Tell me about your most memorable drive in a Porsche
Discussion
Mine was in a speed yellow Carrera GT a few months after launch. It was at the Le mans Bugatti Circuit. The michellin tyres that the car came with were years behind the capability of that magificent chassis. We were there with the 996RS and were clocking 155mph before the braking zone into the pit straight complex. A friend asked me to drive his Carrera GT. After a lap or so of mincing he said 'if you are not going to F*****ing drive it, take it back and get out'. So i drove it at 10/10ths for a lap. The engine was insane. It revved up to max so quickly. The chassis was well balanced but those tyres were hopeless. lots of correction needed. As we neared the braking zone to the complex the speedo was showing 180mph... then it started going sideways. I thought the accident was going to be dental records. I cant remember what happened next but we ended up getting straight before the complex and scrubed enough speed off to get turned in. The owner just looked at me for a few seconds and said 'nice save Steve'. Someone did it but i wasnt me...
What a car..
Tell me about your most memorable drive. it can be any porsche, any time anywhwere... Let this be a thread for all that is good about Porsche.. The experience of driving.
What a car..
Tell me about your most memorable drive. it can be any porsche, any time anywhwere... Let this be a thread for all that is good about Porsche.. The experience of driving.
Steve Rance said:
Mine was in a speed yellow Carrera GT a few months after launch. It was at the Le mans Bugatti Circuit. The michellin tyres that the car came with were years behind the capability of that magificent chassis. We were there with the 996RS and were clocking 155mph before the braking zone into the pit straight complex. A friend asked me to drive his Carrera GT. After a lap or so of mincing he said 'if you are not going to F*****ing drive it, take it back and get out'. So i drove it at 10/10ths for a lap. The engine was insane. It revved up to max so quickly. The chassis was well balanced but those tyres were hopeless. lots of correction needed. As we neared the braking zone to the complex the speedo was showing 180mph... then it started going sideways. I thought the accident was going to be dental records. I cant remember what happened next but we ended up getting straight before the complex and scrubed enough speed off to get turned in. The owner just looked at me for a few seconds and said 'nice save Steve'. Someone did it but i wasnt me...
What a car..
Tell me about your most memorable drive. it can be any porsche, any time anywhwere... Let this be a thread for all that is good about Porsche.. The experience of driving.
Well how to kill a tread stone dead - not sure how to follow that - I’ve got nothing - let me have a good think as I assume popping to Waitrose in the Spyder isn’t going to cut it ! What a car..
Tell me about your most memorable drive. it can be any porsche, any time anywhwere... Let this be a thread for all that is good about Porsche.. The experience of driving.
I’ll get back to you .........
Fantastic story Steve.
Hunter you will love Daytona.
For me without doubt the Daytona 24 hours in a H pattern gearbox 996 GT3RS in 2002.
Four man team.
Stories that will live with me forever.
We had a ball.
Just one story I don't want to bore you all to death.
Mike J set the seat and harnesses.
Mark S got in pulled the shoulder harnesses as far down as they would go and could still lean way forward.
Mike said that should do.
Mark said. Yep. It's not like we are going fast is it !!!
We ended up with two positions for the seat
Hunter you will love Daytona.
For me without doubt the Daytona 24 hours in a H pattern gearbox 996 GT3RS in 2002.
Four man team.
Stories that will live with me forever.
We had a ball.
Just one story I don't want to bore you all to death.
Mike J set the seat and harnesses.
Mark S got in pulled the shoulder harnesses as far down as they would go and could still lean way forward.
Mike said that should do.
Mark said. Yep. It's not like we are going fast is it !!!
We ended up with two positions for the seat
Not quite as special as you guys, but driving a 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is my most memorable yet. That engine - absolutely glorious - and the car felt to me much better than the 996 GT3 RS I also drove that day. To some people the 996 would probably be more raw with more feeling, but for me the 4.0 was the perfect balance of rawness, feeling and refinement. I'm still in awe of it today and smile when I think of it.
It inspired the spec of my Cayman GTS which is Carrara White Metallic with silver GTS interior package. The white/grey/alcantara combo of the 4.0 really spoke to me so there was no other choice when speccing my own Porsche
It inspired the spec of my Cayman GTS which is Carrara White Metallic with silver GTS interior package. The white/grey/alcantara combo of the 4.0 really spoke to me so there was no other choice when speccing my own Porsche
hunter 66 said:
Great story Steve ...........Porsche always many memories .........
