TIPEC All Torque 138

L AL E U Q R TO UARY 2020 N A /J 9 1 0 2 R ECEMBE ISSUE 138 D

UNIFIED PORSCHE II Our club and PCGB working together on a charity dash

ON TRACK AT BLYTON PARK The North West Region take on Blyton in the wet

ROAD TEST! Cheshire & Staffs members test Porsche’s 2019 model range

WWW.TIPEC.NET LIVE & BREATHE THE MARQUE

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JOIN US FOR THE CLASSIC’S Y R A S R E V I N N A H T 30

www.silverstoneclassic.com Our club’s exclusive Car Club Display Package code is:

2020CCD072

All Torque is published bi-monthly by TIPEC (The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club) Text & images are © their creators.

Front cover: Flatnose Turbo on the Cheshire & Staffs Region WotY in Scotland, photographed

by Chris Hulme.

Back cover: Porsches appearing over the hill on the old rally stage at Weston Park.

All Torque is based entirely on submissions from TIPEC members. This is your magazine!

Submissions for issue 139 (February/March) must be in before Friday 3rd January 2020.

ALL TORQUE 138 DEC 2019/JAN 2020 CHAIRMAN’S CHAT To carry on as we are we need to fill several vacancies:

Editor & designer: Tony Blow tony@typescape.com Flat 2, 2 Bowmont Terrace, Glasgow G12 9LP

Chairman To oversee the management of the Club

Printed by: The Lavenham Press Ltd, Suffolk (01787 247 436)

Communications Director To manage website and Facebook content

Advertising in All Torque is managed by: Sean Smallman, Walnut Tree Farm, Grain Road, Lower Stoke, Rochester ME3 9RE (07500 332 790) Website: www.tipec.net Twitter: @Porsche_TIPEC Search for us on Facebook TIPEC Chairman: Sean Smallman (07500 332 790) sean.smallman@tipec.net Treasurer: Paul Bird (01922 428 409) paulpsb928@yahoo.co.uk Advertising & sponsorhip: Sean Smallman (07500 332 790) sean.smallman@tipec.net Media Director: Paul Ffelan (07391 510 054) paul.ffelan@tipec.net Membership Director: Sue Simmons (07530 312 700) sue.simmons@tipec.net TIPEC Membership: Lavenham Group (01787 249 295) membership@tipec.lpl-uk.com TIPEC Valuations: valuations@tipec.net

All Torque & TIPEC are entirely independent of Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG, Porsche Cars GB Ltd and its dealers. All registered Trade Marks owned by Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG, including the word ‘Porsche’, the Porsche Crest and Porsche Script are acknowledged as such and are their property. Whilst all due care is taken in the production of All Torque; neither TIPEC, its officers or the editor can accept responsibility for the advice, information or opinions expressed herein. Opinions contained in any article published herein are of the author or editor and do not reflect the official position of TIPEC, its management or membership, unless clearly stated by a club official.

Website Manager To maintain the functionality of the website AFTER 15 YEARS in a variety of roles I have decided that I need to enjoy driving my cars and step back from managing the club.

I will bow out at the 2020 AGM, which will give us time to decide the future direction the club wants to take and how we manage it going for ward.

I have enjoyed my time with the club immensely, I have made some lifelong friends and am very proud of what we have achieved over the years.

The Club is currently run by a central committee with the primary purpose of maintaining a national presence which feeds members into the regions. This is a traditional set up for most national clubs, which is reliant on the committee members playing an active role. This has always been challenging and we are at a point where we either find the people to fill the vacancies or we devolve the central function and become regionally based under The Porsche Enthusiasts Club umbrella.

Events Manager To co-ordinate our presence at National Events Advertising Manager To sell advertising in All Torque and online If you are interested in any of the above roles please give me a call and we can discuss what is required.

On a lighter note I would like to thank the regional teams for all their support and I really enjoyed our get together in the Cotswolds. It is important to network and share ideas and I look forward to catching up at the AGM next year.

I wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.

Sean

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OUR MAIN ANNUAL EVENT:

SIMPLY PORSCHE 2020 BEAULIEU MOTOR MUSUEM, JUNE 7th (SUNDAY) JOIN US AT Beaulieu Motor Museum for the largest Porsche gathering in the UK. We have our own dedicated parking area amongst the tree lined avenues in the grounds of the estate.

Lots of attractions for all the family including the museum, manor house and gardens, monorail and trade stands.

SILVERSTONE CLASSIC JULY 31st–AUGUST 2nd 2020 We have an infield display at the largest classic motorsport festival in the world. Special Club discounted buy-one-get-one-free tickets with an infield pass are available.

The sooner you buy your tickets the more you will save with early bird discounts.

The Classic is celebrating 30 years, so expect packed grids with everything from 1950s single seaters to LMP1s. Live music on Friday and Saturday night makes the classic a must do event.

See the advert on the inside front cover for the discount code and how to book.

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DONINGTON HISTORIC MAY 1st–3rd 2020 (FRIDAY–SUNDAY) WE HAVE AN infield display at Donington Park, join us on our infield display for three days of historic motorsport.

Get up close to the cars in the p addoc k a nd so a k up the atmosphere at the f amous Derbyshire circuit. Discount code will be published in the next issue of the magazine.

CIRCUIT HISTORIQUE DE LAON MAY 29th–JUNE 1st 2020 THE LAON HISTORIQUE rally in northern France has proven popular with Porsche Enthusiasts Club members over the past few years and bookings are now open for the next event in 2020.

CLUB SHOP NEW SUPPLIER WE HAVE A new club regalia shop, run by Ewood Print Bar. After several conversations with UKCarclubs about the quality of both their products and service we made the decision to find a new supplier. Please do not order any more products from them.

Our new supplier is Ewood Print Bar. Our dedicated club store web page is www.yourclubmerch.co.uk/ product-category/clubs/tipec They offer all the usual regalia produc ts, including T-shir ts, hoodies, jackets and polo shirts.

These will be offered with your region and your choice of 911, front-engined, or Boxster logo.

If there is anything that you would like that you cannot see on the club page, please give them a call.

MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT CONTACTS THE CLUB HAS a professional membership management agent.

The contact details for any TIPEC membership renewals, changes of address, queries, etc. are detailed below. Please make sure you mention that you are contacting them about TIPEC, as they deal with multiple car clubs:

The annual celebration of classic cars includes a 100-mile road rally on the Saturday, a street display of cars on the Sunday, and attracts almost a thousand entries (plus many more visiting spectators).

Something for every petrolhead, and in a beautiful setting.

For details including a discount for all Porsche Enthusiasts Club members, contact Emma, James or Tom at Scenic & Continental Car Tours on 01732 879 153 and quote TIPEC-LAON or book online via www.my-holiday-booking.co.uk/ availability/check/index/i/13/t/ LAON-TIPEC

ALL TORQUE SUBMISSIONS

CLUB WEBSITE WWW.TIPEC.NET

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE magazine are always very welcome – All Torque is your magazine and we rely on your articles, reports and photographs to keep it full of varied, interesting, Porscherelated stuff.

YOU CAN USE the club website to register or renew your TIPEC membership, advertise cars and parts for free, view old issues of All Torque, and keep up with local or national events.

Anyone can contribute – we only ask that it is all your own work (both writing and photography).

Email tony@typescape.com

01787 249 295 membership@tipec.lpl-uk.com TIPEC Membership Arbons House, 47 Water Street, Lavenham CO10 9RN www.tipec.net Go to the membership renewals tab. Password: tipecmember

Sue Simmons of the Bristol, South West and South Wales region did this trip with Scenic & Continental Car Tours a few years ago and recommends it as a great weekend.

Sometimes there simply isn’t room for everything, so please bear with us if your piece hasn’t been printed in this issue – we’ll hold some over for the quieter months when less events are on.

At the top-left of the homepage, you will find a link to TIPEC’s online discussion forum. This is the place to trade banter with fellow club members on a day-to-day basis, ask questions and share knowledge with your fellow club members, up and down the UK (and worldwide!)

We really do appreciate the effort made by our club members and contributors, and value ever y individual submission.

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AUTHORS RICHARD SIMMONDS & CHRIS HULME PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB MEMBERS & WESTON PARK

DUNC’S TRIBUTE DAY AT WESTON PARK

MIDLANDS-ISH MEETING DUNCAN SCOBIE was introduced to the club by his good friend Peter Webster, who reached out to the us earlier in the year to help with a Porsche bucket list item for ‘Dunc’.

Arriving on the day in the infamous Ghost Outlaw’s Porsche, with a further 18 cars to ride, Dunc had a fantastic day out, starting from The British Iron Works Museum near Oswestry and taking in the glorious sweeping tarmac that’s on offer throughout North Wales.

28 club cars met up on a glorious sunny morning …

As a thank you to the club, Andrea and Peter Webster offered a day at Weston Park with a run around the old Group B Rally Stage.

28 club cars met up on a glorious sunny morning and we were able to run around the tarmaced part of the rally stage route – the rest of the stage had suffered at the previous weekend’s horse trials!

Many regions attended from all over the Midlands, Wales and Cheshire & Staffordshire and with the feedback and enjoyment of the day, it is hoped to make this an annual ‘Midlands-ish’ event going forward.

A fantastic range of great cars were in attendance from the air cooled beauties, an array of transaxles, through the 986 and 996 era and fully completed with Caymans and the latest evocations of 911.

Richard took some stunning drone footage which is available to view on the club Facebook pages. We anticipate being invited back to Weston Park – watch this space!

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THORNFALCON CLASSIC 2019 THE BRISTOL, South West and South Wales Region made its first appearance at the annual Thornfalcon Classic Car Meet held near Taunton in Somerset on Sunday 18th August. This event is organised by Steve Hill of Thornfalcon Classics and is free to enter. It is primarily a lunchtime event but some owners stay all day.

We all set off at 8:45am and arrived at the ground about 9am to be some of the first in position, an ideal situation, unlike this year at Sherborne Castle where there were huge queues. We were give an excellent pitch alongside some rather lovely Alfa Romeos and Mustangs.

Having been to the show before in previous years, but not with the club, it occurred to me that TIPEC should be represented.

Not long after the 2018 show we discussed the proposal at one of our club nights and because I live the closest to the showground I volunteered to organise our attendance. I contacted the organisers and arranged a pitch.

This show attracts cars of all makes, types and ages and is well supported locally and nationally, with some owners travelling long distances to attend. There are generally about 1,200 cars on display which is a great turnout both from individuals and the many car clubs.

Some of these clubs were: Alfa Romeo, Minis, Morgans, Mustangs, Cobra kit cars, and Saabs to name but a few.

Because it always best to arrive early at these shows to avoid the queues, we all met at 8am at a local Toby Carvery, a short distance from the showground, for a comfort break and some coffee and breakfast. Some members were travelling from Bristol and beyond so this was a welcome stop.

We had 11 cars in total, a good variety including three 928s (one previously owned by Nick Mason), several 911s, Cayman and Boxster, plus a Jaguar XKR which fitted in very well! We had planned for more but as with all events some owners were unable to make it due to other commitments.

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AUTHOR IAN J MARSH PHOTOGRAPHY IAN J MARSH & DEREK FLANAGAN

There were some interesting Minis on show, the old and the new side by side. It’s amazing how the model has grown during the last 50 years, it’s almost unrecognisable. There were some customised versions too.

We had several enquiries about joining the club, which was encouraging, so we may see some new members soon which is always welcome.

