November 2012 - Rocky Mountain Region Porsche Club - Porsche ...

I find that my perspective as both an
enthusiast and an industry professional is
somewhat unique in the world of air-cooled
and otherwise early Porsches. Since I was
not a licensed driver until after the watercooled
911 came into being, I consider myself
an air-cooled enthusiast living in a watercooled
world.
Through my involvement in the industry,
RMR-PCA, and the resto-modding of my 1980
911 SC (and tracking of my 951), I continue to
delve deeper into the world of exotic, limitededition,
and historic Porches along with some
that may only be categorized as “Legendary.”
With every new depth I explore in this realm
of epic brand history, I am rewarded with the
discovery of visions of Porsches that otherwise
seemed unimaginable, inconceivable! I feel
like I am the automotive version of Jacques
Cousteau! Exploring deep within the Sea of
Porsche History! Finding new species of yet
unseen marine life! But woe is the naive and
unlearned explorer. For many of you have
already known that such things exist. And
indeed my findings are not noteworthy at all.
This was true for some time now, but
that period of time ended last week. I was
invited out to photograph a private track
day at High Plains Raceway, where a vast
treasure of Porsche vehicles was meant to
be on display! I was perhaps too excited for
this day, as evidenced by my 6-point speeding
ticket on the way to the racetrack. (Note that
a supercharged Audi V8 and a excited photog
should never be mixed!) Nevertheless, my
will was not diminished. I arrived at the track,
and as in my first experience at SEMA (I have
actually only been once) I barley knew where
to begin!
A 908/2 over here, a 993 GT2 EVO over
there, and—dare I say it?—a 996 GT1! A
car of which only 20 were ever made! A car
that looks as if Ferdinand Porsche was given
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HighGear
November 2012
a 996 Turbo, a bag of medical
marijuana, and a team of engineers
and told to build a super car! The GT1
has more corners and curves than a bowl of
Udon noodles! Yet it somehow is distinctly
undeniably a Porsche 996 derivative. This
is a living legend. The fact that these Living
Legends not only exist on paper, but they exist
right here in front of me, defies my capacity
for explanation. The fact that these cars
are being tracked, risking life and wing, is
mind-blowing. This was like an out-of-body
experience.
While I can continue to write sentences
fraught with overly ambitious similes that
convey my excitement for these Living
Legends, let me now make what I promise to
be the last and most significant point of this
article. And that is while I have been seeking
to explore the depths of exotic Porsche
history, I have been swimming in a sea of
enthusiasm.
The RMR PCA chapter consistently
displays a remarkable level of well kept,
properly driven, and thoroughly exciting
Porsche vehicles. This point cannot be
overlooked. From watching track-prepped
cup cars tear HPR to pieces in this summer’s
DE, to chasing silver 997 Turbos, and C4Ss
over the Peak-to-Peak highway, every PCA
event I have ever attended has been seriously
awesome. We all are to be applauded for not
just supporting, but defining, a very strong
and very rich local car culture. And for that,
this young explorer is thankful.
While many 908/2’s spend their days gathering dust in museums, this Living
Legend still gets properly exercised at our own High Plains Raceway.