10 Years of American Motoring – Audi/Morris/Porsche

[Whatty]

J8 SVG said:

Wheels on back to front?

Yep I did indeed have my staggered wheels arse about face.

In my defence I had just had a near death (well sort of) experience.

Returning to an earlier picture.

Note the angle of the silver dustbin back left.



Built in the 1920’s my garage was cunningly designed with the floor sloping down on all four sides to meet at a small central drain point.

Whether this thoughtful detail was provided by the architect to just make oil changes easier or more likely for wet Model T Fords to drip into remains to be seen.

Expert jackista's can probably see where this is going.

Always short of time at weekends and in a hurry I nipped into the garage to swap disco D-90s for Cup 1s.

Much like my earlier jack fun with the Bimmer 2002….
Jack went, car went up, jack then rolls down sloping floor taking now wobbly Das Auto with it.

Funny in hindsight, scary as fk in reality.
Future safe jacking guaranteed by removing back wheels from jack.

Let’s be careful out there.

Cheers Whatty

[Whatty]

Thanks Bluedge

Yep, Hickory Knoll, opposite Shoprite. I heard it had moved to Parsippany due to space issues but do check before heading out in either direction. The F-chat Tri-State forum would be a good place to find out.

Always a mouthwatering selection and in the main a friendly bunch. Look out for the Tax Dr and one of his many Fezza's.

Ashamed to say but I've been on both ends of road rage in NJ, I really won't miss that aspect of the place.

You over here on a Green Card or L1A Visa?



As Winter 2009/10 turned to Spring 2010 the snow thawed and garage queens emerge to enjoy some recreational usage.

Being a tactful sort of bloke I opted not to take the 964 to work. While mindful of the economic hardship being experienced by some colleagues the real reason was the fact that I lived a mere 5 miles / 10 minutes from my office.

Wiser heads than mine know that short journeys and cold oil are a great recipe for accelerated engine wear. With 11.5 litres of oil on board the 964 typically needed a good 20 minutes to get up to temperature* and while I would have been happy to go around the block a few times 90 degree corners aren’t that much fun.

• Depending on ambient temperature, your own results may vary.

So time to do something radical.

Dispatching my check (sic) I joined the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the …….



Big Club, Big Badge.

Brand line back then 'IT'S NOT THE CARS IT'S THE PEOPLE'

Lots of people. Over 100,000 in 139 regional chapters.

Lots of things to do:
Social activities
Concours
Racing & Rallying
Autocross
Technical Insight
Crap Magazine
(Apparently it’s now a lot better with, I believe, some bloke called C.Harris an occasional contributor)
Free digital edition here:http://pca.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vpca14/i7/p1

Now my experience with single marque car clubs is limited to accompanying my brother on a couple of MGOC events back in the late 80’s in his ’66 BGT.

On arrival at one destination, B-Series lump gasping and steaming, we were met with the comment “ Please do try and keep up in future”

So I was a bit sceptical.
And I don’t do cheese & wine.
Or polishing.

But I could see me and my little car doing this.

Behold and wonder at Walter
http://youtu.be/U0u_sWeqDwc

Cheers, Whatty

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 16th August 06:31

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 17th August 10:53

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 7th February 06:02

[Whatty]

blueedge said:

I heard about the Tax Dr, quite a collection he seems to have.

Fortunately I've not been on the receiving end of any road in NJ, I have witnessed a few crazy incidents though, including one guy actually almost ramming someone who wouldn't let him queue jump at one of the tollbooths on the Parkway!

I'm here on a Green Card. My wife's American, she was stationed in the UK with the USAF and after she separated from the AF we decided to move to NY where she was from.

The GSP / NJTP toll booth Grand Prix never ceases to amuse. 10 lanes into 3 = chaos. EZ Pass helps.

I think this is one of the good Dr's Fiats. Not sure what model it is. My humble Nine64 in background.



His Enzo is pretty cool. Tax avoidance advice obviously pays!

[Whatty]

Signing up for a couple of TSD distance events I roped in Mike-the-neighbour as navigator only to discover that my rally expectations were a bit more Walter Mitty than Walter Rohrl, with most routes set in the Jersey ‘burbs.

For old times sake Mike and I took a quick trip out last week in his 911.



Quick video of the typical NJ rally stage setting. Dull is not the word.

Pace notes by Rage Against The Machine.
Edited due to Video being buggered.

While on the subject of Mike-The-Neighbour.
Meet his daily drive. 2000 Nissan Altima. 3.0 litre.

Appropriately finished in JRY.
Note ride height, perfect for NJ potholes.



