Kev's new ride.

[Canada Kev]

Well, it was a pretty busy weekend for me. On Friday, I played hookey from work and flew out to Vancouver to pick up my birthday present. I guess one can't rely on others to do it for you so ya gotta do it yourself.

It was going to be a quick there and back trip, but one thing leads to another, and people want you to drop by and say hi, and then go for dinner and then the inevitable its too late to start out now, why not stay the night... So what can a guy do, say bugger off, I want to drive my damn car?

The drive home was mostly enjoyable. Other than the run in with one of the Queen's Cowboys for driving too fast. I was very concerned with driving through the Canadian rockies in the beginning of April. I was trying to get home quickly and chose to drive through one mountainous pass that was shorter but notorious for having poor weather. I needn't have worried. It was beautiful and and the roads clear but for a bit of melt water.

And then it got dark. There were lots of animals to make things interesting: Moose, deer, elk, big horn sheep and a couple geese that I apparently startled which in turn scared the crap out of me when I thought one was going to fly into my windshield at 80 mph.

So I guess some of this lead in is me trying to justify not having more pictures. I didn't stop to smell the, well, uhh... Didn't stop for more breaks. I wanted to get as many miles in before it got dark and the aforementioned critters came out to play.

The 700 mile drive home was plenty for my weekend. Combine this with the Olympic City traffic and my lack of familiarity with the place, staying up too late in another time zone, and a small vehicle issue and the ensuing unsuccessful trouble shooting (about which, I will post another thread), and you have the makings for a little bit of stress. In the end, it was all worthwhile.

Another thing, I don't remember ever seeing so many Porsches running around the lower mainland. Maybe it was the beginning of spring out there, I don't know, but they were everywhere. And the drivers seemed just pickled to see another on the road. I don't remember waving that much to other drivers since the year I was living in rural Nova Scotia, and people wave at EVERYONE they see driving out there.

I specifically remember one encounter with a sweet 911 in Abbotsford when I was going to get gas. It was a white G50 Carrera with the rear bumper over riders removed. The passenger was enthusiastically giving me the two handed thumbs up as they passed me while I was trying to stay unlost, not crash and check IT out. I thought he was going to climb out his friggin window. I don't know of many other marques that seem to have that kind of support of fellow drivers. It is truly inspiring. Thanks for the vote of admiration, White Carrera.

So now that everyone is thinking "get to some pictures, already, dammit", here are a couple that I managed to snap in my rush to get home and happy cruising in Vancouver. The cop declined to pose for me, though, so none of him.

Here's my new baby, a 95000ish mile, ROW 1987 Carrera in Marine blue. She's spec'd with sport seats, cloth and leather interior, sunroof delete, spoilers and 15 inch 7 and 8" Fuchs.


This is on Cypress mountain road. Though its difficult to see the city, its on a vantage point overlooking Vancouver's Burrard Inlet and the Lion's Gate Bridge/Stanley Park.




The Coquihalla Highway near the summit.



Thanks for looking everyone.

[dan79brooklyn]

Beautiful car!

Great beginning to the story....

[jasonlee]

Car looks great. Hope you had a good time in our fair city, and glad that you got home safely. Weather conditions on Rogers Pass can change instantly. It doesn't matter what time of year. I have had blowing snow and ice in July.
I am always amazed at how many Porsches are on the road in the lower mainland, and the genuine enthusiasm
of fellow p car owners, offering a wave, or if you happen to be stopped at a gas station sticking up a conversation. I am currently away on business but can't wait to get back to Vancouver and put some miles on.

[Mia911]

beautiful car....and scenery....

[450knotOffice]

I love it - and you found one without a sunroof! Congratulations.

[Hugh R]

Sweeeet!

I have an 84 Targa ROW, love the side turn signal lights, the smaller rear bumperettes and the extra 30 or so HP.

[speedracer]

Very nice! Where did you find it? I religiously watch a variety of canadian classifieds for 911's and never came across that one.

[MELO-911]

Cool ride & story, welcome & looks like your already enjoying the car.

[David_B]

Figures I've been looking for a car like that one for over a year... and looking pretty religiously too.

Very nice car indeed, but I must know too. Were did you find it?

David

[Canada Kev]

Speedracer and David_B: I got it from Bill at Weissach. It wasn't really listed. I may have paid a little more, but it has fairly low miles, is in great shape and they just did bunch of work that many of the 100K mile cars will need in short order such as guides and the usual wear items for a car at that point in its life.

