PATTER - Porsche Club Chesapeake Region PCA

PORSCHE
PATTER
The Monthly Newsletter of the
Chesapeake Region, PCA
April 2010 Number 565

PORSCHE
PATTER
April 2010 Number 565
Officers Committee Chairs and Staff
President
Don Malson
Exec Vice President
John Patterson
Vice President
Cheryl Taylor
Secretary
Donna Brandt
Treasurer
Jim Condax
Past President
Andrew Toth
Autocross
Ron Bremer &
Claude Taylor
Community Service
Vacant
Concours
Ron Gordon
Drivers’ Ed
Tim Costa
Historian
Bob Rassa
Insurance
Bernie Blain
Membership
Jan Borchardt
PCA License Plates
Bruce & Laurie Tarsia
Publicity
Bernie Blain
Patter Editors
Mark Hubley &
Manrico Mirabelli
Rally Master
Steve Kinsley
Social
Vacant
Sponsorship
Vacant
Tech Sessions
John Patterson
Tour Meister
Allen Gunzelman
Webmaster
Andrew J. Toth
Zone 2 Representative
Tom Zaffarano
The Porsche Patter is published monthly. Articles from members are welcomed and encouraged
and should be sent electronically to the Porsche Patter Editors by the last day of the month
preceding publication. The Editors reserve the right to edit or reject all material submitted for
publication, including advertisements, and the right to cancel advertisements at any time, for any
reason, at their sole discretion. Statements appearing in Porsche Patter are those of the
contributing authors and do not constitute the opinions or policy of The Chesapeake Region,
Porsche Club of America, its Board of Directors, or the Editors of the newsletter. Permission granted
to reproduce material published, provided full credit is given to the Porsche Patter and to the
author. The Chesapeake Region, Porsche Club of America, neither endorses any advertiser nor
warrants any product or service they may provide.
Cover photo, Cars and Coffee, by Manrico Mirabelli
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In this issue . . .
President’s Message.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Cars and Coffee.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Slot Car Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Member Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Upcoming Events.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Trivia Question.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
From the Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
National News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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President’s Message by Don Malson
Daffodils are blooming, grasses are turning green,
and trees are budding, signaling the end of a very
long and challenging winter. Chesapeake Porsche
Club activities are in full swing and offer a variety of
activities for members and their families. April
activities include the New Member Party, Autocross
School, Hershey Swap Meet, and the return of our
monthly social. The April 14 social will be held at the
Dark Horse Saloon, Bel Air’s newest restaurant,
located at 117 S. Main Street in historic downtown
Bel Air. Thanks to Steve Condax for recommending
the Dark Horse Saloon to restart our monthly socials.
I would like to thank Manrico Mirabelli for his recent contribution to the “From the Regions” section
of the March Porsche Panorama magazine.
Last month at our Board meeting Jim Condax presented a map of Maryland showing our
membership by County. It was interesting to note that a majority of our members live immediately
north and south of the city, with smaller numbers to the west and east. Our region can basically be
summed up as four geographic areas: north, south, east and west. The Board tries to plan major
events so they are spread around the four regions but our monthly events tend to be held in the
north or south areas of the state. I would like to see more monthly events held in the east and west
areas. There is no reason we can’t hold monthly socials in each of the areas. It only takes one
person in each area to become involved. Would you be interested in organizing a monthly social
near your home to get together with Porsche enthusiasts in your area? How about a Cars N Coffee?
If you are interested, please contact me so we can plan a social in your area.
Help Wanted: Three Chair positions are still vacant: Social, Community Service, and Sponsorship.
If you are interested and would like to chair one of these positions on the Board, please contact me.
For others who may want to participate but cannot serve as chair, please consider becoming a
co-chair.
