Slipstream - January 2005

Curves Ahead - Passion and Performance
by Matt Platts & Mike Holloway, Slipstream Editor(s)
Last month, Mike Holloway was introduced as the new
Managing Editor for SLIPSTREAM. He contacted me
several weeks ago with interest in the position. I was
eager to talk to someone with experience and willingness but
I was also apprehensive. We put a lot of time and energy into
every issue, more so than many people realize. I didn't want
to hand this over to just anybody. The following is the first
conversation I had with Mike.
SLIPSTREAM: I'm glad you have an interest in the
publication, how long have you been a member of PCA?
MH: About three months.
SLIPSTREAM: Three Months? That's not very long,
how long have you owned your Porsche?
MH: Going on five months I guess, but I actually drove
the car I own for awhile in grad school, about eleven years
ago. A very good friend ended up buying her and kept her
on the road with the agreement that I would have first
refusal when it came time for him to give her up. That
happened several months ago.
SLIPSTREAM: What year and model?
MH: She is a 1977 911 Targa ROW with a 2.7l engine.
Various reliability upgrades have been made to her and for
the most part she runs real well. A little surface rust in a few
spots, but then again she was a Northeast car. She is in
surprisingly good shape.
SLIPSTREAM: You refer to your car as 'she', any
reason?
MH: Ya, kind of strange. I never really understood why
people referred to their sailing vessels or performance
vehicles as 'she' until I drove that car. After spending sometime
in it, I think I understand. I can't really explain it.
These cars are more than a means of transportation - they
are a blend of passion and performance. The darn things
have a soul. Let's face it, if you don't understand or respect
them, you can get seriously messed up.
SLIPSTREAM: The cars or the 'she's’?
MH: Yes.
SLIPSTREAM: OK, we will just leave it at that. What is
your background? You mentioned grad school, what did
you study?
MH: I have a weird combination - a BA in philosophy,
a BS in chemistry and an MS in chemical engineering.
Nineteen years ago, I started in R&D, and then moved into
product development, then sales and marketing. The past
five years it's been a combination of all that.
SLIPSTREAM: But you do desktop publishing now?
MH: Only by default, I do technical development and
reliability for a lubricant manufacturer. Awhile back, I spent
many many hours working with the folks in our marketing
and advertising departments on various projects I was spearheading.
There were too many re-dos. Now I just do it all
myself. It seems to save time. I speak at a bunch of conferences
on original concepts and research that I have done in the field.
I have a certain quality of work I like to present and a pace I
work at. It's easiest for me if I can take it all on, delegate when
needed but mostly punch through the rest myself.
SLIPSTREAM: So why do you want this post? The time
commitment is considerable and it is all voluntarily.
MH: I just love to create - physically and intellectually.
It's really a hobby for me. Also, I am one of those that
really like the stress of a deadline. The more things I have
going, the better I like it. I seem to be at my best when
pushed to the limit.
SLIPSTREAM: This will feed that need. Do you have
a family?
MH: I have a seventeen year old daughter that lives
outside of Chicago with her mom, a five year old son and a
two year old daughter that I have with Lisa, my wife of
seven years. The little ones really like the Targa. I really got
the car to work on with my son over the next ten years but
I suspect that my littlest girl will want to get her hands dirty
on it as well.
SLIPSTREAM: Are you going to get involved in DE or
racing?
MH: Someday, but right now I want to get the car in
shape. The engine is sound and she really doesn't weep any
oil. The transmission could use some new bushings but
that's about it for now. I will strip her down and clean her
up cosmetically. We'll save the internals for when problems
present themselves. For now, I'll just leave the engine well
enough alone.
SLIPSTREAM: So you must have read the 911 restoration
article that appears each month?
MH: Absolutely, it provided inspiration. The great
thing about this community is that folks are really willing
to share their insights and are not afraid of telling you their
mistakes. I will try to do as much of the work as possible.
There will be certain things that I just don't have the
machines for. Those are the things I will have to farm-out.
SLIPSTREAM: So what are some of the things that
you are looking to change in SLIPSTREAM?
MH: Not much of anything - it's a good read. I have a
few article ideas that might be fun but nothing radical.
Unless there is a ground swell of discontent (which there
doesn't seem to be), I say leave well enough alone. You guys
do a great job. I would feel privileged to be associated with
this publication.
SLIPSTREAM: We look forward to having you as part
of the team.
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