Some people look at me in a very strange manner when the subject of Porsche 911 driving techniques are mentioned. There’s actually a very large slice of people out there who just don’t ‘get it’. I know good drivers, experienced people, who’ve driven Porsche 911′s and simply don’t like them, cannot see what all the fuss is about. “Engine’s in the wrong bloody place, I prefer my Ferrari any day…” I sympathise and try and explain, reminded of my own first Porsche 911 experience. Then right after … [Read more...] about Driving Tips – Why Learning to Drive a Porsche 911 Takes a Little Time
Top Five Lightweight Porsches and the GT3 RS that is ‘Almost’ Lightweight
This great YouTube video is one of a series of Top Fives from Porsche. Anyone with even a passing interest in Porsche will be aware that Rennsport Porsches are minimalist and light weight. The 2.7RS is considered the Holy Grail of collectable, lightweight Porsches. However this video highlights the fact that there are at least four other Porsches that are significantly lighter in weight. The cars are, of course all historic racing Porsches with the emphasis on hillcliming. So what better place … [Read more...] about Top Five Lightweight Porsches and the GT3 RS that is ‘Almost’ Lightweight
Will The Porsche Cayman R Ever Be a Collectable Porsche?
A random thought occurred to me this week. Coming across a Porsche Cayman R in a car park, the subtle differences in stance of the R was more apparent than normal. As parked a short distance away, there was a plain, vanilla flavoured 2.7. The lower ride height, the fixed blade type rear spoiler and the carbon ceramic brakes in this example were more apparent than normal. So my thought was. "Will the Cayman R ever become a collectable Porsche?" The Cayman was, of course, a great seller for … [Read more...] about Will The Porsche Cayman R Ever Be a Collectable Porsche?
Rob Wilson and the Flat Car Mantra
Driver Coaching. A hot topic as ever in motorsport and an ever growing area for discussion in Historic Motorsport. This is something we’ve written about before, so it was interesting to spot this film about the legendary Rob Wilson. Karun Chandhok says almost word for our our own beliefs: Tennis stars have them, golfers have them, footballers have them. Racing drivers have them too. But you’ll never see them. They are that shadowy figure at the back of the garage, rarely seen on the pit wall … [Read more...] about Rob Wilson and the Flat Car Mantra
Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch
If you are one of those drivers who doesn’t really ‘get’ the whole Porsche thing, then you must watch these three videos. People who are addicted to the Porsche 911 feel will know exactly what Richard Meaden is talking about. For those who are unconverted, we've written elsewhere about how it takes time to get to know a Porsche 911, so perhaps you simply haven’t spent enough time behind the wheel of them. There’s no doubt that Porsche 911’s aren’t for everyone. And I wouldn’t like it if they … [Read more...] about Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch
For The Love of Analogue
Air cooled Porsches, black and white analogue photography and a Leica rangefinder. What’s not to like? Bart Kuykens’ project A Flat Six Love Affair is quite probably heaven on so many levels. Watching him in the film opening another roll of Kodak 35mm brings back many happy memories for me. Memories of a time when photography wasn’t quite as urgent, as instant as it has to be today. When photo shoots were more leisurely affairs, the moments of changing over film rolls were punctuation marks to … [Read more...] about For The Love of Analogue
The Better Way to Drive South in France From England
If you’re heading south into France from the UK this summer and your journey involves Le Mans, Paris, Bordeaux or any part of the southern reaches of France, then we have to share with you our preferred method of crossing that water between the UK and France. And best of all, it doesn’t involve the M20, anywhere in Kent, or even a Tunnel. Instead, it involves a leisurely crossing from Portsmouth to one of a range of destinations along the coast of Northern France, using Brittany … [Read more...] about The Better Way to Drive South in France From England
Those California Backroads and Air Cooled Porsches
I have to admit, when I visited Los Angeles a while ago, I was rather puzzled. I'd often read of the California air cooled Porsche scene, but driving around the streets of downtown LA, I couldn't figure out where on earth these owners would go to drive their cars. Even if you escaped the traffic gridlock for a while, the endless glare of the wide concrete highways, added to the poor shape of the downtown roads, made me think that actually, you're probably going to damage an air cooled Porsche … [Read more...] about Those California Backroads and Air Cooled Porsches
