The Porsche's Big 70th Anniversary adventure...
Discussion
I am posting this in the general section because it is about a lot more than Porsches. Much to my regret, I had forgotten my camera bag, so all pics were on an iPhone 10. This is a story about being somewhere I have never been before, and likely will never be again- as an exhibitor in a world class Concours d'Elegance.
This series of events had its origin back in 2015, when fellow PHer MajorDad had told me about a superb event held in Zell am See and by the Porsche Club of Graz, and sponsored personally by Dr Wolfgang Porsche. I was picking up a new GT3RS and he had managed to wangle an invitation for me.
During that event I got to know an American called Dave who was driving a gorgeous 1965 Swiss-registered 911. Nothing specific developed from that until early 2018 when I posted a pic of a new Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo which I had just obtained.
Turned out that Dave was involved with the Concours of America ( formerly Meadowbrook) near Detroit, one of the big three in the US along with Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. He had seen my posting.
There was going to be a Porsche 70th anniversary emphasis and a section for more modern or interesting Porsches, and the Panamera fit the bill. So,unlikely as it seems, I received an exhibitor invitation. Knowing the standard and importance of the cars that are typically displayed, this would be the least important car (a bit like the mini bikes used to transport F1 drivers at the track…)
Apart from friendly events here and there, I am not a concours person. I certainly do not keep cars perfectly, but the Panamera was new and so did not require as much remedial work.The event had two days of activity prior to the actual Concours, so it made sense to take in the whole thing.
Thursday before the Concours
Made some sense to trailer down my nice old 997RS as well and drive the Panamera- this gave my co-driver a useful car to drive during the pre-events, and also I had idea as to a further task which I will explain later.
Many years ago I had fitted tiedown plates to the car, so there was no need to fool around with straps through the wheels. Final inspection and we headed out.it would be about a 700km drive.
The Inn at St Johns near Detroit is a huge facility which has a beautiful golf course and massive parking lots, ideal for this kind of event. Further, unlike most events of this kind the food and accommodation both excel.
On arrival the first things I saw was one of the original team transports - a Mercedes that had been used by the Porsche team. These are very rare. The Porsche Museum does not have one, but to see it with its full load of sports cars is a special sight…
Still, by Thursday night there were only a few cars visible
Friday Morning:
The plan was for a drive to a restoration facility followed by a trip to a private track that was surrounded by private garage suites…(basically huge man caves where members’ cars were stored). There were several hundred of them.
In the morning light a wild variety of cars appeared…1966 Lotus 7, 63 E type,XK140, a very odd Toyota Century,all sorts of cars, but noticeably not the most exotic cars that were to appear at the Concours………….until Sam Mann came out. More about Sam Mann later, but he and his wife joined the Friday run in the most stunning car of the day.. Walter P Chrysler’s personal car. This is a spare, elegant design in an edition of 1. He mentioned that Mr.Chrysler had hung onto the car until 1934 when the company persuaded him that he needed to be in the new streamliner designs. (They were not beautiful, to say the least)..
Much more was to come
This series of events had its origin back in 2015, when fellow PHer MajorDad had told me about a superb event held in Zell am See and by the Porsche Club of Graz, and sponsored personally by Dr Wolfgang Porsche. I was picking up a new GT3RS and he had managed to wangle an invitation for me.
During that event I got to know an American called Dave who was driving a gorgeous 1965 Swiss-registered 911. Nothing specific developed from that until early 2018 when I posted a pic of a new Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo which I had just obtained.
Turned out that Dave was involved with the Concours of America ( formerly Meadowbrook) near Detroit, one of the big three in the US along with Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. He had seen my posting.
There was going to be a Porsche 70th anniversary emphasis and a section for more modern or interesting Porsches, and the Panamera fit the bill. So,unlikely as it seems, I received an exhibitor invitation. Knowing the standard and importance of the cars that are typically displayed, this would be the least important car (a bit like the mini bikes used to transport F1 drivers at the track…)
Apart from friendly events here and there, I am not a concours person. I certainly do not keep cars perfectly, but the Panamera was new and so did not require as much remedial work.The event had two days of activity prior to the actual Concours, so it made sense to take in the whole thing.
