- PARTS ARE NOT PARTS! - THE FIRST PORSCHE SEDAN - 2021 TAYCAN TURBO S TESTED!
PRESIDENTIAL MUSINGS
From our Past President
When I became President two years ago, I set out with two primary goals: improve communication between the Board of Directors and Region members, and improve member engagement outside Hampton Roads. I attended events all over FSRand met so many fascinating members. I received the most compliments for my ?FSRNews?emails. Members appreciated the timely information and thepicturesof fellow membersenjoyingtheir Porsches.
I have enjoyed the support of many wonderful volunteers during my Presidency. This includes the Board of Directors as well as many other volunteers with great ideas to improve communication and grow member engagement. Examples include adding volunteers to photograph our events and expanding our newsletter to a magazine format. There are many more great ideas on the table for 2021. I look forward to supporting the new Board of Directors as Past President.
From the President
I admit it: I?m nervous. Our country is polarized, my youngest daughter Judy is sweating out the college acceptance process, holiday sized credit card bills are coming due, and Melinda has just passed thebaton.
But every new year brings new possibilities, how exciting is that? With Melinda?s generous support, the Board of Directors has been working hard over the past few months to transition the business of the club. While significant work remains ahead, I want to be clear about our goals. 1- relentless focus on bringing a diversity of safe and enjoyable activities for members across our region while reveling in all things Porsche. 2- to grow our membership. 3- ensure our car club remainsgood stewardsof the marque while doing good in our communities. 4- always remember that ?what got us here?, ?won?t get usthere?.5- member feedback isour scorecard.
Nervous and excited at the same time, I am happy to have been given the opportunity to serve you all and I look forward to exceedingyour expectations.
Melinda
HO Editor/Advertising
Bob Weber
113 W Landing
Williamsburg,, Va 23185
757.880.3396
bobweber@cox.net
2020 Board Members
President
Erik Apotheker
203.733.1470
eapotheker@comcast.net
Eastern Vice President
Jim Hamel
908.329.5845
hamels@cox.net
Western Vice President
Mike Ball
804.240.9296
mjohnball@comcast.net
Activities Officer
Greg Kahles
757.802.1890
kahles68@gmail.com
Secretary & Archivist
John Greene
757.663.8249
greenie4720@yahoo.com
Treasurer
Jerry Kent
757.971.7849
jerrykent1@aol.com
Horizontally Opposed (HO) is the official publication of First Settlers Region (FSR), Porsche Club of America (PCA). All opinions, views and information appearing in the HO are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the PCA, FSR, its Officers, or the Editor. The HO Editor reserves the right to edit all material submitted for publication. Permission is granted to reprint any material provided that full credit is given to the author and to Horizontally Opposed.
This publication, and all previous publications of Horizontally Opposed, is available to view on-line at www.fsrpca.org.
Advertising rates, schedules and commercial partner marketing support is available to all parties interested in engaging the members of the First Settlers Region of the Porsche Club of America. Please contact the Editor, Bob Weber at bobweber@cox.net or call 757.880.3396 for more information.
FSR members may place free classified advertising in HO. Classified advertising is subject to review by the Editor prior to placement. Contact the Editor for more information.
photo by Mark Gaudette
TECH CORNER
CertifiedPorscheTechnicianGoldMeister
by Joe Finkle
Are All Parts Created Equal?
our 2014 Cayenne Turbos S' water pump gives up the ghost after 7 glorious years of service covering some 78,000 miles of faultless performance while hitting your personal reset button on what one can expect from an SUV. After all,it's a Porsche...YOURPorsche!
With the advent of a vast array of replacement parts sitting mere keystrokes away via online retailers such as RockAuto and PartsGeek, it is near impossible to not cast a glance at a replacement water pump for your Cayenne on one of these sites. And when you get there, the availability and pricing are, well,
water pump that will provide you another 7 years of worry-free service for your Cayenne?
You're likely not going to put that part on your Cayenne, but how about the Genuine Porsche water pump that eBay seller PartsContainer is offering at a 20% discount over a Genuine Porsche water pump sold at Checkered Flag or EuroClassics parts department?
Sixty Dollars, after all, is sixty dollars and for the very same Genuine Porsche part that difference is meaningful. Do you buy it?...it's the same part,right?
surprising to say the least.
Are parts just parts? Are they created equal? Is purchasing that URO water pump for a mere $79.95 and 2-day shipping providing a
Well, in a word, no it is not....but it is.
Porsche, like most manufacturers outsources most of their parts production to independent suppliers. In the case of Porsche water pumps, it is likely Pierburg. The parts are built to their exacting specifications including processing and quality control systems.
But even then, Porsche will test supplier part performance to certify that the parts do meet their stringent and unwavering standards. After all, it is the Porsche brand name that goes on the part
via a Porsche part number. We have all seen the Porsche test rig where they test brake caliper, pad and rotor dura- bility. Rotors are glowing bright red ultimately to the point of destruction. Only when a part passes Porsche's test procedures does it gain placement on their cars....and in the parts department of their dealerships. By purchasing through the dealer network, you have complete assurances that the part you are purchasing is not only genuine Porsche, but has met the stingent set of specificationsfor that part.
In purchasing from the dealer parts department, not only do you get these assurances, but they are underpinned by a 2-year full replacement warranty on every part sold by Porsche.
That Genuine Porsche Cayenne water pump that you sourced from the eBay seller carries no warranty, and in this case, the part is non-returnable.
But what about the price differential? Beyond the 'you get what you pay for' cautionary note, as a dues-paying PCA/FSR member, the mention of your club affiliation will immediately net you a 10% discount at the parts counter which when you add the shipping charges, you effectively negate the perceived price advantage of the online retailer and you rest better knowing that Porsche stands behind the part you just purchased.
