Slipstream - February 2005

Photo Curtesy of Aimee Mullins
Passion and Performance
by Mike Holloway, Slipstream Managing Editor
Porsche owners typically have a
unique outlook on life. Often, they
are people who demonstrate both
performance and passion, achieving high
levels of excellence through their unique
outlook, internal motivation, life
experiences and personal philosophy.
The Porsche Club of America has been a
great place to meet new and interesting
people. Slipstream’s Passion and Performance segment
offers a chance to do just that. Please meet Aimee Mullins.
Aimee Mullins is a close family friend. She was born
without the fibulae in both her legs. During her first year,
her parents made the difficult decision to have her legs
amputated just below the knee. Aimee grew up wearing
prosthetic wooden legs. She excelled in academics and
athletics such as swimming and softball. She was granted a
full academic scholarship to Georgetown University where
she studied international diplomacy and foreign relations.
While at Georgetown, she worked at the Pentagon (Defense
Dept.) for Colin Powell. In her sophomore year, Aimee
heard about a track meet in Boston for amputees. Without
any formal training in track and field, Aimee entered the
100 and 200 meter dashes and the long jump. That meet,
she set US records in the 100 and long jump. Back at
Georgetown with Gold around her neck, she decided
to contact the Georgetown University track coach (the
legendary Frank Gagliano) for
a try out. Georgetown
University is a division 1 school
which offers full athletic scholarships.
After three months of
private training with him, she
earned a spot on the team.
After Aimee made the team, laterthat
season she qualified
to run in the Big East
Championship track meet.
Aimee demonstrates many
talents including helping to
10
Aimee Mullins
design the carbon fiber artificial
limbs she runs with. Aimee
graduated from Georgetown Summa Cum Laude. She has
become an accomplished actor and runway model and has
been ranked People's magazine top 50 most beautiful
people for several years.
MH: I remember once you told me that when you were
16, your first driving experience was in a Porsche 911
Carrera with a Tiptronic transmission on an airport
runway?
AM: It was actually my first experience driving a
manual transmission, and it was the car of a friend who
shared my love of flying. We went out to a small, familiar
airport runway and I practiced driving stick shift all around
Photo Curtesy of Aimee Mullins
the runway. It was an entirely different driving experience
in that I felt truly in control of the car: I felt as though I
were part of it. It was exhilarating and that night I feel in
love with Porsche and its design.
MH: The Tiptronic was essentially designed to give the
driver the control of a standard transmission without the
leg strain of having to press the clutch. Aimee, what was
your impression of the car?
AM: It was incredibly freeing for me to drive this way –
feeling that I was really driving the car rather than the
detachment that accompanies an automatic transmission. I
appreciate the feeling of having a manual transmission
without the physical problem of me having to press down a
clutch. Since I don’t have ankles on either side, I use
my entire leg to press down and release pressure on the
pedals by lifting my thigh muscle. This situation makes a
traditional clutch problematic, whereas the Tiptronic
allows me the sensation of connecting with the car through
the gear changes without both thighs having to work. In a
word, it is thrilling.
MH: Porsche seems to do a great job of blending
passion and performance. That combination reminds me
of you. What can you say about that?
Big East Track Meet
AM: What’s to say? It’s the winning combination for
any person or any company. It’s what makes something go
beyond just being “good” to becoming iconic, standing the
test of time and having the relevance of being trailblazers
for each coming generation.
Here are a few of Aimee’s awards and accomplishments: Lead actress
in the A&E Agatha Christie’s Poirot drama series, named to HBO’s
list of “Up and Coming” actors, named to Rolling Stone Magazine’s
annual “Hot List”, featured in the Track and Field Hall of Fame,
named as one of Sports Illustrated’s 2001 “Coolest Girls In Sports,
named “The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World” by People
Magazine.