I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
Best regards,
Donald Malson, President
Chesapeake Porsche Club
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Tech
Tech by Mark Hubley
Installed Stainless-Steel Brake Lines on My ‘99 Boxster
Recently I was getting ready to put new rubber on my wheels and flush my brake fluid. Since I’m
always looking for more projects, I decided that while I had the wheels off and was flushing the
brakes I would install new stainless-steel brake lines. This procedure replaces the stock rubber
lines found behind the wheels. A flexible section of brake line is needed here to accommodate the
movement of the wheels relative to the body. Do a search on the Internet and it won’t take long to
find discussions of the pros and cons of going stainless. The reported pros are better feel with the
brakes, and no bulging that may occur with rubber lines. The reported cons are that you can’t tell
when they are going bad, and they should be replaced every couple of years or so. Please don’t
take this article as a recommendation to go stainless! Do the research yourself before deciding.
I purchased my new lines from CDOC, located in Gordonsville, VA. Along with the brake lines I
ordered two quarts (liters?) of Ate 200 (gold) brake fluid. I alternate the gold with Ate Super Blue
fluid at each change, which makes it easier to see when you have flushed out the old fluid. The
lines cost about $110, and the total bill was about $140 with shipping.
Continued on page 18
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In the picture to the left,
the yellow arrow indicates
the rubber brake line on
the left, rear wheel. The
blue arrow indicates the
brake pad wear sensors.
The last time I replaced
the brake pads I couldn’t
get the sensors to fit in
with the pads, so I just
attached them to the
brake lines to keep them
out of the way. I check
the pads frequently
enough that I don’t need
the electronic sensors.

Cars and Coffee by Manrico Mirabelli
As in the seminal 20th century ballet known
as the “Rite of Spring,” where sound and
movement come together to create an intense
experience, Chesapeake PCA members
also had the opportunity to experience their
own rite of spring. This one came together in
the form of engine displacement, traction,
and the intense feel of getting back behind
the wheel after a long winter rout.
One of Chesapeake Region’s mainstay events,
“Cars and Coffee” couldn’t have occurred on
a better day. The weather was gorgeous, the
company was enjoyable, and the coffee gave
a nice jolt similar to the response one feels
when stomping on the accelerator.
This day’s event took place at the Shallow
Creek Bookstore Café located in Edgemere,
MD. The menu at the Shallow Creek can
satisfy those with a zest for a high-octane
blend or a milder concoction. Along with
smoothies and a nice variety of breakfast
treats, the Café offers a relaxing, casual
atmosphere.
Approximately 20 club members gathered at
9:00 AM for the socializing. Jan Borchardt,
Membership Chair, tasked herself with
compiling an attendance list for good
measure while others sipped coffee and
talked about the passing of winter with a
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great sigh of relief. Don Malson, Chesapeake
President, made his way through the crowd
with a friendly greeting, and Allen Gunzelman,
the Tour Meister, also showed the same
enthusiasm. I had the opportunity to meet
several new members who mentioned that
this was their very first Chesapeake PCA
event. As one member put it, “I just wanted to
get my feet wet first.” We definitely welcome
that kind of perspective and look forward to
more new members who share that opinion.
As always, the line-up of machines was varied
and impressive. From the oldest, being my
1980 911SC Targa, to the latest and greatest
Stuttgart creations, one can never deny the
visual stimulation. Even some of the locals
expressed their appreciation with casual nods
and beeping horns. At one point a passerby
was accepting offers for an authentic showroom
Porsche placard. A nice addition to any
Porschephile’s collection indeed.
The social was an excellent start to the 2010
driving season and hopefully a motivator to
get out and enjoy more of what the Chesapeake
Region has to offer. We have some
really nice driving/family oriented events in
the not-so-distant future to look forward to. So
come out and “get your feet wet.”
Photos by Manrico Mirabelli

Slot Car Night by Andrew Toth
For as long as I've been chair of the region's
annual Slot Car Night, the weather has been a
challenge. This year was no exception as
Mother Nature dumped the first of two large
snowfalls totaling nearly 50 inches, a record
for the Baltimore area. Most of us couldn't
get out of our driveways let alone get to a
region event.
