I don’t know what it is about Porsche and artists, but the iconic 911 seems to spark some strange ideas. Take this chocolate covered Porsche that would even have Willy Wonka asking, “why?” That’s right, a chocolate covered Porsche (at least they covered it in plastic first).
According to a story on Autoblog.nl, a Porsche dealer in the Netherlands (Porsche Centrum Gelderland) hired chocolatier Jan Blancken and his crew to drown an already delicious 997 Carrera S in almost 400 lbs (175 kilos) of chocolate. The car now sits in the Porsche dealer’s showroom amongst other just as sweet models.
When I first read this story my immediate reaction was, why? Now I know. Google “chocolate covered porsche” and look at all the references (and the story is just starting). Say what you want, but someone knows how to get attention to their dealership.
If you’re anything like me, one of the many things that attracted you to your Porsche was that distinctive exhaust note. The defining burble and pop as the engine engages for the first time. The low raspy rumble of the flat six at idle and the sweet scream of an approaching red line. While the voices have changed over the model years, the melody remains the same. Now Porsche wants to put your expertise, and your ears, to the test.
The Porsche 911 Evolution Competition pits man against machine in a game of match the engine to the exhaust. Here’s how it works. Broken into five categories you must listen to a recorded engine note and match it to one of three possibilities per category. Sound easy? Guess again. Here’s a break down of the competitions within each category:
Carrera: 997 vs. 996 vs. 964
Classic: RS 2.7 vs. RS 3.0 vs. RS 3.8
Race Derived: 997 GT3 RS vs 997 GT3 vs 993 RS
Turbo: 930 3.0 vs. 997 vs. 993 3.6
Motorsport: 935 “baby” vs 911 GT1 vs 936
The best part? Correct answers will be entered into a contest to win an Evolution 911 driving experience at Silverstone in the UK.
Give it a shot and see how you do. I’m not spoiling anything by telling you it’s incredibly difficult. My only nag, Porsche won’t tell you if you’re right or wrong. I guess they don’t want us to spoil it for future entrants. Hopefully, when the contest is over, they’ll let us know the correct answers.
Let’s face it, if you own a Porsche the chances are better than average that at some point you will get pulled over for speeding. I know, I know, you were only on the go pedal for a minute, you just wanted to feel that pulse quickening acceleration or hear that sonorous sound of your exhaust. Maybe you were unfairly profiled for driving a Porsche. Whatever the reason, most of us are bound to get pulled over at some point. If you don’t know how to avoid a speeding ticket, in the first place, then how you act and what you do after being stopped will play a bigger role in the outcome than what you did to get pulled over.
First Step Toward Beating a Speeding Ticket: Set the Police Officer at Ease!
Most police officers will tell you the most dangerous type of calls they respond to are those involving domestic violence. The reason is they simply don’t know what they are walking into. Making a traffic stop is a very close second. The officer can get some information by running your plates, but it’s no guarantee that the person behind the wheel is the same as who the car is registered to. They have limited visibility into your car, they can’t always see your hands and don’t have any idea why you were speeding. How you react as the police office approaches your car plays a huge roll in the outcome of this event. While a well trained officer is never going to let their guard down, you can help to relax them, even just a little. After being pulled over you might consider doing the following:
Don’t make any sudden movements
If it is night time turn on the interior light in your car so the officer can see inside
Roll down your driver’s side window so the officer doesn’t have to ask you to do so
DON’T REACH FOR YOUR LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN THE GLOVE BOX OR STORAGE AREA
Instead, put both your hands on the steering wheel, in plain site so it is easy to see you’re not carrying any kind of weapon that could be a threat to the police officer’s personal safety.
Second Step Toward Beating a Speeding Ticket: Be Respectful!
This is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Sure, you’re frustrated, maybe even mad at getting pulled over. The absolute worst things you can do is take it out on the officer. Ever seen this guy before (warning, there’s a bit of swearing)? It’s a miracle he wasn’t thrown in jail!
The video above is a great example of what not to do. Here are a few things to consider:
Above all else, be courteous. Like it or not the police officer is just doing their job.
Be calm. The officers level of intensity will most likely always be one level above yours, it has to be. Keep cool and level and the officer will too.