Next year we are hoping to encourage more owners to come along, especially from other regions who are either planning a holiday in the South West or fancy a trip to Somerset to enjoy the show.

The show date will be in August before the Bank Holiday so when the date is available it will be posted in the events listing for our Region. We look forward to seeing new faces next year.

WE’D CONVOYED NORTH on the M6 from Preston in the pouring rain, some 16 Porsche cars on a charity dash to rendezvous first with four Porsches from Cumbria and then another 42 Porsches at Lowther Castle, Penrith.

Bigger, better and wetter than last year’s convention of car clubs …

AUTHOR RICHARD SHOLL PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD SHOLL

This was Unified Porsche II – bigger, better and wetter than last year’s convention of car clubs, now with moody grey skies, imposing Castle ruins, raffle prizes and a Go-fund-me page. We found the front terrace parking area via instructions from sodden marshals – their soaked beards creating a new-wave hipster fashion trend.

Cars, drivers and passengers from the Porsche Enthusiasts Club’s North West, Cumbria Area, Yorkshire and North Eastern regional groups all huddled under ever-larger umbrellas, whilst PCGB members came from as far as the Scots Borders in their waterproof garb.

UNIFIED PORSCHE II

As the river levels rose, so too did the accounts of the day’s chosen charity – Lymphoma Action – to the height of some £874, thanks to the two clubs’ combined generosity. Make no mistake, when the daughter of a stalwart member of a Porsche Club is in need, these good burghers will dig deep.

By definition, the machinery of the moment was wild and varied: early impact bumpers rubbed shoulders with a freshly-painted 964 whilst the lack of sunshine gave a racing yellow Carrera T ample chance to glow. Transaxles and Cayenne trucks were all part of the day’s display too.

Later in the afternoon patches of blue sky appeared to accompany us homeward, via a dangerously inviting chocolate shop. No club run is complete without the hit of strong coffee and cocoa beans …

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AND NOW FOR SOMETHING

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AUTHOR RICHARD SHOLL PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD SHOLL

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HAVING TESTED THE 718 and the incredible 992 I recently had the opportunity of driving the new Porsche Cayenne Coupé. An addition to the large SUV range, this car has a much lower and sportier back.

Leaving Porsche Centre Chester I headed down the A41, with incredible amounts of traffic. This allowed me to get used to this big beast – it being some eight years since I have driven an equivalent Range Rover.

Available in standard, S and Turbo versions, and now a Hybrid as well. I was privileged to borrow a high specification standard model (although how it can be described as ‘standard’ I have no idea!) It was in stunning white and sat proudly outside Porsche Centre Chester.

Although there is an off road option, the Cayenne seemed much more nimble and certainly much more sporty than the Range Rover. I had set the sat nav and was ver y impressed with the Google Maps based navigation which knocks spots off the PSM which is almost out of date when you pick the car up. A huge 10" screen gives an incredible map which can be expanded out the show the whole country. A little repeater is available on the right hand Porsche display on the main dashboard.

Tommy explained all the standard and options on this vehicle: It has a standard glass panoramic fixed roof, which can be replaced with a carbon fibre lightweight roof as part of the lightweight pack. It has the Sports Chrono pack with Ac tive Engine Mounts, Ac tive Dampers and Active Anti-roll bars all of which adjust to the way the car is set up.

The Active Aerodynamic System adjust the vents at the front of the car and the spoiler raises to a maximum of 135 mm at 95km per hour. Porsche designate this as a real sports car and I certainly would not disagree – the standard car has a V6 335 bhp engine and the S is 434bhp.

Acceleration with the fantastic eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox was amazing for such a heavy vehicle.

I picked Deana up and headed out to Lake Vernwy but as the road was closed we decided to head for Bala. Good fast roads w ith b e a utif ul v iew s w h e re further enhanced by the height of the vehicle – remember I usually drive a Boxster and 911.

Acceleration with the fantastic eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox was amazing for such a heav y vehicle (the panoramic roof alone weighs in at 22 kgs!) but this did not effect the incredible road holding. It turns in beautifully and at no time did I feel any problems with the car. Considering that Porsche developed a whole new eight-speed dual-clutch (or in Porsche terminology, PDK) for the new Panamera, you’d expect the mechanically similar Cayenne to use the same gearbox – but no.

The Cayenne is equipped with a conventional automatic gearbox with a torque converter.

The brakes are carbon coated on the standard model, which cuts down on the amount of brake dust which builds up on the wheels. They should, of course, be harder wearing but still give incredible stopping power

A huge number of settings are available. Standard, Sports and Sport Plus with a choice of three a c ti ve s us p e n s io n s e t ti n g s .

Different ride highs are available and we found the Sports Plus and low suspension suited our usual sports driving mode.

All in all an amazing car. Its not the type of vehicle we would choose but for those who love a large SUV the Cayenne Coupé must be in the list of vehicles to try.

The seats, as expected, where very comfortable and were fully controllable and adjustable to the key. The boot lid can be opened from the key but needs to be closed by touching a button on the open boot – far too high for Deana to reach! On this model a tow bar drops down from behind the bumper at the touch of a button on the boot. Nice touch.

The reversing camera is excellent, showing where the car will go according to the setting of the steering wheel. PID allows the car to drive itself in traffic – I didnt try that!

Again thanks to all at Porsche Centre Chester and especially for Tommy’s knowledge and love of all things Porsche.

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TEAM NORTH WEST ON TRACK AT BLYTON PARK AUTHOR RICHARD SHOLL PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD SHOLL & TONY TOMASELLI

THE CLUB’S North West region has been to Blyton Park Circuit (near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire) twice before but a return on Friday 11th October saw 17 cars from Team North West (with a friend from Peterborough) back on track.

The circuit was being shared with racing drivers competing in the Norasport National Superlight championship. For the uninitiated, Superlights look like single-seat off-road buggies. But, they have slick tyres and either a 600cc snowmobile engine or a 900cc Honda motorcycle engine.

For the faint hearted they are not!

With five sessions scheduled for the club throughout the day (each 45 minutes long) there was no shortage of track driving time. The weather was rather changeable which made things interesting when the rain came: a wet Blyton Park is a great arena for learning more about your car’s behaviour near, on, or past the limit of tyre to tarmac adhesion!

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DO IT – YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO! AUTHOR MALCOLM EDWARDS I’M WRITING THIS the evening after revisiting Blyton Park and I’m struck by how few trackdays feature in the club’s diary. With the proliferation of potholes and multitude of speed cameras, not to mention some diabolical drivers, the roads of the United Kingdom are hardly the best place to drive a high performance car to the limits.

So why don’t we have more participation in trackdays? The following are a few of my thoughts as to some of the misconceptions people may have.

I NEED A ‘TRACK CAR’ No you don’t; you just need a well maintained car with a good set of tyres and brakes with plenty of bite. To be safe you will have to remove anything loose – be that toolkits, overnight bags or empty coffee cups. Most tracks will have somewhere that you can safely leave these things. You will need a helmet; these can be hired at most venues, but it is nicer to have something that has only been on your own head. If you have a soft-top it will be worth getting a full face helmet as some venues will only let you go ‘topless’ with a full face.

I DON’T FEEL CONFIDENT How many of us felt confident when we first got behind the wheel? There will be plenty of support at the track to help you get your confidence up. This year’s event was my second trackday, but my first in the 944 Cabriolet and my first in ‘the wet’. Last time my son came with me and put me to shame after a session with an instructor, this time I watched and learned.

MY CAR AND I WON’T BE ABLE TO KEEP UP There will be all manner of cars at a club trackday, with some handy drivers and some nervous drivers, but a combination of circuit etiquette coupled with the grouping of drivers and cars will avoid problems with mismatched abilities.

WE WILL BE RACING AND MY CAR MIGHT GET DAMAGED Wrong, there is definitely no racing on a trackday and your car is more likely to suffer a prang on its way to or from the venue. The circuit marshals will control access to the track, so that there is suitable gap between the cars entering the circuit. Racing is strictly forbidden and in most circumstances even timing is frowned upon, if not banned. Overtaking will be discussed during the driver briefing and will likely be allowed only on designated track sections, on just one side and via clear consent.

I WON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO That’s what the driver briefing is for and why it is so important. Based on my experience at Blyton the day will start with signing on followed by a briefing session. At the briefing a senior instructor or marshal will take all the participants through the circuit, with basic advice on gear selection and lines through the corners. This will be followed by an explanation of the safety rules; anyone ignoring these will be subject to a ‘black flag’ and will be required to exit the track at the first opportunity. They will then be subject to stern words from the

course officials and if the infringement is deemed sufficiently serious they will be asked to leave. Before serious driving commences there will be a number of ‘sighting laps’. It is quite a sight to see a convoy of cars in close formation playing follow-the-leader around the track, but this adds to the classroom briefing on lines.

TRACK ETIQUETTE I touched on this earlier, again during the briefing you will be advised about where it is safe to overtake and if you are in a slower car you will be expected to make way for the quicker ones. On the ‘Eastern Circuit’ at Blyton I regularly had to ease off to let quicker cars pass on the safe straights but this was always acknowledged, either by a flash of hazards, a raised hand or a thanks in the paddock. Later, on the full circuit, it felt like I had the track to myself for most of the time.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE IT? This is the beauty of Blyton Park, there is very little armco, lots of gravel and even more grass – the only thing likely to get seriously damaged is your ego! Have a look at your proposed venue, and how much space is there around the track. Are there bits you don’t like the look of? If so have a chat with someone who has been there or look for another venue. Just like exercising the human body, your car needs to be warmed up (tyres in the main) and cooled down (brakes this time), before and after the serious exercise. If you build your speed, get the feel for your car, the track and the conditions, then the odds are in your favour for not losing control.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? This will depend. If you are with the club’s insurance par tner, Classic Line, you are covered for UK trackdays at no extra charge, not even an administration charge for raising the paperwork. If you are on a non-specialist policy you may have to arrange special cover.

Also, if you have any finance on your car it will be worth checking the T&Cs of that agreement.

With 18 ‘club’ cars attending our session and 24 drivers, it was great to see young TJ Hammerton following in my own son Luke’s footsteps and getting behind the wheel of his Dad’s 944 on track, as well as Diane and Angela showing the boys that they could play hard on track too.

Would I recommend a trackday to everyone?

You bet I would!

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ROAD TEST! AUTHOR STEF MAHAN PHOTOGRAPHY STEF MAHAN & FRIENDS

A group of lucky club members from the Cheshire & Staffs Region took eight brand-new 2019 Porsches out for a Sunday drive, thanks to the kind people at Porsche Centre Bolton.

AN EARLY AUTUMN morning saw some of Cheshire and Staffs Region members arriving at Porsche Centre Bolton bright and breezy for a Sunday drive out that will never be forgotten.

After fuelling us up with coffee and croissants, Ian Howarth proceeded to offer the designated drivers of the day their choice of ignition keys for eight ’19 plate Porkers.

Ever yone was taken aback by the array of stunning Porsches that we had the privilege of experiencing. Once everyone had familiarised themselves with their first vehicle of the day we headed off on our adventure. As we headed onto the A roads towards Belmont we could open these beauties up and see what they were made of.

Our first ‘key swap’ was at the stunning Samlesbury Hall – this picturesque Tudor house was an idyllic place to be. With all keys chosen we again headed off to experience different levels of Porsche power whilst enjoying the scenic views of Forest of Bowland.

Our next stop was at the quaint village of Dunstop Bridge for light refreshments at Puddleducks tea room.