While we worked on plans for rescheduling
the event, Porsche of Annapolis offered the
use of their lovely facility to host the event.
Their garage, among the cleanest I've ever
seen, provided ample room for our large fourlane
track and tables for members to enjoy
chili and hot dogs.
Andrew Toth trying to break Bob Gutjahr's
rock-solid concentration.
While turnout was low for this event, likely
because of the late date conflicting with the
beginning of the sports season for many
younger members, there was still plenty of
action with close racing. In the kids class,
Parker Tewell and Jordan Sampson showed
their skills in keeping the cars on the track
while still going fast. Parker took the win, but
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Jordan did an excellent job keeping his car on
the track for the entire ten laps after a total of
only fifteen minutes of slot car time. I think
we're looking at a future winner in the making.
In the teens class, Josh Gutjahr took the win
while nervous father and team owner, Bob
Gutjahr, looked on. No pressure here.
Parker Tewell and Jordan Sampson
demonstrating smooth car control.
The young adult class provided a dose of
humor as Hannah Gutjahr gave Omar Said a
lesson in racing, taking the win with a lap in
hand. Tough love indeed!
As always, the adults took the racing quite
seriously. With eight participants in the class,
the battle eventually was between Daryl and
Mark Tewell, with Daryl emerging as the
victor. I'm sure this battle is not over. Come
out and see for yourself next year.
Continued on the next page.
Slot car photos by Linda Toth.

Many thanks to all the folks at Porsche of
Annapolis, especially Mark Johnston and
Emily Burns, for hosting and their significant
help in sponsoring the event. I hope to see
you there next year.
Slot Car Night Results
Kids’ Class
1. Parker Tewell
2. Jordan Sampson
Parker Tewell took top spot in the kids’ class.
Teens’ Class
1. Josh Gutjahr
2. Michael Kubisen
3. DominiQue Smapson
4. Dylan Martinez
Young Adults’ Class
1. Hannah Gutjahr
2. Omar Said
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First-timer DominiQue Sampson finished third
in the teens’ class and was looking forward to
softball practice after the event.
Adults’ Class
1. Daryl Tewell
2. Mark Tewell
3. Don Malson
4. Bob Gutjahr
Hannah Gutjahr took top spot in the young
adults’ class.

Membership by Jan Borchardt
PCA Chesapeake Membership Report for March 2010
Summary:
Primary Members 635
Affiliate Members 484
Total Members 1,119
New Members:
Matthew McFadden Baltimore, MD 2000 Boxster
Stephen Merson Laurel, MD 2007 Cayman S
Joe Ruzzi Arnold, MD 2006 Boxster
Farris Shuggi Baltimore, MD 2005 911
Darrel Wasta Ellicott City, MD 2006 911
March Anniversaries:
5 years Daniel Ashby, Andrew Burnett, Harold Hutchison, Seth Novin, Martin Pena, Tate
Russack, Davis Statton, Michael Sullivan
10 years Harvey Cummins, Robert Garcia, Jess Holzer, Michael Keyser, John Yeldezian
20 years John Wolf
30 years Scott Beckman
Special congratulations to John and Scott!
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Member Spotlight by Manrico Mirabelli
Welcome to a new feature devoted to the
people and cars that make Chesapeake PCA
the one-of-a-kind, diverse group that it is. In
this month’s Member Spotlight our newly
appointed publicity and insurance chair has
so graciously volunteered his time to be my
first member in the “Spotlight.”
Bernie Blain, a five month PCA member,
exemplifies the perfect formula we should all
consider when the time comes to retire and
really enjoy life: a wonderful mate, plenty of
golf, and a Guards Red 2005 Boxster. Bernie
explains several considerations he took into
account when looking for his ideal highperformance
vehicle. It needed to be a
convertible, of collector quality, something his
wife, Janice, would enjoy, and most of all, be
able to conveniently hold his golf clubs. At one
point Bernie test-drove a 2006 Corvette and
found it to be a bit too loud and unable to fit
in his driveway. Bernie’s wife suggested
looking at other vehicles. A golf buddy made
the Porsche recommendation, and within a
short time Bernie and Janice were proud
owners of this beautiful Boxster.
