Change History

Great idea for a thread Guenter!

As a kid I had the usual 911 Turbo poster on the bedroom, unusually alongside of a poster of a BMW 2002tii! I can’t say I was a hardcore Porsche guy from the start but the track bug was definitely there and as a university graduation present almost pulled the trigger on a ’69 911. Sanity prevailed (at least I thought so at the time) and instead I picked up a brand new Mustang 5.0 GT with a factory warranty. Still kicking myself over that one given what has happened to the early 911 market!
I completed the Powell Motorsport 3 day school at Mosport using C4 Corvettes so for a brief period that is what I coveted. But after attending a few Porsche Turbo Cup races at Mosport and watching how quick and competent the 944 Turbos were in the hands of drivers like Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, this became my dream car. I competed in Solo 1 (now called Time Attack) for a few years in a 1LE Camaro and then shifted over to karts for a more affordable head-to-head experience, first 4 strokes and then eventually moving on to 125cc shifter karts.

About a decade ago, it became apparent that the old body was getting beaten up a bit too much in the shifter karts (not to mention the costs) so I sold off all the equipment. I enjoy wrenching on cars so I began to look around for a project. The complexity of the 944 Turbo scared me so I targeted normally aspirated cars. I eventually found one that was cosmetically decent but did need a few mechanical issues sorted. I can spin wrenches but I suck at body work! I spent a couple of years fixing and driving the 944, time belts & rollers, seals, motor mounts, convert to manual steering, etc and transformed it into an enjoyable if somewhat underpowered car on a twisty road.

In the spring of ’12 I had the 944 out for its first drive of the year when I spotted a silver 944 Turbo being washed at a house just up the street. I had seen this car a few times before sitting on a trailer, obviously a track car, but had never seen anyone about. I took the opportunity to pull in and and speak with the owner. Kelley was a DE instructor with the PCA and he said that he was just about to list this car for sale. The reason was apparent in his garage. A lime green track prepped 996 he had just purchased. The 944 Turbo had been a track car for almost a decade so the paint showed some well-earned patina but the mechanical state of the car looked solid and well maintained with tons of service records. It had a full roll cage, race seats and harnesses, big 928S4 brakes, Weltmeister strut bar and sways, and a bigger K27-8 turbo fitted. I had been missing driving on the track and the wheels began to turn in my brain. I told Kelley that I was interested and I would get back to him shortly.

I fully expected a hard sell back at home. We were in the midst of a major exterior renovation to our house and money was tight. I floated the idea to Deb, fully expecting to be quickly shutdown. I did throw in that we should also join the PCA since then I could drive on the track with them and they had a lot of great social events, rallies and fun runs. We had been searching for something new to do as a couple and this might be fun. To my great surprise and relief she immediately agreed! The next day I gave Kelley a cheque and the car was mine. While it hadn’t been driven on the street for a few years it didn’t take much to get it certified and back on the road.

[img]http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy94/crooster/55933_10152199746691154_476461633_o_zps39c91a2d.jpg[/img]

While track driving was my focus we also participated in a few fun runs and the PCA UCR Targa Muskoka with that car. Deb would climb in over the roll cage and strap herself in, but given that we were enjoying the non-track events so much it quickly became apparent that we needed to add a more “civilized” Porsche to the stable. Deb was always pointing out the Boxsters at club events and saying that she loved them. The price on 986’s was getting to our comfort level so I began searching around in the late summer of ‘13. Deb wanted a “pretty colour” like yellow so this limited the choices considerably. For me, yellow wasn’t my first choice but I felt this car was for Deb so she should choose. The first couple of 986’s I drove did not give me a good feeling. None of them drove wonderfully and obviously had some mechanical issues. I began to doubt that a Boxster was the car for me as my 944’s both drove much better. At lunch one day I happened to pull out my phone and noticed a burgundy Boxster for sale at a dealership. We had nothing to do that day so we drove over to have a look. Sitting beside the burgundy car was a Seal Grey, black top, black interior car – my preferred colour combo. To my great surprise, Deb was drawn to it immediately. She said that this car looked classy. The previous owner had taken good car of this car. The paint was very good and the brake lamps and side markers had been updated to white, so it gave the appearance of a much newer car. The test drive was a revelation. Now I got it. The car felt tight and coupled. Turn in was amazing as well as the mid corner balance. And you could put the roof down! We had found our car! I ordered some new Xenon headlamps to replace the typically burnt halogens, as well as new center caps and lugs and the car looked good as new.