This is where another key swap happened and off we all headed again further through the Forest of Bowland. The twisty A roads enabled everyone to see what the varied models were capable of and what makes each and every one of them unique in the Porsche range.

Our next key swap was in Hornby before heading to another quaint village called Malham, where coffee and cake was enjoyed by all and another key swap (we are going to be getting a reputation if we are not careful!)

Whilst driving through Easington the sheep were kings of the road bringing us all to a halt, so we stopped for a sneaky photo or two. The Forest of Bowland had some stunning open roads that were truly enjoyed by everyone and every Porsche. As the early morning rain and April showers blew away the sun shone and a truly spectacular day was had by all.

With our last key swap at Longridge we began to head back to Bolton to return the keys safely to Ian. Our adventure around the Lancashire and Yorkshire borders was truly one that will not be forgotten – the roads, scenery and machinery were all stunning in their own rights.

So what did we have the pleasure of driving you may ask?

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PANAMERA 4 E- HYBRID Top speed 172 mph Power (comb.) 340 kW/462 PS 0–62mph 4.6 sec (with Sport Chrono package) No of cylinders 6 Price £88,991 The ability of the E-Hybrid was on another level – the quietness and deliver y of power were like two separate things. Never would I have thought that this much power could come from an E-Hybrid. I remain a classic old school girl – so one of these would not be coming on the driveway as a first choice. I would not dismiss hybrids, but for me give me grunt and grr that I can connect with, not silence and peace and quiet.

I was shocked, like many, that something of suc h size c an deliver so much power– there was no hanging around at the back of the queue. Though it did make me start to wonder how the Cayenne would compare as the ‘bigger’ SUV – time would tell if I had the opportunity to find out.

Alan had his final drive in the Panamer a H y br id, whic h he described as bigger than the Cayenne, however the family ‘DNA’ enabled him to be familiar and comfortable straight from the off! The switch from electric to ICU was imperceptible until he noticed the tachometer display changed to whatever mode the engine and road speed decided was best. This is an awesome spor ts s aloon, its size soon shrinking around you, with more per formance than you could explore on the road.

MACAN Top speed Power (comb.)

0–62mph No of cylinders Price

Gareth and I didn’t have the pleasure of driving the E-Hybrid (we tried everything else), though Gareth couldn’t shake it off his trumpet when we were in the Boxster T – and he wasn’t hanging about in the Boxster!

I am currently looking for a new daily vehicle, so having the chance to see what the baby of the SUV range could do was ideal, even if it wouldn’t be a ‘new’ one I would have – I really can’t deny that it is not a bad place to be at all.

Overall the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid shocked and impressed many.

The ge ne r a l conse nsus w a s that whilst there is a market for the E-Hybrid, and it might be the future of the automobile – unfortunately it was the ‘least’ favourite of the day (there had to be a last place somehow).

You are able to sit up in class and be able to see the world from on high, whilst having all the luxuries (and more) that Porsche pride themselves on.

139 mph 180 kW/245 PS 6.7 sec 4 £61,491

Alan explained the Macan, like its big brother the Cayenne S, can be set-up in ‘sports mode’ to live up to its name and stay comfortably with the pack. He now understands why these ‘sportswagens’ are so successful in their market sector.

Overall the Macan was a stunning place to be – for the fact that you are in the ‘junior’ version of the SUV you still remain in an amazing place. The torque and power shift that this Porker has is unreal for its size.

The interior was on another level – like a few of my fellow friends/ region members, we usually live in the cabin of a transaxle Porker, so being in such a modern car took some getting used to.

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CAYENNE S Top Speed Power (comb.)

0–62mph No of cylinders Price

164 mph 324 kW/440 PS 5.2 sec 6 £72,791

Alan felt that it took him a good few minutes to settle in, not being used to these new ‘high spec and high tech’ modern Porsches!

However it drove with vigour and easily kept up with the procession of sporting Porsches ahead. It was certainly a comfortable luxur y cabin, and when he eventually found the button labelled ‘Sport’ he transformed the luxo-barge into a spor tswagen! Moving from ‘auto shift’ mode to manual paddle control greatly impressed Alan too.

As much as I liked the Macan, this was my SUV of choice – there didn’t feel much difference between the

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two cabins. It was more the power that I preferred the Cayenne, it felt a more refined place to be, more in touch with the road, and had an exceptional amount of power under the bonnet.

I can’t deny that the ability to take the top off without it being a military procedure was heaven.

With ‘April’ showers against us we made full use of the roof up and roof down experience!

John Pye described all the cars as magnif icent in their own way, though for him, as owner of a Cayenne S 4.8 petrol, it was a great oppor tunity see how the V6 would compare with the older V8, whether it would sound as amazing and whether the power delivery would be as good. His half hour in the Cayenne dismissed any concerns – it didn’t disappoint in any way!

When Alan had another ride in the Boxster S it confirmed for him that he could live with one of these. Alan felt that the PDK gearbox works so well that it actually enhances the abilities and character of the car.

That’s the thing with Porsche and especially the SUV range – they are underrated and misunderstood.

Once you find all their quirky options and additional extras they soon morph into the ‘real Porsche’ that they have been designed as.

Chris Wynne did admit that he wasn’t looking forward to driving the Cayenne, not being a fan of SUVs. However he found this vehicle was most impressive. The finish inside was typical Porsche quality and the ride was superb.

718 BOXSTER S Top speed Power (comb.)

0–62mph No of cylinders Price

177 mph 257 kW/350 PS 4.4 sec 4 £56,791

As a Boxster lover and owner of a beautiful 986 I was hoping to experience both Boxsters that were out to play, to compare my predecessor with the newer models.

At first I had the pleasure of being in the passenger seat of this beauty and it didn’t disappoint.

The handling was sublime and I couldn’t fault how she planted to the road – though I have to admit that this Boxster didn’t quite float my boat and I preferred my 986.

Eve n th o ug h t th i s w a s th e supposedly ‘better’ Boxster of the two out to play, the majority of our group favoured the Boxster T over the S. Strange really. The 718 S has everything you could want but just lacked something that you couldn’t quite put your finger on.

The Cayman felt more in tune and involved, as well as a more refined place to be. The interior was out of this world with its stunning yellow pinstripe and yellow seatbelts.

The interior was smooth and sleek, I loved the finish of modern seamless screens that mimic the tactility of old school buttons and click as if they were that too. The eye for detail from Porsche that has never failed to amaze me.

718 BOXSTER T Top speed Power (comb.)

0–62mph No of cylinders Price

170 mph 220 kW/300 PS 4.9 sec 4 £57,491

One of my key picks was the keys to this beauty – This was an experience I was waiting for and it didn’t fail to disappoint. Whilst I drive our 986 almost every day and love every second, this was on another level.

A s the Box s te r h a s evol ve d through the generations it has developed considerably and the power delivery was fabulous.

I was amazed and in love with this little 718 T.

Following a passenger ride in the ‘sportswagen’ Alan then had a good draw from the ‘lucky bag’ to get into the 718 T. He found it very impressive. Easy to drive along with a fine level of equipment.

As a fellow transaxle lover he was not used to a six cylinder growl, but found this ‘turbo 4’ didn’t disappoint. It progressed with the pack with great pace and without much effort!

The wet weather also cleared so he could then enjoy ‘alfresco’ st yle with good heating and heated seats.

Alan found it very difficult to hand the keys back at the next stop, the new Boxster really impressed and is a firm favourite on his future wish list.

718 CAYMAN T Top speed Power (comb.)

0–62mph No of cylinders Price

170 mph 220 kW/300 PS 4.9 sec 4 £53,991

Between Gareth and me we had the pleasure of experiencing both Boxsters and the Cayman– all three are high possibilities for a future purchase, so to experience them all was fantastic.

Gareth felt that even though the three cars share the same characteristics and their engines are very similar, the cars felt very different in purpose.

All the cars were finished to an impeccable level, though for me the most stunning cabin to be in was that of the Cayman T – I would love to sit there all day every day.

C h r i s W y n n e d e s c r i b e d th e Porsche PDK box as an absolute revelation. The attention to detail was superb. A lot of members had reservations on the PDK, but they quickly disappeared as everyone enjoyed the way it drove.

Overall the Cayman T was a true driving machine that loved to cover as much tarmac as possible and was impeccable at it.

19

PANAMERA TURBO SPORT TURISMO Top speed 188 mph Power (comb.) 404 kW/550 PS 0–62mph 3.8 sec No of cylinders 8 Price £116,991 What a machine this beauty was.

Never have I been so surprised with a vehicle and its performance.

I couldn’t believe the power that this ‘barge’ of a Porsche had. My first words when I pushed pedal to metal are not printable – I was very impressed and my goodness this thing could move. I couldn’t comprehend the power in such a family-focused car.

The design and craftsmanship were second to none and I loved every second behind the wheel. I was not a hooligan, but I did enjoy the power and torque from this beauty on some country roads.

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The 0–62 claim for such a large car was remarkable so we tested it for accuracy! You can’t blame a girl for blowing the cobwebs away on a crisp Sunday drive.

Turbo. Power was ver y similar but clearly more refined, all from a model lower in the current 911 range – the 992 Turbo and Turbo S must be out of this world!

John Pye described the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo as “mind blowing and a real eye opener for everyone on the day” and I can’t argue – it truly was an amazing machine.

Iain Bor thwick described the 992 C4S as sublime, it went like a rocket, stuck like glue, and those PDK downshifts are addictive.

In Gareth’s words – what a car!

Everything you could ever need, a car to cover many miles with four passengers in total luxury, but it will keep up with just about anything on the road. The way this car holds its monstrous size is uncanny, it doesn’t feel big, cumbersome or hard to park and WOW does it go. The PDK gearbox makes the power delivery seem endless too.

I love the way that Iain Borthwick describes his experience in this Panamera: “What a beast of a car to fit a wardrobe in.”

This stunning Porsche amazed everyone.

992 CARRERA 4S Top speed 190 mph Power (comb.) 309 kW/450 PS 0–62mph 3.4 sec No of cylinders 6 Price £115,418 As they say, you save the best ’til last and the most memorable drive for everyone was this truly spectacular 992 Carrera 4S. Alan was excited again for a ride in the ‘top dog’! That engine sounds wonderful, the power linear and the handling compliant. His pilot Chris stayed in auto with only the occasional ‘paddle shift’ of a gear, the PDK behaving as wonderfully as the famous engine! Alan, like everyone else, wanted to take this one home for keeps.

For John his favourite car of the day had to be the C4S, it was great to compare it against his 996

As George & Joan rightly pointed out “You should be careful when meeting your heroes.” They are admirers of the 911, and recent owners of a 3.6 996 Carrera 4, but felt privileged to drive this 992. It not only lived up to, but exceeded their expectations.

As Gareth says, without a doubt the 911 is still the head of the Porsche line up. He had the pleasure of some town driving where it was comfortable and civilised. On the open roads he gave a quick stab of the throttle – the rear squatted, the front lifted and wow, you better be ready for this, as it relentlessly bangs through the PDK box. The flat six launched us into the horizon, but a quick dab of the brakes and the speed vanished, ready to enjoy the twisty roads some more.

What an epic drive.

WE ALL HAD an unforgettable day – and after returning the cars to Porsche Centre Bolton, I can report from Ian H that the valeters nearly had a heart attack at eight properly filthy cars first thing on a Monday morning!

This amazing day was arranged for us by Ian Howarth at Porsche Centre Bolton and Chris Hulme along with Sara, Ian’s fabulous assistant and partner. None of us could thank them enough.

