12 HR of Sebring Race, March 21, 2015

I can't make Sebring (the dates simply don't work for me) but I will probably be at the 2015 Rolex at Daytona in January.

 

Don't know if I'll be working the race or spectating, but I'll be there.

 

Oh, and the race course (NOT the PCA) has final say on who gets in to the Porsche 

Corral or not and, trust me, if it says "Porsche" on it, it will get in.

Gordon, I have some buss. travel for the Rolex Daytona event so can't make it.

I have also been exploring the HSR Races at Daytona and at Sebring this year.

http://www.hsrrace.com/

Both are around the holidays so it is hard to work around family events.

 

Also, called Sebring about the 12HR race and the P Corral and the answer was, as expected, that it has to be "a real P car" to park in Corral.

Bummer, now I have to change my Intermeccanica hood handle badge to Porsche

Marty, there is a solution:

bring a "Real P" (i.e. 911,Boxster,944) with a hitch and guess what is attached at the other end............

Now the IM qualifies?

 

Good idea, the funny part is those cars would get less attention compared to the IM. 

Marty---so true.

 

At one of the earlier Tail Of The Dragon events siome guy with an authentic Speedster joined us for the run and during the day mentioned that his was a "real" Speedster quite a few times.

I heard him tell 2-3 people who walked over to see our 6-8 cars that his was a "real" Speedster. It was a shabby, dented up car with awful paint and rotting rubber and absoultely no one had a clue what he was talking about.  I felt sorry for him because it really was a $100,000+ car even in it's poor conditon and no one hardly glanced at it.

 

If my car was also a "real" Speedster I doubt it could have stood up to the 2,300 mile roundtrip at 70-75 MPH runing the interstates with anything out there!  And I'm not so sure how the drum brakes and 60 HP would have managed the trip from AR and the Smoky Mountains. 

 

I have never been jealous of a "real Speedster" and have won car show trophies 3X against real Speedsters that were on the field with my plastic car.  Apeedster replica is just about the ultimate in "bang for the buck" fun!

Amen, Jack.

 

Jack, When I got my Speedster in Sept. a close friend came over the house to see it in his new 911. He had almost a bigger smile on his face than I did. He never talked about his 911 he was totally into my 10yr old VS. Pretty is as pretty does! 

Marty/Jack,

I agree with both of you on your observations here.

The analogy I have used before is that the same thing happens with the conversation in the P Clubs about "air cooled or water cooled."  While different means to keep an engine and it's components from blowing up, there are other more important factors to consider and worry about when investing in a sports vehicle.

My VS was built in 1997 on a 1967 VW/engine 1776 cc and I have as much fun and pride in my Speedster as I would on the real thing.  Just had it up to 74 mph on the tollway this last weekend and no stress on the engine.  Besides, a door ding and I would not loose sleep.  If it was a $100K + investment to me-- it would never leave the garage.

       
       

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about my car!

Jack, I remembered that real Speedster as having a slightly shabby interior but a perfect body with shiny black paint.  I'll see if I can locate a picture.  I also recall that he seemed a touch miffed at the attention we all got.  I honestly don't think he knew we had replicas.

 

He was the original owner, having bought the car in June of 1958.  He had a badge on the trunk showing well over 500k miles.  An older fellow, he had a friend ride with him for safety as much as companionship.

       
       

Guys, this is getting awkward. Are you sure it wasn't my car?

 In my own experience, 911 drivers, in general, look down their collective noses at ANY 356 (steel or plastic) because they're not considered to be real Porsches (they have those, um, Volkswagen parts in them, after all - especially the Pre-A cars).

 

I never call before-hand to ask if events allow replicas to join the Porsche Corral - I just show up and have never been turned away from some pretty high profile events.  The event management couldn't tell a replica from a real one, anyway, and the only people who have ever complained have been 911 owners!  (WTF?)  

 

Hell!  Pearl won the 2009 Spectator Award in the European class of the car club jamboree at Hilton Head Island Concours ( second on the east coast to Amelia Island).

 

 

 

 

Hoss Hallstrand and I both had our cars included in the whole "Porsche Experience" at the Watkins Glen Historic races a few years back, too - no one ever asked whether they were replicas - and there were only 100 cars "invited".

 

And the capper was when I went to the "Porsche Fest" at Boston's Museum of Transportation, years back, with the local 356 club and got a flared-fendered replica (OH!  The Horrors!!) on the cover of the PCA's New England News Letter!  (Wait! --- Porsche never made a flared-fendered Speedster, did they?)

 

 

 

 

Just show up - it's always easier to apologize later......

 

Gordon, first let me say your ride looks like a winner at any event, period.

 

You make a very good point here and I am game to try your approach.

My concern is that there is a group of 5-6 guys interested in a possible trip to Sebring and I hate to see anyone turned away because of the "not real" scenario.

A few of us have real P Cars (Boxsters, etc) and can always switch the ride we bring; but the real FUN would be to have us park as a group in our 356s.

Another option: is for our group to get parking passes for "Parking - North Paddock Car" extra $45 for parking here, but could have us in the same area together?

I noticed there is an IM car on ebay right now for $135,000.  That makes that car REAL for me.    I know IM makes some really fine stuff having seen them at the Carlisle Import show.  To my way of thinking $135K seems really high for a restored IM.  My thinking, correct me if I am wrong, is that you could buy a NEW IM optioned and equipped to the nines for under $100k?   

I have seen that car because I am currently looking for one.  Simply stated:  I can buy a new one from Henry at IM and not spend 135K.  Fools part with their money daily. 