On our very first PCA fun run with the Boxster we met Guenter and Michelle as well as Mike Ellig and Donna. Deb noticed that Guenter was wearing his BRBS t-shirt and asked about it. Guenter did such a great sales job that the very next day we called the Little Switzerland Inn and had our reservations! The 986 proved itself as being a practical car for a long trip as well as a complete blast to drive on the winding North Carolina roads this year. We already cannot wait for next year. So while I cannot claim that it was “love at first sight” like G-Man, I would say that I’m a Boxster guy now. In fact if I were blessed with a lottery win now, I would not be looking at a new 991 but rather a 981 likely optioned very similarly to the “Curvin8r”!

[img]http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy94/crooster/IMG_20140420_150802_zpsc52d5cb5.jpg[/img]

Great idea for a thread Guenter!

As a kid I had the usual 911 Turbo poster on the bedroom, unusually alongside of a poster of a BMW 2002tii! I can’t say I was a hardcore Porsche guy from the start but the track bug was definitely there and as a university graduation present almost pulled the trigger on a ’69 911. Sanity prevailed (at least I thought so at the time) and instead I picked up a brand new Mustang 5.0 GT with a factory warranty. Still kicking myself over that one given what has happened to the early 911 market!
I completed the Powell Motorsport 3 day school at Mosport using C4 Corvettes so for a brief period that is what I coveted. But after attending a few Porsche Turbo Cup races at Mosport and watching how quick and competent the 944 Turbos were in the hands of drivers like Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, this became my dream car. I competed in Solo 1 (now called Time Attack) for a few years in a 1LE Camaro and then shifted over to karts for a more affordable head-to-head experience, first 4 strokes and then eventually moving on to 125cc shifter karts.

About a decade ago, it became apparent that the old body was getting beaten up a bit too much in the shifter karts (not to mention the costs) so I sold off all the equipment. I enjoy wrenching on cars so I began to look around for a project. The complexity of the 944 Turbo scared me so I targeted normally aspirated cars. I eventually found one that was cosmetically decent but did need a few mechanical issues sorted. I can spin wrenches but I suck at body work! I spent a couple of years fixing and driving the 944, time belts & rollers, seals, motor mounts, convert to manual steering, etc and transformed it into an enjoyable if somewhat underpowered car on a twisty road.

In the spring of ’12 I had the 944 out for its first drive of the year when I spotted a silver 944 Turbo being washed at a house just up the street. I had seen this car a few times before sitting on a trailer, obviously a track car, but had never seen anyone about. I took the opportunity to pull in and and speak with the owner. Kelley was a DE instructor with the PCA and he said that he was just about to list this car for sale. The reason was apparent in his garage. A lime green track prepped 996 he had just purchased. The 944 Turbo had been a track car for almost a decade so the paint showed some well-earned patina but the mechanical state of the car looked solid and well maintained with tons of service records. It had a full roll cage, race seats and harnesses, big 928S4 brakes, Weltmeister strut bar and sways, and a bigger K27-8 turbo fitted. I had been missing driving on the track and the wheels began to turn in my brain. I told Kelley that I was interested and I would get back to him shortly.

I fully expected a hard sell back at home. We were in the midst of a major exterior renovation to our house and money was tight. I floated the idea to Deb, fully expecting to be quickly shutdown. I did throw in that we should also join the PCA since then I could drive on the track with them and they had a lot of great social events, rallies and fun runs. We had been searching for something new to do as a couple and this might be fun. To my great surprise and relief she immediately agreed! The next day I gave Kelley a cheque and the car was mine. While it hadn’t been driven on the street for a few years it didn’t take much to get it certified and back on the road.