Bernie acquired the vehicle last October with
16,500 miles on the odometer. It has a 5speed
Tiptronic and ample space for the clubs
in the trunk. Bernie is the third owner of this
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pristine machine, and he enjoys it on leisurely
drives to the golf course.
A few facts about the model are as follows:
The base 2005 Boxster has a 2.7 litre flat six
that cranks out 240 HP @ 6400 RPM.
Maximum torque is rated as 199 lb-ft @
4700-6000 RPM. The Boxster S bumps
displacement to 3.2 litres and a pulsating
280 HP @ 6200 RPM, with torque rated at
236 lb-ft @ 4700-6200 RPM. Distinctive on
the Boxster are black, epoxy-finished calipers,
while the Boxster S displays red calipers. Also
new in 2005 for the Boxster S was the
opportunity to order Porsche ceramic
composite brakes.
To some degree,
cars are in
Bernie’s blood.
His father was a
mechanic, and
his first car was
a 1956
Plymouth sedan.
He has also
owned a 1965
Triumph Spitfire
and a 1988
Mustang
convertible.
Bernie and
Janice’s son is a firefighter and their daughter
is working toward a PhD. I’d like to thank
Bernie for sharing his story, and we all
appreciate his efforts in filling two committee
chairs. That’s quite a commitment!
Have an interesting story you’d like to tell
about your Porsche experience? Let us know
and you could be in the “Member Spotlight.”
Photos by Manrico Mirabelli

History by Bob Rassa
Last year’s Historian Corner focused on the early days of the Chesapeake Challenge (it was first
held in 1968) and the “revitalization” days of the Chesapeake region circa 1967-70. This month
we’ll talk about some of the involvement that PCA-CHS had around the Baltimore area sports car
community.
There were about eight sports car clubs active in the greater Baltimore area way back then, led by
the most active, the Chesapeake Sports Car Club or CSCC. There were also the Volvo Motorsports
Club (VMC), Maryland Auto Sports Enthusiasts (MASE), Corvette Club of Baltimore (CCB), Mustang
Sports Car Club, and one that centered on the sports car enthusiasts at Johns Hopkins Applied
Physics Lab and I cannot remember their name! I’ll find my listing by next month and tell you.
At any rate, all eight of these clubs belonged to something called the Baltimore Area Sports Car
Council, or BASCC, and its claim to fame was to work with the eight member clubs in scheduling
events to try to avoid parking lot overload for autocrosses and country road overload for rallyes.
During the spring, summer, and fall months, basically from April through mid-October, we had a
rallye or autocross every weekend except for the major holidays. CSCC put on the most events as
they had the largest membership, and well over 70 people turned out for their monthly meetings.
We had previously mentioned that PCA-CHS was getting maybe a dozen members for a monthly
meeting until we started with the entertainment, and almost every member came to the meetings
(and in 1967, PCA-CHS had only seven-odd members! We’ve come a LONG way!).
The BASCC also had a Championship Rallye series called the Team Trophy Rallye Series, mainly
because the Metropolitan Washington Sports Car Council (MWSCC) had one called the
Championship Rallye Series. Each of the eight clubs put on one Championship Rallye a year, and
points were given for placement in each rallye (9 for a 1st place, 6 for 2nd place, 4 for 3rd place, 2
for 4th place, and 1 for 5th as I recall). Then in December we had a Championship Rallye Awards
dinner! The camaraderie built up from this rallye series was wonderful, and we’d get 70 to 80 cars
per rallye.
Next month we’ll continue with more interclub activity---for comments, email me at
BoyRCR@aol.com
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For the latest news concerning upcoming Chesapeake Region events, please refer to the events calendar on
the Region’s web site. Here are some highlights . . .
