YOUMIGHTHAVEnoticed a rather different front cover this month. Yes, we like to be as creative as we possibly can with our front covers, but no, the Porsche Post masthead has not been relegated permanently to playing second fiddle. Instead, consider this a limited-edition cover for one month only as we celebrate the launch of the Club's new slogan: United by the Drive. I hope you'll agree that artist Mark Dawson has superbly captured the essence of those words in one glorious image.
It's a snappy phrase, but it's also one that carries a deeper meaning and a profound truth. As we consider what Porsche Club Great Britain means, what it can do for all of us and where it may continue to grow and exceed expectations in the future, a unifying force is a particularly powerful influence. In the case of our Club, it's a fantastically broad church, from those looking for technical information on the camshaft timing of their 356's engine to the member who has just taken delivery of a new 992.2 GT3. In between, there are Boxster fans, electric vehicle owners, multi-million-pound collection custodians and even those younger enthusiasts who are not yet old enough to take hold of the wheel themselves, but who are already consumed by a passion for the Porsche marque and everything it represents. There are those who love collecting model Porsches, restoring broken ones, racing them, discovering new destinations in them, washing them or just talking about them. There are nearly 23,000 of us now and I bet no two are exactly the same. However, whichever way you 'clock in' to this passion, there's one aspect of it all that stands beyond the rest -the drive.
PorscheClub
ADAMTOWLER EDITOR
It is one thing that we can wholeheartedly agree on; a Porsche is a car to drive, not just another means of travelling. Even those who love to obsess over detailing their car, often so that it's better than when delivered new, surely get a masochistic thrill from making them grubby so the laborious but pleasurable task of cleaning to perfection can begin again! In short, we are, inevitably and so positively, united by the drive. Elsewhere in this issue, we take another look at the 2-litre 718 Cayman as it enters the twilight of its existence -or so we think! A controversial and arguably under-appreciated car, its relevance today is stronger than ever. We then benefit from another instalment of hardcore Ninemeister knowledge on air-cooled flat sixes, courtesy of Colin Belton, as he examines the 3.2 and Turbo G Models. We also preview the forthcoming Porsche Club Motorsport season, with three race championships and the hillclimb series that are going from strength to strength. Finally, this is the first issue without Richard Gotch as Consultant Editor after he retired recently. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Richard for his tremendous support, infectious enthusiasm and shrewd publishing nous, as well as his editorial contributions. Rest assured, you'll still be able to read Richard's words in the magazine henceforth.
As ever, enjoy the magazine and your Porsche, and I'll see you next month.
@ X @adamtowler
FROMTROUBLETOTRIUMPH
PORSCHE'S2025INTERNATIONAL sports car racing fortunes continued in spectacular fashion with two extremes on either side of the Atlantic. There were some long faces as the World Endurance Championship (WEC) got underway in the Middle East but, over in the Florida sunshine, Porsche continued their winning ways in the American IMSA series after their previous success in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The inaugural round of the WEC took place at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. Held over 1,812km, or around 10 hours, the race is a gruelling contest with a marked shift in temperatures from the daytime start to the evening conclusion.
The Porsche Penske Motorsport-run 963s lacked outright speed, their cause not helped by an odd mishap in the race that spoiled
any chance of a good result. The No. 5 entry of Julien Andlauer, Mathieu Jaminet and Michael Christensen suffered from both tyre and technical problems and briefly fell to last position before recovering to take 10th at the finish and two points. Its sister carthe No. 6 entry of Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Matt Campbell -received some damage at the start of the race and also got caught out by a virtual safety car period, eventually finishing one place behind its teammate in 11th.
L-R:FelipeNasr,NickTandyand LaurensVanthoor
The privately entered Proton Competition 963 had an even tougher time, with brake problems relegating it to a 15th place finish. Neither did the Stuttgart marque fare any better in the LMGT3 class, where the best 911 GT3 R finished in 12th position. In the overall standings, Ferrari scored an emphatic one-two-three finish with its trio of 499Ps, signalling the Italian team's intent for the season ahead. The next round takes place at the Imola circuit in Italy on 18-20 April.
If Porsche's form in the desert was pretty awful, then over in Florida it was exceptional, with a one-two finish at the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring event -the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Porsche Penske Motorsport 963s were the stars of the show, with the No. 7 car -the
winner at Daytona in round one -taking the victory again.
The winning crew of Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor first hit the front after just 15 minutes and led the team's No. 6 entry of Mathieu Jaminet, Kevin Estre and Matt Campbell home 12 hours later. Overall, 963s also came sixth and eighth. For Briton Tandy, this means he's only the 10th driver in history to win the endurance 'triple crown' of Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, following on from securing his unique 'Mr 24 Hours' accolade at Daytona.
Porsche also scored a victory in the GTD Pro class, where the 911 GT3 R of the AO Racing team -with its fan-favourite in dinosaur livery christened 'Rexy' -crossed the line first, driven by Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler and Alessio Picariello. The victory marks the 19th at the classic Sebring event for Porsche, although it's the first outright since 2008. Porsche now leads both the championship and the top two places in the driver standings, with the next race taking place at Long Beach on 10-11 April.
FIRST992.1GT3RSMRBUILTINTHEUK
THISSIMPLYINCREDIBLE-LOOKING machine is the first 992.1 GT3 RS MR to be built in the UK. The work of official Manthey UK partner RPM Technik, it marks the 16th 'MR' car that the Hertfordshire-based Porsche specialist has built since 2020.
The latest GT3 RS needs no introduction. It has redefined what's possible with a track-focused road-legal vehicle, in the process creating what is surely one of the most dramatic and innovative performance cars ever made. It might seem like an impossibility to further tune such a vehicle, but then Porsche AG does hold a majority shareholding in Manthey Racing and, as well as the team being effectively Porsche's 'works' squad for road-car based competition (such as the LMGT3 class cars), it's also
something of a skunkworks for Porsche development. Not only does this put the Niirburgring-based outfit in a prime position to increase the track abilities of Porsche's GT models, but it also means a customer gets to maintain their official Porsche warranty. In fact, even the MR kit for the latest GT3 RS is still applicable under the warranty scheme until 15 years/125,000 miles -a stunning achievement for such a potent car.
The key upgrade point for the MR conversion on the GT3 RS is the 20 per cent increase in downforce. Given that the RS is already an aero monster, the MR kit really does take the car to even more of an extreme and is clearly something aimed at increasing the car's track performance rather than general
speed. To achieve that, the MR features a new diffuser, roof fins, aerodisc rear wheels, massive carbon fibre wing endplates and DRS blades, a shark fin, nose canards, a front axle undertray and an extended front lip spoiler with front wheel arch extension and gurney flaps. There is also a full coilover suspension kit and more cosmetic elements, such as illuminated carbon fibre door sill panels and new puddle lights, both with the Manthey logo.
This car has been built for a serial Manthey customer but, to have your own, you need to first attain a 992.1 GT3 RS, followed by an additional £83,332 for the kit. After 36 hours' worth of work, your GT3 RS MR will be tested and ready for collection.
PORSCHEINCREASESBATTERYFIRMSTAKE
PORSCHEAGHASacquired V4Drive GmbH from German battery manufacturer VARTA AG and now becomes the majority shareholder. VARTA continues as a minority shareholder, without an operational influence.
Why should you care? Because while the term 'ultra-high lithium-ion cylindrical cells' might not be on the tip of your tongue, these special batteries are an integral part of Porsche's T-Hybrid system, as debuted on the 992.2 Carrera GTS
models, which the carmaker refers to as the 'booster cells'.
Porsche has opted to rebrand the batteries as V4 Smart, hoping to gain customers outside of the automotive sphere in the process. The company is opening a second production site in Germany.
It's not the first time that Porsche has had to put its hand in its pocket for these cells. Last summer, it invested €60m to acquire 32 per cent of the business when the company got into financial difficulties.
The news follows our story in the last issue of how problems at Swedish battery company Northvolt have potentially delayed Porsche's all-electric replacement for the 718 models. The '983' was originally thought to have been scheduled for early 2023, according to some sources, but there's no word on whether it will now be seen in 2025 or put back. As discussed in our 718 Cayman drive story in this issue, it's currently unclear for how much longer the ICE-equipped car will remain on sale.
NOTICEISHEREBY given that the 43rd Annual General Meeting of Gmiind Heritage Limited trading as Porsche Club Great Britain will be held from 1pm on Sunday 27 April 2025 to consider the following business:
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Approval of the minutes from the Annual General Meeting held on 28 April 2024
3. Approval and adoption of the Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
4. Reappointment of Auditors
5. Appointment of Commercial Director
6. Appointment of IT Director
7. Appointment of Finance Director
8. Appointment of Legal and HR Director
9. Appointment of Regions Director
10. Appointment of
Registers Director
11. Questions from the Membership 12. Any Other Business
The meeting will be an Electronic General Meeting as provided for in our Articles of Association. A physical meeting will take place at Cornbury House and a secondary location (details to be provided) in combination with an electronic platform that enables members (or their proxies) to participate in the meeting without physically attending.
ByOrderoftheBoard
SueTaberner ClubSecretary
Any Member wishing to raise a matter at this meeting should write to Club Secretary, at Cornbury House, by Saturday 12 April 2025.
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 s.324, a member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting convened by the notice set out above is entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to attend, speak and vote in his place. In order for a proxy to be valid, a fully completed and signed original Proxy Form must be received at Cornbury House, Cotswold Business Village, London Road, Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0JQ. It would be helpful to the Club in terms of preparing for the meeting if proxies could be received as soon as possible and no later than 1pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025.
1. It was included as an insert with the March edition of Porsche Post.
2. It is available to download from a members-only section of the Porsche Club Great Britain website at porscheclubgb.com/AGM
3. By contacting the Club Office either by telephone on 01608 652911, email at secretary@porscheclubgb. com, fax on 01608 652944 or in writing at the aforesaid address of Cornbury House, requesting a Proxy Form.
NOTICEISHEREBY given that the 22nd Annual General Meeting of Porsche Club GB Motorsport Limited will be held on Sunday 2 7 April 2025 commencing after the conclusion of the main Club AGM to consider the following business:
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Approval of the minutes from the Annual General Meeting held on 28 April 2024
2. Approval and adoption of the Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
4. Reappointment of Auditors
5. Questions
6. Any Other Business
ByOrderoftheBoard
SueTaberner ClubSecretary
DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
No nominations were received for the following position: CommercialDirector
Only one nomination was received for the following position: ITDirector(IanBevis)
The Board will therefore propose the election of Ian Bevis at the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2025.
Only one nomination was received for the following position: FinanceDirector (NickTaylor)
The Board will therefore propose the election of Nick Taylor at the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2025.
Only one nomination was received for the following position: LegalandHRDirector (CarrieMason)
The Board will therefore propose the election of Carrie Mason at the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2025.
2O24ANNUA __ ~UDITEDACCOUNTS
IANDAGMMINUTES
In accordance with constitutional changes approved by the membership in November 2013, the 2024 accounts for Porsche Club Great Britain (Gmiind Heritage Limited) and Porsche Club GB Motorsport Limited will be available to view on the Club's website at porscheclubgb.com/ AGM, together with a financial review of the year.
Only one nomination was received for the following position: RegionsDirector (SueRollings)
The Board will therefore propose the election of Sue Rollings at the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2025.
Only one nomination was received for the following position: RegisterDirector (SteveJohnson)
The Board will therefore propose the election of Steve Johnson at the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2025.
IANBEVIS career in banking and finance). Porsche AG with the Diversity I am truly proud to be part of.
POSITION:
ITDIRECTOR
After stabilising our finances, Award for the Club. I have To top it off we won Region An accomplished IT Specialist shortly afterwards, I became supported events, officials of the Year 2022 and 2023. with over two decades of Chairman with a very simple and the team to provide a I was co-opted in September experience, I have developed a manifesto. To do everything valued member experience. 2024 and during this period deep expertise in IT strategy, I could to ensure the Club is I can offer new perspectives, I have successfully appointed infrastructure, and digital healthy and providing a quality ideas and innovation to a number of new Regional transformation. Throughout member experience to all support and expand PCGB. Organisers. If re-elected I my career, I have worked enthusiasts, irrespective of their I want to build upon the will continue to support across multiple industries, preferred flavour of Porsche. current opportunities and our Regions, promote the delivering innovative We've made good progress. events to give all members inclusivity of PCGB, and technology solutions that We now have a healthy confidence that their interests represent our volunteers to enhance business performance, financial position, a refreshed are at the forefront of Board the best of my ability. streamline operations, and magazine and some great objectives, decisions and to I am immensely proud of drive digital growth. My new events. Governance is ensure transparency. our PCGB community and extensive background includes transparent and we're less I am genuine in my I look forward to being able working with high-profile 911 dominated. Our commitment. Current to represent our great club clients, ensuring their IT Clubhouse is now open for projects include revising at upcoming local and systems are secure, efficient, member visits and is currently the articles, events and national events. and future-proofed against being refurbished to make other business development evolving industry demands. it a warm, welcoming place projects and partnerships.
STEVEJOHNSON
For the past two years, to drop in for a coffee. My Porsche story began POSITION:REGISTERDIRECTOR I have been IT Director at Of course, there's more as a teenager and I have been I have been a part of the PCGB, serving as both a to do. At our best, we are an enthusiastic fanatic ever Porsche Club for over seven Team Member empowering "the best". But membership since. I currently have a GT years, and during this time the CH team and a Board experience can be inconsistent car for both road and track I have become not only an Member ensuring the Club and each year we lose too use. I am working with GT enthusiastic member, but also decisions benefit the members. many people, particularly group to offer them more the 997 Register Secretary, Shaping IT strategies, the under 45's. events and opportunities. part of the R7 organising aligning technology
We have a plan and much I continue to organise, group (COG), and the Register investments with business is in train. You will hear plan and take part in R31, Director for the last two years. objectives and ensuring that about it at our AGM. Belles and GT group events. Members who have enjoyed digital initiatives contribute As a Board Member, I'll I encourage new membership any of our national club to long-term success. My role give it my all to deliver our and seek to get the most for events may have met me, on the board has provided goal to please more members, members. I have insight as I am involved in many me with a strategic oversight more of the time. into member experiences of the national events, as position, where I influence key So, my manifesto is the and values. I am the over enthusiastic decisions on IT governance, same. Nothing radical, nothing parking attendant who loves cybersecurity, infrastructure controversial. Just ideas, hard SUEROLLINGS to organise register parking, upgrades, and digital work and commitment to
POSITION:REGIONSDIRECTORsomething I believe members transformation projects. sustain our Club.
My background is education and other Register Secretaries
Beyond my technical I joined PCGB in 1993 and facilitating, currently appreciate, as it adds to the expertise, I have a passion on buying a 968. I still have work in health. I like to Club experience. I am more for fostering collaboration one but have since been think that I have utilised my than happy to 'get my hands between IT and business fortunate to own many skills well as an RO and the dirty' in this way and I have functions, ensuring that Porsches, old and new, big Regions Director for PCGB. travelled the length and technology is a key enabler and small, air and water. I bought my first Porsche in breadth of the country for rather than a challenge. 2013, a Boxster 987 Gen 1. the Club to assist with events, I also have experience
CARRIEMASON
My current daily drive is my and I also feel supporting working with specialist POSITION:LEGALANO HR 981 Boxster S, which continues the Clubhouse team and teams, leading IT projects, DIRECTOR to be my dream car. Mike has a Motorsport is key to the role. and mentoring professionals Over two years as director, 997 Gen 2 911, so we really do My knowledge and to maximise their potential. and legal adviser, I have eat, sleep and breathe Porsche. enthusiasm for Porsche has My work at BMW then supported the Club in relation Mike and I joined the club grown exponentially during my Chameleon Web Services to legal, HR and operational together more than 10 years time as a member, and I have & Porsche Club GB, and issues. As an experienced ago and were made to feel a great relationship with my other ventures showcases barrister I have resources to very welcome by Paul Ebbs local OPCs and independents my ability to merge IT assist the club dealing with (our then RO). We have for backup and support as expertise with strategic the legal issues that arise. always enjoyed attending I believe our technical business growth. I thrive in This is invaluable and has both regional and national knowledge is one of the key dynamic environments where saved the Club substantial events and are active benefits we offer as a Club. technology is a driving force costs and potential litigation advocates for PCGB. As a self-confessed petrol for change and innovation. risk. Officials call on my I was successfully appointed head, I have a wide range of experience and legal knowledge as RO in November 2021 and automotive experiences, having NICKTAYLOR to support them as needed. took over in January 2022. circuit raced for a couple of POSITION:FINANCEDIRECTOR I have been instrumental in With the support of the Club seasons, restored classic cars, It's just over two years since I projects promoting diversity Office (and Mike), R10 has and entered concours events all was co-opted onto the Board as for women in PCGB. I helped become a hugely successful of which I hope serves me well Finance Director (after a long the Belles win recognition with and inclusive region which in the role of Register Director.
ANGRYWOLFWRAPS
ANGRY
As a devoted Porsche owner, :,,: you truly understand the
impo~tance of protecti~g your mvestment. Keepmg your car in top condition is not just about preserving its performance; it's about maintaining the craftsmanship and elegance that make it special. From regular maintenance to quality protection, you ensure that your Porsche receives the care it deserves to continue delivering that unforgettable driving experience.
We specialise in high-quality car wrapping services and offer custom designs and professional installations to transform the look of any vehicle. Our team uses premium vinyl wraps to provide a durable, eye-catching finish that protects your vehicle's original paint. We also specialise in applying Paint Protection Film (PPF), ceramic coating and window tinting.
MCEPORSCHE
engine build and tuning, high-end full rotisserie restorations, in-house paint and Celette jig facilities, a dedicated interior trim workshop, chassis and suspension rebuilds and servicing and routine maintenance, exclusively for air-cooled Porsche models.
The business is owned by Mike Champion, a lifelong automotive engineer with more than 35 years' experience in road and race car development. Specialising in pre-'74 911 and the rarest impact bumper, 964 and 993 variants, MCE Porsche offers a sector-leading 1:1 relationship between Mike Champion and the customer.
For more information, please visit mceporsche.com or call us on 01295 710374. Early booking is encouraged and we offer a 10 per cent discount on our standard labour rate on presentation of your PCGB membership card at the time of booking .
By protecting your vehicle, you are:
• Protecting the paintwork
• Protecting the vehicle resale value
• Protecting bodywork from stone chips and scuffs
• Preventing rust build-up
Enquire now and benefit from exclusive member discount rates using code 'AW15'. For terms and conditions, please go to angrywolf.co.uk. For enquiries, please email us at team@angrywolf.co.uk or call 02380 230903.
TANNERSWINES
Established in 1842 and now TANNERS under its fourth generation of w1NE "ERc, 1ANTS family ownership, Tanners Wines is a family-owned, family-run, independent wine merchant that operates nationally.
Explore a plethora of wines and spirits at Tanners, including an acclaimed own-label range as well as a superb selection of fine and rare bottles. With extensive specialist services, Tanners offers a resolutely independent and traditional service that is crafted to your individual needs.
Offering UK mainland delivery, Tanners are here to help you with all your wine needs. As a Club member, you have a unique five per cent discount code to use online*. Order online, contact the sales team via sales@tanners-wines.co.uk or call 01743 234455. Free delivery on orders over £150 to any single UK mainland address. Collection from any Tanners branch available.
* Exclusions: en primeur, Wine in Time Club, e-gifts, tastings and events.
The Club has negotiated a whole range of exclusive discounts and incentives for our members from more than 50 companies and organisations. These cover a wide range of products and services to help you make the most of your Club membership and your Porsche. Simply scan the QR code here and you'll be directed to the full list of discounts on our website. Once logged in to your account, you can access the necessary discount codes or exclusive links to help save you money. If you know of a business that would be open to offering Club members a discount, please ask them to contact the Clubhouse team to see what can be arranged.
Demand for our brand-new event, Summer Solstice @ Boxengasse has been extraordinary, with more than half of all tickets already sold. This highly anticipated event promises an incredible gathering of Porsche enthusiasts, a huge display of iconic models and the unique atmosphere that Boxengasse is renowned for. Demand continues to rise and we're expecting a complete sell-out, so secure your place now!
Enjoy an evening soaking up the summer sun surrounded by Porsches, with a live DJ set and mouth-wateringly good food from a choice of carefully selected food trucks. Socialise, slurp and snack in the company of stunning cars and fellow enthusiasts, all sharing the same passion.
Held in the grounds of Boxengasse in Oxfordshire on the longest day of the year, Summer Solstice is designed to capture the beauty of the setting sun at an iconic venue.
This central location is accessible within 90 minutes from more than half of the UK but, if you are having to travel from further afield and want to make the most of a weekend away, you'll find plenty of things to do in the nearby area.
Bicester Village, the world-famous designer shopping outlet, is just 1 0 minutes away and it offers Club members a suite of complimentary services, including hands-free shopping, reserved parking and priority booking, all available when booked in advance. For a more cultured day out, Club members can enjoy a 20 per cent saving on advance tickets to Blenheim Palace.
It's also right on the border of 'Clarkson's County' with both Diddly Squat farm shop and The Farmer's Dog pub both less than an hour away. If you're heading out into the Cotswolds, you'll find plenty of postcard-perfect villages and roads you'll recognise from Harry Metcalfe's YouTube videos.
Tickets
Tickets are priced at £20 per person for Club members, with free entry for children aged 16 and under. If you haven't already, book yours now at porscheclubgb.com/ summersolstice or by scanning the QR code.
ANALOGUEALCHEMY-BJUNE
Join us on Sunday B June for an exclusive new event at the stunning Bowcliffe Hall in Yorkshire for a Porsche-style garden party celebrating the timeless allure of classic Porsches. Currently open to owners of pre-'97 Porsches, you can look forward to displays of 356s and air-cooled 911 s as well as a special anniversary celebration for transaxle models.
We'll also be coordinating a series of scenic drives to and from the venue and a three-night road trip to experience the very best of the Yorkshire Dales. Follow the link or QR code below to find out more and book your place. Tickets are £35 per person which includes entry, a high-quality 'traditional Yorkshire buffet', soft drinks and entertainment.
PORSCHECLUBATHAREWOODHILL-18MAY
After the incredible success of the inaugural event in 2024, we're excited to be back at Harewood Hill for another fantastic event. Club members and Porsche fans of all ages are invited to join us on Sunday 1 B May for an event that showcases the beauty and performance of Stuttgart's finest sports cars.
Just five minutes from Harewood House in Yorkshire, the historic hillclimb venue is the longest in the UK and it offers stunning views of the Wharfedale Valley.Take a wander through the paddocks, which will be filled with Porsches of all ages, or walk down the side of the track to experience the sights and sounds of Porsches roaring up the hill.
PORSCHECLUBATBROOKLANDS-29 JUNE
Get ready for a remarkable return to Brooklands Museum on 29 June! Last year's rendition was one of our largest events of the year and this year's event is shaping up to be even bigger. This iconic venue, steeped in both automotive and aviation history, will once again serve as the perfect backdrop for a celebration of Porsche excellence that the whole family can enjoy.
Among the hundreds of Porsches on display, we'll have two very special transaxle displays to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 924 and 30 years since the end of 968 production.
Club members can enjoy discounted entry of £19.99 per person, which includes full access to the museum and exhibits.
SILVERSTONEFESTIVAL -22AUGUST
Taking place on the August Bank Holiday weekend, Silverstone Festival continues to boast an unrivalled line-up of incredible track action as well as record-breaking displays of classic cars. The 2025 edition of the Festival also sees the welcome return of Group C racing, with an unmissable 40-minute Saturday evening showdown.
Car club display packages include a generous 'two-for-one' saving on general admission tickets along with an infield parking pass. In a change from previous years, the two-tier pricing structure for classic and modern cars has been simplified so that one code (25CCD045) works for all cars, irrespective of their age.
Bookings for car club display packages close on 30 June or sooner if our allocated spaces are filled.
I'm sorry that last month's magazine arrived rather late for some members. We changed our publishers in February after a detailed and lengthy tender process. It's a major change for all parties in a tight timescale and there were some inevitable production glitches. These should soon be fully resolved as new people and processes settle down. There were compelling commercial reasons for the change in publisher, which will put us in a better position to further evolve Porsche Post and our other media. In other news:
1. The Club made a profit in the 12 months to 31 December 2024. I'll write more about that when the accounts are published, but we are in a healthy financial position with strong cash balances, no debt and robust contracts. There are no legal clouds on the horizon. It's great that our financial result is to plan and on budget.
2. The first phase of a refurbishment of Cornbury House is complete. It's a more welcoming hub for members to enjoy decent coffee and a chat, and we want as many of you as possible to do just that.
3. Oliver (Ollie) Craddock has been managing the Club now since January. He's doing a great job and, together with a motivated Clubhouse team, we're 'getting stuff done'.
4. We're about to launch new creative YouTube and social media content designed to highlight the deep, authoritative and unrivalled Porsche expertise embedded in our Club. We'll soon be encouraging you to Watch, Listen, Subscribe and Like.
5. We're not where we need to be with our retail proposition. The quality and range of merchandise and our online and physical stores need urgent work.
6. It's great that we gained circa 4,000 new members last year, but disappointing that broadly the same number decided to leave. The initiatives above together with planned new, events, United by the Drive and some changes to Regions and Registers will hopefully improve member retention and attract new enthusiasts
to our Club. We're not attracting our natural share of under 40-year-old enthusiasts who love the marque, who typically aren't so keen on print media, are time-constrained and who love to drive to a weekend cars and coffee. We're keen to redress that without throwing the baby out with the bath water.
7. Nobody new threw their hat into the ring for our Board elections last month, so the existing Board continues broadly unchanged other than, regrettably, Andy Simpson has decided to step down. I thank him for all his efforts on the Board. That's great for continuity and
momentum, but we will need new blood soon to manage succession. If you are at all interested in the Board, please get in touch with me. Thanks to those who have already done so.
8. Our AGM is on 27 April. We'll discuss much of the above and it's a good opportunity to share questions, ideas and views on the direction of the Club. You will be able to join in person at Cornbury House or online. You will need to register and details can be found on P12.
Spring is here and summer is around the corner. Let's hope it's a good one.
WEREMEMBERJEFFMOVES
Jeff Moyes passedaway on 27 Januaryafter battling cancer
JEFFWAS APorsche man through and through. He started working at AFN in the parts department and was known for his vast knowledge of the part numbers. We once played a drinking game at the Niirburgring, quoting part numbers for him to identify. While we got very drunk, he did not!
Motorsport was a true passion of Jeff's and he held the prestigious role of being an FIA Historic
Technical Passport inspector. He regularly used to race his blue 356 Speedster and 914-6.
Jeff was a true hero, managing Tom Pead and myself at the Goodwood Revival last year. He was still spannering the cars and co-ordinating all the timings over the course of the weekend.
He was one of life's good guys.
Simon Bowrey
"HEENDEDWHERE
JEFFWASMYfriend and mentor, and he supported me when times were difficult. I first met him nearly 40 years ago at one of the open evenings at AFN in their original building in Isleworth where he worked for many years before transferring to Guildford. Having taken early retirement, he then went on to become an FIA HTP inspector, issuing competition papers.
HEWANTEDTOBE,WITH HISPORSCHEFRIENDSOFMANYYEARS"
Always calm and organised, Jeff did many things for the 356 members of the Club throughout his life. Many of us will remember an excellent trip he organised to the Porsche Factory in our cars in 1997absolutely perfect.
Later, we did many events together. He raced the Jim Clark 356 for me at Goodwood in 2000 and persuaded me to get a race licence myself. We then did many events together, including Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic five times, Spa and many other events. The high point was probably finishing second overall at Le Mans in 2010.
But more than these things, Jeff was always the guy to go to if you needed help or information on anything Porsche-related. He probably knew as much as or more than anyone else in the UK.
We formed a lasting friendship, both in the cars and socially. If I ever needed help, he would be there in my workshop with me preparing cars even though he lived 60 miles away and was always a perfectionist. At the track, he would work through the night many times and never complain -that's Jeff.
