SO YOU FINALLY GOT THAT PORSCHE

When Spring arrives in the Bay Area, there's no better way to celebrate the fresh air but in a Porsche.
Consider this blog as a depository for awesome Porsche drives/tours in and around the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.

Draw an imaginary line across the center of California. Anchor one end off the Monterey Area/Santa Cruz mountains, on the Pacific coast. Run the line east over the Coast Range, through the Central Valley, and over the Sierra Nevada mountains. Tether the other end of the line at the Nevada border, on the fringe of the Great Basin Desert.

"Backroads of Northern California" covers the incomparable natural beauty, the myths and the history of the Golden State on the northern side of that line, while "Backroads of Southern California" does the honors for the lower half, from the San Joaquin Valley to the border with Mexico.


TOURS are what they sound like - someone leads a bunch of Porschephiles hither-and-yon for the express purpose of having them follow onto great Porsche roads, go interesting places and generally have a wonderful time driving their cars.

"Email-a-Ride" - called short notice drive/tour

"Email-a-Ride

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Quick Spin with the 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic- Limited to 250

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Bernhard, Dumas and Rockenfeller pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at Road Atlanta Oct 2nd, 2010

Porsche Intelligent Performance





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Bernhard, Dumas and Rockenfeller pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Stuttgart. Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) return to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) as teammates. The pair join forces on the “Road Atlanta” race track for the season final on 2 October to pilot the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, which features two electric motors at the front axle each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower normally-aspirated rear-engine. The third driver is former Porsche-Junior and current Audi factory pilot Mike Rockenfeller (Germany). Together, the trio won the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. In January, Rockenfeller claimed victory in a Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype at the Daytona 24 hour race.

At the 1,000 mile race on the outskirts of the US city of Atlanta, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will not be eligible for points, as hybrid technology is not yet included in the GT regulations. “Our priorities are to further develop the hybrid technology and to optimise the fuel consumption under racing conditions. Nevertheless, I’m very interested to see how we compare to the GT2 cars,” says Timo Bernhard. “Nowhere is the competition in the GT segment as hard as it is here in the USA,” adds Dumas.

As a driver pairing, Bernhard and Dumas have already notched up many historical victories, including the ALMS title in the LMP2 prototype class in 2007 and 2008, the overall win at the 2008 Sebring 12 Hours, as well as three overall victories at the Nürburgring 24 hour race from 2007 to 2009.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, that demonstrated the potential of its groundbreaking technology over 22 hours and 15 minutes at this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and led the overall classification for more than eight hours, expressly typifies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”. Under braking, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range. Moreover, drivers can manually utilise the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking.


 

Posted via email from dedeporsche's posterous

Bernhard, Dumas and Rockenfeller pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at Road Atlanta Oct 2nd, 2010

Bernhard, Dumas and Rockenfeller pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid



Press-Information

25/08/2010
Porsche Intelligent Performance

Bernhard, Dumas and Rockenfeller pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Stuttgart. Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) return to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) as teammates. The pair join forces on the “Road Atlanta” race track for the season final on 2 October to pilot the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, which features two electric motors at the front axle each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower normally-aspirated rear-engine. The third driver is former Porsche-Junior and current Audi factory pilot Mike Rockenfeller (Germany). Together, the trio won the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. In January, Rockenfeller claimed victory in a Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype at the Daytona 24 hour race.

At the 1,000 mile race on the outskirts of the US city of Atlanta, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will not be eligible for points, as hybrid technology is not yet included in the GT regulations. “Our priorities are to further develop the hybrid technology and to optimise the fuel consumption under racing conditions. Nevertheless, I’m very interested to see how we compare to the GT2 cars,” says Timo Bernhard. “Nowhere is the competition in the GT segment as hard as it is here in the USA,” adds Dumas.

As a driver pairing, Bernhard and Dumas have already notched up many historical victories, including the ALMS title in the LMP2 prototype class in 2007 and 2008, the overall win at the 2008 Sebring 12 Hours, as well as three overall victories at the Nürburgring 24 hour race from 2007 to 2009.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, that demonstrated the potential of its groundbreaking technology over 22 hours and 15 minutes at this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and led the overall classification for more than eight hours, expressly typifies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”. Under braking, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range. Moreover, drivers can manually utilise the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking.

Posted via email from dedeporsche's posterous

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Arrival of the First Porsche Sport Classic in America #116 of 250

On Sunday, the 22nd of August at approximately 3:00 in the morning, the first Porsche Sport Classic to be in America arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX.  The anticipation to see such a magnificent machine and a true work of art, had built up all day long, and it was definitely worth the wait; and can simply be made an unforgettable memory, a once in a lifetime event.  We were lucky enough to be with friends and members of Urban Speed to not only be up and close with the massive Boeing 747 cargo jet as it lifted its nose and unloaded, but to experience the long awaited moment of seeing the Porsche Sport Classic roll out from the plane onto the tarmac. A truly unique moment for such a unique and well crafted vehicle.

The bespoke character of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic has been developed over a period of three years by Porsche Exclusive, the company’s Specialist Department which creates the most outstanding personalised versions of Porsche cars.

