Why I Drive (long in text, short in photos, but hopefully still a good read)

[Busta Rib]

[as written on my blog. Given that it is 911 related, I thought you folks might enjoy the read.]



I love to drive. There's something special about pointing my car down a winding open road, windows down, and the breeze fluttering past my ears on a balmy summer day. To maintain the purity of moments like these, my stereo is turned off, with only the sweet mechanical song of an air-cooled engine encouraging me on with each stab of my right foot, or downshift before a turn.

BMW may have the rights to the tagline "The ultimate driving machine," but in spirit and singular purpose of design and provenance, it is truly owned by Porsche's 911. For nearly five decades, the 911 has symbolized the epitome of a sports coupe, particularly the air-cooled generations (1963-1998). This is evident in its racing heritage, unorthodox rear-engined layout (for better traction and a lower center of gravity), sleek profile to cheat the wind, and light-weight architecture to maximize handling and responsiveness. Even the ignition switch is on the left-side of the steering wheel, a legacy of Porsche's racing history, when drivers would sprint to their cars at the start of races. Efficient, those Germans.



My love affair with the 911 began in the 80s with the iconic poster showing three equally tantalizing, sensual, and curvy silhouettes: a nude woman, a bottle of wine, and the 911. I suspect every teenager had this poster tacked to his bedroom wall, right next to Christie Brinkley and Kiss. The fantasy eventually became reality and I currently drive a 1980 911 SC, using it as my daily driver. Yes, this is whack, as the kids would say.

Some might question my decision to own a 31-year-old car sports as a daily given that it is as versatile as a plastic grocery bag with holes in the bottom. And compared to modern standards, the NVH of an air-cooled 911 is on the verge of unacceptable. The suspension creaks like an old man, the HVAC system is antiquated and ineffective, faint odors of oil and gasoline constantly permeate the cabin, it is as loud as an 80s neon t-shirt, and the ride as firm as Jillian Michaels‘ ass. Euphemistically, this is known as a visceral driving experience.

Yet, driving a 911 is truly sublime. Despite my attempts to sugarcoat the comfort factor of an air-cooled 911 (or lack thereof), it is a remarkable machine for driving without purpose, simply for the pure enjoyment. It is a driver’s car; a precision instrument for carving up the road first and foremost, and secondarily as a mode of transport or an appliance.

It’s difficult to describe the wonderful feeling of driving such a great machine. At the risk of being crass, I suspect you would want to smoke a cigarette after a vigorous and satisfying session with a 911 (if you smoked, that is). It’s that good. First, there is the ballet of movements that, when synchronized properly, is poetic and yields incredibly smooth and fluid travel down the road. Accelerate, clutch, brake, rev match, shift, lean, turn, accelerate. The level of difficulty increases with speed and decreasing turn angles, but when you get it right, it is rewarding as well as challenging. I could dance like this all day long.

And then there are the other sensations: the adrenaline rush, the performance exhaust as it voices its throaty approval on a well-timed downshift, and the mechanical whirring of the flat-six engine emanating from just behind the cockpit, constantly coaxing you for more after every turn and straightaway. As our friends from England would say, it’s absolutely brilliant. Yes, it is.

A business associate that I respect writes a blog under his nom du plume of HRNasty, providing observations about all things human resources. In a recent post, Nasty addressed the notion of hiring candidates with passion for their job, calling this desirable trait fire.

Besides being relevant for screening and hiring candidates, Nasty offered up some compelling insight for life in general. Whether it is for your work, a hobby, or some other aspect of your life, passion is the litmus test and determinant for living versus existing, fulfillment over emptiness, feeling love rather than nothing at all. With it, your pursuits seem effortless, more productive, more enjoyable. Without passion, life simply feels burdensome. And perhaps a little boring. As he says, if you are not passionate about your job, at least have passion for something, anything. Wise man, that HRNasty.

Driving is my passion. It helps keep me on the knife-edge of life, reminds me that I am alive, and stirs my soul. It is what makes a simple trip to the grocery store enjoyable, and storming down a back-country road exhilarating.

This is why I drive. This is why a drive a 911.

[LakeCleElum]

Sounds good. Let's get on the road..........

[Flieger]

I like the pictures. Except for the red slant nose thing.

[boyt911sc]

Don't tell me you are driving a RHD car in the West Coast? Your passion is great but not your choice of a RHD car in this side of the world. Nice car.

Tony

[Busta Rib]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I like the pictures. Except for the red slant nose thing.

I hear you on the slant. I couldn't find a pic of the original poster I was referring to so this was the best I could find. I believe the one I had was a Pirelli tires poster, but not sure. I should have kept it.

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Don't tell me you are driving a RHD car in the West Coast? Your passion is great but not your choice of a RHD car in this side of the world. Nice car.