Are all parts created equal? Not really...and now you know why.
F&S Enterprises is the Official Photographer of First Settlers Region of the Porsche Club of America
CLEARYOURCALENDAR!
PCA WERKSREUNION - MARCH 5, 2021
This year's Werks Reunion marks the 5th Anniversary of this PCANational event held in Amelia Island,South Carolina on the Friday of the Amelia Island Concours. 500 Porsches will be registered and on display. Registration for the judged event begins on January 6th, 2021, or you can park your Porsche in a corral for those there to soak-up and inhale the Porsche DNA in the air. Importantly, it is one of the closest proximity national PCAevents to us here in the First Settlers Region. Being held in early March, the Werks provides you with a needed opportunity to steal a march on the coming year's Porsche events in 2021. To register or simply get more details on the Werks Reunion, head over to https://werksreunion.com . See you there!
FSR FUN RUN - April DATE TBD
Fun Run? Ed Merry? The event and the man behind them are inseparable. Ed's credentials include dozens of FSR Fun Runs. if you count yourself among those club members who have not wheeled-out their ride, gotten the 'red mist' of being in the midst of a stream of Porsches piloted by fellow members down some of Virginia's finest driving roads and ending-up in an appropriate eatery....well, you need to make this Fun Run your first of many. How can we so sure about all of this?....because all of Ed's events are always sold out. Word to the wise?...make absolutely sure that you are at the front of the line when registration opensup for Ed'snext Fun Run.See you on the road!...
HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVER'SEDUCATION MAY DATE TBD.
One could make the case that Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is in FSR's 'backyard'...if you accept a 2:45 minute drive as in your backyard. But once there, you are on a race course that will mark it's 75th Anniversary in 2022. The track and facility were spectacularly renovated in 2000 and it now stands as one of Car and Driver magazine's 6 top road courses in the country...right here in our 'backyard'. Our Porsches were bred to be run on road...and track...and our first HPDEevent of 2021 will put you and your Porsche on the very same pavement that drivers such as Roger Penske, Dan Gurney, and Hurley Haywood raced over the years. Add this HPDE to your 'must do' list for 2021. Keep an eye out for registration via Erik'sE-blasts.
-7-
by Eric Jackel
BROUGHTTOFSRBY
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY!
Some History
Back in 1961, 3 German engineers walked into a trim and upholstery shop in Burbank, California seeking to find a way to create a protective front-end cover for their prized Porsche. Asit turnsout the engineers, who worked for Lockheed Aircraft had Bill Colgan create 12 trim vinyl covers to fit the 356 Porsche. Their second order was for 150 covers, and the front end car 'bra' was off and
into the discussion; it turns out that the development of 'helicopter tape' played a role in the development of the paint protection film (PPF) for cars. The military found that as copters gained proximity to the ground in take-off and landing, the rotor blades were being damaged by debris, affecting the critical leading edges of the blades and compromising performance. 3M developed a thermoplastic urethane
running, finding its way into the auto aftermarket lexicon. In the '80's and '90's, the ubiquitous black vinyl bras were seemingly everywhere... especially on our beloved 911. And Colgan Custom Manufacturing emerged asTHEplayer in themarket.
As much as a vinyl mask offered rock chip protection, most thought they were unattractive, and despite a plush inner lining to the mask, it would actually hurt the car's finish as the mask vibrated under speed. It was a matter of 'pick your poison': rock chipsor micro-scratches.
Here is where helicopters (?) enter
tape that provided protection inconspicuously and with low weight, however it was both thicker and not workable to conform to more complex surfaces. But the protection it afforded was not lost on the racing community and the film was widely used on racecarsto prevent the'rash' that alwaysappears.
Porsche has used a version of this product in factory applications to prevent damage to rear fender flares and rocker panels. However, as many discover, the product had a limited life, would yellow, harden and become a bear to remove, often removing the underlying paint with
film. (Editor's Note: leave removal of Porsche film to the pros. It is time consuming, tedious and potentially destructiveprocessto your finish).
Not surprisingly, PPF products have blossomed with numerous manufacturers offering films for this expanding industry. Why? With the advent of integrated bumper systems on cars, those systems feature urethane covers that are painted and susceptible to rock/stone chips affecting the appearance and value of the vehicle. Given the price of paint preparation/application, a quality PPF application is a relatively inexpensive barrier to ward-off this type of damage.
Recognize that there are DIY kits available on the market that have digitized vehicles and cut application panels to fit your car. But if you've ever been aside/behind someonewho elected to do their own window tint, you'll understand that a DIYinstall is a fast path to a regrettable install. As you can see from the accompanying Taycan photo , this is best left to the pros.
EricJackel of Reflectionsremovingfilm from the Editors'05 Carrera Sover a 2-dayperiod.
photo by Reflections Detailing
photo by Reflections Detailing
Today's Paint Protection Film
Here at Reflections Detailing, we have been using Xpel's Ultimate Plus10 PPF. Today'sfilmsare remarkably flexible, extremely durable and will effectively last 10 years when installed byafactorytrained installer.
We recently had Woody Staub's 997 GT3 RSin our shop for an extensive PPF application. The car had a mid-hood forward film applied some 9 years ago and that product gave the appearance of orange peel and Did it protect?..yes.Did it look right?...Absolutelynot.
Today'sfilmsarecrystal clear,nearly undetectablewhen installed correctly and will last for a warranted 10 year period. The film will breathe, and resists scratches and
chips; in theevent you do havedamage to thefilm,it isself healingwith an application of heat to thedamaged area.
And then the discussion turns to one of aesthetics. Today'smodern filmscan be stretched and manipulated to work on any complex surface. Custom film applications find the installer wrapping the film around panel edges leavingno surfaceunprotected.