Monthly socials are generally held on the second Wednesday of the month.
Monthly board meetings are generally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Autocross School, Saturday, April 10
The 2010 Chesapeake Region Autocross season will start on April 10th. The school will be held in
Sykesville at the State Police Training Facility, located at 7310 Slacks Road, Sykesville, MD. The
class will be limited to 70 students. Volunteers are needed as driving instructors and for general
assistance. Autocross is a good way to safely learn the handling limits of your car and improve your
driving ability. Its also a lot of fun! We need to know how many will be attending so we can order
food and ensure we have enough instructors. Registration will open February 28 and close on
Saturday, April 3. Please check our website for a link to the registration. Fees are $85 for PCA
members and $90 for non-PCA members. This fee includes registration for autocross #1. An email
will be sent to the BMW and Corvette Clubs, so we expect spots to fill quickly.
For more information check out the autocross page on the Chesapeake Region’s web site:
pcachs.org/autocross/autocross.html
Hershey Swap Meet, Saturday, April 24
Upcoming Events
If you thought Christmas ended on December 25, well, you can experience it again in the spring!
The Hershey Swap Meet is the place to get what Santa (or your spouse) forgot. I know how hard it is
to convince yourself to spend, spend, spend. Most likely The Central PA Region's Swap Meet will
have something you can justify buying. Or just go to see the great cars that show up!
I have arranged a great little place to meet at 7:00 AM for breakfast on the way up Rt. 83N. Just off
Exit 4 (Shrewsberry, PA). Get off at Exit 4 and make a LEFT (go under Rt. 83), then on the RIGHT
just past the light. COACH LIGHT DINER, 710-235-4711, seats 60. So come on in and get together
for a great breakfast on the way to the swap meet.
Please let me know if you plan to join us. Allen Gunzelman, Tourmeister (tour@pcachs.org).
Continued on the next page.
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Autocross #1, Saturday, May 1
st
Autocross competition kicks off on Saturday, May 1 . The event will be held at the Police Academy
Training Center in Sykesville, MD. For complete details on Chesapeake Region’s autocross program
check out the autocross web page.
Retro Drive Tour, Saturday, May 8
The Retro Drive Tour on Saturday, May 8th, is guaranteed to be different than most tours held by
the Chesapeake Region. Think of taking a slow, leisurely Saturday morning drive, taking in the
surroundings, then ending at a quaint café called Kristi's Kitchen (2346 Turkey Point Rd, Essex,
410-391-1730) and enjoying a delicious brunch! This drive was conceived as the “Retro Drive”
since it has no stoplights and takes you back in time at a slow pace. Driving speeds may not exceed
30 MPH. The tour will begin at the Hyde Park Shopping Center (1565 Hyde Park Rd) lot at Rt 702
(Southeastern Blvd & Hyde Park Rd.) at 9:30 AM and arrive at Kristi’s Kitchen around 10:30 for a
private buffet served only to PCA members and their guests. I set up this drive for the first time in
2003, and attendees really enjoyed it. Comments afterward included, “it's the first time I was able
to enjoy seeing things along the way,” and, “The buffet was great!” I recall some members
questioned, “a Retro Drive? Does this mean only vintage Porsches?” Well no, but if you just bought
a 2010 you can “drive it like you stole it” before or after the tour. Of course, it would be nice to see
a bunch of vintage Porsches. Back in 2003, if memory serves, there were two 356's, an early 944,
and some pre-73 911's, along with a new 996, eight other Porsches, an Audi, and a Subaru. This
year, a pre-paid reservation of $18.00 (including tax and tip) is required by May 1st. I need to
guarantee a minium of 25 guests and we can have up to 40. Checks should be made out to "Kristi's
Kitchen" and mailed to me: Allen Gunzelman, Tourmeister, 1708 Oakfield Ave., Middle River, MD
21221. Please e-mail me before mailing so I can verify the numbers, and not exceed capacity for
the buffet. Allen Gunzelman, Tourmeister (tour@pcachs.org).