The last year was difficult for him, but he did not give up easily. He insisted on helping prepare both the Jim Clark 356 and the Jenks 356 before the Goodwood Revival last year and turned up to be team leader, suited and smart as always, despite being seriously ill. He ended where he wanted to be, with his Porsche friends of many years.
Jeff is gone, but he will not be forgotten. May he rest in peace.
Tom and Jeanette Pead
BLASTFROMTHEPAST
Having read Steve Bennett's story on the regular 944 Lux, I'd like to add my own thoughts on this timeless Porsche classic.
I bought my first in 1990, when it was still a relatively current car. I'd had British sports cars up until then, the last being a Triumph TR6, and although I missed the exhaust noise of the TR6, the shock of getting into something as well-engineered as the 944 was profound!
What struck me was how capable the 944 was at everything. While it was my everyday car, and even a family car for a while when the children were young, I also used to love taking it for a blast on the quiet fenland roads near where we lived at the time. I eventually replaced it with a 250bhp Turbo version, which was a much more serious car, but I have to say it never got under my skin in the same way as that humble naturally aspirated model, which remains to this day one of the most rewarding cars I've owned. It never cost me much to run, it was unfailingly reliable, and come on ... who doesn't love those 'pop up' headlights!
In more recent years, I've been lucky to own some of Porsche's more recent cars and all of them would outperform that old 944 easily. But I do wonder what sort of car Porsche would come up with today if they tried to emulate the same abilities and character traits of that car. Would I be the only customer, or do others feel the same?
l'MSPARTACUS!
Just a line to say thanks for showing the photo (above) of me under the 1986 3.2 Carrera that was taken during the 1986 PCGB Factory Tour in Porsche Post March 2025. We were told that the front axle and drivetrain was basically a modified Audi front end, and you could see the parts from where I was lying.
On the subject of four-wheel-drive (4WD) Porsche cars, one could also be seen in the Porsche Museum in 2016 when they were celebrating the birth of the 924. They had a 4WD 944 with a four-cylinder, watercooled, rear-mounted engine! The car was mounted on its side so you could get a better look at the drivetrain and where everything was. I will send the photos I took, when I can find them among a poorly catalogued mass of them.
RobinWalker
PEARLBEYONDPRICE
I was most interested to see the article in Porsche Post March 2025 about the 1984 Club Factory visit. The inquisitive man peering under the 3.2 Carrera is my late father, Clive Sherwood (who bought my 3.0 Turbo new in 1975).
He joined the Factory trip to inspect progress on the build of his 928 S2, which had been considerably delayed due to the paint shop having difficulty in achieving a satisfactory finish on his special order of
Opalescent Pearl, which he had seen on the 959. It was returned to the paintshop many times, apparently. See herewith a photo (below) he took of his car in the paintshop.
On returning from the trip, he went to his local dealership at Swinford Motors of Lye and asked to place an order for a 4WD 911. On being told "There is no such thing", he responded: "Well, there will be, so take my order now, please!".
Swinford Motors were baffled as to how he knew about it before even the dealers did, but he kept schtum and now we know!
ChrisSherwood
AdamTowlerwrites: Well, one of you must be correct! But, joking aside, it sounds like a great trip and we can only hope that future PCGB visits to the factory entail such fascinating glimpses into the company's future.
DouglasAckroyd
911Targa4(992)
Guards Red • Graphite Blue Leather
Sports Seats • PDKGearbox • 19/20" Carrera S Wheels• Switchable Sports Exhaust• Adaptive Cruise Control • Front & Rear Parking Sensors• 10,S21 miles• 2021 (71)
Sports Seats• PDK Gearbox• 19" Centre Lock GTSWheels • Switchable Sports Exhaust• Sport Chrono Previously Sold & Serviced by Paragon• 51,929 miles• 2011 (61)
£59,995
911Carrera2S(997.2)
Carrara White • Black Leather Sports Seats • Manual Gearbox 19" Carrera S II Wheels • Sport Chrono • Touchscreen Satellite Navigation • Bose Sound System 23,365 miles• 2010 (59)
£54,995
911Carrera4S(996)
Seal Grey• Black Leather Sports Seats• Manual Gearbox 18"Turbo II Wheels• Satellite Navigation • Bose Sound System
Sports Exhaust• 79,974 miles 2004 (54)
Boxster(981)
Rhodium Silver• Black Leather Sports Seats • PDK Gearbox
19" Boxster S Ill Wheels• Heated Seats • Porsche Sound Pack Plus Previously Sold & Serviced by Paragon • 19,124 miles • 2013 (63)
01825830424sales@paragongb.comwww.paragongb.com We have superb in-house workshop and preparation facilities. Each car is
1 MARKET REVIEW
What is the truth about today's market under all the clickbait?
WOROS:ANDYJACKSON
The internet and smartphones have changed the way we interact with information forever. We now live in a world where it's more important to be the first to say something, regardless of whether it's true or not. Social media has created a wannabe culture of clips and podcasts for clickbait and forums are full of people adding their opinions on colour, price and so on.
This is all increasingly frustrating and problematic for me, given that there are just a handful of those who have the real-world experience and financial ability to buy the cars being discussed. I appreciate that everyone is entitled to an opinion and, for a moment in time, it's nice to debate which is better: a Mexico or an RS2000? In reality, they are both good cars.
It's also fair to say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You can get an overview of the market and the value of your car in just a few clicks. However, there is little recognition of the risks and expenses associated with investing in stock and an overwhelming resentment of dealers making a profit, especially on some of the riskier cars we sell. I looked at a 993 recently where the figure the owner had in mind was based on online research. They hadn't given any consideration to what value the convenience of not having to sell privately is worth, a mark-up or the fact that it needed £20k of prep to be at the level of the cars they were comparing it to online.
The pre-owned Porsche market is difficult to predict at the moment. The sales numbers are good, but the severe price adjustment we saw last year has certainly hit home. The reduced volume of cars produced in 2020-22 has caused a stock shortage too, not only for those years but also the earlier ones as buyers with
older cars struggle to find newer replacements, forcing the trade to pay more as we compete against each other for stock. At the other end, the demands of the retail buyer and the cost of funding are causing a squeeze on the margin, which is a concern given the overheads associated with running an OPC or a good specialist. Thankfully, the Porsche network is still intact but, in other franchises, there have been many casualties because it is tougher than ever to justify the operating costs for a showroom.
In the last few years, we have also seen a sharp increase in Sale or Return (SOR) to try to appease clients and manage the risk. For some dealers, this is now a tried-and-tested business model and there's much to be said for that approach. I came across a 991R at the back end of last year and SOR was not an option, so we took the risk and bought it. It's a beautiful original example but, despite being sensibly priced, it's still available. This is a special car, so do we sit tight and wait? Do we drop the price until it finds a home and distress the market, which ultimately sets a new precedent, and prompts questions about whether it was worth the outlay? Had it been on SOR, we would simply hand it back to the owner.
There are many factors to consider when buying and selling. Most people believe they have the best example (of course they do -that's why they bought it in the first place!), but specification, condition and selling time frame are directly linked to risk and reward, which ultimately dictates the price. Simply put, a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay -not someone's opinion.
I watched a podcast clip recently that I thought was brilliant. The interviewee's response to the question "Which is the best Porsche to invest in right now?" was "The one you're going to enjoy the most", and that is the truth in a nutshell. These are interesting times, so finding your happy place behind the wheel of a Porsche where you can escape the world for a while makes more sense than ever.
Short version? No-one truly knows what's the right buy, life is short, don't get drawn into the online debate and opinions of others, buy the one you like and enjoy it as much as possible. But spare a thought for the dealers; our skills, knowledge and expertise don't come for free. PP
I AM THE RESURRECTION
The 718 Cayman Style Edition is the much-maligned car’s swansong – or is it?
Words: Adam Towler photos: barry hayden
with the kettle on and a gentle wisp of smoke signifying that the boiler is combating the early morning chill and damp, the narrowboat nearest to our stationary 718 gently put-put-puts away from its mooring at Brindley Quays, a large marina in Northamptonshire on the Grand Union Canal. Around it for almost as far as the eye can see lie similar narrowboats, with only the occasional smoke trail signifying a sign of life in perhaps a handful of them. The rest are lying motionless, silent and vacant; objects of entertainment and weekend enjoyment, but no longer the literal pumping lifeblood at the epicentre of the Industrial Revolution.
Now I know what some of you might be thinking. What on earth do narrowboats have to do with Porsche's entry-level sports car, the cheapest one in its current range? And no, this isn't yet another assault on the turbo flat four's often-controversial, chugging exhaust note and in-car thrash. Although, having said that, I'd be lying if I didn't have a little smirk at the vague similarity between the engine note of the boat that just departed and the sound of this 718 Cayman Style Edition as it idles away. Sorry, 718 owners, but ...
No, the reason we're using the marina as a backdrop is because, with the imminent disappearance of the 718 series (or so we all thought -more on that in a bit), Porsche's sports car is going all-EV. With that, it's time to not only say goodbye to this fascinating footnote in Porsche's history, but also to the idea of a mid-engined Porsche sports car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) as a whole.
AGAINSTADARKBACKGROUND
More than ever, the future in automotive terms looks uncertain. I honestly have no idea how, where and at what cost we'll be able to experience cars like the 718 a few years down the road. Moreover, in the days between driving this car and writing this article, Porsche announced a significant re-investment in internal combustion engine development and hybrid technology, creating an inevitable uncertainty around its previous all-EV strategy, with which there are apparently problems in the supply of the batteries that are said to be a big part of the new 718's groundbreaking design.
"ITSTILLHAS SOMUCH TDOFFER, EVENINITS
Does the ICE 718 live on? Probably not, for this is a car that dates back to 2012. But what the exact market positioning of the electric sports car is and any combustible fuel-powered car that may or may not sit beside it in the range remains to be seen.
Perhaps our own sports car future will be like the world of canal boats? No one transports heavy loads of coal, iron and crops along the nation's waterways any more, but that doesn't mean that the canal network is superfluous; in fact, it's in better health than ever. There's a burgeoning leisure market, whether it's for an alternative lifestyle or just a quiet, relaxing way to explore nature at weekends. Maybe our ICE sports cars will be something along those lines and maybe synthetic fuel will be the lifeline required? Honestly, as it stands, I wouldn't like to call it.
That the 718 (or 982, to give it its code number) would arrive on the scene in 2016 was predictable, given Porsche's perennial habit of 'facelifting' its models halfway through their natural product lifestyle to
keep them up to date with market trends and boost sales interest. What was less predictable was the development in the engine room, for the 718 encapsulated that great automotive push of the noughties, in turn giving us a doughty industry buzzword: 'downsizing'.
Under pressure to lower CO 2 emissions and improve fuel consumption, almost all manufacturers began to move away from escalating displacements and instead looked to increase specific output through forced induction while reducing the cubic capacity of their engines.
This era led to the demise of so many great engines across all marques. However, for Porsche, there was a satisfying precedent. After all, the humble four-cylinder motor was Porsche for the first 15 years or so of the company's existence. What better historical playbook to activate? For the 911, that meant shrinking from 3.4-and 3.8-litre engines with the 991.1 to a one-size-fits-all 3-litre twin turbo engine in the 991.2. It was that MA2 motor, when shorn of a pair of cylinders, that effectively gave us the 718's turbo flat four.
FALSESTARTS
I remember attending Porsche's 'technology workshop' day for the 718 back in March 2016. After flying into Nice airport, we were transferred to Michelin's Fontage test track facility where Porsche had set up camp, complete with a row of worldweary 718 Boxster prototypes. There were engineers, marketing and PR people along with a few of Porsche's hot-shoe test drivers and, after some presentations, we were escorted out to the cars. I can't remember exactly whether I drove it or not. I think I did, but we weren't allowed to say in print that we had, only that we were driven by one of the test drivers. I remember all the pre-production cars were Boxsters, there being no Caymans present. One memory is that they had an engine on a stand on display in the foyer area and its sheer lack of size made for an arresting sight. In spite of this, the main message seemed to be the challenge developing the engine had posed in terms of not only making everything fit into a car that had originally been designed for a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, but also of
keeping the engine cool. Turbocharged engines create lots of heat and the 981/718 engine location is low, in the middle of the car and out of sight. After looking at what we were told were "30 different solutions", the engineers had settled on a charge-cooler setup, which required a complex series of radiators.
Of particular interest, too, were the changes to the chassis. On reflection, I'll include what I wrote here because it's a level of detail that Porsche was more coy about going into later in the 718's life:
"There's a new electrically assisted steering rack, carried over from the 911 (991) but with bespoke software for the 718. Specifically, this is the more direct ratio version, only used in 911 models where it's teamed with the rear-wheel steering system, although that hasn't been necessary here. Just exactly why explains much of the work that has taken place on the rear axle. The penalty for a 10 per cent more direct front end -the rack is quicker away from the straight ahead, but then is much the same as before once a good handful has been taken -is (usually - sic) a nervous car at high speed. The added weight, and no doubt cost, of rear-wheel steering has been eschewed in favour of increasing rear wheel width, now up to as much as 10.5". The rear axle has also been made stiffer as an entire unit,
thanks to a bracing bar located at the front of the arrangement in much the same manner as the Cayman GT4. For this new application, a further two mounting points have been added to the subframe structure that underpins the entire unit. The rear struts have also been made thicker -40mm inside now instead of 36mm on a 981 -and the rear links are stronger too. Thicker driveshafts have been employed to deal with the much more potent torque outputs."
Fast-forward to early July and it was the turn of the international press launch, held around Malmo in Sweden and at a small racing circuit called Stump. Both standard 718 2-litre and 2.5-litre S models were available to drive, this time in the Cayman body shell. Looking back through the article I wrote after it, whether it was the prolonged exposure of more miles or the fact that the metal roof of the coupe encapsulated the four-cylinder's thrum inside the cockpit, it's clear I was less than enamoured with the new engine, even if I thought the car drove better than ever before.
My review for 911 & Porsche World concluded with this sentiment: "The trouble with having a flaw with the engine of the car is that, when it comes to a sports car, that's the heart of the matter. The rest of the car can be sublime and, in this case, I don't think that's too strong a word for the 718. But when something so fundamental as the
engine isn't right, then it's hard for it to not cast a very real shadow over the rest of the proposition." That was followed by "I'm certain I wouldn't buy a 2-litre."
The issue was simply the lack of refinement with the four-cylinder engine, particularly with the 2-litre lump, which, as it did without the added entertainment from the S model's variable vane turbocharger and the additional displacement, seemed all the more monotonous. Other journalist colleagues were even less kind, likening its clatter and vibrations to a cement mixer or a dump truck. Just what had Porsche done?
STYLEFORMILES
As it turned out, Porsche would make a number of tweaks over the years to these boxer units, having been stung by the criticism it received at the model's launch. It was rare for a Porsche sports car to not be met with rapturous adoration at launch and the company did respond, although it rarely made much noise in public about the tweaks they were doing behind the scenes. It's true the nature of the engines did improve, but the inherent qualities were sealed in from the start and, as I'm about to be reacquainted with, haven't changed.
This Guards Red Style Edition certainly catches the eye. Whether you're a fan of the red with white look is entirely a personal thing, but I do think the 20" alloys are
massive overkill for a car with 296bhp. They tip the power/grip ratio far too much towards the latter, compromise the ride quality and make the brake discs appear puny, but I get that many will ignore all of that in the pursuit of aesthetics -which are of supreme importance for many buyers. This example is PDK too and, while I concede it suits the engine's characteristics very well and offers so much bandwidth to the driving experience, for me a lowerpowered sports car should always have a manual gearbox. I just miss the sense of connection with the machine.
I'm told RE24 AWA has had a quiet life in the press fleet, largely because most of the media feel they 'know' the 718 by now, but also because there are so few rivals for the car, depressingly, in the new car market. The comparison with the Alpine Al 10 is eternally valid but, once made, there is very little else to talk about. That said, it's been a long time since I've driven a 718 and I have to say I'm supremely excited to rediscover the car ...
As for the 'Style Edition' part of it, I confess this one had passed me by. Back in 2022, Porsche unveiled this package for the 718 consisting of the 20" 718 Spyder wheels in high gloss black as standard, black sport tailpipes, a black centre stripe and Porsche script down the doors. This can also be had as a 'white package', as this car here features.
Inside, there's a leather package, stainless steel kickplates, a multi-function heated steering wheel and climate control as standard. The car is otherwise unchanged from standard specification, with a top speed of 171mph and a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds if you have PDK or 5.1 seconds if you have the manual gearbox. I notice that the price contained in the original press release for the Style Edition was £51,600, but these days the car will set you back £58,000 and, with just a smattering of options, this particular example lists at £59,150. That still feels like good value, with the key additional option on this car being the PTV torque vectoring limited slip differential (£926); select the cliffoption on a standard car today and you automatically have to have the 10mm-lower PASM sports suspension. A small increase in prices means that the PTV is now £1,019 and the PASM is £1,112.
SMALLWONDER
The little four-cylinder engine fires up with none of the silky whir that characterises its six-cylinder forebear and settles to a very mechanical idle. It might not have seduced my ears but, even during the first few yards, the 718 is such a wonderfully appealing car. It's compact but not small or cramped; responsive and enthusiastic but not overpowered and unusable. It just feels right.
The cornerstone of the 718's performance is its torque, which dwarfs that of its predecessor. I've always loved the little 2.7-litre flat six in the 981, especially the way it spins up so sweetly, but with just 206lb/ft and requiring 4,500 on the rev counter, it is far from the brawniest of engines, particularly when tasked with hauling the base 981's long gear ratios. The 718 combats this with 280lb/ft from just 1,950rpm. The difference on paper is obvious and so it plays out on the road too, where the rear axle is put to work with much more conviction in the 718, fundamentally changing the driving experience on offer and especially given the limited slip differential fitted to this example.
This, then, is one of the key reasons you might choose the 718 over the 981. The roads are cold and greasy today and the 718 has no trouble kicking the rear loose on the exit of corners, if that's your thing. Putting it bluntly, what you lose in sonic appeal, you gain in oversteer. You also benefit from a supremely agile chassis, with steering that's quicker and more incisive directly away from the straight ahead, the whole car being so keen to change direction.
At 1,365kg, it's more than 200kg heavier than, say, an Alpine A110, but it's lighter than any 992 and you really do feel that
responsiveness in your hands. It also permeates the entire driving experience. There is no disguising weight, even if its effects can be masked by superb engineering. Take the new 992.2 GTS, for example, which I was driving before this 718. Its extreme power, firm suspension and massive tyres all give it a huge performance advantage over this little 718 but, at sane speeds on the public roads, it's the 718 that feels more alive, more entertaining, quicker to respond for that first crucial fraction of a second, if far from it thereafter.
ALLISFORGIVEN
The more I drive the 718 over the course of a few days, the more I come to love it. There's something wonderfully egalitarian about Porsche's cheapest new car being arguably their most enjoyable, but I must speak as I find: it wouldn't be the most fun on an Alpine pass, the Niirburgring, the autobahn or at Silverstone. It's not the most eye-catching or something to shout about in the way some do of its more illustrious relations but, for more ordinary drives on more ordinary roads, it has an infectious sense of fun that used to be an integral part of every Porsche but that has inevitably had to take a back seat in the newer offerings as power, speed, weight, size, creature
comforts, safety and everything else you care to mention have risen empirically. I think I've even made peace at last with the flat four. From once hating its rough machinations, I now see it through a different lens, perhaps motivated by the imminent demise of internal combustion engines as a whole. I don't even mind the vibration you get through the body at low engine speeds, although I'm still amazed Porsche didn't manage to filter more of this out with some clever engine mountings. It's a plucky, characterful presence, like an old friend where you tolerate their failings but choose to celebrate their strengths instead. Without wishing to drone on about the larger wheels, they do spoil the ride quality at times without PASM to keep them under better control and feel a little like a dumbbell at each corner on a bad surface, where the additional forces they're putting through the suspension clouds the feedback from the car and introduces vagueness to the steering. Smaller, lighter wheels would solve this; the standard 18" items aren't a bad design. Still, if you're forced to select PASM anyway in combination with the differential, that would help manage this.
Perhaps most of all, it's the overall package that's still so right; the three luggage areas (under the front bonnet,
over the shoulder and in the boot at the rear) that make it so practical; the long-distance comfort, with its cocoon-like cockpit and excellent seats (although I'd definitely upgrade to the Sports Seats Plus with their shoulder support -you really miss that, in my view, and it would be money well spent); the respectable fuel economy; the ease of placing it on the road where you want it because it's not too wide. It still has so much to offer, even in its twilight years. All of which makes me think it might be a case of 'buy one while you still can'. This car -this platform since 2012, in fact -has done exceptional things for Porsche and has earned its place in the firm's revered back catalogue through some wonderful cars. Yet, bar the rather simplistic infotainment system (which I like, along with its buttons as well), it doesn't feel old at all. It still has just as much relevance now as it ever did, perhaps more so. I feel sure the forthcoming Cayman EV, or whatever it will be called, will be both faster and a lot more capable, but I'm not convinced yet that I desire it in the same way. For now, I'm keeping an open mind. But, in these uncertain times, I do know one thing: when the time comes to hand the 718 Style Edition back, my face is as glum as a narrowboat pilot with a hole in the bottom of his hull. PP
PCGB'snew initiativecelebratesthe many people who make up the Cluband what they all have in common
WORDS:ADAMTOWLERILLUSTRATION:MARKDAWSON
PHOTOS:SIMONJESSOPANDMEMBERS'OWN
Porsche Club Great Britain is unmatched in the breadth of its owners’ demographics, from their ages, their locations and their incomes to the cars they own, the value of them and how they like to enjoy them. While the cars are all from the same company, there is a huge gulf between, say, an early 356 and a hybrid Cayenne or a 959 and a 718 Boxster. Draw whatever comparison you care to, but few other clubs can contain such disparate vehicles that are still defined by identical qualities.
All of this is patently obvious from the following seven members in this article. No two are in any way alike (apart from, perhaps, a clear fanbase for the Rubystone 964 RS!), but they provide a fascinating snapshot of what it is to be a Porsche enthusiast in 2025, and they’re all united by one clear passion for Porsche and by getting out and driving their cars among people who feel the same way about them as they do.
Rick Wildridge
Rick has been a member of the Club for more than 50 years, having bought his first Porsche at the age of 25
“My first Porsche was a 912 in Irish Green,” he remembers. “I saw it advertised
in the local paper and bought it off a farmer who had purchased it from AFN new in 1967. It was his wife’s car and, when she died, he had left it in a chicken shed. That was how it was when I bought it in 1975. I paid £750 in cash although he had asked for £850, which was quite a lot in those days. I got £1,600 when I sold it three years later, so I thought I’d done really well. It was a lovely car to drive and I used to take it to Snetterton (circuit) a lot.”
Some years later, Rick got back into Porsche with a 986 Boxster, followed by another later Boxster and then a 996 Carrera and Carrera 4S, but it was his subsequent Cayenne Diesel S V8, with its spectacular 850nm of torque, that really stole his soul. A very special example with more than £30,000 of extras fitted, it’s this car that sits at the top of his Porsche back catalogue, despite subsequently owning a 997.2 C4S. He really loved the noise it
made, particularly because it was a pre-GPF model with the V8 rumble in full effect.
Although currently without a Porsche, his eye is on a Macan GTS or another Cayenne – “I think, at my age, I’ve done the 911 thing now” – but, given that a friend has an example of the Macan, with its strident exhaust note, you can tell he’s tempted to get another one.
“When I joined the Club, I was the second member in Suffolk. I had the
912 and one of the things I wanted to get right was the fit of the hydraulic struts”. Rick actually met Suffolk member number one, Terry Foubister, in Ipswich and they struck up a conversation. Terry suggested he join the Region as it got up and running and the rest, as they say, is history.
“The magazine is key,” Rick notes, on what has been the attraction to him of the Club. “It’s good to talk to people who are enthusiastic about the cars and pass on
knowledge – information is one of the reasons people join a Club. Actually, the Club is a bit like a 911; it’s constantly improving and learning from feedback. I think the magazine has improved and, honestly, I can’t be critical of anything. Looking ahead, I think it’s important to remind people – newer members – of Porsche’s history and their achievements in motorsport, especially as everyone’s a little afraid of going electric.”
SANDRAPOLLOCK DBE
It was love at first sight and it's still going strong!
"MYFIRSTPORSCHE is the one I have now: a 1991 Guards Red 944 S2," says Sandra.
"There's a bit of a story in getting it because, over the years, my husband Mike -who's really into Porsches and has probably had seven -would ask me if I'd drive one and I always came up with excuses not to until eventually he wore me down. Then we went to a Club event in our Region, someone was selling this car and, as soon as I saw it, I knew we were going to buy it.
"I think we both just fell in love with it. Everything's perfect about this particular car; not necessarily this particular model, just this particular car. I love the sports seats and I love the way it sits on the road -it feels very secure. I've skidded in it
a few times and it just feels like it tries to rectify the situation itself! I trust it."
Her dream Porsche? "Money no object, I'd buy a 997 Targa. I just love the shape."
"We've been members for 16 years. It came about because my husband bought his first 944 and we really just wanted to find out more about Porsches. The Club has changed over that period -it changes every time there's a reshuffling of the board -but I also think there's been a shift in the range of people joining the Club, as younger people with different lifestyles join.
"I've always felt that when I turn up to a meeting, even my very first meeting when I didn't know anybody, that there is one central focus: everybody there has a Porsche. It doesn't matter what Porsche you have; you have a Porsche. That creates something for everybody to talk about and there's no snobbery about it. It's the love of the cars, whatever your model, and it brings people together. The friendliness of the Club is centred on that passion for Porsche.
"Looking ahead, I think we need to engage the younger generation better. Not necessarily teenagers and 20-year-olds -although we should encourage that age group and look to engage with them too -but Porsches are being bought by people with young families and we need to find out what interests them and make a connection somehow. I think we need to change the image of the Club a little bit and promote the fact that Porsches are driven by different age groups, ethnicities and women and that it's not just about sports cars -Porsches are for families now as well. We need to portray those different groups in marketing terms, showcase the capabilities of the cars and the communities and talk about the wholesomeness of it.
"At this moment in time, I cannot imagine driving another car. I love it so much. Because it's a classic, you get people giving you the thumbs up and saying it's a great car. I feel mega spoiled."
"IT'STHELOVEOFTHECARS,WHATEVERYOURMODEL,
TOMBRAISTED
TheCluboffers so much, as Tomquickly found out
"I BOUGHT MY1999 996 Carrera 4 from another Club member and collected it on 18 October 2020," Tom says. "He was right down in Devon and it was in lockdown, but it was just when you were allowed to go out a bit. Growing up, I didn't really like the classic Porsches like 930s; they weren't for me. But, as a child of the '90s, seeing the GT class at Le Mans, I started to like the 'fried eggs'. I remember seeing them in the street, I had the Scalextric set, I remember reading the articles in car magazines and the group tests where the Porsche won every time. When COVID-19 hit, we were going to move house but didn't, so I bought the car."
Tom has lavished much time, money and attention onto his car, which already had the factory aerokit fitted, including an engine rebuild, new suspension and what he
describes as "extensive" bodywork, including a partial repaint. With an induction kit and free-flowing exhaust, he describes the sound it makes as "wonderful".
His money-no-object Porsche purchase? "It would have to be a 964 RS in Rubystone. It's just fantastic. "
"I joined the Club as soon as I bought the car, for a couple of reasons," Tom continues. "Firstly, the previous owner was in the Club and he was talking about all the activities the Club did, but it was also nice to have that support network because this was the first of that type of car that I'd owned. I had plans of what I wanted to do with it, but I didn't know whether they were good, bad or stupid ideas, so the Club was a useful source of information. There are real benefits as well in terms of discounts on tyres and servicing, but that's not the main reason I'm a member. Most of all, I enjoy the social side, meeting others with like-minded interests and sharing those experiences.
