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

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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)

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)

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)

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)

Observations on Southern California’s all Porsche Swap and Car display, March 4, 2012…

Posted on March 9, 2012 by digitaldtour

Once a year, the “Porsche literature, toy/model and memorabilia meet for Porsche and Vintage VW’s” comes to town, and is followed up by the all Porsche Swap and Car display on Sunday, held at the Phoenix Club located in Anaheim, California.

Last weekends weather could not have been better suited for a Porsche swap meet and car display. Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, with a cloudless blue sky and summer like temperatures. And the Porsche community showed up in droves…

By the time I arrived at the Phoenix Club (at 7:30 AM), I was greeted by one very long, single file line of Porsches, queued up nose to tail, awaiting entry into the event to be part of the car display. So I tucked in line, to wait with the rest of the assembled masses. As soon as the gate opened, we were routed through the aisles of the already active swap meet, with our final destination being the grassy field at the back, selected for the days display parking.

The welcome committee (above and below), parked along the swap meet aisles, greeted those driving into the event…

Various car clubs and their members (the 356 Registry, Early S Registry, POC, and the RGruppe just to name a few), had been granted priority parking, and were already staged about the grounds. (I found out later that they had all arrived at 6 AM for positioning). Once parked on the lawn, and after a quick scan of the surrounding cars, it was time to grab my camera and head off to check out the undiscovered Porsches.

Centrally located on the site, was the huge green tent (“Festhalle”), which housed a large collection of vendors, all hawking Porsche related products and services. And strategically placed around the perimeter of the tent, were the different cars clubs, each displaying a variety of Porsches; from 356’s to 911’s, 912’s, one Brumos Porsche 935 (courtesy of Pelican Parts), and even a Porsche Junior tractor…

In addition to the Brumos Porsche 935, there were several other Porsche race cars present; the Wynn’s Porsche 962, and the red Coca-Cola Porsche 935…

And just around the corner from these two cars was another hidden gem; the historically significant, blue 1964 Porsche 904 GTS Carrera, serial number 904-002. For those unfamiliar with this particular car, this is one of only two pre- production prototypes built, and that served as the personal car of its designer Ferdinand Alexander (Butzi) Porsche…

After shooting the 904, it was time for a closer look at some of the remaining cars staged throughout the grassy display area…

And hidden out in the back corner of the field was this rasberry colored 1973 Carrera RS…

After making the rounds through the car display area, it was time for one last pass around the Festhalle tent, in case I missed any cars…

And with one last Carrera RS sighting, it was time to head home.

Note to self: the next time you come across a 1/43 scale GT3 RS4.0 model, don’t delay in deciding whether or not to buy it…

(all photos by the author)

A Carbon fiber Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, and a smorgasbord of Porsches…

Posted on February 28, 2012 by digitaldtour

Sunrise this past Saturday morning revealed a treasure not seen at Cars&Coffee in some time: a Bugatti Veyron. But this particular model was not just any Bugatti, but one of the latest Veyron Super Sports, optioned out in Dark blue-tinted carbon fiber bodywork.

As soon as the driver from Symbolic Motors parked the Bugatti, it was immediately swarmed by those in attendance, and remained that way until it departed. It was flanked shortly after by two other vehicles, also from Symbolic Motors, and both Lamborghini Gallardo Spyders. One in bright yellow and the other in matte black. Combined, they served for the morning as protective bookends for the Bugatti.

At one point, the driver of the Bugatti climbed back into the Veyron, started the engine and after flipping a switch or two, the rear wing and air brake ascended from their resting place in the rear bodywork for all to see…

Equally impressive were the components revealed by the raising of the wing; heat shielding throughout the compartment, what appeared to be a titanium exhaust, silver expanded metal mesh cladding, in addition to the silver, satin finished rear wing struts, machined linkages and hydraulic fittings. Not to mention some amazing reflections cast in the surrounding surfaces from a variety of hardware.

And tucked in beneath the streamlined rear cowling was the motor, set like an ornate piece of jewelry, displayed within a protective blue-tinted carbon fiber jewel case…

But now it was time to check out the rest of the show, so off I headed to Porsche row… Once again there was a diverse collection of Porsches present from early 911’s, several different models of 911 GT3’s, a 2011 GT3RS, as well as a brand new 2012 911 Carrera S (type 991)…

After checking out the Porsches and then the other cars in attendance, I made my way back to the Bugatti and check out the crowd…

And I was just in time to observe the driver climb back into the car, fire it up and watch the rear wing retract (refer to the photos below)…

And with the engine sufficiently warmed, the Bugatti was put into gear and rolled out towards the exit. As it made its way, it collected a huge procession of bystanders, who followed it out with cameras and cell phones capturing the action, recording its very presence that morning and its departure.

I found out later that morning from my youngest son, that someone had already posted photos of the blue Bugatti from Cars&Coffee on Facebook. The passion for all things automotive is definitely alive and thriving here in Southern California…

(all photos by the author)

The shiny, happy cars of Cars&Coffee…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by digitaldtour

Shiny, happy cars, and hordes of happy people. That’s the atmosphere experienced each and every week at Cars&Coffee, and this past Saturday was no exception.

Under the cover of darkness, two white on white Lamborghini’s rumbled in, circled the lot and parked side by side. One was an early Countach 5000 S, and the second, a Diablo VT Roadster.

