Like most aspiring writers we would all love to have our work produced and become a commercial success; a best selling novel being the prized pinnacle of publication. So, it was with just a slight touch of jealousy and great enthusiasm as we read the following:
Excerpt from an email sent by Hunt for 901 author Kevin Gosselin
Hello – My name is Kevin Gosselin and I wanted to make you and your site readers aware of my new novel, Hunt for 901, which was published this week. It is the first fiction ever published about a Porsche. Excepting the fiction in most classifieds Since your site covers Porsche Cars, Porducts and LifeStyle I think it would be of quite a bit of interest to your readers. The story follows automotive archaeologist Faston Hanks as he and his cohort search for famous missing cars. In this case, the Porsche 901 prototype that went missing after the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1963…. Regards, Kevin Gosselin
Two days later a copy of Hunt for 901was found poking through the mail-slot at the 993C4S garage and we were off and reading. From the very beginning we wanted not to like this book. Not because of Kevin (we’ve since exchanged numerous emails and he is a very knowledgeable and likeable “car-guy”) and most definitely not due to the subject matter (a lost piece of Porsche history.) Our animosity was rooted at a much more basic level; jealousy. Why didn’t we think of such a magnificent idea first? Once we got over ourselves Hunt for 901 became a most enjoyable read that was quite truly hard to put down.
Our Review
We’ve searched for cars before (usually through the classifieds) but novelist Kevin Gosselin makes us feel like we are part of Faston Hank’s team scouring the planet for Heidi Ruff’s father, Roland Zeller, the last man seen with the Porsche 901 prototype. Find Roland and you find the 901.
Accompanying Faston on his quest for automotive treasure is the always hungry Charles Ivory. Possibly the only person known to Faston with more automotive contacts then he, the ineffable Charles is indispensable on a search such as this, but at what price?
Beginning in LimeRock Connecticut, home of Faston’s racing-centric bed and breakfast, their search quickly leads them to a number of European destinations where they discover they are not alone in their hunt for the Holy Grail of missing Porsches. Faston’s long time nemesis, Patrick Patrick, is fast on their heals. Using methods that most others would frown upon, Patrick Patrick just might find the 901 first.
Liberally sprinkled with an eclectic cast of characters, well researched automotive facts and mentions of wine and food that would make any bon-vivant’s mouth water, the Hunt for 901 is a great first novel made even better by having the love and lore of Porsche history as the central tenet. If you have been searching for that special something to get your favorite Porsche owner or automotive enthusiast, your search is over.
Hunt for 901 is available via Amazon.com. Kevin tells me he book is selling well at Amazon and it is possible you might find them out of stock. If that is the case, the book can be purchased from Toadhallbook.com as well as directly from the publisher demontrevillepress.com.
A Sequel to Hunt for 901
According to Kevin, he is currently working on a sequel, or second in the series.
It has Faston and Charles chasing after something old and British this time. It is written in alternating chapters of the car being “lost” and the modern day chase so that we learn more about the person who “lost” the car. The series is like a mystery series, the same detectives trying to solve different murders. But instead of dead bodies, I have missing cars…. Kevin Gosselin
Kevin would love to hear from his readers. If you would like to contact him you can do so by commenting on this post (Kevin is a subscriber to 993C4S.com) or by visiting him directly at his blog.
Written on September 11th, 2008 at 12:10am by 993C4S
In late August we ran a post asking What Type of Porsche do you Own? We ran this post to get a better handle on where to focus our content. We obviously want to write about subjects and cars that we enjoy, but we would like to keep it as relevant as possible.
As we mentioned in the original post, we are in the process of making some big changes to the site. Two of the biggest changes coming are a redesign (we want to make the site more user friendly, less busy and easier to find the resources you’re looking for) and a URL change from 993C4S.com to PorschePurist.com.
Because our Porsche(s) are air-cooled, when we first started this site, our idea was to focus specifically on those type of Porsches. Combine this with the fact that our favorite Porsche is a 993, and you can probably see why we decided to name the site 993C4S.com. Lately, as we’ve expanded the site, the name has become a bit confusing; it infers that this site is model specific, when in fact, it is about all Porsche Cars, Products and LifeStyle.