"I think the barrier to entry for the younger generation is the cost of going air-cooled, so more and more are going to
end up in 996s, 997s, 986s and Caymans. I think any snobbery around those cars has seeped away, but it needs to continue to do so. Yes, there's clearly some vastly expensive machinery in the Club, but there's also the other end of the spectrum that is important. As for attracting younger members, I think we need to look at getting publicity for upcoming events on platforms that they subscribe to and making the website as easy as possible to navigate."
It's the events that Tom particularly enjoys, including a Region trip up to Scotland: "The organisers did a truly fantastic job and we had a lovely time. You could choose your own adventure, with some wanting a spirited drive, others a more leisurely scenic one, and there were other activities that appealed to partners who were perhaps less enthusiastic about cars.
"I'm going to enjoy it for as many years as I can buy fuel for it, in a nutshell. If I have to make it run on sustainable fuel, then so be it. I enjoy it too much to not use it on a regular basis."
"MYFIRSTPORSCHE was a Carrera 3.2 Targa in Grand Prix white," Oliver Craddock says. "I bought it because I'd always wanted a Porsche. I was 21 at the time and I paid £12,500 for it. I also had a company car, so this was a weekend toy."
Like so many of us, Oliver's addiction to Porsche had begun at an early age. "It all started for me when my dad came home with a G Model 911 when I was 11 years old. From that point on, I said 'I need to have a Porsche'. When I got mine, he had a 993, so I went to 911 Virgin and the Targa was what I could afford at the time. A coupe was 14 grand and I couldn't stretch to it.
"I've had four Porsches subsequently, including the one I have now, and my girlfriend also has a Macan Turbo. My current car is a 997.2 Turbo and it's my favourite so far. I wouldn't swap it for any of the other ones, or even an air-cooled model."
You can't miss Oliver's uniquely green Turbo -a PTS factory order from birth. "My ultimate Porsche would be a 997.2 GT2 RS, because it's the fastest-ever manual gearbox turbocharged road-going 911 (not counting, perhaps, the 992 Sport Classic). I just love the way that car looks, the manual gearbox and the hydraulic power steering. It's a unicorn car.
"I joined the Club because my dad kept saying 'You should join the Porsche Club', so I did to shut him up! I didn't really do anything with my membership for the first 18 months, but then I started going to events. I didn't join for the member benefits;
I think I just wanted to be around other enthusiasts and I've gone on to make so many new friends through the Club. I can now pick up the phone, ring half a dozen people, just jump in the car and we all go for a drive together. It's about meeting like-minded people that share that common ground.
"I think if there were areas for improvement, then it would be what we offer members on the digital side and just making sure that all of the Club's Regions offer the same level of events across the board. Looking ahead, I think the Club can become more of a lifestyle brand in its own right, especially given how uncertain the future is for driving the cars we love."
"As for my ultimate Club event, it would have to be a continental road trip -probably Spain. There are some quiet roads out there, so it's still a bit of a safe haven."
SIMONBOWREV
Goingfrom Beetles to Porsches is a time-honouredpath
"MYFIRSTPORSCHE was a 912 that I bought in about 1986 and it was in mint condition. I had a Cal-look custom Beetle that I sold for a lot of money because it was a show car, but I was into Porsches because a school friend's dad had a 2.7 RS (white with blue) that got me hooked when I went along in the back of it.
"I sold the 912 and bought a 911 SC in 1988, but it got stolen outside my business. Still, the insurance paid out, and I decided to not get another 911 but a 356 instead. I found a split window '51 coupe down in Taunton in Somerset, which I bought from an elderly professor who'd had it for about 30 years. He'd modified the car, but had kept the original parts in old British Army gun cases. I drove it back and decided 'I'm going to restore this'. During that process, it turned out to be a 1950 four-digit car. Its registration was UXB 12 and it's now owned by Lord Foster. I believe I was one of the first in Europe to restore a split window coupe because no one wanted them at the time. It took me about 11 years to do the
whole thing because you couldn't get the parts. I had to research everything and that was before the internet! After winning the Club concours with it, I then drove it around Europe. I loved that car, but eventually sold it to Jay Kay of Jamiroquai fame.
"After the 356, I bought a 914/6 GT factory racing car that I did Tour Auto and Classic Le Mans in, then a 911 2.0 short wheelbase, a 356 Carrera GT (the first GT to go to the USA) and the first 911 ever imported to New Zealand. Currently, I have a 1953 pre-A 356 which races at Goodwood and a 914/6 GT recreation that I'm going to race this year myself.
"The car I miss the most is the split window because it was so cool and great to drive. Money no object, I'd like a 908 coupe."
Simon has been a member since the mid-'80s and is now an honorary one. "I joined the Club when I got the 912. I wanted to be part of a Club for the networking and to get the magazine. I think the magazine is great where it's got to lately, but there needs to be more features on workshops, members and their cars, and the Club needs to do more events as well -weekend drives, just small groups, staying in nice places and going to interesting locations. I'd like to see more clubby things going on."
JULIAGRACE
Juliahasownedher986S fromnewandit'sakeeper
"l'VEONLYHAOone Porsche, which is the one I have now", says Julia. "It's a 2001 986 Boxster S in Speed Yellow that I've owned since new. I bought it because I saw one cruising down Ocean Drive in Miami and thought 'That's what I want'. That was in 1999, I ordered it in September of that year, and it was delivered in early 2001.
"Even if I could buy any Porsche, I'd just keep this one because it's so sentimental to me. I call it 'Sunny' because when I'm in it, it reminds me of Miami, the sunshine and also of my son, who's no longer with us, but who loved the car."
"I only joined the Club last July. I wanted to get out, meet new people and do new things, and I'd had the car recently spruced up. I'd actually had a bit of a prang in my driveway and the insurance company wanted to write it off, but I said 'No way!'. So yes, the love came back after many years of not actually doing much driving in it, to be honest. It's always been a second car, but now it's my only car."
Julia is enjoying the Club's activities. "What I like about the Club is the breakfast drives and the different social events. It's about the fun of the drive and going out specifically to enjoy driving rather than simply driving somewhere. I think people thinking of joining should know that it doesn't have to be an expensive Porsche; there's nothing snooty about it or a 'mine's better than yours' type of thing. It's all very supportive. After all, the Boxster is a young person's car -it isn't necessarily for someone affluent."
Having fallen back in love with her car and driving with the Club, Julia is contemplating her first trackday. "I've taken out insurance through the Club, so I'm covered, and I'm thinking that I'll have a go. Other than that, one day I hope to go on longer road trips. I've only done 65,000 miles in 25 years, but perhaps I'll drive around the mountains of Switzerland ... "
Old Porsches are more interesting than new ones! We enthusiasts are a diverse and opinionated bunch, and there are few statements more likely to stimulate animated discussion. POK is better than manual, perhaps?
Animated but good-natured discussion is the norm because, of course, there is no 'right' or 'wrong'. Irrespective of age or background, we all like different things. Some love to clean and polish, others to go to the track. Some enjoy both, but a few would prefer anything to either.
There's lots to divide us, but two things bind us: an interest in Porsches and a passion for driving them. I pinched 'United by the Drive' off Porsche at last
year's Goodwood Festival of Speed because it struck me as being the ethos of our Club. So, with Porsche's permission, we trademarked it and here we are. It's not just a slogan; it will define us. There will be more organised drives over summer than ever before, and we are planning a series of convoys to converge on events such as our Summer Solstice party and Analogue Alchemy. There will be more centrally organised roadtrips and tours too.
Whatever your age, whatever you drive, whatever your demographic, come along. Enjoythe drive.
Nick Taylor Chair,PCGB
JONNYMEE
He might be young,but he's alreadyphilosophical
"ITHINKTHEClub is going to rise in significance as cars fade away," says Jonny Mee, 21, a simultaneously inspiring and depressing comment all in the same breath, as we contemplate the future of the car enthusiast. "It's about keeping that community alive".
Jonny doesn't own a Porsche himself - yet - but has the use of a 981 Boxster owned by his parents. "I guess you could say I'm a joint-driver of one of them. As soon as we got that car, I took it on a road trip to Ireland and drove it all over the place, listening to that six-cylinder scream in tunnels.
"My love of Porsches started with my uncle. My mum and dad were in the automotive industry but, when I was 15, my uncle got a 991.1 Turbo S Cabriolet and I got to go around in it, squashed in the back seats, going to cars and coffee events with him. Unfortunately, he's passed away now, but going places with him and learning about the cars sucked me into it. When my parents came to buy their next car, I persuaded mum to buy a Panamera Sport Turismo as a family car (I mean, we do have a dog ... ). Shortly after that, mum wanted a convertible and I suggested the Boxster.
"Money no object, the Porsche I'd buy is a 964 RS. I really like the back-tobasics approach, the analogue nature of it -particularly in Rubystone with the interior to match. A big part of Porsche is the beauty of them, in that they're not trying too hard to be anything, and yet the colours are a big part of it.
"My uncle was in the Club so, when we got the Panamera, I just wanted a way to get involved with the brand and to meet people locally who were into the same sort of things. I've met loads of different people through it, which has been great, and I really enjoy events such as Classics at the Castle -particularly the dinner with (legendary Porsche designer) Tony Hatter. That was the Club at its best for me."
As someone who is still young himself, what does he see as the way forward to attract younger members? "The priority for the Club should now be ensuring the passion for the cars transfers to future generations. As part of that, I think we need some events centred around young people and that aren't necessarily for owners. There can be an educational aspect to them and also having other things around the cars, such as music. My dream event would be great cars, music and people in a picturesque place."
"For me, if I can own something like a Boxster one day, I'll be happy. But, in terms of the community, helping to keep that flame alight is really important."
Stainlesssteal.
In 1972, famed designer Gerald Genta created an oxymoron. Priced more than many precious metal rivals, the 'luxury stainless steel timepiece' was not an immediate success. But eventually its tough, elegant body, integrated bracelet and patterned dial caught on. A watch that dressed up for dinner. Or down, at the pool. Today's 40mm, base automatic of that original watch costs £22,850 more than the 'Twelve' -named for its dodecagon-sided bezel and rear lock ring. Our watch is thinner, goes deeper and offers a choice of C1/BL Grade X1-lumed dials. A polished, brushed and sandblasted case of daylight (and night time) robbery? Doyourresearch.
+: Christopher Ward
3.3-htre • 911 Turbo engine
In the second part of a series exploring the finer features of air-cooled Porsches,it's time to turn to turbos and the computer chip
WOROS:COLINBELTON
I''recall walking into a newsagents in 1975, long before I could legally drive, casually walking past the magazine rack and being stopped dead in my tracks by the front cover of Autocar," Colin reminisces. "The silver 911 on the cover was the new 3.0 Turbo, laying down two black tramlines on the road as it was accelerating away from the camera. Needless to say, I spent my pocket money buying the copy, devoured every word of the article and can say without doubt that this was the point my love affair with the air-cooled 911 began."
Introducing the 930 model code to the Porsche enthusiast's vernacular, the 911 Turbo was born from revised FIA Group 4 and 5 sportscar championship regulations where new competition cars were to be based on a production vehicle. Ultimately, the new regulations led to the development of the hugely successful 934 and 935 but, before this could take place, Porsche had to solve the problem of how to reliably boost the 911 engine. That's where we start our story.
INTHEBEGINNING ...
As mentioned in the first article of this series in Porsche Post February 2025, the 3.0 Turbo shared the well-proven
six-bolt crankshaft with the 2.7RS, housed in the all-new aluminium crankcase. With matching 70.4mm stroke and 95.0mm bore geometry for the same 2,993cc capacity as the Carrera, the most obvious adaption of the engine to cope with turbocharging is the forged Mahle pistons. These have a flat-top profile to achieve a very low 6.5:1 compression ratio.
In designing the engine, the primary focus at Porsche appeared to be heat. While outwardly similar to the Carrera with the same 90cc combustion chamber heads, the new turbo head was cast in a high-temperature alloy developed by Rolls-Royce which had greater strength at sustained higher temperatures.
The RR350 material specification is cast into the face of the head when manufactured. The same diameter of 49mm intake and 41.5mm exhaust valves were adopted and the Turbo exhaust valves were sodiumfilled, again for a more efficient heat transfer from the valve to the head.
The other significant change on the Turbo was the reduction in diameter of the intake port from the 39mm of the Carrera to 32mm, with air flowing in through a single, central throttle body on a cast flat plane intake manifold. While the manifold offers little in the way of air flow management at first impression, the beauty of turbocharging meant that the pressure from the turbo overcame apparent restrictions and more than made up for the ostensibly simple design. It is a similar tale with the camshafts, where the valve lift, opening period and overlap (exhaust closing/intake opening at top dead centre) are all reduced. One advantage to the lift change was the option to reduce the installed height of the valve spring which increases the valve pressure and this, combined with the = lighter piston, allowed an increase in the RPM limit to 7,000.
The port area change was a design feature to increase the velocity of the air through the engine, which has a mitigating 8 effect of reducing exhaust gas reversion = o:::during low-speed operation. This feature <r: was logically carried over to the exhaust
too, which had new small-diameter turbo heat exchangers with thicker flanges and stubs extending through the gasket into a matching rebate in the exhaust ports, hence protecting the gaskets from direct contact with the high temperatures and pressures of the exhaust gases.
In all other respects, the heat exchangers fit and look like they do on the Carrera 3.0, with exhaust gas flowing forwards on each side with a crossover pipe running from right to left under the gearbox. However, in place of the side silencer is a Turbo-specific pipe running back to the turbocharger with a take-off for the wastegate halfway down. Back in 1975, turbocharger design was not what it is today and the KKK 3LDZ turbo that Porsche selected was more commonly used on a constant-speed marine diesel engine. It was tough and reliable, but it wasn't responsive -which is one of the reasons for the lag associated with driving the 911 Turbo.
On the intake side of the engine, there is an outwardly similar K-Jetronic continuous fuel injection system with a larger downdraft air flow meter and a huge VS-style fuel metering head feeding larger injectors through larger metal injector lines. Feeding the system are two in-line fuel pumps running at seven bar of line pressure, so one thing you can say with certainty about the Turbo is that it is definitely not short of fuel flow capacity. The air flow runs
down through the metering head to the turbo compressor intake and from the outlet direct up to the throttle body, with a dump/recirculation valve incorporated to relieve boost pressure on lift-off.
One of the common misconceptions about the 930's fuel system is that it runs a boost enrichment system with the K-Jetronic ('K-Jet') warm-up regulator. The correct interpretation is that the regulator operates as a vacuum lean-off system, hence the fuel supplied remains constant from zero boost to full boost. This is one of the hidden reasons why the Turbo typically has double the fuel consumption of a Carrera.
Was all the work worth the effort? The stated 260hp and 243lb/ft might seem ordinary by current standards, but the fact that the Turbo became Porsche's poster boy of the 1970s and '80s makes this a
definitive yes. We have to remember that a fast performance car of the day like the Ford RS2000 had barely 100hp, so the Turbo was indeed a game-changer. In truth, the game really changed with the introduction of the 3.3 Turbo in 1978 with 300hp and 310lb/ft. More importantly, dropping the 2.7RS-derived non-servo brakes (!) for a fully servo system with all-round four-pot 917-derived brake callipers finally allowed the 930 to stop as well as it goes. Capacity increase came from a bore increase to 97mm and a new nine-bolt crankshaft with a 74.4mm stroke
for 3,299cc. More capacity needs more air, which came from the same exhaust and turbo combination running at a higher boost, with heat managed by the addition of an engine-mounted air-air intercooler hidden under the new whale-tail spoiler. Run the same crank with a 95mm bore and you get 3,164cc or 3.2 litres, and that's where we are going next.
OUICKANDCLEVER
In 1984, driven by changing global emissions requirements again, Porsche introduced the first major update for
the 911 in its new era: the 3.2 Carrera. "The 3.2 introduced the Bosch Motronic engine management system", says Colin. "Known as L-Jetronic (I wonder where that name came from?), it's the first system that controlled fuel and ignition timing in one box."
Sensors on the engine (RPM, engine temperature, throttle position, air temperature and air flow) send signals to the engine control unit (ECU), which then controls the fuel pump, ignition timing, fuel injectors and idle control valve. As a replacement for the K-Jet, Bosch engineers chose to open the fuel injectors in groups -a system known as batch fire injection. Fuel droplets are misted into the intake port before being drawn into the cylinder, operating in a similar way to the K-Jet but with greater accuracy. Coupled with fully mapped ignition curves, all this contributed
to the 231hp and 210lb/ft output with fuel consumption typically improved by 10 per cent over the smaller-capacity SC.
Visually, the 3.2 came with a new swan-neck aluminium intake manifold, side-mounted air cleaner and a tidy-up of the air ducting for the heater system for a much cleaner look to the engine bay. The increased intake port and exhaust port diameters in the manifolds and heads which ran the same diameter valves as the SC would be hidden. While more powerful than the 204hp SC, the 3.2 Carrera is often observed to feel less responsive and not as perky as its predecessor.
“The beauty of turbocharging meant that the pressure from the turbo overcame apparent restrictions and more than made up for the ostensibly simple design”
This can be partially explained by generally increasing vehicle weight due to the build specifications (e.g. electric seats), but much of this feeling comes from the changes to the engine. A heavier flywheel to carry the necessary RPM trigger teeth and the 4mm-longer stroke which makes each piston travel further for every revolution both increase engine inertia, with the piston also moving more air underneath on each stroke, so the additional ‘pumping losses’ make the engine do more internal work for the same revs.
Another factor is the use of the same camshaft in both the SC and Carrera cam. In theory, a bigger capacity of engine would demand more air flow and need additional lift or duration to achieve that. Instead, Porsche increased port areas, effectively de-tuning the engine. Did they miss a trick or was this intentional? “I suspect it was the latter,” says Colin. “Prior to the 1980s, the 911 was very much a car that was driven and bought by enthusiasts; nobody needed one, but they wanted one. Then, in the mid-’80s, the yuppies came out to play, earning big money in the city and wanting an easier sort of 911 to drive. The first complaint about the G Model was the 915 gearbox, so the only surprise is that it took three years before the G50 was introduced.”
Bucking that trend, though, was the Club Sport. What a car! As light as could possibly be made, but not called an RS. What a difference that blueprinted CS motor was. “I rebuilt my SC engine to a 3.2 CS specification including CS/Turbo hollow sodium-filled valves, set the cam timing to enhance the top end and fitted a set of headers and a MoTeC engine management system and it made an astonishing 271hp with 239lb/ft,” says Colin. “This was the most powerful 3.2 engine I’ve ever run and was incredible to drive, but was probably a one-off since you could achieve more from substituting a 3.6 engine.”
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
What about if you’re trying to buy one of these cars? What should you look out for? “The Turbo is no different to any other K-Jet engine in that the sweet running is entirely dependent on having the correct fuel pressures in the system. If you’ve got any hesitancy or unresponsiveness, you have likely got fuelling problems,” Colin explains. “Unlike the robust and tolerant SC, a Turbo engine running lean under boost is on the very knife edge of detonation (uncontrolled ignition), which quickly results in cracked piston rings or, in a worst-case scenario, melted pistons. If in doubt, run a full fuel system pressure test before you hit the loud pedal.”
“Ignition-wise, the Turbo is solid and the CDi system is equipped with more than 20,000v on tap to fire a big fat spark across the Turbo-specific Bosch platinum-tipped spark plugs (now £32 each!). After that, we’re checking for the same broken head stud issues as the SC,
so drive it at peak torque at 4,000rpm and listen for exhaust flatulence”.
Exhausts are more worthy of note given the higher temperatures that the Turbo runs at in normal use. “Seeing a Turbo exhaust running cherry red is not uncommon and, with more extreme heat cycles, corrosion and cracking is far more commonplace with the SC or Carrera. Turbo exhaust parts are also expensive. Need a new wastegate pipe? That’s £2,000 to you, sir. Be warned, restoring a Turbo is not for the faint-hearted.”
So, is it plain sailing with the 3.2 Carrera in comparison? No, I’m afraid not – you won’t get away that easily. Engine-wise, the 3.2 Carrera is notorious for suffering with premature wear of the piston rings, even at relatively low mileages, which is largely caused by excessive fuelling on cold starts and short journeys.
“The worst I have seen was a lovely one-owner Targa that had done just 49,000 miles,” Colin remembers. “The owner did not believe me that his rings were the cause of an idle and oil smoke issue, so I did a deal with him to strip the engine and, if I was wrong, I’d rebuild it for free. I was right; the top piston rings had eroded down to a point and, on a couple of cylinders, had broken into tiny fragments. It turned out that the gentleman worked in a studio three miles from home
and took the car there and back three times a day!”
The symptom of worn rings is a running engine that feels ‘soft’, making less power and torque than specified. A dyno test is an obvious choice if you want to be sure. “The worst one we measured had just 182hp – a 50hp deficit showing the potential scope of the issue. If you can’t get the car to a dyno, simply remove the oil filler cap while the engine is idling. If it stalls, it will likely need a rebuild”. That’s a fact – all 911 engines should idle with the cap off because this is how you officially need to check the oil.
In respect of the Motronic system, the ECU is robust and unlikely to cause issues unless it has been wet. However, due to the age of components, RPM sensors, cylinder head temperature sensors and air flow meters are now going to be close to end of their lives if they have not been replaced before. Oh, and keep a spare fuel pump relay in your glovebox. It’s located under the left seat and is easy to change, so it’s worth having a ‘get you home’ option. Exhaust systems are the same for other 911s, so do your due diligence there as usual.
So there you have it. Like any Porsche, there’s plenty to learn and potential pitfalls along the way, but there’s no doubting that the aluminium-cased 3.0 Carrera, SC, Turbo, 3.2 Carrera and 3.3 Turbo 911 engines are among the toughest Porsche ever made. PP
“One thing you can say with certainty about the Turbo is that it is definitely not short of fuel flow capacity”
The new Carrera’s engine was more powerful, more frugal and easier-going for a new type of Porsche buyer
CAPACITY CONVERSIONS
The PorscheClubMotorsport 2025 seasonis about to begin,so let's find out what we haveto look forwardto!
WORDS:ADAMTOWLER
This year, Porsche Club Motorsport looks forward to another superb season of action on the track, with three circuit championships and the Porsche Speed Championship promising close competition and a fabulous spectacle.
The race calendar kicks off at Silverstone on 19 April, where all three
series will take to the national circuit. Round two is on the Anglesey Circuit on 10 May, while round three takes place on 24 May at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit -one of the few times that the 'long' configuration is used. Round four is on the Oulton Park international layout on 28 June and this is followed by a return to Silverstone on 2 August, this time on the full Grand Prix circuit. Then it's off to
Donington Park on 20 September for the penultimate round, followed by the finale at Snetterton on 11 October. Come to one of the events and experience the excitement first-hand; if you're already a keen trackday attendee but feel you've exhausted what your road car can give you in such an environment, perhaps it's time to take the competitive step with the Club? Read on to learn more about what this season has in store.
The Club's main race series has been a fixture of the British motorsport scene for decades and continues to gain in popularity. The championship is based around a power-to-weight formula, meaning that a variety of different Porsche models can race on track with a similar degree of competitiveness. Expect to see 997.1 and 996 Carreras
and 987 Caymans battling for the honours.
A range of drivers will be tackling the championship, from previous champions such as Pete Morris and Chris Dyer to those like Julian Morris, who enters his second season at the top level having worked his way through the Club's championship ladder after starting in the Boxster Cup.
Much focus will also be on 2024 Champion Simon Clark, who returns to defend his title in his 997 Carrera.
"I think the Porsche Club Championship is as high a level as you're going to get in Club racing," says Simon. "It offers great value for money, it looks good from a sponsor's perspective because people want to associate themselves with the Porsche brand and it's a really great championship for racing. We bring around 60-100 hospitality guests to each round and it's really effective (from a marketing perspective)".
Having started in MSV's Trackday Trophy, Simon bought his first Porsche race car in 2017 and joined the Club series a year later with a 987 Cayman. After a steep learning curve in 2018, he narrowly missed out on the title in 2019 before scooping the honours in 2020 and 2021. He won the top class again in 2022, but this time at the wheel of a 996 Carrera -showing his versatility as a driver -before undertaking some endurance racing in 2023 with a 997 Carrera. He then returned last year in the 997 and once again took the title (his second overall championship and fourth class series title), cementing a remarkable record in the series over recent years.
This year sees him back for another crack at the title, but his approach is different now. "I'm hoping I can enjoy it a little bit more and not put myself under the same level of pressure," he says.
"All three models are almost identical in lap times, but there are some circuits that suit the Cayman's dynamics better and vice versa. I loved the Cayman chassis, but I think this 911 is more rewarding to drive. With the Cayman, you drive the wheels off it, maximising apex speed, but you have to be more consistent with the 911. It punishes you if you make a mistake, but I do love the throttle adjustability of it."
BOXSTERAMSERIESWITHPIRELLI
The Boxster AM Series is an ideal stepping stone to the Club series from the Boxster Cup because it introduces slick tyres. This has a significant effect on lowering lap times, but also requires the development of a new driving technique to understand the idiosyncrasies of their operation and how to get the best out of them. The Boxster AM cars have also historically benefitted from the fitment of a limited slip differential to maximise traction, although the Cup series has this feature for the first time in 2025.
Last year's champion Darren Labett is back to return his title, but he will be facing many new contenders as well as some existing competitors, not least among them the 2023 Boxster Cup champion Jonny Lovell (after car issues blighted his season last year) and 2024 Cup champion Wayne Gregory.
Also returning to the series after a 2024 season that promised much but was truncated by a car-wrecking accident is Shiraz Khan. The London-based dental surgeon was a prolific Porsche Club trackday attendee, arranging six in the week before he collected his first-ever Porsche in 2018. "Having progressed up the ladder with road cars, things were getting quicker, but I was conscious I was hiding behind the fact I had a quicker motor rather than necessarily skill," Shiraz notes, with matter-of-fact honesty.
"My first season was in 2022 and I did four races in the Boxster Cup. On my first test, the engine blew -a sign of things to come! But I finished my first two races and
got a double podium at the third race once I was back with my original car. I had some good results considering that I’d never raced and that gave me the hunger to push on. Rather than doing a second year in the Cup, which would have been a sensible choice, I decided to move up to the AM Championship and got my ‘rear quarter panel’ handed to me.”
Shiraz can laugh about it now but, at the time, he found the introduction of slicks, the limited slip differential and the sheer standard of experienced drivers in the AM series provided a steep challenge. Last season, he bought his own car and started the season in a much stronger fashion, having worked hard on his driving, before getting embroiled in a multi-car shunt off the start line at Oulton Park which effectively ended his season in a pile of crumpled bodywork.
The car has been completely rebuilt, including an engine refresh, and Shiraz has also adopted his own livery for the first time. It’s a modern take on the ’98 Le Mans-winning 911 GT1 scheme, and very smart it looks too. “I’m back in class two (AM) this year to show what I can do!” he says.
Porsche Club Motorsport Boxster Cup
With a bumper grid of 22 cars, the 2025 Boxster Cup once again looks set to offer fierce competition and an ideal introduction to circuit racing for aspiring racing drivers. The Cup is the very first rung on what is an extraordinary ladder of ‘official’ Porsche Motorsport, leading to the Boxster AM Championship and then the Club Championship before crossing over into the Porsche Motorsport-run Cayman Sprint Cup, the Carrera Cup and beyond. In theory, that ladder doesn’t stop until you’re lining up on the grid at Le Mans in a 963.
Modifications to the Boxster Cup cars are primarily focused on safety and the
“I had some good results considering that I’d never raced and that gave me the hunger to push on”
cars are closely monitored to ensure that the races have as level a playing field as possible. There are a number of drivers making their debut in 2025, such as 17-year-old Bertie Bream, and others who made a tentative start in the series last season but who are now back for a full championship campaign. One of the latter is Charlie Dye, who entered the second half of the season after beginning his racing adventure in a Citroën C1. Charlie’s dad Julian will race in the Boxster AM Series this year and his uncle Simon will be alongside him on the Cup grid, so it’s very much a case of keeping it in the family.
