by John Glynn | Mar 11, 2015 | Classic Porsche Blog, Race and Rally
The John Aldington Trophy race for pre-1967 Porsche 911 SWB racing cars at Goodwood next weekend has gathered an impressive entry list. More than twenty-five 1965 and 1966 short wheelbase 911s are shown on the official entry list for the 20-minute race, with a plethora of well known drivers appearing on the grid.
Thirty tail-happy old 911s on the fast and flowing Goodwood circuit will make for some interesting accidents if the rain comes down. The cars are tricky enough to drive in the dry on regulation tyres, let alone if it gets wet. However, the first big challenge for the cars is to get through scrutineering.
Porsche 911 Goodwood Aldington Trophy
The race is open to pre-1967 2 litre Porsche 901 and 911 models conforming to the FIA Appendix K regulations for Grand Touring cars built between January 1962 and December 1965. All competing cars must have a Historic Technical Passport, and the circuit will insist upon a specific standard of aesthetic vehicle presentation, involving appropriate period livery and detailing.
This means no out-of-period wheels, lights, wing mirrors or dashboard gauges. No windows of an inappropriate material featuring out-of-period ventilation holes or flaps. No advertising, logos or graphics may appear on any vehicle unless these formed part of the car’s original livery during racing prior to 1966.
Minimum weight is strictly 1002 kg. Cars below this weight at scrutineering will not be allowed to race. All cars will be weighed prior to qualifying, with random cars weighed and fuel adjusted post-race. The cars must run aluminium crankcases, Solex carbs, single plug, solid discs, 14-16mm front anti-roll bars (16mm rear), 1380mm front track and 1350mm rear. Minimum ride height is 100mm.
“We shouldn’t have any problems with scrutineering,” says Mark Bates of classic Porsche parts reproduction specialist, EB Motorsport. Bates’ 1965 Porsche 911 raced very successfully at the 2014 Spa 6 Hours (above) and will carry number 6 in the race. “This race at Goodwood could be a bit of lottery, though, given the short qualifying time and the number of cars on track.”
The brief race is named after the legendary John Aldington, son of the famous H.J. Aldington of Frazer Nash dynasty fame and a former MD of both AFN and Porsche Cars GB. Tickets for the weekend are priced at £130 general entry per head, add £76 for roving grandstand per head. Yes, you read that right. I won’t be there, but hopefully we can share some in-car footage after the weekend.
by John Glynn | Mar 9, 2015 | Porsche News
Guido Lorenz has the job of Business Counsellor for the district of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. A student of Catholic theology from 1974 to 1980 at the University of Tübingen (home to some of the most influential religious thinkers of modern times), Guido took on his current role in 1983. He has been a sounding board and social advisor for Stuttgart’s workforce ever since.
Within weeks of starting his almost impossible appointment, Guido paid his first visit to the Porsche Zuffenhausen assembly lines. Last month, Lorenz spent two weeks working on the production lines, getting to know his workmates and understanding how things have changed at Porsche across three decades.
The Spirit of Porsche
“The previous structures were much more hierarchical,” notes Guido. “Today, every member of the team knows how to carry out every single operation. This improves the mutual understanding within the group. There is a really good team spirit among the colleagues here, regardless of gender, age or origin. Team leaders, shop stewards and foremen all make their contribution to this.
“It’s impressive how strongly all Porsche employees identify with the brand. When you look at the sports cars, it’s easy to understand why.”
Guido Lorenz on the Porsche production lines makes a decent PR story, but this man is not here to make companies feel good. His vocation lies with the workforce. As people will not open their hearts to him at the drop of a hat, he often works alongside his compatriots to develop trust and encourage communication. Previous missions have included spells as a bin man, mailman and long-distance truck driver.
With additional qualifications in marriage guidance and psychological counselling, Lorenz has expanded his remit over the last thirty years to include both employed and unemployed people. Decent conditions, jobs for young workers and fair wages and distribution of wealth have never been far from Lorenz’s agenda, which one assumes must have caused some friction through his career.