Alan Smith called it “A great day, which ended all too soon. Each car impressed and left us all wanting more! Some folks will be very fortunate to own and drive these fabulous machines regularly, and some of us will continue to live in hope. My grateful thanks to all at Porsche Bolton and Chris Hulme too.”

John Pye said “I would like to thank all at Porsche Centre Bolton who made this possible, it was truly a magnificent day out driving an amazing array of Porsches. A special thanks must go out to Ian Howarth and Sara for giving up their Sunday to look after us all. I can’t thank you all enough and look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Chris Wynne said “This is the second ‘adventure’ I have been on with this club. A magnificent trip to Scotland followed by this brilliant day out. Can it get any better? Many thanks to Ian at Porsche Centre Bolton for giving us such a memorable day and entrusting us with the fantastic selection of cars.”

George and Joan Barron passed on “Thanks to Ian & Steve of Porsche Centre Bolton for a memorable day out with their cars.”

Gareth and I want to say “Thank you for an experience we will never forget. When you drive a Porsche ever y day you sometimes forget the craftsmanship and care that goes into each and every model and today reminded us of that.”

Chris Hulme concludes that “The experience was a dream day out, having the opportunity to learn a lot about the new line up of the brand, the configurations of model and engine, and just how sublime the PDK boxes are across the range. It has been a real eye opener as to where design and engineering has progressed.”

It was nice to hear Ian Howarth thanking all who attend for being careful with their cars. It goes without saying that they got a good seeing to, but everything was done in a careful and controlled manner.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better day in terms of respect, manners and an all-round appreciation for one another. On behalf of the Centre and myself, thanks and kudos are due to you guys also! We couldn’t have asked for a nicer bunch of enthusiasts, customers and most of all friends of the Centre.”

After returning the cars to Porsche Centre Bolton, I can report that the valeters nearly had a heart attack at eight properly filthy cars first thing on a Monday morning!

21

GOING NORTH CHESHIRE & STAFFS REGION

AUTHOR CHRIS HULME • PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS HULME

IT’S UNUSUAL FOR the Cheshire & Staffs crew to be holidaying on this side of the Channel but with the current uncertainties in the midst, we opted for a trip north towards the now fabled NC500.

In looking to avoid the savagery of the reported midges, we chose to take a few days in September cruising the western highlands and islands of Scotland, with the 500 miles around the coast initially in mind. Reports of traffic and motorhomes suggested our own route would better serve us though – and we were not disappointed!

With a nice compact group of 12 between five 944s and two 911s, the clouds of Manchester lifted and the M6 was soon behind us as we cruised beyond Glasgow to our first overnight stop, a pub hotel called The Anchor Inn at Garelochhead. We were greeted with first class accommodation, top notch food and local ales in a stunning serene setting at the head of the loch. Scotland couldn’t have been more welcoming.

Warm morning sunshine started day two and the drive to our home for the next few days at the Loch Ness Monster Pods, Fort Augustus. This was only a few of hours away if we took the direct route but with some local knowledge in our group, it was felt rude not to sample the delights of the southern end of the western coastline. We took the A83 via Inverary to Lochgilphead in the south and it was simply stunning both in scenery, weather and in the glorious, sweeping and seemingly brand-new tarmac that welcomed us.

A couple more pit stops (or ‘Pete stops’ as they became known) at Oban and Fort William delighted us further as we followed the A82 via Fort William and into Fort Augustus to meet our glamping pods at dusk. A bit of a gamble was taken in booking these rather than hotels but what a result!

The park was clean, tidy and open plan and better still, just a few minutes walk from the centre of town, where our evening meal was washed down with Cairngorms Brewery’s Nessie’s Monster Mash! Definitely needed after the miles we consumed throughout the day.

Crystal clear blue sky and bright midsummer sunshine broke through the morning mist, paving the way for our trip inland. South first, via Fort William and over towards Dalwhinnie, and then north towards Elgin and across to Inverness. Spean Bridge couldn’t have been passed without marking our respects at the Commando Memorial looking over the highlands towards Ben Nevis.

Staying away from the main NC500 was paying dividends at this point as the roads had been reasonably clear with only a AT 138

few motorhomes to dispatch on the long, straight, perfect road surfaces and as we headed into the Cairngorms towards Aviemore, the whole trip really became a proper driving tour! An evening meal at Nairn was still some 50 miles and over 90 minutes away from home but with even less traffic on the evening roads, the driving experience was sublime!

The pinnacle of the weekend was the drive to Skye, heading across country on smooth, sweeping roads through to our lunch stop at Portree – although the wee cafés don’t really hold 12 of us at once! Putting a naturalists hat on, we headed for culture at the Neist Point Lighthouse and possibly a bit of whale watching or to catch a glimpse of the White Tailed Sea Eagle. Whilst the wildlife didn’t play ball, and it’s quite a hike to get to the lighthouse itself, the views across to the Outer Hebrides were amazing from this most westerly point of Scotland.

With time marching on and home over three hours away, we searched high and low for an evening meal on the way home finally settling for a fish restaurant, that from the outside seemed like a last resort but from a food point of view was pretty fine indeed! It was now getting late and the earlier bright, sunny A87 had hidden its views in the darkness, but that 70 miles in the pitch black was epic with all seven cars in a sleek convoy.

As we checked out of our Loch Ness Monster Pods, a few clouds set in, but that didn’t deter us from leaving the car keys in the pocket and taking a boat trip on the Loch. We didn’t see Nessie or anything resembling her but we were treated to a pretty rapid cruise around a phenomenally deep bit of water at over 160 metres deep – it’s total volume equivalent to all the lakes in England and Wales together!

The afternoon took us south following the Caledonian Canal back towards Fort William and across from Glencoe and Crianlarich to our final overnight at Arrochar, overseeing the head of Loch Long. A few raindrops had made their way towards us by the end of the day but nothing that could spoil the drive, the views, or the company!

A few beers, wines and whiskys over dinner complemeted our recaps of the few days away and whilst it was a very different holiday to a European one, we unanimously agreed it’s one that we’ll be doing again!

It was simply stunning in scenery, weather and in the glorious, sweeping, seemingly brand-new tarmac that welcomed us.

23

THE LONG GOODBYE AUTHOR MARTIN BROADRIBB PHOTOGRAPHY TED WALKER ARCHIVE & PORSCHE AG

PORSCHE FIRST MARKETED a model without a clutch pedal as long ago as 1967. At that time there was some resistance to anything other than a straightforward manual transmission in what was seen as a ‘drivers car’ and that has persisted through their subsequent clutch pedal-less gearbox developments, although the introduction of and ultimately standardising on alternative power units looks set to settle the issue in favour of two pedal motoring once and for all.

Having experimented with a two-speed semi-automatic 356 and a three-speed automatic 911 but discarded these ideas, Porsche must then have looked to systems such as the Manumatic and particularly the Saxomat for inspiration when formulating a ‘clutchless’ transmission. These and similar alternatives enjoyed a limited degree of popularity in the 1950s and ’60s and to some extent pre-empted an arrangement that was to become popular – but including a fully automatic mode – decades later; a manual gearbox with automatic clutch actuation.

With the arrival of the Sportomatic option for the 1968 911 the flywheel was replaced by a torque converter but it still had a conventional but vacuum-operated clutch, disengaged by placing a hand on the gear lever and engaged by removing it. While the converter smoothed out the gear changes it also allowed the car to idle in gear and to be driven in traffic in first just using the brake and accelerator, the four speeds of the standard gearbox being retained but using different gear and final drive ratios. The gears were marked L, D, D3 and D4, with L recommended only for low speeds, very steep hills or snow.

Like a conventional automatic the system had a Park facility and while obviously made with an eye to the US – then the biggest Porsche market – ironically the Americans were less welcoming of the car than the Europeans.

Perhaps this was due to a 911 being seen as a spor ting transatlantic produc t and the opposite of the automatics so often found as domestic products, but in truth the new system had confirmed that it was still very much in the Porsche tradition by a Sportomatic-equipped 911R winning the demanding Marathon de la Route, an 84 hour epic staged at the Nurburgring, just after the transmission went into production.

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Cutaway of the 2009 eight speed Tiptronic

The Sportomatic was also nominally available in the initial 914s and it remained a 911 option until 1980, becoming a three speed for 1975 due to the 2.7 engine having torque characteristics suited to this. Some time after it ceased to be available a new five-speed Sportomatic was in development during 1983/4, but an alternative path to the same goal became available and so this programme was curtailed.

When two pedal control was required for the front-engined Porsche models the company turned to VW/Audi (924/944) and Mercedes (928) for conventional automatics but for the 1989 Carrera 2 the Tiptronic transmission became an option, as it was when the 968 was introduced for 1992. Developed in conjunc tion with ZF (gearbox) and Bosch (elec tronics) the four speed unit applied electronic management to the way in which it operated, its auto-adaptive feature offering five different gearshift patterns based on data received from sensors which monitored various driving and road condition inputs. The option to select each gear manually or via a simple +/- setting, both using the ‘gear lever’, was available and for 1995 with the Tiptronic S the steering wheel acquired +/- controls, although these were buttons rather than the paddles favoured by other makes. Road testers seemed to feel obligated to complain about these being fitted instead of paddles – in much the same way that they later felt compelled to bemoan the replacement of hydraulic power steering by electric – and some even disliked the lever having to be flicked forward rather than backwards for manual upshifts, but in the real world Tiptronic buyers seemed to be able to cope.

When the nex t clutch pedal-free system arrived in 2005 for the 911, Boxster and Cayman it was wisely abbreviated from Porsche Doppelkupplungs-getriebe to PDK. Literally ‘double clutch’, the unit comprised two concentric clutches, one for the even gears and one for the odd in a special gearbox and this arrangement was designed to provide speedy selection of the next gear required, all changes being sequential. Requiring even more

complicated electronic management than the Tiptronic, this transmission had necessitated a very long development period and was already being tried in a 924 in the very early 1980s and later in the decade was being tested in some 944s. Having its origins as far back as the late 1960s, it was considered as a production option on a number of occasions but was never brought close enough to fulfilling the various criteria for this and the Tiptronic to some extent usurped it. However, development continued and in a true illustration of how racing car component use can have a direct input into road car design, in 1983 the works began racing a PDK-equipped 956.

Cutaway of the 2019 911 PDK

The at tr ac tions of PDK for competition use included the driver being able to shift gears from the steering wheel – although these first examples had a clutch pedal for standing starts – and to do so without lifting the throttle and so maintaining turbo boost, although against this had to be stacked the extra complexity and increased weight. With Getrag and Hurth on board on the mechanical side and Bosch once again taking care of the electronic management an intensive testing and racing programme began in late 1983 which brought to light problems in many design and manufacturing areas. After many tribulations it was April 1986 before a car – by now a 962 – equipped with the unit took its first win but it was still to be almost two decades before it made it into a road car. Despite the usual resistance from some quar ters that of ten greets any significant Porsche technical change, PDK soon established itself and in another 20 years became the only transmission fitted to the GT3, perhaps the final vindication of an idea that is now 50 years old.

Although Porsche have given us various ways in which to simplify gear-changing throughout this period, hybrid and electric vehicles are in the process of rendering such considerations obsolete. While the future always arrives it is sometimes from an unexpected direction and after a long goodbye the clutch pedal looks to be finally departing.

25

GETTING TO THE ‘HART’ OF THE M96/7 ENGINE! The North West Region visited Hartech to see how they rebuild and transform the ‘problematic’ Porsche engines from the Boxster, Cayman, 996 and 997.