This site receives about 10,000 unique visitors per month. So, with more than 200 of you participating in the poll you provided us with a great representation of what type of Porsches the current visitors to our site drive and own. The results speak for themselves:
Not surprisingly the largest number, with 57 votes, was the Porsche 993. What was surprising, given the confusion with the URL, was the diversity amongst the other Porsche models.
Water-cooled cars had a great showing across a number of different models including the 996, 911SC and 930s, 924/944/951/968 and Boxsters.
The least represented were the older air-cooled Porsches (356, pre-impact bumper 911s, 914 and 912) along with the newer Cayenne and Cayman.
The biggest surprise of all was that seven (7) of you claim to be owners of the Porsche Carrera GT! Now, we’re not calling anyone a liar, but let’s see some pictures.
Thanks to everyone for participating, we will tailor our content to fit and we’re always open to suggestions and ideas on topics to cover. Last but not least, don’t forget that this site is interactive. We encourage you to comment frequently, email us whenever you want and even write posts for publication if you’re interested.
Written on September 8th, 2008 at 10:34pm by 993C4S
Porsche is making a lot of noise this month with regard to the Cayenne. Earlier this week it was the introduction of the new limited edition Cayenne Transsyberia. Today, the latest news from Germany is the delivery of two emergency medical vehicles to the Stuttgart Fire Department. Concluding a European wide open bid, these specially equipped Cayennes were produced after Porsche was awarded the contract.
Delivered to the Deputy Mayor of Stuttgart by Thomas Edig, Porsche AG’s Executive Board Member responsible for Human Resources and Welfare, these two Cayennes will be put into service immediately. Unlike a typical ambulance in the US, these Cayennes are first responders designed to treat patients at the site in advance of transport to the hospital or other emergency medical facilities. They are equipped with all the latest medical equipment and supplies and even include a ‘rendezvous system’, where emergency doctors are brought from a hospital to the accident site, to meet up with the ambulance crew.
Porsche Trainees Carry Out Innovative Special Assignment for Rescue Service
Stuttgart. The City of Stuttgart has taken delivery of two new Porsche Cayenne emergency medical vehicles for the municipal fire department’s Emergency Medical Service. Today both vehicles, which have the radio identification names “Florian Stuttgart 5/82-1″ and “5/82-2″ were handed over in Zuffenhausen to Dr. Martin Schairer, Stuttgart’s Deputy Mayor in charge of law, public safety and order, by Thomas Edig, Porsche AG’s Executive Board Member responsible for Human Resources and Welfare.
Following a European call for tender, Stuttgart City awarded the contract for the two vehicles to Porsche AG. At the sports car manufacturer’s Training Center, two serially-produced white Cayennes were converted according to the specifications of the Fire Service. The interiors had to be completely remodeled to accommodate the complex emergency medical equipment housed in the trunk and rear compartment. The Cayennes were also fitted out with voice radio and radio data transmission, blue light bars, sirens and GPS (Global Positioning System), which keeps operation headquarters informed of the vehicles’ whereabouts. The medical equipment includes an electrocardiogram (ECG), a defibrillator (electric shock apparatus to treat heart fibrillation), respiration apparatus, emergency equipment for children and a comprehensive range of medicines.
“Working on such complex and challenging special orders as a part of our professional training reflects the skill and the broad spectrum of competence of our workforce. Projects of this kind naturally motivate the younger generation of Porsche employees even more strongly to do their absolute best”, says Board Member Thomas Edig.
For the first time, innovative signals will be used to warn other road-users even earlier and more reliably that the emergency medics are on their way. The Cayennes’ side indicators are equipped with blue lights, making the vehicles more noticeable to cross traffic. In addition, the acoustic signal of the sirens has now been changed to include ‘hissing’ tones, which ensure that the human ear still better can pick up the direction from which the vehicles are approaching, particularly in the urban environment. The idea behind this system is to clear the roads faster and cut the time needed to reach the accident scene. The Stuttgart Fire Service intends to run a scientific study on this pilot operation.
