Everything you need to know.....
 

....about the famous 917 is in a book I just bought: Porsche 917: The winning formula

Published by Haynes, and written by Peter Morgan, this is now the definitive 917 book in my library. At 208 pages, it goes into 917 lore more thoroughly than Karl Ludvigsen does in "Excellence was Expected", and many other books I have.

Full of illustrations and rare archival photos, both B&W and color, it is written in a coherent style, typical of other Peter Morgan books.
If you are a 917 fan like I am, this book will not disappoint you.

I have this book too - it's a good resource, although I'm always amazed at how much new 917 info I can find from other miscellaneous sources...

-Wayne

Wayne,
Seeing as how you live/work nearby, did you ever see the Vasek Polak 917's when they were displayed in his Hermosa Beach showroom?

Hey Doug,

Speaking of Vasek Polak, congrats on getting your letter published in this month's Excellence!

-Eric

A few other members had e-mailed me about it, Eric. My Excellence always arrives here in Canader about 3 weeks later than you guys (go figure...you and I only live 150 miles apart.)

The more I read and learn about Mr. Polak's life and contribution to Porsche motorsports, the more I'm fascinated by it. I understand, there are many close friends and some family still around. Some author needs to tap into their stories and write a book.

BTW...if any BBS members have not taken a look at Wayne's wonderful photos of the VP Estate Sale, they can find them on the PP website index.

Speaking of Vasek Polak, I was working at registration for the ALMS race here at Laguna Seca when a middle aged guy comes in for tickets. He flashes his I.D. which says "Vasek Polak". I do a double take, question him politely and it turns out he's Vasek Junior. According to him, the sale of all of his dad's property netted him zero. He says the attorney for the estate did quite well but he got zilch. He also went on to say that his relationship with his father was strained due to his fathers parenting style- quite heavy handed. This was repaired somewhat after his fathers accident in Germany in the Turbo S.
Anyway, in a very nice gesture, Joest of the Audi team offered him a job and he's been with them ever since.
I interviewed his father once for an article on the collection in his showroom. I sat in the 917's, looked through all the spare parts and had a great time. Seems a shame all those cars are scattered all over the globe now, hope they are being enjoyed as much as they were by those of us who would stop by the showroom just to dream.

Bruce Herrmann

An alternative version I've heard is that Vasek considered some or all of his kids to be "losers" and deliberately structured his considerable estate so that they ended up with zilch...

Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but he is widely acknowledged to have had a "strong personality" to put it mildly. Some folks I've spoken with who knew him used other words not fit to print here.

Personalities aside, a true legend and contributor to the Marque. May he RIP.

Bruce,
Thanks for the interesting reminiscence re: Mr. Polak.
I had only one chance to visit the legendary "showroom" on the PCH. (At the time, I was still not a true Porsche owner, but only in my mind.)

I was visiting a friend in Hermosa Beach when I remembered VP Porsche was in the area. My friend said: "Sure as hell it's there, let's go...."

Just a few blocks up from my friends shack, and there it was....CLOSED.
There was a hand written note on the window, saying something to the effect about "circumstances....".

My friend, who had lived in Hermosa Beach for many years, mentioned Mr.Polak had often been a thorn in the side (polite euphemism here) to the City Fathers re: unpaid taxes, zoning and sign laws, etc.

None of this, be it fact or fiction, can diminish VP's contribution to Porsche motorsport history.