AUTHOR COLIN HAMMERTON PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN HAMMERTON

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I’M SURE MANY of you will have heard the name Barry Hart used in Porsche magazines and on the web in conjunction with the M96/7 engine and its inherent problems.

Baz, as he likes to be called, is the founder of Hartech who are specialists in water-cooled 911 engine repair and future proofing. You may not know that Baz also helped save the 924 to 944 club from extinction (by paying all the bills for three years) and with the help of a dedicated club secretary – Carol – expanded it to include all Porsche models and changed the name to The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club. Baz was also the first Chairman of our Club and is still a member of the North West Region.

Earlier in the year I received an email, for warded to me by Club Chairman Sean Smallman, from Baz, inviting members of the North West Region to do a comparison test with their oversized engined cars. As you can imagine this was going to be very popular amongst our members. I then had the task of picking 10 members to be involved, so interested parties names were put into a hat and 10 drawn at random. The lucky winners were then informed and the test arranged for Saturday 13th of July.

Early that Saturday morning myself and ARO Richard Sholl met up with the 10 lucky members for coffee in Bolton, a mile or so away from Hartech and then convoyed in together. On arrival we were met by Baz, Grant, Tobias and the Hartech team, and taken inside for an introduction talk on what to expect over the morning. We were given a brew and a bacon butty before being split into two groups.

One group took the equivalent car to their own, fitted with the Hartech oversized engine, for a good long comparison test drive. The second group were given a guided tour of the workshops, machine shops and engine building room. Once the tour had finished the groups swapped over. After the test drives were completed, Baz invited me to take a car out myself to see the difference. I can honestly say I was very impressed by the easy drivability of the Hartech engine. The torque from low down in the rev range is truly addictive!

Every process that the Hartech engines go through was explained in great depth by Baz himself during our tour. We were shown all the usual weak points of the M96/7 engine and saw some absolute horror stories of engine failures – some of which had previously been rebuilt by other so-called ‘specialists’.

I have to say, coming from an engineering/ mechanical background, the quality of work being done in all departments was second to none. Their engineering processes and the cleanliness of the machine shop was amazing to see – it was almost clinical! Baz has worked in depth with several renowned component manufacturers and has developed his own designs for Hartech replacement cylinders and Pistons etc. This makes their rebuilds virtually

bulletproof. All their components have been put through numerous and ver y rigorous tests before ever being used in their rebuilds.

Hartech liners use Nikasil technology as used in the hugely successful 3.2 Carrera, 964, 993, 996/997 Turbo and GT3 engines. They also have hugely improved cooling, similar to that used in the Metzger engines of the Turbo and GT/RS models. The new cylinder liners are far stronger than the originals which stops them from becoming oval or distorted. The oversized engines that we tested have fabulous torque and really do pull like a steam train from just above tick-over, right through the rev range, making overtaking an absolute breeze in any gear without having to change down.

Above all else, what really stood out for me on our visit was the pure passion that all the guys at Hartech have for the work they’re doing, and the professionalism with which things are conducted. I was invited into the inner sanctum at Hartech to take a close look at the comprehensive computer files, test results and research notes that Baz and his team have done on these engines over many years. The amount of research Baz and his team have carried out and the depth of knowledge Hartech have on the M96/7 engine is truly phenomenal, and underlines why their engine rebuilds are regarded as the best on the market.

Har tech also have a business model and workforce that they should be truly proud of, professionalism at its best! Here’s what some of our guys had to say about their experience at Hartech: Peter Leonard: “I drove the 996.1 Coupé bored out from 3.4 to 3.7. I found the car was more co nsis te n t of f th e line and out of the corners, and gave much smoother power delivery.”

Philip Howe: “Couldn’t agree more about the quality of work. I’m a big fan of engineering and seeing it in action.

I also had a quick drive back over the same route and they definitely have improved that low end torque of the Cayman.

A definite experience i m p rove m e nt ove r standard.”

As for the company, the passion to make things right and deliver maximum customer satisfaction is evident immediately.”

Brian Carter: “I drove the 996.1 bored to 3.7 litres from 3.4. Yes, it had more low end torque compared to my 3.4 with a more linear power delivery. Ran well with no flat spots in the rev range. Baz clearly has a deep understanding of the M96 and M97 engines with a fantastic business ethic.”

Brian Butter wor th: “I drove the 3.2 to 3.7 Boxster. Even driving down the lane, a gentle throttle blip and you could feel a difference. Once on open roads the extra pull from 2k all the way to 7k in second and third was consistent and very smooth. There was no perceptible dip in the mid range either. A very well developed engine and ECU combination. A pleasure to drive and certainly worth the additional investment if your engine’s in for a rebuild.”

Paul Dealwis: “The 996 3.9 drove extremely well and felt very linear, pulling really well from low down all the way through the rev range. A much more relaxed drive in everyday conditions, but obviously a quicker, more urgent, drive when opened up.”

James Moghimi: “Got to ring it out a little on the country lanes. Not a massive difference at the top end compared to my 3.2 but the extra mid range torque was definitely noticeable. The limited slip diff also made a big difference for me, it’s something I am now considering fitting to my own car when its ready for a clutch. I felt a little like a motoring journalist and loved geeking out over some great engineering. Learnt a lot from Baz. Loved how much detail he went into explaining all the short comings of our engines and the differences with their cylinder liners, cam chains, IMS bearings etc, the composition of alloys/materials used and why.”

The amount of research Baz and his team have carried out and the depth of knowledge Hartech have on the M96/7 engine is truly phenomenal.

D ave B owe n: “A s per ever yone else, thanks to everyone involved in making a great informative morning out. My summary would be that the 3.9 fitted in the Cayman gives extra performance which is very subtle (didn’t really get it high in the rev range due to traffic) but delivers you the instant torque you curse not having when everyday driving at lower rpms.

Paul Swinfield: “A hugely enjoyable visit to Har tech, seeing eng inee r ing at its finest and listening to a real team of experts in their field. I drove the 996 Tiptronic.

I have a manual 997S so torque didn’t seem that much different.

What was surprising was how precise the car was, how solid and well built the engine felt and how easy the car was to drive with the Tip gearbox. The car had done over 120K miles and felt like it had just come out of the showroom. It was owned by one of the Hartech team and apparently it was in a poor state when purchased. Just shows what can be done by people who understand these cars!”

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REGIONAL ROUND UP R2

Scotland

R20

South Central

R4

Yorkshire

R8

Anglia & North Essex

R5

North West

R11

North London, Herts & South Essex

R3

North East

R12

Kent & South East London

R18

Cheshire & Staffs

R13

Thames Valley

R26

Shropshire & Mid Wales

R9

Surrey & Sussex

R6

South Yorkshire & North Notts

R21

Hampshire

R24

Peterborough

R23

Southern

R19

East Midlands

R22

Bristol, South West & South Wales

R7

Central

R15

Cornwall & Devon

R2

R3 R4 R5

R18

R26 R7

R22 R23

R6 R24

R19

R8

R20 R13

R11

R21

R9

R12

R15

SCOTLAND

Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month 7:30pm for an 8pm start in the 007 bar, upstairs at Bo’Ness Motor Museum, Bridgeness Road, Bo’Ness EH51 9JR. www.motor-museum.bo-ness.org.uk Regional sponsors: McLean and Stewart, Solicitors & ClipperTrek Motorhome Hire

Pickering, where we stayed until the Sunday. I don’t have enough space here to report all that we got up to, but I can assure you that we covered a large part of the county, taking in many of the sights and experiences it had to offer. Next came the Selkirk Show – after many years it’s likely to be the last one. It seems that the organising committee want to retire and there is nobody to take over. Let’s hope a solution can be found. This was followed by Tartan Tarmac’s ‘Big Day Oot’. It was the first one they had organised and it was held at Knockhill, featuring lots of cars on display as well as action on the track. The organisers also included ‘Porsche at the Hill’ in this event and along with other Porsche owners we were given a prominent area to show off our cars.

Scottish region cars on our Yorkshire trip

As one of the few that attended all of the above, I was pleased to have a weekend off before the start of October. We had our normal monthly meeting at Bo’ness Motor Museum, followed on the Saturday with a visit to Tesla in Edinburgh.

The first thing that we were told was that Tesla was not a motor manufacturer but an energy company and I was amazed at how they saw the future. It certainly changed my idea of it. With regard to the cars themselves the performance and handing was outstanding. I can’t wait to see what Porsche comes up with.

R2

scotland@tipec.net RO David Clelland • 07794 600 808 ARO (West) Neil Baird ARO (East) Tim Price Facebook: TIPEC Scotland

September turned out to be this year’s busiest month. It started with the Bo’ness Revival Hill Climb – a unique event in Scotland in that it is a competitive event run alongside a static show.

As usual it was a great success. Our monthly meeting the following Wednesday was held at Zoldani Auto Salon in Dunfermline where some of the intricacies of detailing were explained. Next came our Autumn weekend away to Yorkshire. On the Friday we met at Porsche Centre Edinburgh, before heading south to the Beansheaf Hotel at AT 138

team will automatically stand down and a new team will be elected. I think I can say that 2019 has been a successful one and I would like to thank everyone that has helped and taken part. On behalf of the current team (David Clelland, Tim Price, Neil Baird, Andrew McDowell, Nick Marshall and John Davidson), I’d like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

December 4th (Wednesday) Club night at Bo’ness Motor Museum December 7th (Saturday) Christmas dinner and party night, Selkirk Arms, Kirkcudbright December 12th (Thursday) Curry night (details TBC) January 29th (Wednesday) Burns Supper (details TBC) February 5th (Wednesday) Club night at Bo’ness Motor Museum February 16th (Sunday) Lunch at Louis Brown’s, Dalgety Bay (details TBC)

R4

YORKSHIRE

For a while now I’ve been keen that members help in organising our monthly runs and I’m pleased to report that John Park responded with an excellent run round the East Neuk of Fife, stopping for lunch at The Tavern, Strathkinness.

Sadly this will probably be our last run of 2019 and I hope we will have many more in 2020.

yorkshire@tipec.net RO Laurence Parkin ARO Tony Hartley • 07714 822 808 Facebook: The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club Yorkshire

Now that we are fast approaching the end of the year, our thoughts must turn to TIPEC Scotland’s December meeting, where the management

Meetings are held third Monday of every month 7:30pm at The Red Lion, Main St, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley LS29 7BT.

R5

NORTH WEST

RO Colin Hammerton • 07500 908 091 col.hamm@hotmail.co.uk ARO Richard Sholl • 07970 147 779 n22rks@googlemail.com ARO Allan Diamond • 07582 197 558 joandald@aol.com ARO Cumbria Dean Mason • 07599 015 694 deanthediver@gmail.com Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month from 7pm (with club business dealt with at 8pm) at The Bowling Green, Preston Road, Charnock Richard PR7 5LA.

North West club night at Porsche Centre Bolton

September 1st saw 25 North West Porsches meet up at Birch Services to convoy over to Performance Porsche Klassiker at Brighouse for their open morning and 911 RSR Rep launch.

The car was absolutely stunning and sounded awesome. These guys do some fabulous work and turn out some great backdated cars.

Sunday 8th was the Jasmine Porschalink open morning. A warm sunny start saw a record turnout of Porsches and other marques. Chris Gateley & his team put on another great morning with complimentary bacon butties and brews.

