ESSES Volume 30 Number 4 Preview

VOLUME 30::NUMBER 4::WINTER 2020

WWW.EARLY911SREGISTRY.ORG

EDITOR REID TRUMMEL editor@early911sregistry.org 503.753.3700

12

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER BRET MOREY B3morey@gmail.com

4

CREATIVE ADVISOR BBS MODERATOR CHUCK MILLER cmiller14@socal.rr.com

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 2

REGISTRY REVIEW

3

NEW PRODUCTS

4

EARLY 911S EUROTOUR 2020

12

“FIRST KISS”

16

TOAD HALL RACING 1967 911S #77

20

THE SWITCH FIX

24

THE LEGEND OF BRUMOS RACING

28

32

39

CO-BBS MODERATOR PETER K ANE ptkane@yahoo.com

AN RSR TO REMEMBER

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR MICHAEL S. HAMMOND hammondms@earthlink.net

16

MEMBERSHIP ADVISOR MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR REGION COORDINATOR MICHAEL S. HAMMOND hammondms@earthlink.net

20

DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR ASHTON AMORES ashton@early911sregistry.org INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT K ARIM NOURELDIN karim.noureldin@bluewin.ch

24

REGISTRY FAX NUMBER: 310.322.2074 REGISTRY WEBSITE: www.early911sregistry.org

PROJECT 911 PART 21

REGISTRY E-MAIL: info@earlysregistry.org

ADVERTISEMENTS

54

REGISTRY GEAR

56

ADVERTISING INDEX

REGISTRY MAIL: ESREG 433 Maryland Street El Segundo, CA 90245-3814

32

REGISTRY REGIONS: IRELAND REGION WOLFGANG OBER AUER Wolf1976@gmail.com

NEW ZEALAND REGION GARY LEONG www.earlynz.org

COVER: A scene from the 2020 Eurotour, complete with switchbacks and plenty of beautiful scenery, including snow-covered mountains. See the complete report, with spectacular photographic coverage, beginning on page 4.

SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL: Please check the back cover of this issue to determine if your membership to the ESREG (Early 911S Registry) has expired. BACK ISSUES: Available for $5 each. Please e-mail Michael Hammond, hammondms@earthlink.net or 310.322.7701, to place order. www.early911sregistry.org

ESSES

1

R EGI S T RY R E V IE W GIVING AND RECEIVING To say that it has been an unusual year is an understatement for the ages, and the year is not over yet. Now, as we enter the final weeks of that year and begin the holiday season, perhaps you would consider helping a valued member of the 911 community who has suffered even more than most of us.

Harvey and Sue Weidman of Oroville, California, lost their home in California’s “Bear Fire” in midSeptember. Their neighbors, Harvey’s brother, Al, and his brother-in-law, Robbie, also lost their homes. Harvey and his family have been integral members of the 911 community for about 50 years, and in that time Harvey has become one of the most respected and most generous members of that community. Perhaps you can begin to understand the magnitude of the trauma of losing your home – and I’m talking about a total loss, burned to the ground – and so perhaps you can also understand that however bad it has been for many of us, it has been far worse for the Weidmans.

As a partial solution to counter this catastrophe, the Registry began a Go Fund Me page where

2021

you can contribute to these friends in need.

There’s a photo of some of the remains of their home in the PMB Performance advertisement on page 42 of this issue, and if you can, we ask you to consider making a donation to help these friends in need. Thank you. The Go Fund Me page is here:

https://gf.me/u/y2hrj9 Now you may have noted the title of this column is Giving and Receiving, and while it may be more blessed to give than to receive, receiving ain’t bad either, and we have some suggestions.

The first of those is conveniently found at the bottom of this very page, and when you buy yourself the 2021 Early 911S Registry calendar you’re getting a gift that stays fresh and useful all year long. Also, don’t overlook the possibility that you may want one for the office, one for the garage, and one to hang above the mantle. If your spouse has other ideas for the space above the mantle, we’re sure you can find someplace else in the abode where a colorful 911 calendar is the perfect finishing touch to the décor.

Our other suggestion is to make it easy for your family and friends to shop for you by checking

pages 54 and 55 where you’ll find the Registry gear that you’ve been meaning to buy anyway, and now you have the perfect excuse as you’ll be doing people a favor by giving them the hint they been waiting for on what to get you for the giftgiving season. Heck, you could even overachieve and just grab some gear yourself, gift-wrap it, and put it under the tree as their gift to you!