My best story will be in 4 weeks when I hit the banking for the first time in the GT3 RS at Daytona in the Classic 24 ....... told by Rob Wilson it is epic.
For your sake hunter i hope you dont hit the banking,it will hurt.;)My best story will be in 4 weeks when I hit the banking for the first time in the GT3 RS at Daytona in the Classic 24 ....... told by Rob Wilson it is epic.
Engine parts only arrived yesterday,with parts still on back order! so no daytona for me driving sadlly,may come out and help you guys run,dont forget i set the bench mark two years ago 7th overall and 3rd in class,expecting better from you both
I would have to say one of my Euro hoons, but the one where I did Spa, what a track, no one ever forgets "Eau Rouge "
You get it right and it's so easy, you get it a foot wrong and it's so hard the next lap.
And the roads around the Ring area are amazing.
You get it right and it's so easy, you get it a foot wrong and it's so hard the next lap.
And the roads around the Ring area are amazing.
Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 10th October 08:32
Luckily there have been so many memorable drives
In my long-term memory: It must be over 15 years back in Winter. I was driving from Garmisch Partenkirchen in Bavaria over an alpine pass into Austria towards Arlberg. The road was covered in fresh snow, the air was about -10 degrees, the sun was shining, no other car in sight. I put the hood of my 986S down, mounted down jacket and woolen hat. I had a fantastic drive through the Winter secenery enjoying my Boster's handling and the odd dab of oppo at speeds rarely exceeding 40 Mph. Pure bliss
In my short-term memory: VLN race last weekend in a GT4 Clubsport. A more aggressive geo set-up made the car much more interactive and fun to drive whilst substantially improving lap times
In my long-term memory: It must be over 15 years back in Winter. I was driving from Garmisch Partenkirchen in Bavaria over an alpine pass into Austria towards Arlberg. The road was covered in fresh snow, the air was about -10 degrees, the sun was shining, no other car in sight. I put the hood of my 986S down, mounted down jacket and woolen hat. I had a fantastic drive through the Winter secenery enjoying my Boster's handling and the odd dab of oppo at speeds rarely exceeding 40 Mph. Pure bliss
In my short-term memory: VLN race last weekend in a GT4 Clubsport. A more aggressive geo set-up made the car much more interactive and fun to drive whilst substantially improving lap times
Nice one Steve. My memory actually involves you, indirectly.
Back in 2005 when we used to regularly track our 996 GT3RS's we did two consecutive days at Spa. It was my first time at Spa and you had given me a passenger ride in your car on the first morning to show me the lines. The rest of the day was epic as I began to learn what has become my favourite track. Day two was great, but the stand out memory was my last two sessions.
Most people had gone home and the track was pretty much empty, dry and the sun low in the sky. I'd put new tyres on earlier that day and the car felt superb. My second to last session was just me and another RS owner (can't remember who) on track and we lapped together for about 5/6 laps. We then came in to cool down and I thought that was enough, but I couldn't resist one last session, knowing there was enough time for another few laps. As I exited the pits I knew I had the place to myself. I managed 5 glorious laps, didn't see another car and carried on to the chequered flag. No driving heroics, just tidy lapping enjoying a superb circuit all to myself. Priceless!
Back in 2005 when we used to regularly track our 996 GT3RS's we did two consecutive days at Spa. It was my first time at Spa and you had given me a passenger ride in your car on the first morning to show me the lines. The rest of the day was epic as I began to learn what has become my favourite track. Day two was great, but the stand out memory was my last two sessions.
Most people had gone home and the track was pretty much empty, dry and the sun low in the sky. I'd put new tyres on earlier that day and the car felt superb. My second to last session was just me and another RS owner (can't remember who) on track and we lapped together for about 5/6 laps. We then came in to cool down and I thought that was enough, but I couldn't resist one last session, knowing there was enough time for another few laps. As I exited the pits I knew I had the place to myself. I managed 5 glorious laps, didn't see another car and carried on to the chequered flag. No driving heroics, just tidy lapping enjoying a superb circuit all to myself. Priceless!
Edited by jcosh on Tuesday 10th October 10:26
Edited by jcosh on Tuesday 10th October 10:27
Edited by jcosh on Tuesday 10th October 13:44
Most memorable drive for me has to be driving my 997.2 GTS home from 911V after picking it up....
