These are the dark days of cabin fever and snow-covered roads. When the sky is bright and the roads are washed clear of salt, it is a good day to sneak out and circulate the oil. It is even better to meet with the crew for breakfast. This time, we were in for a special treat as a friend of the crew brought his 930 turbo slant nose out for the ride. The amazing thing is that this is an original low mileage metal fendered unmolested car ! That is a rare bird indeed, and I enjoyed hearing the story of it and looking over the machine. I have seen a lot of cars made into a slant nose, but this was the real deal. Thanks Claude for bringing it out...
We were very spoiled in the last few years. With the exception of some noted storms, winters have been mild, and you could drive without fear of salt or gravel during formerly unthinkable months. In 2013, I decided to get off to a strong early start by driving the coupe on a 44 degree day. It reminded me that I still need to chase down the alternator ground, but otherwise made glorious noises and enjoyed the brisk air. I also threw in some seafoam as despite my optimism, I cannot guarantee routine outings....
Over the late winter into spring and now into summer, the Pennsylvania-based early 911 group known as the Erste Gruppe have met a number of times not too far away. The location is usually a small café where the group can constitute half the customers on any given visit. The first couple of visits in 2012 were during frigid temperatures. This was particularly rough on hotrod cars with no heat exchangers.
However, it was only partially about breakfast. Following breakfast, the group usually gathered for a photo, and then invariably went on a loosely planned run through the surrounding countryside. I usually peeled off after a short period of time to head back, and did not complete some of the runs, but what I did participate in was fun and fast. So this in fact constitutes a summary post covering several months where the 911E coupe has actually been out and running. It's just this journal that's lagging....
Velocity Rallye attendee Stuart and I had been planning to go out for a drive for many weekends, but weather, work, etc had conspired to prevent it. We were finally set for a Saturday morning when the vintage 911 gang announced plans for a drive. Great, yet another gathering by members of the Erste Gruppe, and I had a logistical challenge since I needed to be back home before noon.
The solution was to drive with Stuart out to the starting point in NJ some 75 miles away, hang out with the group until departure, and then return solo. I would of course miss the whole drive, but the car needed some exercise, and Stuart and I got some driving in. It was mostly interstate and parkway up to the starting point where the gang was assembling.
Once there, it was fun to ogle the eclectic group of Porsches gathered, as well as a couple of non-p-cars such as a 2002, and a Bentley. I also got to see Lewis' lovely Saab Sonnett. The group had a great time, and a thread over at the Early 911 site has more pics.
On the way back, I took skipped the interstate and drove through some of the best part of the NJ in the northwest. The carbs were on song, and they enjoyed the more "spirited" drive home. With a little luck I will hopefully make more runs going forward.
The E has not gotten a lot of exercise so far this year. Not as bad as this journal might suggest, as it has been out a few times, but not a lot. The 2nd Non-Annual Classic Velocity Fall Rallye was going to be a good excuse to add a few hundred miles. However, as the day drew close, it looked like we might have nothing but Porsches, and I would drive the Tii for diversity. Fortunately, that was not the case, and the E snarled into life to lead the group.
It is very difficult to keep a car this sporting in check on public roads. It is also tough to stay controlled leading a diverse group of cars in a non-performance mode. The car sounds and feels better when you step on it. I had Kevin along as passenger, and he had a fun time trying to hold on as we tested the limits on a few on ramps and S curves.
Great country roads, scenic by-ways, cool temps, great fall colors, the sound of a flat six on song behind your head. It doesn't get much better than this....
The next best thing to driving and enjoying your early 911 ? Hanging out with the crew in the middle of winter. Luke Marano had the great idea to arrange a purely social event for the Early 911S contingent. Drinks and dinner in Philly. The event also celebrates the birth of a formal Early S Registry chapter in the Delaware Valley, thanks to the efforts of John Kolesa. After drinks at Hawthorne's, we moved around the corner to Dante & Luigi's for dinner. I knew almost all of the crew that turned out, but a few I met for the first time. For those I knew, it was nice to find out who puts up with them when they are not out strafing the countryside in spectacular cars. Of course, talk was mostly about cars, in between bites of good food and some spectacular tiramisu. I was surprised to see Neal from the BMW clan there as he had joined us with his SC on some of the rides. All in all, it was a great event which really helped to break up the miserable winter weather. I sense another event will take place before the winter is over.....
Despite not solving the ongoing glowing alternator light problem, I took the E up to a local British car event about 20 miles away. First I fully charged the batteries to hedge my bets a little, and then headed out. The car was as intoxicating as it always proves to be. I can listen to the sound of the PMOs and the exhaust all day ! At the event, a few non-british cars showed up and were parked off to the side. I did not see them on first pass, and the gatekeeper had a rather alarmed look on his face as I approached, so I parked nearby and then joined the rest of the heretics from the Rocking Chair Motors gang. We had a great time and I had some very interesting conversations which made it into the main blog as the People Power post.