I’ll close this column with a note that we hope you enjoy the features in this Winter edition of ESSES. We have here what we believe is an excellent selection of history, tech and personal vignettes, our gifts to you at the end of this most unusual year. And while there are no guarantees that 2021 will be any less unusual, you can count on us to keep the good reading coming on the pages of the upcoming editions of ESSES. Consider becoming a contributor (email me for the “Contributor Guidelines”) because while we really enjoy giving, we also like to receive.

And speaking of receiving, please tell us how you’re enjoying the magazine. We value your opinion as a guide to the future of ESSES. Reid Trummel Editor, ESSES Magazine

$20

EARLY 911S REGISTRY C ALENDAR

The Registry is once again proud to offer another beautiful calendar with outstanding photographs submitted by our members. The calendar photos measure 12”w x 9 1/2”h and the calendar format includes large boxes for each day where you can write in your own notes and appointments such as “Drive my Porsche today!” The cost is $20.

Go to www.early911sregistry.org to order online or you can use the order form below and mail to: EARLY 911S REGISTRY 433 MARYLAND STREET EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245-3814 Calendar

$20.00 X

= $

Domestic Postage

$2.24 X

= $

Mexico Postage

$6.35 X

= $

Canada Postage

$3.54 X

= $

RoW Postage

$7.91 X

= $

TOTAL CALENDAR ORDER

$

Payment can be made by Paypal or check; sorry we cannot accept credit cards.

As always, ESSES welcomes all types of CONTENT submissions from members and businesses for the following: MEMBERS - share your story of acquisition or ownership or any content of interest. TECHNICAL - share your past or current projects, we encourage the unique DIYer accomplishments. BUSINESS OWNERS tell us what you do, our readership is interested in the people, parts, and service. ROAD TRIPS - everyone enjoys a great road trip story! EVENTS - take us there for those who missed it. OTHER - what did we miss? THIS IS YOUR PUBLICATION. Send text and presentable high resolution photos to editor@early911sregistry. org or contact Reid Trummel at 503.753.3700 for further info.

2

WINTER 2020

“First Kiss”

Overlooking Lake Geneva, 1973. Note the iconic “California black plate.”

In Carmel, California, circa 1971.

Ever think back to your first real kiss and wonder what happened to that person? This is the story of my first “Car Kiss.”

My father was car keen and with my brothers we were swept up and followed racing with him. An early memory is Goodwood in the UK, 1953, and seeing, hearing and smelling the exotica of that time. Moving back to the states it was Road America in the later 50s. So that was the basis for my early development into a minor gear head.

Skip ahead to 1966, about to graduate from college and I responded to an ad from a graduate student selling a 1953 356 pre-A for $400. The test drive was an amazing experience! So different, like flying a small airplane compared to anything I had driven before, and nothing like my Studebaker Lark. I still remember it clearly, but I was about to start my first “career” job, so I needed a little more practicality. I settled for an Oldsmobile 442 (Post, not hardtop, and it was a very good car, right for that time).

In 1968 I spent a year in Cleveland and Stoddard Garage was just a small deviation on my way home. At night with the showroom lights on and those cars in their greens, orange and yellows had me drooling like a sick puppy!

12

WINTER 2020

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY JOHN LOGAN

Future and present wife, in Florence, 1975.

In 1969 I was lucky to be posted to San Francisco. It was a great time to be there and it seemed like Porsches were everywhere! The Ford Galaxy company car was not so exciting for the weekends, so I started a search for something special. I looked several times at a Gullwing on offer for $3,000, but the salesman would not help me to get it started so I moved on and began searching the 911 field. Six months and numerous test-drives later I found a lovely 911E.

“Turbo Dog,” 1978.

It was chassis #20, 1969 model year, sand beige, sunroof, cream interior and it had tinted windows. It had been Euro delivered to a couple from Berkeley. They did some touring and the first service had been at AMAG garage in Switzerland. It was a great little car. It felt like a roller skate. Wine country touring, Harrah’s car museum in Reno, Pebble Beach, Can Am races at Laguna Seca – memorable times and miles.

A major shakeup in 1973. Job offer to Switzerland. It took about two seconds to respond in the affirmative. I did not even negotiate. The 911E came along. Work first, of course, but some exceptional weekend and holiday tours were worked in – Le Mans 24 hours, Italy and Monaco Grand Prix included.

Particular fun on the race Friday night in Monaco, found an opening onto the track at 1 a.m. Five exciting laps and an incredible sound through the tunnel at 7,000 RPM with the roof open! Then had to call a halt when a car approached coming in the opposite direction!