Using the so-called ‘rendezvous system’, emergency doctors are brought from a hospital to the accident site, where they meet up with the ambulance crew. The Porsche Cayenne fulfills important prerequisites for the Stuttgart Fire Service’s operations: due to the hilly topography of Stuttgart, they require an all-terrain vehicle which is nevertheless nimble in urban traffic. It has to have a sufficiently large loading area and also provide optimum protection for driver and passenger. The Cayenne, which is driven by a powerful 213 kW (290 PS) six-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection (cubic capacity: 3.6 liters), is serially equipped with Porsche Stability Management (PSM) which enhances its driving safety. The four-wheel drive gives superior handling and good traction under all road conditions. A high degree of passive safety in the passenger compartment is ensured by full-size airbags, two thorax side airbags, and two curtain airbags in the roof frame which cover all the side windows. As well as recognizing fron-tal/rear and lateral collisions, the sensors also anticipate the danger of rollovers and activate seat belt tighteners and curtain airbags in case of emergency.
The two Cayennes are not the first special assignment for the Porsche Training Center. The Stuttgart sports car manufacturer’s next generation of professionals has already been able to gather extensive experience in the equipping of emergency service automobiles. Trainees have built various customized vehicles for the works firefighters and the health management team at the enterprise’s locations in Zuffenhausen, Weissach and Leipzig, including emergency medical service vehicles for the works doctors. And the Moscow Fire Department can also now count a Cayenne rescue vehicle among its fleet – this too is a customized product from Zuffenhausen.
Nevertheless, Board Member Edig emphasized that projects of this kind can only be carried out in exceptional cases: “We do not plan to build up a business field in EMS vehicles at Porsche in future. But it is an especial honor for us to have been able to con-tribute to making emergency medical services in Stuttgart even faster and better.”
The project “Emergency Medical Service Vehicle” involved a total of ten young Porsche trainees, both men and women, including prospective automotive mechatronics technicians, construction mechanics, electronics technicians and vehicle fitters. These were supported by two experienced master instructors and by experts from the Stuttgart Fire Service.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Martin Schairer praised the achievements of the trainees: “It was an excellent idea to give young people the opportunity to participate actively in preparing these important – in fact, life-saving – vehicles for the Stuttgart Emergency Medical Service. The EMS vehicles are an essential link in the regional capital’s emergency rescue chain.”
Written on September 8th, 2008 at 12:07pm by 993C4S
We’re big fans of the Cayenne Transsyberia here at 993C4S.com but even we are a bit surprised at this new addition from Stuttgart. The strictly off-road version of Porsche’s best-selling SUV makes perfect sense as a platform to test new components that will eventually make their way on board production level vehicles. Does it however, make sense as a special edition, limited production version available to the general consumer? Only time will tell.
With fewer than 600 of these muscle bound Cayennes making their way to the shores of North America, they could very well be snapped up by well heeled soccer moms with a penchant for off-roading. Combining the 405 hp, direct injected motor from the GTS with the Transsyberian air suspension and front/rear stainless steel skid plates, there isn’t much that will stop this SUV.
Personally, we would like to see this Porsche Designed AMPV go into production and made available to the public. We would purchase one in a second (with the optional 50mm cannon mount.)
For the full press release and pictures of the 2010 Porsche Cayenne Trannsyberia, see below.
ATLANTA — September 8, 2008 — Winning Porsches come in many shapes, and nowhere is the competitive Porsche Motorsport DNA more evident than in the latest version of the thriving Cayenne range – the new race-inspired 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia.
The Cayenne S Transsyberia is based on the Cayennes that won one of the most grueling endurance races in the world. The rally marathon, which is held every spring, is a two-week race that traverses Russia, Siberia and Mongolia and covers over 4,400 miles. It is called, simply, the Transsyberia Rally, and slightly modified Porsche Cayenne S models have won this brutally demanding event three times in a row.
The most capable Cayenne yet will be revealed at the up-coming Paris Auto Show, October 4 – 18 2008.
Just as the Weissach-developed Cayenne S Transsyberia competition models were based on the street version of the Cayenne S, this 2010 special edition, with less than 600 units earmarked for North America, will feature the 405 horsepower, 4.8 liter naturally aspirated, direct fuel injected V8 engine lifted directly from the Cayenne GTS. The Tiptronic S six-speed automatic transmission with a 4.11:1 final drive ratio is standard.
All Cayenne S Transsyberias will be equipped with air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which electronically adjusts the shock absorbers to achieve superior ride and handling characteristics. The permanent all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system divides the torque between the front and rear, with a 62% rear-bias for greater on-road driving dynamics.