Another notable returnee is Faye Noble Evans, wife of 2022 Boxster Cup champion and current Club championship driver Pete, who is embarking upon what she hopes will be a championship-winning season after coming third in the series in 2023. She joined the Club just before the COVID-19 pandemic and was enjoying trackdays when she was alerted to the prospect of racing. She feels like she is in an even better position as the new series begins.
“I think a lot of it is developing your racecraft and that’s something I guess I’d never done before,” Faye says. “I found out I was quick behind the wheel, but it’s
been a case of really developing those skills so you can go wheel-to-wheel with other drivers.”
Her 2023 Championship position meant she was the first female driver in nearly 30 years to win silverware, but her advice to other women considering taking to the track is straightforward. “Everyone in the series is really welcoming and I don’t think they see me any differently from any of the other guys. I recommend just coming along to one of the races, meeting me and the team, and then getting out there on track and giving it a go.”
Porsche club Speed Championship with Ninemeister
This year, the Porsche Speed Championship will once again provide a thrilling mix of hillclimb and sprint events, making both an ideal first step into organised competition for Porsche drivers new to motorsport. It will also be a tremendous challenge for more experienced drivers where tenths of a second make all the difference in this particularly intense form of competition.
The championship takes the form of 14 rounds, seven of them hillclimbs and seven sprints, with the best of a competitor’s eight results counting towards the final standings in the title race. Competitors are grouped into four different classes defined by power outputs, so class one is for cars of up to 220bhp, class two from 220bhp to 280bhp, class three from 280bhp to 360bhp and the top class is for cars with more than 360bhp. However, there are further influences on what class a car will be eligible for.
Interest in Porsche Club Motorsport events is higher than ever
Fitting slick tyres automatically puts a car up a class from where its power output would place it (unless it's already in the top class, whereupon it will receive a two per cent time penalty). Moreover, the fitting a semi-automatic gearbox, including PDK, attracts an additional two per cent time penalty. However, if the car is road-legal, that will drop the car a class relative to its power output unless it has more than 400bhp. It's a carefully constructed formula that aims to place a diverse array of Porsches in close competition with each other, bringing driver ability to the fore.
The first round is a sprint event at Cadwell Park on 29 March, where the Porsche Club Speed Championship joins more than 40 car clubs and 19 confirmed championships in a full day of competitive action. Best of all, this one is entirely free (although all Speed events are great value to attend) to go along and watch. If you're thinking of pitting your own Porsche against the clock, it's a great opportunity to talk to the competitors and find out what's required to take part. One driver looking to make a step up is Wayne Eason, who has swapped a 2. 7-litre Boxster for a 3.4-litre model and will also be running on slick tyres this season.
"The Boxster is a great, agile package and can be run quite light while putting down good power and grip levels," says
Championship Coordinator Simon Wilson. "Wayne does all his own work and has converted the car himself, combining the best mix of parts to deliver the car he wants. Of course, power has to be driven and Wayne knows he has a very different beast to tame this year. It should be very interesting to see how he does!"
Simon also highlights that there are plenty of drivers who choose the road-going route, removing the need for vehicle transportation to and from the events. "We have a good number of road-going cars driving to the events and driving home afterwards. It's a great aspect of the sport."
One other option is for drivers to share a car. "We have a car-share in a 996 GT3 this year. David Hilton and Tim Barber have put in great times running their powerful car on slicks in previous years. The issue is that for Pl cars (the top power class), using slicks brings with it a two per cent addition to the time recorded. This year, David and Tim have decided to go with sticky road-legal tyres and the gamble is that they can make the transition and lean hard enough on the road rubber to be better off having avoided the slick tyre penalty. It's quite a thing stepping back from the limpet-like grip that slicks can give, but it may yet work out for them!" PP
THEWHEELDEAL
What you need to know about the subtleties of driving rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive cars
WORDS:STEVESUTCLIFFE
So how do you get the best out of a rear-wheeldrive (RWD) Porsche? Is it all merely about managing the torque flow through the rear tyres and understanding what the rear suspension is up to, or are there some extra tricks you can deploy to unlock more speed, better balance and therefore fun from a RWD car?
The answers, inevitably, are complex, but what's not in doubt is the one thing that will make the biggest difference of all to your enjoyment of a RWD cardriving it smoothly. Employ the classic 'slow in, fast out' technique and you will always end up in a better place in a RWD car, be it front-, rear-or mid-engined. And if you don't -if you try and mess with this simplest of formulas -then best of luck. Even in a Cayman or a Boxster, you'll still need to be very lucky indeed to get away with what happens next if you enter a corner too quickly, then back away from the throttle or, worse, hit the brakes. In a 911, it doesn't bear thinking about. It really is the only platform on which to base your moves in a RWD car. That said, you can go further and tweak the formula (so to speak) to suit your environment or maybe to merely indulge your own curiosities. But once you move beyond the world of 'slow in, fast out' in a
RWD car, you'll also need to understand that while the front wheels do the turning, pretty much everything else significant happens at the back. That's including a fair bit of the steering itself, if you do it right.
Steering a RWD car on the throttle is not, however, all about driving it with armfuls of oversteer. Far from it. Instead, it's about the same old thing: getting the nose of the car exactly where you want it to be as early as possible on the way into a corner and on turn in. By getting the nose of a RWD car where it needs to be at the apex of any corner, you'll always make the exit of that corner easier to nail and smoother, not to mention faster.
A good way to go about this is to try to imagine there's a direct link between your brain, the throttle pedal and the loaded outside rear tyre. If you can connect all three of these things and effectively use them 'as one', you'll already be halfway towards driving a RWD car properly. If any part of that link starts to drop out in a corner, you'll instinctively feel what's going on and not just at the rear axle but also through the steering, via your backside and even at the throttle. If it does, you'll react faster but also less frantically when things start to go wrong and drive more smoothly -and so better -when they don't.
Appreciate this and you'll soon start to realise just how connected all your actions are in all cars and especially in RWD ones, because what you do at one end always has a consequence at the other. The skill is making both ends work in harmony and, in a RWD car, it's probably your backside that provides the most accurate gauge of all to help you achieve this. Think about that the next time you aim your Cayman or 911 into and through a corner. Feel how connected your brain is to the rear axle when you accelerate out of the corner because, if the connection isn't there, you'll never get anything like as much satisfaction or speed out of driving a RWD car as you could. The rest of it is then mostly about building confidence and getting better at spotting the right signs at the right moment.
Four-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, however, are mostly about traction. We all know that, but there are certain methods you can use to get even more out of them, such as trail braking or lifting off at the right moment, each of which is designed to maximise the benefits of the extra traction a 4WD car naturally generates. I use the word 'traction' rather than 'grip' here deliberately because there is a difference.
Most 4WD cars are set up to feel much like frontwheel-drive cars near the limit and will understeer eventually if you push them hard. One or two, such as Porsche's GT cars, will oversteer under power in certain drive modes, but it's fair to say that all of them produce more traction than their equivalent front-or rear-drive cars. So how do you get the most out of that traction without wrecking the tyres?
To do so, you need to understand how important inertia is in a 4WD car and to then use it to your
"IT'SPROBABLYYOUR BACKSIDETHATPROVIDES THE MOSTACCURATEGAUGEOFALL'
advantage. It might take a bit longer to get the nose of a 4WD car pointing in the right direction mid-corner and towards the exit (by trailing braking if you feel confident enough, or merely by being patient with your entry speed if you don't) but, so long as you can get it there without too much drama in the first place, you can unlock full power far earlier in a 4WD car on the way out of corners.
Get on the beans too early and most 4WD cars will still understeer towards a corner's exit, so you still need to be patient with the throttle. You can't just whack the taps open at the apex and expect a 4WD car to stick, no matter what. But once you get a 4WD car pointing straight, boom, that's where the gold dust lies -and when it will rocket away from a two-wheel-drive car if driven correctly, never more so than in the wet or when it's slippery.
So getting the most out of a 4WD Porsche is basically about setting it up on the way into corners, getting it to the apex as fast and quietly as you can and then unleashing its full potential (its traction) as early as possible towards the exit. The crucial part of the corner is the entry phase, while the most enjoyable bit is the exit and the extra acceleration you can generate in the process. PP
Being able to make swift progress after dark may be a given for drivers of new Porsches, but it wasn't that long ago that decent vision at night required an upgrade box to be ticked. And before that? Well, you'd have to slow down. There are solutions, but which one is right for you and your car?
The first thing to consider is how good you need your headlights to be. If you only drive at night a few times a year, then a simple step from woeful to adequate may be sufficient and, compared with the cost of fitting a top upgrade, could save you enough for a trip to Le Mans. Just changing the bulbs may introduce welcome clarity to
the road ahead and, for older cars, adding a relay will boost vision even further for a relatively modest outlay.
The second consideration is appearance. Replacement bulbs light up in a range of tints, so do you want your classic to shine with the blue tint of later technology or would a purer white be more appropriate? If your budget stretches to new headlamp units from one of the myriad specialist suppliers, you can retain the original look, update it with design elements from more recent cars or even go for the full restomod approach.
LEADINGLIGHTS
From the launch of the original 911 (then called the 901) in 1963 up to the
introduction of the 964 in 1989, very little changed. Each generation of Porsche was fitted with conventional incandescent bulbs that relied on tungsten filaments to generate light. The 964 introduced the first significant upshift across a range of vehicle systems, with coil springs replacing torsion bars, power steering replacing increasingly heavy manual steering and the option of Tiptronic transmission. However, there is one game-changing aid to swift progress that is hardly ever mentioned, in that the 964 was also the first 911 to be fitted with halogen headlights.
One of the problems with conventional incandescent bulbs is that the tungsten evaporates, coating the inside of the
glass and weakening the filament. Halogen bulbs solve this by sealing the filament in a small glass bubble filled with an inert gas mixed with a halogen such as iodine or bromide. Through a complex redeposition process, this allows the bulb to be durable at higher temperatures and produces a brighter, whiter light. If your car is running on old incandescent bulbs, swapping to halogen will make a useful difference and is the cheapest and easiest upgrade path too.
However, it gets more complex. The light output of a filament is proportional to voltage cubed so, if your electrical system is old or just a little creaky, you are losing large chunks of light output thanks to a drop in voltage across the bulb.
"For most classic and some more recent Porsches, the first upgrade is to ensure that you are using modern halogen bulbs of the correct type for your car," says 944 Register Secretary Mike Pollock. "Then you really need to look at the voltage they are receiving, because this is fundamental to getting the most out of all bulbs."
Mike explains that this is particularly relevant to classic Porsches that have the battery in the boot because the electrons have a long way to travel over aging wiring. Even more recent cars may still direct the current through switches whose rating is only just adequate. That's yet more voltage lost.
Furthermore, 944s, 968s, 928s, 914s and flatnose 911s have yet another wiringrelated challenge because getting the current to the pop-up headlamp pods requires the cable to flex as the pod moves up and down. This work-hardens the copper, increasing its resistance. "I've measured less than eight volts at the bulb," Mike warns. With the engine running, the system voltage should be a little higher than the nominal 12 volts, with the exact voltage depending on your car, the level of technology in its battery management system and the state of charge of your battery.
TRICKOFTHELIGHT
Mike's advice is to begin by fitting a modern halogen bulb; he recommends Osram Night Breakers. Then check the voltage at the connector. For cars with pop-up lights, it's possible to buy an entirely new headlight wiring harness (although a home-made harness fits
better, if you have the skills to make your own) and the Club has some very helpful and knowledgeable experts within the Registers, should advice be required.
The other important upgrade to the wiring, which may be included in an off-the-shelf kit, is to fit relays. These electrical switches allow the current heading for the lamps to bypass the on/off and dip switches operated by the driver, which now instruct the relay rather than switching the current. Bypassing the old conventional switches means bypassing the source of a significant voltage drop. The improvement can be dramatic.
The introduction of halogen on the 964 was swiftly followed by the option of Litronic on the 993. These high-intensity discharge (HID) systems do away with vulnerable and inefficient filaments, instead creating light from an arc between two electrodes in a xenon gas. Hence, they are often referred to simply as 'xenon'. This is where colour becomes a consideration because the light output is a purer white and may also have a blue tint, which is sometimes artificially boosted.
Litronic also introduced another innovation: projector beams. These work by placing the bulb at one focus of an ellipsoidal reflector, which bounces the light forwards through a small, deeply convex lens that provides precise beam control. That makes the first step in upgrading the light output relatively
simple because swapping to a modern high-brightness bulb will usefully increase the light output of a Litronic unit without creating dazzle or glare, which can be issues when fitting more powerful bulbs to reflector lamps. From 2002, Litronic units added xenon main beam to the initial dip-only projector design, allowing both to be effectively upgraded with modern high-output bulbs.
For such an innovative system, it's ironic that the component that fails first is often one of the simplest: the reflector. The reflective coating will eventually become less consistent and may even peel off, greatly reducing the amount of light that is fired forward. If this is the issue with your car, simply changing the bulb won't help; you need to change the projector units too. Fortunately, there is a considerable range of third-party options, some of which also bring more modern technology to boost light output.
Some Porsches, such as early Macans, are fitted with projector lamps that have halogen bulbs from new. It seems such a waste of a clever system. Swapping to xenon bulbs is a simple and popular upgrade, but remember that this will only improve the dipped beam unless your car has bi-xenon lights and you change both bulbs.
There is, however, an added complexity to what sounds like a simple bulb swap. HID lamps require electronic ballasts to control the starting voltage and then the operating current that maintains the arc. These units can be quite tiny -some LLl modern ballasts can be integrated with S@ the bulb -but, where space is tight, they can be supplied (as in original xenon Litronic units) as separate boxes that 2 need to be securely mounted.
That means that while you can buy an equivalent xenon bulb with integrated ballast to replace an older generation of technology, it may not fit. If it does fit, it may get too hot because there isn't anywhere for the waste heat to go. An upgraded bulb is the usual cause of the brown marks that you sometimes see on the polycarbonate headlamp lenses that proliferated across the model ranges from the first Boxster onwards. A safer option is to purchase an upgrade kit with a separate ballast unit that can be installed outside the headlamp package. Remember that a crazed lens reflects light back, so it will also need to be addressed.
LIGHTTHEWAYAHEAD
The modern era dawned with the introduction of lights that replace bulbs with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The difference in output between an HID and an LED lamp is significant rather than night and day, so the majority of subsequent LED headlight development
[fflJIDlj]
If you have a 993 and want the ultimate lighting upgrade, for €9,950 plus taxes you can give your car a little Pfaffenhausen magic by fitting the Ruf LED Lighting System. Developed for the latest generation of carbon-bodied supercars, the ECE-approved kit includes headlights, indicators, foglights, taillights, the rear centre light and mounting hardware.
has focussed not on providing more firepower, but on real-time digital control of the beam spread and distance.
This is also where headlights begin to get really complex, with additional control systems, heat sinks and even fans needed by some LED systems to ensure a sufficiently low and stable operating temperature. That means that replacing entire LED headlight modules becomes impractically expensive. Unless you have a very large budget, you are stuck with what comes with the car. LED lamps can, however, be retrofitted to earlier headlight units, even those designed for older tungsten filament and halogen bulbs.
However, like an HID bulb with built-in ballast, an LED bulb with built-in control systems and thermal management may not fit housing designed for older technology, so check it's the right specification for your lamp unit. The more robust and highest performance option is a conversion kit, which may also require coding via a laptop to avoid error messages caused by a change in current draw.
The ultimate upgrade is to swap the entire headlamp unit for one that's designed for the new LED technology. Design 911, for example, offers four styles of plug-and-play LED dual projector headlight conversion for the 911 up to and including the 964, so you can choose any combination of clear or fluted lens with chrome or black bezel and install it yourself. All are E-marked to show compliance with European regulations for road use.
Like many upgrades that can be costly, there are cheap alternatives. Both design and build quality can be poor, so beware. Forum users have reported issues that include malfunctioning drivers, uneven beam patterns that dazzle oncoming traffic, inconsistent colour temperature and premature lens yellowing due to excessive heat. So, take advice from a reputable supplier or from experts within the Club, choose carefully and, with a relatively simple upgrade, you can transform the safety and pleasure of driving at night. PP
The look of the lights was developed with 993 designer Tony Hatter, so it provides what could be thought of as an 'authorised' modernisation.
ANYONEWHOHASbuilt model cars from Tamiya, clicked them together from pieces of Lego or even bolted old-school Meccano together can't fail to wonder at the complexity of the real thing. Conceiving and constructing a new car from scratch is a giant puzzle, especially the first time around when lessons have yet to be learned and there are few clues to be found in a blank sheet of paper. Things may have
moved on a lot technically since the first 356 Roadster, but not much in some ways.
Ferry Porsche's first prototype for the 356 in 1948 consisted of a space frame chassis clad in handcrafted aluminium panels. It was the manifestation of the image he had in his mind for a small, agile sports car, but pragmatism soon shaped the 356 as much as the engineer's imagination and it went into production with a pressed
steel fabricated and welded chassis. Very soon, hand-made aluminium body construction switched to pressed steel body panels, with the two married to form a unitary construction.
The same essential approach continued for the next few decades, although 'unitary' became more so with the 911, where body and chassis are completely integrated. In the mid-'70s, Porsche took the major step of introducing hot-dip
galvanising of body shells as well, the rust-protective plating penetrating deep into spot-welded seams. A degree of hand-finishing persisted, though, and visitors to the Zuffenhausen plant could still witness 911 panels being fettled by hand to create the final body-in-white in the 1980s. By 1986, robots were in action in the paint shop to apply PVC underbody protection and cathodic dip painting was standard too.
The 997 still had a body made entirely of steel with panels welded together, but the way 91 ls were made would see a sudden stepchange in 2011 with the radically updated 991. This iteration of the 911 has an underbody, roof, lids and wings made from aluminium, as are the doors which combine pressure castings and sheet metal. In fact, roughly half of the 991 is made
of aluminium and there's also a smattering of magnesium components and plastic trim, the thickness of which has been optimised to minimise weight.
THEIDEALRECIPE
For all manufacturers, making cars from a combination of aluminium alloy and steel meant the way parts were joined needed a rethink. In Porsche's case, mating the 991's floor assembly
to steel parts of the body structure couldn't be done by traditional welding because of the difference in materials. Instead, the two materials are joined using self-penetrating punch rivets, flow drill screws which also self-penetrate and cut their own thread or clinching, where a punch mashes a spot of one sheet into another. Joints are also glued using special adhesives, something which has the advantage of transmitting
force over a wide area and so increasing rigidity.
The new design reflected the way in which modern cars have built-in passenger safety cells. The 991 gained longitudinal and lateral beams at front and rear and ultra-high strength steels are also used in some areas in place of traditional mild steel. In the 992, the proportion of steel was cut to less than half, barely accounting for 30 per cent of the total weight of the car.
More die-cast parts were introduced too and components previously made from multiple pieces were combined into one, thus saving more weight.
Today, the story continues and even more advanced materials are being added to the mix. The Taycan is also a combination of aluminium and steel, with strut mounts, axle mounts and rear side members made from die-cast aluminium. Hot-formed steels are used in the passenger safety cage, the 'N and 'B' pillars and the seat cross member. Sills are cleverly made from extruded aluminium sections, reducing the number of components for each side from 15 to just three, and a bulkhead cross :::.:::member is made from _J ;::i:: boron-steel. These days, the use of robots has also grown toastaggeringdegreefor
handling as well as joining and assembly. For example, the movement of the Macan's aluminium bonnets as they are pressed is done entirely by robots to avoid damage.
CAN'TSPELLCAREWITHOUTCAR
Maintaining high quality has become an exercise in its own right and Porsche has a dedicated department to do just that. There are quality and analysis centres at Zuffenhausen and Leipzig which get ahead of the game before a component for any new model is even made. Special tools establish the
dimensions forever and are used throughout the life of the model to ensure consistent accuracy. One example is cubing, which takes the form of a full-sized body milled from solid aluminium. It can be used as a reference for anything from components to checking a leather-upholstered cockpit. The exterior master jig is another, used in conjunction with measuring equipment accurate to within tenths of a millimetre, for analysing how parts fit together and achieving absolute precision in the overall body.
But do all these technological advances mean Porsche has lost any of its soul compared to the early days? Despite the process now relying on computer aided design, manufacturing and simulation, Porsche takes what it calls a 'hybrid approach' from the point where a new model is conceived right through the design stage. Although photorealistic simulation, power walls and virtual reality play a part, the human touch remains at the heart of a new car. Clay models (industrial plasticine, actually) are still fashioned by hand and the first stage of creating a new Porsche is to produce sketches of the exterior and interior with pen and paper, just as it was with the 356 at Gmiind in 194 7. Despite the march of technology, a Porsche is still very much a Porsche. PP
his month we begin a new regular section of the magazine we've christened, somewhat unimaginatively, 'Running Reports'. It's an opportunity for a diverse selection of Club members and their cars to recount with regular updates the highs, lows, trials and tribulations of driving, living with and looking after their Porsches. From a Carrera GT to a 996 Carrera and a 944 Turbo, we kick off with a fascinating mix of cars this month and there are more on the way, hopefully covering almost every era and type of Porsche you can imagine. If there's a member out there who owns a Porsche tractor, please get in touch and then we'll really have all the bases covered. But, for now, read on for an introduction to our correspondents' cars and more about what they're hoping to achieve and enjoy with their cars this year.
l'VEOWNEDMYCarrera GT since the end of 2006, when it was two years old. To be honest, I was a bit pensive about the car in general what with all the talk about the clutch and some of the highprofile accidents made me wonder if it really was a difficult car to get to grips with. I wasn't even sure I'd keep it that long. Well, after more than 18 years, I think it's fair to say I quickly fell under its spell and knew it was going to be a keeper. From the start, it was clear the car was very sensitive to geometry set-up and the original Michelin Pilot Sport tyres were not endowed with the best levels of grip. In fact, the car had quite marked oversteer without much provocation. I knew it would be a car that there was always a bit left to master, no matter how hard or fast you'd driven it. I was hooked! At the time, Manthey were offering a set of 18" wheels with Michelin slicks. I remember the first drive on the slicks at Spa-Francorchamps. The grip just
unlocked the chassis and it was clear that with decent rubber -even on OEM dampers -the CGT was massively capable. I remember Olaf Manthey saying that, just with those tyres, the CGT would have been on the front row of the VLN grid. Back then, I was doing a lot of trackdays each year and, once Cup 2 tyres became available in sizes for the OEM wheels, along with a bit of revision to the geometry and minor modifications to increase front camber, the car became much more predictable on track and faster. I've lost count, but I've done more than 50 trackdays in the CGT now, including a couple of amazing days at Spa in the wet.
As well as trackdays in the UK, I did a lot in Europe, including many at the Niirburgring, Dijon, Magny-Cours, Portimao, Barcelona and Estoril. I love driving and most times drove the CGT to the track and back, sometimes doing eight-or 10-hour days. It's remarkably comfortable if you wear some good-quality noise-cancelling earbuds and, with a large 90-litre fuel tank, it's very long-legged so you can easily cover 500, 600 or more miles in a day. The more I drove it, the more I wanted to drive it, usually doing two or three European road trips a year with friends. The mileage quickly started
to accumulate and I soon decided that the miles on the odometer represented the fun I had driving and became unfussed by the total -in fact, more is better! It's currently at around 62,500 miles and I expect it to pass 70,000 this year.
It's been very reliable, in the main, and the fabled clutch with the correct method for pulling away is hugely durable. It's on the second new one now and that's only due to the fact that the release module leaked and contaminated the clutch -it was only one-third worn after 30,000 miles. Porsche Centre Reading is the only approved UK service centre, so it goes there for annual servicing. It's had a service every year without fail and the engine-out service every four years. RPM Technik are also offering servicing and maintenance, and they've carried out various work including the installation of the KW dampers and set-up on the Manthey equipment which hugely improves the handling and ride -the best modification I've done. It's used in all weathers and it's been a paragon of reliability, as you would expect from one of Porsche's halo cars.
I feel very lucky to have owned it so long and enjoyed so many miles. I've made a lot of great friends and enjoyed some fantastic road trips, including several to come in 2025.
CHANGING ANDCHARGING
MikeAllenistryingsomething newandinteresting
l'VEBEENTHEMacan Register Secretary for more than 10 years and have owned Porsches for more than 20. I cut my 'motoring teeth' on Minis, then various Fords including a 3-litre Capri, before moving on to several Golf GTls and the majority of the Audi range including one of the first TTs (without the spoiler!), finishing up with an RS 4 Avant.
My first Porsche was a 996 C4S in Seal Grey with Metropole Blue leather, which was followed by a 997.1 Turbo and then a whole series of GT3s, culminating in an order for a 992.2 GT3 which is due to be built shortly. On the four-door front, I owned a couple of Cayennes before getting an early order in for the then-new Macan back in 2014. Since then, I've never looked back and have owned S Diesel variants, a 2-litre petrol model and a pair of GTS versions.
Now, I have come to what some might call a bold decision. I am going EV and
swapping my current 2024 Macan T for a brand-new Macan 4S. Purchasing this car was a two-fold decision because, like it or not, net zero requires us to change our habits for regular driving and adding a battery and charger to our existing solar power system gives us a 200-mile charge for just under £3.50. My wife runs the EV for all her local driving and ferrying the grandchildren around and has driven nearly 3,000 miles in it already since mid-December. For us, home-charging is perfect. Secondly, it was a business decision ahead of the winding up of my company, where it's a very tax-efficient purchase.
The acid test will be the Register's WOTY, which will be based at the Montagu Arms at Beaulieu shortly after I write this, where we will be reliant on visiting chargers en route and at the hotel -apps permitting! I guess there's always a Porsche Centre not too far away for a reliable fast charge. More than that, I hope that I can shed some light on what it's really like to run an electric Porsche from the point of view of someone who has loved the marque's cars for many years and has been an ardent enthusiast. Will I feel the same about it as I did the rest of my beloved Macans? There's only one way to find out.
gallantlysailingforthinthe nameofridequality
HELLD,AND LETme introduce my 996.2 Carrera. I've owned it for nearly nine years now, which doesn't quite seem possible, but there you go. It would appear time flies with Porsche ownership.
Readers of car magazines may recognise it, because I once wrote about it every month in 911 & Porsche World and, more recently, it formed part of evo's 'Fast Fleet'. In other words, for a humble 996, it's got about a bit ... although not necessarily in pure mileage terms, because it's only just clicked over 90,000 miles.
I'm proud to represent the watercooled fraternity with what is currently just about the cheapest possible entry into 911 ownership, but I'm also now old enough to remember when reasonable 911 SCs and 3.2 Carreras could be picked up for £10k and that I said many times "I'll buy one of those ... maybe tomorrow". Well, that worked out well, didn't it?
Still, I love the 996; a car that seems to have teetered on the edge of 'investment' status for a little while now, without anything much happening. Actually, that's not strictly true. Although most 996 Carrera prices have gently risen, the market has become notably stratified around condition and mileage, with the very best cars commanding a significant rise in values. Nevertheless, I never bought it as an investment and, like most cars, I'm pretty sure that it certainly isn't once I include my costs.
Remember Kimi Raikonen snapping "Don't talk to me, I know what I'm doing!" to his race engineer on the pit-to-car radio? It is with great humility, tinged with a good dose of regret, that I recall my own actions a few years back when beginning a modification plan for my own car and the wince-inducing conclusion that perhaps, on this occasion, I did not actually know what I was doing. In simple terms, my 996 was -like so many of its type -very tired in the suspension department and I decided that not only did it need TLC, but that I wanted it to move away from being the great all-rounder that a Carrera is and onto something more focussed. Alas, the result was a car that simply
didn't drive how I wanted it to on the UK's unique (i.e. uniquely bad) roads.