Have a look at the finished installation of Xpel Ultimate Plus 10 on this 2020 Taycan 4S, and then scan back to the 964 on the previous page. It's simply amazing how far the industry has come over the past 25 years. If you have any questions on PPF,feel free to give me a call or drop me an emiail.;I'm alwaysherefor fellow FSRmembers.
photo by Reflections Detailing
photo by Reflections Detailing
photo by Reflections Detailing
YOU NEED TO MEET...
(OURDEALERPARTNERS!)
MARK COOKE
Mark Cooke started Euroclassicsin 1988 and has built a businessthat not only managesto sell Porsche automobiles while maintaining the integrity of the brand, but has built a workplace that his employees love. When asked why a potential Porsche owner should choose Euroclassics, Mark says, "We're here every day. Our customers have our cell phone numbers. They can call us on weekends. We are completely available to our customers." His favorite model Porscheisthenew Cayenne.Hesaysit'sagreat lifestylecar. 'I have kids, I have golf clubs. I go to the beach a lot. It's very driveable, has a great sound system and is a perfect everyday car." Mark and his family enjoy the beach, skiing, wakesurfing,runningand spendingtimetogether.
ED KLIMA
Ed has been with the Checkered Flag family since 2001. He has managed multiple different departments within the dealership, and previously spent numerous years as the Porsche sales and leasing specialist. A long-time Virginia Beach Oceanfront resident, he decided to give the automotive industry a try after graduating from Randolph Macon College. The rest is history. As much as Ed loves anything with an internal combustion engine and four wheels, all who know him understands he has ?drunk more than enough of thePORSCHEKool-Aid?
WENDY STRADFORD
AsMercedes-Benzbrand specialist for the Tysinger Auto Group, it's great to meet all of First Settlers Region PCA members. I have been affiliated with the Air Force basically my entire life, as my father served for 20 years and then I decided to marry an Air Force aviator, Robert, who happens to be an avid car enthusiast. I can honestly say that you could call me a ?car guy? not just another salesperson selling cars. I love the products that I am fortunate enough to represent, as well as the family dealership that is the Tysinger Auto Group. Unique in the industry in that they not only care deeply about their customers, they consider theemployeesafamily.I look forward to meetingyou!
BARN...BEER FIND!
At thispoint in automotiveenthusiast time, most of us are absolutely convinced that the notion of a barn find falling into our deserving hands ranks right up there with hitting the Lottery. Every last collectible car hidden in someone's garage, covered with amountain of dust left behind by aperson who had every intention of 'gettingaround to it' hasbeen winched out to daylight byWayneCarini for ChasingClassicCars. Right?
Steve Karnes is an FSR member, mega Porsche enthusiast and owner of Lee's Upholstery in Newport
News. Like so many stories about meeting a friend for a beer...or two...talk among car folk often turns to the 'I know this guy who has a car' that sets enthusiast minds adrift to 'but, what if?' scenarios. In this story, those few beers led Steve to a storage facility off Jefferson Avenue, and once the door was shoved aside, there sat a 356B that had sat forlorn for some 35 years as suggested by the1984 inspection sticker affixed to thewindscreen.
Replete with the mandatory inch of dust, spare parts flung around the storage bin, and the requisite level of disassembly as left by a guy with every intention of
'getting around to it', Steve had unearthed a barn find that evaded WayneCarini'snetwork!
As the story unfolds, the owner of the 356B was a mechanic working for Joe Watson, owner of German Motor Service in Newport News, but also a local racer of some reknown. The owner managed brake system work at German Motor Service and wasinsistent that the brake system on the 356B was in perfect working order, though one would imagine that after all those years, a brake system flush wasin order.
According to the owner and Steve, both the engine and transaxle were rebuilt by Joe Watson 'in the day' and believed to be significantly 'beefed up'. There seems to be a Bursch exhaust/headers, likely an uprated cam, and well...who know what else as the dual Zenith carbs remain in place.
Included in the sale were a box with an NOS set of Mangels chrome wheels, which were highly sought after in the day. How about a trove of NOSoval side mirrors,
wheel hubs and hood pulls? Most every part was there, just achingfor Steveand histeam to put it back together.
The car had undergone a repaint at some point in the past, and after a careful sponge wash and a coat of wax, thegoodnessof thecar camesharplyinto focus.
Of course, 35 years of sitting always wreaks havoc with fuel systems so Steve has replaced the fuel tank and the Zeniths are being rebuilt, but the engine fired and ran!
Steve's intent with the 356B is to effect a 'sympathetic' restoration, keeping much of the 'patina' that accompanies a car sealed in storage for so long and driveit...just asit FerryPorscheintended.
The message here?Do not take sharing a beer with a friend too lightly asyou never know whereit will lead you. For SteveKarnes,it wasaPorschebarn...err...beer find.
photo by Steve Karnes
photo by Steve Karnes
photo by Steve Karnes
TREFFEN...FSRSTYLE!
Treffen, translated into German, means ?to meet?. Meeting is exactly what 300+ enthusiastic PCA members did at the Greenbrier Resort in September 2020 despite Covid complications. The four-day event included driving awesome roads, eating great food, catching up with friends and making lots of new ones. Treffen is a PCA National sponsored program, that normally happens twice a year, and the one at the Greenbrier (the only one of 2020) was hosted by the First Settlers, Shenandoah and Potomac Regions. You may have read the stories in Panorama or online, but the real storystartstwo yearsearlier.
In 2018 we gathered at the PCA Headquarters with Harry Season the National Treffen Chair, Rose Ann Novotnak the Zone 2 Rep, and some Region Presidents. Disguised as a meeting, this was an explanation of how Treffen works, and an interview of those interested in making it happen. Rose Ann raised Josie Grandfield?s hand and shewasselected to betheTreffen Chair.
