DECEMBER 2003-JANUARY 2004
Jim Richards and Barry Oliver (Porsche 911 Turbo) on their way to a record sixth outright victory in the 2003 Targa Tasmania.
Photo Courtesy of Octagon Motorsports.
Bi-monthly Newsletter Of The Porsche Club Tasmania.
A CAMS affiliated club.
Contents
Page: / 1 / Executive Committee Of The Porsche Club Tasmania, Club address & Contact Numbers.
2 / EDITORIAL
By Leon Joubert (Newsletter Editor).
3 / THE CHAIR SQUEEKS - In which the Club Chair makes a contribution …..
By John Pooley (Club President).
4 / EXCO NEWS
By Andrew Forbes (Club Secretary)
5 / WHAT A WHEELS UP
6 / PORSCHE DRIVER TRAINING DAY
By Charles Button.
7 / COMING EVENTS: ECONOMY RUN
8 / 2004 EVENTS SCHEDULE
9 / COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE.
By Rodney Belbin of Shannons
10 / MEMBER INFORMATION
11 / ADVERTISEMENTS
FLAT CHAT
Monthly Newsletter Of The Porsche Club Tasmania.
A CAMS affiliated club.
Opinions expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Editor, Chairman and Committee members of the Porsche Club Tasmania, or Dr.Ing. h.c.f. Porsche AG or any of its authorised representatives.
Executive Committee Of The Porsche Club Tasmania
President / John Pooley / Tel (03) 6236 3700 (bus)
Mobile 0418 120 055
Vice-President / Rob Sheers / Tel (03) 6232 3235 (bus)
Secretary/Treasurer / Andrew Forbes / Tel (03) 6232 5292 (bus)
Motorsport Director / Charles Button / Tel (03) 6231 3858 (bus)
Mobile 0418 126 450
Committee Member / Philip Petersen / Tel (03) 6233 8724 (bus)
Northern Representative
(Northern Tasmania) / Bruce Allison / Tel (03) 6334 3455 (bus)
Mobile 0418 134 424
Address Of The Porsche Club Tasmania
Postal Address / P.O. Box 10, South Hobart, Tasmania 7004.
Newsletter Editor / Leon Joubert / Tel (03) 6233 9787
The Porsche Club Tasmania meets at 7:30pm on the third Tuesday of every month at Shannons Car Club Rooms, 337 Argyle Street, North Hobart. Members & guests are always welcome.
EDITORIAL
Just think about it. Your grandfather could have bought a new Porsche 911 when he was old enough to obtain a driver’s licence. Your dad could have bought the latest 911 when he was old enough to obtain a driver’s licence, and you (if you are young enough) can buy the very latest 911 now that you have obtained your driver’s licence. It has been around that long.
To be fair, the 911 (which actually started life as the 901) has gone through a few revisions. There were the 964 series (introduced in 1989), the 993 (introduced in 1993) and then the current 996 series (introduced in 1997). But the basic concept of the car has not changed, nor has its name.
They even kept the same doors for 30 years. As Harm Lagaay said : “It is a good door”.
Any good automotive engineer will claim that it is an inherently bad design to hang a big six cylinder engine behind the rear axle of a car, never mind a sports car. Tatra and the Chevrolet Corvair don’t ignite any great memories with motor sport enthusiasts. The Renault Alpine A310 could have, and did, but was short lived. Yet Porsche did exactly what it shouldn’t have done, achieved preposterous results with it, and continue to do so.
Today there are no less than eleven variants of the Porsche 911 on sale, right up to the mind warping 462 bhp GT2.
Today we also have all wheel drive Porsches, which eradicate some of the essence of the original 911.
It is worth remembering that the early 911 models were best appreciated for their aural, rather than dynamic attributes.
Lift-off oversteer was standard equipment and it could (and did) readily switch to bloody minded understeer at times. Driving an early 911 at speed was a bit like flying a tail dragger in a blustery cross wind. It required a delicate touch to avoid ground looping the thing.
