Do you Flash?

[autobonrun]

I just returned from the mall. While in the lot, I flashed my lights at a fellow Porsche driver acknowledging him and his fine German car. The fellow actually turned around thinking I was trying to get his attention. I explained that this was merely a way of acknowledging a fellow Porsche owner. He said he'd never heard of this practice. This is not something that I ever thought about, I just did it. Come to think of it, this is something that I don't see as often as I use to.

Do you guys still flash your lights at oncoming Porsche drivers or is this Porsche Etiquette now outdated? I was either taught or told, I don't remember which, that this was part of Porsche etiquette. If it is still practiced, what has happened in the last several years that so few Porsche drivers still do it?

[Bill Douglas]

I always do it, and are now friends with one or two people I've waved to. One amusing thing; I waved to an old boy driving a brand new 911 and he didn't even acknowlegde me then we were stopped right next to each other at the traffic lights. He looked really imbarassed and pretended he was fiddling with the radio.

[pwd72s]

I too, flash. But a sad thing with these 996 guys...since they spent so much, maybe they wish to not acknowledge those who came before? A convoy of 3 early 911 models on our way to Cambria, the R Gruppe gathering last month...as we passed through Sacramento, looking for a gas stop, a silver 996 with high looped tail passed us. Driver wearing a designer suit, talking on a cell phone as he drove. He didn't wave, probably because of the cell phone? He sure took the time to look over at each early car & give a sneer. This guy wouldn't understand, nor does he deserve, a flash of the lights.

[This message has been edited by pwd72s (edited 06-09-2001).]

[83 sc euro cab]

yeah, i always try and flash as well.....it's usually the owners in older 911s (74 - 89) that usually flash back or wave...

I've flashed a 2000 owner a few weeks back and got nothing....it's usually the BOsxter and newer porsche owners that dont acknowledge.......probably because newer Porsche's are only affordable by rich snobby men in their 40s or 50s who have no hair....
once I saw a woman in a brand new Boxster....didnt even bother.

[83 sc euro cab]

yeah, i always try and flash as well.....it's usually the owners in older 911s (74 - 89) that usually flash back or wave...

I've flashed a 2000 owner a few weeks back and got nothing....it's usually the BOsxter and newer porsche owners that dont acknowledge.......probably because newer Porsche's are only affordable by rich snobby men in their 40s or 50s who have no hair....
once I saw a woman in a brand new Boxster....didnt even bother.

[pwd72s]

Hey, Peter! I'm 57...still have my hair, tho it's sure lighter than it used to be. I'm not rich, hope I'm not a snob, and my Porsche was made in July of '72! Not all old farts have the same attitude...thank gawd! Oh, my long time buddy who went on the drive to Cambria & back with me? (Since our wives didn't go..) He's a man of 72, also a guy with a good attitude...we had a ball down there, kicking tires & smoking stogies with the youngsters...

[emcon5]

I look at the driver. If he/she is looking at me, I flash or wave. If they are talking on the phone, putting on makeup or just generally oblivious, I don't bother. Wouldn't be seen anyway.

In my experiences, around here most people are oblivious, regardless of the year of their car. The few that aren't are more often than not in early cars, 89 or older.

Tom.

[83 sc euro cab]

Originally posted by pwd72s:
Hey, Peter! I'm 57...still have my hair, tho it's sure lighter than it used to be. I'm not rich, hope I'm not a snob, and my Porsche was made in July of '72! Not all old farts have the same attitude...thank gawd! Oh, my long time buddy who went on the drive to Cambria & back with me? (Since our wives didn't go..) He's a man of 72, also a guy with a good attitude...we had a ball down there, kicking tires & smoking stogies with the youngsters...

july of 72, huh? It's interesting you know the month your car was made...how did you find that information. anyway, i didnt mean to offend or imply all older men are rich and snobby...

but you know the stereotypes i'm talking about, dont you ?

[paulhagedorn]

In my cars, in the driver's side door sill, there is a sticker from the factory with little cut outs in the shape of circles that form the month and year of when my cars were made. Open the door and look below the door catch.

Paul

[Jorgeman]

Buncha' kids!! I'm 77--also always flash if the other driver seems to be driving rather than talking, phoning, reading the paper or eating! And I have to admit I don't remember
how or where I first heard of the Porsche salute--maybe at a PCA meeting or something
back when I bought my brand spanking new 67
911S in Oct '66! I just don't believe the newer drivers have ever been told or shown!