Thursday before the Concours
Made some sense to trailer down my nice old 997RS as well and drive the Panamera- this gave my co-driver a useful car to drive during the pre-events, and also I had idea as to a further task which I will explain later.
Many years ago I had fitted tiedown plates to the car, so there was no need to fool around with straps through the wheels. Final inspection and we headed out.it would be about a 700km drive.
The Inn at St Johns near Detroit is a huge facility which has a beautiful golf course and massive parking lots, ideal for this kind of event. Further, unlike most events of this kind the food and accommodation both excel.
On arrival the first things I saw was one of the original team transports - a Mercedes that had been used by the Porsche team. These are very rare. The Porsche Museum does not have one, but to see it with its full load of sports cars is a special sight…
Still, by Thursday night there were only a few cars visible
Friday Morning:
The plan was for a drive to a restoration facility followed by a trip to a private track that was surrounded by private garage suites…(basically huge man caves where members’ cars were stored). There were several hundred of them.
In the morning light a wild variety of cars appeared…1966 Lotus 7, 63 E type,XK140, a very odd Toyota Century,all sorts of cars, but noticeably not the most exotic cars that were to appear at the Concours………….until Sam Mann came out. More about Sam Mann later, but he and his wife joined the Friday run in the most stunning car of the day.. Walter P Chrysler’s personal car. This is a spare, elegant design in an edition of 1. He mentioned that Mr.Chrysler had hung onto the car until 1934 when the company persuaded him that he needed to be in the new streamliner designs. (They were not beautiful, to say the least)..
Much more was to come
Edited by RDMcG on Thursday 2nd August 21:13
The restoration facility had some strange stuff…a Ferrari SuperAmerica with its unique roof design, a Lambo tractor, Type 57 Bugatti, Alfa and a Terraplane Sedan Delivery used by salesmen- the coupe body hid an extendable loadbed to hold samples or wares..
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/0yjEhD32[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/foAsJ5jT[/url]
The car condo/private track facility was vast- several hundred personal car suites, and no in suite maintenance activity allowed. However, simulators, snooker tables, catering, dining all encouraged. After a very nice buffet lunch we waited to go on track ( since the drive included cars as cold as 1919, a parade lap and not a proper run). The Heavens opened and drenched the unfortunate occupants of the open cars, and the track opening got later and later. This proved to be the only miscue of the day; we eventually abandoned the track and headed back to the Inn.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/0yjEhD32[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/foAsJ5jT[/url]The car condo/private track facility was vast- several hundred personal car suites, and no in suite maintenance activity allowed. However, simulators, snooker tables, catering, dining all encouraged. After a very nice buffet lunch we waited to go on track ( since the drive included cars as cold as 1919, a parade lap and not a proper run). The Heavens opened and drenched the unfortunate occupants of the open cars, and the track opening got later and later. This proved to be the only miscue of the day; we eventually abandoned the track and headed back to the Inn.
Saturday Morning
My personal approach to detailing is to drop the car off and have it cleaned up, or to hose the mud off the wheels. Neither of these would be a success here. My co-driver has that combination of perfectionist , attention to detail and competence to turn a car into a jewel, Saturday involved a vast number of lotions, sprays, towels, polish and various liquids about which I was ignorant. However, the car looked good.
REDMAN,ELFORD AND HAYWOOD
The highlight of the day was a seminar with Brian Redman ,Hurley Haywood ad Vic Elford, all legendary Porsche drivers. among them they have won every important sports car race. The statistics are staggering, Hurley won the LM24 5 times, Brian three. Vic was Euro rally champion, also won the Monte Carlo, the Targa Floriom and the Nürburgring 1000km. Hurley was unbeatable at Daytona,.