If you followed my advice from the first step, then your window is down and your hands are on the steering wheel. When the police officer asks for your license and registration, let him know where they are and ask if it is okay to reach for them. For example, “Officer, my registration is in the glove box and my license is in my wallet, is it okay for me to reach and get them?”
This is a highly stressful situation for the officer (whether they seem it or not). You can put them at ease with your actions and demeanor.
Lastly, Plead Your Case, but Not Too Hard
Some times, when being pulled over for speeding, a police officer has estimated your speed vs. capturing it on a radar gun. In these instances you’re very likely to here these questions, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Or, another favorite is, “Do you know how fast your were going?” These questions server a number of purposes for the officer, not only could they get you to admit guilt (which could later be used against you if you try to fight a ticket) they are also using it as a tactic to engage you in a conversation to judge your mental faculties and listen to you speak (in other words, determine if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs). Assuming you’re not high or drunk (if you are, you’re on your own) a simple, polite, non-committal approach is the best way to answer these questions. You might try a simply “no” to answer the first and a “I’m sorry, I was focusing on driving safely and the traffic around me.”
If the officer tells you that you were clocked on radar going 80mph in a 50mph zone, you still don’t have to admit guilt, but you might want to try pleading your case. Remember, the officer has discretion and if you were polite and courteous they can still let you off with a warning or a reduced fine. An important distinction to remember is that you want to beat the ticket and the system, not the police officer.
Two arguments that have been known to work (but are by no means fool proof) are crying and by telling the truth. If you were speeding and you think there was a legitimate reason for it, by all means let the officer know. Are you rushing to get home because of an emergency? Has a loved one been injured, etc. While not an excuse, the truth might just set you free.
So remember:
Be Calm
Be Respectful
If Appropriate, Plead Your Case
I know this post could potentially open a big can of worms as most people will have an opinion on what works and what doesn’t, so let’s hear ‘em. I’ll take the best and add it to the list when I update the article. Check back in a couple of weeks for a follow up on iwhat to do in the event you get a speeding ticket.
You’re probably familiar with the idea of Porsches being auctioned for charity, but how about luxury watches owned by members of the Porsche family themselves? According to a recent post on Philanthropy UK, members of the Porsche family donated 49 watches to be sold by London based auctioneer Bonhams with all proceeds to benefit the Oncology Research Department of the Robert Bosch Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany.
The list of brands being donated by the Porsche family is a who’s who of the luxury watch world. Famous marques include the likes of Eterna, Porsche Design, Rolex, Panerai, Eberhard, Jaeger LeCoultre, Breitling, Chronoswiss and Omega. Their combined value is estimated to be just shy of $170,000.
Porsche Watches
The Porsche watches are part of a larger collection being auction by Bonhams on December 2nd. Here’s a look at the complete list of 280 items for sale. Even though the auction is held in London, you can register online and participate if you want to own a part of automotive and watch history. See you at the auction.
If you’re not able to keep up with each Porsche Motorsport post here on PorschePurist.com and would prefer a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the world of Porsche Motorsport, there is no better way to stay in touch than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep up-to-date on this year’s racing activities.
FIA GT Championship: Richard Westbrook clinches title with 911 GT3 RSR
With victory at the eighth and final round in Zolder (25 Oct.), Richard Westbrook from Great Britain secured the GT2 drivers’ title of the FIA GT Championship. Westbrook and Porsche works driver Emmanuel Collard had won the first two races in their 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Belgian Prospeed team and held the lead until the seventh round. At the final, the Briton shared the cockpit with Porsche-Junior Marco Holzer, who impressed with his faultless drive. Collard shared the 911 with Porsche-Junior Martin Ragginger, saw the chequered flag in sixth, and concluded his season in third.
Italian GT Championship: Francisco Cruz-Martins is the new champion
The fight for the title of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo went on until the final race weekend. Fifth position at race one of two in Monza (17/18 Oct.) was enough for Portugal’s Francisco Cruz-Martins to win the championship’s top class with Autorlando Sport’s 911 GT3 RSR. Team honours went to Autorlando Sport. Cruz-Martins shared the cockpit with Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen at all rounds with the exception of one race at Mugello.