The Cayenne S Transsyberia proudly shows off its winning pedigree. It will be available exclusively in four different color combinations – black with orange accents or crystal silver metallic, also with orange accents. For those desiring a more “stealthy” color combination, the Cayenne S Transsyberia will also available in either black with meteor grey metallic highlights or meteor grey metallic with crystal silver metallic highlights.
With the exception of the meteor grey metallic with crystal silver metallic combination, all Cayenne S Transsyberia will be available with contrasting colored 18-inch Cayenne S II wheels. Contrasting color is also used on the air intake vent fins, exterior mirror housing and extended bi-plane roof spoiler. In addition, the Cayenne S Transsyberia can be customized to include the decorative “Cayenne S Transsyberia” side strips and offroad roof lights (for vehicles without the optional moonroof) at no additional cost.
The standard front and rear stainless steel skid plates emphasize the off-road character of the Cayenne S Transsyberia. An optional off-road package that features a variable and lockable rear differential, rock rails with integrated skid plates, a reinforced engine-bay guard, and enhanced protection for the fuel tank and rear axle is available. A second towing lug is provided “just in case.”
The Cayenne S Transsyberia also features standard sport seats with Alcantara seat inserts. The standard multifunction steering wheel is also covered in Alcantara and has a “twelve – o’clock” mark at the top of the wheel, as do all of the race-ready Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberias, in the same contrasting color as the exterior.
The 2010 Cayenne S Transsyberia will be available in the United States in early spring of 2009 with an MSRP of $70,800.
Written on September 6th, 2008 at 5:25pm by 993C4S
While we don’t normally post on the weekend, when we saw this alert come across our desks we thought it was too good to pass up. How often do you see a 1955 Porsche Spyder 550 for sale, especially an electric one?
Listed for sale by SpecialtySales.com in Benencia, California, the car is advertised as a Porsche Speedster. Of course, the Speedster in question is actually a 550 Spyder replica; a Beck replica to be exact. Outside of that, not much seems to be known about the car. The description on the web-site simply says:
Powered by an electric motor with a 4-speed manual transmission. Up to 50 miles on one charge. Leather interior, with optional soft-top and side windows.
We called SpecialtySales and spoke with a salesperson for more information but were unable to get additional details other than what is listed on the web-site.
Specific items we were interested in included:
When was the replica built?
What type of electric motor is in it?
Was it a conversion or was it originally built with an electric motor in mind?
What are the performance specifications of the car? Top speed? Acceleration? etc.
According to the salesperson we spoke with the Porsche replica is actually on consignment from a local customer, so there is still a chance they may get back to us with the information we requested. If so, we’ll update the post with those details.
While the pictures on the web-site show the car to be in above average cosmetic condition, we have to wonder about the advertised range of the vehicle; 50 miles? With that kind of range, or lack there of, you would have to plan your trip(s) very carefully. Let’s hope the seller throws in an extra long extension cord to help things along.
Update: a number of you have been arriving to this page after searching Google for tips on “Porsche 911 CIS Modifications”. While we have done some work to our ’73 911T with CIS, we are by no means experts. However, we wanted to point you to a book that might help you in your research. How to Rebuild and Modify Porsche 911 Engines 1965-1989. Written by Wayne Dempsey of Pelican Parts, this book provides a very thorough overview of Porsche engines, how to rebuild them and what you can do to modify them. We hope it is helpful. Now, on with the article.
A new reader contacted us the other day looking for suggestions on how to modify his ’77 911s. In his own words he would like the Porsche:
“to look like a ’77, but have the ability to hang with a modern ‘vette or anything else that might take it for granted.”
As the pictures below show, the car is in nice cosmetic condition (we love the Minerva Blue exterior) and currently runs well. The owner is looking for suggestions that will give him the best bang for the buck while meeting his stated goal(s).
Personally, we’re not huge fans of modified Porsches (we’re purists by nature) but have no problem with what others want to do to their own cars.