Oil check in Stresa, Italy, 1975.

In the meantime a couple of 356s and a later 911 had crept onto the driveway and space was limited. The 911 Turbo was out and I wanted one in a big way. Not in my price range so that’s how my first Black Lab got his name “Turbo.” What a super dog! But my first Porsche, the 911E, was now on the market. It sold in 1978 to two guys from the USA who had been touring Europe and thought it would be a great souvenir to take back. They were from San Jose.

Then more Spartan competition cars gained appeal and the desire for track days and demonstration events became the main part of the car focus. A three-year assignment to the east coast USA and PCA, plus track days at Lime Rock and Bridgehampton with capable tutelage from Jim Newton, Auto Associates of Connecticut.

Sharing the driveway, 1976.

www.early911sregistry.org

ESSES

13

With car in Germany, 2017.

After a move back to Switzerland, my first “real” competitive event came in 1990. FIA license received and off to the Pirelli Marathon Classic, co-driving with Jean Pierre Kunstle in his 356. He had been Porsche dealer in Carmel in the 50s and had shared a 550 with Ken Miles at the 1957 Sebring. A great guy and a very capable and competitive driver. But I had never navigated before, so talk about pressure!

This was in the early days of historic racing and the event had such an electric atmosphere. Five days, start at London Bridge and end in the Italian Dolomites. Stirling Moss, Paddy Hopkirk and numerous other names and characters inscribed. Day one on the first timed special stage at the finish line, the navigator has to jump out of the car and punchstop the timer. We lost three seconds because I tried to jump out with my seat belt still attached! On day three I had a giant navigation screw up,

2.5 ST on a special stage in Tour Auto 2016.

missed a turn on a timed stage and wound up on a long narrow road down a canyon. That sinking feeling got worse with each mile. Penalties big-time, and the result was we finished second in class. Terrible.

However, I was bitten by the historic bug and thanks to a lot of luck and help from friends managed a fair amount of racing over the ensuing years. Twenty-eight Tour Autos, seven Le Mans Classics and four Modena Cento Ore were the main ones. For the rallies, always driving to the start, without back up mechanics and carrying the baggage in the car. Old school style and it added a bit of a challenge. Cheaper too! And always with a Porsche of course. We managed a couple of firsts and a number of podiums that gave great satisfaction. Normally joined by friend Fred Hampton, excellent navigator and president of the UK 356 club, and we managed to find a bit of sponsorship that further eased the budget!

Moving on to about 2015, a number of competition cars had come and gone and I was starting to wax nostalgic. I was thinking Sand Beige was a pretty unique color, so why not see if I can find a nice one. Comfort and wine tours gained in appeal, aided by a stiffening of the joints, perhaps.

Soon I see a small ad by a Dutch broker! Sand Beige 1969 911E, sun roof, perfect! Could it be my old car? I had none of the original records, but there was a chance. A friend living in that area looked at the car, gave a good report and recommended purchase. I had photos of the car with the original Swiss license plates that I sent to the “Service Automobile.” Low and behold, they responded and bingo, it was my original first Porsche! On top of that, it had not been road registered since 1983! It was like finding your first love just like when he/she left you when you were 18.

Advert for the car, 2016.

14

WINTER 2020

People’s Choice trophy, 2018.

Sharing the garage, 2020.

The design and build integrity of Porsche cars, plus the incredible history of the early years has brought and kept together a real family of genuine and down-toearth enthusiasts. I have been extremely fortunate for the friends made and experiences enjoyed. Thank you Ferdinand, and that first Porsche drive!

Any Bay Area information about this 911 in the 19781983 period would be most welcome.

The Kardex.

Postscript Ice blast and find super clean underside, no rust. Careful cleaning, detailing and engine/gearbox teardown. Entered it in the revived Swiss Concours d’Elégance 2017 and among a lot of very special cars, I was amazed to receive “People Choice” – biggest trophy ever!

(I suspect the event organizer had a soft spot for the car, but better not to dig too deeply in that area.)

In Saint-Cergue, Switzerland.