Dean of Stuttgart, Monsignor Christian Hermes, recently led a celebration of Lorenz’s contribution to working life in the city. “I know that you experience solidarity with the workers, but also amongst the unemployed. Man and his work have not only an economic value, but a human dignity: we must not let this be threatened by our own consumption needs and the mechanisms of repression.”
Brought up as a Catholic, I met no end of inspirational people through that faith over my formative years. None were doctrine obsessed: they understood the joy of shared effort, and possessed a huge internal appetite for work. This is something I have certainly absorbed.
Any sprinklings of religious fervour left me long ago, but there is an enduring sense of solidarity and collective spirituality in the connections people make. It is comforting to see that Porsche is not oblivious to the gentle power of Guido Lorenz and others like him. Those gifted with Guido’s faith in humanity can help so many people to experience a meaningful life, without bringing heaven and hell into it.
by John Glynn | Mar 4, 2015 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods
I bumped into Stéphane via the Cult of Porsche Instagram channel. He’s building a cool 1980 Porsche 911 SC backdate down in France, so I got him to send me some pics and explain his love for the badge.
“I’m 33, and live in La Rochelle in Poitou Charentes. I’ve loved Porsche since I saw one for the first time, maybe when I was 6 or 7. My father owned a 1966 911. It was the only “new” car he bought. He drove a lot of cars (Jaguar Mk2, R8 Gordini, Audi Quattro, Mercedes 190SL, Mustang…) but the 911 was his favourite.
“My dad lost his good situation at the end of the 1980s and never had the ability to buy sports cars again. For me, the Porsche 911 was only an unaffordable dream. I worked hard and hoped to have my own Porsche and take a ride with my father. Sadly, he died in 2010.
“I bought my first Porsche 4 years ago: a 2001 Boxster. A while later, I changed it for a 1981 Guards Red 911 SC. I then the red one to do some work on my house. In 2012, I found this 1981 Porsche 911 SC (above) in Perpignan with a 964RS conversion. Turns out it was in mint condition! I was not a huge fan of this colour, but it was a really good base for my project.
“When I bought it, I planned to respray it in black, with 17” Fuchs, but 17s are too heavy for my 204bhp 3-litre engine! So I decided to buy original SC bumpers and started to work on the body. One day, I some photos of the Gérard Larousse 70′ 911 and decided to backdate my SC.
“Inspired by the R Gruppe, Rod Emory, Magnus Walker, I made my own colour. The rest of the spec is like this:
- Front wings, hood, and bumpers are in poly, from Rennspeed
- Wheels: 7 x15 and 9×15 Minilite from Historika
- Tyres: Toyo in 205/50/15 and 225/50 15
- Bilstein Club dampers
- Wevo shifter
- BF Torino Nürburgring seats
- Schroth 3-point harnesses
- Nardi steering wheel
- RS style door cards (homemade)
- Aluminium grille on the rear (homemade, inspired by Kremer)
- Dual chamber stainless steel exhaust (no brand, probably homemade)
- Powerflex Black Series Bushes
- Goodridge brake hoses
- EBC Red brake pads
“I think the next stage will be adding a roll cage in a few months. I’d love a PMO conversion with 964 camshafts. Until then, I’ll drive, drive, drive and enjoy my new toy, hoping my father can ear my flat six.”
An excellent project and no doubt dad would love it: well done mate. Follow Stéphane on Instagram here.
by John Glynn | Mar 3, 2015 | New Models, Porsche News
Transcript of Porsche CEO, Matthias Müller’s address at the launch of the Cayman GT4 and Porsche 991 GT3 RS in Geneva this morning. Interesting that the Glorious Leader’s first Porsche company car was a 997 GT3.
Matthias Müller Porsche 991 GT3 RS launch speech
“Ladies and gentlemen, Porsche builds sports cars. This also applies in an age when the best-selling Porsche today has four doors.