Riding Shotgun – Malcolm Wilson & The Computervision 6R4 – Still As Fast As Ever
Sorting through my hard drives this month, I came across these grabbed shots of Malcolm Wilson at Goodwood in 2005. This was the first year they ran the rally stage there and they brought back happy memories I just had to share with you. Attending the press day for a couple of different magazines, I’m standing by Mr Wilson having a chat about son Matthew, then running in the British Championships and the state of WRC in general. Beside him is the Computervision Metro 6R4 he finished the RAC … [Read more...] about Riding Shotgun – Malcolm Wilson & The Computervision 6R4 – Still As Fast As Ever
Driving the Elva Mk7
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For many, the definitive 1960’s sports racing car was the Lotus 23 and 23B. The elegant lines represented everything that was desirable at the time of booming clubman and sports car racing on road circuits and with more than 100 built, it was a popular seller for Colin Chapman. However, there is a less well know sports racing car that, on it’s day, was every bit as effective as the Lotus and which was considerably less numerous on the historic racing car … [Read more...] about Driving the Elva Mk7
On Board The Lancaster PA474
Ever since I was a kid, I've had a love for the Avro Lancaster that flies with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. This love is probably entirely my grandfather's fault. He was an airframe mechanic in World War Two and in addition to spending several years in North Africa fixing aircraft, he was also based in Lincolnshire working on Lancasters. Pretty much every Christmas or New Year, he'd have a few beers and then sit me on his knee and talk to me about Lancasters, the harsh European … [Read more...] about On Board The Lancaster PA474
Le Mans to Tours via that Mulsanne Straight
Anyone who has visited the Le Mans Museum right alongside the circuit entrance will be left with a burning desire to go and investigate the Mulsanne Straight. The desire to own a grey Porsche 911, stop half way down and light up a Gitance while resting your backside on the ARMCO is a feeling that I’m sure many of us have felt. For many though, the Museum visit is just part of a drive further south. So if, like us, you won’t have time to drive the whole public sections of the track, there’s … [Read more...] about Le Mans to Tours via that Mulsanne Straight
Modern Racers vs Historics and Why Driving is Still Driving
“They just don’t make them like that any more’ “In my day, they were proper cars. Racing cars today are way too easy" Comments you’ll often hear in the paddock or grandstands of any race meeting. Sir Stirling Moss himself is famously quoted as saying that the main reasons why he got into motorsport was to chase girls and because it was dangerous and that if Micheal Schumacher had driven in the same way in his era, he would have been killed on track, such is the safety of modern cars. So while … [Read more...] about Modern Racers vs Historics and Why Driving is Still Driving
The Beautiful Carrera 2.7 Book
In this digital age of always on internet, Wikipeidia, Porsche owners forums and chat groups, you could be forgiven for thinking that there was little point in buying a book about the Carrera 2.7. After all, any statistics, or information you may need can be found by swiping your iPad around Google for a while. You’re missing the point. While I love the digital age, there’s something about a good quality book that creates a sense of occasion when you sit down to open it. The first time you lift … [Read more...] about The Beautiful Carrera 2.7 Book
100 Years ago, 19,240 Fell In One Day. The Somme Began.
On 1st July this year, it will be 100 years since the commencement of what became known as the Battle of The Somme. Today, as we enjoy travelling around Europe, we often pass by the roadside memorials to that period of conflict in our history. In any French or Belgian village, there will be a memorial to the people of that village that left and never returned. Its easy to become desensitised to these small stone placements. But this figure will perhaps bring home what happened in that period, … [Read more...] about 100 Years ago, 19,240 Fell In One Day. The Somme Began.
Sir Stirling and The Blonde – The Final Edition
Looking back, it’s quite remarkable how simply carrying a camera can change the course of things. As I left for Donington Park that day, I wasn’t actually going as a photographer. I was there as a guest of Andy McKenna and Andy Middlehurst. The camera was picked up from force of habit. Canon EOS cameras are no lightweights, but as ever, I find it needs to come along. Of course, the unfolding images of Sir Stirling Moss and The Blonde were captured in just a few seconds and yet, years later, we … [Read more...] about Sir Stirling and The Blonde – The Final Edition