Very lucky that the 30 years of historic race events included some quite rare competition cars: 1954 356 pre-A, 1959 356 GS/GT, 914/6 GT, 1970 2.2S, 2.5 ST, RS and RSR included. Acquired and fettled in each case before prices took off, so the funds from each eventual sale could be used to support the next project.

www.early911sregistry.org

ESSES

15

ORDER ONLINE TODAY! Visit our store for Special Prices and Discounts at: shop.early911sregistry.org

R EGI S T RY GE A R

FRONT

BACK

ESR SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRT (BLACK) ESR crest on front and back M-L-XL $17 XXL $20

O R D E R O N L I N E : s h o p.e a r l y 9 11s r e gi s t r y.o r g

FRONT

BACK

ESR LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT (WHITE) ESR crest on front and back S-XL $20 XXL $22

MARKEN DEC ALS These are exact duplicates of the original factory stickers found on early 911s. The Early 911S Registry has reproduced these no-longer-available stickers at a very high level of quality. $14 ea. Shell Decal $12 each.

1

2

4

3

PORSCHE CREST sticker that is available in 3 sizes, 1 ¾”, 2 ½” and 4 3/8” high. The 2 ½” high sticker is the same size as the sticker used with the M471 RS lightweight option. Porsche Crest stickers are $7.00, $15.00 and $18.00 respectfully.

These are high quality stickers in the period correct colors.

ITEM MODEL YEAR 1 ‘69 2 3 4

‘69, ‘70 ‘69, ‘70, ‘71 ‘72 CanAm Interseries

DATES USED Starting approx. February, 1970 until approx. March, 1971 Until late February, 1972 Until March, 1973 March, 1973 until February, 1974

PLACEMENT: Weltmeister Decals 1 and 2: Apply to the inside front windshield, passenger-side bottom corner, about an inch from the seal.

Weltmeister Decals 3 and 4: Apply to the inside back quarter window glass.

INSTALLATION: To apply a Marken Weltmeister decal, wet the glass with water or Windex, then peel the front cover off and apply the decal to the wet glass with the backing still attached. Finalize position on still-wet glass, work out all water and bubbles, then peel the backing off. Continue working out bubbles, then let dry in final position. — Chuck Miller

54

WINTER 2020

WARNING of HIGH VOLTAGE coil sticker $10.00 each

TO ORDER: E-mail Michael Hammond at hammondms@earthlink.net or PH 310.322.7701, FX 310.322.2074. Also, orders can be placed thru the ESREG web site at www.early911sregistry. org/WelstmeisterDecal.html. Please include membership number to obtain member-only pricing.

If paying by Paypal, please include the number and type of decal you are ordering.

ORDER ONLINE TODAY! Visit our store for Special Prices and Discounts at: shop.early911sregistry.org

R EGI S T RY GE A R

O R D E R O N L I N E : s h o p.e a r l y 9 11s r e gi s t r y.o r g

T-SHIRT Small logo front with large logo back.

M-L-XL $17 XXL $20 MOCK TURTLENECK - LONG SLEEVE Small embroidered logo front. Available in white, black and ash. $30 GOLF SHIRT - NO POCKET GOLF SHIRT - WITH POCKET Small embroidered logo front. Available in black, ash and royal blue. $30 SOFT SHELL MICRO FLEECE Bonded Full-Zip Jacket. $95 ZIPPER HOODIE Small embroidered logo front. Black only.

S-M-L-XL, XXL $35 WINDOW DECALS $3, $2.50 for 2 or more EARLY 911S LEATHER COASTER SET Four coasters with the Early 911S logo with a leather holder. $20 BASEBALL CAPS With logo. Available in black, white, red and royal blue. $15 MONEY CLIPS Polished with logo. $10 CAR BADGES $42 PATCHES 3� inch with logo. $6 or $5 for 2 or more KEY FOBS Black leather with crest. $10

ORDERING AND SHIPPING INFORMATION: To place an order contact Michael Hammond by e-mail, hammondms@earthlink.net, or by phone, 310.322.7701, or fax, 310.322.2074. You can also place an order by visiting www.early911sregistry.org/boutique/index.asp. US funds only! Domestic Shipping and Handling $12.00 (do not include for orders of only decals or patches). Foreign orders will be billed for actual shipping costs. All prices include tax. No PO boxes. We now take credit cards for REGISTRY GEAR ITEMS.

www.early911sregistry.org

ESSES

55

If you find a message stamped to the right of your mailing address, it’s time to renew your membership! Please, mail a check for $50 US ($70 foreign), made payable to Early S Registry to the address at right. Checks must be drawn on a US bank in US funds! Or go to www.early911sregistry.org, click on the membership button and follow the directions to join online and pay by PayPal.

The Kremer Racing 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 with 3.0 engine at the Nürburgring, 1973. See John Nikas’s report beginning on page 28.

58

WINTER 2020

EARLY 911S REGISTRY 433 MARYL AND STREET EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245-3814

DATED MATERIAL

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIMAS, CA PERMIT NO. 410