PCA National coordinates details with the hotels to include lodging and menus for the major parties and dinners. They also handle the website, advanced registration, the swag and signing the contracts. The staff is small with only one paid employee, Mariela Murphy. The rest of the National team consists of volunteers and theheavyliftingcomesfrom thelocal regions.
Our primary job was to plan, coordinate and execute six driving tours. We avoided use of the same roads, offered a variety of tours with varying cuisine offerings at our destination restaurants, and showed our guestssome Southern Hospitality. Planning details included scouting the roads, negotiating with restaurants, preparing descriptions for the website and writing up the turn-by-turn driving instructions. All the while, being on the lookout for even better roads, unique roadside sights and the most fun ways to get there. Much of this searching was trial and error, with many roads only driven once, most all done while socially distancing while at our homesfivehoursaway.
by Phil Grandfield
Each of the three Regions took responsibility for two tours, but every detail had to been coordinated and balanced against the other. We obsessed over the details of the experience we wanted to offer down to the smallest detail. For example,we figured some folkswould appreciate the tablecloths at the iconic Homestead Resort, but others would prefer the BBQ at Wolf?s in Marion.
If that wasn?t enough, the tours were required to meet exacting PCA standards for length, appropriate bio-breaks and safety considerations. We didn?t want
people to wake up too early and we needed to get them back to the Greenbrier in time for high tea and the evening events. Most importantly, we wanted people to have great memories of driving experiences from our Treffen.
Given the Covid-19 restrictions and changes across Virginia and West Virginia, Josie stayed in near constant communication with the National team, each of the venues and the volunteers as the situations evolved. PCA did a masterful job of working with the Greenbrier and the Regions to ensure our planning met their criteria. Finally, they made the tough call to ?go? because they wereconvinced wewould get it right.
photo by Greg Kahles
photo by Greg Kahles
Even though we started advanced planning two years earlier, the final decision wasn?t made until about two monthsin advance."Thisisreallyhappening!Let?sgo!?.
For the tours, we settled on the famous ?Tail of the Dragon? from Tazewell to Marion, VA; the New River Gorge to include driving into the gorge and under the bridge; lunch and tour of the Homestead Resort; a trip to Snowshoe Mountain with a stop at the Cass railway; a walking tour and lunch in historic downtown Lexington, VA;and lunch at thehistoricNatural BridgeHotel.
The ?nerve center?for the tours early each morning was the Staging Area. Our responsibility included volunteers managing flow in order to safely get 150 Porsches parked in the right place and heading on their tours on time. It began with Google Maps and a tape measure to design the area and ended with orange cones to mark it.
The key to every Treffen is the driving tours. Get it wrong and there could be lots of unsatisfied folks who traveled a long way for the experience. If safety were compromised, it could have been even worse. Each tour required a lead, mid and sweep carsdriven by volunteers from the Regions. The Leads were responsible for their toursand drove them several timesin advance. Midsand Sweepsalso pre-drove the routesto ensure everyone was ready for contingencies. Each lead used a standardized safety briefingguidefor the driver briefsthat were touted as?best ever?bytheNational team.
Meanwhile, back in the hotel, the volunteers were registering our guests, welcoming them with goodie bags and answeringlotsof questionsabout the event, the local area and other activities. The Registration Team was our
first chance to make a good impression and it worked! The info desk was manned by volunteers through the entire weekend. Overall, it took about 60 dedicated, smiling, and hardworking volunteers to make Treffen Greenbrier happen!
Treffen at theGreenbrier wasamassiveeffort,but we pulled it off makingthe only National PCAevent in 2020 a huge success! Working with the National staff, and the cooperation from all the volunteers from the different Regions, was great and made all the work worthwhile. Most of all,it waslotsof fun!
The best part was the universally positive feedback we got from our fellow members; ?the customers?. Several people boldly proclaimed that their experience wasthebest ever in PCA! Great feedback indeed!
photo by Phil Grandfield
photo by Phil Grandfield
Reflections... Where Details Matter
Whether your needs call for a thorough refresh of your daily driver,or a full-on cosmetic restoration,REFLECTIONS
Detailing is your choice for professional management of your vehicle.
Owned by active FSR member,Eric Jackel, REFLECTIONShas been the go-to shop in Hampton Roads for:
- full paint correction
- Xpel protective film application
- ceramic sealant application
- factory protective film removal
FSR
photo
ere's a little known story worth sharing: in 2004
Elon Musk - his pockets lined with cash from the PayPal sale - walked into the offices of AC Propulsion in the Los Angeles suburb of San Dimas with some questions. Among them was whether they would convert his Porsche 911 Turbo into an electrically powered configuration. He was reportedly willing to pay a tidy sum ($250,000 according to some sources) for the conversion. but Al Cocconi, AC's eclectic founder demurred and passed. So, Tom Gage, Cocconi's likely bewildered business partner, redirected Musk to a promising coastal EV startup.
And that is where the Tesla saga began. Would Tesla exist today (arguably the 2nd most valuable car company in the world as of this writing) if Elon had gotten his electric 911 from Cocconi?
Now some seventeen years later, Elon can now drive that electric Porsche, in this case a 2021 Taycan Turbo S, at a billionaire's bargain price of $187,700. In our car's case, it is optioned-out to $205,360. But would it be dreadful optics if the Tesla wunderkind would be drivinga Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Stuttgart's four-door, four-seater counter attack against Tesla's recurring, nasty habit of crashing the private parties of Europe's fuel-consumingelite?
That said, Porsche appears to
have been taking careful notes with regard to this Silicon Valley upstart.
