"If only you were nearer" Back on track! Apologies...

[Mystery Machine]

^I've got some photos of that E-Type somewhere.^ He attends the Bristol classic car meet in Queen Square every now and then. I stopped him once when he was leaving just to congratulate him on such an amazing looking car. He told me it was rare to get such praise and that most people ask him when it's going in for paint. I pleaded with him NEVER to paint it and he reassured me it was never going to happen.



The car was put back into the workshop and Scott raises the rear again to adjust the clutch. I got on with another little job: changing the rear light.

Race cars, as you can probably gather, don't need anything fancy. In fact, under the mantra of 'less is more', this car had been put together by Scott and Andrew with a fair bit of the Colin Chapman ethos, "Add lightness". And so, the rear lights were just a thin strip of bare steel screwed into place with a cheap red light unit to act as a brake light.









Now, whilst I'm a big fan of the whole Mad Max look AND the approach of less is more, in this case, the lack of indicators...and in a practical sense, lack of reverse lights, even if not legally required, meant I would want to come up with another solution. Taking the path of least resistance and also because it just makes sense, I had managed to convince Scott to throw a pair of genuine rear lights into the deal.

This alone would make it a lot easier to get the car road legal in the UK. OK, so I could source a set of rear lights over here, but if Scott had some and was willing to let them go with the car...it made sense to take that opportunity.

Goodbye 'race spec' rear lights:






Hello original rear lights:







A vast improvement both legally and, in some ways, aesthetically.

Now, the trouble with this car as I may have already mentioned, is the way it just distracts you all the time. Anytime you're working on the car, or just near it doing something else, you can't help but be drawn to it, to look at it, just take in all that terrible bodywork, that flaking paint, those chunks of remaining filler half falling off the steel.




The only way I can describe it is like the Mona Lisa. I thought I 'knew' the painting, after all I'd seen it a million times, pretty much everywhere and the image of that gurning woman did nothing for me. No matter how many high quality prints I'd seen, the familiarity of the portrait never make be any fonder of it.

Until, that was, I saw it for real hanging in the Louvre. I was lucky enough to see it at a really quiet period, so got to stare at it in detail and for quite some time. I can tell you now, no print in the world can portray the real thing and I now know why. Because of the texture.

Seeing the brush strokes, the layers of paint, the physical depth of colour where the oil doesn't sit flat against the canvas....all these things are aspects you don't get and can't appreciate from a glossy print. Yet, to be truthful, they *are* the painting. More so than the image itself, it's the life breathed into it by the artists hand that gives ol' Lisa her charm. Her enigma.

I never got that until I was faced with it.

And so I found myself staring at this car for hours. I had free reign to do so and I genuinely got lost in the way there is no one 'best' part. There is simply so much to take in that you just find yourself stopping and noting another bit of paint here, or a bit of colour hiding under a bit of filler there. A DA mark which is starting to rust showing the signs of previous work...and boy has this car had some previous work!

This 911 is a canvas, an enigmatic piece of automotive art and no matter how much I try, I will never, ever be able to capture that true feeling of experiencing those warts, blemishes and scars that all go to make this car so enthralling.





It may look a bit mad in the photos, but in the flesh it really is something to behold.

[varelse]

So... how bad does the filler have to be flaking off to count as 'protruding sharp objects' ?
Are you going to clear over it? I imagine the wonderful British weather would leave it's own mark on this pretty quickly with the lack of actual protection.
Seems a kind of waste in a way because then it won't have that same patina, but maybe a matte clear would work? Not sure how that would integrate with the flaking filler, though, haha.

[dajonic]

Customs can be quite arsey about things especially when they find out somethings come off a farm. Did you have to get this steam cleaned before shipping or any other precautions? I look forward to seeing this at Queens square some day if the traffic wardens don't ruin it.

[gotwood]

I'd love to see the 911 blasting up certain hill on an august bank holiday Bruce

[skoda_norman]

This thread just gets better and better.

[gostin]

Just when I thought this thread couldn't get full of any more win.
Keep the story coming.

[unclebilly]

Dec 20, 2015 18:29:19 GMT dajonic said:

Customs can be quite arsey about things especially when they find out somethings come off a farm. Did you have to get this steam cleaned before shipping or any other precautions? I look forward to seeing this at Queens square some day if the traffic wardens don't ruin it.

