The Hippo Gets New Shoes

[Don Plumley]

The Hippo got some shaved proxies today for Friday's session at Thunderhill. After seeing an identical white 993 at a local autox a few weeks back, I decided that the shoes needed some polish. So I took the opportunity to do a little sanding and painting. As with everything on a track car, they look great from 10 feet away (or on the web) - since they will get nicked up, I didn't go for a concours finish.

Before:



After:





To sand down the rim, I mounted the wheel back on the front axle and spun it with my left hand as I sanded with my right. After a few hours of that, I nearly crippled my back. In a flash of inspiration (but a day too late), for the final sanding I took the brake pads out, and spun the wheel using a drum sanding pad on a drill. Doh!

The rears are pretty big, so I just rolled the fenders - the benefit of it being a track car is I just got in there with a big socket on an extension and cranked. Couldn't find a bat anywhere.

Anyway, I think she looks nice. Ready for more spinning...

[JP911]

Looks Bada$$ Don!

[trekkor]

Good!

Nice race team graphic, too.


KT

[PorscheGuy79]

Don, you know I love your car and these wheels are simply amazing. Well done bud!

(Have you run over the idea of some black Carrera side graphics? I know its a taste and even moreso on a late car like a 993 but i think it might work here...just a thought)

[cbeers]

Yay Don! Bet your glad to finally get some new meats on there! OK, you know what this means though, no more blaming the tires


Just kidding. The wheels look 1000% better !

Well done.

-Chris

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by PorscheGuy79
Don, you know I love your car and these wheels are simply amazing. Well done bud!

(Have you run over the idea of some black Carrera side graphics? I know its a taste and even moreso on a late car like a 993 but i think it might work here...just a thought)

Yeah, it was on my original build list. Maybe one day... Or maybe big Spinnging Hippo graphics...

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by cbeers
Yay Don! Bet your glad to finally get some new meats on there! OK, you know what this means though, no more blaming the tires


Just kidding. The wheels look 1000% better !

Well done.

-Chris

Chris - you pushed me over the edge to black. Thanks!

[PorscheGuy79]

Don, I have spent the last 5 minutes admiring your car, thinking back to all the mods. I couldnt have done it better myself.

[Bill Verburg]

What size tires did you end up going w/?

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
What size tires did you end up going w/?

235/45 and 275/40 17

[cantdrv55]

Looks too nice for a track car!

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Looks too nice for a track car!

Thanks, and from 10 feet or on the web, yes, it might. But get close, it's a track car. The hippo ain't no runway model, she's a working girl.

[efhughes3]

You coulda jacked it up, with the wheels on the rear, and just let it idle in gear to sand....

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by efhughes3
You coulda jacked it up, with the wheels on the rear, and just let it idle in gear to sand....

Don't think I didn't consider it. But in a rare act of self-control, I thought that they could become the most expensive set of cheap track wheels if something went badly wrong...

[JP911]

Don-
You drive your car to track days, right? How do you transport your track wheels? Just curious.

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by JP911
Don-
You drive your car to track days, right? How do you transport your track wheels? Just curious.

What you see is what you get - I drive on them.

IF I ever use separate track wheels/tires, I plan to go with a small tire trailer. I'm trying like mad to avoid the whole tow rig/trailer mess. And since this is a learning car for me for the next couple of years, that should work out okay...