rear wheels measuring 11.5J X 20. Stopping power is provided by Ferrari’s Carbon Ceramic brake system (CCM), and on this particular car equipped with brake calipers painted Giallo Modena (yellow).

My last stop of the morning was to check out one of my personal favorites: the brilliant orange 2007 911 GT3RS seen below.

Representing one of the amazing branches in the Porsche GT3RS family tree…

purpose built and exuding cool from every angle.

As southern California continues to enjoy its uncharacteristically warm winter, and with no rain in sight, the crowds at cars&coffee continue to grow each week. As a result, arrival time ( 6 AM or earlier) has become increasingly important. A late arrival will result in bing directed to the overflow lot. At least it’s better than being unable to enter the show at all because of overcrowding. Given the forecast of another weekend of warm weather, this coming Saturday morning promises to be a repeat of the last; bursting at the seams with truly amazing cars.

(All photos by the author)

“Let’s do the time warp again”…

Posted on January 1, 2014 by digitaldtour

Looking back over 2013, it had become increasing apparent to me that during my weekly participation at my local cars&coffee event, I had witnessed a phenomenon resembling that of a time warp. This realization became even more obvious during my shooting of the car seen below.

As I viewed the image on my camera’s rear display, suddenly time appeared to be moving in slow motion. After taking a second shot, I immediately noticed the effect had now become even more pronounced.

Had time truly slowed down or was I speeding up? Or had I been transported back in time, and was now viewing this beautiful 1959 356A coupe in the past tense? Looking around, I could see a number of other Porsche models assembled, including a rare 1966 Porsche 906 race car. Anchoring the other end of this family tree was a pair of brand new, 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S models.

The following photos illustrate a variety of Porsche models one can encounter on any given Saturday morning at cars&coffee/Irvine. However, you can also discover a multitude of other brands and their respective models, represented by both vintage as well as the most current models.

A frequent cars&coffee participant seen below: the impressive 1966 Porsche 906 race car.

Low slung doesn’t even begin to describe the height of this race car, when compared to the red Porsche 911 parked alongside.

The weekly lineup of early Porsche 911s parked along Porsche row, anchored by one pristine, Viper Green 1973 Porsche 911S.

An up close view of the scarce yet highly desirable, European Bosch H1 dual bulb headlight.

Further down Porsche row, a pair of modified, early 1970s Porsche 911s, both representatives of the RGruppe.

On this morning, participants were rewarded by the presence of two true supercars. Representing Porsche, dressed in GT silver, was a Carrera GT, produced from 2004 – 2007, with only 1270 built. Representing Ferrari, and parked immediately in front of the Carrera GT, was the brilliant red Ferrari F40. The Ferrari F40 model was built from 1987 – 1992, also in very limited quantities. This car represents one of only 1315 Ferrari F40 models produced.

A peek into the Carrera GT’s leather wrapped interior…

and out back, its exposed 5.7 liter, 612 HP V10 motor, flanked by its visible rear suspension components.

The Carrera GT’s rear deck lid, complete with contoured, protective mesh grills, and dual NACA ducts.

Christmas 2013 arrived early for the two lucky owners of the pair of 2014 Porsche 911 turbo S models. First up is the 2014 Guards Red 911 Turbo S coupe below…

A fraction of its reported top speed of 197 mph…

Lurking in the shadows was the second of the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S models present, this one dressed in white.

The unique center lock, 20 ” forged, bright polished Turbo S wheel, framing the PCCB brake components, and highlighted by the systems signature yellow brake caliper.

As the event wound down, I realized that after viewing a multitude of cars each week representing Porsche, Merced Benz, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Chevrolet, Ford, Lotus, Jaguar, Mazda, Nissan and many others, and regardless of ones favorite make or model, you too can experience the time warp phenomenon simply by attending. So for 2014, if you haven’t yet experienced cars&coffee, come on down and “let’s do the time warp again”.

(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…

Posted on May 27, 2013 by digitaldtour

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)

California Festival of Speed 2013; A 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts…

Posted on April 14, 2013 by digitaldtour

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)

If you host it, they will come…

Posted on March 13, 2013 by digitaldtour

On Sunday March 3, 2013 the Porsche community once again rallied at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, California, for the 356 Club of Southern California’s, 4th Annual All Porsche Swap and Car Display.

And what a turnout; with models ranging from the Porsche 356, 912, early 911’s, 914’s & 914/6, and 911 turbos. There was also the debut of a recently completed 911ST recreation, and the showcasing of a lone Porsche 904 GTS, and one brand new Red Porsche 991 Carrera S coupe.