Although I should have known better given my occupation, the admission is a cathartic one for me and I also reckon that recounting the mishaps might prevent others from making the same mistakes. Moreover, it's a segue into an exciting new chapter with the car, because I've teamed up with suspension gurus Center Gravity in the Midlands to help develop a 'fast road' kit for 996 Carreras of the rearwheel-drive persuasion and the analysis of the car as it was, and how it's going to be, will hopefully be an informative and enjoyable tale. Between that and removing the other modified parts that I had fitted, not to mention the addition of some recent new factory 'upgrades', there should be more than enough to talk about. Which is where we'll begin next time ...
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT
Matt Staines fixes things up. He also restores 968s…
What’s the old saying? Find the thing you love and it won’t feel like work? Well, I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, because I found two things I love (outside of family): property and cars. There’s a common thread of restoring both.
As a project manager in property restoration for the last 15 years, it was inevitable that I’d buy and restore cars in my spare time. I started with a few old Volkswagens, mostly Mk1s and Corrados, but the slippery Porsche slope began about nine years ago with my first Porsche purchase. That was a super-clean Guards Red 996 Carrera 4; a great introduction to Porsche ownership and the car I joined PCGB with.
At the time, I was somewhat reluctant to join a ‘formal’ car club, but I wanted to use the car more and meet like-minded people,
and that’s exactly what happened here in Region 5 (Cheshire). Over the years, I met more people and my Porsche nerdiness − I mean, my knowledge − increased! I got more involved with the Club, helping with events until I became Regional Organiser for R5 in January 2021, then relaunching it with my team after the COVID-19 hiatus.
After some life-changing events in 2019, I had decided to try a few different cars over the next few years and, thus far, I’ve been lucky to do that with some good and some better purchases – not all, but mostly Porsches. The two non-Porsches that stand out were my Ferrari 360 Modena and my
Renault Clio RS200 Cup. One I loved and is hilarious to drive, especially on a twisty B road on a sunny day, and the other felt big and heavy and attracted too much attention. But back to the Porsches. The 996 started it for me and I’ve now had three: the Guards Red C4; a Glacier White C2 Japanese import (Porsche never sold white Gen 1 996s in the UK); and my Speed Yellow factory Aerokit C2 which I love but will be selling this year. The Yellow Aerokit C2 was purchased from south Wales during one of the first gaps to travel during lockdown and, while mechanically solid, it needed paint and this escalated into a full glass-out
Porsches. Lots and lots of Porsches...
“Over the years, I met more people and my Porsche nerdiness – I mean, my knowledge –increased!”
repaint, followed by new wheels, tyres, brakes and interior upgrades etc.
Along the way, I found a super-rare Boxster 986 S factory Aerokit car in Seal Grey that needed light restoration, including a new roof, wheels and audio. A lovely, rare car, but I never liked the Metropole Blue interior. The car lasted about six months before a work contact offered me nearly double what I paid for it, so off it went before moving up to another factory Aerokit car. That was a low-ownership, highly optioned Guards Red 997 Carrera S, a car I loved and had for about five years before selling in 2023.
In 2022, I was lucky enough to spend three months over in California and attended various Porsche, automotive and auction events. I spotted a niche in the Porsche market I hadn’t noticed before; strong prices for 968s, especially Club Sports, at auction. Once I returned to the UK, the hunt began for a good 968 and that began a huge shift in my interests. I found that first 968, a Sport model, and now I’m onto my fourth (a Club Sport). Much more on these next time…
BIDDING MY TIME
Andrew Cross has bought his first 911. How? That’s a bit more complicated…
I have been threatening to buy an air-cooled 911 for 20-something years now and, after an impulsive moment, I have finally done it.
This isn’t my first Porsche. That was a ’72 914, which was my daily driver for five years, and I also had a brief dalliance with a 924. When I say ‘brief’, it was a £500 banger and, on my second day of ownership, I went round a corner and the car didn’t. More recently, I’ve had a Taycan as my company car and 25k miles a year in an electric Porsche with only two ‘oh s**t’ moments with the battery charge seems like pretty good going.
I’d all but given up on buying a 911 because there were always more important things to buy and prices keep escalating, but I was getting tempted by another 914. One night on eBay, I was looking at the same few 914s that are always for sale and saw a manual blue ’85 911 Targa was suggested under the 914s.
The price was really low. Clicking through, it was in fact a listing by Trade Classics to get you over to their auction site. The ’85 was really tempting and was ending the next day, so I scoured the 10 million photos they add and thought: ‘Why not have a bid?’. I also noticed a ’79 Targa Sportomatic ending the same day, so I had a brief scan over that as well.
Auction day arrived and, after a few frantic bids, I missed out on the ’85 and sat down to dinner with the family, thinking about a 914 again. Halfway through dinner, my phone reminded me about the ’79 and the price was still low. ‘What the hell’, I thought, and I placed a bid that I thought wouldn’t go anywhere.
I was quickly outbid, so I placed a slightly higher bid (gotta love the pressure of an auction) and sat watching the timer waiting to be outbid… except I wasn’t!
Cue elation, followed by confusion, followed by panic/buyer’s remorse. This was the first time that I’d bought a car that I hadn’t seen or driven.
Two days later, I was on a train with my eldest to go and pick the car up. So what did I arrive to? Pretty much what was in the advert, actually. I was quite surprised. The hundreds of photos and three videos reflected what I turned up to pay for.
After an introduction to driving a Sportomatic (another first) and a slow bank transfer, she was mine and it was time to go. The drive home got off to a good start and I took to the Sporto gearbox pretty quickly. Would I have chosen one over a manual? Probably not but, at the price I paid, the transmission could have been powered by positive thoughts and I wouldn’t have minded –I’d just got my first 911!
“the transmission could have been powered by positive thoughts and I wouldn’t have minded – I’d just got my first 911!”
ITONLYTOOKone pint of fine British ale to realise that what I really needed was a 944. By the second pint, a stroll through eBay seemed like the only sensible route to understanding the market for these undervalued Porsche classics. By the third pint, I'd bought a 1986 Turbo. With 173,000 miles on the clock. Which hadn't gone round for an unspecified number of years. How was I going to explain that to my wife?
There is logic in the madness. I'd fancied a 944 for some time and had decided that an S2 would be just the ticket because I wanted to use it regularly in the summer. Something a little tatty would be perfect; I didn't want to wipe value off a pristine, low-mileage example. The Turbo sounded fun, but the risk of large bills (which I can now personally validate is not a myth) was rather scary, so naturally aspirated
it had to be. To relieve the dark plastics, it had to have a Linen leather interior (Linen being Porsche's period term for cream) and I wanted a strong metallic colour.
But, occasionally, something catches your eye that makes you cross out one of your self-imposed rules. With this car, it was an invoice for a top-quality engine rebuild. Just five years earlier, Redline Racing (which minutes of internet research suggested may have a fine reputation for engines) had sourced a lowish-mileage, late-model Turbo engine and thoroughly rebuilt it. New big
end bearings, piston rings, valve guides and hydraulic tappets were fitted together with a new Bosch airflow meter and an OBX stainless steel exhaust manifold, the crank was polished and the pistons and conrods were balanced. A long list of ancillary items was also replaced, plus the brake discs, pads and hoses. The total cost of this work in 2013, documented in a four-page invoice, was £9,600.
At an earlier date, the Garnet Red bodywork had also received a lot of expensive attention, with new front wings, new sills and work to the rear quarter panels. Inside were full Linen leather seats from a 964 and a rare Porsche RS steering wheel. So, as the top eBay bid was hovering around £7,000, my attention was drawn. Two minutes before the finale, it hadn't quite reached £8,000, so I clicked. I wouldn't get it; someone would bid more. Ah -I seem to have bought a 944 Turbo. Was it a good buy? Was it indeed the car that Lee Noble cherished while developing his eponymous road burners, upgrading it to S specification as the advertisement claimed? Why did a new exhaust cost as much as the car? Patience, my friends. Those are stories for next time ...
NEWSFROMYOUR
RI•SCOTLANDSOUTH
RegionalOrganiser
Allison Lawrance r1@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegionalOrganisers
Scott Laurie s.j.laurie@btinternet.com
Barry Milligan
26JANUARYCAR-THEMEDPUBOUIZ-FALKIRK
R1 member Bob Rabagliati very kindly put together a car-themed pub quiz to allow our members to get together and keep busy through the cold winter months. We all met at Behind the Wall in Falkirk, where we had a private room with tables sorted into six groups. Throughout the quiz, the staff brought us an array of buffet food to keep our brains active. There were prizes for the first-and second-placed winners. Certainly a different way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Our monthly breakfast meet at The Park Bistro was extremely well attended by a variety of Porsches again. This breakfast meet just keeps gaining in popularity and it's always great to not only see so many of our usual members out but, indeed, the newer members that are coming along. We're always greeted and served by the fantastic team there and all our members had a great catch-up.
15FEBRUARYBREAKFASTRUNTDINVERARAY
So, when the first run of the year for 30 R1 members in early February was hosted by Assistant RO Scott Laurie, what could go wrong? 'Snow' was the answer. Sure enough, though, everyone turned up at the Duck Bay in Alexandria despite the cold
MORECOMMUNITYCONTENTONLINE
Visit the Regions homepage where you can click directly to your Region or use our digital map to find other Regions near you, discover their events and sign up for their newsletters. Please visit porscheclubgb.com/regions or scan this QR code.
There were even some light snow flurries while we waited in the car park before departure to lnveraray. The George in lnveraray was welcoming with its hearty breakfast and warm fires. Good chat and good company at breakfast. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to attend -it was nice to see so many Porsches venture out on a cold February day.
R2•SCOTLANDNORTH
JointRegionalOrganisers
Paul Fowler (07803 170352)
Martin Thomas (07836 361937) r2@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegionalOrganisers
The Pit Crew
We are easing our way towards spring but, with cold weather still covering the
north of Scotland, our activities for the end of January and mid-February were generally indoors.
We ended January with our short drive/ long lunch at the atmospheric Falls of Feugh Restaurant outside the town of Banchory. Organised by Robin Provan, the event was well attended and the lunch was delicious!
Our Aberdeen Club night at our newish venue of the Bieldside Inn starts with dinner, where attendance is increasing. Dinner was followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Joint RO Paul Fowler showing R2's plans for the first six months of the year.
One highlight will be our Summer Solstice run on 21 June, where we are going from coast to coast -from Montrose in the east to in the west -with overnight accommodation and dinner at a waterfront restaurant where we hope to see the sun go down!
R1 's monthly meet at the Park Bistro saw a variety of Porsches
Snow didn't put R1 members off the breakfast run to lnveraray
Early February saw us visit The Wheel Specialist in Aberdeen, where 30 members were shown the intricacies of how to repair wheels in groups of 1 Potholes are a major problem on our roads, so several members had their wheels inspected and appointments were made for refurbishment.
We are pleased to report that we have welcomed 1 D new members from all areas of the Region in the first two months of this year. We look forward to seeing them at future events.
R2 members can keep right up to date with our fortnightly newsletter.
R3•NORTHEAST
RegionalOrganiser
Dave Carnaffin
r3@porscheclubgb.com
Thanks to all who have been attending the monthly Club nights over the months since Christmas. Numbers are steadily growing and it's great to see some new faces.
Additional thanks to our recent special guests Albert Walsh for his, as always, entertaining and informative talk and to Michael French of Porsche Centre Newcastle for reconnecting on Club nights and helping us reopen the connection to the Centres, getting events and support back up and running.
This will be the final printed summary of the early season upcoming events, so please can we begin communicating using the Club Forum. Several events have been posted by some of our awesome R3 support team but, to date, there's been very little interaction to give us an accurate idea of numbers.
SUNDAY6APRILCLEARAWAYTHECOBWEBS
We've released details to Club members who have registered. This event is = always popular and is only open to 6 those who have registered in advance.
S3 Unregistered attendees will be turned o::: away for safety reasons.
SUNDAY13APRILSAMLANDERCARSOPENMORNING
Please see the Forum for full details. We need an idea of numbers so Sam, our host, can cater accordingly.
THURSDAY24APRILEVENINGGDKARTINGEVENT
Details are Forum-based, which is also where you can book your place directly with the venue should you wish to participate. Entrants must be aged 16-plus and the event is limited to 35 drivers. However, this does not mean you can't bring friends or family along to support and enjoy the evening. The more, the merrier!
CLUBNIGHT
A reminder that Club night is the second Wednesday of every month, held at the Stables Restaurant, Beamish Hall Hotel, Beamish, DH9 We usually gather around 7.30pm with a view to starting the meeting at 8pm. Feel free to come along earlier and enjoy the Club discount on food and drinks. Hope to see you all there very soon.
Dave
R4•LINCOLNSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE
RegionalOrganiser
John Lacey -07850 870993
r4@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegionalOrganiser
Karen Collins
Our pre-Valentine's Day lunch at the White Swan in Scatter was a truly loving occasion and good fun. A very good turnout and the chatter did not stop. Love was in the air!
As a change to the normal Club events, and to see if there would be any future interest, R4 member Malcolm Jewers who runs Cleveland Cycles in Coningsby kindly offered to provide several 'fat tyre' electric bikes for members to test their skills on off-road terrain. It was cancelled owing to only small numbers interested, but it was decided to have another go later in the year
Averygoodturnout at theWhiteSwanforR4's pre-Valentine'sDaylunch
to ensure fingertips aren't cold! Watch out for future postings.
Several members attended the East Riding Stages Motor Rally in the Beverley area, which gave an opportunity to see the skills of drivers, both local and beyond.
To ensure our full inclusivity for everyone in the area, a drive-out to the more southern reaches of our Region has been organised.
An earlier treat in the year was a drive to the Leagate Inn, with the route being carefully mapped out by Julia and Paul Valleley.The route took members past RAF Spilsby, which formed part of Bomber Command in the Second World War. Thanks, Paul and Julia.
With a fully packed diary of events, more information is published on our Facebook and WhatsApp pages and will appear in next month's column.
Please remember: if any member would like to write an article or submit news for the R4 section of PP, you would be very welcome to send it in.
R5•NORTHWEST
RegionalOrganiser
Matt Staines 07798 662199 r5@porscheclubgb.com
With April upon us and show season starting up, it's time to pull those classics out of hibernation and get them ready for summer use alongside the more modern Porsches.
The R5 drives have started again. At present, where team capacity allows, we're trying to run two a month (details below]. If you're still not on the R5 WhatsApp drive group and would like to join us, please follow the instructions on the R5 section of the website to join.
The R5 team now have a fairly wellconfirmed calendar right through to the end of the year, with more events being added shortly. Huge thanks go to the R5 committee for all the work being put in behind the scenes. The year's first major show is Gawsworth Hall Classic Car Show
R3 Club nights are held monthly at the Stables Restaurant, Beamish Hall Hotel
The R5 drives have started again in early May, which will have space for 85 Porsches. As always, booking details will be announced via email.
As usual, from April, Club nights will revert to twice a month, with new pop-up Club nights across the Region. If anybody has access to any special venues or events or would particularly like to do something new in 2025, please email me.
COMMITTEE
We're looking for a couple of new committee members. If you would like to join, please email me with a few basic details about yourself and your contact details.
IARYDATES
5APRILSaturdaymorningdrive
16APRILPop-upClubnight
Location TBC.
26APRILGreatBritishSportsCars
Visit-Nottingham
30APRILMid-weekdrive
2-4MAYDoningtonHistoricFestival (NationalEvent)
5MAYClassicCarShowGawsworth
7MAYClubnight-ThreeGreyhounds
17MAYSaturdaymorningdrive
21MAYPop-upClubnight
Location TBC.
TBCMid-weekdrive
4JUNEClubnight-ThreeGreyhounds
8JUNETheYorkshireClassicBowcliffeHall
Pre-'97 and transaxles [National Event].
18JUNEPop-upClubnight
Location TBC.
28JUNESupercarPageantCultonPark
RB•NORTHWALES
RegionalOrganiser
Sue Taylor 07784 491473
r6@porscheclubgb.com
ALDERFOROLAKES
On a surprisingly nice Sunday, we met at the services at Dobshill and took a very scenic route over to Alderford Lakes for brunch. The laybyat the top of the Horseshoe Pass was occupied by a non-Porsche but, as we started pulling over to park up, he decided it was time to leave so we managed to line up and get our photo.
Twenty-nine of us arrived at Alderford and spent the following couple of hours over a
relaxed brunch. Luckily,we managed to solve the conundrum of how Bob and Penny were in the middle of the pack but arrived last.
JAGUARLANDROVERFACTORYTOUR
Our 365 Tuesday event was a tour around the Jaguar Land Rover factory at Halewood, which produces the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport. The team welcomed us with refreshments before driving us over to the factory. Hi-vis jackets were handed out along with ear plugs, ear defenders, wrist cuffs to cover watches and bracelets and green tape to cover rings. Phones were either locked away or placed in special bags to stop us photographing anything commercially sensitive.
R6 members enjoyed a factory tour around Jaguar Land Rover at Halewood
We started in the press shop and watched the robots dancing and pressing out parts. Then we watched more robots building and welding the bodies. These robots can even service themselves by trimming and replacing their weld rods. Given the contamination risk (to the paint, not us), we couldn't go into the paint area so our guide explained the process which involves ostrich feathers being used to remove any slight blemishes. Finally,we came across some humans who were working in the trim and final inspection stages of the process. The robots were more interesting to watch. It takes 48 hours to produce a car from start to finish.
R7•YORKSHIRE
RegionalOrganiser
The Yorkshire CoG r7@porscheclubgb.com
The February Sunday Breakfast was held at Wilds Cafe Bistro at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster -another new venue organised by Chris and Linda Chappell. Forty people attended the buffet-style breakfast, which was well received by all. Despite the rather wet and cold weather, some brave members had a tour of the park and a look at the animals. However, most of us put off going for a walk and decided that we will leave that experience until a later date when the weather is warmer.
The 2025 calendar is filling up nicely now and is available on the R7 Forum page.
WEDNESDAYMONTHLYMEETINGS
First (East): The Ferguson Fawsitt, Walkington, HU17 BRX.
Third (North]: The Blue Bell, Arkendale, Knaresborough, HG5 OQT.
The CoG are currently looking at alternative venues for a third meeting and are trying to amalgamate the central and southern sections.
= UTUREEVENTS
2§ SAMLANDERCARS
S3 Following a successful visit to Sam Lander
o::: Cars in Malton, the Club has arranged
LinedupatGreatNorthernClassics
another visit on Sunday 1 3 April from 9am until noon. Bacon sandwiches and tea and coffee will be provided and a donation to Sam's charity would be appreciated. Sam Lander Cars is a respected independent Porsche dealer.
Chris and Delia Smith
IARYDATES
6APRILWhitbyfishandchiprun
10APRILWhitbyfishandchiprun
13APRILSamLanderCarsinMalton See above.
18MAYPCGBatHarewoodSpeed Hillclimb
24MAYYorkdrive-outandGreekmeal Organised by Peter and Val Rolt. 28MAYPorscheCentreLeeds eveningevent
8JUNEPorschesontheProm
Date TBC.
TBCJULYSummerBBQ
20JULYNW100
10AUGUSTYorkshirePorscheFestival - LothertonHall
20SEPTEMBERLakelandMotorMuseum
RB•EASTMIDLANDS
JointRegionalOrganisers
Liam and Sarah Kelly r8@porscheclubgb.com
FEBRUARYCLUBNIGHT
We had an excellent turnout for Lightning Laura's annual quiz and were joined by first-time visitors Mike, Jane, Bruce and Mark. Won in spectacular style by the Crafty Corner team (an appropriate name!), the quiz went down to a tie-break and was almost a photo finish!
15FEBRUARYCARSANDCOFFEE
Our Great Northern Classics cars and coffee meet was a dismal morning weather-wise, but 1 5 cars made it and stunning they were! A trip round the facility impressed the attendees greatly.
UTUREEVENTS
2-4MAYDDNINGTDNHISTORICFESTIVAL
Ade Ancliffe has researched a route for the Saturday morning limited-numberentry run-out, so please contact Ade at adrian.pawprint@gmail.com to be included. You don't have to go to the festival to take part.
IIMAYPRESCOTTSPEEDHILLCLIMB
Nigel Town has organised a group outing. Please contact him at nigel.town@uwclub. net for more information.
16-17MAYEARLYSUMMERPARTY
A weekend get-together at Linden Hall in Northumberland, costing around £250 per couple per night. Book direct with
The Crafty Corner team, RB quiz winners
Anne Marie at Macdonald Hotels on 01670 500007 [ref POTS160525) or contact Liam at l14mpk@hotmail.com for more information.
AUCTIONNIGHT
Following on from October's successful auction night in aid of the air ambulance, we'll be holding another this October. If you have any items or services to donate, please let us know.
CLUBNIGHTS
First Monday of the month at The Coopers Arms, Weston on Trent, Derby, DE72 2BJ.
BREAKFASTRUNS
24 May, 21 June, 26 July. Contact Axel at aak2008@hotmail.co.uk
FIRSTAIDER
We are on the lookout for a volunteer to be a first aider. The Club will pay for training and we'd be very grateful for anyone prepared to help.
We look forward to seeing you at a Club night, an event or simply on the road.
Liam and Sarah
DIARYDATES
2-4MAYDoningtonHistoric
Contact r8@porscheclubgb.com
3MAYDoningtonHistoricscenicrun
See above.
11MAYPrescottSpeedHillClimb
See above.
16-18MAYRBearlysummerparty
See above.
JUNE-JULYStuttgartvisit
Itinerary finalised. Contact Axel at aak2008@hotmail.co.uk
10AUGUSTTOTEM
Contact Adrian at adrian.pawprint@ gmail.com
7SEPTEMBERPorschePageantElvastonCastle
Contact r8@porscheclubgb.com
14SEPTEMBERKartingatWhilton
Contact Lucy at lucyowens21@ protonmail.com
R9• WESTMIDLANDS
RegionalOrganisers
Tom and Carol Downes 07972 303286 r9@porscheclubgb.com
WHATHASR9BEENUPTD?
We started our year of activities on a damp and cold Saturday afternoon in February by visiting F1 Arcade in Birmingham and had a thoroughly enjoyable time. There were 25 R9-ers at the event and each had four or five races over the two-hour period, with plenty of beer and bar snacks to sustain us. If you haven't been, it's well worth a visit. Our monthly drive-outs with Jeremy 'Chaz' Chandler have started, the
first one seeing 1 5 members eager to blow away the winter cobwebs. If you'd like to join Chaz on one of his adventures, please join our dedicated WhatsApp group: chat.whatsapp.com/ CXfGMiycxAMGfE9FvVYqUd
WHATWILLR9BEUPTD?
April will see a few of us attending 'School of Suspension' by Center Gravity. May will see the return of Supercar Fest: The Runway and our first Centre visit of the year to Porsche Centre Wolverhampton. In June, we'll be heading to the Classic Car evening at the National Motorcycle Museum and we'll be hosting our R9 Longest Day drive-out. Not to be forgotten are our Club nights at The Bear, The Mill and The Holly Bush.
RS started their year of activities by visiting F1 Arcade
Details for all these events and more can be found in our section of the PCGB website.
One last thing. Because we had no Christmas meal last year, it's taken until February to hand over our R9 Award, with the well-deserved recipient being Kim Sutch for his years of service as Regional Organiser.
RIO • MILTONKEYNES & NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
RegionalOrganiser
Sue Rollings
07495 296650
r1 O@porscheclubgb.com
February has been a relatively quiet month for us with respect to Club activities, but that won't last long!
Our February Club meeting was well attended, despite the dull weather, and there was an array of cars and colours -thank you to all who attended. At the meeting, I shared an update regarding our Weekend of the Year 2025 [2-5 May]. We now have 20 cars booked to attend and our itinerary is coming together nicely. If you would like information, please do get in touch.
I also asked for suggestions for driveouts and visits. Thank you to the members who have taken the time to get in touch, and I am in the process of following up.
A group of us had a scenic drive over to the Blackpit Brewery near Silverstone. It has been more than five years since
very much appreciated and it was a great opportunity for us to catch up. Parking was a little limited, but we certainly made the most of the space available to us.
By the time you read this, our March Club meet will have taken place at Dove House Motor Company. Photos of Brendon's detailing session will follow in next month's column. We will also have visited JZM in Kings Langley.
Looking ahead, I am sure you are aware of PCGB's Summer Solstice event at Boxengasse. There will be several organised drives over to Oxfordshire by various Regions. Further information will we were last hosted there. Lunch was
be circulated to R10 members nearer the time.
If you have any suggestions for R1 0 activities, favourite driving routes and places to visit, please do let me know.
Sue
RII• ESSEX
TeamCoordinator
Ray Chapman r11@porscheclubgb.com
RIIANNUALCHARITYOUIZNIGHT
On 5 January, we held our annual charity quiz night at Chelmsford Golf Club in aid of The Jude Harvey Foundation and raised £175. Many thanks to all those who donated, and special thanks to Terry Joyce for organising the quiz and for doing a great of job being the compere for the evening, along with his wife Brenda.
THEJUDEHARVEYFOUNDATION
Jude Harvey lost his life to an undiagnosed heart condition, aged 19. He had suffered multiple cardiac arrests in Ibiza, which started while swimming in the sea.
Every week in the UK, at least one seemingly fit and healthy young person aged 14-35 dies from undiagnosed heart conditions. In 80 per cent of these cases,
R10 Club meet -an array of colours and cars
R11
member Tony Hunter's 992
C2S Cabriolet
Julie, R13's lady winner with 24 points there were no prior symptoms. I hope you agree that this is very worthwhile charity for us to support.
PORSCHEINTHEPARKSTALBANS
Experience Porsche In The Park on 20 July, a dedicated one-day celebration of the iconic Porsche brand. Join us as owners and enthusiasts gather to showcase their cherished Porsche vehicles amid the picturesque setting of Beechwood Park, conveniently located just off Junction 9 of the M 1 . A 1 0 per cent discount is being offered to all Club members and this is a great event for all the family.
GETINVOLVED
If you wish to propose an event or need to contact Team R11, please speak to any of the team members or email r11@porscheclubgb.com and someone will get back to you.
DIARYDATES
We've managed to secure space at some new events for 2025.
22JUNECustomandClassicCarShow
R11 has been invited to attend the Custom and Classic Car show at the historic Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1 JY. Spaces are limited and bookings can be made from 1 March.
Rl2• NORFOLK &SUFFOLK
RegionalOrganisers
Glenn and Emma Jackson Mob: 07702 591602 Mob: 07715 417527 r1 2@porscheclubgb.com
DIARYDATES
6APRILRabbitRun2025
1DAPRILClubnight
Porsche Centre Norwich.
26APRIL911CoffeeRun
Folk Cafe, Bury St Edmunds. 8MAYPIEandChips Sudbury.
11MAYShuttleworthAirshow
18MAY911CoffeeRunBackto theGarden Holt.
31MAYEmeraldIsleAdventure
Rl3• HEREFORD, WORCESTERSHIRE &SHROPSHIRE
RegionalOrganiser
Steve Cutler 01384 370038 r1 3@porscheclubgb.com
JointRegionalOrganiser
Simon Hopcroft 07739 817159
simonhopcroft@aol.com
Dur February meeting saw R1 3 back at Quarry Bank Conservative Club for our annual skittles evening, where 51 members took part in a closely fought battle over three rounds. The competition ended with Julie taking top marks for the ladies after scoring 24 points. Julie chose a lovely British 'flag bag' prize donated by The Man Cave. She also won a bottle of Prosecco, but kindly donated that back into our raffle. Yiannis took the top marks for the men, scoring a great total of 30 points, and he chose a T-shirt, also donated by The Man Cave, and a Porsche flask.
We started the evening with a few notices for upcoming events, including our March one that will be a quiz at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club. We also confirmed that our designated charity for this year will be for Prostate Cancer UK, something we all agreed was a worthwhile cause.
