911 NATION

FEATURE | Respect Your Elders, 1989 Porsche 930 Turbo

GIANCARLO — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:35:19 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are happy to present 911Nation citizens with this guest post by David O’Neal, Past President and Current Zone 12 Representative for Porsche Club of America’s Space Coast Region. It was published in the Space Coast Region’s Escape Velocity magazine which circulates mostly exclusively amongst their PCA regional members, but David was kind enough to share it with us so we can share this great story with our citizens. David embodies the values of a true Porsche enthusiast and we couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to share this post with you, so please enjoy! And if you haven’t sign up to Porsche Club of America, then click here to get the ultimate Porsche experience!

Article By: David O’Neal

A couple of months ago, I had the unexpected opportunity to drive Steve Hoffman’s 1989 Porsche 930 Turbo. Actually, I begged for the ride. The 930 was one of the most powerful cars in the world in its day. This twenty-plus year old dominated (albeit briefly) our “Dyno Day” performance measurements in December by producing an amazing 330 RWHP. The baritone burble of the 3.3-liter flat six is compelling; how could I resist the chance to pilot this machine on a back-road trek to Sebring?

Upon sliding into the cockpit, I was struck immediately by how much smaller the interior space is than in current Porsche sports cars. My hands could touch easily the upright windshield as I adjusted my driving position. The familiar five gauges were un-nested and spread across the flat dash, the second and forth hidden behind the steering wheel. The cabin was Spartan; ventilation controls were simple sliders. The four-speed transmission was simple as well – one to roll and three to go. Steve’s only instruction was that I shift “s l o w l y”.

I turned the key and the 930 roared to life; I almost stalled the car while letting out the clutch for the first time. After less than one-half mile, I found nothing familiar in the way the car performed; it was noisy, the clutch vague, the steering felt heavy and the brake pedal unsure. The gearbox was fussy, requiring me to double-clutch in order to smoothly engage the next gear. To me this was a foreign car that I found hard to relate to the “organic” feel provided by the later models.

Heading west from Melbourne, both the car and I began to settle in and started to relax. The steering wheel communicated accurately the feel and condition of the road, although with a bit of play in it. The throttle was smooth and responsive; when I lifted off of the pedal, that wonderful burble filled the cabin with its intoxicating melody causing me to chuckle. While making the hard left onto US 441, another surprise: there is no power steering on a 930! Accelerating smartly out of Holopaw, I felt the massive amount of available power as the torque-happy turbos spun to life for the first time. Whoa. I rolled down the windows to take it all in as the wind rushed past.

After 60 miles, I started to understand. The 930 is a machine that must be driven – human input is required, desired, and essential. This particular Turbo has its own personality (and name); I had to earn its trust and respect before the 930 would let me experience its true nature (or shift without double clutching, for that matter). This car has a rhythm when you drive it; on the road it’s a dance partner that you work with, rather than an extension of self. You have to adapt to the music, and if you do, the reward is experiencing the unbridled power of this car: a seemingly endless bubbling caldron sitting at your back, defining the 930 experience as that of a pure sports car.

Since the drive to Sebring, I have raved about this car; other 930 owners just smile knowingly. From this experience, I now understand the reason for cars such as the 911 GT3 RS. That too, is a machine that must be driven; its nature is raw and unbridled and it reflects the state-of-the-art for its place in history. Both the 930 and GT3 RS define without frills the incredible performance capabilities of Porsche sports cars. Respect your elders my friends, and learn from them.

If you like this post, then please subscribe by E-mail or RSS reader to stay connected and gain access to much more. 911Nation.com is the Ultimate Porsche Lifestyle Blog committed to bringing you the latest news, cars, products, stories, and just about everything else sought by the true Porsche enthusiast. That’s what we do! You can also help support our mission by connecting with us through Facebook. Take the proper precautions when pushing the limits and be safe out there!

VIDEO | A look at the Porsche 911 by Deutsche Welle

GIANCARLO — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:47:46 +0000

Hallo 911Citizens! This is a great video by Deutche Welle in English on the Porsche 911 story told from inside of a vintage Porsche 911S! Some of us are quite familiar with the story, but Deutche Welle did a superb job with this video, so check it out even if you don’ t need the refresher! And if any 911Citizens can guess the location of the test drive in the video, then please leave your guess in the comment sections below and we will affirm the correct answer….Enjoy!

[Source: Deutsche Welle English via YouTube]

FEATURE | Who says you can’t afford a Porsche 911?