Monday 9th was our club night. We had 20+ Porsches and seven non-Porsche cars turn out on a miserable night which ain’t too shabby! We definitely need a bigger room going forwards …

Sunday 22nd was our annual concours event, this year generously hosted by Chris Gateley and his team at Jasmine Porschalink. Even though the weather was grim the region turned out in force!

40 Porsches and around 80 people enjoyed the BBQ. In first place was Mark Cooke (987), second Alan Aspden (356) and third Peter Anderson (993).

Alan’s 356 also won visitors choice. Our raffle raised £100 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

them TIPEC cars. On the day £850 was raised for Lymphoma Action. After leaving Lowther quite a few of us headed down to the Chocolate Factory in Orton for a coffee and cake, we also indulged in some quality chocolates.

October 11th saw 19 NW cars take to the track at Blyton Park for a very wet but seriously enjoyable trackday. We had trackday virgins, novices, experts and also a few ladies driving their Porsches to the limits.

Monday 14th was our club night, kindly hosted by Porsche Centre Bolton. We had a huge turnout of around 70 people, the car park at Porsche Centre Bolton was rammed full. Dealer Principal Steve Webb did a presentation on the forthcoming Taycan and their E series racing, which was a great insight into Porsche’s future direction. Team Bolton put on a great spread of food and drinks for us and provided a special cake and cupcakes to celebrate the NW breaking the 200 member barrier. A fantastic night was had by all.

Sunday 27th we had a breakfast meet arranged

by ARO Richard. 26 Porsches rocked up at Curly’s for some good grub followed by a drive over some great roads with a coffee stop at the end.

December 7th (Saturday) Christmas Meal at Foxfields Hotel, Whalley December 9th (Monday) Christmas quiz night at The Bowling Green, PR7 5LA from 7pm January 12th (Sunday) New Years run, details TBC January 13th (Monday) Club night at the Bowling Green

Despite the weather we enjoyed a run to Lowther Castle near Penrith at the end of September.

Members from the Yorkshire region met up with North East members at Bradley Burn Farm shop and cafe near Wolsingham in Weardale for breakfast before setting off over Brough Moor to Lowther Castle. Unfortunately, poor weather obscured the fantastic views, but maybe this drive out in the future with better weather might be a possibility.

We look forward to meeting up with current and new members at future meetings.

R18

CHESHIRE & STAFFS

RO Chris Hulme • 07775 794 291 chris@claytonhulme.co.uk ARO Stefanie Mahan • 07776 132 389 ARO Gareth Aldridge • 07881 228 944 gj.aldridge@yahoo.co.uk ARO Ian Highfield ianhighfield@talktalk.net facebook.com/groups/TIPEC.CS Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 8pm at The Kilton Inn, Warrington Rd, Knutsford, WA16 0PZ.

February 10th (Monday) Club night at the Bowling Green February 28th (Friday) Chippy tea/Friday feast, details TBC

R3

NORTH EAST

RO Derek Ellison • 07862 794 149 derekdse123@aol.com ARO John Tomlinson • 07595 166 187 Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month from 7pm at The Old Farmhouse, Darlington DL2 1JZ.

Sunday 29th saw us team up with members of PCGB for Unified Porsche Two. It was a ridiculously wet morning with rain forecast all day! That didn’t stop 16 NW Porsches gathering at the Tickled Trout Services for coffee before heading up the M6 to Lowther Castle.

We were met at Shap by four more NW members from Cumbria to make a convoy of 20 Porsches to Lowther Castle to meet up with members of the Yorkshire and NE regions and members of PCGB. There were 62 Porsches in total with around 25 of

The North East Region have continued to meet first Tuesday of the month and have welcomed a few new members which has been great. We are still looking for a venue near Durham to encourage people from further north to come and join us, however for the time being we will continue to meet at The Old Farmhouse at Darlington and any changes will be communicated to members through the region’s Facebook page and our WhatsApp group.

Cheshire & Staffs members on the Halloween drive

We have had a busy few months leading into the autumn/winter.

As you may have read a few of our region members had the privilege of driving eight ’19 plate Porsches from Porsche Centre Bolton around the Lancashire and Yorkshire Dales. This was a fantastic experience never to be forgotten.

The most memorable for all was the 992 C4S – what a machine.

Thanks once again to Chris Hulme for organising and Ian Howarth (Porsche Bolton) for organising such an experience.

North East members’ cars on the Lowther run

In honour of Duncan who passed earlier in the year, we joined the Shropshire region at Weston 31

Hall for a Porsche line up outside the house before driving some of the rally circuit on site – a humbling day for a fellow Porsche enthusiast.

This was also McQueen’s first club event too since his restoration at Porsche RnR. The Peak District saw a number of members hunting for spooky clues to complete our annual Halloween drive. The pumpkin hunting and clue finding was won by team McQueen and the best dressed Porsche went to Darren Slater – his black beauty made for a spectacularly spooky Halloween scene.

R26

S HROPSHIRE & MID WALES

RO Richard Simmons • 07972 811 221 richardjjs@yahoo.co.uk ARO Mick Duckworth • 01952 411 697 mickduckworth156@hotmail.com Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 7:30pm at the Corbet Arms, Uffington, SY4 4SN.

Club nights continue to see many of you joining us for all things Porsche (and non-Porsche related) chat, as well as event planning.

Our Winter Meetings will be held at the Corbet Arms but I seriously think we need to find somewhere more club-friendly where we can park the cars together and perhaps have our own meeting area.

December 3rd (Tuesday) Club meeting at the Corbet Arms, Uffington SY4 4SN No run in December January 7th (Tuesday) Club meeting at the Corbet Arms, Uffington SY4 4SN Run at end of January to be finalised

There is plenty of room at the Kilton, if you haven't joined us before please come along and meet your fellow region members.

February 4th (Tuesday) Club meeting at the Corbet Arms, Uffington SY4 4SN

With 2020 fast approaching your regional organisers are busy planning another action packed calendar of events for the upcoming year.

Run at end of February to be finalised

Please come and join us at any of the events – even in your winter wheels if your porker goes into hibernation over the cold and salty season.

Don’t forget to join us on our events before 2019 is over though …

December 8th (Sunday) Ladies Christmas market and Gents drive out (please confirm attendance for either with Stef or Gareth) December 15th (Sunday) Christmas drive out and meal (confirm attendance with Stef or Gareth) December 17th (Tuesday) Club night and Christmas meal (optional) at the Kilton Inn January 5th (Sunday) New Year drive (confirm attendance for meal with Stefanie or Gareth) January 21st (Tuesday) Club night at the Kilton Inn February 16th (Sunday) Dubfreeze (confirm attendance with Stefanie or Gareth) February 18th (Tuesday) Club night at the Kilton Inn February 21st–23rd (Friday–Sunday) Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park March 17th (Tuesday) Club night at the Kilton Inn March 27–29th (Friday–Sunday) NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show March TBC Oulton Park RS day AT 138

Shropshire & Mid-Wales membners on the Dams run

The Midlands-ish Meeting in October was a great first meeting of a number of regions at the historic home of Weston Park. There is a full report elsewhere in the magazine.

We had 28 Porsches turn up and display in front of the house before a gentle run around a section of the old tarmac rally stage, ending up with a coffee. Now a yearly event, hopefully planned during September 2020.

R24

PETERBOROUGH

peterborough@tipec.net RO Stuart Wand • 07725 328 183 ARO Sunny Hoyle • 07976 931 621 ARO Neil Kenefec • 07709 932 627 facebook.com/groups/PeterboroughTipec Monthly meetings are held second Thursday of every month from 7pm at The Tap and Kitchen, Oundle PE8 4DE.

We enjoyed a September run down around Ffestiniog, organised by Neil Thomas. We headed out of Shropshire up the A5 (The old Roman road up to Anglesey) with a coffee stop at the Rhug Estate Farm Shop. We continued up through Corwen, to Betws y Coed and then on to Beddgelert, passing Snowdon en-route.

We then headed down to the Oakley Arms Hotel at Maentwrog and then down the fast road past Capel Celyn and into Bala, where we split up and went our separate ways. Thanks again Neil, for a great run.

Our October run to the Dams at Rhayader was another spectacular day in Wales. Following major storms and floods the roads where clear and weather was great. Meeting at Moos (the old Little Chef) this side of Welshpool we quickly got past Welshpool, Newtown and Llanidloes and turned left into Devil’s Bridge where we stopped for coffee. (Think we will do Devil’s Bridge in the Winter before the crowds arrive from England.)

Leaving Devil’s Bridge we stopped for photos at aptly named ‘The Arch’ with great views. Then heading off over the Dams which where all open after the floods of recent days.

Running down into Rhayader we decided to go to the Red Kites down towards Aberystwyth which was not a good idea as it was heaving with cyclists and tourists. However a great day was had and we headed off home. Thanks again, a great day.

Sunny’s 997 on the pass at Glencoe

The last couple of months have been a little quieter than previous, however members met up at the WEC at Silverstone and there have been road trips aplenty. The NC500 was once again conquered and journeys to Portugal, Spain, France and Andorra with members and their friends and family were enjoyed, as Peterborough Region collectively did thousands of Porsche fun miles.

After over two years of helping to run the club Michael has decided to step down as ARO. Michael has been instrumental it setting up the Peterborough region in 2016 and is a very enthusiastic Porsche owner. I would like to personally thank Michael for all his hard work, dedication and support since we set the region up together. Without Michael we would not have a Peterborough region!

I’m pleased to say that two ‘eager’ volunteers have stepped up to the plate: Sunny Hoyle and

Neil Kenefec. They are both very keen to grow the club not only in numbers but in the amount of club events and trips that the region do.

We’re reviewing our calendar for next year and hoping to include a number of European tours.

Interest has been shown in the Le Mans Classic, Spa Classic and Circuit des Remparts d’Angoulême.

Plans are also afoot looking into setting up a weekend tour of Wales culminating in a track day at Anglesey. We are hoping to extend the invitation to all TIPEC regions to come and have a track blast or simply a cars and coffee style meet with added on-track antics to watch and enjoy.

I have committed to getting a group of people from our region to go to Simply Porsche. I missed out this year due to a clash in my own touring schedule; but I’m definitely going next year.

We’re also planning an event at Porsche Centre Silverstone sometime in the new year after its renovations are complete.

So, there is lots to look forward to next year! If there is anything you would like to see or do, please let Sunny, Neil or Stuart know and we’ll do our best to look into it.

December 12th (Thursday) Curry night at the Gurkha Lounge, Hampton January 9th (Thursday) Monthly meet at the Tap and Kitchen, Oundle February 1st (Saturday) Megiuar’s seminar – joint meet with South Central region at Daventry

R19

EAST MIDLANDS

east.mids@tipec.net RO Jim Stevens • 07879 885 260 ARO Mark Frearson Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month 7pm at The Packe Arms, Rempstone Road, Hoton, Loughborough LE12 5SJ.

We’ve enjoyed a track evening at Donington Park, and we’ve driven our cars to Rutland Water, the Peak District and across the counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

We’ve joined our neighbouring regions at the Northern-ish Gathering, at the Super Sausage Café, the Harbour Café and at Weston Park.

And, of course, we’ve enjoyed catching up over a beer, while admiring each other’s cars in the car park of the Packe Arms every month. We’ve also passed the milestone of 50 members (57 and counting!)

Since the last update we’ve enjoyed a group run up to the Peak District, on the (just about) dry morning of the 28th September. James Mackenzie Scott and Phil Allseybrook kindly undertook the organisation and Phil’s local knowledge meant that we had a great run across some spectacular roads.