Ferdinand Piech is credited with sorting the suspension of the 911 during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, but that still did not prevent Porsche from occasionally adding ballast to the nose of the car in the form of “bumper reinforcement”. Lengthening the wheelbase also helped.
Since the introduction of multi-link rear suspension the 911 has become less argumentative about its directional intent, but it remains a car to be treated with respect. That is probably one of the most important ingredients of its longevity.
Sterilise and sanitize the Porsche 911 by giving it perfect mass distribution, a pack of electronic and mechanical watchdog mechanisms, and speed limiters, and you will surely kill it.
The modern 911 is an extremely well made car which incorporates technology of the highest order, often at the outer edge of advanced automotive engineering. It is also still a sports car in the true spirit of the words. Like a true sports car it rewards generously, but does not suffer abuse without retaliating. Relationships with a 911 require mutual respect to flourish.
There aren’t many new cars like that left in the modern world.
*******
THE CHAIR SQUEEKS
In which the Club Chair makes a contribution …..
The 911 is 40 years old this year.
From the very fist 356 produced in 1950, Porsche produced a total of 82 218 variants of the 356 up to 1965. During 1963/64 Porsche produced three models, the last of the 356C/1600cm3 C and SC models, the 904 of which only 110 were built primarily as a competition car (it was the first Porsche to have a composite body), and the 911 (901).
It was an extremely busy time for a small family company only 15 years after its inception.
In principle the chassis layout, engine and transmission were just as they are today – remarkable really.
The first 911 had modern innovations like a laminated safety glass windscreen, heated rear window, electric windscreen washers with automatic wipe, three speed wipers, asymmetrical low beam headlights, an array of instruments worthy of an aircraft, and 12-volt power supply!
Tapped seat belt holes were standard, but no belts were supplied. Volvo was the first manufacturer to fit seat belts in 1968.
In 1964 the Porsche 911 was powered by a 2-litre boxer six cylinder, all alloy, air cooled engine which produced 130 bhp and was mated to a four speed transmission. A five speed transmission was an option. Just 10 723 of these cars were built between 1964 and 1967.
My first encounter with the 911 was in October 1970 when Performance Automobiles was appointed official dealer for Tasmania. Our first stock car was a 911T in lime green. In was a manual transmission car with the first of the 2,2 litre engines which developed 125 bhp.
My memories of this car remain vivid (I don’t think its colour will ever fade from memory!) and its asking price was $13 160. I wondered how we would ever sell a car over $10 000? Today’s base 911 coupe costs $189 000 and one can only wish that they still cost $13 000.
From this first 911 I had many more encounters with 911’s, but an early 911S from around 1969 stands out. It was an ex-Jim McKeon (an Australian racing champion of that time) car which had been successfully raced in Australia since new. I purchased it
in 1977 to race in the “Tasmania 10 000” in 1978 at Baskerville.
Now highly modified and classified as a “sports sedan” with 300 bhp, this 911 proved a very steep learning curve about 911 characteristics. I had some success with it in the rain, but it was outclassed by 600 bhp V8’s in the dry. I sold the car and it was put back to standard and went on to win the Australian Production Sports Car Championship in 1979 and 1980, competently “flown” by an Ansett Airlines pilot.
There will be many more interesting stories of 911’s in Tasmania (and elsewhere) and this is a great time for our members to share them.
We will be celebrating 40 years of the 911 at Performance Automobiles on 28 November, so bring your 911’s, your 911 stories and 911 friends and let’s have a fun time together.