IVAR — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:14:58 +0000

“Can I afford a Porsche 911?” Well, it’s a question that many of us have asked ourselves when gazing deep into our reflection in that unforgiving morning mirror. Luckily, for the citizens of this great nation, 911Nation drivers are looking out for you, and hopefully by the next time you face that mirror, you will have read this post. Behold your new Porsche 911…well if you have $22,500 to spare, that is… Wait, hold up, before you get too excited about this deal, just know that from the moment we found it, to the moment we posted this, this Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet was sold! Yes, deals like this are hard to come by and aspiring Porsche owners are way too many to sit back on your laurels and watch other Porsches ride by. So if you come across a deal like this and have the moolah to spare, then maybe after reading this post, you’ll know what to do!

Mileage is a on the high side (at a whopping 107,568), but the car appears to be in great condition and nicely optioned. Beautiful interior and in good condition. It can probably be had for something between $20,000 and $22,000 (any less and you are one helluva negotiator). Something similar to this could be a great starter car for a couple of years, and then trade up to a 996 GT3 for under $50,000, which is where they should be by then. And last, but not least is that you know this bad-boy has been properly vetted out since it’s part of RAC Performance’s inventory. Go ahead, take a look at what could have been ours, yours or mine…

1999 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Photo Gallery:

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[Source: RAC Performance]

Let this post serve as food for thought for all of you 911Nation Citizens. Whether you are ready to buy now or later, there’s always time to dream, evaluate, and consider! Be patient and buy your Porsche the old fashion way….by earning it! For more hot deals like this one, check out the pre-owned Porsche 911 inventory on RAC Performance’s website.

NEWS | The Porsche Macan (formerly Cajun) is coming…

ALESSANDRO — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:16:25 +0000

Now, I am sure that many of us will agree that we do not need another Porsche SUV, much less a Mini SUV, but the Cayenne is indeed a remarkable piece of machinery that many of us now enjoy, so who knows what we can expect from the Cajun, wait no, I meant Macan. Yes, Porsche AG will build the Porsche Mini SUV, formerly known as the Cajun, after-all. After years of on-again, off-again, Porsche confirmed that the Mini SUV will be built, only it will not be called the Cajun, but the Macan. So yes, the first Porsche Macan will be made at Leipzig factory– the factory where the best-selling Cayenne and the Panamera’s are born and where the Carrera GT supercar was assembled by hand)– and they will roll off the Leipzig assembly lines in 2013, which is getting a $655 million upgrade to add the Macan to the lineup. If you haven’t been to Leipzig Factory already, then we highly recommend it….all of 911Nation drivers have been there, but that’s another post altogether!! For more info on the Macan, including some spy shots taken during winter testing, then check out Road&Track’s article “2013 Porsche Macan – First Look”.

Video:

[Source: Porsche]

Official Press Release:

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart’s new sports car in the SUV segment has been given the name Macan. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics — core characteristics of the new off-road car.

“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche”, said Bernhard Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG. “The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations.”

As the fifth Porsche model line, the Macan is a central plank of Strategy 2018, by which the sports car manufacturer wishes to expand its model portfolio. Porsche intends the Macan to emulate the success of the Cayenne. The SUV will start coming off the production lines in Leipzig in 2013. To that end, the site in this city in Saxony is being expanded into a fully-fledged production plant including body assembly line and paint shop with 500 million euro of investment one of the biggest building projects in Porsche’s corporate history. In the medium-term, the sports car manufacturer will be creating more than 1,000 new jobs here.

Word names at Porsche have a concrete connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics: the name Boxster describes the combination of boxer engine and roadster, Cayenne stands for sharpness, the Cayman is snappy and agile and a Panamera is more than a Gran Tourismo, capable also of winning the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

[Source: Porsche via Yasta.pr]

*If you would like to see it in Spanish, then visit www.yasta.pr.