George 86T

[GB83SC]

I to flash when I see a older Porsche , I don't waste my time with the newer models most of those posy drivers are to busy looking in the mirror or just to dumb to care .
GB83SC

[pwd72s]

Yeah, Peter...I know the sterotype you meant. Unfortunately, too many of them about these days. How did I find out when my car was made? Long before the "cardex" thing came out, I simply wrote the factory a letter, gave VIN & engine numbers of my car, asked a few questions, and got a polite response. Still have the letter...never have felt the need to "buy" a cardex thing. Guess Porsche once believed in customer relations? Oh, for the good old days, when drag city was a race track & the queen of the hop was a girl! NO offense taken, BTW...
I was just having fun with the post.

[David McLaughlin]

Even though I don't have a 911, I try to wave at other Porsches. I don't flash because my 31 Year old pop up take too long and the car would be past me by the time the lights are up. I have yet to get a flash or wave back. I pass a 90's (pre 993) white 911 almost every morning. The few time I drive my 914, I wave and he doesn't even acknowledge me. I waved to a 928 in my work parking lot, and he looked at me like I was an idiot. Boxsters, forget it. The women are usually too busy fixing their hair. The only people that wave to me are high school kids that think my car is a Ferrari. I give up.



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Dave
1970 914/6
1995 Golf GTI-VR6
1996 Passat TDI
djm914-6@mediaone.net

[Saffs]

In the UK there's a mixed response to flashing, but, on the whole a lot of later model owners do look and flash, I must say. If I see the other person is looking at my car, I flash - last exchange I had was with a brand new Boxster. My cars lime green, so I guess I'm easily spotted too!
Also, quite a bit of acknowledgment from VW owners too (Beetles, etc.) Fine by me, I'm not ot bothered or want to stereotype newer car owners. They aren't into old cars fundamentally - but some get in to the Porsche thing - I'm sure many of our older cars had such owners when the car was new: lets thank them for their good taste!

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'75 911S Targa
'81 BMW Alpina C1 2.3

[This message has been edited by Saffs (edited 06-10-2001).]

[epbrown]

I always flash other Porsches. My problem is that until recently my Targa was my daily driver, and I catch myself flashing Porsches when I'm not driving mine. Got a very puzzled look from a 944 owner once :-) If you're flash deprived, try going to a rally of some sort - the ride to the Tweeks rally in Effingham, IL was hundreds of miles of Porsches flashing each other.

Re. Bill Douglas: until you mentioned the car being new, I thought we may have almost met! I was fiddling with my radio at a light on Madison here in Chicago, and didn't notice until it changed that I'd been sitting next to a red 91 Targa. I'm pretty sure the guy had been looking over to wave, but I was trying for better reception and didn't look up until he'd pulled away.

Emanuel

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Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people settle for the car." Chris Titus
1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa

[Leland Pate]

well I always try to flash at 911s...the others? Ah, screw 'em.

I was at a stop light with a friend last weekend in my truck. A red Carrera coupe pulled along side. I looked and laughed. The guy looked over at me and I gave him a thumbs up. he smiled and returned the salute. then I realized I was wearing a t-shirt with a Porsche crest on the brest (no pun intended) under my button up shirt. I quickly blipped the horn and tugged on the t-shirt to expose the crest and gave a "gnarly dude" gesture as I nodded my head.
The guy laughed and returned my "gnarly dude" gesture. Left me smiling

Oh, and am I the only one with a sticker on my door jamb that has the DOM (date of manufacture) stamped on it?

Mine is Dec of '78.

[Rufblackbird]

Nope...I've got the DOM sticker too. In fact, I need a little help here. How do I take the sticker off without harming it so I can put it back on after I sand the section down to metal and repaint it? I tried the razor blade technique..didn't work very well.

wonder if this will work?


Oh...There are so few Porsches on the road here, I don't even have the opportunity to flash.

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Jeff
1976 911S

[This message has been edited by Rufblackbird (edited 06-10-2001).]

[Rufblackbird]

Woohoo! It worked! Wayne, you rock!

Oh...mine is dated 07/75

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Jeff
1976 911S

[Obin Robinson]

i always flash lights or wave to other Porsches. the people that never seem to flash around here are the 914 owners. i'm not the only one that noticed this either. the 986 and 996 owners wave. the 911 turbo owners who are PCA members always wave back. the ones that aren't PCA members never wave, flash, or acknowledge any Porsches on the road.

obin