Ice Cream Cottage Tour, Thursday, June 17
The Ice Cream Cottage has always been a great destination after a fun drive through the
countryside. On June 17th we will meet at the Commons Corporate Center, 1330 Dorsey Rd,
Hanover, MD 21076. Meet in the lot near Dunkin Donuts at 6:00 PM and we will leave at 6:30. We
will drive “Porsche roads” for about 45 minutes, then end at the Ice Cream Cottage, 1348 Stevens
Ave, Halethorpe, MD 21227 (410-247-3620). Allen Gunzelman, Tourmeister (tour@pcachs.org).
Trivia Question
After the introduction of the 911, 924, 928, 944, and Boxster, how many model years did it take
before Porsche introduced the 911 S, 924 Turbo, 928 S, 944 Turbo, and Boxster S?
Look for the answer on the next page.
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From the Editors by Mark and Manrico
Dear Fellow Porsche Fans,
We still don’t have any advertisements in the Patter, but we’re discussing some plans to get some
sponsors. If you know anyone who would like to advertise in the Patter (or otherwise sponsor the
Chesapeake Region), then please direct him or her to your Patter editors. Better yet, volunteer to
serve as the region’s sponsorship chair!
As always, we are counting on your help in submitting articles and photos, making us aware of
upcoming events, and generally giving us suggestions for the Patter. Please contact us by e-mail at
porschepatter@pcachs.org or chat us up in person the next time you see us.
Answer to the trivia question:
911 (1965) to 911 S (1967), two model years
924 (1976) to 924 Turbo (1979), three model years
928 (1978) to 928 S (1980), two model years*
944 (1983) to 944 Turbo (1986), three model years
Boxster (1997) to Boxster S (2000), three model years
*The 928 was not introduced in the US until 1982 as a 1983 model.
The inspiration for this question was a post I saw on a discussion board about five years ago. The
owner of an early Boxster complained that he owned his car for only a couple of years before
Porsche released the S and “devalued” his regular Boxster. The poster was annoyed that his base
Boxster was upstaged so quickly by the S model. Had he paid any attention to Porsche history he
would have seen it coming! Apparently Porsche decided that waiting two or three years to
introduce an upgraded model is too long; the Cayenne, Cayman, and Panamera have all been
introduced as S models before introduction of the base models.
14

Porsche Reveals High-Performance 918 Spyder Concept: Highly Efficient and
Ultra-Fast Plug-in Hybrid Super Sports Car Unveiled in Geneva.
ATLANTA - March 1, 2010 - Today, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche unveiled an
ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car featuring hybrid and electric drive
technology. The 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to
offer a fascinating range of qualities. For example, it is planned to provide an emission level of just
70 grams of CO per kilometer on fuel consumption of only three liters/100 kilometers (equal to
2
National News
approximately 78 mpg U.S.), which is truly outstanding, even for an ultra-compact city car. This car,
however, is intended to offer the performance of a super sports car with acceleration from a
standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph), and a lap
time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche
Carrera GT.
power of Porsche as a genuine pioneer in hybrid drive.
The 918 Spyder is one of three
Porsche models with hybrid drive
making their world debut at the 2010
Geneva Motor Show. This trio (made up
of Porsche's new Cayenne S Hybrid
SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the
911 GT3 R Hybrid race car with electric
drive on the front axle and a flywheel
mass battery, and the two-seater
high-performance 918 Spyder
mid-engined sports car with plug-in
hybrid technology) clearly
demonstrates not only the great
bandwidth of this new drive
technology, but also the innovative
The highly-innovative 918 Spyder concept car combines Porsche's Intelligent Performance
philosophy with the high-technology from motorsport and a classic but modern design to make a
truly convincing statement.