Click image below for a High-Rez Photo of the Macan:

EVENTS | Rolex 24 at Daytona

GIANCARLO — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:52:38 +0000

UPCOMING EVENT: Rolex 24 at Daytona | Saturday, January 28, 2012 – Sunday, January 29, 2012

911Citizens, do not miss this event! This year three 911nation drivers (myself included) are confirmed for this event. This racing event is gearing up to be one for the books, as Porsche celebrates it’s 50th year at Daytona and as the most winning Marque of the Rolex 24, Porsche will be the official car of the 24-hour race. we are exstatic that Porsche Cars North America announced the return of the two-day customer hospitality program at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

If you are interested in attending, then allow us to recommend the full Porsche Motorsports lifestyle experience….purchase your tickets for the Official Porsche Hospitality package directly from Porsche’s official microsite. There is still time, if you purchase today online, a Porsche Event Marketing Specialist will drop off your package at will-call. And for those of you interested in joining 911drivers and other 911citizens, we’ll be at the Porsche Hospitality Tent! Just drop us a line at contact@911nation.com and let’s do this thing! If you are watching it from home, then check out the TV Broadcast schedule for SPEED Channel below:

EVENT DETAILS
GRAND-AM Rolex Series – Daytona 24 Hours
Start: Saturday, January 28 at 3:30 PM ET
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.Duration: 24 hours

TV BROADCAST
Part 1: Saturday, January 28 – 2:30 PM ET, SPEED
Overnight: Saturday, January 28 – 10:00 PM ET, SPEED.COM
Part 2: Sunday, January 29, 9:00 AM ET, SPEED

The official Pace Car:

For more details here’s all you need:

Daytona International Speedway Official Website for the 50th Anniversary of Rolex 24 at Daytona

Porsche’s Official spiel on the 24hrs of Daytona, Brief Historical Background and All

Get the Timing & Scoring scoop from Grand-Am

Watch Rolex 24 of SPEED Channel

MRN Radio Broadcast of Rolex 24

Race Day Map:

[Source: Porsche]

EVENTS | PCA Social – Porsches on the Bay

GIANCARLO — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:46:32 +0000

Editor’s Note: After a small hiatus, due to a new demanding day job, a new gorgeous baby girl, and a much needed family holiday, your 911nation Driver-In-Chief is back in the saddle! Much has happened in the exciting Porsche world and, as always, we will be touching on those salient topics that 911nation citizens are passionate about, so stay tuned! Below we are playing a bit of catch-up with an Porsche Club of America – Gold Coast Region event that is worthy of mention, as it is Porsche Lifestyle at it’s best!

PAST EVENT: PCA Gold Coast Region Social at Mandarin Oriental | Sunday, November 13, 2011

This is a great social event that takes place on the oceanfront lawn of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami. Cythina from PCA Gold Coast Region and her team of volunteers greet you with a welcome “Porsche Rum Punch” and Argentinian-Style Barbeque so you can reach full blown Porsche hedonism. If you missed it this year, then prep your Porsche and get ready for the largest Porsche Social in South Florida come next November! We will be there!

Meet my daughter, a 4th Generation Porsche enthusiast at her first PCA event….I think she picked a helluva starter car! Actually, it is a replica, but who can blame her, she is just getting her feet wet at 5-months-old and in her defense, this is what Pedro from Pedro’s Garage had to say about this replica:

…(the car) is actually a very well executed replica. It has aluminum drum brakes, steel wheels and many date-correct parts and hardware. It’s one of the best-made, most expensive replicas I’ve seen. It’s also been driven it at Sebring on a not-so-hot lap.

Here are some other photos of the event from PedrosBoard Porsche-Focused Forum:

[Photo Credits: danz76 via PedrosBoard.com]

Don’t miss this event next year…become a member of Porsche Club of America – Gold Coast Region, stay up-to-date via their facebook page or you’ll have to read about it on 911nation.com!

If you like this post, then please subscribe by E-mail or RSS reader to be an informed citizen. 911Nation.com is the Ultimate Porsche Lifestyle Blog committed to bringing you curated topics covering news, cars, products, stories, and just about everything else sought by the true Porsche enthusiast. That’s what we do! You can also help support our mission by connecting with us through Facebook. Take the proper precautions when pushing the limits and be safe out there!

EVENTS | Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV

GIANCARLO — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:05:18 +0000

Despite a continually troubled economy where most of one’s time should be spent working hard to keep your business afloat or working one (maybe two) jobs to maintain your Porsche(s) in the garage or to maybe get your hands on some of the extremely exciting new models (for the lucky ones), some of our drivers were able to work in a little down time to make the trek to Laguna Seca to take part in this year’s Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV. Afterall, all work and no play, makes a Porsche enthusiast dull, which won’t help you win on any race track (hint: metaphor for Life).