Mike uses it to commute from NJ to his job on Staten Island.
One owner from new. Note mileage.
Original clutch. He obviously has a light touch.



It’s a Q car, a Sleeper, a Stealth Fighter, insert your own cliché here.
227 bhp, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds.
V6 block used in later 350/360Z’s.





Cheers, Whatty.

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 17th August 03:24

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 17th August 03:26

Edited by Whatty on Tuesday 19th August 13:45

[Whatty]

Anyone who has done a T.S.D event knows the ability to calculate average speeds, distances etc requires more rather mathematic ability than driving skill. On that point Mike-the-Neighbour proved himself a navigator par excellence. He should with a day job as a teacher of calculus and geometry (that’ll be math’s to English readers) he gave us a bit of an unfair advantage. Subsequently we chalked up a couple of wins and a second place.

We decided to quit while ahead when we were actually the subject of a protest – WTF!

Deciding that the 964 was worthy of a bit more than glorified treasure hunts. I set off in search of something a bit more dynamic.

Welcome to Autocross. Or Autosolo as I think its called in the UK.
Part autotest, part sprint. This nicely produced video about the sport in California gives you the basic idea.

http://youtu.be/bkdyrd3QXT0

Signed up I duly arrived at Englishtown Raceway in central NJ. Best known for its drag strip it also has a 1.35 mile road/kart circuit.

Not very good picture.



Car preparation.

Apply assigned numbers (badly) in 3M decorators tape. Lose front mats. Job done.



Cheers, Whatty

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 7th February 06:18

[Whatty]

Locally organised by the PCA or the Sports Car Club of America events are run at locations like Englishtown or the giant parking lots at the New York Giants stadium in the Meadowlands NJ.

If you watched the video you’ll see that.

A. The parking lot event courses are marked out using cones.
B. You get to see a wide variety of car’s, from single seater’s through prepared street cars to daily drivers (well weekends in my case).
C. The fast guy’s make it look easy. And fast.

Driver preparation.

Deciding that the road course at Englishtown might be easier to navigate in comparison to the ‘Sea of Cones’ I tagged along with a PCA instructor to walk the course.



Typically a course comprises a number of slaloms, Chicago Boxes ( Looked like chicanes to me) and in the case of Englishtown a tight hairpin followed by a faux hump back bridge type thing.

Take a ride with another 964 driver on the day I attended.
Second gear only, 60mph tops. It’s not me.
http://youtu.be/XhBWdHpt6Zk

Cheers, Whatty

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 7th February 06:55

[Whatty]

Probably the safest driving environment in NJ.
Newbies advised that leaving with your car as it arrived makes everyone a winner.
Noted. Not sliding on damp grass will help avoid concrete barriers. Doubly noted.



My turn. Take car to staging area. Bit nervous.


Hot day. Club helmet rather sweaty from previous occupant.
Discover 6’2” me + helmet = head at 45 degree angle regardless of seat position.
Bugger. Too late…..3…2…1..Go!

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 7th February 06:56

[Whatty]

Crossing the line I forgot to look at the BIG digital clock trackside.
Hooked? Yes. Driving God? No.
Line up for next run. Still can’t get decent driving position with sweaty helmet on.

Rare 911E in green, nice bloke, super quick driver, my kind of humour.
‘Team Privet Hedge Fund’


MGB GT also in green.
Not entirely stock.


Final results.
Car 113 – dead last but intact.
Driver – dead sweaty.
Learning curve = vertical line.

Cheers, Whatty

Edited by Whatty on Saturday 7th February 08:51

[Whatty]

mwstewart said:

Nice to follow your progress; thanks for sharing.

The MG looks superb!

MWStewart Thanks for commenting on my humble thread
Your Fiesta and M3 threads are inspiring and demoralizing at the same time

The MG was indeed superb, probably not up to your standards though
Not surprisingly it was very tail happy.

[Whatty]

So it’s August 18th 2014 and we’ve got 22 days left before departure.

While I’ve got to June 2010 in the story, I need to back track to April ’10 as looking at old pictures has reminded me of a couple of omissions.

Firstly I gatecrashed a drive with some of the guys from the Early S Registry forum out to the Hershey Porsche Swapmeet in Pennsylvania.
Suffice to say they don’t hang about.



Also they are very friendly.
Embracing the ‘modern’ 911



Driving up the Hershey Highway. I kid you not.
Too busy laughing to take a picture.
Revealed a lot of Porsche.



964 and v. desirable 911S
I’d sell a kidney for one.





Secondly.
A drive out somewhere in the New York State Boonies.
In hot pursuit of the previously pictured 911S.

