PORSCHE CLUB OF VICTORIA
NEWSLETTER NO. 2
NOVEMBER, 1975
Secretary President Editor/Vice President
Mr. Garnet Luckins, Mr. Michael StilIwell, Mr. Kerry Reynolds, P.O. Box 222, 13 Sf. Johns Parade, 1116 Burke Road, KEW, Vic. 3101 KEW, Vic. 3101 NORTH BALWYN, 3104
Phone : 92 0198 (A/H)
Coming Events
Phone 86 9123 (Bus.)
Phone :85 3477 (A/H)
25.11.1975 Porsche Club of Victoria General Meeting at L.C.C.A. 46 Queens Road, Melbourne.
14.12.1975 M.G. Car Club Annual Concours - Berwick
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
It is very gratifying to be involved in and lead a group of people who from the basic ingredients can initiate an organisation that has grown very successfully and quickly.
When Kerry Reynolds and myself started out with organ ising a Steering Committee for this club, we thought that fifty members was an optimistic number to be aiming for in the first few months.
With the enthusiastic support we have had from all concerned we are well on the way to one hundied financial members, and I know that all involved on the Steering Committee are deeply satisfied with the results of their efforts.
My personal thanks go to all of them for the excellent work they have done.
I hope those of you who have been attending our functions have found them enjoyable. Your support has been fantastic and I don't think we will ever be looking back. Should any one have any ideas for activities or other suggestions, please mention them to a Committee member. We are always happy to listen and discuss.
Remember, it is your club and your continued support will guarantee its success.
Bathurst 1975
The Bathurst 1000 has been and gone for another year and in between Porsche Club events the Stillwell team found time to compete in this annual classic. Amongst comments from my own co-driver Geoff Brabham and another notable Sydney single seater driver that this event is nothing more than a big yearly social occasion mixed with racing in simple toy cars, the truth of the matter is that 1000k's is a damned long way to go for both man and machine and the whole thing is a very serious business.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Bathurst 1975
Our run was one of continuing bad luck that has followed us through this years manufacturers series. While disputing 3rd place in the class during the early stages with Tim Shenken in his ill-fated Alfa Romeo, we had a wheel break going through McPhillamy (flat out in top by the way, which is quite exhilarating on its own).
Other highlights included a flat rear lyre and then a broken axle which altogether put us about 25 minutes behind the running. Still, we were happy with 5th in class and 14th outright out of 23 finishers.
In retrospect I think it is the greatest race in Australia every year and I would be back there tomorrow if it was on again.
Personally, I found it vey tiring. I must admit I had done very little gym work in preparation compared with last year and I certainly paid for it in the following few days. I was really pooped! But, it was worthwhile, I enjoy driving quickly over long distances and this was the place to do it. Nothing quite beats the feeling of driving round that mountain full chat.
GENERAL MEETING, 25.11.1975
Our Club Meeting will again be held at the Light Car Club rooms on Tuesday, 25th November at 8.30 p.m.
This promises to be an interesting night with a variety of subjects on the agenda.
Alan Hamilton is coming to speak about his recent visit to the Porsche factory, new models and his competition plans for 1976. Trophies will be presented to our successful competitors at Sandown and a most interesting Porsche Factory film willbe screened. It is also proposed to submit our Constitution for approval of the members, so that our identity as a Club and with C.A.M.S. is determined.
Some members have expressed interest in the Porsche magazine ChristophorusIL and the Committee has decided to raffle one years air-mail subscription - tickets will be sold and the raffle drawn at the meeting.
M.G. CONCOURS - BERWICK, 14.12.1975
Our members are invited to participate in the Concours D'Elegance being organised by the M.G. Car Club with trophies and prizes donated by Re-Po Car Polishes. The event is in aid of the Quadraplegics and Paraplegics Association of Victoria.
The Venue is AKOONA PARK, Princes Highway, Berwick and cars must be available at 10.30 a.m. Entry fee is $2.00 per car.
The park has ample space and good facilities and is suitable for a family picnic day.
Participating cars must be on show from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Judges will select a winner in each class and then these cars will participate in the inter-club competition. Club trophies will also be presented.
Fifty-six clubs will be involved, so there will be a wide range of vehicles on view.
