Story and photos: Don Chaisson

Rennsport Reunion VI is over.  If you missed it, you missed a truly epic event.

Just look at the numbers:  over 81,000 attendance, 266 historic race cars on track, a dozen Porsche tractors in a race both Saturday and Sunday, 55 Heritage Display Cars (sponsored by Chopard), 1:06 min lap time for the 919 EVO (“not a record” — continue reading!), rows and rows of product displays/shops (including our YOS member, Braken Helms – Circuit6four), enormous (and sold out) Porsche Corrals, 4 days of racing (practice/qualifying and competition), member cars on a lawn display — one of “each” car Porsche produced over the 70 years!, on-and-on.    The covered paddock was taken over by special Porsche race cars and specialty cars (Mission E prototype, 919 EVO, IMSA 911 RSR (the one with the motor “ahead of the rear axle”) and including my absolute favorite Porsche, the 911 GT1 ( oh yea, its motor is “ahead of the rear axle”… just say’in).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The days were total and deep Porsche immersion — to the point that our president, Chuck Pierce lamented Sunday afternoon, before the last two races, “… I’m Porsche’ed out.. lets go home!”  Yea, that much immersion!

There were all sorts of story lines over the weekend.   Here are two,

The 919 EVO was at the event for “demonstration” laps — though  the hot rumor was it was there to set yet another lap record, here at Laguna.  Just to get the car on the course took a large contingent of engineers (there are 7 just in the photo here).   You don’t just jump in, turn the key and fire it up.  The tolerances on the bearings, piston rings, etc are so tight that the motor unit, KERS system and battery system has to be pre-heated before it can be started.   Fan access to the paddock was remarkable, we were able to get right next to the car while they prepared it for its session.   A couple things jump out when you get close to the 919 without all its cladding:  it is complicated and tightly packed!

Chatting with a systems and the V4-engineer, more interesting numbers.  The LeMans car was required to comply with various controls, e.g. fuel flow, aero packages, etc.  But the rules for the 919 “tribute” car were opened to “whatever”.   The result, the 2 liter V4 went from 550HP to over 700HP, similar jumps in the electromotive — total now over 1100 HP.  The “tribute” aero package generates about 50% MORE downforce than the LeMans trim and a F1 style adjustable rear wing installed, — apparently the list goes on and on.   I was between turns 4 and 5 for Sat practice and it went by like a bullet!
Then the subject of the lap record came up.   The engineer, sadly announced ”  It will not be allowed.”  What, not even a try at the record??   He went on, “…  We received a message from the ‘Board’ that we were not allowed to try and break the record.  The car is too valuable and must be delivered to the Museum intact.   Today will be the last day the car will be ever run at speed.    So, no record for the car today.”   Then, with a wink, “... but, we vill be ‘close’ ...”

The Official lap record at LS is 1:07.7 by a Penske Camp Car.    The “unofficial” record is 1:05.88 in a Ferrari F2003F1 but since it was an exhibition, not in a race, it cannot be official.  Rumors were that the 919 was in the 1:06 range, so not “a record”, but…CLOSE !    Some speed trap numbers give an idea of how it was running:   170+ mph entering Turn 5 and @195 mph under the start bridge on the front straight.

So, we got to see the 919 lap in anger for its last time … pretty special.

<<< Rumor Report:   reports are surfacing that the engineers & drivers hung around to play some more with the 919 on Monday after Rennsport.    Was there a “record run” after all??? >>>

Speaking of special; Migliore Motorwerken.   Recall that (now) YOS member Nico and Victoria Castellacio invited our members to their pre-rennsptort BBQ?   Well, Migliore was at the track with their trailer and stable of cars, including the 935 Fabcar and a bunch of 911/GTR3 RSR’s.   To say that they had a successful weekend would be an understatement.   Patrick Long piloted the 935 to a decisive win in the Gp4 race after starting outside the top 10 (problems with qualifying including a misbehaving timing sensor!).   Remember the photos of the 935 just a week prior — front end still in re-assembly, motor being worked on, problems in practice with front hub or something, then.. straight to the front at the start  (Long went from 13th to 3rd in three corners!!)

Another update:   Here is a “helmet cam” of Patrick Long driving the 935..  what a beast !  — the 935 that is!  Starts off with some final coordination with Nico..

Jorg Bermeister and Estre finished Sunday’s final race, Gp 7, in the same order as their qualifying race, 1-2.   That’s 2 of 7 races contested at Rennsport that Migliore (OK, with their factory drivers!!) won.  I don’t remember if they only entered those two races… which would make their weekend even more special: 2 for 2.     Congratulations to Nico and their hard working team.

There were other stories.  Like YOS member Greg Pyatt being asked to show his 930 flatnose 911.  The YOS members at the event came to gather for a group photo:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Porsche also took the occasion to debut a new car:  a tribute to the 935 race car.   This new 935, based on a GT2RS platform, has a 700 hp motor, track capable in every way but with creature comforts, eg. air conditioning will be offered at $817,000 to only 77 buyers.  But don’t call Porsche, I think all 77 have already been spoken for!

Again, if you missed Rennsport VI, you missed something special.   And worse, you’ll have to wait at least 3 years for another Rennsport (VII) to come around.   We hope it will be at Laguna Seca again.  See you there ??

 

What a generous gesture for Nico at Migliore Motorwerks, a BBQ for friends and family just one week before Rennsport VI!    And how wonderful it was that they specifically invited Yosemite Region to the party.

Consistent with the informality of the event, we “Yosemite Region-er’s” showed up give or take between 3 and 5 PM.  Some of us helped with the BBQ, dicing tomatoes, grilling sausages, toasting buns, whatever, but we mostly just hung around and chatted with the staff and enjoyed looking at the cars — in their varying preparation conditions.

