High Temp, Long Trip

[Alex Ganum]

I am going camping in a week and want to take my 914 but my temp gauge doesn't work. Here in Michigan it has been very hot lately and I am wondering if I should worry about it. It is only about two and a half hours away. I have never had any problems before but I am driving alone and don't want to get stranded in the middle of Michigan. Should I go for it or take the boring Honda.

[Conrad W Peden]

I wouldn't worry about heat unless the car has had a problem with it in the past.
I live in Victoria BC(Washington State-Canada border area) and have driven to Disneyland with my girlfriend in my 914.After leaving Seattle at 9:00am we drove until 8:00 in fifth gear at 3500-4000 rpm with no problems at all. We stopped at Laguna Seca for the historic races(1995? Ferrari was the marque that year) and drove south from there. We drove from the coast to the I-5 through Coalinga. I dont know if any of you have been there but it was 110 degrees. I was having fun with a 66 Dino and BMW M5(that road is sports car heaven).If you could've seen it one wicked sports car, a nice sports car and a 914 tearing by a bunch guys sitting in the back off their pickup and a couple leaning against a tractor parked on the side of the road.(I suspect farm hands). The look on their faces. Guess you had to be there.
Anyways, the Dino dropped off first on the climb into the hills and the BMW's computer wouldn't let the driver take it easy with a lowly 914 on his tail, the only advantage I had was that I was all over him in the corners.

To make a long story short about an hour of that at 90-110 degrees and the car didn't complain. The head temp was up about 50 degrees higher than normal but that was all.