While track driving was my focus we also participated in a few fun runs and the PCA UCR Targa Muskoka with that car. Deb would climb in over the roll cage and strap herself in, but given that we were enjoying the non-track events so much it quickly became apparent that we needed to add a more “civilized” Porsche to the stable. Deb was always pointing out the Boxsters at club events and saying that she loved them. The price on 986’s was getting to our comfort level so I began searching around in the late summer of ‘13. Deb wanted a “pretty colour” like yellow so this limited the choices considerably. For me, yellow wasn’t my first choice but I felt this car was for Deb so she should choose. The first couple of 986’s I drove did not give me a good feeling. None of them drove wonderfully and obviously had some mechanical issues. I began to doubt that a Boxster was the car for me as my 944’s both drove much better. At lunch one day I happened to pull out my phone and noticed a burgundy Boxster for sale at a dealership. We had nothing to do that day so we drove over to have a look. Sitting beside the burgundy car was a Seal Grey, black top, black interior car – my preferred colour combo. To my great surprise, Deb was drawn to it immediately. She said that this car looked classy. The previous owner had taken good car of this car. The paint was very good and the brake lamps and side markers had been updated to white, so it gave the appearance of a much newer car. The test drive was a revelation. Now I got it. The car felt tight and coupled. Turn in was amazing as well as the mid corner balance. And you could put the roof down! We had found our car! I ordered some new Xenon headlamps to replace the typically burnt halogens, as well as new center caps and lugs and the car looked good as new.

On our very first PCA fun run with the Boxster we met Guenter and Michelle as well as Mike Ellig and Donna. Deb noticed that Guenter was wearing his BRBS t-shirt and asked about it. Guenter did such a great sales job that the very next day we called the Little Switzerland Inn and had our reservations! The 986 proved itself as being a practical car for a long trip as well as a complete blast to drive on the winding North Carolina roads this year. We already cannot wait for next year. So while I cannot claim that it was “love at first sight” like G-Man, I would say that I’m a Boxster guy now. In fact if I were blessed with a lottery win now, I would not be looking at a new 991 but rather a 981 likely optioned very similarly to the “Curvin8r”!

Great idea for a thread Guenter!

As a kid I had the usual 911 Turbo poster on the bedroom, unusually alongside of a poster of a BMW 2002tii! I can’t say I was a hardcore Porsche guy from the start but the track bug was definitely there and as a university graduation present almost pulled the trigger on a ’69 911. Sanity prevailed (at least I thought so at the time) and instead I picked up a brand new Mustang 5.0 GT with a factory warranty. Still kicking myself over that one given what has happened to the early 911 market!
I completed the Powell Motorsport 3 day school at Mosport using C4 Corvettes so for a brief period that is what I coveted. But after attending a few Porsche Turbo Cup races at Mosport and watching how quick and competent the 944 Turbos were in the hands of drivers like Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, this became my dream car. I competed in Solo 1 (now called Time Attack) for a few years in a 1LE Camaro and then shifted over to karts for a more affordable head-to-head experience, first 4 strokes and then eventually moving on to 125cc shifter karts.

About a decade ago, it became apparent that the old body was getting beaten up a bit too much in the shifter karts (not to mention the costs) so I sold off all the equipment. I enjoy wrenching on cars so I began to look around for a project. The complexity of the 944 Turbo scared me so I targeted normally aspirated cars. I eventually found one that was cosmetically decent but did need a few mechanical issues sorted. I can spin wrenches but I suck at body work! I spent a couple of years fixing and driving the 944, time belts & rollers, seals, motor mounts, convert to manual steering, etc and transformed it into an enjoyable if somewhat underpowered car on a twisty road.