Fans of the Porsche 911 will recognize immediately the charismatic styling cues incorporated in this exciting addition to the range, principally the ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler reminiscent of that made famous by the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 and iconic ‘Fuchs-style’ design of the special custom-made alloy wheels. The Sport Classic is further distinguished by its more powerful engine, unique exterior with new front and rear styling, a new centre section in the roof, new side sills, and new design of front and rear lights which illustrate the high technical standard of this very special project.

Every car in this limited series comes in the exclusive new paintwork colour of Sport Classic Grey, with discreet dark trim strips accentuating the unique character of the car. The very sophisticated and elegant interior in Espresso Nature sets new standards, going beyond even the well-known customization of the Porsche 911 interior already offered by Porsche Exclusive.

The Porsche Sport Classic – A true work of art.

Porsche 911 Sport Classic Specifications

  • Body: Two-plus-two coupé; monocoque, fully hot-galvanised lightweight steel body with aluminium doors; driver and front passenger airbags operating in two stages; side and head airbags for driver and front passenger.
  • Aerodynamics: Cd = 0.32
  • Power Unit: Water-cooled horizontally-opposed six-cylinder; engine block and cylinder heads made of aluminium; four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing on intake side and valve lift switchover (VarioCam Plus); hydraulic valve play compensation; Direct Fuel Injection; two three-way catalytic converters on each row of cylinders, each with two oxygen sensors; 10.0 ltr (2.2 imp gals) engine oil; electronic ignition with solidstate distributor (six ignition coils).
    • Bore: 102 mm (4.02″)
    • Stroke: 77.5 mm (3.05″)
    • Capacity: 3800 cc
    • Compression ratio: 12.5:1
    • Engine output: 408 bhp (300 kW) at 7300 rpm
    • Max torque: 420 Nm/310 lb-ft at 4200-5600 rpm
    • Output per litre: 107.4 bhp (78.9 kW)
    • Max engine speed: 7500 rpm
  • Transmission: Engine and gearbox bolted to form one drive unit; six-speed manual gearbox.
  • Chassis and Suspension
    • Front: Spring strut axle in McPherson design optimised by Porsche with independent wheel suspension on track control arms, longitudinal arms and spring struts; conical stump springs with inner-mounted vibration dampers.
    • Rear: Multi-arm axle with independent suspension on five arms; cylindrical coil springs with co-axial inner-mounted vibration dampers.
    • PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management with electronically controlled vibration dampers and two manually selectable control maps; mechanical rear axle differential.
  • Brakes: PCCB brakes with brake discs made of carbon-fibre-reinforced ceramics; twin-circuit brake system split front-to-rear.
    • Front: Six-piston aluminium monobloc brake callipers; crossdrilled and inner-vented brake discs measuring 350 mm/13.78″ in diameter and 34 mm/1.34″ across.
    • Rear: Four-piston aluminium monobloc brake callipers; crossdrilled and inner-vented brake discs measuring 350 mm/13.78″ in diameter and 28 mm/1.10″ across. PSM Porsche Stability Management; vacuum brake servo; Brake Assistant.
  • Wheels and Tires
    • Front 8.5 J x 19 on 235/35 ZR 19
    • Rear 11 J x 19 on 305/30 ZR 19
  • Weight
    • Unladen: 1425 kg (DIN)
    • Max permissible: 1830 kg
  • Dimensions
    • Length: 4440 mm (174.8″)
    • Width: 1852 mm (72.9″)
    • Height: 1290 mm (50.8″)
    • Wheelbase: 2350 mm (92.5″)
    • Track: front: 1492 mm (58.7″) / rear: 1550 mm (61.0″)
    • Luggage capacity
      • front 135 ltr (4.7 cu ft)
      • rear 205 ltr (7.2 cu ft)
    • Tank capacity: 64 ltr (14.1 imp gals)
  • Performance
    • Top speed: 302 km/h (187 mph)
    • Acceleration
      • 0-100 km/h: 4.6 sec
      • 0-200 km/h: 14.8 sec

Below are a few pictures from this mornings arrival of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic.  We will have more pictures and video soon of when it has been cleaned up and all four wheels are on the ground! Stay tuned!!

Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Posted via email from dedeporsche's posterous

Monday, August 16, 2010

Video: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept driven at Pebble Beach

The highly-anticipated Porsche 918 Spyder Concept is no longer a static piece of automotive perfection. The car has been driven, albeit at driveway speeds, at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Eelegance event.

Stunning the crowd and photographers, the guys from Autoblog had to get amongst it to get these exclusive images. The Porsche 918 Spyder had only just been confirmed for production, seeing it as a final working example provides definite assurance the car will be made.

The specifications are also said to be on par with those of the initial concept; 372kW, 3.4-litre V8, combined with two electric motors which sum 162kW. Some witnesses at the event thought the car was being driven with the handbrake on, while sources confirmed the 918′s engine was simply being switched into full-electric mode.

This car is very special for a number of reasons. The most interesting though, we think, is the fact that it is an ultra-modern design, with swoops and cuts contouring the bodywork, but it also sports traditional and retro features.

