April 2013 - Porsche Club of America – Northeast Region

On the Edge
Adrianne Ross
promised an update, and here it is: I found a
I transmission! It’s very pretty, and shiny, and
hardly used at all. It was Mike Kerouac who suggested
who to call. We were on the phone one
afternoon, talking a lunch plan when he asked,
“What’s up with the transmission?”
I hemmed, I hawed, and responded that I was
having a hard time getting a straight answer
out of anyone. People were trying to sell me a
transmission with “60,000 miles” on it. “Can you
send me a picture of the odometer?” —it would
land in my inbox with what looked uncannily like
98,000 miles.
“So the transmission is used?” “Yes,” would come
the response. “The car got in a front end accident.”
Again the request for pictures, and again it wasn’t
quite that simple. “That’s a lot of rear end damage
for a front end accident.” “Oh yeah, well then they
got hit from behind.”
Sigh.
Then there were the rebuilts. Those were the
ones that someone had faithfully torn apart,
“Rick, I’m calling because I’m looking for a Tip
transmission for my 2000 Boxster. Not the S, not
a 2004, just the ’97-’02 models”
re-geared, and put back together. “Is there a warranty
on the work?” “Ummmm, warranty?” “Never
mind…” click.
Six months of this game, and then Mike had a
great idea.
“Call Rick DeMan.”
Ohhh Rick! You mean the guy who built your
Cayman? (That graced the cover and insides of
this publication not so very long ago.) Yeah, that
Rick.
Rick builds Spec Boxsters. That’s when you rip
out most of the guts of a Boxster, weld in a cage,
and a roof, and set it loose on a race track.
What a good idea!
So, I called him.
First of all, I have to say, I love the racing/driving
community. It’s friendly, and everyone wants to
be helpful. It’s like that in and out of the paddock.
But I’m sort of fascinated by the way networking
works these days. I have quite a few Facebook
friends, and LinkedIn connections, some of whom
I’ve never met, but most of whom I have. The
interesting thing is, is that it’s a great icebreaker.
“Hi Rick, my name is Adrianne Ross. We’ve met
a few times around a Grand-Am paddock, and
we’re Facebook friends.”
“Oh yes, I know you, you posted something
about blah, blah, blah…”
“Yup, that’s me.”
It works on all sorts of levels. “We’re connected
on LinkedIn, I see you have an opening at…”
“Oh yes, I know you.” Well, you don’t actually, but
at least we have a starting point, right?
Anyway, the transmission.
“Rick, I’m calling because I’m looking for a Tip
transmission for my 2000 Boxster. Not the S, not
a 2004, just the ’97-’02 models, and Mike thought
you could direct me to something reputable.”
“Well Adrianne” he paused, “it’s your lucky day. I
have two of ‘em sitting on a shelf in my shop.”
Two of them!
“Rebuilt?” I asked with still a little hesitation; that
whole ‘too-good-to-be-true’ thing.
“Nope, used.” He replied. “Actually, one of ‘em is
barely broken in, it’s got a hair over 15,000 miles
on it.”
That was a Friday. On Monday I took a
little trip to Nyack, NY, paid the man, and
came home with what fundamentally
comes down to my salvation. After six
months of worry, and doubt, I get my
Porsche back.
In This Issue...
Our issue this month is packed with contributions
from our members. From Dan and
his 1960 356, to Ginny buying the 2013 edition
of the 991, the stories are great! and I really appreciate
the contributions.
There’s non-stop action around the region
of things to do. Dani and Marcus’s column has
some helpful hints about how to use those “new
member” vouchers. I am still strongly encouraging
folks to volunteer at the Clash at the Glen.
In the last Panorama there was an article about
running (the logistics) of the 48 Hours at Sebring.
This is the same concept, only at the Glen
- a race track with just as much fame, and even
more history to it’s name. It takes over 225 volunteers
to run the 48 Hours, and I’m guessing
it takes the same to run the Clash, only at the
Glen, you get to see old friends, and meet new
ones. It’s a BLAST! I promise! - Enjoy the issue.
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