I was reading through some old posts this weekend and stumbled upon John Killion’s “A Den of Porsche Infidelity” (if you haven’t yet read this story, It’s worth your time). In this post John ponders “cheating” on his Porsche 944 with a new Cayman S; I’m sure the idea of “trading up” is something we can all relate to. In fact, John (my John that is) always talks about various other Porsches he would like to have in our garage. You see, It’s not that he’s unsatisfied with the current stable, rather there’s a long wish-list of vintage and current Porsches he would like the opportunity to play with.
However, it got me to thinking. Is this “wish-list” of possible dream cars only limited to Porsche? What if money was no object and you could have any car you wanted, Porsche or otherwise? So I asked, “John, if money was no object and you could have any car you wanted, Porsche or otherwise, what would it be?” Without even taking time to think about it he answered.
A Pagani Zonda Roadster F. One of only 25 and made to measure for each owner!
Yes, I was shocked too. What I expected to hear was something along the lines of the new Porsche 918 Sypder, a 911 GT2 RS or maybe even a vintage Porsche RS60, etc. Boy, was I off the mark. As much of a Porsche loyalist he is, John would still cheat on his Porsche.
So, I ask you, “If money were no object and you could buy any one car, Porsche or otherwise, what would it be and why?”
I guarantee you it won’t be as far as Mike Holtzclaw, PCA Anchorage, Alaska’s President. PorschePurist.com’s Andrew Granieri sat down with Mike at this year’s PCA Parade to ask a few questions after seeing Mike’s ’85 911 covered in 3M Painters Tape arrive at the 2010 PCA Parade.
Mike arrived to this year’s PCA Parade with plenty of stares, likely a result of his car’s unique appearance. Of course, by ‘unique’, I mean filthy! His 1985 Porsche 911 was caked with more bugs and mud than a Louisiana picnic after Hurricane Katrina hit – but what do you expect? After all, he did drive his car here from Anchorage, Alaska! I got to sit down with Mike and ask him about his 3,804-mile journey here and his enthusiasm for Porsches.
Andrew (PP): Mike, thanks for taking some time to answer some of these questions. First, could you tell us about how you got into Porsches, what model was your first, that sort of thing?
Mike Holtzclaw (MH): When I first started working in Anchorage, there was a bank across the street from where I worked with a red Porsche in the parking lot; when I started working, I told myself, “One day, I’m going to own that car!” As it turned out, it is my car now! My first Porsche! I used to be a Corvette guy and I was looking to get into a 911 Turbo, but this one just caught my eye. It was actually a funny story, getting that car.
PP: I’m all ears!
MH: The owner of the bank also owned the car; it had spent a year just sitting in storage, so the banker’s wife actually put an ad for it in the paper and didn’t tell him about it – as soon as I saw it was for sale, I jumped for it! I had the money together and everything, but he still drove it for a week after I had paid for it. I remember driving back into town one day, seeing him tear off in the other direction with his wife and kids! I pointed to it and yelled, “Hey! That’s my car!” The whole misunderstanding was smoothed over, though; he’s actually a good guy. He has been active in our PCA region for some time now.
PP: How many active members does your region have?
MH: We have 107 active members and growing. We’re going to have 108 members very soon; a friend’s son recently purchased a 944 with a busted head gasket for $400 bucks – that’s with the title included! The boy’s a mechanic, so as soon as he gets that car put back together, he says he’s going to join. We’re very close, and very active.
PP: … In Alaska? Really? Doesn’t it snow almost year-round?
MH: Hey – we have four months of summer! Anchorage only has about 300,000 people, but there are Lamborghinis, Porsches and Ferraris –you name it – all over town. During that window of warm weather you see them come out of the woodwork in droves! It’s like a swarm of exotic cars descends on the town and then – poof! Snow hits and most cars are placed back in storage. Not mine, though; I drive that car year-round.
PP: Awesome! But there must surely be some weather conditions that prevent your winter setup from being effective…
MH: I have a Ford Excursion that’s my business car, so I drive that when it gets really bad, but other than work and five feet of snow, it’s the 911! She’s my workhorse.
PP: How so?
MH: Well I go moose hunting and that’s the car I’ll take hunting… I’ve hauled quartered moose with it, I’ve hauled a lawn mower, I haul tools; any time there’s an opportunity for me to use the car, I use it!
PP: What state was your favorite to drive through?