Last Rennsport reunion, all of our drivers were able to attend since it was located much closer to home, but this year, we have one 911Nation driver participating, who will be sharing his photo journal of the event. One of the coolest things about the reunion is those cool Porsche posters and the Family Portait that they make every four years to promote the PCNA sponsored event.

And if you have ever wondered how they make those happen with all of those legendary race cars (which are priceless), then search no more…check out the amazing video below:

[Source: Porsche]

911Nation Photo gallery:

*This is how to roll when away from your Porsche. If you don’t keep a Porsche out West, then rent one. This Boxster is a tiptronic, but better than no Boxster (and certainly no Porsche). This way this 911Nation driver can also participate in Parade laps on Laguna Seca…now that’s well worth the rental!

*It’s great to see that the Octoberfest spirit lives strong thousands of miles from Bavaria! The Porsche Biergarten at Rennsport Reunion IV? Woofing down some Bratwurst with Porsche AG reps and fellow PCA members in between events? Man, I’m jealous!

*911Nation driver and PCA PR Region President Franco and his wife make it into the Porsche Rennsport Reunion event Program….now that’s legit!!

For more info on this legendary event that happens every four years (and almost didn’t happen this year) check out these links:

PORSCHE :: http://www.porsche.com/usa/rennsport-reunion-iv/

MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA :: http://www.mazdaraceway.com/

If you like this post, then please subscribe by E-mail or RSS reader to be an informed citizen. 911Nation.com is the Ultimate Porsche Lifestyle Blog committed to bringing you the relevant news, cars, products, stories, and just about everything else sought by the true Porsche enthusiast. That’s what we do! You can also help support our mission by connecting with us through Facebook. Take the proper precautions when pushing the limits and be safe out there!

INTERVIEW | SCCA’s Pirelli World Challenge Car Owner Charles Morgan

GIANCARLO — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:30:22 +0000

Editor’s Note: We are very happy to present this exciting interview with Charles Morgan, Co-Founder of TruSpeed Motorcars, a premier source for air-cooled Porsches in the United States; and Co-Owner, along with his son Rob Morgan, of the #45 PrivacyStar Porsche and the #46 Entrust/TruSpeed Porsche racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series. It’s an exciting series and we recommend it to our citizens interested in Motorsports, see the video at end of this post and find out why. Both he and his son race their cars alongside team member and official Porsche Factory Driver Patrick Long (#45 PrivacyStar Porsche). Success has not been elusive to the 67-year-old racing enthusiast. Charles graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has always had a passion for designing, building and racing automobiles and motorcycles. Professionally, he was the Company Leader (CEO) of Little Rock-based Acxiom Corporation. He is also an active pilot in Falcon and Citation jets. Most important of all he and his son Rob share with all of us true Porsche Passion! We hope you enjoy!

Question #1

911Nation: Hello Mr. Morgan, thank you for your taking the time for this interview. 911nation.com is a lifestyle blog focused on everything Porsche, so most of our questions will deal with your thoughts and experience with Porsche, your vast Motorsports experience and the Motorsports lifestyle to share this important aspect of Porsche experience that makes for exhilarating moments.

To start off, we would like to get down to the brass tacks! You have over 30 years of experience in the automotive & motorsport industry; and you have driven in almost 300 road courses in almost every type of modern road racing series, why Porsche?

CM: Porsche is world renowned for being successful in racing, and even though I have only recently started racing Porsche in the past few years, I have always been very impressed with their reliability and consistent performance. We have chosen to align ourselves with Porsche primarily for selling, servicing, and racing of the vehicles.

Porsche has a great track record of success in many different categories of racing and allows for drivers to be anywhere from amateur to experienced to the highest level in racing. In professional racing, we can race Porsche in the World Challenge and then race the same car in the Pirelli Cup. It’s great because we can translate this professional experience and expertise directly to customers who are driving in amateur and lower level racing venues.

Porsche has a raw amicability. You can find the cars anytime there is a road race going on whether it is all professionals weekend or amateur weekend. Due to their extreme reliability, they are one of the lowest cost racing experiences for such a high performance car.

Question #2

911Nation: As you may imagine, many of our readers, myself included, can remember the first time they confronted Porsche. My first Porsche memory takes me back to early childhood where I recall sitting in the back of my father’s red 1968 911 L Targa with black leather interiors, as if waiting to hit the road. Can you share with us your first Porsche experience?