Asked for favourite car and track:
Vie: Nürburgring and a Porsche 917
Brian : Spa and a Porsche 917
Hurley: Watkins Glen and a Porsche 936
The stories were endless. Vic recalled having an alternator go at the 24. He pulled in. It was against the rules to replace a part but it could be repaired. The machas dropped the hot alternator into a pail of water to cool it na then repaired it and put it back on the car. “ Hold on” said the inspector who went to examine the pail where the alternator had been dumped…and puled out…another alternator. Disqual….
Vic mentioned the driving the 917 flat out on the Mulsanne straight meant there was no steering or braking at all- he once came upon a gaggle of 911s, one passing the other, and passed them on the grass
Brian had a story of a bad crash when he woke up in hospital when the surgeon told him he might not be able to save the arm. Brian smiled. “Why?” Said the surgeon:
“Because I am happy to be here”.
Each of the drivers had amazing stories and the time passed too quickly. At the end of the session there was the usual book signing and autographs - I bought a couple of the books and managed to get Vic and Hurley to come outside and autograph my old RS.
My personal approach to detailing is to drop the car off and have it cleaned up, or to hose the mud off the wheels. Neither of these would be a success here. My co-driver has that combination of perfectionist , attention to detail and competence to turn a car into a jewel, Saturday involved a vast number of lotions, sprays, towels, polish and various liquids about which I was ignorant. However, the car looked good.
REDMAN,ELFORD AND HAYWOOD
The highlight of the day was a seminar with Brian Redman ,Hurley Haywood ad Vic Elford, all legendary Porsche drivers. among them they have won every important sports car race. The statistics are staggering, Hurley won the LM24 5 times, Brian three. Vic was Euro rally champion, also won the Monte Carlo, the Targa Floriom and the Nürburgring 1000km. Hurley was unbeatable at Daytona,.
Asked for favourite car and track:
Vie: Nürburgring and a Porsche 917
Brian : Spa and a Porsche 917
Hurley: Watkins Glen and a Porsche 936
The stories were endless. Vic recalled having an alternator go at the 24. He pulled in. It was against the rules to replace a part but it could be repaired. The machas dropped the hot alternator into a pail of water to cool it na then repaired it and put it back on the car. “ Hold on” said the inspector who went to examine the pail where the alternator had been dumped…and puled out…another alternator. Disqual….
Vic mentioned the driving the 917 flat out on the Mulsanne straight meant there was no steering or braking at all- he once came upon a gaggle of 911s, one passing the other, and passed them on the grass
Brian had a story of a bad crash when he woke up in hospital when the surgeon told him he might not be able to save the arm. Brian smiled. “Why?” Said the surgeon:
“Because I am happy to be here”.
Each of the drivers had amazing stories and the time passed too quickly. At the end of the session there was the usual book signing and autographs - I bought a couple of the books and managed to get Vic and Hurley to come outside and autograph my old RS.
|https://thumbsnap.com/EhA37X0N[/url]
The exhibitors were largely deeply committed to the world of collecting and at every meal there was someone with a story to tell, and the only subject was cars. Words I never heard in four days included:
Trump
Brexit
NAFTA
China
Putin
Trade wars
Work
Terrorism
It was a very insulated, amazingly calm and pleasant respite from the world outside....
On Saturday evening there was also truck night, where anyone could drop in with a truck:
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/BsCnvJeu[/url
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/LmcSe2Aj[/url
Trump
Brexit
NAFTA
China
Putin
Trade wars
Work
Terrorism
It was a very insulated, amazingly calm and pleasant respite from the world outside....
On Saturday evening there was also truck night, where anyone could drop in with a truck:
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/BsCnvJeu[/url[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/LmcSe2Aj[/urlEdited by RDMcG on Wednesday 1st August 02:40
Later that night the parking lots started to show some interesting activity- a bunch of Facel Vegas had been driven in and parked together with an Aston DB2 and a lovely Ferrari. Their four hour drive had turned into eleven hours when the Aston had a rear axle problem and they had several flat tires. I had never seen a four door Facel ( the Excellence) in the metal before.
A lovely Packard Darren with its trademark cut down doors was parked around the corner:
However, the show would not really get going till dawn the next day, when the big stuff showed. up. I will continue this posting tomorrow if I have a chance.