In the spring of ’12 I had the 944 out for its first drive of the year when I spotted a silver 944 Turbo being washed at a house just up the street. I had seen this car a few times before sitting on a trailer, obviously a track car, but had never seen anyone about. I took the opportunity to pull in and and speak with the owner. Kelley was a DE instructor with the PCA and he said that he was just about to list this car for sale. The reason was apparent in his garage. A lime green track prepped 996 he had just purchased. The 944 Turbo had been a track car for almost a decade so the paint showed some well-earned patina but the mechanical state of the car looked solid and well maintained with tons of service records. It had a full roll cage, race seats and harnesses, big 928S4 brakes, Weltmeister strut bar and sways, and a bigger K27-8 turbo fitted. I had been missing driving on the track and the wheels began to turn in my brain. I told Kelley that I was interested and I would get back to him shortly.

I fully expected a hard sell back at home. We were in the midst of a major exterior renovation to our house and money was tight. I floated the idea to Deb, fully expecting to be quickly shutdown. I did throw in that we should also join the PCA since then I could drive on the track with them and they had a lot of great social events, rallies and fun runs. We had been searching for something new to do as a couple and this might be fun. To my great surprise and relief she immediately agreed! The next day I gave Kelley a cheque and the car was mine. While it hadn’t been driven on the street for a few years it didn’t take much to get it certified and back on the road.
While track driving was my focus we also participated in a few fun runs and the PCA UCR Targa Muskoka with that car. Deb would climb in over the roll cage and strap herself in, but given that we were enjoying the non-track events so much it quickly became apparent that we needed to add a more “civilized” Porsche to the stable. Deb was always pointing out the Boxsters at club events and saying that she loved them. The price on 986’s was getting to our comfort level so I began searching around in the late summer of ‘13. Deb wanted a “pretty colour” like yellow so this limited the choices considerably. For me, yellow wasn’t my first choice but I felt this car was for Deb so she should choose. The first couple of 986’s I drove did not give me a good feeling. None of them drove wonderfully and obviously had some mechanical issues. I began to doubt that a Boxster was the car for me as my 944’s both drove much better. At lunch one day I happened to pull out my phone and noticed a burgundy Boxster for sale at a dealership. We had nothing to do that day so we drove over to have a look. Sitting beside the burgundy car was a Seal Grey, black top, black interior car – my preferred colour combo. To my great surprise, Deb was drawn to it immediately. She said that this car looked classy. The previous owner had taken good car of this car. The paint was very good and the brake lamps and side markers had been updated to white, so it gave the appearance of a much newer car. The test drive was a revelation. Now I got it. The car felt tight and coupled. Turn in was amazing as well as the mid corner balance. And you could put the roof down! We had found our car! I ordered some new Xenon headlamps to replace the typically burnt halogens, as well as new center caps and lugs and the car looked good as new.

On our very first PCA fun run with the Boxster we met Guenter and Michelle as well as Mike Ellig and Donna. Deb noticed that Guenter was wearing his BRBS t-shirt and asked about it. Guenter did such a great sales job that the very next day we called the Little Switzerland Inn and had our reservations! The 986 proved itself as being a practical car for a long trip as well as a complete blast to drive on the winding North Carolina roads this year. We already cannot wait for next year. So while I cannot claim that it was “love at first sight” like G-Man, I would say that I’m a Boxster guy now. In fact if I were blessed with a lottery win now, I would not be looking at a new 991 but rather a 981 likely optioned very similarly to the “Curvin8r”!

Great idea for a thread Guenter!

As a kid I had the usual 911 Turbo poster on the bedroom, unusually alongside of a poster of a BMW 2002tii! I can’t say I was a hardcore Porsche guy from the start but the track bug was definitely there and as a university graduation present almost pulled the trigger on a ’69 911. Sanity prevailed (at least I thought so at the time) and instead I picked up a brand new Mustang 5.0 GT with a factory warranty. Still kicking myself over that one given what has happened to the early 911 market!
I completed the Powell Motorsport 3 day school at Mosport using C4 Corvettes so for a brief period that is what I coveted. But after attending a few Porsche Turbo Cup races at Mosport and watching how quick and competent the 944 Turbos were in the hands of drivers like Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, this became my dream car. I competed in Solo 1 (now called Time Attack) for a few years in a 1LE Camaro and then shifted over to karts for a more affordable head-to-head experience, first 4 strokes and then eventually moving on to 125cc shifter karts.