The classes into which Porsche cars may fall are as follows :-
4. Modern Sports Car 5. Modern Sports Car 13. Most desirable car 14. Best restored/prepared car.
Please return the coupon below to -
The Secretary, Porsche Club of Victoria, P.O. Box 222, KEW, Vic. 3101
Pre 1957
Post 1957
(Public vote on the day)
Advice of Intention to Enter
1976 ATTRACTIONS
Hamiltons of South Yarra
We have been invited to their new premises for a special display and social get-togeiher, guaranteed to excite the interest of every member of our Club. This is really going to be a unique occasion, but for further details you will have to await a later publication. A date is yet to be fixed, but it will be during the first quarter of 1976.
Colder Raceway
It is apparent from the comments of members, that we have a large number of enthusiastic owners interested in exploring further the capabilily of their cars. Under today's road and traffic conditions, it is rather difficult to use our cars to anything like their full capacity and even given the opportunity most of us would, or at least should, find our own limit before that of the Porsche.
With these points in mind the Committee is currently looking at the possibility of having an education/familiarization and competition day at Colder. Again, further details will be advised in our next newsletter.
Autocrosse
Also ona competition note, we are planning to hold an autocrosse, which is a test of driving skill through flags and natural hazards, on a dirt surface. This is an excellent method of learning car control at relatively slow speeds, without fear of damage to car or driver. We are currently exploring venues, having in mind that most of us are particular about the type of surface we like to drive our cars over, and for this reason we intend to select only an area which complies with our critical specifications. More Iater
PORSCHE ON PARADE
Lilydale Airfield
Our Reporter - Bill Gray
It would've made old Ferdy's heart swell with pride......forty-seven of his superb creations lined up and upstaging five flimsy Cessnas at the Lilydale airfield.
Not even two swank Ferraris and Melbourne's bitchy weather could sway the attention focussed on the 356s and 91 is out to make the opening event for Victoria's latest car club a fruly memorable spectacle.
PORSCHE ON PARADE
Lilydale Airfield Our Reporter - Bill GrOy
cont'd.
The cameras clicked, the steak sizzled, the champers popped and the hastily erected tents sagged under the wind and rain, but everyone was jolly, their spirits soaked but not dampened.
A sign of good times to come!
Certainly the social day was extra lucrative for some - Porsche decals and keyrings went to the prizewinners.
Flanked by the cars and straddling large mudpuddtes the owners learnt some home truths about their cars as the awards were announced and made.
Max Errington was chosen for being particular enough to strap a Burlei to his 911, while John Edwards and his lady won the courage prize for braving the elements in their clothtop speedster.
On opposite ends of the dipstick in the winners circle were Ian Robinson for having the most used 911 and anonymous for having the least used 911, registered BD 900.
Similarly, Ross McKinnon was up there for displaying the best restored early model while Michael Ryan made it with the best semi-restored 356.
Greg O'Keefe won a keyring, this for the Oldest Porsche in a line-up representing most models since 1957.
Kevin Taylor was honoured for risking arrest to be there in an unregistered 911, sporting an English number plate - LRK-26K.
And then it became obvious that the organisers' goodwill exceeded the most rational reasons for providing prizes, because the remaining awards went to the best ski rack and the best bootload. Graeme Stephens was the former and Tony Kelly and family the latter, with a dissembled prambulator in occupancy.
But, of course, a rewarding day was had by all, as ten dozen empty Champagne bottles testify. Five gallons of orange luice also disappeared rather quickly, the drivers having to drink something!
Everyone there would undoubtedly agree that the stage has been set for some big things to come.
CUP DAY AT SAN DOWN
Approximately one hundred competitors braved the worst possible weather at the Light Car Club's Annual Cup Day Meeting at Sandown. Among the entrants were ten Porsche owners who carried the flag of our newly formed club in a most spectacular manner.
One will see from the resultsbelow that in each of the three events held, Porsches were awarded two outright first places, one second and one third. As this was the first competitive event attended by the Club we feel that this was a particularly good start in Club competition. Driving conditions could not have been worse with the track often a torrent of water, however to some extent this helped our cars with their superb roadholding and traction qualities.
We are grateful to the Light Car Club for the invitation to compete and for a most enjoyable day.
Outright Placings
Circuit Scratch Race
1st M. McGinley
Honda Civic 2nd M. Jackman Imp Special 3rd L. Coggett Torana
Circuit Handicap Race - No. 1
1st R. James
Porsche 356B
2nd D. O'Hara Morris Cooper S 3rd G. Woods
Peugeot 403
Circuit Handicap Race - No. 2
1st R. James Porsche 356B
2nd D. O'Hara Morris Cooper S 3rd G. Woods Peugeot 403
PORSCHE CLUB OF VICTORIA
RESULTS Mile Sprint
Hill Climb
1.