MH: You know what? I always try to stick to back roads whenever I can on these trips. You get to see things, smell things, hear things that you don’t get to experience on a highway. I loved every minute I spent behind the wheel, in every state I drove through there was something so beautiful or spectacular to see that I’d have to stop and pull out my iPhone to take a picture. I always find something great when I go on these trips, though. When the parade was in Charlotte a couple years back, I finally got to see the Smokey Mountains in person, and they were so majestic, I knew right away why people so enjoyed living in that region. It’s the same feeling everywhere I go. I cover a lot of ground, barreling down the back roads but I always find something that makes me want to stop and take a picture. It’s easy for me to say that these beautiful cars and these wonderful people here at the parade are the reasons why I come every year now, but it’s really the drive that drives me, so to speak.
PP: When you said you cover a lot of ground….
MH: I got here in five days! It could have been a little faster if I’d gotten off the back roads. I try to drive my car to the limit! I admit I’m an active autocross participant, but I haven’t been to any road courses and I’ve never driven in rallies or anything, but when I’m on the ALCAN and on a nice back country road – as long as it’s safe, and there’s no animals or other cars, I really let the 911 open up!
PP: So how many tickets do you average for each trip?
MH: NONE! I owe Mike Valentine a big “THANK YOU!” for that! I have a Valentine V-1 unit in my car that has saved my bacon more times than I can count! You know, he had a GT3 that was sold to someone in my region, and I wanted to call him to speak with him about the car and thank him for making such a great product – but I only got his assistant or somebody on the phone, so…
PP: There’s a chance he reads PorschePurist, how about thanking him now?
MH: Sounds great! Thanks, Mike! You’ve really saved my butt out on the road! I say my ‘butt’ because my wallet is usually close by!
PP: Did you enter in the Concours?
MH: (Laughs) No! I refused to wash my car when I got here – that mud all on the back is from Utah, the bugs are from Montana, I don’t really see the need to wash it. Now, some of the guys here have been giving me grief over that, so I’ll probably wash it sooner or later. It cleans up really well; that’s why they’re getting so upset with me, I think. If I took that painter’s tape off and washed the car, it would blend right in with all the other 911s!
PP: I may hold you to that claim. Speaking of the painter’s tape, how many times was that reapplied to the car?
MH: It wasn’t! It lasted all 3,804 miles! I think it’s a testament to a great product from 3M. It lasted through the rains, through the wind – and I mean winds, because I was flying down the roads to get here – it survived driving through gravel in Montana, it was perfect. When it slid around the body driving in the rain you could slide it back and it’d dry off sticky again. It kept most of the bugs off the paint, too.
PP: Back to your drive down here – what did you bring along with you?
MH: Everything you could think of, man. On the Alcan Highway, you’re really on your own. On either side of the border there’s a few hotels and gas stations, but the hotels own the gas stations – and they’ll shut them down at night, but they’ll keep the rooms open to sort of trap you there. So I’ll sleep in my car to avoid getting ripped off. I carry a lot of tools in case I break down. (Before we could ask how often that happened, Mike quickly added) Not that I’ve broken down before! I also bring a lot of food and a lot of cash with me. In Canada, there’s a lot of towing companies that are privately run, so they don’t take credit cards. But they will take your cash. Out there, AMEX and Visas aren’t worth a dime. Money talks!
PP: You were pretty quick to point out you’ve not broken down – seriously, nothing’s gone wrong with this car?
MH: Let me tell you, these Porsches are workhorses, man! I perform every scheduled maintenance task when it’s needed and I haven’t had a problem yet. Well, I had a starter die on me, but that wasn’t a big deal. I fixed it and got back on the road.
PP: What oil do you put in your Porsche?
MH: Mobil1! I use Mobil1 exclusively in this car and I have not had a problem with it, I love it! My mechanics back home keep trying to make me switch to Castrol because they offer some blends that they tell me will keep my temperature a little lower. I tell them, “My temperature’s not been a huge problem, and I don’t see why I can’t keep using my 15w-50.”
PP: It seems these long trips have made you quite the seasoned driver. Can you share any tips with PorschePurist readers?
