First Porsche at 86

[Macroni]

My old man is going to be 83 and he kicks up a storm. Works every day! Drives a benz though can't see the P light.

[Brillo]

Originally Posted by jwhcars

Tell your Dad congrats on his new toy and a big thank you for his service.

+1

[Jim727]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Wow... This thread took a twist....

Let’s try this instead.

How about I tell y'all just a touch about the ol' man.

• Grew up in Philly.
• Had a new car every year during the depression.
• Did basic flight training in '43. (Coincidently it was in Camden, SC. The field is about a mile from my house.)
• Soloed out of an airfield that is now the CMP racetrack.
• His aviation career spanned biplanes to supersonic jets. ("You determine the landing speed of a PT-17 by listening to the wires between the wings.")
• He flew combat in three wars. (WWII, Korea, and 'Nam.)
• Awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and many other honors.
• Piloted airplanes his entire 30 year career in the service.
• Favorite car owned? I suspect it would be the ’67 TR4A he bought after returning from 'Nam. He tweaked the heck out of that car. I remember it quite well.

Here's a photo of him 40 years ago. In the photo he's younger than I am now. And had already done so much....

Too cool! Congrats to your dad on getting his Cayman; great choice for a River Rat.

Have to admit, the first thing I was curious about was what he flew. Thuds!!! Loved watching them when I used to fly into Takhli, and the sound when they were in afterburner was unforgettable. They flew tough missions in a tough environment. Silver Stars aren't just given away - they get earned the hard way. You should be very, very proud.

Please give him my thanks.

Now you need to tell us what else he flew. Report back.

[dtw]

pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness is nothing new. See this from 2002:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=89982

I'm not sure what his deal is, I've exchanged messages with him and on-on-one over the years, and he's always been quite amiable and generous.


'86...wow...makes me wish my Dad would find something to keep him this engaged since he retired.

[DanielDudley]

Nice car, and WELL DESERVED !!!

[island911]

Originally Posted by dtw

pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness is nothing new. See this from 2002:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=89982
....

Kinda seems that it shows your hateful attitude and bitterness toward pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness.


... and DAmn-it, that makes me hateful and bitter toward your hateful attitude and bitterness, toward pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness.

Seriously, the guys just suggested an early car would do the trick. I think some are reading a bit much into it, even if it was a dig.

besides, how foolish of PWD to suggest an early 911 -coughrustbucketcough- when EVERYONE knows that the 911SC was the pinnacle of 911 mastery. --sheesh.

[dtw]

Originally Posted by Jim727

Too cool! Congrats to your dad on getting his Cayman; great choice for a River Rat.

Have to admit, the first thing I was curious about was what he flew. Thuds!!! Loved watching them when I used to fly into Takhli, and the sound when they were in afterburner was unforgettable. They flew tough missions in a tough environment. Silver Stars aren't just given away - they get earned the hard way. You should be very, very proud.

Please give him my thanks.

Now you need to tell us what else he flew. Report back.

Originally Posted by island911

Kinda seems that it shows your hateful attitude and bitterness toward pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness.


... and DAmn-it, that makes me hateful and bitter toward your hateful attitude and bitterness, toward pwd's hateful attitude and bitterness.

Seriously, the guys just suggested an early car would do the trick. I think some are reading a bit much into it, even if it was a dig.

besides, how foolish of PWD to suggest an early 911 -coughrustbucketcough- when EVERYONE knows that the 911SC was the pinnacle of 911 mastery. --sheesh.

Fool! 2.7s are the height of 911osity...nobody understands them, maaaan. Real 911s have magnesium crankcases...

[pwd72s]

Okay, now that everybody got their licks in? Island nailed it. ALL I meant to convey with my post was that an early 911S fits the style of early fighter planes more than a Cayman does.

Early S...all mechanical, directly connected. No power steering, brakes, or computer controls. This fits with say a P-51 Mustang.

Cayman...computer controlled, luxury items galore, a drive by wire machine.
This fits more with a modern stealth fighter that would fall out of the sky if it's computers systems failed.

Yep...that was it!

