A gal named Elsie and her little Tornado...

[mohrgan]

Jake, thank you for sharing this story with us! As others have mentioned, it is nice to read something like this once in a while instead of value threads, etc..

[fryardds]

Glad I finally was able to read your first post Jake.

Fantastic story and photos, thanks so much for sharing your treasure with us. This ranks right up there with the all-time best stories of Hester, Candyce's Sepia '73, and Bryce's '69S.

Amazing they ordered it with a 4 speed, I don't think I have ever heard of that before and even more amazing that she left those rubber boat anchors on the front of the car throughout her racing career.

[sithot]

That was as good as it gets.

Thanks!

[erick72pors]

I've been on this forum for nearly 10 years and that is one of the best stories I've read. Hopefully one day some kid will be in awe of your latest addition of the family and dream of Tornado just as you did as a boy. Fabulous story from beginning to end.

[RickS]

I echo all the sentiments above. When you are ready to fire her up you want to first replace all her fuel lines ( no sense risking her going up in flames ) and check the brake lines as well. Enjoy your prize.

[Bert]

A great story! Enjoy her as Elsie did.

[Sepia911S]

What an extraordinary, spirited woman. I wish I could have known both Elsie, Tornado, and her stories. Along with the other members of the Registry, I am eager to hear of your journey with the 911. You have been entrusted with a great legacy. What an honor! A warm welcome to you, Elsie, and Tornado.

[M3pilot]

A truly wonderful story on so many levels. Perhaps you should consider at some point, sharing the reaction on this forum with Elsie's husband. I suspect he would be genuinely touched knowing that, because of his thoughtfulness, his wife and her passion will be appreciated by a whole community of like-minded folks. A community that, as magnificent as the car is, clearly seem to consider it more of a footnote to the story of the people involved.

[gled49]

Interesting shifter. I've been working on these cars for nearly 40 years and hadn't seen the small shifter that late 3/73? Were all 4 speeds that way. If this car is original, I encourage you to read all Sepia911S threads, many lessons to be learned. Gled

[4SFED]

Interesting shifter. I've been working on these cars for nearly 40 years and hadn't seen the small shifter that late 3/73? Were all 4 speeds that way. If this car is original, I encourage you to read all Sepia911S threads, many lessons to be learned. Gled

Hi Gled,

Not everything on the car is original... but I wasn't told the shifter was changed. It was raced SOLO II, and I think the rules were (are) fairly strict as to what can be raced in "Stock" class. I will check out Sepia911S' threads, thanks for the tip!

And THANK YOU to everyone for the warm welcome! The whole thing has been fairly overwhelming thus far. My Wife came out in the garage last night and asked if I was coming to bed. Apparently I'd been sitting in the car for 2 hours.... just sitting there. So many old memories running through my head. The feeling of the seats, the touch of everything, the smell... it's intoxicating.