About a decade ago, it became apparent that the old body was getting beaten up a bit too much in the shifter karts (not to mention the costs) so I sold off all the equipment. I enjoy wrenching on cars so I began to look around for a project. The complexity of the 944 Turbo scared me so I targeted normally aspirated cars. I eventually found one that was cosmetically decent but did need a few mechanical issues sorted. I can spin wrenches but I suck at body work! I spent a couple of years fixing and driving the 944, time belts & rollers, seals, motor mounts, convert to manual steering, etc and transformed it into an enjoyable if somewhat underpowered car on a twisty road.
In the spring of ’12 I had the 944 out for its first drive of the year when I spotted a silver 944 Turbo being washed at a house just up the street. I had seen this car a few times before sitting on a trailer, obviously a track car, but had never seen anyone about. I took the opportunity to pull and and speak with the owner. Kelley was a DE instructor with the PCA and he said that he was just about to list this car for sale. The reason was apparent in his garage. A lime green track prepped 996 he had just purchased. The 944 Turbo had been a track car for almost a decade so the paint showed some well-earned patina but the mechanical state of the car looked solid and well maintained with tons of service records. It had a full roll cage, race seats and harnesses, big 928S4 brakes, Weltmeister strut bar and sways, and a bigger K27-8 turbo fitted. I had been missing driving on the track and the wheels began to turn in my brain. I told Kelley that I was interested and I would get back to him shortly.

I fully expected a hard sell back at home. We were in the midst of a major exterior renovation to our house and money was tight. I floated the idea to Deb, fully expecting to be quickly shutdown. I did throw in that we should also join the PCA since then I could drive on the track with them and they had a lot of great social events, rallies and fun runs. We had been searching for something new to do as a couple and this might be fun. To my great surprise and relief she immediately agreed! The next day I gave Kelley a cheque and the car was mine. While it hadn’t been driven on the street for a few years it didn’t take much to get it certified and back on the road.
While track driving was my focus we also participated in a few fun runs and the PCA UCR Targa Muskoka with that car. Deb would climb in over the roll cage and strap herself in, but given that we were enjoying the non-track events so much it quickly became apparent that we needed to add a more “civilized” Porsche to the stable. Deb was always pointing out the Boxsters at club events and saying that she loved them. The price on 986’s was getting to our comfort level so I began searching around in the late summer of ‘13. Deb wanted a “pretty colour” like yellow so this limited the choices considerably. For me, yellow wasn’t my first choice but I felt this car was for Deb so she should choose. The first couple of 986’s I drove did not give me a good feeling. None of them drove wonderfully and obviously had some mechanical issues. I began to doubt that a Boxster was the car for me as my 944’s both drove much better. At lunch one day I happened to pull out my phone and noticed a burgundy Boxster for sale at a dealership. We had nothing to do that day so we drove over to have a look. Sitting beside the burgundy car was a Seal Grey, black top, black interior car – my preferred colour combo. To my great surprise, Deb was drawn to it immediately. She said that this car looked classy. The previous owner had taken good car of this car. The paint was very good and the brake lamps and side markers had been updated to white, so it gave the appearance of a much newer car. The test drive was a revelation. Now I got it. The car felt tight and coupled. Turn in was amazing as well as the mid corner balance. And you could put the roof down! We had found our car! I ordered some new Xenon headlamps to replace the typically burnt halogens, as well as new center caps and lugs and the car looked good as new.

On our very first PCA fun run with the Boxster we met Guenter and Michelle as well as Mike Ellig and Donna. Deb noticed that Guenter was wearing his BRBS t-shirt and asked about it. Guenter did such a great sales job that the very next day we called the Little Switzerland Inn and had our reservations! The 986 proved itself as being a practical car for a long trip as well as a complete blast to drive on the winding North Carolina roads this year. We already cannot wait for next year. So while I cannot claim that it was “love at first sight” like G-Man, I would say that I’m a Boxster guy now. In fact if I were blessed with a lottery win now, I would not be looking at a new 991 but rather a 981 likely optioned very similarly to the “Curvin8r”!