MH: I practice safety – all the time. (I start laughing) Hey, I’m serious! Safety is paramount to me. If I’m not in a safe place to go fast – if I’m in a position where my actions will directly harm another person or thing, I won’t play around. People need to remember that, there’s too many who get in wrecks and hurt bystanders because they’re playing around where they shouldn’t be. So be safe out there, these cars are magnificent, and they’re capable of more than some drivers will ever know, but they command a lot of respect, and they have my respect. I try to make myself a better driver every time I go out for a drive. Here’s a random tip you can tell your readers that a cop told me: Have you ever been caught in a huge downpour; one so bad you can’t see anything in front of you? Polarized glasses. It cuts through the rain and you can see well enough to drive. Learn little things like that and they’ll go a long way. One more thing; unless you race professionally, you probably can’t drive the car to its limits, so drive it to yours, and learn all you can about these wonderful cars.
PP: I’ve been sitting on this one for a while now, and I’m dying to know. Mike, what do you have to say to all the ‘Garage Queen’ Porsche owners?
MH: You know, first and foremost, I have to say I have no problem with someone who wants to purchase a car like the Porsches we’ve seen this weekend and just keep them in perfect condition, as a museum piece or whatever. I think that’s wonderful and it really takes a lot of passion and a commitment to keep it looking good. You want my opinion? You gotta let it go once in a while! I think these cars are like books. Each one has a vivid story to it that’s found in a new corner or a daily drive. I respect the folks who keep the cars permanently on display, but I almost feel sorry for them because it’s like they’re missing out on the opportunity to live in the story of their car! If you don’t drive these cars the way they were made to be driven, you’re not reading the whole story. As I drive my 911 more and more, there’s almost a bond you get with the car. You get to know it; how it works, when it feels best. You get to know its story because you’re a part of [the story].
PP: What’s the most interesting thing that happened on your drive to the parade?
MH: Well, I was speeding through this mountainous road and as I round a bend in the road, I start to see that the road is full of buffalo! I mean, they’re packed on the street, off on the sides, they’re everywhere. The pavement heats up during the day, so they were lying on the road to keep themselves warm. I had to jam the brakes really good to stop in time! I didn’t know how I’d get around them!
PP: But you did!
MH: Yes! It was like a slow autocross. Buffalo are pretty much like cows with attitude. They’re wild, and they have those horns on the males. They spook easily, like cows do. But unlike cows, they’re liable to charge your car – I did not want to frighten them and risk damage to the 911! I recorded the whole thing on video on my iPhone here… (See the YouTube video below) Keep in mind this was in Canada, so within that region it was still daylight at 11 PM when I recorded this. The herd was resting for the day. I’ve also got some footage of bears along the side of the road, too. I try and record this stuff when I can.
PP: If you could get another car, what would it be?
MH: There’s an off-color expression for what I’d give to have a 959! (Laughs) I’ve been looking really hard for a 1997/1998 993 Turbo car, with the AWD I know I could make it a real daily car in Alaska, and I’d have even more fun driving down here. I’m also interested in finding a 997 Carrera 4S, if the price is right. It’d be such a thrill to jump from a 140mph car to something that tops out closer to 180mph! I know I’d be getting to these parades a lot faster if I had one.
PP: You mean you’d drive those cars just as hard as your 85?
MH: No – I’d drive them harder! They’re newer cars, with more modern technology and they’re equipped for higher rates of speed! I’d push those cars harder and faster than I push mine! You have to live the dream – I try to, I really do. People here own Porsches that don’t get driven the way they’re designed to be driven. Every time I get in my car, I try to drive it the way it was intended and that’s the dream for me! I’ll do it in an ’85 911, I’d do it in a 993 Turbo, I’d do it in one of those new GT3 RS cars, too! Oh, but the ground clearance on those may not be so good for driving in the Alaskan winter… Long story short, I’m keeping my eyes out for the right car to follow the 1985 911, but I still love driving what I have.
PP: Mike, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions and share some of your stories. Enjoy the rest of the week here at the parade!
MH: No problem! Next year, stay the week!
Believe it or not, this is an extremely abbreviated version of my conversation with Mike. He had many stories to tell – it was really a challenge trying to pick the best ones to share with you all! He was kind enough to tell me all about his journey over a beer, and as I mentioned up above, he is going to give us his iPhone footage to upload for all to see. His passion for the marque, for the cars and for – as he said – the drive itself, offered a unique perspective for the one event that PCA has few, if any, rules to follow: getting there. Yes, many, many people came out to St. Charles, driving their Porsches in from California, Florida, Maryland – all over the United States. Mike just happened to drive the farthest. When the miles in your journey start to hit quadruple-digits, the journey to the event becomes an event in and of itself, especially if the event is the Porsche Parade.