We followed this with a meal from the famous Ivan's Fish and Chip shop based in Cradley Heath. It is unmissable because the shop front is completely decorated with a painted Union Jack. The food was excellent, as usual, with everyone being notably quiet while eating.
Yiannis, R13's male winner with 30 points
Phil, winner of R1 3's bottle of whiskey
R14members'carslinedoutsideTheForestArms
During the evening, Julie and Helen started on our fundraising quest by selling raffle tickets to start our charity fund, with several donated prizes to win.
To end the evening, we used the skittle alley for another fund raiser by standing a nice bottle of Highland Park 1 D whiskey at the end. Members then rolled, tossed or slid a pound coin down the alley to see who got a coin closest to the bottle, with Phil being very near and thus winning the whiskey.
Between the raffle and the whiskey game, we made a fantastic fundraising start to the year with a total of £265.
Rl4• SOUTHWALES
RegionalOrganiser
To be confirmed r1 4@porscheclubgb.com
BOWINGOUT
By the time this report is published, I will have completed more than 1 D years as the R14 RO, so it is time to pass the baton on to another member for them to introduce fresh ideas and hopefully propel the Region forward. At the time of writing, I am unable to disclose the identity of the new organiser because the information has not yet been officially released.
Carol and I will continue to attend R14 and national events.
BREAKFASTMEETINGANDDRIVE
For our breakfast gathering on 1 5 February, we visited a different location: the Forest Arms in Brechfa, Carmarthenshire. We were thoroughly impressed with the service and the food. We hope to visit again under the new RO. After breakfast, we had a one-and-a-halfhour run. Although it was foggy at times, it was a great drive. It was also great to see many new members among the 35 attendees.
WDTVTDNORTHERNFRANCE
This has now been confirmed for 28 September-2 October. The cost is £799pp, based on two people sharing in one car and one room throughout (£1,598 in total).
If attending on one's own, the cost is £1, 198pp in a car and bedroom (a = £400 reduction for single booking over 2§ the two-person price). = Further details can be found on the
Ray Underhill and I will still be running this event. If you are interested, please contact me at dhuwjones@icloud.comor Ray at ray944@btinternet.com
For other events for the year, I am sure the incoming RD will provide further details.
COMMUNICATION
Don't forget to keep up with our latest Region news and events on our Facebook Page at facebook.com/groups/PCGBR14. We have also created a WhatsApp R14 events QR code:
DIARYDATES
11MAYWestWalesrun
Organised by Huw Jones. 13JUNEPorscheintheBay
With fish and chips van. Organised by HuwJones. 28SEPTEMBER-2OCTOBERWOTY toNorthernFrance
Details above.
Rl5·SOUTHWEST
RegionalOrganiser
Mike Williams r1 5@porscheclubgb.com
GALADINNERANDDANCE
We had a fabulous evening on 8 February at The Berry Head Hotel, with more than 60 guests enjoying fantastic food and dancing until late to make this a memorable night. Jason provided an extremely appropriate grace all about our love of Porsche. We also raised £800 for our charity this year, The Little Bridge House, with some fabulous prizes in our raffle. Definitely an event to be repeated in 2026, so watch out for details because I am sure this will be fully booked as soon as details are released. Finally,huge congratulations to Toby and Ruth Bryant for being our 2024 Members of the Year.
SUNDAYLUNCHWITHKEITHSEUME
Our winter meeting on 1 6 February at Bovey Golf Centre was well-attended by more than 40 members. Keith Seume gave us a presentation covering his working life and, as Keith commented, it is better than 'working for a living'. Journalism, racing and restoration -Keith was involved in them all, buying restoration projects from America to racing the American drag strips. He is also a longstanding VW Beetle fanatic, and building and running super-tuned nitrous engines in his baby VW has provided hours of fun.
UTUREEVENTS
SPRINGDRIVE
A drive around south-east Cornwall on 11 May with some lovely stops for coffee and lunch.
We are now approaching final planning for this year's WOTY to France. We currently have 19 cars entered, so we are close to full entry. The event runs on 5-9 June and is based near Nantes, with ferries from Plymouth to Roscoff. A number of participants are using the event as the start of a longer holiday abroad, which makes the event remarkably cost-effective at just a little over £900 for two, including half-board in a spa hotel and ferry crossing. If you are unclear as to what a WOTY is and what it involves, please reach for more information at r1 5@porscheclubgb.com
Mike Williams, Nigel Davies and Geoff Lane
DIARYDATES
13APRILSundaylunchatTheBovey GolfCentre
Including a presentation from our chosen charity, The Little Bridge House.
27APRILSouthWestClassicCarShow
Trago Mills, Newton Abbot. Come and join us for a pre-show drive around the South Hams to arrive in convoy at this extremely friendly and well-attended car show with our own reserved parking area. An eclectic mix of all vehicles, great cafes and a huge shop and garden centre. The entry is only £3 per car. Please email r1 5@ porscheclubgb.com to book your space.
11MAYSpringDrive 5-9JUNEWOTYtoFrance
RIB·GLOUCESTERSHIRE
RegionalOrganiser Team R16 r1 6@porscheclubgb.com
KINGSLEYCAFE
What could be better than an enthusiastic drive-out to one of the UK's best auto-themed cafes and sharing breakfast with a group of R16 members? We then enjoyed a personal tour of Kingsley Cars Ltd [Kingsley re-Engineered)'s classic Range Rover facility sitting behind the restaurant building. Although the company has been restoring and building bespoke Series and Defender Land Rover and Range Rover models for customers all over the world for the last 20 years, we seemed to have arrived at a significant juncture in the company's evolution. A new management team had
recently taken over and were developing the business with engineering resources, investment in facilities [including a state-ofthe-art paint shop that can deliver paint-tosample customer colour requirements] and even higher levels of build quality and finesse passed on to the customer.
One of the fascinating facts about the business is that they have more than 1 50 Range Rover donor models on site, which is often the start of the customer journey. A prospective customer could either supply a vehicle or would request a model variant which the team would then bring in from the 'graveyard', as they affectionately call it. The business model follows a six-stage process: configure vehicle: donor car selected: power train options: build updates: completion and commissioning: and collection.
The lead time quoted to absolutely guarantee delivery is within 18 months and the prices range from £125k to £250k depending on vehicle type and options selected, but you get what is basically a brand-new car with a heritage style, manufactured by craftsman to a standard the original vehicles could only dream of. We counted ourselves extremely lucky to have been given a guided tour by Managing Director John Sawgrass, Sales Director Martin Gisbourne and Director of Restoration Daniel Brown.
Rl7 • SOUTHERN
JointRegionalOrganisers
Jon Fisher 02380 766808/07918 686116
Mark Rye-Weller 07880 695747 r1 7@porscheclubgb.com
DRIVEANDDINETOCAFFEINE&MACHINE
What a great idea! Let's have a January get-together to kickstart the year. Well, many of you thought so, as more than 30 cars met up on Sunday 26 January at Goodwood Aerodrome Cafe for a coffee and a long wait because the service is not the quickest there. To begin with, the weather was fine and all was well, but then the heavens opened and we faced a very wet cross-country drive that was anything but spirited to our next stop at
The 'Graveyard'
Caffeine&Machine on the A32/ A272 at West Mean. The welcome and the company was as good as the food [the burgers are definitely recommended) and hopefully nobody regretted the inevitable car cleaning soon afterwards. Thanks to Mark Rye-Weller for organising.
CLUBNIGHTATNEWFORESTGOLFCLUB
Thank you to R1 7 Committee member and New Forest Golf Club president David Lawrence for arranging both the venue and the speaker for this month's meeting on 11 February. We welcomed David's neighbour Mick Monaghan, who gave us a fascinating illustrated talk on his extraordinary career in the Navy and his many adventures around the world, culminating in 2008 with a charity run in the 1 BO-mile 'Marathon des Sables' across the Sahara Desert. This is the longest unsupported race in the world, the equivalent of six marathons in six days in unbelievably harsh conditions. Thanks to everyone who came out to Lyndhurst and for chipping in more than £70 for our 2025 charity, Priory Park Pre-school.
Look out for our regular email newsletters on these and other events, and booking links are also on the PCGB website. Email us to join our WhatsApp group and we're on Facebook and lnstagram too.
As the weather improves and the days lengthen, we look forward to seeing you at some of our future events detailed in Diary Dates.
Judy Baker and Geoffrey Stewart r1 8@porscheclubgb.com
A number of us were invited by Porsche Centre Preston to an excellent presentation where Christian from Manthey Racing talked about the company and its racing history and brought along a few examples of Manthey 911 s.
Our February monthly meeting featured Sean Conboy giving us a critique of entries for the photographic competition and explaining how some of the entries could have been improved a little. Sean has agreed to come along to a monthly meeting in the lighter nights and show us how to improve our photography and thus be able to submit even better competition entries. Geoffrey Stuart also gave us an update on the forthcoming WOTY to Scotland he is organising. This will be on 16-18 May at Ballathie House Hotel, near Perth. The hotel has reserved a number of rooms for
us, but you will need to book quickly. Details can be found in email newsletters or email Geoffrey direct on geoffrey6@mac.com
We also had a short presentation from Region member Ian Simmonds about his forthcoming run/walk to raise funds for the local charity, HeartBeat. This charity provides help and fitness training for those who have suffered heart attacks or other heart problems, of whom Ian was one. Many members made donations on the night and we also donated the raffle proceeds.
We attended the usual cars and coffee breakfasts at Charity Farm and The Mill at St Catherine's Hospice, which were well attended as people brought their cars out of SORN. We had several new people present who we hope will become new PCGB members.
Welcome to new members Sandra and Stephen Rogers, Julie and Martin Walker, Isabel and Kris Moore, Nigel Nimmo and Gillian and Brent Taylor.Apologies for last month's senior moment! Two new members should have actually been Mark Pearson and Neil Leyland, not the other way around.
FUTUREEVENTS
See the regular email newsletters for the latest events. These will include drives and lunches, visits to Porsche Centres and other companies, as well as cars and coffee breakfasts.
Rl9• THAMESVALLEY
RegionalOrganiser
Mike Cope -07894 606381 r1 9@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegionalOrganiser
Roger Summers
COBBSFARM
Our monthly breakfast this month was held on 9 February at Cobbs Farm near Theale, an ever-popular venue. They opened early for us, so we had the run of the place and the opportunity to peruse the splendid produce in the farm shop at leisure. We noticed a die-hard fitness group limbering up across the car park, but we felt we had the best deal at this early hour on a crisp Sunday morning.
A small selection of cars seen at the Charity Farm cars and coffee breakfast
BRDDKLANDS
The R1 9 'Brooklands Not Xmas Bash' was held on 1 February with more than 40 members attending. It was a great success and the staff at this historic motoring venue did a splendid job serving up a delicious three-course meal. The raffle raised £300 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance and our little quiz got those slumbering brain cells into action.
COPPIDBEECH
As you can see in the photo of our regular meet at Coppid Beech on 2 February, the improving weather is enticing more Porsches from their winter hibernation. With shiny paintwork glistening in the sun, members were deep in discussions ranging from recommended options to tyre types.
EVENTSCHEDULE
Towards the end of February, we published our initial event schedule for 2025. Besides
the regular events at Coppid Beech and Renegade Brewery, we also have visits to Porsche specialists (Northway, Rindt and Parr] planned plus interesting motoring venues such as Prodrive and Williams F1. This year, we've also planned three driveouts with the first being to the Haynes Motor Museum in March or April. Visits to our regular car shows such as Phyllis Tuckwell, Nick Mason's Open Garden and the Shere Hill Climb still feature in the schedule and we've also squeezed in a photoshoot -more news to follow on that. Our Norway road trip is going ahead in June 2026 and we're planning a 2026 WOTY to Le Mans Classic.
Finally,it's time to head out onto those twisty 'B' roads on our 'Escapes' (drives] that you all love. Dates and sign-up details can be found on our events page. Our drives are always free and open to all, with just two requirements -that you are a Club member and that you will bring a Porsche. Insider tip to secure a place: keep watching the website for a drive to open. We always love to see new faces and it seems that keenness pays. Back in the hood, don't forget our two monthly meets. These run rain or shine, all year-round -details below.
RECENTEVENTS
For full write-ups of all our events and galleries, please see our Regional website
Coppid Beech once again proved a popular draw for R19 members
1996 Porsche 993 Turbo 'GT2 Evocation' seen at Coppid Beech
Windowshopping at porscheclubgb.com/london/ news
FUTUREEVENTS
Details of all our events, including drives and European tours, can be found at porscheclubgb.com/london/ events. Our regular monthly meets are listed below.
See you out on the road, Nick and Ed
DIARYDATES
2DAPRILSUNDAY'INN'THECITY
Join us at our city location, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3TN from 8.30am. Plenty of free parking with a historic London backdrop [third Sunday of the month].
28APRILACECAFEMEET
Europe's largest and longest running free monthly Porsche-only meet at Ace Cafe on the North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW1 0 7UD, from 6pm (last Monday of the month).
R21•CHILTERN
JointRegionalOrganisers
Bill and Donah Dewar
AssistantRegionalOrganisers
Ashley Miller, Terry Perry, Phil Jones r21@porscheclubgb.com
R22•CUMBRIA&SWSCOTLAND
RegionalOrganiser
Michael Trotter -07841 215962
AssistantRegionalOrganiser
Ian Graham r22@porscheclubgb.com
R22MEMBERS'CARSINTHESPOTLIGHT
This month, we feature Jim Clark and Stuart Bertram's cars. Jim reports: "This is my 987S alongside fellow Club = member Stuart Bertram's 964. I have 6 owned my car for over four years and S3 this was owned previously by RO Mike o::: Trotter. The photo was taken on the
first day back on the road after COVID and both cars had been used and worked on over that period."
Jim and Stuart attend regular Club events and have been very supportive of the Club and Region. Both of their cars are used but are maintained to a very high standard, as they both have a good eye for detail.
R23•SUSSEX
RegionalOrganisers
Chris and Martin Woolger 07720 849982 07802 409272 r23@porscheclubgb.com
R24•CAMBRIDGESHIRE & BEDFORDSHIRE
RegionalOrganiser
Chris Kingshott
AssistantRegionalOrganiser
Wayne Helme r24@porscheclubgb.com
We are getting fully up to speed with meetings and events now that spring is finally here.
Our monthly meetings have gained real impetus, with our February quiz night and a planned March presentation by Rob Brewer. We have a fantastic speaker in April with Martyn Williams, who is an experienced freelance motoring journalist who has worked alongside the greats in the industry. Come along to hear him at The Old Ferryboat on 1 6 April!
We are similarly gearing up for some great visits in the month, with Lotus on 23 April [at the time of writing, there were a few spaces left if you would like to check online) and Allon White at Cranfield on the morning of 26 April.
Best wishes,
Chris and Wayne
DIARYDATES
26APRILAllonWhitevisit
Email r24@porscheclubgb.com if you wish to attend.
11MAYInauguralflyingdisplay
We already have more than 1 00 cars booked for this event.
Sports Seats• PDK Gearbox• 19" Centre Lock GTSWheels • Switchable Sports Exhaust• Sport Chrono Previously Sold & Serviced by Paragon• 51,929 miles• 2011 (61)
£59,995
911Carrera2S(997.2)
Carrara White • Black Leather Sports Seats • Manual Gearbox 19" Carrera S II Wheels • Sport Chrono • Touchscreen Satellite Navigation • Bose Sound System 23,365 miles• 2010 (59)
£54,995
911Carrera4S(996)
Seal Grey• Black Leather Sports Seats• Manual Gearbox 18"Turbo II Wheels• Satellite Navigation • Bose Sound System
Sports Exhaust• 79,974 miles 2004 (54)
Boxster(981)
Rhodium Silver• Black Leather Sports Seats • PDK Gearbox
19" Boxster S Ill Wheels• Heated Seats • Porsche Sound Pack Plus Previously Sold & Serviced by Paragon • 19,124 miles • 2013 (63)
01825830424sales@paragongb.comwww.paragongb.com We have superb in-house workshop and preparation facilities. Each car is
Raceborn. DISCOVERTHENEWPORSCHE
MOTORSPORTREPLICACOLLECTION.
Since 1948, Porscheand motorsport havebeen intrinsically woven together. Now,with the launch of the new PorscheMotorsport ReplicaCollection in collaborationwith Puma,you can be part of the story. Featuringred accents and the famous 1970s Pashapattern, these accessoriesemphasise function, design, and sportiness to put you right in the heart of the motorsport community. Explorethe collection at your local PorscheCentre.
AssistantRegionalOrganiser
Sue Torre
r25@porscheclubgb.com
@ @porscheclubgbkent 11pcgb.r25
Welcome to our round-up of events across the Kent Region since last month's PP.
WHAT'SBEENHAPPENINGINR25
February saw us return to our popular Club nights at Brands Hatch, where around 46 people braved a damp and cold evening to catch up with both old and new members. As always, it was great to chat with everyone and see some new faces. If we didn't get a chance to speak to any new members, please make yourself known at the next event. R25 organisers are normally wearing PCGB yellow lanyards, so we should be easy to spot.
Since last month's PP, we have added events up to November on the R25 events calendar. This includes Club nights, cars and coffee meetings, visits to automotive specialists and two health checks planned with Porsche Centre Tonbridge. Several of the bookable events are nearing full capacity already, so please take time to regularly check the webpage. We are continuing to work on future events that will hopefully provide something for all members over the coming months. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to email us at r25@porscheclubgb.com
MONTHLYE-NEWSUPDATE
Monthly e-news will keep you up to date with what is happening as well as planned speakers and guests at our future Club nights.
UPCOMINGEVENTS
For event information, please see the R25 events page at on the Club website. These events listings are updated frequently, so please check. Once you have booked an event, please check your spam/junk folders for confirmation emails just in case.
We look forward to seeing you soon,
Sue and Chris
R28•DORSET
RegionalOrganiser
Position vacant r26@porscheclubgb.com
Peter White reports: "R26's second event of the year saw 27 members convene at the new home of Riva's Hub at Sandford in Wareham. Their old home was where our summer BBQ and photoshoot against their famous graffiti wall was held.
"On a cold, damp and misty Saturday morning, members' cars consisted of a good lineup of sports and SUV models but, while ex-ROTref claimed to have washed his car [hard to tell!), special mention is due to Richard and Fiona Lomax for venturing out in their 964 -the only air-cooled Porsche present. After the usual car-related discussions, everyone was happy to get inside for a hearty breakfast, with everything from healthy avocado to the full English on offer.
"At our January monthly meeting, Tref
welcomed Anders Hildebrand of the Anglo American Oil Company to the Region. Many of us have long known about the problems that ethanol in fuel can cause our cars, but to have it demystified by an expert, to understand what is going on and find out what we can do about it is not only useful but can also save a big bill too! What we certainly weren't aware of was how similar regulations also impact on the oil we use. The oil you think you are buying is not always what you might believe it to be! Again, the impact and solutions were clearly explained. "Obviously, not everyone could attend the meeting and those who are interested can range way beyond Dorset, so we did record the event and hopefully we will have news soon as to where you can find it on the Club website."
R27•IRELAND
RegionalOrganiser R27 Team r27@porscheclubgb.com @ porscheclubgb_northernireland 11pcgb.r27
R26 at Riva's Hub
R27 members at the Slieve Donard Classic and Sports Car Show
On 8 February, we began the new season with a trip to the Classic and Sports Car Show at the Slieve Donard Hotel. The group gathered in Carryduff and, with many of their cars still tucked away in garages, members joined us in whatever car they wished to bring to form a sizable mixed convoy to the base of the Mourne Mountains in Newcastle. As with previous years, there was a great cross-section of cars on display and hopefully there was something there for everyone.
Moving into March, we had a visit to the Ulster Aviation Society [LIAS]; an organisation we have visited in the past but not for some years. After beginning the morning with an enjoyable breakfast at Gowdy's of Down Royal, we then made our way to the LIAS.There will, of course, be more on this event next month.
We have recently been asked by some in our Region on how best to advise potential new members on joining the Club. This is most easily done via the main Club website at porscheclubgb.com and hitting the 'Join today' tab in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. This will then guide them through the process and will most quickly provide them with their membership number in order to start enjoying Club member benefits.
As with previous years, it is our intention to produce a Region card once again this season. Rather than this being an 'events card' as in previous years, this will now give some information about the Region and will once again allow you to fill out details of your car for display purposes at events. The QR code will once again be included to allow any potential new members to access information about the Club and how to join.
That's about it this month and we look forward to seeing you at your next R27 event soon!
Dorian Logan, Michael Turton and Somesh Mitra r29@porscheclubgb.com
FRIDAYFISH'N'CHIPSRUN
R28G•CHANNELISLANDS,GUERNSEY
RegionalOrganisingTeam
Steve Manklow, Paul Sheward and Brad Faye r28G@porscheclubgb.com
¾ @PCGB_Guernsey
A report by Som: "Seven hardcore souls in five cars braved the glorious British weather on 7 February for R29's inaugural Friday Fish 'n' Chips Run. After an excellent welcome at the sparkling new Porsche Centre Guildford, the five cars headed south and arrived at Billy's on the Beach at East Wittering in time for fab fish and chips (or burgers for some!) at around 1 pm. The return journey was somewhat more 'interesting' as we headed back to Petworth. Unfortunately, the slight matter of a fallen tree and closed roads
Combining main dealer-level Porsche servicing with independent pricing using latest PIWIS diagnostics and factory back up. Used Porsche sales prepared to the highest standards. All with a friendly family-run feel. YOURONE-STOPSHOPFORYOURPORSCHE.
on the A272 just past Midhurst meant an unplanned LI-turn. We decided to head back in separate ways, with some taking a more adventurous route ... lowslung 911 Turbo Sin a muddy, flooded single track, anyone?
"Still, it was a great day out and great company with great food. You can't ask for more on a random wet Friday in February, right?
"See you on the next Friday Fish 'n' Chips run. We will have one on every first Friday of the month and will be organising these primarily through the R29 WhatsApp group, so please keep a look-out."
SATURDAYSCRAMBLE
A report by Som: "Our first R29 Saturday Scramble on 1 5 February certainly attracted a great turnout. More than 20 cars joined us on our blast down to Goodwood Aerodrome and back! Perhaps it was the fact that it was Saturday, or the lure of Goodwood, or the promise of convoying with fellow Porschephiles along good driving roads early[ish) on a Saturday morning with potentially fewer crowds, or likely a combination of all of the above. Either way, we had a great drive down in three groups to Goodwood Motor Circuit.
"The MGboys and girls were out on track for those who wanted to check out the action, but most of us headed into a very busy Aerodrome Cafe for some much-needed warm drinks, a bit of food and a lot of banter. We had cars from as far out as north London and Surbiton, which was brilliant to see. Nice spread of cars too; GT4s, 991 Turbos, 997s, two Targas [a 991 and David's timeless 930) and a Boxster Spyder to name a few.
"Next time, we might 'leverage' some of the Goodwood members present among our group and visit the Kennels. Around midday, some of us filtered off to head home to perform family duties and errands, no doubt.
"Overall, another very cool drive-out with lots of Porsches on the road and great company -a perfect way to kick off the weekend. See you all for the next Saturday Scramble held on every third Saturday of the month."
R30•ISLEOFMAN
JointRegionalOrganisers
Neil Chadwick 07624 472284
AssistantRegionalOrganisers
Jon Whiting and Karl Millar r30@porscheclubgb.com
BREAKFAST RUN
Our first event of the year kicked off in style with a fantastic turnout. The breakfast run to The Sound Cafe is always popular, with many members taking the opportunity to catch up after what has been a long winter. The event programme will start to gather momentum now, so please look out for our email invitations and booking forms.
DIARYDATES
APRILClaypigeonshooting
MAYVictoryCafeRun
R31•COTSWOLDS
RegionalOrganiser
Nick Taylor 07397 388250
r31@porscheclubgb.com
@ Porsche Club GB -Cotswolds
11Porsche Club GB -Cotswolds ¼ @pcgb_cotswolds
DIARYDATES
5APRILBoxsterLifeBirthdayBash
6APRILBreakfastRun
8APRILSpringDrivetoLunch
12-13APRILNorthWalesRoadTrip
23APRILThePappadamRun
26APRIL968atCaffeine&Machine
27APRILAGM
29APRILClayShoot
THEROADTDNOWHERE
Had my dad not been cremated, he would be turning in his grave and admonishing me for having 'more brass than sense'. He'd be right, of course, as even my craziest 'man maths' can't rationalise just taking delivery of my fourth new Porsche in 1 2 months. So, after being away or hibernating for much of winter, it's time to drive them. We have a busy, busy month. All of the above, other than the clay shoot, are 'drives'. Join if you can. First Sunday breakfast runs can get busy and we may have to limit numbers, so book early.
The view from The Sound Cafe overlooking the Calf of Man and the Irish Sea
R30's Porsches in the car park at The Sound Cafe
Our Boxster group is celebrating its first birthday with a drive, lunch and, true to our Gen Z digital vibe, something called 'skittles'. Matt knows his audience!
We're welcoming spring with a Tuesday drive, starting with coffee at around 9.30am with a nice two-hour drive to lunch and hope to be back by 4pm. It's free except for the cost of a pub lunch or coffee.
We're celebrating the arrival of the lighter nights with our first evening drive of the year on 23 April. The Pappadam Run will start somewhere central around 6pm and head for an Indian supper at the Snooty Mehmaan near Faringdon.
There's a 968 Register meet at Caffeine&Machine on Saturday 26 April, so come and say 'hi'. Our Annual General Meeting is at the Clubhouse on 27 April and we'll be arranging breakfast and a convoy there, so please come along, have a light lunch [provided) and see the changes we've made to the Clubhouse. Come with some questions, criticisms or even praise -all are welcome.
Details of all the above are on our website and on our numerous WhatsApp groups. If you find them too noisy, so do I, but you only really need to be on the 'read = only' R31 Events.
In 1972, famed designer Gerald Genta created an oxymoron. Priced more than many precious metal rivals, the 'luxury stainless steel timepiece' was not an immediate success. But eventually its tough, elegant body, integrated bracelet and patterned dial caught on. A watch that dressed up for dinner. Or down, at the pool. Today's 40mm, base automatic of that original watch costs £22,850 more than the 'Twelve' -named for its dodecagon-sided bezel and rear lock ring. Our watch is thinner, goes deeper and offers a choice of Cl/BL Grade Xl-lumed dials. A polished, brushed and sandblasted case of daylight (and night time) robbery? Doyourresearch.
+: Christopher Ward
NEWSFROMYOUR
356
RegisterSecretary
Fred Hampton 01992 554935
356@porscheclubgb.com
THEKACKWURST
If you're not familiar with Die Ratte, Marcus Carlton's A Coupe, you must have spent the last decade on another planet! It must be one of the most photographed 356s worldwide and it's so cool that everyone loves it. Secretly, Marcus enjoys the attention too, but has been hankering after a pre-A. He has a beautiful 1955 Continental Cabriolet in the final stages of restoration, but something so perfect could never replace Die Ratte. The hunt has been on for a pre-A 'Ratte', and I reckon Marcus has nailed it with the 'Kackwurst'!
Marcus kindly invited me to inspect his
'new' car fresh off the boat from Los Angeles
and it's going to be a cracker. It's a November '52 Coupe with choice rust spots and primer overspray. Fortunately, the primer came out of a rattle can, so the paint boys are already in the process of carefully removing it. The target is to get the car around 90 per cent brown and 1 0 per cent surface rust (clear-coated for protection). The engine is a 1,500S and the interior is part original/part naff US plastic, but Marcus reckons some retro-beaded seat covers [remember those?] will set it off nicely and prevent sweaty legs! There's much to do in advance, but the target is to cover circa 3,000 miles in May, taking in France, Corsica, Italy [for the International Meeting), Switzerland, Germany and home. Fortune favours the brave!