The Taycan Turbo Stracesthe Model S' blueprint; dual motors, one in front, another in back, all-wheel drive, a battery floor, amazing performance, a frunk in front, all sheathed in a slick, fuselageskin.
TheTaycan'sfixed-glasspanoramic roof imitates the Tesla's copper color when sprinkled with rain (due to the UV reflective layer). And traveling Taycan's are mainly replenished by a respectable knock-off of Tesla's Supercharger oaseswith the fastexpanding Electrify America network.
But in other categories, they are starkly different. These days the Model S front motor is basically the Model 3's permanent magnet rear motor (part of which defines the latest Raven architecture). It's rear one is the slightly less efficient inductive type (switches on and off) so it can freewheel during light-load cruising, making it moreefficient.
In contrast, both of the Porsche's motors (a combined 750hp) are permanent magnet, so the rear motor's decoupling is necessarily mechanical, and moreover bundled with a two-speed transmission for better low and high speed performance.Teslatried that with its original Roadster a decade ago; the struggle to tame the
gearshift's hammering torque hit nearly put the fledgling company out of business.
Now, let's get down to how this all translates to performance as nothingelsedefinesaPorsche more than how it acceleratesand handles. The Taycan, nearly defying physics, does not 'squat' when it launches. It remains seemingly flat to maintain weight over the front driven wheels. Porsche's height adjusting air suspension keeps the car absolutely level. The car fights with threshold wheel spin as it accelerates to 60mph in 2.4
"...the Taycan Turbo S redefines the word 'FAST'."
seconds. The Turbo Sblisters the 1/4 mile dash 10.47 seconds at 130.7mph
Let me share some observations on the Taycan. It is 98% of the length of a Panamera GTS, yet is 109% of the weight. You hit 60mph in the same time that the Panamera needs to hit 50mph. Opinions vary, but the Taycan design seemsunderstated considering it is a 2.4 second 0-60mph car with the legendary Turbo S brand. And the battery pack is impressively large, sacrificially providing holes for the rear seat passenger feet (lower kneeheight).
Then there's the synthesized drivetrain sound that's a techno mix of the motors' actual soundprint. In Sport mode it's the whoosh of a high-speed elevator headed to the 77th floor; switch to Sport+, and you're looking in the rear view mirror watching everythingjust disappear.
There are ergonomic quirks: the shifter toggle is completely hidden behind the steering wheel rim. The side mirror controls are more easily reached by a rear seat passenger; the critical rear glass is reduced toaoblongporthole,yet thepanoramicroof provides an unobstructed view of clouds, birds and whatever else is up there that you shouldn't be lookingat.
How does this all come together on the road wheremuch,if not all,of our drivingwill happen?
The Taycan is an incredibly smooth and quiet cruiser. There's no wind noise, even at triple-digit speeds, just the distant thrum of tire noise and whine from the drive motors. the steeringisprecise, perfectly weighted and accurate, if numb, with zero texture or feedback. Ride quality is astonishingly supple even with the adaptive dampers and air springs in their harshest settings. In normal driving, the car is simply too good at being a car to be a great Porsche- with no engine to interact with, no sensation of speed,littlesteeringfeel,it'svirtuallyan isolation chamber andquiteun-Porsche-like.
BUT!...get the Taycan Turbo Son the track,and it is un- questionably a Porsche. Active anti-roll bars virtually eliminate body roll, and the massive Goodyear Eagle F1 ultra high-performance all seasons provide tenacious grip and let go progressively and controllably. The Taycan Turbo S provides the balance and adjustability of a good mid-engined sports car with the ability to rocket out of corner not unlike a rear-engined 911 Turbo S. Dynamically,it'snothingshort of magnificent.
Theacceleration isso violent that every straight is non-stop pucker moment. It gathers speed best describedasbeingin alateral freefall.
The inevitable question that arises with each discussion of the Taycan is whether it is a Porsche. Does it have the passion? Does it hold true to the Porsche heritage? That is the central question surroundingthisamazingcar.
Let's be honest here. The emerging EV marketplaceisasterileenvironment.It tookamanufacturer like Porsche to inject its DNA into the mix and shift the attitudes of fossil-fueled enthusiasts. We now know that EVcarscan deliver morethan just bliseteringacceleration,but can...indeed...deliver thevehicle dynamicsthat enthusistscrave.
The Taycan is a transformational vehicle and better yet for usFSRmembers,it'saPorschein every senseof theword.
PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S
PriceasTested: $205,360
Powertrain:Dualpermanent synchronusmotor,616hp (750hpboost),774lb-ft
Transmission: 2-speedautomatic
Layout: 4-door,4-passenger,AWDsedan
EPAMileage: 192mi
LXWxH:195.4x77.4x54.3
Wheelbase: 114.2in
Weight: 5,121lb.
0-60MPH:2.4sec
TopSpeed: 161mph
STEP #5: INSERT ENGINE HERE
Story By: Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
icking up from Thanksgiving 2019 when the rear suspension wasfinally in place, and the front suspension was being readied for installation, it never once ceased to amaze me how many things still needed to be done. Fridays were my shop days, and I attempted to get in 8 hours, 4 of which included my buddy, Mitch Addison. Much like myself, Mitch is calculating and methodical. He can change paths on a dime when required, but he likes to plan and execute, making him the perfect restoration companion.
The front suspension was followed by the brakes, then re-fitting the center tunnel with throttle, clutch and fuel lines. After refinishing and re-installing the emergency brake and fuel pump assemblies, I had a rolling chassis for the first time in two years! Of course, at this time, I also experienced the great joy of disassembling and re-buildingtheCVaxles. (If you haven?t done thisyet, it may be one of the best ways to challenge your brain. Those of you who?ve done this will know exactly what I mean.)