John Pooley
Club President
EXCO NEWS
Porsche Club Tasmania's Committee is your executive body, striving always to act in the best interests of members. We meet monthly and under President John Pooley's guidance, deal with club administration and activities. We are also your interface with Porsche Club Coordination in Stuttgart, and with other Porsche Clubs around Australia. As Secretary/Treasurer, I intend to give you an update in each issue of Flat Chat that provides some insight into your Committee's current issues and directions.Having established the Club, attracted a critical mass of members and conducted several very successful events, your Committee has turned its attention to our identity - a PCT logo. We have been considering several designs for use on letterhead, badges, stickers, clothing and membership cards. We are conscious of the perils of design by committee (I'm sure the classic Porsche shape was the work of an individual, and that's why it has endured for decades), so we are adhering to a few principles; keep it simple, include something uniquely Tasmanian, make it dual purpose ("stand alone", or for official use, combined with the Porsche emblem). We have narrowed the field to two options and will converge on a final design shortly. The next step will be to submit it to Porsche AG for official approval.
In this electronic age, your Committee recognises that we need a web site to disseminate information, attract new members, post notices and provide useful Porsche web links. Porsche AG has offered to host our website, so we are in the early planning stages of its appearance and functionality. In the meantime, most members have provided an email address, which has proved valuable in keeping members informed of Club events. If you have recently acquired an email address, or have changed addresses, please inform your Club Secretary ().
Committee spends a fair fraction of its time discussing and planning events for members. Charles Button, our Events Director, has done a splendid job of organising events this year, and is already well into planning and scheduling an exciting variety of events for 2004. He reports on this elsewhere in this issue. Charles is also our link with CAMS, ensuring that we coordinate and register any competitive events with CAMS Tasmania.
That's a snapshot of Committee affairs for the present. If you have any comments or feedback for your Committee, please give me a call (6232-5292) or drop me an email. I'll put your issue on the next Club Committee meeting agenda if necessary.
Regards,
Andrew Forbes,
PCT Secretary/Treasurer
WHAT A WHEELS UP
Statistics, it is said, is like a bikini. They often hide more than they reveal.This year Michael Schumacher became the first driver in the history of the FIA World Driver’s Championship to win the title six times. The statistics are as follows:
Championships: Total Points:
Michael Schumacher 6 Michael Schumacher 1 038 Juan Manuel Fangio 5 Alain Prost 798.5 Alain Prost 4 Ayrton Senna 614 Jack Brabham 3 Nelson Piquet 485.5 Niki Lauda 3 Nigel Mansell 482 Nelson Piquet 3 David Coulthard 450 Ayrton Senna 3 Niki Lauda 420.5 Jackie Stewart 3 Mika Hakkinen 420
Race Wins: Percentage Races Won:
Michael Schumacher 70 Juan Manuel Fangio 47,06% Alain Prost 51 Alberto Ascari 41,94% Ayrton Senna 41 Michael Schumacher 38,08% Nigel Mansell 31 Jim Clark 34,72% Jackie Stewart 27 Jackie Stewart 27,27% Jim Clark 25 Alain Prost 25,63% Niki Lauda 25 Ayrton Senna 25,47% Juan Manuel Fangio 24 Stirling Moss 24,24%
Pole Positions: Fastest Laps:
Ayrton Senna 65 Michael Schumacher 55 Michael Schumacher 55 Alain Prost 41 Jim Clark 33 Nigel Mansell 29 Alain Prost 33 Jim Clark 28 Nigel Mansell 32 Mika Hakkinen 25 Juan Manuel Fangio 29 Niki Lauda 24 Mika Hakkinen 26 Juan Manuel Fangio 23 Niki Lauda 24 Nelson Piquet 23
Race Starts:
Riccardo Patrese 256 Gerhard Berger 210 Andrea de Cesaris 208 Nelson Piquet 204 Jean Alesi 201 Alain Prost 199 Michele Alboreto 194 Michael Schumacher 194
Remember these statistics for when we have a motor sport quiz against other clubs !
By Leon Joubert (Newsletter Editor).
Source: FIA.