Downhill we entered a bend covered in freshly resurfaced asphalt. Going a bit too fast.
Loose chippings plus stupidly braking resulted in an ‘Oh-st-I’m-having-my-first-911-lift-off oversteer-moment’.

In reality the coil sprung 964 is a more forgiving car than the earlier torsion bar 911’s. But my brain fade ‘don’t lift’ experience probably hadn’t been helped by these.



OEM engine mounts fail over time, hydraulic fluid leaks.
Engine/gearbox now a separate unit of mass to the chassis.
Car turns in,engine and gearbox follow milliseconds later.



Cheers, Whatty

Edited by Whatty on Friday 13th February 06:02

[Whatty]

The slippery slope. Again.
Solution to floppy engine mounts. Multiple options.
964 mounts expensive. 993 mounts cheaper.
Solid mounts cheaper still but increased NVH.
Heck it’s a sports car. Rennline solid mounts it is.



964 engine carrier a known weak point. Prone to deformation/cracking with spirited use.
Solution? Reinforced Rennline engine carrier.
Just to be on the safe side. Additional seam welding by Euromotors.
Actually it might just be an over-engineered chastity belt.



And while we’re about it, lets tighten up things at the front with a strut brace.



Copyright on pics attributed to Rennline.
Rather nicely manufactured kit from Vermont.

Cheers, Whatty

[Whatty]

Your comment is appreciated. Just killing time here.

While Euromotors duly spannered away, a change of gearbox oil seemed a good idea.
Redline MT90.
9 out of 10 Rennlist forumista’s said their 964’s preferred it.

Good choice. Between the fluid change and the new engine mounts the gear change was transformed. Cold it had always been a bit reluctant in the 1-2nd shift.

From the new mounts a definite increase in NVH was a worthwhile trade for chassis control. No more vagueness at the back now.

Troy Queef moment “Foot down mid-apex, back end squats and away”

[Whatty]

It’s calling my name.

B1108 Watton to B1065 junction via Bodney Camp.

Topograhpically it ain't the Stelvio Pass but it has some nice curvy bits.



A welcome sight after 10 years of the NJ ‘burbs and tediously straight highways.

Also patiently waiting our arrival. Also quite curvy.

Thanks to some dedicated searching & haggling by a similarly car afflicted brother. Cheers G.



Ms. Whatty’s new ride. 2005 Citroen C4 1.6i 16v SX

Left field choice but I rather like the looks. Remind me of my old GSA.



One owner + 30K + FSH + slushbox.

Edited by Whatty on Tuesday 18th November 08:29

[Whatty]

Any fool can be uncomfortable.

You may recall my passing reference to the 964’s first owner?
Bruce Springsteen’s dentist.
Oh the irony.
While The Boss warbled about blue collar guys and factory girls unzipping…..
He was also gargling enough for his dentist to order a $69,000 car. With this interior.



All I can say is that the dentist must have been:
A. Partially colour blind.
B. Shorter than me ‘cos that airbag wheel was way too big.

As my shrinking budget wouldn’t run to low mounting Recaro Pole Positions.
(Don’t feel too sorry for me, back then my arse was too big to fit them)
An alternative ergonomic solution was found.



Much better and a salute to Pork of Olde.
Momo Prototipo with 2” extended hub spacer.
Airbag light bypassed with OEM factory part.

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 15th February 07:41

[Whatty]

© Hat Council. 1934.

In addition to a suitably sporting wheel it seemed only right to buy my own hat.
While my heart said get a Bell open face, my head shape said otherwise.

HJC XXL Full face.
No more swapping sweaty dandruff with strangers.



Normally I don’t take pictures of my helmet but shipping insurance demands it.

While some might think it odd to don a helmet for a quick lap of a car park….
Accidents are rare at Autocross but they do happen.

Looks rather slow right up to the point of impact – ouch!
Example: http://youtu.be/BB-KBaevPqM

I should add this was NOT a NJ PCA or SCCA event.
Their courses were always much quicker.

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 15th February 08:11

[Whatty]

Now more comfortably seated I spent the remaining Summer and Fall weekends trying to get my head round this addictive sport.

Mixed turnouts. Old and new.
Giants Football Stadium in the background.



Not always hot and humid.
A rare wet and humid one.



As every course changes from event to event you have to walk the course – typically 8.30am. As your heats might not be until 11.30am a good memory is essential with respect to the right lines.

For a 911 newbie this was a great environment to learn about the car. Pax laps showed that to be competitive you needed to be always either full throttle or hard on the brakes, no coasting.

Me, 2nd gear, full throttle, in a public car park, probably off line and coasting.
Empire State Building out of shot to the right, slightly surreal.