Nico assured us that each and every car destined for Rennsport would be ready to go — by Tuesday night, in just three more days!!  They load up the transporter Tuesday night and head to Laguna to set up Wednesday and prepare for Thursday’s morning practice at 8:00 (see post on Rennsport and link to schedules).     Some of the cars look almost ready to go, and then some….   But to give an insight to the operation and dedication and respect the racing community has for Nico, one of the Cup cars needed extra help and not enough technicians to do the work, so Nico called a friend in Arizona and he flew out a tech, Adrian,  to finish up the car.   It had to be done by Monday for a shake down test at Thunderhill by the owner.   Adrian said that it was no problem, “… we just had to help Nico!”

Again, many thanks to Nico and Victoria for their hospitality.

by D. Chaisson

Just back from attending the 2018 WERKS of Monterey with a report:  The assemblage
of Porsches was over the top!   There were interesting stories at every turn.

In the lunch photo, you may see Lisa Mazza holding a little kitty — this is the best “human interest” story of the day!    While driving to WERKS, of course stuck in traffic, people alerted Jim Mazza that there was a cat under his car!    They stopped and looked under the car and, yes, there was a very scared “new” kitten frozen under the car.   What’s a person to do?  Well, Lisa had Jim move the car forward until she could rescue the kitty.   Then, she brought it to WERKS, put it in the “swag-bag” given to all coral entrants and showed it off to everyone who would look.   Just look at that little bitty kitty, with beautiful markings (I have no idea what breed it is) and you tell me if that isn’t the happiest lady – and cat – around.   PS, Lisa promptly named the kitty “Lucky”.  Makes sense to me.

 

 

The number of “outlaws” wasn’t as many as I thought there would be, but the ones that were there were pretty impressive.   An “Outlaw” 356 is a 356 that has been quite radically modified, to a point that it is different car.   One of the highlighted “outlaws”, presented by West Coast Classics,  took that liberty to the extreme.   It is a 1959 356, or is it?  It has the profile of the 356, but it’s dimensions are a bit askew.   That’s because it is built on a Cayman chassis!

You can get a lot more information in this link to a Jay Leno’s Garage presentation.

There were very few “race” cars this year, maybe because all those cars are being prepared for Rennsport next month.

Now to the confessions of “amateur” concours “drivers”.

WERKS is not just a gathering of Porsches of all models, colors and variants, it is also a “Concours”, not a “real” concours but more of a popularity or favorite of a committee voting — based on overall look and story.  Two Yosemite Region members were brave enough to enter their cars into the “judged” exhibits:  Phil Harris showing his totally restored/modified 911 SC and Don Chaisson with his “double yellow” Cayman GTS.  Both of “us” put in a few/many hours getting our cars washed up, cleaned up and waxed up.   And if I do say so myself, they looked pretty damn good!

Since the 911 SC modifications were not to OEM parts, it was entered with other “modified” Porsches.  So, Phil found himself parked right in-between a 911 “Baja” car, complete with extra tires on the roof and fronk and about $300K worth of other modifications, and a “tribute” IROC car with a big “Follmer” label on the doors — built by/for Follmer’s nephew so it was “correct” in all manners.  So what was that car worth?   So, we’re sitting around, musing about the “competition” and joking “… what the heck, no problem because we’re ‘drivers’ not ‘waxers’ and all”.   Later on a guy comes up to Phil and he thinks its the “judge”, but its just a “poser” claiming to be a judge from New York and he starts running the 911 SC down, “… you know that this isn’t OEM, the lug nuts have scratches from being taken off with a ‘metal’ socket, …”   on and on.   So Phil says, “… Yea, but I’m a ‘driver’ !”.   The guy just freezes, mouth open — busted!   The sad thing was that the WERKS judges never even came by to “judge” Phil’s car.   Now Sandy and Tom Provasi were totally apologetic, but you have to think that someone thought that the white 911 SC was an amateur amongst … well.. you fill in the blank.

So, what about my Cayman.   As most everyone knows, I drive my car — its a 2015 model and has over 30,000 miles, and multiple track days on it.. but it looks pretty good — I think.

My competition was a was spotless GT4 (he was the best Cayman in 2017, but the owner told me that he’s been busy and hasn’t driven the car much this year),a silver 718 S owned and prepared by a multi year, serious Concours competitor in Zone 7 events and another 718 with about 150 miles on it … right off the show room floor.

I know what you all are thinking, “… sounds a little ‘sour grapes’, right”.  Actually, each of my competitors were really great people, the silver 718’s owner is a judge in Monterey county and was very, very polite and  even complimented Double Yellow’s paint and said that it clearly showed great care.  Phil’s competitor, Follmer’s nephew, was great to talk to and a totally down to earth guy.

I just think there are levels of cars there, sort of the difference between GTLM-Pro and GTLM AM…  both cars/teams work hard and all, but the “Pro” guys just have that much more experience and capability.   Some are dedicated “concours” folks even to the point that some even trailer their cars to events, while others are just “daily” drivers.   So, while the slam that “we are ‘drivers’, not ‘waxers’.. ” may be a bit harsh, it does differentiate people’s passions.

Chuck confided that my car’s milage and usage was taken into account and lauded, but it was just not in the same league as the winner in the Cayman/Boxster judging.  The first place was this perfect black 981 Boxster with red leather interior.   The owners had a great story, bought the car used (quite used — found french fries under a seat!), they drive it often, even auto-X it, but it just “popped” in the sunshine.   Even though the owners are clearly hard-core concours folks, (they said that they install “event only” rims because they show better) their car deserved the accolades.  Not sure what car won in Phil’s category, but I think we both are thinking….  Looks like we brought a knife to a gun fight!