Tony

The 964 Turbo pictured is not my car, just a pic I found on the interwebs. It belongs to someone in Honk Kong, I believe. I didn't have a rolling shot with my car, but here's one to give you an idea.

[Oh Haha]

People who drive "regular" cars don't get it. I have the same passion for driving as the OP.

Yesterday, my 5YO and I drove close to 200 miles on a visit to the east side of Michigan to see family. When not on the freeway, we had the windows down enjoying the sounds, smells, and sights of country roads.

Today, we took the 911 to the grocery store. You bet we took the long way!!

Thanks for sharing your blog with us.

[1976 TN Porsche]

There is know doubt thats why I drive a 911.

[village idiot]

I went t a "Cars and Coffee" meet this morning and after wards I was a bit hungry so I went looking for a nice place to eat and wouldn't you know it, I practically drove around the entire island "just because". I do love the sounds my car makes and the way it talks to me through the controls. Even the somewhat balky 915 trans in need of a rebuild does little to lessen my enjoyment.

In just 2 days on the road after 5 years off while being back dated, I've managed to put a couple hundred miles on it. May not seem like much, but when you're stuck on a rock in the middle of the Pacific, I think that's pretty good.

I smiled like a goofy bastid the whole time

obligatory pic whoring:

[porterdog]

Every drive's a treat.

[dyusem]

Nice work capturing the motivation to drive and be caretakers of our 911s!

My wife and I spent a few days in our '80 911SC Targa driving (and hiking) around the Eastern Flanks of Mt. Shasta a couple of weeks ago and even after 18 years and 200,000+ miles of (mostly) joy, it still brings that stupid smile to my face!

Porsche, there is no substitute!

Cheers,
David

[Drisump]

I find there is no point in talking to almost any of my friends or acquaintances about how cool driving a car such as the 911 is. Mostly, they simply don't get it. They get the "look at me" bit, but nothing else. Good to hear from a guy who knows what I'm experiencing when I fire up the 911 and take her for a blast. Cheers

[Oh Haha]

I smiled like a goofy bastid the whole time




So what you're saying is that you looked like your avatar?!!

[Busta Rib]

Originally Posted by village idiot

I went t a "Cars and Coffee" meet this morning and after wards I was a bit hungry so I went looking for a nice place to eat and wouldn't you know it, I practically drove around the entire island "just because". I do love the sounds my car makes and the way it talks to me through the controls. Even the somewhat balky 915 trans in need of a rebuild does little to lessen my enjoyment.

In just 2 days on the road after 5 years off while being back dated, I've managed to put a couple hundred miles on it. May not seem like much, but when you're stuck on a rock in the middle of the Pacific, I think that's pretty good.

I smiled like a goofy bastid the whole time

obligatory pic whoring:

I like reading posts like this. Put a smile on my face (probably not as extreme as your avatar's). Don't mind the pic whoring at all. Your ride looks gorgeous. Is that Signal Green? Love that color! Congrats on getting her back on the road. Five years is a long time to wait. You are a patient man.

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

I smiled like a goofy bastid the whole time




So what you're saying is that you looked like your avatar?!!

Exactly!!

[fritzgator]

Originally Posted by Busta Rib

I hear you on the slant. I couldn't find a pic of the original poster I was referring to so this was the best I could find. I believe the one I had was a Pirelli tires poster, but not sure. I should have kept it.



The 964 Turbo pictured is not my car, just a pic I found on the interwebs. It belongs to someone in Honk Kong, I believe. I didn't have a rolling shot with my car, but here's one to give you an idea.

What a beautiful and obviously well sorted SC. What are those headlights?

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by Busta Rib

I like reading posts like this. Put a smile on my face (probably not as extreme as your avatar's). Don't mind the pic whoring at all. Your ride looks gorgeous. Is that Signal Green? Love that color! Congrats on getting her back on the road. Five years is a long time to wait. You are a patient man.

Thanks! the color is Viper green. It's not that I'm patient, I'm just poor When people hear what my income level is they are shocked. I'm also fortunate to have a lot of faith in my abilities as well as the drive to learn new skills.
Now it looks like I'll be learning to rebuild the trans. Part of my ongoing Porsche education

[plumb4u2]

hey village idiot, I love your car specially the color but we gotta do something bout that front license plate

[Busta Rib]

Originally Posted by fritzgator

What a beautiful and obviously well sorted SC. What are those headlights?

They are custom lights made from H4 buckets, HID projectors, clear VW lenses, and DS2 bulbs. jimtweet made them. You can read about them in this thread (Got Lights? New Custom HID Headlights Arrived). They are a huge improvement in light output and the cutoff is very sharp. I've been driving with them for a couple months and not one person has flashed me.

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

hey village idiot, I love your car specially the color but we gotta do something bout that front license plate

Thanks for the compliment!
Unfortunately, this state requires a front plate.

[fritzgator]

They look very sharp as well. Thanks for the tip.