Edited by Whatty on Thursday 19th February 06:04

[Whatty]

Finally in late 2010 I managed to source some Cup 1 rims in 17”x 7 & 8’s
Big improvement in looks over the 16”s



So good its worthy of another.



Front plates mandatory in this state.
Many exotics run without one, preferring to pay a nominal fine if pulled over.
Personalized vanity plates cost a staggering $80.00.
Providing its 7 or less character’s, unissued and clean anything goes.
‘Mein11’ seemed subtle enough but I never got around to it.

Fed up tripping over the chrome D-90’s in the garage I decided a quick blow over in satin black was in order. 2 hours and 2 coats of Rustoleum later.



Still not quite sure about the final effect.



Late October saw the Autocross season draw to a close.
Never could collect enough Tiger Tokens to complete the set though.




One last drive out on Christmas Eve before another three months enforced hibernation.
My little Jersey Ho (Ho Ho)




Cheers, Whatty.

Edited by Whatty on Wednesday 20th August 04:20

Edited by Whatty on Thursday 19th February 06:05

[Whatty]

At this point, faced with enforced automotive inactivity, proper PH’ers withdraw to the comfort of their fully equipped garage and make good use of their time.

Me? Faced with NJ winter temperatures averaging -2.7c plus an ill equipped 1920’s garage lacking any comfort bar two 100w lightbulbs I retreated into the house.

Ms. Whatty once more delivered on the Xmas pressie front.

964RS in 1:18 by CMC.
Door mirror needs repair. Dealership waiting on parts.



An increasingly rare trip back to the UK revealed one of my brothers was showing signs of a growing addiction of his own.

All that glitters is not Pork.



A quick drive made for a humbling experience. Hardcore.
Stupidly he sold it, got a 993 tiptronic. Underwhelmed.
Sensibly he then bought the Zed3Em back again.

Thanks for reading.

Edited by Whatty on Sunday 22 February 09:18

[Whatty]

Here we are again.

February 2011.

Ms. Whatty’s ML320 got hit again in 2010, side impact this time, lighter than the first but the damn thing seems cursed.
Vowing never to buy another black Mercedes again she draws ups a shortlist of replacements. It’s a short list.

Honda Element.

Ms. Whatty is very much an A-to-B car person.
Practicality trumps driving satisfaction so the Honda floats her boat.

I get charged with finding a used one.
Must be red or green. 3 years old or younger.
Under 40k miles. AWD.
A month of searching finds nothing under 60K miles.
Hmmm. Strong residual values suggest a new one might make sense.

Welcome to New Jersey new car shopping.



Route 22, home to car dealerships, Go Go titty bars, furniture and appliance stores.
They all have something in stock you can take home today.
Plus the biggest flag in the world at this particular Chrysler Dodge RAM JEEP place.



No time to describe a typical dealership operation.
Suffice to say they have high volume turnover – both stock and staff.
High pressure sales tactics - they hate to see you leave empty handed.
Not for the weak willed or fainthearted.

Some haggling later.

Hello 2011 Honda Element EX AWD
Tango Pearl Metallic
2011 last model year. No longer made.



Based on the Honda CRV platform.
More recreational appliance than driving experience.
Dog friendly rubber flooring.



Spacious interior –seats 4.



Venerable 2.4 VTEC



5 speed automatic with overdrive.



Cool removable cool box.



Ms. Whatty loves it.
She’ll miss it. Lots.

[Whatty]

Good point re. the HUMMER.
Honda probably better built

Spring 2011

Audi still being pedalled daily,
Lease ends in June
Office move means longer commute.
Decisions to be made.


U.S Economy at its lowest point.
Neighbouring town nicknamed the Wall St. Ghetto.
Empty retail stores abound.

964 looks great out of winter hibernation.
Trickle charger would have been a good idea.



Flying the flag



Trip to upstate Connecticut for a PCA club racing event.
Low key, great atmosphere, Pork aplenty.



Limerock Park. Lakeville CT
2 hours North of New York City.
Undulating, think Brands Hatch or Oulton Park.



Onboard. Patrick Long.
911 GT3 RSR. Different event.
http://youtu.be/3Iz2fEfr9bg

Nice TAG Heuer 964




Really nice early longhood 911’s



Nice Boxster
Flying Squirrel livery homage to the Flying Lizard pro team.



Nice local Porsche dealer provides circuit test drives during lunch break.
I pulled the short straw with 3 laps in a Panamera.
After the 964 (now sporting RS spec alignment) it felt a bit barge like.

Thanks for reading.

Edited by Whatty on Monday 23 February 08:11