CM: My first Porsche experience is kind of a funny story that I do not share frequently. It was a short experience that occurred in Texas in the early 1980s where I was racing in a non-Porsche. I got to talking with some people that I know who at the time had a brand new Porsche – new engine and everything. When I mentioned to them that I had never been in a Porsche they offered me with the chance to do a couple of laps in the new car.

I did two laps and then stopped because the engine did not sound right. It turned out that the engine was a piece of junk as it had eaten its own bearings and was minutes away from exploding. It was a modified streetcar made for racing and it did not even have 10 laps. Despite the fact that Porsche is the most reliable racing car in the world, I managed to blow up the engine on my first racing experience!

Question #3

911Nation: There is no denying that with Porsche, the bloodlines run deep. Even 60+ years later (and despite some unfortunate feuding), the Porsche Brand evokes a strong sense of camaraderie amongst fellow enthusiasts, but especially between father and son. This is the case in my family, where my two brothers and I share a great passion for Porsche and Motorsport with our father, as my father and grandfather did before us. What can you tell us of your experience with your son Rob and how both of you have connected through automobiles and Motorsport?

CM: Rob always wanted to race and I was happy that he did. In those days, it was hard to get a racing license before the age of 16 or even 18, but despite the law, I would not allow Rob to actually race until he was 18 so that he could have a normal childhood. Once he hit age 18, I used racing as an incentive and told him that if he did not finish college, his sponsorship would dry up. During Rob’s college years, he did race on weekends and over the summer and that enabled him and I to spend a lot of time together. Back then, I saw that he had plenty of talent and definitely enough to be a successful driver. When he finished college he was offered a paying job to drive in a Ferrari, and at the last minute his co-driver was unable to drive in the long distance race so I was able to stand in and we were able to race together.

Rob’s interest in racing gave us a chance to spend a lot of time together. When the kids were growing up, I had a lot of business obligations and our shared interest in racing gave me plenty of time to spend with Rob, so that we could really get to know one another. My daughter, Caroline, also went to racing school, but decided it was not for her so racing has always been something we have done as a family both when the kids were growing up and to this day.

It is amazing because Rob and I can spend an entire weekend in a motorhome and not have a fight, but I am not saying that we always get along – we are family. We have developed such a strong relationship through racing – he respects my input and knowledge on racing and I respect his driving talents.

Question #4

911Nation: Being anything, but new to racing, team ownership and race-day strategy, what drove you to form yet another team to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series? Can you tell us a little about the process leading up to the team’s launch? What kind of legwork did you and your son Rob Morgan do prior to launching the team, preparing the cars, securing sponsorship and signing Patrick Long? All of which put your teams in a great position to compete for the Championship?

CM: TruSpeed has been in the business of selling Porsche and when we moved into a new facility a couple of years ago we wanted to get into Porsche racing to compliment it as a way to promote the business and also to get more into the business of racing. The first thing we had to do was decide the series.

We initially looked at doing a lower level series like Patron. I actually raced in the Patron series and Rob ran a race or two in the World Challenge Series. After looking into the different operations we decided on the Pirelli World Challenge. Our first series was last year where I drove one car and Rob drove the other. Our goal behind doing the races ourselves was to understand the races and to see if we could build a business strategy around this specific type of racing.

After spending our first year with the series, we decided that we wanted to make a serious effort with the Pirelli World Challenge. The next thing we had to do was to figure out who was going to do the driving. I definitely wanted to do some of the driving, but did not want to do an entire season. We decided we needed to hire one professional driver and that Rob could drive the second car. We talked about a lot of different drivers and threw a lot of really good names around. We considered Kelly Collins who drove the PrivacyStar car at the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah because Patrick was in Europe.

Rob said to me “don’t think I am crazy, but what if we went after Patrick Long?” I thought sure why not, but did not imagine that he would do it for any reasonable amount of money because he is one of the best. We know a couple of people who know Patrick and we decided to give him a call to feel it out and see if he would be interested. When Rob talked to him, he said that he had been looking for a series where he could be a solo driver and showcase his talents. After many conversations with Porsche Germany and US, they agreed to let him run the World Challenge as long as he could maintain his prior commitments, which are huge. He went across the Atlantic 38 times last year and raced 220 days. Patrick is a great person, smart and really nice to work with.

Question #5

911Nation: Your #45 PrivacyStar and #46 Entrust/TrueSpeed team’s had successful runs in the series last few races, with a 5th and 6th finish at Long Beach and a big victory at the series opener in St. Petersburg. What went down at Miller Motorsports Park outside Salt Lake City, Utah? Can you share any race day strategies with our readers? For example, we know for at Miller, Patrick Long did not race and that you took the helms of your #46 Entrust car, how, if at all, does the race-day strategy change to account for the new driver Kelly Collins and his driving style and your own?