R8

A NGLIA & NORTH ESSEX

RO Ian Jones • izzy.spyder@sky.com ARO Adam Jiggins • adamjiggins69@gmail.com Treasurer Yvonne King • yvonneking@hotmail.com facebook.com/groups/618348854957396 Meetings are held fourth Tuesday of each month from 7pm at The Woolpack, Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds IP31 1SW. www.thewoolpackfornham.co.uk 01284 753 380. Secondary meeting second Tuesday of each month from 7pm at The Alma, School Road, Copford, Colchester.

CO6 1BZ. www.thealma.org.uk

We then met up with our local Midlandish regions at Weston Park on October 20th. I’m sure that this will be covered elsewhere in the magazine.

So, it’s been a great year again and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s company. We have one major event still coming up. By the time you read this, we’ll have enjoyed the hospitality of Porsche Centre Nottingham who are hosting our monthly meet on November 6th.

We will keep the monthly meets going over winter so do come along for some Porsche chat during the cold dark evenings. Don’t feel you have to bring the Porsche!

I will move the January meeting back one week though, otherwise we’ll be meeting on New Year’s Day! As ever, do keep an eye on the Facebook page and your email inbox for updates and any other future events.

December 4th (Wednesday) Club night at The Packe Arms January 8th (Wednesday) Club night at The Packe Arms February 5th (Wednesday) Club night at The Packe Arms

Anglia & North East members at Caister Castle

Our annual regional show, Cars by the Lake, was well attended with only 14 of the 15 spaces filled because of a breakdown en route (puncture and recovery!) We had a great day, with the weather holding off and £140 raised for a local charity.

After much sweating, we finally got our club tickets for the Warren Classic and Supercars event on the Thursday before the show, so with a quick meet and greet to hand tickets out, it was a short convoy to the event. We had a couple of no-shows due to the forecast of rain (sugar lumps melt when wet!) but again the weather held, with even the sun making an appearance.

Caister Castle fun run out was another great event with 13 cars meeting up at various points en route.

Great place to visit if you’ve never been, plus a trip to the seaside thrown in for some fish and chips after.

East Mids members’ cars on the Peak District run

RO & ARO wanted urgently

Our first meeting at The Alma had a great response – a good night with 22 in attendance, where we also gained two new fully paid up members. Welcome! Our club night at the Woolie also had a good turnout of 16. At both meetings we spoke about our post-Christmas meal and drinks. This will take place in Bury Saint Edmunds, on Saturday 1st February, if anyone wishes to book accommodation. The venue is yet to be finalised.

As we wind down towards winter, it’s worth sparing a few lines to think about what’s happened in the East Midlands in 2019. We’ve enjoyed the hospitality of Porsche Centres Leicester and Nottingham, Barkston Refinishing, Center Gravity, DW Performance and Nielsen’s Chemicals. Many thanks to the generosity of all the organisations that have supported us this year.

Meetings are held first Sunday of every month at 7pm for 7:30pm start at Ye Olde Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor, Retford, Notts, DN22 8QS

Our ARO Adam Jiggins had a surprise 50th birthday party arranged by his daughters, which amazingly stayed a surprise! A great night was had by all.

Keep up to date at www.synn.org.uk or look for us on Facebook as ‘Porsche Enthusiasts Club - South Yorkshire & North Notts (TIPEC)’

Ian Jones is, yet again, organising the bi-annual trip to the Le Mans Classic next year, 1st–6th July.

Please contact Ian for details.

R6

S OUTH YORKSHIRE & NORTH NOTTS.

We will be putting together a calendar of events for next year as we get the details.

Second Tuesday of every month Club night at The Alma Fourth Tuesday of every month Club night at The Woolpack, January through to November

R7

CENTRAL

It’s great to put names to faces as we all know many people on social media but we don’t necessarily really know them.

tipeccentral@outlook.com RO Lindsay Brown • 07768 442 050 ARO Steve Jones • 07775 581 044 ARO Neil Smith • 07899 961 429 Meetings are held second Monday of every month 7:30pm onwards at The Bull’s Head, Birmingham Road, Shenstone WS14 0JR. www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebullsheadshenstone

Richard Simmons organised the first Midlandsish meeting, hopefully we can build this event to match the very successful Northern-ish meeting, it was a lovely day with 25 Porsches in attendance, five of them from Central.

June 7th (Sunday) Simply Porsche, national TIPEC event

The breakfast meetings are getting more and more popular, these will continue next year. If anyone has any suggestions for suitable venues please let us know and we will see if we can fit them in.

June 12–15th (Friday–Monday) WotY Wales, please advise ASAP if you want to join us

We will be having the Christmas meal at the newly refurbished Bull’s Head on December 9th, please come along and join in our festivities.

July 1st–6th July (Wednesday–Monday) Le Mans Classic, please contact Ian for more details

We will also soon be getting together to organise the events listing for 2020. If anyone wants to add to the listings please let us know and we can add your events.

February 1st (Saturday) Post-Christmas meal, Bury, details TBC

July 17–19th (Friday–Sunday) Silverstone Classic August 9th (Sunday) Saffron Walden car show As always, please give us your ideas and feedback on what you want us to do, what you don’t want to do, or what we could do better. We are here to serve the region, but your input is invaluable.

BOONKCE

VA IN AD

VE TO SA

NS ORATIO T S E R NEC

Photoshoot at the Midlands-ish gathering

It’s that time of year when the dark nights are creeping in and by the time you read this the biggest show of the year will have passed – I’m of course talking about The Classic and Sportscar Show at the NEC. The NEC Classic is great, it’s the show where we get to meet members, both old and new.

You can keep an eye on our Facebook page for events added at short notice.

December 9th (Monday) Christmas meal at The Bull’s Head December 22nd (Sunday) Breakfast meet, venue TBC

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Exclusive discount on Saturday and Sunday adult or family tickets with your club code*:

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Book your tickets today at necrestorationshow.com/club-tickets *Exclusive discount code is for club members use only, available in advance until midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020.

To book by phone call 0844 858 6758, calls cost 7ppm plus network extras.

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AT 138

31/10/2019 12:09

January 13th (Monday) Club night at The Bull’s Head January 26th (Sunday) Breakfast meet, venue TBC R20

SOUTH CENTRAL

south.central@tipec.net RO Nick Papé • 07801 881 170 ARO Gary Howard • 07856 723 196 Instagram: @tipecsouthcentral Facebook.com/groups/southcentraltipec Meetings are held first Thursday of the month from 7:30pm at The Green Man, Lavendon MK46 4HA.

As always, the club is run by the members for the members so if there is something you would like to see or do, please let Gary or Nick know.

As the club grows, we are looking for people to help out with planning events and get involved in the running of the region. If you are interested in this, please do get in touch.

Please check out the events page on Facebook as there are always new events and local meets being added.

R11

N ORTH LONDON, HERTS & SOUTH ESSEX

NLHSE@tipec.net RO Vince Dallimore • 07798 630 649 ARO Peter Musk • 07734 769 953 facebook.com/groups/1217447545000223

The last Bicester Scramble of the year

Welcome to all our new members – we are now at 64 signed up. Thank you to all. It’s great to see so many new faces and new cars at the monthly meet, so if you haven’t yet braved the ‘first time’, please come along, we’re a friendly bunch, honestly!

Three informal monthly meetings: First Sunday 10:30am (open marque) at The Goat Inn, Vicarage Causeway, Hertford Heath, SG13 7RT. Second Saturday 7:45am at South Mimms services car park (near the exit to fuel), for a drive to White Elm Garden Centre for breakfast and an optional country drive out. Please confirm attendance in advance, we will leave sharp at 8am. Last Monday 6pm (Porsches only) at The Ace Café, Ace Corner, off the A406, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD.

October saw the last Colmworth Cars of the year with a stellar turnout despite the rain.

There will be a presentation on the first Sunday in December at Colmworth Cars where the orgainsers present a cheque to the church. Come along for a free mince pie!

We enjoyed a trip for breakfast to the Super Sausage Café and were rewarded with sunshine and a car park of interesting cars.

The club returned to the last Bicester Scramble of the year amid the Autumn sunshine and we enjoyed a good drive out from the region to Bicester Heritage.

For more up to date news and to join in the discussion, please join us on Facebook or keep an eye out for emails.

December 30th (Monday) Porsche Night at the ACE, Porsche only parking from 6pm January 5th (Sunday) Classics at the Goat, arrivals from 10.30am for the best parking spots; followed by our region club meeting to agree next events January 11th (Saturday) Breakfast run to the White Elm Garden centre at Bicknacre in Essex, then onward for a country run out January 27th (Monday) Porsche Night at the ACE, Porsche only parking from 6pm February 2nd (Sunday) Classics at the Goat We hope to see lots of our local members at the forthcoming events, check out your email for updates.

R12

K ENT & SOUTH EAST LONDON

kent.sel@tipec.net RO Paul Greer • 07799 412 870 ARO Stuart Watson

Our club nights are very informal with a run through of club business (mostly upcoming events for the month) followed by ideas from members of what they would like to do. Be great to see you there. Come for food, chat, drink and of course, Porsching!

We meet on the first Thursday of every month at the Green Man in Lavendon from 7pm.

December 14th (Saturday) Breakfast run to the White Elm Garden centre at Bicknacre in Essex, then onward for a country run out

Meetings are held first Monday of the month from 7:30pm at The Moody Mare, 501 Seven Mile Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME18 5QY (On the B2016 road near Mereworth)

Our new breakfast spot at White Elm Garden Centre

Our Facebook group now has 49 members; forthcoming events are posted there for your convenience, as well as being noted in All Torque.

With good weather the Goat continues to attract a wide selection of classics and is a good venue for our month starter on the first Sunday.

Our most recent visits in October and November were dry days and well attended. Peter attended the ACE Café meetings in September and October, I was otherwise engaged.

White Elm Garden Centre is our new monthly drive out venue at Bicknacre in Essex, followed by a country drive out for those that are interested.

December 1st (Wednesday) Classics at the Goat Arrivals from 10:30am for the best parking spots; followed by our region’s club meeting to agree next events

Members’ cars on our Austria trip

It’s easy to get reflective at this time of year and that’s not a bad thing. The weather has been great for most of the year and there were plenty of opportunities to ‘get out and drive your Porsche’ as Magnus Walker would say. However it did seem at times that we had chosen the only rainy days of the year to hold our events on, but that’s life.

It doesn’t matter how you use your Porsche, as long as you use it. Your Porsche is not just any car. Every time you start it and ease it away from its usual resting place, your Porsche brings a smile to your face which is hard to quantify.

35

Meeting up with others who understand how you feel about your Porsche can be far more rewarding than you might expect. Not just to share those driving experiences, but to help and seek help about how to get the most from your pride and joy.

Whether it’s general maintenance matters or giving your Porsche a new lease of life, there is no substitute for talking about it to fellow enthusiasts, face to face.

R13

THAMES VALLEY

thames.valley@tipec.net RO Andrew Harris • 07812 146 999 ARO Graham Driver • 07799 625 279 ARO Jason Gibson • 07958 459 725 Meetings are held second Tuesday of every month 7:00pm at The Bell & Bottle, Bath Rd, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3RX.

A month later Andy James, an IT expert, shared the best online resources available to help you keep your Porsche on the road.

We’ve invited a wide range of guests with expert knowledge to speak at future meetings. The response from them has been brilliant.