With no rain in sight, and the light morning overcast rapidly burning off with the sunrise, an amazing collection of bright shiny cars were soon revealed. The pair of Lamborghini’s acted like a glowing beacon within the parking lot, with their scissor doors pointed skyward like searchlights, and quickly began drawing a crowd…

Over at Porsche row, I was pleasantly surprised to see that on this particular morning, the entire row was occupied by Porsches; from 356’s, 914’s, 911’s, 912’s, and a rare 911 GT2RS …

And parked immediately behind Porsche row, was this beautiful blue 1965 Porsche 356 SC cabriolet…

And parked on yet another row, perpendicular to Porsche row, was this pair of modified Porsche 997 GT3 coupes…

And over at the “Featured lot”, was a gathering of the Roush Road Crew / Ford Mustang car club…

And situated opposite from the Roush mustangs, were several vintage Ford roadsters seen below. The black roadster was a highly modified 1933 model, complete with tan leather interior and matching rumble seat, and burl wood dash. Under the hood sat a highly modified Chevrolet power plant that was just as impressive as the rest of the car. The body work and paint finish alone were spectacular, delivering reflections from every angle, like a black mirror…

And representing Chevrolet, was this amazing silver Corvette Sting Ray coupe, complete with a L72, 427 cubic inch motor…

And every so often, one comes across an interesting radiator cap secured to a massive chrome grill…

Or a time capsule, 1951 Studebaker Champion, with fighter plane styled influences…

Perhaps a P-38 lightning influenced front end?

Also in attendance, and representing Jaguar, were these three examples of their latest high performance offering – the 2012 XKR-S. Interestingly, two out of the three XK’s present, (one in French Racing Blue and the second in Italian Racing Red Metallic / both in coupe form), looked identical to two of the cars currently represented in Jaguars new commercial for the XKR-S. Shown below (in Polaris white), was the sole convertible…

What makes these three cars even more unique, in addition to their being powered by a four cam, 5 liter supercharged V8, pumping out 550 horsepower, and rolling on 20″ wheels, is the fact that Jaguar only manufactured 25 examples of this particular model for 2012. Apparently Jaguar is already at work on a second limited production run of XKR-S models (100 only) for 2013…

And with several 1960’s vintage Jaguar E type coupes on site for comparison, it was easy to see where the designers drew their inspiration and historical references from for this new model…

And in what seems to be becoming a trend, the Lamborghini owners once again converged along the very last row of the parking lot, with the landscaped hillsides serving as a photographic backdrop…

Lamborghini row with a silver McLaren MP4-12C slipped in for good measure below…

And tucked away over by the Mazda facility loading docks, was this amazing gray (Grigio Medio) Ferrari 599…

And last but not least, hidden away in the furthest back corner of the lot, and at the opposite end of Lamborghini row, was this beautiful white Porsche 911 GT3RS with titanium colored graphics…

Given the massive turn out that was experienced last weekend, one can only speculate as to the hidden treasures awaiting discovery this Saturday…

(all photos by the author)

A Coventry inspired rain, reflections and rainbow colored cars…

Posted on February 16, 2012 by digitaldtour

This past Saturday morning saw scattered English country like showers pass through the Cars & Coffee parking lot several times in the pre-dawn hours. And how appropriate for christening the local Jaguar Clubs rally participants, all gathered together for a Saturday morning event at Cars&Coffee…

Once again the parking lot to the right of the main entrance was called into action to serve as the venue for a wide variety of Jaguar models, including an incredible array of XK and E-types roadsters and coupes, all on display as part of the clubs early morning get together.

In between the episodes of drizzle, the Jaguar owners would break out their chamois or microfiber towels to quickly dry off their cars and the exposed leather interiors…

And then there were the Jaguar owners who had the foresight to install their tonneau covers in case of rain…

Located at the end of the first row of Jaguars was this beautiful black on red, 1956 Jaguar XK 140 MC OTS. The owner even included a biography about the car, posted on his windshield (see below)…

And parked just across the aisle, was this amazing pale green on red, Jaguar XK 150 coupe…

And then there were the E -type Jaguars; in an assortment of rainbow colors, lined up side by side… dark green, light green, metallic green, yellow, dark blue, red and white.

It was amazing to see so many E -types gathered together in one setting…

And down at the opposite end of the Jaguar E -type row, was this pair of beautiful red and blue XK 150 roadsters…

Over on Porsche row, no car had been safe from the rain. These particular Porsches seen below had arrived in the early morning hours, evidenced by the amount of rain drops still clinging to their highly polished exteriors. What I found equally interesting, was the unique water droplet run-off patterns found on each cars roof and hoods…

And as I reached the end of the row, I encountered an unexpected surprise; a brand new white, 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S (type 991). This is the first 2012 model that I have seen on the street, since witnessing its debut back in October at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV…

I’m still having to get used to this new design and styling, along with the various Panamera influences found about the car. Personally, I’m disappointed that the new 911 (type 991) has lost some of the unique characteristics that over the year have come to define the Porsche 911. Or maybe its just the references to the Panamera, used in context to this new model that I find troubling…

Moving on, my next stop was to the very back row of the parking lot, which on this cold, rainy morning looked like a scene straight from the local Lamborghini dealership. Here sat a rainbow assortment of Lamborghini Gallardos, with a couple Gallardo Superlegerra models squeezed in for good measure…

Then just as I finished shooting the Lamborghini’s, it started to drizzle again. Out came the umbrellas (for those with umbrellas), and signaled to me it was time to head back to my car.

On my way back, I came across this bright red Porsche 550 spyder replica below, still dry having escaped the earlier showers. However it didn’t look like it would stay that way for long, as the drizzles intensity began to increase. And with that, the remaining cars on site began to depart, returning to the shelter of their garages, in preparation to do it all over again the following Saturday morning, rain or shine…

(all photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Tag Archives: Porsche

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

Three to get ready and Porsches to show…

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

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

A Porsche dream fulfilled…

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

Observations on Southern California’s all Porsche Swap and Car display, March 4, 2012…

A Carbon fiber Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, and a smorgasbord of Porsches…

The shiny, happy cars of Cars&Coffee…

A Coventry inspired rain, reflections and rainbow colored cars…