Sebring looks very tempting but it's such a long way off.  I expect to be out of town (vacation)  until til March 13 so would be cutting it tight for more days off.  If we get a crowd of Speedsters committed  ....  I'll pay the $45 and make it work

John and GTraveler,

Not that it makes much difference, but the car that's listed at 135,000 on ebay isn't the run of the mill Speedster. That's a fully restored IM Roadster. It's clearly not a 135k car, but they are basing their price on some quacks appraisal.

 

The Roadster has a proper top and rollup windows. The car is pretty well optioned with AC, etc. etc. I'm not even sure if Henry is offering the Roadster any longer.

 

Not worth 135, but it sure is pretty and if I paid 135, I'd expect it to carry much of the same clout as any other car.

 

 

 

 

Slight thread drift---I am always looking for someone who would like to caravan together to the WQest Coast event which is 3-4 weeks after the Carlisle event.  Alice and I made  that trip once and the folks there and the ride out and back made for an unforgettable experience.  I know all the best stops and places to eat along the route and would love some company for the trip again next spring.  Whose game?

Hey, you can't blame a fellow for asking.   I don't have a clue what that IM car might be worth.  I know they are VERY impressive having seen several at Carlisle over the years.  Typically shown with no indication of price or cost.   I carefully ask once some time ago and was told if my memory serves me that "they started around $75,000" and as nicely as the car seemed to be done I wasn't surprised at that.  

 

As to a run to Cal after Carlisle?  Better not commit to that until I actually get the car.  Sounds like a lot of fun and I love to travel with fellows who know the "stops"  makes a world of difference.  

That IM is worth every cent.  It is a RESTORED Intermeccanica, just like the real ones get to be after they fall apart...

 

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ebaymotors/...&forcev4exp=true

 

 

And I should say, it's almost as nice as Marty's

It's a beautiful car, for sure. The color change was (in my opinion) the single best thing they could have done. The one thing I NEVER understand is why people go through all that trouble to build such a fine car, and don't convert to wide 5's. The same goes for any 550 I see that is running 4 lug chromies.

 

Again - I have no input on the value. I'm only a steward of a lowly CMC.

 

Ted

Going back to the "real" Speedster that joined us for the Tail of the Dragon one year (2008) - I found some pictures of it.  Looks pretty nice to me.

 

And a few more...

 

I think that white IM on ebay might be Chris Schofield's car....

Geez, no one gets subtlety anymore...

 

I don't know Lane, what's with the rats nest in the engine compartment?! 

Ted

So, the funny thing is that it dawned on me after I replied.

 

I thought "waaaaaaaaaaaaaait... maybe he's being ironic...."

 

Ted

Well I have to admit that the body looks better than I remember.  The engine is a mess. Look at the wires going from the generator to the voltage regulator.  Not exactly sanitary.  

 

That's my cream colored Speedster with a bra on it  behind the "real" one. I wouldn't trade it bfor the "real" one if I had to keep it and drive it.

 

The Tail Of The Dragon Smoky Mountain event was a sensational time--I'd return every year if we could resurrect it as an event.

 

Thanks for the pix, Lane.

Yeah Jack, the engine is a bit rougher than I remembered but the interior is a bit better.  Notice the 800km badge.  I seem to recall him saying it was old and he had added several hundred k more since then.  That's pretty impressive.

 

I'd do the TotD again too, but someone else can plan it.

Whatever his attitude, big ups to a dude who drives a Speedster many-hundred-K miles. Respect.

 

Now I have to disagree with Crosby's contention that a Speedster is 'the ultimate in "bang for the buck" fun!'

 

Fact is--and it really is fact, not just one po' boy's opinion--the TD Replica beats the Fake Porsche in the Fun-per-$ department. You can pick one up for $4,000 and, driving down the road or parked on the burger lot it gets equal attention to the Speedster.

 

More even when there's a bunch of Speedsters around. 

 

And of course they're the same dang thing under the skin...unless you put a Cologne (German-built, yah!) V6 in yours, as one of the guys in the TDr club did a couple years back. 

 

Equal fun for many smaller $$. And no pissing and moaning from the 911 guys.  (Although, come to think of it, pissing off 911 guys is probably +fun for most of us instead of -fun).

 

The "real" one seems to have a C engine and disc brakes.

I especially like the wagon wheels from the '73 C10 Chevy 4wd pick-up.

 

The interior is nice, though.

"the TD Replica beats the Fake Porsche in the Fun-per-$ department"

 

PLUS, you get to wear a sports jacket and a Tweed hat.......

 

Stan, Stan, Stan...  Those are Dan Gurney wheels.  I like 'em.

Nice hat too bad they didn't have one in his size.    Cars I love them all.  My friends and my family will testify to that statement.   The best car is the one who's defects are endearing. There isn't much right with a MGTD.  Small under powered on and on but you still have to love'm.     Same with our cars.    Modern cars are a thousand percent "better" then a old MG but few of them are endearing.   I could name some that I think are but they are BIG money. Big bang for the buck with an old MG and probably more so for a replica since they are so inexpensive.   

You know I just realized that the hat shown is shaped like that to provide downforce.  I wonder why I didn't notice that before.

Just bought a TD replica  to flip not bad looking at all

Stan--you are right---it looks a lot better in that picture than I remember it.  

 

I sometimes feel guilty when my plastic tub gets the tophy over a real one at a car show.  It's happened twice and once was a Best of Show.

 

At Carlisle my car is so-so but here in Dogpatch it's a crown pleaser.

 

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king".  Sorts like that I think.