International GT Open: Autorlando Sport team champion with Lietz and Roda
Triumph for Porsche teams at the finale of the International GT Open on the Circuito do Algarve (8 Nov.) in Portugal. IMSA Performance Matmut pilots Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac won ahead of their teammates Richard Balandras and Jean-Philippe Beloc, with Richard Lietz and Gianluca Roda finishing third in an Autorlando Sport 911 GT3 RSR. The Italian squad wrapped up the Super GT title. Lietz and Roda took the drivers’ vice-championship ahead of Pilet/Narac.
Spanish GT Championship: Jesús Diez and Antonio Castro GTS champions
Four wins and five further podium results from twelve races: Jesús Diez and Antonio Castro (911 GT3 Cup S) topped off this performance in the Campeonato de Espana GT on the Circuito do Algarve (7/8 Nov.) with the GTS championship. In the Super GT category, the highest class, Miguel Angel de Castro narrowly missed out on the title to conclude the season as runner-up with Drivex’s 911 GT3 RSR.
Belgian GT Championship: First Motorsport wins team classification
Final spurt yields title: Francois Verbist and Bert Longin secured their second win of the season at the penultimate race (24 Oct.) and claimed the final podium spot the following day at the eleventh and last race of the Belgian GT Championship in Zolder with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S run by First Motorsport. With this, First Motorsport claimed the team title. Longin and Verbist concluded their successful season ranking third in the drivers’ classification.
Long Distance Championship Nürburgring: Ten races, nine Porsche wins
Top results for Porsche on the world’s toughest race track: Christian Mamerow and Dirk Werner won the ninth as well as the tenth and final race of the BF Goodrich Long Distance Championship Nürburgring (17 Oct., 31 Oct.) with Mamerow Racing’s 911 GT3 Cup S. Mamerow Racing clinched four overall wins in 2009. However, the team to take the most overall victories at the long distance races on the 24.4 kilometre combination of the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit was Manthey Racing. Supported by Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard, Emmanuel Collard and Romain Dumas, the Manthey squad secured five wins with a 911 GT3 RSR. Since 1983, Porsche has reeled off 150 wins at the long distance championship – more than all other manufacturers combined.
24 hour slot-car race Nürburgring: Porsche-Juniors pushing it hard
On 7/8 November, Porsche-Juniors Martin Ragginger and Marco Holzer took part in arguably their craziest 24 hour race to now. On a six-track model autobahn at the Nürburgring they piloted a Porsche Cayman. The two juniors’ talent impressed the slot-car professionals. However, repairs after an electrical problem took an hour and robbed the team of all hopes.
Asian Le Mans Series: Two podiums for Porsche
Strong Porsche showing at the premiere race of the Asian Le Mans Series in Japan’s Okayama (31 Oct./1 Nov.). Marc Lieb turned the quickest GT2 qualifying lap in the Felbermayr-Proton 911 GT3 RSR to yield second place from the first 500 kilometre race with Wolf Henzler – three-tenths of a second behind the winner. At the second 500 kilometre race, Christian Ried and Porsche-Junior Marco Holzer saw the flag in second at the wheel of the sister Felbermayr-Proton Porsche.
Enthralling premiere of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the Grand Prix circuit of Abu Dhabi: At the twelfth race of the series (31 Oct.), Jeroen Bleekemolen defended his title with third place in the 911 GT3 Cup of Konrad Motorsport. His arch rival René Rast brought home his sixth win. At the final race the following day, Bleekemolen notched up win number five, with Rast running a close second. New Zealander Matt Halliday won the Rookie Classification.
Carrera Cup Deutschland: Thomas Jäger takes title at final
The fight for championship honours of the Carrera Cup Deutschland between two former DTM pilots, Thomas Jäger and Jeroen Bleekemolen, raged until the ninth and final race on the Hockenheimring (25 Oct.). Finishing fourth, Jäger (MS Racing PZ Hamburg Nord-West) pocketed the trophy after three wins and three more podium results in 2009. Bleekemolen claimed his fourth win to become runner-up.
Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup France: Renaud Derlot is the champion
Consistency and four victories gave Renaud Derlot (Graff Racing) the championship title of the Carrera Cup France. Derlot was celebrated as the new champion after the 13th of 14 races on the final weekend in Lédenon (17/18 Oct.). Triple champion Anthony Beltoise was narrowly beaten to the title by six points.
Carrera Cup Great Britain: Two come out on top
Porsche Cars Great Britain gave six young hopefuls the chance to fight for two 50,000 GBP race scholarships towards the 2010 Carrera Cup at a rigorous evaluation process in Silverstone. After two days packed with track tests, media training, interviews and physicals, 22-year-old Euan Hankey and 21-year-old Michael Meadows were confirmed as the winners of the Carrera Cup Great Britain Scholarship Programme.
Race notes:
Notching up his fifth and sixth wins of the season, Christian Menzel defended his points’ lead in Shanghai (7/8 Nov.) against Tim Sugden. Title decision pending at the finale in Sepang (5/6 Dec.).
Season start of the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand in Pukekohe Park south of Auckland. Title defender Craig Baird won the 100 kilometre race on Saturday (7 Nov.) as well as Sprint 1 on Sunday. Sprint 2 went to Matt Halliday.
Miguel Paludo is the old and new champion of the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil. Vice-championship honours – like in 2008 – went to Constantino Junior.
The Nobel Porsche Prize (or How Ms. Joy Handley got her 911 C4S): Retired millworker Ray Handley of Norway, Maine was surprised to learn he’d been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Handley told the scrum of excited reporters who crowded the front yard of the trailer he shares with his wife Winifred, his daughter Joy and his smelly 16-year-old golden retriever Carl that he didn’t recall entering any contest.
In Oslo, Norway, a spokesman for the 5-person Norwegian Nobel Committee that selects the yearly prizewinner wouldn’t explain why Mr. Handley was chosen over a field of more famous people. The selection process for all Nobels is a closely guarded secret. Self-nomination is not allowed.
Queried by foreign correspondents in Oslo about the coincidence of a committee in Norway honoring a resident of faraway Norway, Maine, the committee spokesman looked confused. The translator explained to the reporters that in the Norwegian languages Bokmå and Nynorski, the nation is known as Kongeriket Norge so, in effect, there was no linguistic coincidence. The translator then solemnly and movingly sang the Norwegian national anthem Ja vi elsker dette landet (Yes We Love This Land) while the group of correspondents quietly melted away.
Past Peace Prize winners include Albert Schweitzer, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Henry Kissinger*, Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, Al Gore and the Dalai Lama.
[Henry Kissinger’s name is usually accompanied by an asterisk(*) on the list of winners because no one is sure how he came to be awarded the prize, although recent research suggests it may have been the result of a simple typo. At the same time in the early 1970s that U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger was directing military operations in Southeast Asia by day and squiring aging pneumatic Hollywood actresses at night, an Israeli named Henry Nissinger was attempting to broker Mideast peace talks by day and at night helping his wife get the kids ready for bed. So it’s likely than Henry N. was the actual Peace Prize candidate of that year, not Henry K. A case of mistaken identity. An admirer of Mr. Nissinger once remarked, Nissinger wuz robbed goddamn it!]
Neighbors of the Handleys opined that Mr. Handley’s prize was a lifetime achievement award for a man who never loses his temper and never stirs up trouble. In a half-century of adult life among difficult people, Handley has patched up numerous quarrels between his wife Winifred and her disagreeable sister; preempted disputes with his deranged next-door neighbor Herb by handing over all the windfall apples from Herb’s tree that landed on the Handley side of the stone wall; kept generations of local boys out of trouble by teaching them to whistle, whittle and fish; pacified impatient New York tourists at the local store by allowing them to cut into line ahead of him to pay for their gas and snack foods.
Among other notable achievements in a lifetime of self-effacement and imperturbability, Handley has apparently never once pushed his dog Carl out of his way with his foot; never refused to eat his wife’s truly awful codfish balls and noodle casserole; never threatened to move to Canada if his choice for president didn’t win the election. And he’s never uttered a word of complaint about his daughter Joy. He’s never chided her for her tattoos, piercings, combat boots and buzz cut; for being single at age 30 and still living at home; for getting a costly BA in Art History from Bowdoin, then choosing to make her living as a motorcycle mechanic. He’s never said a cross word about the sign on her bedroom door (Joy to the World: Keep Out!).