“The great success we have had by transferring sports car genes to our SUVs helps us to expand our lineup of extremely sporty cars. “Fit for the track, and fit for the road,” works in technical terms for each and every Porsche model and in economic terms for the entire Porsche fleet.
“Why is that the case? Well, striving for victory at the absolute limit on the race track was very often a source of information for extreme Porsche sports cars: for Porsche dream cars.
“For instance, the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 from 1972, which today is a coveted collectors’ item, or all past generations of the 911 GT3. I can speak from experience here, because the 997 GT3 was not [just] for a long time one of my dream cars, it was also my first company car when I joined Porsche.
“These two extreme sports cars that I am presenting [to] you here today – the Cayman GT4 and the 911 GT3 RS – follow this tradition and are continuing it with vigour and power. Both of them have set record times on the North Loop of the Nürburgring when they came into production and this says more than anything I can say for our GT customers. Most of our customers regularly drive their cars in races and they know what I am talking about.
“The 911 GT3 RS has a time of 7 minutes 20 seconds which beats many much stronger and more expensive sports cars. It’s 400 horsepower* have their maximum effect on the racetrack and nevertheless in everyday driving they are very comfortable. It is the top 911 that is still allowed to bear a licence plate for on-road driving.
“Ladies and gentlemen, ten years after the launch of the Cayman as a puristic mid-engine sports car, we have the GT4, which is introducing the crown glory of this model series. Its North Loop time of 7 minutes and 40 seconds is also unequalled in its segment.
“A pure racetrack version will follow during the course of the year: 385 horsepower and it’s irrepressibly fun to drive. The Cayman GT4 represents the lowest cost entry into Porsche’s GT world.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is not a coincidence that we are presenting the Cayman GT4 and the 911 GT3 RS here at the Geneva Motor Show. Switzerland and Porsche: that is a uniquely close connection. 8 million inhabitants: 39,000 Porsche sports cars registered. More Porsche per capita cannot be found in any market in the entire world.
“The Swiss when they select their models often like to go right to the top: more than 40% of all 911s here are Turbos or GT3s. In 2014, when we introduced the Macan, people in Switzerland also decided to opt mostly for the Turbo. Our continuing success here is represented by the sales figures last year, which speak volumes: they were up by more than 29%.
“So, the fact that the new Cayman GT4 and the 911 GT3 RS are being launched in Geneva is, among other things, a homage to our loyal Swiss customers. I am certain that they will provide a very good reception to these new extreme sports cars because dream cars are always in demand. Thank you very much for your attention.”
*as read by the translator. The new Porsche 991 GT3 RS in fact has 500 bhp.
by John Glynn | Feb 25, 2015 | New Models, Porsche News
Porsche will launch the all new Porsche Cayman GT4 and another currently unidentified sportscar at next week’s Geneva Show. This second car will (of course) be the eagerly anticipated Porsche 991 GT3 RS.
Porsche Cayman GT4 lead times for delivery
For all the buzz around Cayman GT4, I see very few people mentioning the delivery times. UK buyers dropping money on the counter now won’t see their cars much before the end of 2016 according to feedback from buyers – someone tell me if that is right! You’d think the cars would be in circulation well ahead of that time.
Porsche 991 GT2 development
Stuttgart’s press release claims a lap time of seven minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nürburgring for the Cayman GT4, but “leaked documents” regarding the 991 GT3 RS claim a 7 minute 20 second lap time: just two seconds off the fastest-ever Porsche road car at the circuit – the 997 GT2 RS.
Thanks to hints from component suppliers, we know there is a 991 GT2 in development, although whether it will make it to production or not is a different matter (I think has to happen). So we can count on that GT2 laptime being smashed sometime in the future – maybe even by the new 991 GT3 RS in the right temperatures on the right tyres. That would be pretty amazing.
Porsche 991 GT3 RS launch live webstream
The world premiere will take place during the Porsche press conference in Geneva at 11:30 (CET) next Tuesday morning: March 3, 2015. A live webcast of the Porsche Cayman GT4 and 991 GT3 RS launch will be streamed from the event.