Normal suggestions for most modification generally include:
increased hp (possible motor swap)
improved suspension
transmission upgrade
new wheels and tires (handling of the normally aspirated ’77s can be greatly improved by increasing to the 16″ tires that came standard on the Turbo/930)
improved braking (a lot of people forget that when you increase hp you need to increase your stopping power too)
interior and exterior cosmetics including paint, seats and electronics
The owner of this car is looking for specific suggestions from other early 911 owners. Have any of you modified your cars? If so, what have you done? Are there things you’ve done that you now wish you hadn’t? Conversely, are there things you didn’t do you wish you had included? Let us know by commenting below or using the contact page to get in touch with us.
Don’t be alarmed, you’re not seeing things. Yes, we are re-running the same post. We decided to do so, because we were looking for additional feedback from you on what you currently use to create your Porsche videos. We were able to speak with the makers of a few different in-car video systems today and they all agreed to forward samples of their products for us to review. The systems should start arriving next week and we’ll start posting reviews immediately.
While we’re waiting, please read through the post below and let us know what you’re using in your Porsche. As a reminder, if you haven’t yet voted, don’t forget about our current poll regarding the type of Porsche(s) you own. We’ll close out the poll at the end of the week, tally the results and focus our content appropriately.
Friday’s post will feature another reader’s ride. In this instance the owner of a 1977 911S is looking to do some restoration and modifications and would love some input on the best bang for the buck. Next week look for a review on Kevin Gosselin’s Hunt for 901 (the first work of fiction centered completely around a Porsche) and a two or three part series on Porsche etiquette/greetings.
The Re-Run
Recently we posted about Reaching Driving Nirvana in Your Porsche. The idea was conceptualized by a friend in our ever growing Porsche network on facebook. The notion was simple, anytime in the month of August take your Porsche out for a ride on your favorite road and document the experience in order to share it with others. A lot of people participated and there are some great Porsche stories, pictures and videos as a result. Hats off to Dede for the coming up with the idea, promoting it and making it such a success amongst a diverse group of virtual friends.
As a participant in this event our eyes were opened to a great new activity (and part of the reason for today’s post) that can be enjoyed along with driving the Porsche(s); video-taping the rides, editing the footage and creating short clips of our driving experiences. Below is our FIRST attempt at creating a video:
We learned two things while making this video:
We don’t have the proper camera equipment or software to do things correctly.
The people that do this and do it well have a very special skill and they should be commended.
Digital Video Equipment for Motorsports
We made the little video above using an older, hand-held, Sony Cyber-shot (the model is a DSC-T1) and the standard video editing software (Windows Movie Maker) that comes with Vista. We know there must be better equipment and software specifically for automotive applications and we’d like to try some out and report back to you. So, if you have any experience, please do let us know.
Some people tape their experiences at driver’s education events, races or just for fun. Are you one of them? If so, what equipment are you using? What type of camera? How is it mounted? What are you using for software to edit?
We’re hoping that of the 12,000 or so people that see this post, during the month of September at least a few of you will have some video experience. Please let us know by commenting below or using the contact page.
Email
Like most aspiring writers we would all love to have our work produced and become a commercial success; a best selling novel being the prized pinnacle of publication. So, it was with just a slight touch of jealousy and great enthusiasm as we read the following:
author Kevin GosselinSince your site covers Porsche Cars, Porducts and LifeStyle I think it would be of quite a bit of interest to your readers. The story follows automotive archaeologist Faston Hanks as he and his cohort search for famous missing cars. In this case, the Porsche 901 prototype that went missing after the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1963…. Regards, Kevin Gosselin
In late August we ran a post asking 
We’re big fans of the Cayenne Transsyberia here at 993C4S.com but even we are a bit surprised at this new addition from Stuttgart. The strictly 
. Written by Wayne Dempsey of Pelican Parts, this book provides a very thorough overview of Porsche engines, how to rebuild them and what you can do to modify them. We hope it is helpful. Now, on with the article.
]
Don’t be alarmed, you’re not seeing things. Yes, we are re-running the same post. We decided to do so, because we were looking for additional feedback from you on what you currently use to create your Porsche videos. We were able to speak with the makers of a few different in-car video systems today and they all agreed to forward samples of their products for us to review. The systems should start arriving next week and we’ll start posting reviews immediately.
(the first work of fiction centered completely around a Porsche) and a two or three part series on Porsche etiquette/greetings.
seems like the best bang for the buck, but we have yet to use one. Have you?