A lovely Packard Darren with its trademark cut down doors was parked around the corner:
However, the show would not really get going till dawn the next day, when the big stuff showed. up. I will continue this posting tomorrow if I have a chance.
Edited by RDMcG on Wednesday 1st August 02:44
The corral where my car was displayed included a representative group of Porsche cars..a 356B,1969 911E, GT2RS, GT3RS among others.
And then…there was this.
The only known 901 Prototype from 1963, known s Barbarossa...
A cursory glance suggested an early 911, but this was the only surviving prototype 901 from the 13 built prior to production. It is different in myriad ways..a crank operated sunroof the is different from production cars, a two-dial instrument panel, 356 steering wheel, and worst of all, dimensions different from the production cars. The glass in the car is a different size to the production cars for example.
The owner bought the car 28 years ago. It had been left as collateral for a clutch job and the owner never turned up. Eventually the car ended up in a a recycling yard. The yard knew what they had, and offered it for sale- the current owner bought it from the for $14,500, a huge amount of money at the time. The car is concours at this stage, but Porsche originally requested to recognize it. They have since authenticated the car.
(Porsche does have a 901 that they have restored but it is not one of the original prototypes).
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/gNx2w4up[/ur
And then…there was this.
The only known 901 Prototype from 1963, known s Barbarossa...
A cursory glance suggested an early 911, but this was the only surviving prototype 901 from the 13 built prior to production. It is different in myriad ways..a crank operated sunroof the is different from production cars, a two-dial instrument panel, 356 steering wheel, and worst of all, dimensions different from the production cars. The glass in the car is a different size to the production cars for example.
The owner bought the car 28 years ago. It had been left as collateral for a clutch job and the owner never turned up. Eventually the car ended up in a a recycling yard. The yard knew what they had, and offered it for sale- the current owner bought it from the for $14,500, a huge amount of money at the time. The car is concours at this stage, but Porsche originally requested to recognize it. They have since authenticated the car.
(Porsche does have a 901 that they have restored but it is not one of the original prototypes).
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/gNx2w4up[/ur
Back to Porsches for a minute, and the competition cars:
Apart from the Transporter the main display had several 917s, 910,550 Spyder, 935, America Roadster,904 and other cars. It always amazes me that the 917 is about the size of a Boxster. Its proportions are so perfect that it looks massive.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/OaeG7ZI5[/url][url]
Apart from the Transporter the main display had several 917s, 910,550 Spyder, 935, America Roadster,904 and other cars. It always amazes me that the 917 is about the size of a Boxster. Its proportions are so perfect that it looks massive.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/OaeG7ZI5[/url][url]Now for a wild car..a 1919 Pierce-Arrow Tourer commissioned by Fatty Arbuckle, a very famous comic movie star of the silent era. He also had an unhealthy interest in young girls, and was tried for murder- but after his third trial the prosecutor gave up trying to get a conviction. Nonetheless, he was ruined.
However, at the height of his fame he had this car built. It has hidden liquor cabinets to deal with the Prohibition era. The restoration was a huge cost, and its owner, Bob Jepson,told me that to build the moulds for the tires cost $60,000 for ten tires. The purple colour is original, and the car carries the monogram RCA for Rosco C Arbuckle. It is technically sophisticated for its time with a pressurized fuel system. Wheel spokes are Indonesian mahogany, and each wheel and tires weighs 400Lbs, Mr. Jepson mentioned that the wheel can only be turned when the car is moving......
.
However, at the height of his fame he had this car built. It has hidden liquor cabinets to deal with the Prohibition era. The restoration was a huge cost, and its owner, Bob Jepson,told me that to build the moulds for the tires cost $60,000 for ten tires. The purple colour is original, and the car carries the monogram RCA for Rosco C Arbuckle. It is technically sophisticated for its time with a pressurized fuel system. Wheel spokes are Indonesian mahogany, and each wheel and tires weighs 400Lbs, Mr. Jepson mentioned that the wheel can only be turned when the car is moving......
.
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