As a child of a working class family living in a small terraced house I had a poster of a white 911 and a red Ferrari on my bedroom wall which I often glared at for hours on end hoping one day I would get to 'see' one in the flesh.....
Fast forward 30+ years and as a 41 year old there I was pinching myself all the way back from 911V in Uxbridge back home to Cheshire in my white 911, paid for using my debit card, no finance, no loan - MY 911! The drive was mainly in heavy traffic, rained for half the journey and was largely insignificant other than the main event - me in MY 911! I left the M6 early, stretched its legs, grinning like a Cheshire cat and then drove to show my mum that her boy had done good (she still has no idea how much it cost - she would have a heart attack!) before driving home and giving my boys (then 6 & 4 year olds) a trip out in MY 911.
No Nurburgring, no Spa, not even big numbers or heroic saves but a journey I will never forget.
As a child of a working class family living in a small terraced house I had a poster of a white 911 and a red Ferrari on my bedroom wall which I often glared at for hours on end hoping one day I would get to 'see' one in the flesh.....
Fast forward 30+ years and as a 41 year old there I was pinching myself all the way back from 911V in Uxbridge back home to Cheshire in my white 911, paid for using my debit card, no finance, no loan - MY 911! The drive was mainly in heavy traffic, rained for half the journey and was largely insignificant other than the main event - me in MY 911! I left the M6 early, stretched its legs, grinning like a Cheshire cat and then drove to show my mum that her boy had done good (she still has no idea how much it cost - she would have a heart attack!) before driving home and giving my boys (then 6 & 4 year olds) a trip out in MY 911.
No Nurburgring, no Spa, not even big numbers or heroic saves but a journey I will never forget.
Trackday at Monza back in 2008....the drive down was pretty special the sounds were epic especially through the tunnels getting pulled for speeding 890 Euro on the spot fine 165 kph....nice....LOL......so many 911 RS's also Turbos / GT2's Ferraris Lambos CLK Black and others we took some tyres with us a truly epic trip
Great story Steve 
The best and most memorable drive of my life was a late evening run through Switzerland to my hotel. Several passes were between me and the hotel and the final pass was the beautiful Grimsel pass.
Anyone who has ever driven in Europe knows how wide, open and smooth the roads are and sometimes you get sight-lines were you can see for several hundred yards. You can truly let the engine sing and just revel in the power and handling of the car you are driving.
What followed over the next couple of hours or so were pure, distilled driving nirvana.
The elevation changes were incredible, the scenery would change from mountains with graggy rock faces and waterfalls routed underneath the road to gorgeous open green fields to dense woodland and infinite variations of all the above in-between!
The roads were smooth, grippy and dry and the cambers seemed to be designed by a committee of petrolheads as each corner almost felt like it was working in conjunction with my geo settings to get me in, through and out of every corner.
The roads were also relatively traffic-free and the planets were truly in alignment that day as even the locals who were out and about were indicating to let me pass.
After a while I stopped for a ‘comfort break’ and after a few minutes of letting the fan do its work I switched off the engine and was surprised at the silence that wrapped around me. I stood next to the car and stared at it for a good few minutes, silently amazed at the joy this inanimate jumble of metal, rubber, glass, plastic and leather had just given me. I was truly in awe of what the car could do, and also acutely aware of how I was nowhere near breaching its limits.
For a good ten minutes or so it was just me, the road and my car stood in silence next to some of the best roads in Europe staring out at the amazing scenery.
The silence was only broken when a cow loomed into view with its oversized cowbell loudly announcing its presence. She probably came over to see who had been making all the noise
I jumped back in the car, started up the flat 6 and broke the silence again. I looked in the rear-view mirror and the cow was not alarmed or worried at all. It just stood there chewing on the Alpine grass. Probably seen it all before I guess I put it into first gear and headed off for the last part of the journey, lowering the passenger side window so I could hear the engine sound ricochet off the walls.
Epic, epic journey and great memories.
Edited to say the car was (and is) my beautiful 997.1 GT3
The best and most memorable drive of my life was a late evening run through Switzerland to my hotel. Several passes were between me and the hotel and the final pass was the beautiful Grimsel pass.
Anyone who has ever driven in Europe knows how wide, open and smooth the roads are and sometimes you get sight-lines were you can see for several hundred yards. You can truly let the engine sing and just revel in the power and handling of the car you are driving.