Capt. Carrera...I meant no dishonor to your father, and I'm sorry somebody made this a personal issue not related to your father. My departed Uncle was a WWII pilot...a B-17 Captain. I'm well aware of the sacrifices these men made.

[Dixie]

pwd72s,

No offense taken. That goes for my father and myself. And bless your uncle. The odds were significantly staked against those guys in the 8th.

I can say this on behalf of my father. He does not want old technology. He wants state-of-the-art-technology. My father would prefer a flight in an F-22 over a F-86. After all, he’s already flown an F-86. Why do it again?

And anyone who's approaching 90 wants a car to drive, not one to work on. Hell, at 86 you can’t really work on cars, regardless of how simple or complex the car is.

Comes down to different strokes I guess.

[pwd72s]

Uh..at age 65 things become increasingly difficult to work on. I recall crawling out from under an old 911S, wondering if I could make the trip. My kudos to your father. May he long be able to drive whatever he wishes to drive.

[MT930]

Outstanding man!

Plane ? F-105? What a great story. Hope he enjoys the car half as much as flying.

Hope my kids still let me drive if I ever make it to 86.
Icing On the cake for him I am sure

[Por_sha911]

1) Its awesome to consider someone who is 86 getting a new Cayman.
2) I don't know pwd that well so I didn't read the negative attitude. Frankly, I thought the same thing: many times old guys like old stuff from the good old days. I LOVE my `87 because it is rustic and rough. It's part of the charm of owning a classic auto (no less a Porsche). At the same time, I also desire a Cayman for a daily driver.
3) Maybe pwd has done bad things in the past to get a bad reputation so people jump to conclusions BUT:
4) If anyone would be offended, shouldn't it have been Capt. Carrera? I hate it when one person in the office gets offended for me when I'm not upset. They end up making more problems for me by trying to "help" me. It seems to me that speeder is gunning for pwd at any and every opportunity. Deserved? Maybe but this wasn't the time or the place to pick a fight.
5) Capt: tell your dad he is my hero for defending my freedom and for proving that you don't have to stop living just because you get older.
p.s. I bet your dad would slap most of us for all the bickering and whining we do around here

[Dixie]

I thought I'd provide an update to this thread...

My father took his six-speed Cayman S to the track two weeks ago. This was his second track day ever. And just like a 20-something with two days under his belt, he was too hot into every corner on his first session. Once I got him reeled in, he did pretty good. His reflexes are a touch slower than most, but adequate. Most importantly, he had a blast.

...Oh, he's 87 now.

The Cayman performed quite well. It's an easy car to drive, and pretty darn quick. Still, my old 911 has that hard-core feel that can't be replaced. I'm glad I decided against buying a Cayman too.

[scottmandue]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.... can I borrow the car tonight?

Four pages and I was the only one who though of it?

[jjwood]

My Dad was not a sports car guy, but he loved his Bentleys. About a year ago he got hit broadside in his last one (he was 81). Totalled the car but he lived thru it. That car was a tank, just what he needed in Houston SUV trafffic. BTW the car that hit him was driven by an uninusred illegal immigrant. I'm glad my Dad wasn't in a Cayman.

Kudos to the Dad in this post. A true inspiration. I hope to at least duplicate his feat of: 1)making it to 86 and 2) driving a Porsche 'till I drop dead!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Most importantly, he had a blast.

...Oh, he's 87 now.

My 78 year-old Dad can kick your Dad's a$$

We are lucky to have them

[Dottore]

Great thread Captain. An inspiration.

[Sonic dB]

Great thread Captain. An inspiration.

+1 on that.. great photos of your dad both today and yesterday

[JCF]

What the hell is going on with these old fellows !?!

My Dad just called to tell me he bought a metalic black sport packaged BMW 135i

Go Daddy Go !!

He was USAF - maybe they brainwashed them all ?

He test drove a Boxster S and a Cayman but liked the BMW better.
I did also - I couldn't talk him in to the GT3.

[pwd72s]

Go Daddy Go! ???? Does this mean he'll hire Danica as a driving instructor?

If so, maybe they'll let you ride in the back seat? Yeah...IMHO, this driving machine a better choice than a Boxster or a Cayman...mainly because it does have a back seat while delivering excellent performance. Kudos to your Pop!