While Valerie, Christian and I were sent to cover the activities from the weekend, I feel like we only got to scratch the surface of this event – partly due to our early departure. Mike shared some great stories with us here for Porsche Purist, but he’s not the only one who drove to the parade. Many readers from the parade likely drove their Porsches to the parade, too. I’m sure, as Mike said, those Porsches have a story to tell as well. I’d ask you to share a memorable part of your trip with us in the comment section below – or, if that’s not enough room, send it in to be published!
Porsche Club of America was founded to bring passionate Porsche people together. Perhaps this interview will inspire a few readers to share some fun road trip stories with us. Better yet, I hope it inspires readers to drive their Porsche to its first PCA parade next year! For what it’s worth, after hanging out with Mike and many other wonderful people this weekend, you’d better believe I’m driving my Porsche to the 2011 PCA Parade!
The Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid made its driving debut on a closed road in Monterey California, just days prior to its appearance at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
After being shipped over from Germany by plane, engineers handed the keys of the new 918 Spyder Hybrid to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car drove under its own power, which comes from the mid mounted 3.4 liter V8 out of the RS Spyder as well as an all electric mode which powers just the front wheels. The video below was created for Porsche by our friend J.F. Musial at Tangent Vector. Watch and enjoy (if you’re viewing this via email, you may need to click the title of the post to see the video, trust me, it’s worth it!).
If so, Porsche wants to hear from you and you could win some great prizes along the way. As part of Porsche’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, Porsche launched a search for the oldest Porsche in the USA along with the oldest Porsche in each of 12 model ranges including the Porsche 356, 911, 912, 914, 924, 928, 944, 968, Boxster, Cayenne, Carrera GT and Cayman (if you’re viewing this post via email you may need to click on the title of the article to see the video below).
The My Classic Porsche Search is open to all owners who think they have a shot at earning the “oldest” designation for their car. Entries can be submitted by owners who have Porsches “with papers”. To submit an entry, visit www.Porsche60Years.com and review the participation guidelines for My Classic Porsche Search. A note about using the site. When you click on “Enter My Porsche” it brings you to a screen asking you to “sign in to share your classic now”. While this isn’t as clear as it could be, Porsche wants you to enter your email address and hit “Submit”. This will then bring you to the next screen where you can enter your Porsche’s details, including the VIN, and details on how you can be contacted if you’re selected a a winner.
Win a place in Porsche History
The oldest Porsches, and their owners, will receive special recognition and become eligible for additional awards, including an exclusive badge from the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Exhibition-quality images of select winning models will also be featured at the new “Sixty Years of Porsche in America” exhibit, opening Oct. 12 at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. One vehicle may also be selected for display at the Porsche stand during this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, where it will join the company’s newest models.
Win a Trip to the Porsche Sport Driving School
In addition to the My Classic Porsche Search, Porsche is unveiling a national My Porsche Passion Contest on Aug. 24. Porsche aficionados will have the opportunity to write and upload a 500-words-or-less story that exemplifies their unique passion for a specific Porsche car, an experience or the brand as a whole. The essay contest will be open to entries until Nov. 1, with 20 winning stories selected by a special panel of Porsche judges. Fans will then vote online for their favorites from the list of 20 finalists. The three entries with the most votes will win an all-expense-paid trip the Porsche Sport Driving School in Birmingham, Ala.
Watch PorschePurist as part of the Porsche Family Stories
While you’re on the site, be sure to check out the Porsche Family Stories section. PorschePurist’s own Christian Maloof is prominently featured in the video series (once you click over, just scroll down to see what Christian had to say) amongst other Porsche fans and owners including Jerry Seinfeld, Patrick Long, Hurley Haywood, various Porsche executives, PCA luminaries and other Porsche owners and fans. Each video offers a glimpse into the ties that bind all Porsche owners. This is your opportunity to look beneath the sheet metal and statistics and see the heart and soul of Porsche.
A race-car, the most exciting concept to come from Weissach ever and an SUVs. I know, I didn’t think we would ever see it either, but they are all hybrids and they will all be on display at the 2010 Monterey Classic Car Weekend.
