Porsches at Pebble Beach

[John Z Goriup]

Before we cover the Laguna Seca track action, I'd like to start at the last event of the Monterey Historics weekend, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Below, I present you the total coverage of all Porsches at this particular event.

One car ! VeeJay Mallya's ( owns King Fisher Beer and Force India F-1 Racing team) '56 Porsche 550 in completely original, totally unrestored condition, dents, scratches, threadbare cordroy seat cushions, et al, which is part of his "California" collection in Sausalito. This is the last 550 built, and is the only specimen of this model supposedly delivered with the stowable, folding rag-top.and it really appears to be nothing more than a piece of canvas. The top is not even attached to the body as they are with normal roadsters or convertibles. Car was there for display purposes only

For the life of me I don't know why Porsche seems to be the marque non grata with the Pebble Beach Selection Committee. Even last year, with Porsche the featured marque at Laguna Seca, a mere four Porsches were shown on the lawn. It was common knowledge for a long time that Steve Earle simply didn't like Porsches, especially 911s, ( there was strong evidence during last weekend that policy is changing ) which may explain why there have never been great numbers of them at the track, but their scarcity at Pebble Beach is puzzling. God knows it can't be that they're all too new, as I've heard proposed as the reason many times, because Ferraris from the 60s and even into the '70s are very common there, and even have their own class.......but I've only ever seen two 356s shown.........and then for display only.

[preS]

It was common knowledge for a long time that Steve Earle simply didn't like Porsches, especially 911s, ..

John did you ever check this fact w/ him? His wife Debbie owns a 356 Speedster for years

Richard

[cscrogham]

That top is correct, and was used on the 550's and A's at least, rather uncommon to see them today because they were thrown to the side on day one before the first race. On the 550-075 car that I restored for the Parade Concours in '95 the top was in place. I still have a bare frame for one in the G&W museum stash.
As for Porsche, I believe that it is considered a less than artful rendition of the automobile, remember form follows function? Cars as an art form rather than engineering would have a significant advantage at that type of Concours event...I mean just think of a Bugatti Atlantic compared to a "bathtub" and you'll see what I mean.

[Carl Bauer]

John,

I took a few photos of this 550 last year at the Concours. Don't know the VIN but it's the one with the Sonauto badge on the back and the Behra crest on the engine. It was in the preservation class and had a similar top. Very strange looking with the top up.

I think the JFK 007 550 was featured in Leffingwell's 'Porsche Legends' book in the mid-90's.

Attachment 91045

[Flieger]

It was common knowledge for a long time that Steve Earle simply didn't like Porsches, especially 911s

He has been an Excellence magazine subscriber for years according to this article: http://www.excellence-mag.com/issues...t-in-the-house

[Tom F.]

Is it really so bad not to see any Porsches on the Panama hat and champagne scene? Not that someone couldn't enjoy both the paddock and Pebble Beach, but I like to see Porsches on the road, not the lawn.

P.S. Have never been to Pebble Beach, would love to go.

[Flieger]

I agree, the Porsches were too busy racing at Laguna Seca.

[NV Stig]

I have some pics of Laguna Seca

[Nine17]

I don't know where this "common knowledge" about SJE not liking Porsches comes from. If anything, I have it on good authority that it might well be the other way around. Porsche was the Featured Marque at the MHAR three times (1982, 1998, and 2009) with outstanding fields -- take a look at Hal Thoms' "Porsche Racing Milestones" if you don't believe me about the Porsche-palooza back in '98. This past June the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival had a terrific selection of Porsche automobiles, all selected and gridded by SJE himself.

And hey! That's my GP White CS tribute in NV Stig's second picture!

--David

[TRE Cup]

SJE does like Porsches (13th usa turbo built, other P cars in the past- He favored some over others: Chuck Forge was a perennial entrant with his modded Gmund 356)
He does not like some porsche racers

These uber competitive guys tend to stuff really big hp and suspension in their lil cars that then go out and embarass some otherwise well driven machinery that used to spank the krautwagens back in the day

Yeah, yeah, I know ALL about the straight cut short gear boxed 8k rpm spinning over wide tired "GT 350" crowd too. But that's for another thread