CM: During the race at Miller Motorsports Park, Kelly was in the PrivacyStar car and I drove the Entrust car. Kelly has not spent much time in a Porsche and he had to carry Patrick’s reward weight – 145 pounds over weight. With my old age, I am not very fast to begin with so we did the damn best we could under adverse conditions. The long straight aways at Miller Motorsport Park are not ideal for racing Porsche, better tracks are at Tampa and Long Beach, but our car and drivers are doing their best to get up to speed. We did our damn best and, like always, we hold our heads high!

Question #6

911Nation: TruSpeed was founded in 2001 by you and your son Rob, from where you sell street and race ready Porsche’s of all kinds (even collectibles). In 2009, TruSpeed moved into a new 28,000 SF facility where you keep a significant inventory. We know they are probably all special and worthy in their own way, but which one of TruSpeed’s current Porsche inventory is the best deal on earth? Please explain why..

CM: TruSpeed has had many unique and wonderful cars over the last 10 years from Jerry Seinfeld’s 1997 Turbo S to a 2010 Ruf CTR3. I would say the best deal we have today would be on one of our Vintage Speedsters. These cars are a lot of fun and a lot of look for the money! The cars can be purchased new in the upper $20′s, and a person can build their own car to spec, just like ordering a new car. Not to mention, you get the new car smell when you get inside! The authentic Porsche Speedsters can cost over $200k for a nicely restored car. A car needing restoration will still cost you over $100k. What is nice about the Vintage Speedster is you can still have the look of the original car and the fun of driving the original car for a fraction of the cost. Not to mention, the Vintage Speedster will driver better and stop better. You will not worry about parking this car in a crowded parking lot either! I know it is not a 911, but it is still a great car for the money and it falls in line with the Porsche Heritage.

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Question #7

911Nation: Our most popular post, entitled “Stories | Do-It-Yourself Porsche?” features the artwork by artist Hannes Langeder that recreated his own version of the GT3 RS using tape, plastic pipes, aluminum foil and bicycle wheels. Having designed, built and raced your own automobiles, what insight can you share about Porsche engineering & construction?

CM: I can share a fair amount of insight about Porsche engineering and construction because I have done a lot of race engineering as a mechanical engineer. I am pretty confident in saying that Porsche has built some of the most refined racecars that have ever existed on the planet. In terms of price performance they have refined and relined the basic 911 package. The car has good handling and all the components and pieces you have to have for a successful racecar – it is predictable and it stops very well. Last but not at all least, you do not spend all your time fixing the car. Porsche has great attention to detail and if they find something that is unreliable, they make it reliable. We drive them hard and harder and they still do not break. In my early days running the long distance races, there would be 75 cars at the start and 20 of them would be Porsche, at the end of the race there would be 35 cars still running and half of them would be Porsche. These cars just do not have any big weakness – the German engineering has continued to breed Porsche as an extraordinary racecar. The early cars did not handle as well, but the modern cars GT3 variety are fine handling cars and do not have any “bad habits” as we drivers say.

Question #8

911Nation: In the same post, we discuss the artist’s tongue-in-cheek eco-friendly message. That said, Porsche seems to have reinvented itself and it’s strategy by forging ahead and pushing hybrid technology to the cutting edge? What are your thoughts about Porsche’s recent advances in Hybrid technology? And how do you think it’s impacting (and/or will impact) Motorsport?

CM: I think this eco-friendly question pertains to all motorsport even outside of Porsche. Every automotive manufacturer from Bentley to Porsche has built a hybrid racecar and they have even been given permission to race them in some venues. The handwriting is on the wall, there will be hybrid or some kind of green vehicles racing, but I do not think that anyone has a clear vision of how to make these racecars in the most practical way. If it’s going to perform well and really be green, it could be very costly. I do not think the eco-friendly path is very well defined yet, but ultimately I think we are looking at having a gas/electric hybrid for racecars. I do think that racing will be impacted by green and I think we will see more green racecars in the near future. I did not even realize until today that some of the large luxury carmakers are building prototype electric cars for their entire lines. It is going to happen, but then question is when and in what format.