What followed over the next couple of hours or so were pure, distilled driving nirvana.
The elevation changes were incredible, the scenery would change from mountains with graggy rock faces and waterfalls routed underneath the road to gorgeous open green fields to dense woodland and infinite variations of all the above in-between!
The roads were smooth, grippy and dry and the cambers seemed to be designed by a committee of petrolheads as each corner almost felt like it was working in conjunction with my geo settings to get me in, through and out of every corner.
The roads were also relatively traffic-free and the planets were truly in alignment that day as even the locals who were out and about were indicating to let me pass.
After a while I stopped for a ‘comfort break’ and after a few minutes of letting the fan do its work I switched off the engine and was surprised at the silence that wrapped around me. I stood next to the car and stared at it for a good few minutes, silently amazed at the joy this inanimate jumble of metal, rubber, glass, plastic and leather had just given me. I was truly in awe of what the car could do, and also acutely aware of how I was nowhere near breaching its limits.
For a good ten minutes or so it was just me, the road and my car stood in silence next to some of the best roads in Europe staring out at the amazing scenery.
The silence was only broken when a cow loomed into view with its oversized cowbell loudly announcing its presence. She probably came over to see who had been making all the noise
I jumped back in the car, started up the flat 6 and broke the silence again. I looked in the rear-view mirror and the cow was not alarmed or worried at all. It just stood there chewing on the Alpine grass. Probably seen it all before I guess
I put it into first gear and headed off for the last part of the journey, lowering the passenger side window so I could hear the engine sound ricochet off the walls. Epic, epic journey and great memories.
Edited to say the car was (and is) my beautiful 997.1 GT3
Most memorable drive....the very last time I drove my 964 on a nice quiet Sunday morning before parking it up in readiness for the new owner to collect it. Even more memorable is the ar$e of the car disappearing up the road on collection day. That put a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. 
Mine was the daily commute for 5 years in the early 2000's through the Peak District in a variety of Porsches - starting with a 997.1 S, then the 4S , then the Turbo.
The roads had very little traffic at the start and end of the day and there were no speed cameras. I got to know the roads so well I could real push the car so I got all the kicks without needing track days. Going up Winnats Pass in the snow will stay with me along time!
The best pure days driving was being instructed by Sean Edwards in my 997.1 RS at Oulton Park. It was the whole day and I was absolutely knackered!! He did though manage to make me look half decent by the end of it. It really brought home to me what these cars can do and why you'll get nowhere near their limits on the road
The roads had very little traffic at the start and end of the day and there were no speed cameras. I got to know the roads so well I could real push the car so I got all the kicks without needing track days. Going up Winnats Pass in the snow will stay with me along time!
The best pure days driving was being instructed by Sean Edwards in my 997.1 RS at Oulton Park. It was the whole day and I was absolutely knackered!! He did though manage to make me look half decent by the end of it. It really brought home to me what these cars can do and why you'll get nowhere near their limits on the road
Driving to visit a friend in Berlin in my 991 C2S on a Friday. Finally traffic cleared a bit and I managed to clock 302kph before hitting road works. Slowed right down and got thumbs up from a couple in a Merc convertible. Great how Germans love it when someone uses their car properly.
P.S. It felt more scary than doing 293kph on a Yamaha R1 years ago.
P.S. It felt more scary than doing 293kph on a Yamaha R1 years ago.
An '08 997 C2S that had barely any miles on the clock and that I'd been told I should run in as a result. I hadn't beaten off hordes of other PHers to win a week in a 911 only to drive it around like I had Miss Daisy in the back!
I commuted in it that week - bit of a change from the 206 HDi that was my daily at the time! - and my favourite memory is probably the first evening when I had a biker up my chuff and I decided to do my usual overtake as you exit Warwick just past the racecourse and it opens up into a NSL.
The 206 might have got past one of the cars in the line of traffic. In the blink of an eye I was past all 6! Biker looked more shocked than impressed. Perhaps he could see my reaction in my mirror?!
I commuted in it that week - bit of a change from the 206 HDi that was my daily at the time! - and my favourite memory is probably the first evening when I had a biker up my chuff and I decided to do my usual overtake as you exit Warwick just past the racecourse and it opens up into a NSL.
The 206 might have got past one of the cars in the line of traffic. In the blink of an eye I was past all 6! Biker looked more shocked than impressed. Perhaps he could see my reaction in my mirror?!
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