SPRINGDRIVE
Excitement is building for the new season and one of the first events is Richard's now-traditional Spring Drive. Scheduled to shake down the cars a few weeks prior to the International, we already have more than a dozen 356s booked in for the midweek tour around Kent and Sussex.
GOODBYE
I've been writing the 356 Register column for five years, but this will be my last (on a regular basis, at least). Thankfully, Fred is in much better health now and has lots of 356 news, anecdotes and images to share. I hope you've enjoyed my ramblings and I look forward to seeing you out on the road.
KTF,
Jeff East
EARLY911(2.0,2.2&2A]
RegisterSecretary
Julian Hobbins
911@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegisterSecretary
Robin Walker
TechnicalAssistant
Alan Drayson -07446 931125 alan@canfordclassics.co.uk
50YEARSOF911OWNERSHIP!
This month, we have an interesting story from Arfor Jones.
'The car, built during September 1968, was exhibited at the Earls Court Motor Show towards the end of that October together with a 911 E, a 911 Sand a 912. I was a visitor to the show and, after leaving, didn't expect to see the car again.
"Fast-forward to 1973 and I was working for a motor dealer in the small country town of Fort Victoria (now Masvingo), in
Jeff'sACoupeoutonachillyFebruarymorning
what is now Zimbabwe, when I spotted a UK-registered Porsche drawing onto the forecourt for fuel. In conversation with the owner, I was taken aback to learn that the car was one of the four Porsches that were exhibited at the same motor show and, of course, I was able to tell the owner that I had seen his car a few years previously. After re-fuelling, the owner resumed his journey to the capital, Harare and, once
Introducing the 'Kackwurst'
Arfor Jones has owned his Early 911 for 50 years!
the
more, I didn't expect to see the car again.
"But I was wrong because, some months later, I was in Bulawayo [in south-western Zimbabwe] and what should I see? Only the same Tangerine Porsche. Of course, I was delighted to have another opportunity to have a chat with the owner, and thereafter we kept in touch with each other until the day came when, with a growing family, he decided to sell the car. The change of ownership was registered on 1 June 1975."
If you have similar interesting stories around your car, please let me know and I'll share them.
Bye for now,
Julian Hobbins
912
RegisterSecretary
Sam Mubarak
07973 383836
912@porscheclubgb.com
AdminAssistant
LLl f= Zara = InternationalEventsCoordinator Zainab
MediaEventsCoordinator
Alisha
911SPORTOMATIC
RegisterSecretary
Peter Cook 01789 400832
sporto@porscheclubgb.com
914
RegisterSecretary
Kevin Clarke 07946 080454
914@porscheclubgb.com
Assistant Kate Maynard 07812 974613
KMaynard@hickmanandrose.co.uk
InternationalEventsCo-ordinator
Tom Loder 07748 635406 thomas.loder@btinternet.com
Spring is in the air and it's the time of the year I look forward to. The clocks go forward an hour, the hibernation months are over
and it's the start of more activity in the classic car world, hopefully with less salt on the road now and some better, warmer and drier weather on its way. If you haven't done it already, it's time to dust off your 914 and blow away the cobwebs.
Back in January, I headed to Worthing on the south coast to meet up with Matt Bailey and his dad Tim, who each have a 914. Matt has been restoring his 1969 1.7 in Canary Yellow for some years and has kept me informed about progress. It's almost ready. Matt asked for my help with the fuel injection, as the engine wasn't running as it should do, and I diagnosed several issues. We made progress and, by the end of the day, Matt was able to take his 914 for his first drive. Also in January, I took my Ravenna Green 914 to Goodwood Motor Circuit to attend the Legends Drivers Club Milestone meeting in the paddock. It was a revised date, because it was postponed in December due to Storm Darragh. It turned out to be a nice, calm and sunny Saturday morning after a rainy week and there was no storm. Until next time, happy Fourteening, Kevin
Matt Bailey with his 1969 1. 7 in Canary Yellow
Kevin Clarke's 914 at Goodwood for
Legends Milestone meeting
DIARYDATES
19APRILBrooklandsMuseumEaster
ClassicCarGathering
4MAYStanfordHallVolkswagenShow 914 Concours display. To book, contact concours@lwvwoc.co.uk
27JULYBromleyPageantofMotoring 914 Register display booked for the show at the new venue of the South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex. To book, contact Bruce Manning: mail@brucemanning.co.uk
911CARRERA RS
RegisterSecretary
Fred Hampton 01992 554935
carrerars@porscheclubgb.com
Assistant Mike Chadwick 01454 232232 mvc@fly7.co.uk
9112.7CARRERA&3.0
RegisterSecretary
Guy White 01493 750278
91127carrera3@porscheclubgb.com
TechnicalAssistant
Tony Ruggles 01992 892333
ANALOGUEALCHEMY
Last September, the Register had a great turnout at the Classics at the Castle event at Castle Hedingham. This event will not return until next year, so this year's event for the classic Porsche is Analogue Alchemy at Bowcliffe Hall, Bramham, West Yorkshire on Sunday 8 June. I remember attending an event at the nearby Bramham Park back in 2002 but, unfortunately, will not make it this time because I already have other arrangements for the day. Hopefully, other Register members can make it instead. It's a great opportunity for the more northern-based owners to get their cars together. Full details of the event can be found on the website. If any Register member intending to go would be interested in organising a Register display there, please get in touch.
Guy White
924/TURBD/S
RegisterSecretary
Trefor Willingham 01747 838158
924@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantSecretary
Paul Hedges 07940 441452 [6-10pm)
50THANNIVERSARYYEAR
This year is the 50th anniversary year of
the 924 so, of course, we want to celebrate. But how? The 924 will play a big part in the Club events up and down the country. I am hoping we may have a celebratory sticker, possibly exclusive to those that get their car out to an event. Don't worry, you still have a few months yet to get the project roadworthy to be able to claim yours!
I am hoping that, by the time you read this, I will have access to the 924 Register email -apologies if you have sent something and are still awaiting a response. There is, of course, the 924 Register Section on the Forum as well. I am also hoping we can start something in the way of a regular Zoom meeting -it won't suit everyone, I know, but with the plethora of media to choose from, no one solution will! That said, if you have a preferred method for communication and think you would like to help the Register, I would love to hear from you.
ATECHYBIT
I was privileged to attend the Region 26 (Dorset] talk by Anders Hildebrand of the Anglo American Oil Company and heard in detail about the effects of ethanol. I have experienced first-hand the problems it can (and does] cause to 924s and, as a result, I am now using their storage fuel -ethanol-free! If you thought you were safe with Essa [as I did), that changed in 2023. Anglo American have a distribution network so, even if you are a long way from Dorset, it is worth enquiring and you may be able to save yourself from the dreaded dead fuel pump issue (or worse!). I make the usual disclaimer of having no link other than as a satisfied customer.
If you own a 924 Carrera GT/GTS, have you registered your details on the Club website? If not, please do so as soon as possible to be able to attend several transaxle events that are being organised this year by all the Registers. We will look forward to hearing from you.
Ricky
911SC
RegisterSecretary
Franck Marie 07850 479979
911 sc@porscheclubgb.com
9IISCODORHANDLETRIGGERREPLACEMENT
Richard Stephens, 911 SC Register Technical Advisor, reports.
A common issue on a Classic 911 is the door trigger breaking without the owner noticing it, especially on the passenger side where it's not used so much. Corrosion is often the cause. You should be able to check to see if they are broken by pressing the trigger and using a torch. Look for the eye holes on the trigger supporting the rod which the trigger rotates around. Chrome or matt black triggers can be purchased as a separate item to keep costs down and can be easily replaced. To get the handle off, you need to remove the inside door trim [ensure the window is in the up position). You will then have access to the two nuts holding the handle in position.
After taking the handle off, you will need to remove the top screw and stud. The hardest part is tapping the rod out of the mechanism which the trigger rotates on. I soaked it in WD40 and then added a bit of heat before tapping out the rod. When removed, the new trigger can be aligned with the holes and the rod tapped back in position. The whole mechanism can then be mounted back onto the door handle after a good clean.
Check the trigger after assembly. Mine was a bit sticky and I had to file a small amount of metal from the back edge of the new trigger for smooth operation. Mount the handle back onto the door (I used stainless steel nuts] and replace the panel. You should now have a door trigger that's good for another 20 years.
Safe driving,
Franck and Richard
Note the eye holes on the trigger have broken Stud
Door mechanism parts identification
Remote earth disconnect
930(911TURBO)
RegisterSecretary
Position vacant 911 turbo@porscheclubgb.com
928
RegisterSecretary
Brian Smith 07798 868 926 928@porscheclubgb.com
TechnicalAdvisor
Adrian Clark adrian.clark928@gmail.com 928Archive
David Hemmings
SHUTTLEWORTHCOLLECTION
It's great to see that ticket sales for the 26 April event at the Shuttleworth Collection are going well. I guess everyone is keen to get out and make the most of the nice spring days. Fingers crossed! If you are interested in attending, please see the Club website for details or email me. By the time you read this, we will be close to closing the event to bookings!
ANALOGUEALCHEMY
LLl f= You should have received a newsletter S3 about the Club-organised Analogue Alchemy o::: event at Bowcliffe Hall in West Yorkshire
on Sunday 8 June. Limited to pre-'97 cars, the event combines a garden party and display with a series of co-ordinated scenic drives to and from the venue. Tickets, priced at £35pp, include entry, a traditional Yorkshire buffet, soft drinks and entertainment. The plan is to have vendors, displays and an anniversary celebration of the Porsche transaxle. It promises to be a fantastic day.
HADDONHALL
Dur Saturday 19 July event will be at Haddon Hall in north Derbyshire. Tickets are priced at £58pp, which includes allocated parking, a hot drink on arrival, a 60-70-minute guided tour of the house and afternoon tea. There'll be plenty of opportunities to meet your fellow transaxle enthusiasts. We plan to organise two convoys but, if you prefer, you can meet us at the Hall. A newsletter will have been sent to members so, if you are interested, please check your email and/ or the Club website. Numbers are restricted by the venue, so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.
928EVENTINOXFORDSHIRE
Finally,just a reminder that there will be a 928 event on Saturday 27 September somewhere in the Oxfordshire area. Please put it in your diary. Details will follow.
944
RegisterSecretary
Mike Pollock
07811 944953
944@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegisterSecretary
David Chapman
TechnicalAdvisor
Jon Mitchell 01202 488800
[normal working hours] technical@jmgporsche.co.uk
Hi all. Another month closer to hopefully decent weather! Having said that, I did have a lovely run out in the Cabriolet on a sunny but chilly day in the middle of February. My route, decided on the fly as usual, took in many villages in the south and east of Leicestershire, including the picturesque Medbourne [famous for its annual bottle-kicking match with neighbouring Hallaton, a 1 church, a similarly aged packhorse bridge and, until recently, a ford).
After sending out an email newsletter for the event, I hope to have seen several of you at the Great British Car Journey in mid-March and I am looking forward to the Donington Historic Festival in early May. I've never tried the Club's email system and I would be interested in any feedback.
BATTERYCHARGELOSS
I know a regular issue with our cars is the battery losing charge while sitting for some time. A lot of members use battery isolators. I haven't, one reason being that, on the later cars with the rear-mounted battery, it can be very difficult to gain access to turn it back on again. However, if you do have a secure garage and can leave it propped open, it's not too bad. I have fitted a remote-controlled one to the Cabriolet; it mounts easily and conveniently on the negative terminal. I think it would also work as a theft deterrent too. It's currently under test, so further updates will follow.
Please let me know what you've done over the winter or if you have any plans for the summer and keep an eye out for possible emails from us. If you don't get any, check you are on the Register and that your details are up to date.
Cheers,
Mike and David
Historic 944 Cabriolet and historic bridge
ULTIMATE PLUS™ FUSION PLUS™
CERAMIC COATING
PAINT PROTECTION FILM
XPEL UK Installation Centre is the corporate installation facility for the XPEL brand. We are a dedicated team providing the highest level of installations, using XPEL-quality products for your car. Whether you want to protect your vehicle with paint protection film (PPF) or ceramic coatings, XPEL is here to help.
911CARRERA3.2ANDCLUBSPORT
RegisterSecretaries
Steve and Sue Edwards 01285719561
911 carrera32@porscheclubgb.com
TechnicalAdvisor
Charles Marsland 07787 902403 (9am-9pm)
Last year, Sue and I met Nick, a very happy 3.2 owner, at the Classic Day at Porsche Centre Swindon. Nick is the new custodian of a car we have had on the Register for quite some time. We had a good chat and he explained how he likes older cars. Nick sent us the following:
"I've recently taken ownership of a 1989 Carrera 3.2 Sport in Guards Red with black leather interior, purchased through Northway
Porsche near Reading. Having owned a 986 and two 996s, it's my first foray into the air-cooled world. I do still have the 996 C4S Cabriolet, but it's up for sale! I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far, when the weather allows me. I'm a member of the R31 posse and get out when work and family allow. Hope to catch up soon."
He subsequently added:
"Browsing January's PP, I came across the 3.2 Register piece and thought I have a photo of our 3.2 that I quite like. We took her to Copenhagen for the Luftgekuhlt Danish event in September with a bunch of fellow 9Werks people [two 993s, two 930 Turbos, one SC and one 928).
Roughly 1 ,800 miles of trouble-free and great motoring returned approximately 33mpg in the 3.2. Such capable cars!
"The picture was taken at our first lunch stop off the train at the Porsche Classic Centre Gelderland Showrooms. What a place -it's worth a visit!"
Nice car, Nick, and you're using it as intended! Wishing you many happy motoring miles and thanks for the 'showroom' visit tip.
We're looking forward to meeting fellow 3.2 owners at the fantastic Donington Historic Festival when we're there on 3-4 May.
Steve and Sue
964
RegisterSecretary
Mark Byrne
07932 720610
964@porscheclubgb.com
964MARKETWATCH
The 964 market continues to evolve, with long-term owners slowly parting ways with their cherished cars. While volume has reduced, demand remains strong, although values have dipped slightly due to the season and economic factors. Interestingly, we're seeing fewer cars in the usual classifieds, which is perhaps a sign that owners are holding onto them ...
Meanwhile, a recent online video shows a staggering number of 964s parked in a field, reportedly awaiting the Singer treatment. While I admire what Singer produces, it's bittersweet to see original cars disappearing. That said, for those holding on to their cars, values are only likely to rise in the long term.
On the road, Richard Lomax remains
one of our most active 964 members while I endure a grey, wet London. He recently sent me an email: "Lovely spin along our coast road in West Dorset yesterday with little traffic getting in the way; sheer bliss..." Cheers, Richard -rub it in!
NEEDAHANDWITHYOUR964?
Sometimes life gets in the way and our beloved cars end up sitting idle. Whether it's time, money or ability that's holding you back, don't let your 964 suffer. As a Club, we're here to help -whether that's advice, connections or something more hands-on. Reach out if you need assistance!
ANEWNAMEINTHE964WORLD
Ian Harris, a well-known figure in our community, has recently opened a Porsche specialist centre: HC Porsche in West Sussex. Having known Ian for a while now, I can say his passion and knowledge for Porsches in general exceeds anyone I know. As for 964s, he knows his way around them, both inside and out, unlike anyone I have met before. Whether you're looking to buy a 964 or your Porsche
One of the most active 964
members Richard Lomax's car
Nick Jones' Carrera 3.2 at the pumps outside Porsche Classic Centre Gelderland in the Netherlands. The world's first stand-alone Porsche Classic Centre also includes a museum
Recently opened Porsche specialist centre HC Porsche
needs a service, some tweaks or just a bit of guidance, he's a great guy to have in your corner. We'll be paying HC Porsche a visit soon to catch up. In the meantime, visit HCPorsche.co.uk for more information and to check out what he's doing!
964CARRERA RS
RegisterSecretary
Melvin Spear
07860 595355
964rs@porscheclubgb.com
968
RegisterSecretary
Matt Staines
07798 662199 -968@porscheclubgb.com
MOREBLACKANDWHITEPROGRESS
The Grand Prix White Club Sport went into Garage 87 in Manchester to have the two front jacking points replaced with fresh Porsche metal, which was done in just a couple of days. Huge thanks to Jake for doing such a neat job.
It was then off to be dry ice-cleaned underneath, inside the arches and in the engine bay to see what we were dealing with before restoration work really begins. The results on what was a very dirty car underneath are fantastic. More detail on this process next month. A spare set of genuine Cup 2 wheels have also now been refurbished in Grand Prix White.
The Schwartz Black Sport has now been completed mechanically and went for its first MOT for a decade! Sadly, it failed, but literally only a couple of bulbs and the washer jets not functioning correctly -all super easy fixes. While fitting some new pipes to the washer jets, the washer pump's rather brittle plastic split. At time of writing, I'm waiting for one to arrive at Porsche Centre Stockport so we can get that MOT pass.
The car will then have a full detail inside and out with a new stereo, probably the Blaupunkt Valencia DAB I dropped in a couple of other cars last year, installed too. After a few remaining small jobs, it will likely be sold to focus on the Club Sport restoration. Long-time readers
may remember I have a low-mileage Guards Red Sport that's been forgotten about for rather too long...
GETINVOLVED!
If you have a 968 with an interesting story, please email me the details. It would be great to get you featured in the magazine, on the Club website and in 968 Register social media.
DIARYDATES
26APRIL968Registermeetand CotswoldDrive
8JUNETheYorkshireClassicBowcliffeHall Pre-'97 and transaxles [National Event).
28JUNESupercarPageantCultonPark PCGB Super Event.
993CARRERA RS
RegisterSecretary
Paul Howells 07809 880937
993rs@porscheclubgb.com
TechnicalAdvisor
Paul McLean
993
RegisterSecretary
Mark Hamilton 07936 999979 -993@porscheclubgb.com
RegisterAssistant
Christian Sanger 07968 503385 -cjsanger@gmail.com
Hello, all 993 enthusiasts. With spring just around the corner, hopefully thoughts are turning to driving your 993. With that in mind, here are a few ideas to whet your appetite.
9-11MAVWDTV,THEVDRKEARMS
Our 2025 WOTY at The Yorke Arms near Harrogate is going ahead on the weekend of 9-11 May. Although fully booked at the time of writing, there is a reserve list that you can join by emailing me. We do get a few cancellations, so you may be lucky! Also, if you are in the area with your 993 on the Saturday, you would be very welcome to join our planned drives.
26SEPTEMBERDEDICATED993DRIVINGEVENT ATMILLBROOK
Colin Hoad and the CAT driver development team have kindly offered the 993 Register a dedicated day for 993 owners at Millbrook on Friday 26 September.
S3 Matt's Grand Prix White 968 Club Sport has been o:: dry ice-cleaned. The results are fantastic
Two examples of what can be seen on the 993 gallery
LUXURYBESPOKEGARDENBUILDINGS
If you want to enjoy your garden without having to worry about the weather, our luxury bespoke garden buildings are the ideal way to entertain, relax or work from home in comfort. Talk to us today to find out how we can create what you're looking for or visit our show sites
The Rose Gardens, 25 l Toton Lane, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 7JA
Studley Garden Centre, Henley Road, Warwickshire, B80 ?DR
The day will consist of developing your car control skills with your 993 on the one-mile straight, high-speed bowl and various driving loops available at Millbrook. This is a great opportunity to really get to know your 993 and improve your driving skills in a safe environment. The day will be limited to six cars at approximately £625pp, including lunch. Please email me to register your interest ASAP.
THE993DEFINITIVEPHOTOGALLERY
We now have approaching 1 DD cars in the 993 definitive photo gallery, which can be found in the 993 Register section of the Club website. Take a look and see all the magnificent 993s that we have in our Club. If you would like your 993 to be included, please email me a photo.
Until next time, enjoy your 993.
BOXSTER
RegisterSecretary
Tracy Wilkins
07986 943307
boxster@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantSecretary
Cliff Wilkins
Contact details as above TechnicalAdvisors
Steve Winter
steve@jazweb.co.uk
Nick Pike
02089 607111 [evenings and weekends)
Spring is here! I hope that, for those of you who tucked your cars up over the winter, they are now coming out of hibernation ready for the months ahead. We have some exciting events coming up, which I hope you will enjoy.
SUNDAYIIMAYSHUTTLEWORTHCOLLECTION
At the time of writing, there are still a few spaces available for this fabulous event. Members can enjoy a discounted entry price of £28 [usually £36 per adult] and under-15s go free. For more information and to book the event, please go to the events calendar on the PCGB website. Booking closes on 1 April.
Warwick has the world's largest collection of British-made cars and we're holding a day to celebrate all M96 and M97 Porsche models, which includes the Boxster 986 and 987. We've been allocated a reduced museum entry fee of £18pp along with 200 dedicated spaces for general Register parking. In addition, Hartech will be running a seminar on M96 and M97 engines in the museum at a cost of £35pp, which includes museum entry, refreshments, lunch and separate parking.
All 986 and 987 members should have received an email with booking details. If you haven't received yours, please contact me for further info.
Not to be missed! The museum near Learnmoreabout yourengineatM96 andM97event
GPFFAILURES
I received an email from Cayman Register Secretary John Dickenson asking if I've had any 718 Boxster members reporting GPF failure. To date, I've only had one incident but, if you have been affected by this, please contact John at cayman@ porscheclubgb.com. He would be happy to discuss it with you.
Happy Boxstering, Tracy 996
RegisterSecretary
Tony Murphy 996@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantSecretary
Tom Horner
A big welcome to James Hogan and the other new members who have been in touch this month and joined the 996 Register. Please send in photos of your cars. Ideally,they need to be above 1 Mb in size to be featured in the magazine or in the online 996 gallery. It's great to be able to show off these magnificent cars. If your car has an interesting history or is especially rare, please supply more information and we might even do a feature on it.
SATURDAY21JUNESUMMERSOLSTICEATBDXENGASSE
Another great event! Join fellow members and watch the sun set on the longest day of the year. Once parked, you can enjoy live music and purchase fabulous food from carefully selected food trucks. To join the party, get your tickets from the Club website. We're looking forward to seeing you there.
Event-wise,the calendars are beginning to fill up across the Regions. I will be attending the Cars and Coffee meet on 13 April at Sam Landers, the independent Porsche specialist based in Malton in North Yorkshire. It would be great to see some fellow 996 owners at the event (details are in the Region 7 Forum or contact me). Another event that I would like to bring to the attention of the 996 Register is the Porsche meeting on 1 8 May at the famous
996 Register member James Hogan's 996
Harewood Speed Hillclimb course in Yorkshire. This proved to be a popular event last year and the Club hopes to build on its success with an impressive turnout of cars. Can we get some 996 owners attending and all parked up together? Tickets are available via the Club website.
The event has the added bonus of giving owners the opportunity to drive the tarmac hillclimb course. This is non-competitive, but it gives drivers the chance to have a few runs up the hill and 'open up' your car, exploring the 996's performance and its handling!
Happy driving,
Tony
GT3
RegisterSecretary
Alex Drobik 01628 620702 -gt3@porscheclubgb.com
CAYENNE
RegisterSecretaries
Position vacant cayenne@porscheclubgb.com AssistantRegisterSecretary
Larry Lawrence
Sadly, this will be our last report as Cayenne Register Secretaries. After much deliberation, Deb and I have decided now is the right time to step down. Although we have several reasons, which I won't bore you with, the major contributing factor is a distinct lack of time, especially owing to recently becoming new grandparents.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have made the effort to get in touch, provide information or share pictures and stories during our time at the helm -we've very much enjoyed reading through them all. It's been a challenging yet rewarding time but, despite my best efforts, I feel I have struggled on occasion to keep you all engaged, which is again why I feel now is the right time to hand over the baton.
Deb and I have always tried to move the Register forward. However, I feel my motivation has depleted somewhat despite my best efforts and, as such, believe you, the members, deserve better and someone who can dedicate more time to the role to continue pushing this group forward.
Therefore, anyone wishing to learn more or be considered to take on the role should in the first instance contact the Club's Register Director Steve Johnson at stevejohnson@porscheclubgb.com to discuss it further. Please remember that these roles are purely voluntary positions before applying, because I know plenty of S3 members think we actually get paid to do
o::: what we do.
Finally,that said, don't worry. Deb and I will still be extremely active members and look forward to catching up with many of you at an event in the future.
Signing off,
Greg and Deb Harm
997
RegisterSecretary
Steve Johnson
07555 198866
997@porscheclubgb.com
RegisterAssistant
Roger Aldridge
PCGBATTHEBRITISHMOTORMUSEUM
On 21 June, we're looking to repeat the wonderful day we had at the British Motor Museum. Last year, we were restricted to just 1 00 members in a conference room for a talk by Hartech with some lunch and a presentation by Grant Larson, who's credited with the design of the 997. This was followed by time in the museum. This year, we can still only have 100 people in the room for the talks, but we have 300 spaces for parking outside and your ticket will also include access to the museum. It should be a large meet and, for anyone interested, we can then have a drive to Boxengasse for the Club Summer Solstice event in the evening. Grant Larson was a great speaker. He's a very nice guy all round and has such enthusiasm for the 997 [and the 986 Boxster!). Until I spoke to him, I didn't know that the 997 was the last vehicle presented to the Porsche board in the traditional style of being drawn full-scale on paper mounted on a wall. With only a 20-minute slot to draw and present this, they had a practice run to make sure it was possible. Apparently, the design team all signed this practice drawing and it was later auctioned off for charity. So, somewhere out there, it may still exist! Obviously,they got the okay to go ahead or I would not be
writing this. What a great 20 minutes that must have been!
A couple of months ago, I wrote about the Targa model and I had a lovely email from Dean Winter who sent me a picture of his. If you have a story about your 997 or just a great picture, please email me.
PANAMERA RegisterSecretary
Randall Flack 07533 724848
panamera@porscheclubgb.com
The Club is hosting a superb range of National and Regional events this year. Refer to the events page of the Club website for details. That said, there is nothing quite like a Panamera Register get-together, so here are some highlights from our very own events programme for 2025.
For details and dates, go to our events page by scanning the QR code here or just get in touch.
RAFWADDINGTON
We will be joined by our friends from the Macan Register to visit the home of the heroic Dambuster squadrons. A thought-provoking day at an operational RAF airbase.
PANAMERASATTHEPEG
Attain new skills, polish up existing ones or just enjoy an exhilarating experience with a superb day out at Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone.
NORTHERNIRELANOTOUR
We begin our tour in Dublin (a city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub), spend a few days in the spectacular Fermanagh Lakelands, explore the wild and rugged scenery of Co Donegal, drive one of the world's greatest driving
roads on the Causeway Coastal Route and conclude our tour with our fellow Northern Ireland Porsche enthusiasts at the largest classic car event in Northern Ireland, the Stormont Classic Car Show.
THREEPEAKS/THREEPANAMERAS
A challenging fundraising event starting at Ben Nevis and finishing at Yr Wyddfa [Snowdon] via Scafell Pike, 24 hours later. Total walking distance: 23 miles. Total ascent: 3,064 metres (10,052ft). Total driving distance: 470 miles. Get involved as a challenger, driver or supporter.
NORTHWESTSCOTLANDTOUR
A tour embracing some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the UK. Knowing the area well, having staggered up 167 Monros and counting, this is my personal take on the NC500.
CAYMAN
RegisterSecretary
John Dickinson 07990 01 0368 cayman@porscheclubgb.com
Greetings from a still cold, grey and damp Yorkshire! As I have received a number of queries about replacement exhausts and fixing the actuators/valves in the PSE systems, I thought I would share Marc Carter's story.
"My PSE exhaust valves had seized and, unfortunately, my heavy-handed approach one day broke the valve," Marc writes. "The PSE system does sound great on these cars and, as the car is a daily driver, it seemed like the best option. However, I asked around for options on exhausts
Whoneedsawarm,dryworkshopinJanuary?
and the usual Fabspeed, Top Gear and Soul were always recommended, but I liked the idea of something different, so I opted for the titanium system from Ninemeister in Warrington.
