A great Porsche weekend, part one

[Jack Olsen]

I got 'custody' of my 911 for the weekend (it's back in the shop now for AC and headers), and had a great time testing the new transaxle cooler on the track at Buttonwillow on Friday, and taking a few pictures of the car on Saturday.

I didn't get to the track until 3 pm, and when I got there, I realized I hadn't called to confirm that they were having open testing, and was not thrilled with the fact that I couldn't hear any engines running. It's a two-hour drive, each way -- not that that's such a bad thing...

But the gal at the track explained that they were open, but only three cars had showed up all day, and now there were just two guys out there (in C5 corvettes), but that she'd only charge me $50, and I could drive until five.

I'll say that again, for those of you who've had to pay $300 for four 20-minute run sessions with crowded run groups: $50 for two hours of having the track pretty much all to myself.

Needless to say, I had a good time. The cooler kept the transaxle within ten degrees of the temp it had been after two hours on the freeway. I set up my little Hot Lap timer and got to work.

Nice time -- just me and the clock.

And on the way home, I acted a little uncharacteristically when I found myself running between a red M3 and a red Lexus, both driven by kids who probably don't know yet what it's like to lose a license. All the traffic was on the other side, heading out of L.A. for the holiday So briefly, feeling safe that I had a really bright red car in front of me and another red one behind me, we all played a little game of 'you call that fast?' up a mostly empty stretch of four-lane freeway. At 136 mph, the other guys backed off. This is 136 by the tach, not the speedo, and it was going up the Grapevine. The car was still pulling strongly in fifth, and only had another 400 or so rpms before the rev limiter would kick in. Bbut I didn't want to be doing that kind of speed all by myself -- so I still haven't visited Mr. Rev Limiter in fifth.

[Lawyer's note: Mr. Olsen is a professional fiction writer, and any law enforcement personnel should read the above story as a work of pure and fanciful fiction. Mr. Olsen would never exceed the legal speed limit. Ever.]

Then, on Saturday, I gave the thing a quick wash and snapped some pictures. (Um, 145 pictures, to be exact. Can you say obsessive devotion?) Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version of any one, or on the text link for a huge (500-700K) version.

It was a very nice weekend.




Click here for the HUGE version.



Click here for the HUGE version.



Click here for the HUGE version.


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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 05-29-2001).]

[old_skul]

When I grow up, I want to be Jack Olsen.

Nice weekend, Jack.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[BRAINIAC]

But....how can you be Jack Olsen if you're grown up?

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Fishcop]

Euro lights, euro lights, euro lights ......

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John Forcier
69 911T

[gaijinda]

Tell us how you beat up on the vettes!

[layzee]

Gotta agree with John, jack. Great as the car looks, it would look much better at the front with euro spec lights.

I really do prefer the look on all cars, particularly the early ones.

Your life sounds like my fantasy (apart from getting married )Driving to the track, in *that* car, cruising round LA, doing a bit of writing. You have it made!

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Phil Garner
'72 911E Sporto
'87 VW Golf CL 1.6 with Weber (x1!)

[emcon5]

Euro lights--BAH! Looks perfect as it sits.

Jack, what did you decide with the exhaust system? What are you going to use for headers and muffler?

Tom

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, guys. Euro lights are on the way. I've had them for a while, but I've decided to get the rings painted to match when the new (fiberglass) front bumper and hood get painted.

Although I have to admit, I'm still on the fence on which look I like better. That first photo shows how the bigger rings continue the line of the front fenders in a way the Euro style ones don't. But when both sets are painted, I can change 'em like my girlfriend changes shoes.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[twin plugged targa]

Jack as one of the few euro light p- owners I think she looks 'cherry' as -is!.
Also it gives her that vintage look so would be challengers are caught out as they do not know what is under the hood!.
Also with everyone changing to euro lights, maybe just maybe the oldies will be sought after!!!?
Fashion moves in circles so we may be just the starters of a fashion all over again!!!