It also has a few options that many don't, like the lack of a sunroof, sport seats, and the 7 and 8" 15s. While the 15 inch Fuchs are kinda cool, I think one of my first major changes will be to install a set of Jeff's 17 inchers. What say you, polished petals and rims or what? The current stock is painted body colour.

Speaking of colour, the Marine blue is awesome. I had never seen one in the flesh, just pics. They don't do it justice. When the light shifts, the colour does, too, with undertones of purples and gold mixed in. I had been looking for something in an actual colour, not white or black or silver, though to be perfectly honest, I would have taken any one of those, too. Hell, I would have even bought a Guards Red one if it had a nice spec.

Jasonlee: I know all about freaky weather in the mountains. I lived in Calgary for a dozen years and I have seen snow there in every month of the year except September.

[Rod.911S]

Congrats on the very nice car and on the trip home. Why way did you travel? I'm flying to Vancouver next weekend to bring a 911SC home. I'm thinking #5/16 via Kamloops - Jasper is my 1st choice. Was there much gravel still on the roads?

Rod.

[Canada Kev]

Rod: Roads were clear, with only a few wet spots and a bit of fine pebbles on the highway right at the Jasper turn off. Years ago, it used to be that once you crossed the border from BC into Alberta, the roads noticeably improved. That is certainly not the case any longer. They need some work on the #16 all the way from the border to Edson. I thought seriously about going #1 through Calgary, but fears of bad roads in the Roger's pass at night prompted me to stay with the #5 through Jasper.

On another note, if you have the time, I heard that the #1 through the canyon to Cache Creek is in pretty good shape right now, and with no lumbering RVs is an attractive alternative to the Coquihalla. I thought pretty seriously about this route, but my schedule nixed that extra couple of hours.

By the way, congrats on your new SC. Is it one of the ones that was listed on CL of late?

[Canada Kev]

Rod: If you go the Yellowhead, drop me a line when you go through Deadmonton.

[David_B]

A little extra money spent can be worth it in the end... I can't find a well sorted car out here for the life of me. Albeit I'm looking for a car with colour, not white or silver.

Jeff's wheels look amazing in black or polished...



Picture taken from: Jeff Alton 17" Fuchs in person, post yours as you get 'em


David

[rajah911]

Gudday from 'down under' Kev!

Beaut lookin' ride mate - congrats on grabbin' yaself a flammin' fair-dinkum-ripper me old son

Just out of curiosity, can you please tell me what size tyres are fitted to this beast mate?? I'm after a new set of 'o-rings' for my '86 ROW Carrera, and like the look on your baby.

Cheers cobber,
Regards,
Steve

[billybek]

Nice!!
I think the stock black centres on the 17s would be the best look. I don't think the polished petals look right on a car with blacked out trim...
Have a great time with it!!

[Canada Kev]

Rajah: Thanks for the compliment. Those skins are 195/65-15 and 215/60-15 Yokohama Avid H4s. They are brand new just installed by the previous owner.

[JeremyD]

The polished Petals would look good on Marine Blue - it's one of my favorite colors!

What a great car - sunroof delete AND G-50 AND ROW compression AND Marine Blue AND Sport Seats - Play the friggen lottery dude!

[Paulporsche]

Congrats! Great comment about Nova Scotia !

[Rod.911S]

Thanks, Kev. I hadn't even considered taking #1 instead of the Coq -- I haven't driven that way since the new road was opened. Good to know that the stretch Kamloops - Jasper stretch is OK -- it was pretty poor in late December.

My 'new' SC was on CL (in December?) but I bought from a friend who's had it for a couple of years. It won't pass air care in Vancouver so he was motivated to sell.

Will give a heads up if I'm coming through Edm.

Cheers,
Rod.

Originally Posted by syzygy

Rod: Roads were clear, with only a few wet spots and a bit of fine pebbles on the highway right at the Jasper turn off. Years ago, it used to be that once you crossed the border from BC into Alberta, the roads noticeably improved. That is certainly not the case any longer. They need some work on the #16 all the way from the border to Edson. I thought seriously about going #1 through Calgary, but fears of bad roads in the Roger's pass at night prompted me to stay with the #5 through Jasper.

On another note, if you have the time, I heard that the #1 through the canyon to Cache Creek is in pretty good shape right now, and with no lumbering RVs is an attractive alternative to the Coquihalla. I thought pretty seriously about this route, but my schedule nixed that extra couple of hours.

By the way, congrats on your new SC. Is it one of the ones that was listed on CL of late?