Question #9

911Nation: We have heard accounts that Porsche AG is holding back from introducing the mid-engine Cayman into Motorsport, possibly for fear of challenging the dominance of the legendary 911. Do you have any support from Porsche for your GT3 Cup cars? If so, what kind of support does Porsche AG provide your team? Also, would you ever form a team to race the Cayman?

CM: We would probably not participate in any other series than the World Challenge. If the Cayman was allowed to participate in the series, we would probably race it, but I do not have any knowledge into the plans that Porsche has for the car. Porsche has definitely given us moral support, but not in the engineering or financial sense.

Question #10

911Nation: We would like to conclude with a question that will encourage our readers to enjoy their rides. 911nation citizens are extremely fond of their daily drives through city streets, weekend drives on backcountry roads, and driving vacations across the USA and Europe, where they get to stretch out their Porsche’s legs (when not on the track). What are your favorite driving roads in the USA and/or Europe? Please explain why..

CM: I do not have a favorite in Europe, but my favorite driving road in the US is definitely highway 23 North of Ozark, Arkansas and intersects at highway 16. This particular road goes through the Ozark National Forrest, up several mountains and then through a couple different varieties of road. The drive takes you through Huntsville and ends up Bidville, Arkansas. The ride itself is very exiting with overhanging trees, twists up and down the mountains, some long straight sections and even some places that are a complete tree canopy over the highway.

Gallery

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Videos

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MOTORSPORT | Porsche’s Victory in Ohio: Celebrate or Cry?

IVAR — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:45:37 +0000

Good job for Wolf Henzler winning this year’s first race for Porsche in the ALMS series. He sliced thru the field from 5th to 1st in one lap after a re-start. First victory ever for the Falken Tire GT3RS. That speaks very well for Wolf Henzler and his driving ability in the wet, but it still raises questions for Porsche. Porsche has been unable to win at all this year in the ALMS. The Flying Lizards no 45 Porsche was languishing in ninth after problems during the race. The race was led mostly by Corvette until the rain created the window for Henzler to skillfully upstart everyone. But the race was between Corvette and BMW until the rain, just like every other race this year. Henzler’s amazing feat does not remove the fact that this year the GT3RS has not been qualifying well and it simply has not been able to beat BMW nor Corvette, except for the rain conditions at Mid-Ohio this past weekend.

Porsche needs to do something special for 2012 because the competition has caught up and actually has been beating them consistently last year and this year. They need to get into a position to again grab pole positions regularly in qualifying and to get back to being the car to beat. This year, the car to beat has been a Rahal-Letterman BMW M3!! And their challenger has been Corvette, NOT Porsche.

Not only are BMW and Corvette consistently qualifying ahead of Porsche and winning or finishing ahead of us, but the Ferraris are also doing better in most races. If Porsche does not improve in 2012, it would be a third straight year of languishing as fourth best in its class. Something better happen soon or Porsche’s reputation in GT will be losing a lot of luster!

Porsche, read my lips – Wolf Henzler’s great achievement in the rain in Ohio does not release the pressure on you. As an unwavering, loyal, lifelong, and committed fan of the brand I pray for, I dream of, I plead for and I DEMAND better competitivity in 2012! Here’s to getting back to Porsche’s usual winning ways again! Let’s beat those guys consistently again beginning next year!

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SAFETY | Parade Pile-Up started by Cayman S Driver

FRANCO — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:54:08 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was the first post sumbitted by our new 911Nation driver, Franco. Â He also happens to be President of PCA Puetro Rico Region. Â Check out his profile here.

Since many of 911Nation citizens are also members of Porsche Club of America and frequent many driving and motorsports events around the world we thought it prudent to remind ourselves that it pays to be alert around fine German machinery and other exotics. Â In the case of the video below, during an exciting parade of exotics, a perfectly fine Porsche Cayman S was helmed by a not-so-alert driver and left a serious dent on those delicate Italian exotics (& the ego’s) which don’t handle drama in the same way as German exotics. Â That said, this kind of negligence makes Porsche drivers look bad, especially when it’s those other exotics that attract irresponsible driversÂ desperateÂ for attention. Â So if you have been waiting to sign up for a kick-butt session of Porsche Driving School, then wait no longer and sign up now and represent the nation with honor and dignity. Â We are sure it will come in very handy during this year’s upcoming 2011 Porsche Parade in Savannah, Georgia.

See the video for yourself and remember that when you drive a Porsche, you are representing the entire 911 Nation, so be alert out there!

[Source: YouTube via Autoblog]