I wondered about this too... Of course my Cows are premium Alberta Herefords... No Mad Cow here.

[cianha]

Wait, wut? There's *another* car? A *race* car?

*Collapses out of chair*

[Mystery Machine]

Dec 20, 2015 18:33:00 GMT gotwood said:

I'd love to see the 911 blasting up certain hill on an august bank holiday Bruce

I missed out on tickets, but I think Bryn might be taking it up the hill?

Dec 20, 2015 22:49:40 GMT unclebilly said:

Dec 20, 2015 18:29:19 GMT dajonic said:

Customs can be quite arsey about things especially when they find out somethings come off a farm. Did you have to get this steam cleaned before shipping or any other precautions? I look forward to seeing this at Queens square some day if the traffic wardens don't ruin it.

I wondered about this too... Of course my Cows are premium Alberta Herefords... No Mad Cow here.

It was dropped off at the shipping agents with most of Alberta's finest dust, dirt, straw, seeds and other such things covering and filling every square inch of the car. We just didn't have time to clean it.

No one said anything at the shippers and it doesn't seem to have been a problem thus far.

[Mystery Machine]

A lot of work went into the car over the week I was there.

I was picking off some jobs while Scott was tackling others. Like welding in some brackets for the temporary seat - the original race seat was already being used in Scott and Andrew's other race car (a 914 stored elsewhere) so this one was earmarked to be fitted just so that the car could be driven.

Clay was keeping it warm...



...while Scott measured up....



...and welded in the brackets. Getting to drive the car properly was getting ever closer!



Suddenly, we have A RACE CAR!!





The car is driven outside but Scott stops pretty quickly, commenting that the clutch is still slipping.

More adjustment commences with Clay assisting:



It's a family affair, with Roxy acting as supervisor.



Don't ask me why, but this is one of my favourite photos from the week. "Roxy: Guardian of the Porsche."



Right now, I would do anything to be back there on the farm.

[rwdrules]

Bruce, I just sat and read the whole epic saga up to this point, I deliberatly passed over this thread for the past few weeks purely because i didnt think it would be worth me reading,
Have to say this is the first thread since ive been on retro rides that i have not stopped to read the readers comments i was just so enthralled with the story,

absolutley rivetting and i Thank you for a first class set of pictures and meaningful words of wisdom

top marks sir

[PhoenixCapri]

Dec 21, 2015 20:38:01 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Dec 20, 2015 18:33:00 GMT gotwood said:

I'd love to see the 911 blasting up certain hill on an august bank holiday Bruce

I missed out on tickets, but I think Bryn might be taking it up the hill?

I thought only some of them had sold so far?! Hoping so as mine will finally be ready...

And the more I see of the racer, the more I like

[Mystery Machine]

You'll possibly notice it now has a bumper in the shots ^above^? One of the any jobs carried out on the car after it was laid up for three years. The bumper previosuly used was an impact bumper but Scott had an early one he was willing to let go with the car. Looks so right IMHO.

A better front bumper was also included in the sale and this, also, improved the looks no end. With front and rear bumpers, lights, seat etc..it was really starting to come together and look like a car.

Sitting in this space gives a sense of occasion I've never felt in any other car. Ever.



The moment of truth: the test drive. Clutch is adjusted, Scott seems happy with it so it's down to Clay to decide if the car is ready to be 'handed over'. It's been a LONG week, so tiring, exhausting (not being at all well didn't help) but this was the moment, the moment I'd flown all the way to Calgary for - to see this car move.

Clay, perched on top of the battery box, is about to deliver his verdict!



They come back 10 mins later and Clay gives a big thumbs up! You can't see it here, but he's wearing the biggest grin as they pull back into the farm.



He jumps out and Scott decides, in the best possible way, to check for clutch slip. Well, why the hell not?







And then the moment of truth. Scott pulls over, jumps out and tells me it's my turn!

I actually feel numb. Almost like my body has shut down in shock. I'm not only about to drive one of the coolest cars I've ever laid eyes on, I'm about to drive a Porsche that I actually own! (Well, mine and Bryn's)

It's a surreal moment, it's been a long time coming, the week itself has been quite hard but suddenly I'm climbing into a Porsche 911 race car which is mine. I never thought this moment would come yet here it was. It was quite overwhelming.