Innovative powertrain combines race-bred V8 engine with electric drive
This open two-seater is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500 horsepower and a
maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm - as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with
overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW). The V8 combustion engine is the next step
in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4-liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder
15

acing car and positioned mid-ship, in front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance and the
right set-up for supreme performance on the race track.
Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK)
transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel
electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio. The energy reservoir is a
fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in
hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the
car's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the
brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.
Driver's choice of four distinct driving modes
A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The
E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16
miles. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion
engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly
fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.
The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the
drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to provide additional
improvements to the car's driving dynamics.
In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the highest
standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and dynamic output.
With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power
(E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.
With the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918
Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car, or the
extremely low emissions and high fuel economy figures of a plug-in hybrid.
Advanced body structure and design offer more than just good looks
Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the Porsche 918 Spyder also bears out the
car's DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its monocoque
bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) and liberal use of magnesium and
aluminum not only reduce weight to below 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb, but also ensure supreme driving
precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.
Reminiscent of highly successful, legendary racing cars such as the Porsche 917 and the current
Porsche RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder, with its design concept so typical of Porsche arouses powerful
emotions. The combination of racing car dimensions, clearly structured design with perfectly
balanced surfaces, and innovative details throughout, creates an ideal synthesis of form and
function - following Porsche's design DNA.
The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the road. Variable
aerodynamics, typical of Porsche, ensures both visionary and traditional highlights especially
around the rear spoiler. The striking rear hoods extending out of the headrests, in turn, not only
fulfill an aerodynamic function on the 918 Spyder, but also accommodate retractable air intakes
with a ram air function.
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High-tech interior provides glimpse into the future
The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form
part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech
operation. Additionally, the cockpit offers a glimpse at the potential interior architecture of future
Porsche super sports cars. The three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed
(middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the
'60s, bearing out that unique philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of Porsche. The
center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch screen for intuitive
control of the car's functions, serving to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the
principle of direct operation.
The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke multifunction
sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a switch enabling the
driver to call up various drive programs and serving as the push-to-pass button for E-boosting.
Instrument illumination, finally, varies from green for the consumption-oriented running modes to
red for the performance-oriented driving programs.
The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range
Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the
navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the
driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance. In cities
with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a
certain destination on electric power alone. Applying this information and using further info on the
availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his
personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.
Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long
electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept represents an essential milestone in Porsche's
strategy on the way to genuine electric-mobility.
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Tech, continued from page 5
I began by removing the rubber line from the metal line coming from the body (yellow arrow in
picture below). I used flare nut wrenches on all the brake line fittings. Once you loosen one of
these fittings you’ll have brake fluid dripping. I place a pan under the line before starting the
removal process. Also, I had some spare rubber bleeder screw caps handy. Once a fitting was
removed, I put one of these caps on the open end to limit spillage of brake fluid.
Even with the lines removed from the car, I could
not separate the rubber lines from these metal
lines. So, my $140 job became more expensive. I
ended up ordering four new metal lines from
Porsche Annapolis for a total of $70. The part
numbers are two each of 996 355 584 06 and
996 355 581 06.
Once I had these new parts, the rest was a breeze.
At each wheel I installed the new metal fitting into
the caliper, then fitted the stainless-steel line. After
all the new brake lines were installed, I flushed the
brake and clutch lines with the new brake fluid.
Next I tried to remove the rubber line from the
metal line that goes to the caliper (green arrow
in picture to the left). Here’s where I hit my first
problem: I could not get this fitting undone.
Even with the flare nut wrench, I just rounded
off the nut. I ended up removing the metal line
from the caliper, and this enabled me to remove
the rubber line (along with the metal line) from
the car. I had to do this with all four lines. See
one of them in the picture below. The green
arrow indicates the metal brake line that screws
into the caliper.
The last picture shows a new stainless-steel brake
line installed. Can I say the brakes feel any
different? Not really, although maybe there is a
bit of a placebo effect. I’m not sure when I’ll get to
the track again, but maybe I’ll notice a difference
then.
Now I need another project!
18