"I ordered the system before Christmas and it arrived a week or so later. I took my chances after an early finish from work that day and decided to give it a go, knowing full well what nightmares an exhaust change can bring. As it happens, I only had to deploy the angle grinder for the removal of the clamps that supported the existing exhaust and I had spare Mikalor clamps in my garage that fit perfectly.
"As for the sound, the new exhaust sounds like an open PSE system (maybe a little louder] with the valves closed. With the valves open, it is insane! I can turn it from 'slightly aggressive but socially acceptable' to 'hooligan' at the push of a button!"
A great result, Marc, but installing it on the driveway in January? That's heroic.
Finally,keep a lookout for a Cayman presence at all the main events this year. The Donington Historic meeting is the first big one. We will be there.
Youstillendupwithaneatandtidyinstallation 991
RegisterSecretary
Neil Bravery 07730 050354 991@porscheclubgb.com
MACAN
RegisterSecretary
Mike Allen 07976 697070 macan@porscheclubgb.com
JANUARYVISITTOTOPAZ,LEEDS
As we continue to forge co-operation with our friends in the Panamera Register, several members took up the invitation to join a visit to Topaz in Leeds on one of the calmer weekends in January. For those who wished to make a weekend of it, Panamera RS Randall Flack added a last-minute 1 90-mile circular tour of the Yorkshire Dales on the Saturday, taking in sights including the Tan Hill Inn and nearby Buttertubs Pass where the snow hadn't completely cleared from the road closures of a week or so before. A welcome late lunch at Wensleydale
Randall and his new Panamera Turbo S hybrid
Creamery in Hawes followed before a return to our overnight hotel.
On Sunday, after coffee, we received a warm welcome from Swara Sawirs, the business manager at Topaz, who introduced the programme of practical demonstrations arranged for our morning visit. This included how to correctly wash a car and prepare it for the application of paint protection film [PPF] and ceramic coating, which provide a superb, durable
resistance to environmental harms and the best swirl-mark resistance while giving extreme levels of gloss finish.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of Randall Flack's new, top-ofthe-range Panamera Turbo S hybrid which had been given the full Topaz treatment. The morning concluded with lunch at Capri at the Containers -an Italian restaurant housed in a stack of skilfully converted shipping containers.
MONTHLYZOOMSESSIONS
These continue on Tuesdays 15 April, 1 3 May and 17 June.
This will incorporate a visit to Blists Hill Victorian town and RAF Cosford Museum before rounding off the day with an optional dinner.
11JUNEVisittoGreatWestern AirAmbulance
We plan to meet for coffee at Eynsham near Oxford and take a scenic crosscountry drive to the base at Almondsbury near Chipping Sadbury.
Please email me for more details and to book your places.
992
RegisterSecretary
David Wood
992@porscheclubgb.com
AssistantRegisterSecretaries
Tim Rice and Jonathan Brown
All 992 owners with their car details registered on the Club website's 'My Profile' section should have received the March 992 Register newsletter, which includes details of several unique 992 and Club National events.
Your 992 Register Secretaries have tried to create runs, meets and meals at nationwide venues to provide an opportunity for everyone to join at least two events in their locality.
....[!] Event details, booking ::"l':=lfli~1L''forms and any costs are on the 992 Events ;,:,.;e:,cr-,r,r~~page.Use the accompanying QR code for easy access.
HINTSANDTIPSFDRNEW992OWNERS
Keep a lithium safe jump starter or cables in the cabin, tucked behind the back seat. It's useless in the frunk because you must charge the fuse panel to open it, so familiarise yourself on the process:
a) Use the metal key inside your key fob to manually unlock the door (the key cylinder is under the extended door handle on the driver's side).
b) The positive lead for the jump is extended out from the fuse panel.
c) The negative lead is not the door hinge, but rather the metal door latch on the body of the car where the strike plate is at the rear of the door opening by the seat.
If you have Sport Chrono package, you can create an individual mode that turns the auto-stop off e.g. normal shift, sport exhaust, sport suspension control wheel. If you don't have Sport Chrono, you can programme the 'Diamond' button on the steering wheel to cut off the auto stop function.
Don't leave back seats in the down position too long or with weight on them: they take on indentations from the bottom seat and armrest stitching.
Adjusting your tyre pressures to 'comfort' pressure (you must also change this setting in PCM] makes a huge difference in overall comfort, especially when driving over potholes.
A firm press of the brake pedal gives you auto brake hold. The green 'hold' light will come on and will release as soon as you give any throttle.
For more 992 Register information, see the 992 Forum or 992 Facebook Group and ensure you've listed your car in 'My Profile'.
Happy driving,
David Tim and Jonathan
TAVCAN
RegisterSecretary
Paul Tomlinson
07770 681345
taycan@porscheclubgb.com
Hi Taycan members. Last month, I had a letter from a concerned Register member who has received Taycan recall letters ARB6 and WRSO regarding battery condition and possible fire risk.
Personally, I have only received ARB6, which asks you to ensure that privacy mode is switched off to enable Porsche to monitor the battery state over the air. The car will be recalled in early 2025 for further checks if needed.
I am sure other members would be interested to hear about your experience or concerns and how you are dealing with this. Please start a conversation on our private Facebook group or WhatsApp group to open discussions. Alternatively, email me with your story so it can be shared.
I'm in my third year of ownership and still enjoy the drive at every opportunity I get. ----..i.r::-1~Despite all the current negative comments
about EV ownership, our Taycan Register continues to grow. Again, please share your stories on Facebook or WhatsApp. I am in the process of organising a couple of Taycan events, one of which will include finishing at the Club Summer Solstice at Boxengasse on 21 June. Try to keep the day free if you can.
Porsche 928 S4 GT 1992, Full cream leather interior. Complete with front and rear seats and door cards. Complete carpet set [good condition) Opportunity to acquire a very rare interior. £3,000
Please contact: 07467 742977
Other Porsche 928 driver manuals available: 1958, 86 and S4 1987 onwards.
Porsche 928 S/S2 1986
7 x 16 set of four alloy wheels in good condition -£800 Plus a pair of S2 front wings in good condition -£800
Please Contact 07467 742977
Other Porsche 928 driver manuals available: 1958, 86 and S4 1987 onwards.
Other Porsche 928 driver manuals available: 1958, 86 and S4 1987 onwards.
Porsche 928 S
Drivers Manual, Maintainers record, 1982 edition, 1st issued 07 /1981, Used but good condition, £200
Please Contact: 07 467 7 42977
Other Porsche 928 driver manuals available: 1958, 86 and S4 1 987 onwards.
For Sale
Porsche Macan S -2019 H1 II [also fits the H1 Ill 2022 to 2024) -Genuine Porsche items from Dealership Exterior Cover NEW & still in sealed packaging Part No.95B0440001 £190 ovno [cost new £297)
Boot Liner -EXC cond £70 ovno (cost new £122)
All Weather mats 4 Piece again EXC Cond £60 ovno (cost new £143)
Or All three items £300 Call Rob on 07743 772785 or email rb666@btinternet.com
To place a free Porsche related member lineage advert of up to 30 words email: tradingpast@parschepast.ca.uk
THEWORLD'SLEADING TOUCHUPPAINT
Chipex'"
10%Porschediscount usingcode:POR10%
INDEPENDENTPORSCHESPECIALISTS
AVON
AdvancedCarCare
Un~ 3, Fairways Ind. Est. Filton, Bristol, BS34 7QS
DB70 765 5911 / 0117 944 1944
sales@advancedcarcare.co.uk
www.advancedcarcare.co.uk
A progressively high tech, fully equipped Porsche servicing facility based in Bristol. The professional personalised care for you and your car is what makes us so unique. We pride ourselves on our integrity, flexibility and understanding of each client's specific needs. Our friendly and professional staff believe that our best customer is an educated customer. We will take as much time as is necessary to explain what needs to be done to your 'pride and joy' and how we will go about doing this. No matter what your needs or desires, if it's quality main dealer standards you need, we do it here. We don't cut corners and we don't rush jobs. At Advanced Car Care we take the time to do it right, first time! Call us for a free estimate, or pop into our Bristol-based premises. Which trusted trader.
Our expertise is deeply rooted in Porsche, a brand we have dedicated ourselves to understanding inside and out. With over 20 years of experience in the motor trade, including 15 years focused specifically on Porsche, we are uniquely equipped to offer Porsche owners a seamless and convenient customer experience, providing main dealer-level servicing at a fraction of the cost. My extensive experience includes building some of the world's rarest and most iconic Porsche engines, giving me the knowledge and skills to handle any Porsche with confidence and precision, we also cover Herfordshire and Cambridgeshire
RSJ have been established since 1998 as a Porsche dealer and we are focused on the sales of used Porsche cars and the servicing and repair of used Porsche cars. As a Porsche dealer RSJ aims to be the next best alternative to a main dealer. We prepare our cars for sale to a main Porsche dealer standard. Our used Porsche cars have all cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment carried out to the same level as our staff did when they worked at a main Porsche dealer. Our aim is to make your life-long dream come true to buy that used Porsche 911 and have a good experience while owning it. Please call to come and view more than 25 used Porsches in our indoor 6,000 sq foot showroom.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
RPMTechnik
Un~s 6 & 7, Did Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Long Marston, Hertfordshire, HP23 4QR 01296 663824
info@rpmtechnik.co.uk www.rpmtechnik.co.uk
Located on the border of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire RPM has been maintaining both modern and classic Porsches since 2001. In addition to our specialist Porsche servicing, RPM also undertakes warranted car sales, project builds and restorations, engine and transmission rebuilds and track day/race support.
We are one of Cambridgeshire's largest specialist independents.We offer you the Porsche dealer level experience and brand knowledge for a fraction of the price from our Huntingdon facility. Dur Silver level tech 'Ady' offers you 25 years of experience across all the models, from classic styles to modern day performance. We offer all servicing and diagnostics, as well as all peripheral options for tyres; air conditioning; geometry etc. We are a friendly family run business, with a strong local reputation for trust and quality as our many 5star reviews will confirm.
At Ninemeister we take a considered & conscientious approach to servicing and maintaining your Porsche to the highest standard. Our depth of expertise covers all Porsche models and we enjoy looking after them all. Whether an older Boxster or Cayman, or your everyday Cayenne or Macan, or perhaps a cherished classic 911 that you have owned for decades, they all really matter to us and we believe that you can rely on Ninemeister to care for your car as if it were one of our own.
Tach9MotorsportLtd
Hale Garage, Hale Road, Liverpool, L24 5RB. 0151 4255 911 sales@tech9.ms www.tech-9.co.uk
Proud Members of PPN, the Porsche Partner Approved Network. We can access the latest technical information and diagnostics. Our Service/Repair work can be logged on the Porsche Portal if required to enhance the service history of your vehicle. One of the largest and longest serving Porsche specialists in the North West. Our highly skilled, enthusiastic team would love to welcome new and existing clients to our facility close to Liverpool Airport. Engine and Gearbox rebuilding from 356, through all of the 911 variants air-cooled and water cooled including GT3. Motorsport experienced, multiple Championship and Series Outright Winners - complete vehicle builds and race/trackday preparation. Highly experienced with R/RS/RSR and GT models GT2, GT3 etc. UK distributor for German tuning brand TECHART Car Sales, Service and Restoration to Concours standards. Discount available to Porsche Club members on request. Location close to Liverpool Airport.
We're Porsche owners first, business people second and focus on delighting our customers. We are members of the Porsche Partner Network and the Retail Motor Industry Federation as well as being a Mobil Service Centre. Kettle's on, come and talk to us about your needs, as we are Serious About Porsche.
Club members and owner/drivers with over 40 years combined experience in car repairs. Accident repair centre -all aspects of body repair undertaken irrespective of vehicle and guaranteed fair pricing We can offer vehicle inspections and free estimates. Modern, fully equipped and insured premises.
PPN Porsche Partner Network allows us direct tee link to Stuttgart and ability to service the very latest Porsche along with the oldest classics and everything in between. We sell, buy, consign, service, restore, bespoke, modify, comp prep and accident repair all Porsche with care and flexibility. 911-356-Cayenne. Welcome to Williams Crawford Passion for Porsche.
South West specialist dedicated to Porsche owners. MOT testing station. All Porsches welcome. Diagnostics, service/repair, AC, geometry, restoration, bodyvvork.
RogerBrayRestoration
Milestone Business Park, London Road, Whimple, Exeter, Devon EX5 2 QB 01404 822005 parts@rogerbrayrestoration.com www.rogerbrayrestoration.com
Established in 1986 Roger Bray Restorations is a small business with a big reputation. Specialising in supplying parts and the restoration of classic Porsche's 356,911,912, & 914. We are dedicated to keeping these unique cars on the road and our customers as our friends.
Independent purely Porsche specialists, factorytrained technicians from 1987 to present. Porsche diagnostic equipment for all your Porsche needs, from fixed-price servicing to full rebuilds, with free loan cars. Collection and delivery service available.
PPN Porsche Partner Network allows us direct tee link to Stuttgart and ability to service the very latest Porsche along with the oldest classics and everything in between. We sell, buy, consign, service, restore, bespoke, modify, comp prep and accident repair all Porsche with care and flexibility. 911-356-Cayenne. Welcome to Williams Crawford Passion for Porsche.
A professional team of enthusiasts to help look after your Porsche, 26 years Main dealer experience, Porsche Open Championship Winner, all aspects of Porsche road and race cars catered for, excellent facilities, used Porsche sales, a real personal service.
At JMG we are dedicated to helping you get the best experience from your Porsche. We service, diagnose, repair and improve Porsche vehicles in our south of England workshops.
We are an experienced, enthusiastic team offering servicing, repairs, restoration, engine rebuilds, Porsche diagnostics and computerised full wheel alignment for all Porsche models from 1950 to 2010.
ADH Porsche has a highly trained and skilled team with many years working experience with Porsche. Our services include general inspections, fixed price services, full engine and gearbox rebuilds, brake and clutch replacements, detailing/ceramic coatings and any general maintenance required. We also offer the added bonus of detailing services which will ensure your vehicle leaves our workshop showroom ready. Our highly skilled team are passionate about all things Porsche and our friendly, approachable team are ready to help answer your every need.
With over 40 years combined experience of working on the Porsche brand we offer all aspect of servicing and repairs to all Porsche models. Our list of services include: Fixed price servicing, engine rebuilds (water and air cooled], IMS upgrades, restoration work, wheel alignment and track day set up, diagnostic work along with clutch, brake and suspension work.
Brookspeed is an independent Porsche specialist based near the M3 between Southampton and Winchester. With 20 years' experience of racing and servicing Porsche models, Brookspeed are able to offer a 'one stop shop' for Maintenance, Servicing, Tyres, MOT, Diagnostics and Coach Trimming. Whatever your Porsche problem contact our friendly team at Brookspeed and we will do everything we can to help.
With excellent transport links from London and the M25, JZM is well positioned to service customers throughout London and the Home Counties. We boost over 40 years' experience in Porsche servicing and house a state of the art 80 car showroom and 100 car storage facility. Our factory trained technicians, coupled with the latest Porsche technologies and diagnostic equipment can meet all your Porsche needs in servicing, tuning on or off the track.
RPMTachnik
Units 6 & 7, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Long Marston, Hertfordshire, HP23 4QR 01296 663824 info@rpmtechnik.co.uk www.rpmtechnik.co.uk
Located on the border of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire RPM has been maintaining both modern and classic Porsches
since 2001. In addition to our specialist Porsche servicing, RPM also undertakes warranted car sales, project builds and restorations, engine and transmission rebuilds and track day/race support.
LANCASHIRE
CavendiahPorsche
Units 6 & 7, Gainsborough Close Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 1 PX 0115 972 2001 enquires@cavendishporsche.co.uk
Founded in 1991 by Chris Sanderson. One of the North West's leading independent Porsche Specialists. With over 35 years experience we specialise in repairs, servicing and parts for all models of Porsche.
Established in January 2018. Former Porsche technicians Nathan & Carl have a wealth of experience and an eye for detail. Offering affordable maintenance and repairs combined with real world honest advice.
London's premier Porsche specialist since 1970. Charles Ivey (Specialist Cars] Limited has been selling and servicing Porsches in London since 1970 and we have been at our present site for the past 35 years. We have a team of dedicated people who are committed to maintaining the very high standards that have, over the years, made us London's leading Porsche specialist. XavierAutoClinic
Xavier Auto Clinic is an independent Porsche specialist based in West London that can offer a full range of service on all Porsche models. Established in 2002, 5-star Good Garage Scheme member. Air-conditioning service and repair. Manufacturer-scheduled service keeping manufacturer warranty intact under block exemption. Customised servicing for three-plus years. Vehicle diagnostics and engine rebuilds.
986/996/997 and Cayman engine repair/ rebuild specialist addressing failed IMS bearings, scored bores, "D" chunk failures, etc. We carry out engine work for many of the UK's leading specialists and worldwide. Porsche servicing,
repairs and maintenance, sales, re-manufactured spares, monthly paid "Lifetime Maintenance Plan" (free labour and services).
MERSEYSIDE
Tech9MotorsportLtd
Hale Garage, Hale Road, Liverpool, L24 5RB. 0151 4255 911 sales@tech9.ms www.tech-9.co.uk
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
CavendishPorsche
Units 6 & 7, Gainsborough Close, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 1 PX 0115 972 2001 enquires@cavendishporsche.co.uk
We are a Porsche Specialist based in Long Eaton, Nottingham. Our Technicians have over 21 years of Porsche main dealer experience and 7 years independent experience, so we are more than confident that our standard of work is of the highest standard. From servicing to full engine rebuilds, your beloved Porsche is in very safe hands. We use the very latest PIWIS official Porsche diagnostic systems and can offer you the same workshop facilities that you would find at any official Porsche Centre, but at independent prices. We hope to see you in the near future.
Establish in 1973, Autofarm is one of the longest standing independent Porsche specialists in the UK. Globally known for our meticulous project build and preservation processes, our Oxfordshirebased workshop, also provides a full range of other services to maintain and enhance your air and water-cooled Porsches. The passion for quality runs throughout the business, so whether you're looking for general servicing, engine and gearbox maintenance, bodywork and paint repairs, storage solutions or a bespoke build, Autofarm have the expertise. Come visit, chat to our team and be part of the Autofarm family.
Hillcrest Specialist Cars is a leading independent Porsche specialist based in Henley-on-Thames.We offer a highly professional service at competitive prices. We pride ourselves on our high quality and standard of service.
WrightunaLtd
The Croft, Whitely Road, Hithercroft Ind. Estate, Wallingford, Oxon, DX1 D 9RG 01491 826911 info@wrightune.co.uk www.wrightune.co.uk
Wrightune was founded by Tony Wright, well known and respected in the Porsche world. 35+ years of continuous experience with Porsche cars results in a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
SHROPSHIRE
cmsporsche.co.uk
Telford, Shropshire 01952 608 911 / 07831 711609
Est. 1997 Independent Porsche specialists for repairs, service, spares, salvage projects and sales.
Established more than a decade ago, PIE Performance is a family owned and run independent Porsche specialist based in the heart of Suffolk. We have the latest Porsche Diagnostic System and cater for all models from Air Cooled to modern front engine Cayenne. We have a separate Engine Division and Restoration Team on hand to undertake all manor of tasks.
ReasonPorsche
Unit 16-17, Stone Street, Crowfield, Ipswich IP6 9SZ 01473 845007 service@reasonporsche.com www.reasonporsche.com
All servicing carried out by Porsche factory trained technicians using the latest PWIS factory diagnostic equipment, using recommended Porsche parts & Mobil1 Oil. Collection & delivery available. Loan car facility when available on booking.
SURREY
CridfordsPorsche
The Street, Ewhurst, Surrey, GU67QY 01483 273302 porsche@cridfords.co.uk www.cridfords.co.uk
Established for over 30 years, we are one of the country's longest established Porsche specialists. Our service department are equipped with the very latest official Porsche PIWIS Ill diagnostics and Porsche spec Hunter 4 wheel alignment system. We offer a full engine repair and rebuild service, classic restoration, as well as all service work for current through to classics models. Collection and loan cars available.
Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN20 SHY 01825 830424 (open 7 days) info@paragon.gb.com www.paragongb.com
Located in the heart of East Sussex, we offer an outstanding selection of high-quality and expertly prepared used Porsches for sale. Our in-house workshops and parts department are fully equipped and offer a vast depth of knowledge and enthusiasm that enables us to provide complete long-term care for your modern or classic Porsche.
We specialise in Porsche maintenance and bodywork repairs -from regular care through to full restorations. We have new dedicated workshops all on one site including the latest Porsche diagnostic equipment and body shop services. Our premises are light, spacious and customer friendly located in Mid Sussex.
WESTMIDLANDS
Zuffanhaus
Unit 1, Sandpits Industrial Estate, Houndsfield Lane, Wythall. B47 5QR
Contact Mike or Paul Chare 01564 823144 / 07872 041911 info@zhporsche.co.uk www.zhporsche.co.uk
Located just off the M42/M40 our centrally based Porsche Specialists can take care of all Porsche models. We have a fully equipped workshop with trained staff ready to meet your needs offering a complete service and maintenance program.
GCSEngineeringLtd
Unit A, Monks Gate Garage, Brighton Road, Monks Gate, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 01403 891911
We offer a complete range of services or all Porsches including engine and gearbox rebuilds and upgrades. Servicing, race and rally prep including four-wheel alignment and corner weighting, suspension upgrades, rolling road service. We also have an in-house machine shop to make those hard-to-get parts.
With over 40 years experience Parr is the leading Porsche specialist in the UK, covering all areas of Porsche maintenance, preparation, tuning (Cargraphic & Techart UK Importer], motorsport and sales. Whether it is a routine service or part through to a full restoration or engine build, Parr has the skills, experience and facilities to deliver the highest levels of customer care and service. To find out the full range of services, and to explore what Parr can offer you, please visit our website.
PhilipRabyPorsche aaleaand
ClovellyRoad, Southbourne, West Sussex P010 SPF.
Contact Philip Raby,Andrew Windsor 01243 780389 mail@philipraby.co.uk www.philipraby.co.uk
Friendly and affordable help on buying, selling and running Porsches. We sell top-quality Porsches at sensible prices with great aftersales service. We also offer full service, repair and restoration services for all Porsches, classic and modern. Visit our website for more details or please ring for an appointment. We'll be happy to chat with you.
HeritagePartsCentre
Discount: 10% on Porsche/ WJ/ Land Rover Parts Claim: Log in and use code PCGB10 at checkout to receive discount at HeritagePartsCentre.com
We are a Porsche Specialist in Wiltshire, right on the border of the Cotswold's with easy access off the M4 and A419. With 13 years experience in the trade and the majority within the Porsche Network at senior level. We are delighted to put our passion knowledge and experience for Porsche into your pride and joy. We have the latest Porsche main dealer diagnostic systems and carry out all servicing, repair and diagnostics.
WORCESTERSHIRE
PeterChambersAutomotiveLtd
Unit 5, 4,200 Oakfield Close, Tewkesbury Business Park, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 SPF
Publicationsteam George Woodward, Paul Grainger and Richard Rees
Archives Peter Cook Letters letters@porscheclubgb.com
Disclaimer
Directors of the board of Porsche Club Great Britain, Club staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith, and is based upon the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.
PorscheClub GreatBritain JOINUSONLINE
porscheclubgb
Neither Porsche Club Great Britain nor any of the aforementioned shall be under any liability in respect of such information, advice and assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.
Importedvehicles
Porsche cars imported outside the official Porsche Centre network, with a non-C16 specification, may have a lower resale value in the United Kingdom, and may also exhibit performance issues.
Performancemodifications
Members are advised that any modification or the fitting of any non-Porsche accessory may invalidate their warranty.
Editorialcontributions
Contributions to Porsche Post are always welcomed but, to avoid possible duplication, it is essential that subject matter is discussed with the editor (editor@porsche clubgb.com) beforehand.
porscheclubgb
Please send a brief outline of your idea to the above email address first. It is also essential that all images are copyright-cleared. Although every care will be taken with members' documents and pictures, we cannot be held responsible for damage to, or loss of, any material. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of any information within Porsche Post, neither Porsche Club Great Britain nor Think Publishing Ltd can assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. Published articles do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, other contributors or the publishers, or Porsche Club Great Britain policy.
Advertisers are reminded that the Porsche script and crest are protected trademarks. Their use in editorial and advertising requires permission from Porsche Cars GB Ltd. If the Club has reason to believe that any items for publication contravene these guidelines, copy will be returned. The advertiser remains liable for space booked.
RegionsandRegisterscopydeadlines:
Please remember that all contributions must be submitted before the published copy dates shown above.
This magazine comes in uncoated paper wrap packaging which can be recycled.
IIIIMEMORY(PIT)LANE
ColinGoodwin remembers going out for a drive with JUrgenBarth.Well,some of it...
JURGENBARTHremoved the fag from his mouth, dropped it onto Donington's pit lane and ground it out with his loafer. "Let us do this," he said, and we both clambered into the yellow 964 RS 3.8.
It was 1993 and I was a junior journalist at CAR Magazine. The more experienced writers like Richard Bremner and Paul Horrell would be sent on the exotic launches, but I would be given more day-to-day tasks. Still enormous fun, of course. Sometimes, editor Gavin Green would hand me an invitation to an event (a letter -no email, back then) without having read it properly himself.
This day at Donington was such an occasion and Porsche had brought two cars along for journalists to drive. One was the 964 RS 3.8; bright yellow and one of only 55 ever made. The other car that we were to drive that day was even rarer: the 968 Turbo S, of which only 14 were sold. I doubt
"HISFACIALEXPRESSION
my older colleagues ever drove two such rare cars in one day.
MASTERATWORK
It's not the cars that I remember so clearly, but Barth's talent. I'd been driven by a few Fl and rally drivers before, but not by anyone with such mastery over a particular car. The son of hillclimb legend and Porsche Fl driver Edgar Barth, he had literally grown up with the 911 and what that meant became obvious as we were halfway through the Craner Curves. His facial expression and body language were that of someone driving around the corner to buy a newspaper, but we were in a dramatic drift. Oh, I forgot to mention -it was wet. Barth was showing off, of course, entertaining me. Up to Coppice, he got on the throttle hard, the tail would slide out and he would simultaneously let the steering wheel slip through his hands. The coordination required to catch hold of the wheel at the right moment and also get back on the gas to pitch the weight back to the rear wheels so they regained grip would be way beyond most drivers' skills. Certainly, if I'd have tried that when it was my turn to drive the car, the 964 RS 3.8 population would have been down to 54. I can't remember how many laps we did. Probably about four.
I don't remember anything about driving the car myself, but I remember Barth's open face helmet that looked a bit cheap and better suited to riding a Vespa on Rome's streets. I remember the loafers, his jeans, smart shirt and jacket.
GAPSANOLAPS
Barth only drove me in the 911 and I can't remember if anyone took me round in the 968 Turbo S before I drove it myself. Strangely, I remember that car better than the RS 3.8, possibly because it was less intimidating in those slippery conditions. It had an enormous amount of torque, which was more noticeable than the extra 67bhp it had over the naturally aspirated 968, and it was such a beautifully balanced car. Some motoring journalists can remember every technical detail of cars that they drove decades ago. I'm not one of them. For me, it is the people who stick firmly in the memory. For example, I couldn't tell you how much power the RS 3.8 has without looking it up, but I can remember talking to Max Welti, the Swiss director of Porsche Motorsport, who was also at Donington that day. I can remember what he was wearing too, but you'll be wondering if I shouldn't be writing for GQ instead of car magazines, so I'll keep quiet. PP
ULTIMATE PLUS™ FUSION PLUS™
CERAMIC COATING
PAINT PROTECTION FILM
XPEL UK Installation Centre is the corporate installation facility for the XPEL brand. We are a dedicated team providing the highest level of installations, using XPEL-quality products for your car. Whether you want to protect your vehicle with paint protection film (PPF) or ceramic coatings, XPEL is here to help.