As a result, you can expect presentations from experts with a wide range of Porsche and driving related knowledge. This exceeds any content you can get on the web. The influence of us as Porsche Enthusiasts, is a real attraction for businesses and is of huge benefit to you.

We can only attract these guest speakers because of the large numbers of you who get involved in the club and we thank you for your ongoing support, its extremely gratifying.

In December we’ve been invited to hold our monthly meet at Porsche Centre Tonbridge, please come along and bring a friend. It’s a great evening and they really do look after us.

Christmas and the New Year mean different things to each of us. Wherever you are and whatever you do over the festive period, we wish you all the very best and we look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.

December 2nd (Monday) Club night at Porsche Centre Tonbridge December 7th (Saturday) Christmas ball at Brands Hatch – fully booked January 6th (Monday) Club night at The Moody Mare

AT 138

December 6th (Friday) Annual Christmas party dinner and dance

January 14th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle

We have the sole use of the large function room which includes the use of a projector, screen and audio equipment.

Stewart Davies from Porsche Centre Tonbridge kindly gave us a presentation in October. The feedback from you was extremely positive.

A fabulous morning had, the roads overall were quiet allowing us to push the cars a little – taking it steady through the villages of course!

December 10th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle Quiz night and mince pies!

In 2019 we moved our monthly meeting venue.

The Moody Mare gives us the space to mingle freely throughout the evening, which was the only reason for the move. The food is still great and the staff and customers are welcoming.

All of this has allowed us to put more emphasis on our monthly meetings, making them a more attractive proposition on a cold and wet winters evening.

Our second leg, about another 40 miles, took us to the Milk Shed in Weston-on-the-Green, stopping here for tea and coffee before saying our goodbyes and the journey home.

January 5th (Sunday) Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble Breakfast run around the Cotswolds

Our September gathering at the Bell & Bottle was a little quieter than usual with lots of people away on European road trips and holidays including myself, however Graham was on hand to entertain.

This was then followed by another good turnout at the Bell & Bottle for our October meeting, the last one before the clock change unfortunately brings those darker evenings back to the car park! We had a fab evening with many in attendance, great to see you all as always.

The Italian Job: On Sunday 29th September, we had a drive out from Beaconsfield Services on the M40, heading out through Cookham and Maidenhead before having a coffee stop at the Farm Cafe in Wokingham.

After having had our little latte/cappuccino break, we then headed off to lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant in East Horsley, which one of our members, Neil Marshall, kindly arranged for us.

The drive from the café took us through Wokingham, Crowthorne, Longcross, Chobham and Ripley. With the roads being fairly traffic free, we arrived at our destination in just over an hour.

February 11th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle February date TBC (Sunday) Super Sausage Café breakfast drive out and inter-regional gathering Please keep an eye on our diary page of the website at: www.tipec.net/regions/thames-valley We have lots of events coming up and it would be great to see you. Don’t forget about our Facebook page too – Thames Valley Region – Porsche Enthusiasts Club.

R9

SURREY & SUSSEX

surrey.sussex@tipec.net RO Bob Stephens • 07548 306 803 ARO Terry Rockall • 07771 511 433 ARO Michael Bowden • 07724 016 592 facebook.com/groups/ tipecsurreyandsussex Meetings are held second Wednesday of every month from 7:00pm at The Bolney Stage, London Road, Bolney RH17 5RL, 10 miles south of Crawley off the A23.

All in all a very enjoyable day and drive out along with a lovely meal. Thank you Jason for doing the route … we all really enjoyed the drive.

Graham put on a super breakfast drive out on Sunday 27th October, with nine cars and 13 of us meeting at the Oxford services on the M40 for 7:30am, a quick cuppa and then a spirited drive-out around the Cotswolds, some lovely quiet B roads allowing us to stretch our cylinders, stopping for breakfast at the Priory café in Burford … and a lovely breakfast it was too.

The car park was adjacent to the River Windrush which had just started to break its banks! By the time we got back to the cars, wellington boots were required!

Intense discussion at Precision Porsche!

We had a great turnout to our first Cars & Coffee morning, laid on specifically for our club by Precision Porsche. Many thanks to Peter Rowe and all the staff at Precision for the event. Several members took advantage of the pre-booked car health checks, hopefully not too many surprises.

The knowledge and expertise of the Precision staff have led to a number of club cars being serviced or repaired at their premises over recent years.

We have had two recent Sunday runs out, the first was a drive down to Cuckmere Haven with lunch in the Cuckmere Inn after which a few of us ventured down to the coast and the famous Coastguard Cottages.

R23

SOUTHERN

R21

RO urgently wanted ARO Jim Tarrant • 0120 260 1886 jim.tarrant@consequia.com

hampshire@tipec.net RO William Batchelor • 07941 034 422 xelor1956@icloud.com ARO Andrew Morle • 07450 435 347

Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 7:30pm at The Old Thatch, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7NW.

The second started at the newly reopened Leanardslee Gardens and a drive up to Denbies Winery in Dorking, including a sample of their products, very refreshing. We also had a tour round the vineyard which explained the various types of vines and a little bit of history of the company, again very interesting.

A new event for us was a visit to Autovalet in Bosham. They normally supply direct to the trade but they were able to demonstrate their cleaning products which many people bought on the day.

It did leave me with half a car polished, so another job to go on my list!

Andrew turned up in his 911 Turbo, first time out since the engine has been rebuilt, which was a very long process having been let down by the first company and then transporting everything to a second and more reliable specialist.

December 11th (Wednesday) Our Christmas meal this year will be on club night at the Bolney Stage, you will need to book if you wish to come along, contact Michael Bowden for details, raffle prizes needed!

January 1st (Wednesday) Brooklands New Year’s Day Classic Car Gathering, from 9am

Our Thruxton trip had to be cancelled due to the weather but we'll try again in the Spring.

I hope those of you signed up for Christmas dinner in December enjoy yourselves. Unfortunately I can't make it due to family commitments, but Becs has stepped up and will no doubt ensure ever ything runs smoothly. Merr y Christmas everyone!

If anyone has any words and/or pictures of what what they’ve been up to with their cars, please do email them to me for publication.

December 3rd (Tuesday) Christmas Dinner at The Old Thatch, Wimborne

February 4th (Tuesday) Club Night, The Old Thatch, Wimborne

January 9–12th (Thursday–Sunday) Autosport Racing Car Show at the NEC Gmund qs of 30/6/08 16:49 Page All details our regional events can 1be found

on our regional section of the TIPEC.net website.

Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month from 7pm at The Hinton Arms, Petersfield Road, Hinton Ampner, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 0NH.

TIPEC member’s car spotted in the Cotswolds

January 7th (Tuesday) Club Night, The Old Thatch, Wimborne

January 8th (Wednesday) Club night at the Bolney Stage, London Road, Bolney, Haywards Heath, RH17 5RL

HAMPSHIRE

Please visit our region’s part of the website at www.tipec.net/regions/southern as we are always updating our events page. Members will also receive email notifications of upcoming items.

William’s car after the surface cleanser

I never thought of using a product to remove old wax and sealant on my car; a surface cleanser wash by Chemical Guys did the job well. The surface looks dull but is ready for the next stage and application of Zanno Z-5 Pro for clearcoat and regular finishes. In my opinion ‘The Worlds Best Polish’ with absolutely stunning results. I will keep to these products from now on.

Looking back over the past year we have been able to enjoy varied events across the regions and get togethers with regular and new members attending our monthly meetings. Evenings of curries and steak treats on occasions and the breakfast runs out on Sundays.

The Festival of Speed in July this year at Goodwood was a particularly special event. Sir Jackie Stewart celebrated the 50 years anniversary of his first F1 world title championship in 1969 in his Matra MS80. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the different cars representing his career.

His very first racing car was the Marcos GT Xylon he drove in 1962. Following on with his Monaco

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Grand Prix winners, a BRM P261, as well as the cars he raced in the European tours; plus the Tyrrell 003 and 006 driven up the Hill by Sir Jackie’s sons Paul and Mark Stewart adding to the celebrations.

R22

B RISTOL, SOUTH WEST & SOUTH WALES

Looking ahead, our second Christmas social evening is on December 14th at the Cranleigh Sports and Social Club, with a three-course dinner at £25 and entertainment with the Creative Covers Band.

RO Sue Simmons • 07530 312 700 sue.simmons1@gmail.com ARO Debs Bradshaw • 07423 436 503 debbradshaw@sytner.co.uk ARO Sarah Hughes

If you fancy an evening with good food and entertainment, all members are welcome, email xelor1956@icloud.com to check availability ASAP. Thank you.

Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm at The Plough, Pilning, Nr Bristol BS35 4JJ. www.theploughpilning.co.uk

I have enjoyed my time as RO of the Hampshire region and being a member over the last two years, but have decided to step down and offer the position of RO to any member who would like to take over from January 2020.

December 4th (Wednesday) Club night at the Hinton Arms, SO24 0NH December 14th (Saturday) Christmas dinner and social evening, Cranleigh Sports and Social Club, GU6 7AN January 8th (Wednesday) Club night at the Hinton Arms, SO24 0NH February 5th (Wednesday) Club night at the Hinton Arms, SO24 0NH Further updates can be viewed online through our region’s page on the club website at www.tipec.net/regions/Hampshire

We recently held an RO meeting in Cricklade and what is becoming increasingly apparent is that more people need to help with events like Beaulieu, the NEC shows and so on, otherwise the national face of TIPEC may need to change. If you are interested in finding out more about what might be involved please contact me.

So it’s time to start organising 2020 I guess – what I really need are more volunteers like Ian, Derek and Sarah to come forward with suggestions that they would be happy to organise with a little help from me. Driving days with breakfast or lunch seem favourite, but new suggestions of places to go would be great.

I enjoy going every month to our Club meets and will continue to do so as a member of TIPEC. The monthly meets will continue on as normal at the Hinton Arms, it is a really good venue offering excellent food and look forward to seeing all members and enthusiasts as usual.

As we somehow seem to be approaching Christmas I am really pleased that we have such good attendance planned for our Christmas weekend in mid-Wales. We had such a fantastic time at The Metropole last year in September that the idea of going back there for some Christmas fun feels great. There will be some ‘around-dinner’ entertainment organised by one volunteering member – so I’m looking forward to that. I am sure pictures will follow in the next magazine.

Happy Christmas to all – hope your tree looks like this!

You will hopefully soon see details of our fantastic six-day trip to Ireland. As well as that we have had some good club nights (there’s a quiz coming up) and the great news is we intend to hold an additional night each month for those members further south in the patch, or anyone else that wishes to attend. This will be at The Keepers Cottage Inn near Cullompton and by the time you read this we will have held a Saturday drive to introduce the group to the pub.

The first date of the monthly meeting there will be published soon so watch the website and Facebook pages for details. It is likely to be the third week of each month but the exact night is to be determined.

This is all down to the background work done by Derek and Ian whose suggestion I was delighted with, so I do hope that many of you further down the southwest peninsula will take advantage. If you need any details please contact me.

Club nights continue right through the winter with meetings on December 3rd and January 7th at The Plough.

The main thing is to keep your eye on our Facebook page and regional page on tipec.net because often there are other events that people ask for company to go on and you can make the most of your membership of this fab group of people.

Please contact me for any info you need on either sue.simmons@tipec.net or 07530 312 700.

R15

CORNWALL & DEVON

RO & ARO urgently wanted For now, c/o Sue Simmons • 07530 312 700 sue.simmons1@gmail.com Merged with Bristol, South West & South Wales until a local RO is found.

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