The following images represent but a small cross-section of the incredible Porsches that came out for this years event…

And under the tents, was just one of several fresh restorations from the folks at CPR Classics (California Porsche Restoration) below. Their website offers up an insiders look at the many phases of their meticulous 911 restorations, and is a great visual tool for learning about Porsche 911s from the inside out. So should you be in the market for an early 911, check out their website for some very cool 911s using this link…

Another of the amazing restorations (in Viper Green) from CPR Classics…

One very cool 1972 Porsche 911ST recreation making its debut (below)…

Another example of the current trend in lightweight fiberglass hoods; correct right down to the unpainted underside, revealing the glassed-in balsa wood battens to add rigidity…

The sole Porsche 904 Carrera GTS in attendance; Butzi’s original blue 904-002 prototype below. (For additional images of this 904, please refer to this link to one of my previous posts).

And representing Porsche race cars was the Texaco / Havoline 962C, courtesy of the folks at Pelican Parts (as seen below)…

And last but not least, was one of the hidden treasures found out in the vendor swap area; a two toned VW bus, wrapped in Porsche factory graphics, and showcasing a pair of Porsche 917 autographed drivers side doors. One representing the Gulf Blue John Wyer #20 917, and the second, the #3 Martini Racing 917…

Given the amazing collection of Porsches, parts, vendors and people who came together for this years show, the 356 Club of Southern California can rest assured that if they host it for 2014, we will return…

(All photos by the author)

A decidedly 1960’s themed morning…

Posted on October 4, 2012 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning saw Porsche row at Cars&Coffee filled shortly after 6 AM. By the time I pulled in at around 6 AM, there were only a half-dozen spaces remaining, scattered throughout the row. And as I was making my way over to the catering table for my weekly donut and OJ, those remaining space were reduced down to just two. By 6:15, the entire row had been filled, but not entirely by Porsches. The last two cars were a Mini Cooper and a sunbeam tiger, both friends of the owner of the Mini that was already parked when I arrived. While finishing my donut and talking with several friends, we noticed a red sports prototype pass behind Porsche row and come to a halt on the outside end of our row. From what I could see of the car under the early morning darkness, it looked to be a mid 60’s vintage Ferrari race car (perhaps a P3 / P4 model), so the next question was what is it, and is it the real deal?

The middle of Porsche row was occupied by several very cool, mid sixties vintage Porsches; one a pristine red,1966 911, and immediately to its left, a white, 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera race car, both frequent visitors to this event.

And surrounding these cars on both side were a mix of early 1970s vintage 911s , Porsche 356 and one spectacular 1970 914-6.

Hidden away towards the west end of the row was yet another surprise; a blue, 1950’s vintage Porsche 550 Spyder, one of several late arrivals to Porsche row…

Another of the late arrivals, but relegated to parking out on the last row of the lot, was another rare, 1960’s vintage Porsche; the green 356 Carrera 2 as seen below…

And rounding out the assemblage of late arrivals, was this always impressive and historically significant, blue 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS as seen below…

For those unfamiliar with this particular car, this is 904-002, a car not only designed by Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche, but the one that served as his personal car, with many unique design features found only on this car.

Now back to the mystery Ferrari; while still under the cover of darkness, I made my way towards where it had been parked.

Walking around the car, it sure looked like the Ferrari Prototype race cars I had seen in magazines from back in the 1960’s.

It had the Ferrari badging, gold Campagnolo wheels, and a weber carburetted Ferrari motor with racing exhaust feeding into dual mufflers, all visible through the rear window.

Purpose built interior with a gated shifter (above and below)

Another somewhat deceptive clue was the license plate; 67 330 P4. So the question still remained: was it really a 1967 Ferrari 330 P4? So off I went in search of an answer. After talking with several people knowledgeable about Ferrari’s, I learned the following: No, it was not an actual Ferrari 330 P4 race car, but a really cool re-creation, apparently using all Ferrari parts from a donor street car. An ideal alternative to owning a six figure, Ferrari race car, but one with the ability to be driven on the street. Kind of like the ultimate Ferrari project car…

Seeing just one of these 1960’s classics is a treat, be it Porsche or Ferrari, but leave it to Cars&Coffee to deliver automotive diversity in quantity each and every Saturday morning, and for me that is what keeps me returning each week.

(All photos by the author)

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)

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

Posted on October 22, 2011 by digitaldtour

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

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

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

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

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

Our next stop was the Brumos Porsche transporter…

(www.brumosracing.com)

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

(www.porsche.com/usa/)

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

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

(All photos by the author)

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

Posted on October 20, 2011 by digitaldtour

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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