Next was installing the gas tank and reproducing the complex emissions/ vent line assembly. Wiring harnesses were also re-routed, and since I was one of the many lucky enough to have had an aftermarket alarm installed sometime during the 1980s?.well, that part of the wiring needed to be tidied up about the same time. The blower motor was also replaced, of course,
and OH, I almost forgot! My two absolute least favorite tasks: re-installing the steering column and heater control unit cables, all without scratching the newly painted dash. Semi-Pro Tip: Do NOTdo these alone? Windshield wiper motors, fuel filter bracket/assembly and CDI box panel refinishing, were all additional, incremental steps in completely reassemblingthe1973911.
By now, it was July, and much of the trunk area was starting to look pretty spiff! All small parts were either new or completely cleaned up.This included nuts, bolts and clamps. New Hoses. New heater tubes. New gaskets, new grommets, new clips and ?fan-dommets.? (Sorry?as we near Christmas, I must have been thinking of Dr. Seuss). It really was coming together, and I had barely entered the interior except for the steering column and heater control cabling. About this time, Rick Boucher came by and painted the door perimeters in my garage. It wasasight to behold!
After rebuilding all of the turn signals, it was finally time for the front bumper to be re-assembled, then the hood and engine bay lid to be re-mounted. It was a fantastic day. Rick arrived along with my neighbor Chris, and we were lucky enough to only have to remove and adjust the bumper 3 times and the hood only twice! Gapswere just asthey had been
when Rick test fit them prior to paint, and the chassis was finally starting to look likeacar again!
Next were rebuilding the glass tracks, rear quarter windows and window regulators. Nothing would return to the car as it was originally without cleaning and lubrication. All rubber parts were replaced, and admittedly, the rear quarter windows were, by far, the most difficult with regard to replacing the seals. My hands still hurt, and I'd like not to do that again anytimesoon.
photo by Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
Batterieswerenext,and thanksto thevery popular Mazda Miata, I was able to find new Absorbed Glass Mat batteries to replace the old lead-acid types that would all too often leak and rot the battery boxes in the trunk. Of course the Miata batteries were white, unlike the black Porsche lead-acid batteries. Not to worry, I took them to DeSigns in Chesapeake, and they wrapped them in black vinyl. Once home, I slipped a vintage VARTA decal on the front, and fit them into the battery boxes. Voila! Vintage looks?modern, leak proof batteries.
That Saturday, November 28th, Mitch arrived early, and we double-checked everything start to finish. We were ready. I called Giniene, Ashley and Shannon out to ready
their iPhones to capture the moment, and BOOM?the car exploded. Just kidding,of course.
Finally, November was upon me, and with most of the interior in place (sans seats, steering wheel and gauges), it was time to install the drive-train. Mitch and I made of full day of double-checking torques, rebuilding the CVaxles and staging the engine/trans for installation the following Saturday. I remember walking out of the garage that night and wishing we had more time. It killed me to have the engine sitting on the hydraulic cart for an entire week, waiting for me to get back from business travel. Such was the case a number of weeks, but this one was the toughest to that point. That following Saturday, install it we did. I wanted my wife, Giniene, to be there, and the car seemed to be flooded. That?s when I found out what waseven more difficult?waiting another week to start it. Just to be certain that we hadn?t made any mistakes with fuel or electrical connections, Mitch and I agreed to wait until we could double-check ourselves one last time. That week, I installed the driver seat, steering wheel, gauges and door map pockets. I was on pins and needles, since I knew that we were only days away from startup. My parents visited for Thanksgiving,and all I could think about was the car?Giniene was adamant that I would need to wait.As soon as my parents returned to Pennsylvania on Friday, however, right back to the shop I went.
The glorious sound of a mechanically injected, 2.4L air-cooled flat six filled the room, and I was elated. Timing would need to be adjusted, and more adjustments would need to be made to the idle and such, but the engine was running again for the first time in three years! That afternoon, I drove it around the block to see if the alignment would allow me to drive vs. flat-bed the car to RaceWerks to get the suspension properly aligned, and the
neighborscame out to see the car they?d been waitingto see since I?d started the project. One neighbor, Dick Jones, is now in his mid-eighties, and being a Ford guys all of his life, has always said, ?There?s nothing else that sounds like that little car of yours. I always know when you?re outside with it.?
And there you have it. Approximately 1800 hoursof Work In, will hopefully yield endless Smiles per Gallon for another 47 plus years. I can?t even begin to thank those who have helped me on occasion in my shop. While I may have personally spearheaded the project, it isn?t something that a novice such as myself accomplishes in isolation. A special thanks to Mitch Addison is in order for approximately 375 hours by my side, generously sharing his air-cooled knowledge along the way. Not surprisingly, Mitch and I also enjoyed talkingand becomingcloser friends. It?snot just the cars. It reallyisthepeople
photo by Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
THOUGHTS
FSR
member Kevin Pirkle's series of restoration features here in Horizontally Opposed have been nothing short of spellbinding.
Through his adventure, he has taken many of us who passed our hands over the glass smooth Glasurit paint on a 911 in a Porsche showroom back in time to aperiod where the 911 model truly came into it's own. It is little wonder that these long-hood models are so sought after these days in the collector market. The blend of timeless design undisturbed by federally imposed bumper standards, to a Bosch mechanically injected 2.4Lchain-driven overhead cam flat-six that musically builds revs...all carried in a lightweight 2,734 lb package is surely intoxicating. Everything was just so 'right' with these911's; it wasjust a matter of timebefore their 'goodness' was known beyond the Porsche faithful, ascending to the pantheon of must-havesportscars.