1.
8.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
To those of you who have not paid your entry fee and subscription, we reluctantly advise that unless you do so by December, no further newsletters will be posted your way.
PORSCHE 917K
Probably the fastest car registered for road use anywhere in the world is a Porsche. It is the 917K owned by Count Gregorlo Rossi di Montelera, one of the partners of Martini & Rossi who have financed most of the Porsche racing programmes ince 1971. This car was raced originally by two of the greatest Porsche exponents, Gerard Larrousse and Helmut Marko. Its power output is 630BHP from a 5 litre, air cooled fIat 12 engine. It was a 917 Porsche that won at Le Mans in 1971.
WHAT A CHEEK t
Heard the other day of a motorist flagging down the police along the Tullamarine freeway and asked for assistance in finding his teeth. He said he was driving along eating chicken and tossing the bones out the window when he accidentally threw out his $200 false teeth embedded in a bone. As he was conducting his search from a wheelchair, the police decided not to book him, saying they felt he had enough troubles anyway.
1976 MODELS
Quite a number of detail changes have been made in the continuing development of the 911 Series. The new models are currently on display at Hamiltons and are certainly worth inspecting. There are now three models - the 911, Carrera and Turbo, with both the 911 and the Carrera being available in Targa form. Sportomatic transmission which is now a three speed unit is available at no extra cost on either the 911 or the Carrera. A breakthrough has been made by Porsche in the area of rustproofing body panels. This latest development is the use for nearly all body panels and load carrying parts of the chassis, of THYSSEN steel sheet, which is hot dip galvanised on both sides. Surely current model Porsches must be among the most thoroughly IL sorted and developed cars of all time.
ADVERTISING
Members are advised that these pages may be used to buy and sell items of Porsche equipment or even for that matter a Porsche itself. Advertisements may be posted to the editor.'
WANTED - MONEY!
As reported earlier by Bill Gray, our social day at Lilydale was a great success. However, in our efforts to keep people dry, attention was diverted from collecting the enfry fee from all of those present. As it was an expensive day to organise we would be grateful for $5.00 from any late subscribers. Please see Vin Jacono, the Treasurer, or any Committee Member. Porsche Distributors must have anticipated our loss and kindly donated the trophies.
FOR SALE
Four cast alloy 15" x 6" Porsche wheels. New on my car in 1974. Perfect condition. Any offers? Kerry Reynolds 85 3477
Wanted - Headlights, wheels, number-plate light, 6v radio or any of the foregoing to suit 356B Porsche. Also interested in any other parts you may have for sale. Garnet Luckins 92 0198
IMPRESSIONS OF MELBOURNE'S PORSCHE 914
Surpirse! Surprise! There, passing all the traffic in front of me came a flat, snubb looking car which I instantly recognised, from reading Road and Track magazine, as a Porsche 914.
Surprise indeed, as all the factory products are left-hand drive models and adaption to the Australian road would involve major changes. Investigation revealed that this car had been imported from Germany by Hamiltons and conversion had been carried out at the South Yarra workshop. The car was purchased in 1971 by Reg Jebb who is the proud owner today.
Designed at the Porsche factory and built in the V.W. Factory, the 914 first appeared on the American market in September 1969. The car bears a Porsche badge on the front of the bonnet and the word VW-Porsche in letters on the rear wall of the boot.
The most striking first impression is the position of the six cylinder motor behind the driver, but in front of the rear axles. Whilst it absorbs the very handy room of the two small folddown seats in the other models, it enables much more storage space since the car has a front and rear boot.
The cockpit, despite the absence of the rear seats, felt the same as a 911 with the instruments and dash-board being very similar in layout and showed no evidence of the conversion from left to right. However, once under way the engin. noise is immediately noticeable and took a little getting used to. The "Targcf' style lift - off roof is held in position by four neat and unprotrusive clips and once removed stores easily on a sepcial holder in the rear boot. "Excellent design", one must think when first inspecting this.
Without a doubt the sleek lines of the front are due to the concealed headlights. Each is driven by a windscreen-wiper type electric motor which roll the lights into position on first contact of the cabin switch.
After just a few miles of travel the firm and direct handling became very obvious. Style, compactness and drive are the reasons this sports car is so popular in the U.S.A.
Is the 914 a "true Porsche"? This is an interesting paradox to contemplate. With VW axles, brakes and suspension, yet a Porsche motor and insignia it might not be. But then the 356 models were all VW based in design. But then Dr. Porsche designed the VW. But then! But then ..... 1
Roger James