PORSCHE DRIVER TRAINING DAY
Report by Charles Button
With some car clubs having great difficulty in being able to field sufficient entries for events to be financially viable, it was extremely pleasing to see thirty-two eager starters for this inaugural joint Porsche Club Tasmania/Club Motori Italia circuit event.
A fine selection of vehicles assembled with enthusiastic drivers anxious to brush up on their driving skills in a safe environment.
The day commenced with a quick check over of the cars by scrutineer Steve Caplice followed by all participants assembling for a theory lecture in the Control Tower.
Philip Blake provided an informative session dealing with various driving techniques and a detailed account of his past exploits at Symmons Plains circuit.
All participants were then given pointers on driving positions in selected vehicles.
This was then followed by the instructors taking their “pupils” for laps of the circuit; of course the Porsche Boxter was the most sought after ride.
A BBQ lunch was enjoyed by all (thanks to Claire Button).
After lunch the instructors were then available to co-drive with the participants.
While some instructors were seen to “hide” and appear quite pale after some rides, the rest of the day went off well with drivers going solo.
Only one participant gained first hand experience of oversteer brought about by a damp track and a lot of enthusiasm, but fortunately with no serious consequences.
A short de-briefing concluded the day.
Many thanks to our intrepid instructors Leon Joubert, John Pooley, Philip Blake, Gary Cannan and Kevin Knight – you are all very brave men.
Thanks also to fellow Porsche owner Norman Henry for assisting me to co-ordinate this event for CMI and PCT Clubs.
Charles Button
I am sure that all the participants, instructors included, extend their thanks to Charles and Norman for their excellent organisation.
Ed.
ECONOMY RUN/CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2003
This event will be a great finish to the year.
We will meet at Campbell Town at 10.45 a.m. where drivers will completely fill their cars with fuel at the Caltex Service Station. It will be up to the drivers to ensure that their vehicles are filled to the absolute maximum. Once they have filled their vehicles they will then proceed the short distance south to the parking area behind the Campbell Town Post Office where petrol filler caps will be sealed.
At approximately 11.15 a.m. cars will leave the car park and travel to Swansea via the Lake Leake Highway.
A word of caution for those who may attempt to “coast” with their motors off: Remember that by turning the ignition key off, it also locks the steering. This can have dire consequences.
On arrival at Swansea, cars will proceed to the Caltex Service Station located on the corner near the hotel (look for the fisherman on the roof) where cars will be refilled under supervision with the exact amount of fuel being recorded.
Cars will be classified into various engine capacity groups. Awards will be based on the amount of fuel used, divided by the cubic capacity of the motor.
We will then proceed to Meredith House where a delicious luncheon will be served, at approximately 1.00 p.m. Cost will be $28.00 per person.
For those who may wish to linger and may have concerns about driving home, four star accommodation is available at Meredith House at a special rate of $110.00 per couple, including breakfast.
Numbers for the luncheon are strictly limited to 38. Therefore if you intend to join us it is imperative that you reply on the entry form as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. To enable catering arrangements to be made, reservations cannot be accepted after the 5th December.
Those who may wish to take advantage of the discounted accommodation should book by contacting Meredith House making mention of the Porsche Club Tasmania.
Charles Button
0418 126 450
6225 3981 (home)
ENTRY FORM
ECONOMY RUN – SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2003
NAME: ……………………………………………………………PASSENGER: ……………………………………………………
VEHICLE: ………………………………………...……………..
MODEL: …………………………………………………………EXACT ENGINE CAPACITY: ………………………………...
Please reserve seating for …………….. persons for luncheon at Meredith House on Sunday 14th December, 2003. (numbers are limited). Closing date for bookings will be 5th December.
Persons wishing to stay overnight (Sunday 14th December) please contact Meredith House direct on 6257 8119 asap and mention the Porsche Club.
Please fax your reply to:
6225 3981
or post to:
Charles Button
c/- Porsche Club Tasmania
PO Box 10
South Hobart 7004
email: