Spokane / Pullman WA mechanic?

[on-air]

It looks like I may be moving to the Pullman Washington area and am looking for recommendations on mechanics for my 911 and 928.

thanks in advance

Kerry

[rdane]

try the NW section, you might have more luck....

[LakeCleElum]

I passed thru Pullman today on a motorcycle trip.....It's not really Porsche country. U might have to go to Spokane???????

[rdane]

On-air don't let Bob confuse you Some amazing drives in your part of the county. Try a loop south down through Lewiston to Grangeville, Whitebird and Riggins. Take in a few of the amazing "grades" in on the way in and out. Or go north to Cd'A on either side of the lake and do the reverse side on the way home. World class Porsche roads if you know where to look!

There is a a decent size Porsche community in Spokane/C'dA that should be able o hook you up with someone you can trust your cars too if no one is avalable locally in Pullman or Moscow.

[jclporsche]

rdane is right, beautiful driving roads, rolling hills of the Palouse country are one of my favorite areas. When Lake said 'It's not really Porsche country', I think he meant very scant of Porsche shops. I'm sure more locals will chime in with some Spokane or maybe Idaho shops.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by rdane

On-air don't let Bob confuse you Some amazing drives in your part of the county. Try a loop south down through Lewiston to Grangeville, Whitebird and Riggins. Take in a few of the amazing "grades" in on the way in and out. Or go north to Cd'A on either side of the lake and do the reverse side on the way home. World class Porsche roads if you know where to look!

There is a a decent size Porsche community in Spokane/C'dA that should be able o hook you up with someone you can trust your cars too if no one is avalable locally in Pullman or Moscow.

Dane is correct, that's why I'm in Pullman today, for the great roads. I was just saying I don't think there are many Porsche owners/mechanics in the Palouse....The roads are outstanding, especially Hwy 27.....We'll also hit the "Spiral Highway" coming down the hill into Clarkston this afternoon!!!!!!

[rdane]

Hey Bob if you are in the area having fun besides the old Lewiston grade take a look at old Winchester Grade just out of Lewiston, The Old Idaho, Harpster and Greer and the Whitebird out of Grangeville. Have some fun in the sun!

This from a previous posts.

I took a quick run to central Idaho and hit a majority of the "big" grades, some no longer in heavy or daily use. All within a few hours drive of Lewiston Idaho.






First up was the old Lewiston Grade, now called the Spiral Highway finished in 1917. 30 years ago there wasn't a house on the hill side now it has everything from million dollar homes to beat up old trailers that use the grade as access to their driveway. Nice drive but too populated for my tastes today.

10 miles long, 2000ft. elevation gain, 45 turns, and 13, 180 degree switch backs


Next up on our trip came the Greer grade. Steep, long and lots of turns. This one is still a major road into a remote section of cental Idaho. Little traffic though and good pavement.

10 miles, 61 turns, 7, 180 degree switch backs and 3000 ft elevation gain. It gives you the flavor of what is to come.

If you make this trip don't miss the Stites Canyon road...5 miles one way..10% grade and it is straight up and down...I don't think there is really a turn on the entire 5 miles! Nor is there a guard rail or a run out

Both of these next two are still on well traveled Idaho roads. But it is Idaho, they aren't that well traveled. Good pavement but little traffic.

Mt. Idaho Grade is just up the river. It climbs out of the Clearwater river canyon in 4.5 very steep miles and is spectacular. 39 turns and not a single switch back in the 3000 ft of elevation gain..

Back down the river you drove by the Harpster Grade. This is one is 5.6 miles and 42 turns. Worth the effort for the 3500 feet of elevation gain.

The biggie is next. This is the old Whitbird Hill road while no longer maintained or used except by tourists looking for a different in or out of the canyon. The road is in generally excellent condition. My wife described this one, "as 8.5 miles of abject terror!" I had ridden down it on my bike and in a school bus twice a day 40+ years ago so it was just coming home for me But it was fun to see it through her wide eyes







Whitebird Grade is 8.5 miles long. Has 62 turns and 17 switchbacks finished in 1915. The straight aways will get you 100+mph if you have the stones for the 2nd gear banked corners on each end with major disaster potential. It could be a wild ride! The drive gains momentum as you gain height and the straights become shorter, the banks higher, the hair pins even tighter as the drop off on each corner grows to over 3000 feet! Comforting thought if the brakes fail or you hit a corner a little hot.

Whitebird is worth the drive all by itself. You could spend the day there doing it over and over again.

Next up is old Winchester Grade This one is 6 miles...but it has 72 turns and 9 switch backs. You don't want to make a mistake here. There are no second chances and the only grade I am really very cautious and leery of driving. It is a 2000 foot drop, no guard rails and no road edge on a tiny, tiny, tiny, barely two lane road and yes...it is still in daily use by the locals who live on the road. Thank goodness the population is mostly cows and a new 4 lane by passes this road. On a good day with no traffic it is spectacular in the extreme. You can see the Snake river and well into Oregon and Washigton from here.

[jklaspok]

Welcome to the Palouse! Many of us owners of older Porsche's in the Spokane area use Hartmut Leuschner at Alpine Motors in Hayden, ID. He has many years of experience on these cars. You can find his address and phone number under the Link dropdown at: http://inwr.pca.org/

[LakeCleElum]

DANE: I"ve done Winchester in the past, but not Whitebird yet. Know where they both are.....Staying at the Best Western Riverbend in Clarkston tonight, so 13 of us just came down Hwy 27, made a loop west of Rosiala, thru Pullman and then down the Spiral Hwy....what a road....Tomorrow is the Rattlesnake grade to Enterprise, the old "Deadman Pass between LaGrande and Pendleton and then Hwy 207 from Pendleton to Hermiston.......All good stuff....

If ever back in this part of Idaho, the run along the river up to Elk City is not to be missed!!!!!!
Take care.........

[rdane]

Bob I am so jealous My favorite roads for sure. Rattle snake and Deadman's are incredible this time of year. I could spend most of the day running Whitebird over and over again.

Stay safe and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather!

When you get hoem make sure you post soem pictures for us?!

[Professor]

Reviving an old thread for a moment here...

I just picked up my '87 944S last month and I'm in Moscow/Pullman. Give a shout if you're over here to go grade driving and would like to make it a convoy.

Thanks also for the tips on local(ish) shops. I'll have to look into the shop in Hayden.

-Jeremy