four0nefive

Last Sunday I went to Pacific Raceways to work on a photography project. That, and I went to hang out with a friend who owns a Cayman GT4 (I met him while doing photography for SCCA this summer). I was finally able to get some decent pictures as I wasn't restricted to the front straight for photography and overall has a fun time.

Unfortunately they didn't allow ride alongs (since it was a Profromance Racing School open lapping day), but it wasn't a huge deal.

Pictures as usual:

Had to throw these into a collage since they were too large to post regularly.Link to the rest of the pictures:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskv6i2C6

FruiTay

Rad, man. Thanks for the pictures ! I'd love to have a Porsche to take around the track.
I need to get my camera out and take some pics myself.
Thanks for the inspiration!

last901

Some good pictures there. Nice work.

four0nefive

Any time! It just sucks that it's winter and there's absolutely no car events going on. Although I've found a good winter alternative:




Maybe I'm just showing my younger side, but hey, it's cars and photography.

Thanks man! Appreciate it.

FruiTay

Lol, nah man, I can't mess with Horizon.... I'm strictly Forza 6!

VIK TOY

Porsch did you get your shots first???

last901

Now, now... can't we all get along?

This is a familiar refrain that I've heard for many years (and 4 Porsches). I love my Corvette, but I also greatly enjoyed my Porsches. I don't know why some people dislike Porsches so greatly. There's a lot to like about them and somethings not to like. Same with Corvettes.

I've long felt that some Corvette owners harbor some sort of - call it - inferiority complex which the relieve by bashing Porsches. Why is that?

I hate Tupperware, but there's no Tupperware Forum I can use to make sure everyone knows. My wife does. So does my daughter, so they take turns hosting Tupperware parties. Presumably because they've not yet forgiven me for selling the 911 and buying a Corvette.

Kamran

My most reliable car ever: 1986 Carrera
My least reliable car: Audi.

My wish list car: red 1989 911 Speedster

If it wasn't for the change of direction in Porsche ownership attitude (enthusiast...> speculators/investors crowd), I'd still be a part of it. Just don't care for a what Has now become a Ferrari ownership type mentality. It used to be if a 911 had 60,000 mikes on the engine, you'd consider it recently broken in and fast now. Now, any GT3 with over 20K miles is considered used up!

Great shots by the way.

last901

You'll love this bit of disclosure. My last Porsche was a red 911 Speedster. I traded it straight across for a then-new '07 Corvette. Other than seeing the prices soar on air-cooled 911s at auction, I have no regrets.

Current values notwithstanding, 911 Speedsters were little more than a marketing exercise by the nice folks who brought us some other wonderful cars. Mine was #773 of the 820 built for the US which might very well have been among the last 50 built. The Speedsters were the last of the 901-series Porsches built (hence my "handle" on this forum). They were also the last 911 Porsches built on the original assembly line, production of the Carrera 2 and 4 having moved across the street to the new line.

I could ramble on for some time about how much enjoyment I got out of the car. I could also go on about why they were little more than - in my opinion - the Plymouth Prowler of Porsches. Sunday go-get-ice-cream cars at their finest - except there wasn't any room to take the kids.

'nuff said. I had my fun and now having even more fun for the past 10 years with my Corvette.

BTW, I agree completely with your assessment of the 911 Carreras as truly reliable -bulletproof - cars.

Okay, let's hear about your Corvette. Mine's red.

Kamran

Haha...that explains why you are on the family "bad" list!
I never forget the day I went to Barrier Porsche when they were in Overlake off of 520 on 148th where I saw the first red 89 Speedster with red Recaro seats, MSRP was $59K!

Well my 86 Carrera was shipped to Holland by an investor on Porsche buying spree in the US, long before we knew what was about to happen!

As for my Vette, here it is:

last901

Nice. Would I be mistaken in assuming there's an MV Agusta under that cover?

four0nefive

Thanks man! Hope to capture your car on the track sometime.

Great post. Both are absolutely amazing cars and I wish more people would realize that. Is the Corvette my favorite car? Yes, but there's so many other great cars that I also love, the 911 (especially the GT3/GT3 RS) included.