Unless you have gone down the path of obsessive focus and assurances that each and every part, component and finish had to be exactly correct...not perfect, but correct...it's truly hard to understand what Kevin
by Bob Weber
"This year, the 911 T goes like last year's 911 E; the 911 E goes like last year's 911 S, and the 911 S goes like H!"
has accomplished here. The details were not sweated, but rather, understood. That understanding was conveyed to a completely correct restoration that will leave mouths open and tongues wagging once his 911T rolls onto the Parade show field and the work that left us FSRbrethren spellbound will leave judges equally amazed. Like so many others who have labored to create a masterpiece, once done it leaves a massive void. The level of intensive work striving for
absolute authenticity commands your full and undivided attention; it is mentally impossible to think of anything else. Family and work take a back seat to the crusade. The good news?...Though the journey was fantastic, the 'end' more than justified the means as you are left with a piece of art that suspends time and space, taking us back to the day . Thanks for theride,Kevin!
Period Porsche Advertisement
photo by Kevin Pirkle
photo by Kevin Pirkle
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Our work has found its way into automotive, marine and aviation applications with hand-crafted attention to the finest details. Ensuring complete customer satisfaction is Lee's #1 priority:
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Call or stop-in and work directly with Steve and plan your interior/exterior project with him.
Cruz Motorsport
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough..."
Mario Andretti
Porsche's First Four-Door Sedan
ByLarryPrintz
"Porsche has dreamed of building a sporting four door for decades, but somehow the 911 always seemed to get in the way."
ou would be forgiven if you thought that Porsche's introduction of the Panamera at the 2009 Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show represented its first foray into sedan territory. After all, the torch bearing brand ambassador who have forever worshiped at the altar of rear-engined, air-cooled flat six sports cars, blanched at the heretical notion of water cooling. and positively came unglued in 2002 when the crest was affixed to...good Lord!...an SUV, will persistently acknowledge that date of relative infamy.
Yet the Panamera was not only an incredibly capable sedan, but a real Porsche in every sense, because Porsche had some very impressive credentials in the high-performance four-door sedan product category.
In the closing years of the '80's decade, Mercedes-Benz engineering teams were heavily invested in the development of the new W140 S-Class flagship to the point of not having enough resources to develop a desired performance sedan based on the W124 E-class platform. Mercedes commissioned Porsche engineering to redesign the W124 chassis to accommodate the fitment of their 326hp 5.0L V8 sourced from the SL, along with upgrades to the suspension and drivetrain. Porsche completed the project only to discover that the dictated widened front and rear fenders would not fit down the Mercedesassembly line! Ooops!
Porsche was thus commissioned to build the 500E, and over the course of the production run, 10,459 units were hand built in Zuffenhausen on the very same production line where the legendary 959 supercars were assembled.
The 500Ewas a true performance sedan, eclipsing the 0-60mph run in 6 seconds with an ECU limited 155mph top speed representing a half-hearted attempt to limit the horsepower arms race. The 500E was priced at around $79,200 and a quick look at current trading prices hovering around $40,000, the Mercedes-Porsche 500E is a rare,and highly valued bruiser of a sedan.
So, the argument could well be made that the Mercedes 500E engineered by Porsche is really the title holder of Porsche's first four-door sedan engineered in-house, usurping the Panamera's claim to that ground.
Or...as you'll soon discover...there's the rest of this story...
photo by Porsche Cars
photo by Porsche Cars
The story starts with a man named Richard Hutchinson, head of Studebaker?s export operations. The independent automaker was looking to become more of an international presence, having built a plant in Hamilton, Ontario, and negotiated agreementsto build Studebakersoverseas.
In the midst of this, British authorities, then occupying the part of Germany that included Wolfsburg, offered Studebaker the chance to take possession of the Volkswagen plant as an outright gift. The plant was a bombed-out shell and the car?s Nazi association was an anathema. But Hutchinson was fascinated by the Beetle, and had one shipped to Studebaker?s headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, with the idea that Studebaker would become the American distributor. But Harold Vance, Studebaker?s president and the former head of production, wouldn?t even look at the car, and the deal went nowhere.
But Max Hoffman, Volkswagen?s U.S. importer, kept at Hutchinson, arrangingfor a delegation from Porsche KGto meet with Studebaker management in South Bend. While many enthusiasts consider Porsche as an automaker, the company started as a design and engineering consultancy, which kept the car company aliveduringitslean years.
That?s why in May 1952, Ferry Porsche, chief designer Karl
Rabe, chassis engineer Leopold Schmid, and body designer Erwin Komenda arrived in South Bend along with a Porsche 356and the Porsche Type 530?a prototype 356 with a longer wheelbase,larger doorsand araised roof.
But they arrived on a Sunday, so they couldn?t get a drink after their long trip. They hoped things would improve on Monday.
Ferry?s idea of a sports car with space for four, the Type 350?s performance didn?t impress Max Hoffman or Studebaker executives. This was not the sort of car they wanted. Yet the meeting led to an agreement for Porsche to design a car with a front-mounted, air-cooled engine with more power and less weight that the 1952 Studebaker Champion. A subsequent agreement called for the development of a water-cooled engine aswell.
In return, Studebaker would pay Porsche approximately $500,000 (or $4.9 million when adjusted for inflation), money Porsche needed to construct a factory. Until then, Porsche had leased space in the Reutter body factory in Zuffenhausen, a Stuttgart suburb. The new facility, still in use today, was designed by the Stuttgart-based architect Rolf Gutbrod.
What Porsche delivered two years later was a four-door sedan on a 111-inch wheelbase,four inchesshorter than that of
photo by Porsche Cars
the Champion. Two versions were delivered: the 542L with an air-cooled engine that produced 98 brake horsepower, and the 542W with a water-cooled engine that generated 106 brake horsepower. Unlike Studebakers of the time, the 542 had a fully-independent suspension, although it did use many Studebaker components, such as door handles, steering wheel, brakesand wheels.
wheelbase, rather than the Coupe?s 120-inch wheelbase. As a result, sedans and coupes didn?t share most body panels and trim. The missing length sabotaged the sedan?s styling, yet managers actually thought consumers would prefer the sedan over the coupe and scheduled production accordingly. Once the coupe appeared in showrooms,ordersflooded in.
But as the company began production, the ran into a major snafu: the front-end sheetmetal didn?t mate properly to the body. This resulted in production stopping until January 1953 in an era when automakers?new models came out in September 1952. Sales declined as demand for coupes outstripped supply and sedanssat on lots. Asaresult, the company lost $8.3 million (or $80.7 million adjusted for inflation) in the first quarter of 1953, a trend that would continue as the year came to a close when General Motorsand Ford unleashed a saleswar. The effect on independent automakers was immediate: sales dried up for Nash, Hudson, Packard, Willys, Kaiser, and Studebaker?whose 1953 production was66 percent lower than in 1950. The staggering sales drop and a lack of cash led the company to merge with Packard on October 1, 1954.
But as the car was being developed, Studebaker was facing itsown challenges.
The company had launched the stunning Starlight Coupe for 1953, but the coupe was conceived as a single model, not as a sedan or wagon. The decision was made to apply the new look to the 1953 sedan, which had already been styled. The company rushed to change the design, with all sedans save the Commander Land Cruiser using the corporate 116.5-inch
It was against this backdrop that the Porsche Type 542, also code-named Studebaker Z-87, came to completion.
When it arrived, it was no lightweight, as anticipated. Instead, it was 550 pounds heavier. And while engineers found the car to be well-balanced, but the head of advanced engineering, John Z. DeLorean?yes, THAT DeLorean?was critical of the car, noting its excessive vibration , tendency to oversteer and bug-like appearance. "This vehicle has a large amount of technical appeal, but anumber of itemsneed refinement to increase itsoverall appeal asasmall car to the average American car buyer."
Certainly,DeLorean wasno different than most all American limited-sight automotive executiveswho were immersed in the 'product era' where consumerswould buy what they made vs. what they needed. Let'salso not discount the ?not invented here syndrome. It'satrait that would serveJohn well later at GM.
photo by Porsche Cars
Undeterred, Porsche offered up the Type 633, a two-door sedan with a horizontally-opposed, air-cooled engine in the rear?an American Volkswagen. Studebaker declined.
By thispoint,the South Bend automaker wasmired in losses,despite the merger with Packard. With management distracted by the new arrangement Type 633 and cash dwindling,any chance of an American Volkswagen waskaput.
While most people are unaware that these two automakersworked together, Porsche doesacknowledgethe project to thisday.
Accompanying the sole photo on its website is this description: ?Porsche KGreceives a major development assignment from UScar maker Studebaker. During this two-year period of cooperation, Porsche develops Type 542, a modern four-door saloon regrettably never to enter series production due to a shortage of funds on the part of Porsche?sU.S. customer.?
Studebaker would go on to distribute vehicles from another German automaker, Daimler-Benz, from 1957?64. Dealers sold about 12,000 Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union, and DKW vehicles annually, but Daimler paid Studebaker $5 million to break their agreement in 1964 despite having six years left in the contract. The company then formed Mercedes-Benz of North America in 1965 in New Jersey, using the top dealers from the old arrangement.
The followingyear,Studebaker exited the car business.
"This vehicle has a large amount of technical appeal, but a number of items needed refinement to increase its overall appeal as a small car to the average American car buyer."
John Delorean Director of Experimental Engineering Studebaker -Packard Corporation
photo by Porsche Cars
FIRST SETTLERSERVICES
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FIRST SETTLERCLASSIFIEDS
2004 Boxster S
I have finally decided to part with my 986. Worry not FSRmembers, I am offering the car in order to enable an 'upgrade' which I have been planning. This car has 69,030 miles on the clock miles and has been well maintained and represents itself in good condition. It is a great road car or candidate for track mods.
For sale at $15,250. Call Brian at (757)235-2775
CCW Classic 3-Piece Wheels
CCW Classic wheels are forged from 6061-T6 aluminum and CNC machined. Light and incredibly strong. They are set-up for use on a 911SC.
Rear: 9" X17" Front: 8" X17"
Call or text Claude ?410-746-5519.
CCW Classic 3-Piece Wheels
4-Porsche 356 Chrome Rims, 5.5x15" made by long time manufacturer Mangels, chrome excellent & no curb damage. Great for a driver. Tiresnot included. For Sale at $300 Gary Baskin (757)486-6995
1969 912 Help Sought!
I have recently renewed my PCA membership after a brief non-Porsche ownership period that I could not further abide by! I am now looking for various parts for a ?69 912 including paint codes. Some of my old sourceshave not been responsive. Can you help me find sourcesfor such paint information ?
Thanks,Rick rnb060143@gmail.com
911 Shop Manuals
911 factory shop manuals. 8 volume set through 993. Never been used. $600. Mark Leuzinger 909-720-2702
SIAI260@gmail.com
2001 C2 Carrera
114k miles, meticulously maintained with receipts: IMS, RMS, clutch, starter, alternator. Detailed logs: repairs; due next dates; fueling. Clean Blackstone oil analysis, clean Carfax. Polyurethane (997 GT3 front bumper, Misha GT2M wing, 997.2 LED tail lights, side skirts, short-shifter, semi-solid engine mounts, FEAL adjustable coilovers. More details PCA Mart ad#47970 -https://mart.pca.org/ads/479670
For Sale at $26,000 Call/text Roops(757)593-3767
To place your classified ad reaching out to 750 FSR members, send an email to bobweber@cox.net
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