The Monterey Historic Weekend traditionally focuses on the most coveted automobiles from around the world, but rarely have vehicles with a “hybrid” designation so forcefully commanded the anticipation of attending enthusiasts. Porsche aims to change that status quo by proving just how tempting – and potent – Porsche’s Intelligent Performance can be. The German automaker is making its point with the new 918 Spyder, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid racecar, and the Cayenne S Hybrid – all joining a collection of Porsche classics and contemporary models on display during the Monterey festivities.
The annual gathering of automotive aficionados during the August 9 – 15 Monterey Peninsula Automotive Week is also a fitting venue to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary year in America. In addition to introducing its new portfolio of hybrid cars, Porsche will be unveiling a new web site to go live next week that will feature contests, videos, stories and images, all celebrating the cars and people that put Porsche on the United States map six decades ago.
“Automotive passion is always alive and thriving within the Porsche community, but it’s particularly heated at this extraordinary event,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America. “Where else can you see the evolution of Porsche in America so magnificently displayed, from early sports cars like our 356 through our newest intelligence performance powerhouse, the 918 Spyder ?”
Among the Porsche models on display throughout the Monterey peninsula, the first North American public appearance of the 918 Spyder concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 15 will be a highlight. Just recently approved for production, the fuel-sipping, ultra-high- performance super sports car has already been pre-ordered by over 1000 enthusiasts.
With the potential of recording 78 mpg, the 918 Spyder is an impressive showcase of Porsche’s Intelligent Performance philosophy, but it’s not alone in getting performance enthusiasts to “think green.” Motorsports fans will have the opportunity to check out the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid August 12 – 15. The race car will be based at the Porsche Zentrum, a specially-built facility open to visitors located up Peter Hayes Hill on the compounds of the Pebble Beach Lodge. Attendees will also have a unique opportunity to see the car and chat with Porsche Works racer Patrick Long at “The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering” from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m on Friday, August 12. On Saturday, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be showcased at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (formerly the Monterey Historic Automobile Races) at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and then alongside the 918 Spyder at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday.
The Quail Lodge will also be the place to see some of the world’s finest Porsche classics. Four rare automobiles from the Porsche Museum in Germany are en route to Monterey. Visitors will be able to enjoy the beautiful lines of a 1955 and 1958 356 Speedster, a 1960 356 B Carrera 2000 GS Carrera GT and a 1962 356 Carrera 2 Cabrio. Newer Porsche siblings are also on display, including new and latest models available for consumer test drives.
Could you swap an old cell phone for a Porsche Boxster? According to an article in the San Grabriel Valley Tribune, that’s exactly what 17 year old Steven Ortiz did. How, you ask? Time, an eye for a deal and Craigslist.
Craigslist is many things to many people, and for a growing number it’s become a hot bed of barter. In other words a place to get rid of previous purchases no longer needed and acquire additional assets in a swap of sorts.
Starting with “an old cell phone” that most would throw away, Steven spent the next two years making 14 different trades that eventually led to the 2000 Porsche Boxster S you see above.
Not possible you say. Surely you remember the story of Kyle MacDonald who famously traded a red paperclip for a two-story farmhouse in 2006.
It seems Steven has a similar knack for the art of the deal. For the full story, check out Rebecca Kimitch’s story. over at sgvtribune.com
As our coverage of the 2010 PCA Parade comes to an end we want to thank Mobil 1 for the opportunity to, once again, attend the parade and share our experiences with you. This year, Mobil 1 sent three of our writers (Valerie, Christian and Andrew) to cover the TSD Rally and as much of the parade as we could for the benefit of you and all PorschePurist.com readers.
As was the case last year, there’s simply too much to do at Parade and not always enough time to get it done. Valerie and Christian spent a lot of time on the Concours and driving the TSD Rally. Andrew, on the other hand, explored the family and personal side of the parade as well as acting as the PorschePurist.com official photographer. This was Andrew’s first parade, so his experiences are even more special as a result.
The two articles above don’t conclude our Parade coverage. Over the next week or two be on the look out for an interview and videos with Mike from Alaska (you may remember he drove his ’85 911 to Parade this year), a drive and compare article on Michelin tires and the new Boxster Spyder, and we’ll also speak to Cam Ingram of Road Scholars to see just what kind of magic their restoration shop performed to enter four Porsches in the Parade Concours and come out with four wins!!!
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unit in my car that has saved my bacon more times than I can count! You know, he had a GT3 that was sold to someone in my region, and I wanted to call him to speak with him about the car and thank him for making such a great product – but I only got his assistant or somebody on the phone, so…