Check out the interior, it’s almost retro with its green pin striping, but then look at the seats. The passenger seat appears to be a very large unit that extends all the way up to the centre dash fascia.

And then there’s the Park/Reverse/Drive toggle to the right of the steering wheel. It looks very James bond/stainless steel, but also hints simplicity and tradition.

Exterior-wise, the wheels look as they did on the original concept – futuristic to the utmost level – but then there’s the side-exiting exhaust outlets that almost look fake and for show only. But they’re not.

Although thought to be the first official drive of the car, Porsche has said the car was driven a few days earlier at a secret private test road prior to the event. It’s certainly the first public exhibit showcasing the car under its own power though.

Here’s a video of it all anyway. It sounds like a loud, chunky rally car yet it’s capable of consuming just 3L/100km.

*Updated: First drive video and engine sound video below

Posted via email from dedeporsche's posterous

Sunday, August 8, 2010

PATRICK LONG Takes 4th Place at Mid-Ohio - Long and Bergmeister Retain ALMS GT Championship Lead

PLM Newsletter header
Long Takes 4th Place at Mid-Ohio
August 8, 2010
Long and Bergmeister Retain ALMS GT Championship Lead

Patrick Long, having qualified the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche in 8th position, finished fourth in the GT class with his teammate Jörg Bergmeister yesterday at round six of the 2010 ALMS season, at Mid-Ohio.  Long was the fastest qualifying Porsche, and the vaunted competition of the GT class showed its depth with two BMWs, two Corvettes and three Ferraris qualifying in front of the Californian.  By finishing fourth, the duo retained their GT-class championship by eight points, with three races left to run in the season. Additionally, the #45 captured the Michelin GreenX Challenge in GT, as the racecar performing with the lowest environmental impact.

LBGP Pit Wall

In a race in which the margin of victory was 0.582 of a second - with the #62 Ferrari barely eclipsing the #4 Corvette - Jörg finished 5.298 seconds behind the winner, and just more than .4 seconds behind the 3rd place finisher.  In fact, the top six finishers of the two hour, 45 minute race were covered by only 6.736 seconds.  In the closing 10 minutes of racing - after a late caution period - Bergmeister fought tooth and nail for 3rd position, only to be balked repeatedly by slower traffic. 

Patrick said, "It was all about track position today, and starting eighth, we had to move up one position at a time, relying on our strategy and mistake-free driving to get to the top.  We moved from eighth to fourth in the race, but a couple of lucky breaks for our main rivals after they went off course just before yellows and some bad traffic didn't help us.  We're still leading the championship, but as we've been saying all season - the championship is going to come down to the last race."

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge will be broadcast in documentary form, as was the Laguna Seca round earlier in the year, on CBS Sports on Sunday, August 15 at 12:30pm ET.

Long and Flying Lizard race next at Wisconsin's picturesque Road America, near Milwaukee in Elkhart Lake, WI.  The longest circuit of the championship, Road America is a perennial favorite for drivers and spectators alike, due to the challenge and ambiance of the track. The race will be broadcast live on SPEEDTV, starting at 3pm ET on Sunday, August 22. 

Follow Patrick on Twitter and Facebook:

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Patrick Long Motorsport wishes to thank all of its partners and supporters for the 2010 season: Porsche, Flying Lizard Motorsports, Troy Lee Designs, Oakley, Club Corp, FRS Healthy Energy, Leeper's Stair Products and Speedware Motorsports.

Porsche - http://www.porsche.com
Oakley - http://www.oakley.com
Club Corp - http://www.clubcorp.com
Troy Lee Designs - http://www.troyleedesigns.com
Speedware Motorsports - http://www.speedwaremotorsports.com
FRS Healthy Energy - http://www.frs.com

Photos © Rick Dole 2010

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Porsche to show its extensive hybrid power at next week's Monterey Historic Weekend. - August 12-15th, 2010

Cars to be shown include the 918 Spyder (front, center), the 911 GT3 R Hybrid racecar (left), and the Cayenne S Hybrid (right). (PRNewsFoto/Porsche Cars North America, Inc.)

ATLANTA, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 13. 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.

About Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG. PCNA employs 213 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 199 dealers. The dealers, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Throughout its more than six-decade history, Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations within the automotive industry. The company continues to celebrate its heritage by adding to its long list of motorsports victories dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951. Today, with more than 28,000 victories, Porsche is recognized as the world's most successful brand in sports car racing. PCNA, which imports the iconic 911 series, the highly acclaimed Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, high-end Cayenne sport utility vehicles and the four-door Panamera Gran Turismos, strives to maintain a standard of excellence, commitment and distinction synonymous with its brand.

Follow us: www.twitter.com/PorscheNewsWire and www.facebook.com/Porsche

SOURCE Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

 

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For Vistors to Northern California
Northern California Road Trip - Muir Woods, Redwood, Lassen and more!
Northern California Visitor Information

Start and end in San Francisco. Mileage does not include sightseeing. Take a journey that explores National Parks, Monuments, National Seashores and more! This road trip also includes Lake Tahoe and a beautiful drive along the coast. You may want to extend the time to visit the numerous state parks and tourist areas.

Approximate Mileage/Time: 1300 miles, 12 days

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