I creep the car along the mile long dirt track driveway then point it out onto the open road and.....well, I can honestly say that the next part was unforgettable. I didn't take any photos, I didn't have the camera with me but that memory of my first drive will be with me forever.

Moments we live for? This was one of them. I try not to use this word, but genuinely, this short drive in *my* Porsche race car was truly epic. You'll just have to take my word for it.

As I returned to the farm, Scott grabbed this photo on my camera. All I can say is that smile is a MASSIVE understatement to what I was feeling under the surface.



THIS is the essense of living. The embodiment of everything my petrolhead addiction has led me too....not just the car, but the people, the country, everything. An experience like no other.

My biggest regret right there & then was that Bryn wasn't here to share it with me. I think he'd have rather liked this moment. He'd have loved the whole trip, but this moment in particular I reckon?

[Mystery Machine]

Sleep evaded me that night. I'd like to put it down to feeling utterly ill, and this could probably be attributed in a small part, but in truth it was because I was childishly excited about this car. Had I turned up in Blackie and the car was running, driving and having all the bits sorted I would have been beside myself with happiness.

But seeing the being brought back to life, working on it, spending time with Scott and the family, spending time with his other cars.....all of this made is so much more special. You just cannot buy these kind of experiences. This has made the car infinitely more special to me that if I'd have just simply bought it.

The next morning, while the family are busy doing family things, I spend some time just walking around the car in the early morning sunshine, soaking in all the details. That Mona Lisa experience thing again....but this time my feelings towards the car are exponentially greater.

It's rough, it's really rough but it's just amazing.



This shot reminds me, I need to tell you all about the history of this car. How it came about....I'll do that a bit later tonight.



I don't think I could ever get bored of looking at this thing!






It's my last day in Calgary and Scott wants to get some shots of all the cars together. I decide to put them all in front of the hay bales, nice backdrop which really reflects their surroundings.

What a line-up, what an incredible line-up!



Spending time with all of these cars has been a real experience and I count myself to be incredibly lucky.



but despite the value of some, the rarity, the desirability, there is only one for me. OK, I'd happily have any of them and the silver '76 930 really does have a special place in my heart, even more than the pin-up poster slant nose, yet it's the 'Chump', MY 911 that wins my vote. Every time.





As I move the car away from the line-up, I can't resist but take a photo of it in front of one of the sea-cans.




Time to start packing, to prepare to leave Blackie. I know it's a cliche, but I genuinly didn't want my time here to end. I'd happily live in a car trailer forever if it meant I got to live this kind of life in the stunning Albertan countryside with wonderful people around and the incredible way of life out here.

Perfection.

But pack I must. I leave in the morning.

[alecf]

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase
'Living the dream'

I'm not one to be envious or jealous of other people, quite the opposite in fact.
But reading this thread (the reason I signed up to this forum I might add)
Has made me realise what I've missed over the past 10 or so years, being away from the car community.
And looking through your pictures it has made me want to jump on a plane and head out there myself. Hats off to you my friend for doing what we all talk and drwam of, but only a small percentage of us actually do.

[penski]

Dec 21, 2015 15:53:45 GMT cianha said:

Wait, wut? There's *another* car? A *race* car?

*Collapses out of chair*

[dajonic]

Did i miss something...where did the second silver Porsche come into the story?? Great shots in front of the hay bales but love the evergreen pic

[Mystery Machine]

Dec 21, 2015 22:34:52 GMT dajonic said:

Did i miss something...where did the second silver Porsche come into the story??

Pg 22 & 23

retrorides.proboards.com/post/2152935/thread

retrorides.proboards.com/post/2153437/thread

It was only driven out for the photos because we just didn't have time to do anything with it. I've love to have done a shoot with it, but that will have to wait until I get out and stay with Scott and the family again sometime.

[dajonic]

ah ha too much awesome overloaded the memory banks

[ellwood]

Just wow.

Absolute bloody wow.

The cars are beyond epic but the people in this fabulously told tale are above and beyond. There's a film to be made here. Someone start a kickstarter...

Thank you Bruce.