The Peace Prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary grant worth about $1.2 million U.S. dollars. When Mr. Handley was asked by reporters how he would spend the million dollar prize money, Winifred, hearing of the money for the first time, swooned. Carl started barking at the reporters and actually nipped one of the people from People.
The Handleys took advantage of the diversion to escape back into their trailer and resume normal life. Mr. Handley sat in his chair, smoked his pipe, and leafed through a fishing magazine. The missus busied herself darning holes in her daughter’s cherished vintage Ramones T-shirt. Joy lay on the bed in her room, gazing thoughtfully at the posters of sleek foreign sports cars tacked to the walls. [There were Xena: Warrior Princess posters too, but that’s another story.]
The Royal Family of Sweden during the Nobel Foundation Prize Awards Ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.
In the end, the laureate of Norway, Maine didn’t attend the December 10th presentation of the prize in Oslo, Norway. He couldn’t make it. December 10th is the date in Norway, Maine of the annual NFD Pancake Breakfast to benefit volunteer firemen, and Mr. Handley alone of the organizers can cook pancakes fast enough to keep hungry diners from getting impatient. When the Peace Prize committee realized that Handley wouldn’t attend the presentation in person, the disappointed members cried out in one voice, Ja vi hater denne utlending! (Yes we hate this foreigner!). Later they recovered their composure and apologized.
As soon as the million dollar check cleared, the Handleys bought a few things they’d long wanted but couldn’t previously afford. Mr. Handley splurged on a $114 Penell spinning combo rod & reel with top-grade cork handle, lightweight graphite reel seat and fold-down hook keeper. Mrs. Handley spent $120 on a Kenmore Self-threading Drop-in Bobbin Sewing Machine with 90 stitch-functions and one-stop buttonholer. Joy paid off her student loans, then treated herself to a $102,915 2009 Porsche 911 C4S AWD dipped in Arctic Silver Metallic paint over full Stone Gray leather interior with power comfort seats, BOSE stereo and XM Radio.
Mrs. Handley thought $102,915 was too much to spend on a car and said so at dinner. Joy bristled. Mr. Handley intervened. He said, “It has a top speed of one hundred and eighty-eight miles an hour, mother. That’ll come in handy on mornings Joy oversleeps and has to get to work in a hurry.” Mrs. Handley said, “A hundred and eighty-eight miles an hour! She works three blocks from here!” Mr. Handley said, “Say, this fish ball and noodle dish is good as ever. Any chance of a second helping?”
I don’t usually get political on this site (it is about Porsche after all) and I’m not about to now. However, when I read the story above in my PCA region’s quarterly newsletter, I just couldn’t stop laughing. I contacted the author for permission to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
About the author:James Swan lives and writes in Vermont. He can be reached at Justmoulds at toast dot net.
Apparently, it would seem that Porsche is concerned you can’t. According to a recently filed quarterly report, Porsche is suing the maker of the ubiquitous and ugly shoe over the use of the name “Cayman”.
On May 11, 2009, Crocs Europe B.V. received a letter from Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG (”Porsche”) claiming that the Company’s use of the “Cayman” shoe model designator infringes upon their Community Trademark Registration of the mark “CAYMAN” in class 25. Porsche is requesting that Crocs Europe B.V. immediately cease and desist use of the Cayman mark and pay Porsche’s attorney’s fees in conjunction with the issuance of the notice letter. On July 30, 2009 the Company was served with notice of an injunction against Crocs Europe BV’s use of the Cayman mark in Germany.
In the same filing, Crocs says it plans to “vigorously defend” itself against the claims.
Could these two possibly be mistaken by anyone??? I wonder if the Cayman Islands should start looking for a different name?
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The list of brands being donated by the Porsche family is a who’s who of the luxury watch world. Famous marques include the likes of Eterna, Porsche Design, Rolex, Panerai, Eberhard, Jaeger LeCoultre, Breitling, Chronoswiss and Omega. Their combined value is estimated to be just shy of $170,000.
The Royal Family of Sweden during the Nobel Foundation Prize Awards Ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.