Trust me I prefer the motorsport games, but I do like the laid back style of the Horizon games as well. I was supposed to have FM6 too, but Gamestop screwed up and didn't send the code (code was supposed to be emailed when we purchased the Xbox, but we never got it) and it's been almost a month since I've tried working with their customer service to get it solved. Unfortunately, they still haven't done anything

Kamran

Dayummm! You are good!

last901

Not good, just envious. Really envious. I've been a Ducati kind of guy, having had a few and ridden a lot of them. Helps when one manages a Ducati store for his friends. Got a real softspot for MV Agustas though.Even have a large scale (1/9) Agusta model in my collection. The relative scarcity of reputble dealers selling MV's always bothered me a bit when compared to th Ducs.

Have some pics around here somewhere but didn't want to wander too far off topic. Would love some day to ride an Agusta before I get any older. A friend of mine has an AGO. I'm not sure he even rides it.

They belong as much in modern art museums as they do on the road.

I do find though that the older I get, the faster I was. Sold both my Ducatis and my Triumphs and my chrome pocket bike - actually that was stolen.

My C6 is fun to play with. Kinda like a Desmosedici with training wheels, right? I probably look silly wearing my leathers though while driving it. Besides it's difficult to drag my knee in sweepers while trying to hold the door open.

Kamran

Oh, I'm sure fouronefive is cool with this. I'm sure he gets a kick out of seeing the photos. Besides he is still too young to be grouchy!

Well, dragging a knee while driving is not too far fetch.

Below is one Duc I currently ride. Curious which Duc dealership you were helping with?

Ago is a cool bike. I also love the Tambo. I was tempted to buy a CC, with almost no miles at a drastically reduced price (1/3) but still not low enough that I could justify feeling like I could beat up on it. Owner traded it in for a flashy Ferrari!

I like your expression about being faster. I typically say, the older I get the more sports I can say I "was" good at! Same mind set...

The last picture is from Ducati Museum in Panigale:

four0nefive

I dont mind at all lol. The picture of you hanging out of the car is definitely my favorite of the ones you posted Looks dangerously fun.

Kamran

Lol, actually that one is not me! All the others are, just not the car one!

last901

The Ducati Museum is pretty darn cool, but since many of the bikes look alike it's almost boring to some - like my wife, who accompanied me. I also got the escorted tour of the factory which impressed me. This was some time back but I was pleasantly surprised to see obvious application of some lean manufacturing taking place. The factory floor was immaculate.

The store with which I was affiliated was Ducati Seattle at the South Lake Union location. Long story and a worthwhile experience. The store was sold a few years ago and now has moved and under new ownership. (as you may already know)

Love that picture of (presumably) you hanging out the door of the car. I sure "walked into" that one, didn't I?

Let me see if I can find some photos of my Ducatis, but we are getting a bit off topic here...















IMG 0524 edited

Kamran

The car with the guy dragging knee is actually not me. About ten/fifteen years ago, when knee dragging got pupolar, lots of photoshops started showing up on the internet with guys dragging knees while driving cars. Of course, for all we know, the car could be standing still! The other pictures are me though.


Very nice Classic. Such a great bike for the city and group rides. I rode one and loved it. Those bikes have been skyrocketing in price, especially the Paul Smarts, beautiful color. Looks like your S4R is pretty carbon'd out. A very clean example and a fast bike that needs a steering damper for as much torque/acceleration it has. I almost bought an MH900e, but the two gal tank capacity (incl reserve) was what turned me off! I am not sure even if you can make it from one gas station to the next! It's worth more the twice its MSRP now.

I also toured the factory. That's when I realized the "Italian Passion" is just a hype! After talking to the tour guide and others, I found out Ducati had laid off many of their full time staff and rehired them as contract staff so they don't have to pay them benefits or let them buy the bikes for 20% off MSRP! That's when I realized it's just business, doesn't matter if it's in the US or in Italy, it's just business!

The new owner Howard Crow, also a Ducati racer, and a Microsoft exec, went on a bike shop buying spree and later bought Bellevue Ducati, Seattle BMW. Not sure who owns the newly opened Redmond Ducati (may be Howard?). Howard is a really nice guy, but came under a lot of attack by some local owners for letting Dave go. Dave now owns Seattle Used Bikes, and frequents Backfire Moto events in Ballard.


Last but not least, you had to torture me with that red beauty, didn't you! But it looks like your wife is challenging you for a race? So great to have wife who appreciates a little fun on the side. Looks like you have your fair share of toys!


As far as getting off topic, unless fouronefive comes up with more Porsche pictures, we are going to take over for now!

JETninja

I love both Ducati and MV......if i ever get another bike it'll probably be a 1098/1198 or possibly the 1299.......