Highlights this month . . .
Biggest Item = The Big Tank . . .
Actually/finally took a look at it, installed in The Nasty Car. Rolly told me that he'd loaned it out to someone, at one point . . . and that they'd split-off/re-painted the top --- to make a pattern . . . before returning it. Not exactly an 'original' finish, any more --- and I'd mentioned it to Tony + Marco . . . but they didn't say anything. And I didn't mind . . . 'as long as it holds gas' kinda-thing, so . . .
The funny thing was what happened w/The Original. While 1059 was in for service, Tony + Marco had two other cars in their shop --- all with their gas tanks out. So, when it came time to pick-up The Nasty Car, Marco asks me . . .
'. . . You picked-up your old gas tank --- didn't you? . . .'
'Uhhh . . . nope. You Guys have it'
So, what happened to-? . . . you guessed it. 'Restored'
John laughed about it. Me, too. What sucks is . . . I don't think that I have any really decent/full-on shots of what The Original looked like 'before.' I thought it was semi-matt grey, but . . .
Anyway, everything's in + working fine, although I haven't done much driving. But I expect to change that, shortly. Porsche Club of America's having their 'Parade' up in Monterey, in two weeks, so . . .
Only planning to attend one day --- the Monday, 16-Jun, for the Concours . . . for now. And-uh --- we'll be in the parking lot, thank you
Meanwhile, 1059 continues running most-excellently. Marco asked me, at the last service, how she was doing, and I said . . . 'fine.' Really. If I didn't know the car was MFI'd? --- I couldn't tell. Starts/runs/behaves like a regular car
Marco says the motors's tired, but . . . I couldn't tell. With her newly restored/accurate tach, seems that we fizz along at ~3500 pretty-much all the time. 1059 is no drag racer --- and 1st is still as deliberate/conscious a thing to try to engage, as ever . . . but once we're moving along in 2nd + >3500 . . . The Nasty Car feels soooooo capable. And I have to make a real effort to keep the revs down. This little car is all about the throttle, too --- don't do a lotta shifting . . . or braking, for that matter. Don't need to. Car just oozes along on her engine. And that's one place where high-compression really makes itself felt: @>4000? --- one twitch, one little push, just a whisper of throttle --- and the car just snaps. Not a big-torque/tire-spinning kinda thing, either. Or a lotta drama . . . more like a really-really big/tight rubber band letting go: first, I'm here, then --sssnaaAAP---------------> I'm there. Real heady stuff, too --- irresistable. I'll catch myself trolling along at 5000+ --- in city traffic, fercryinoutloud . . . just waiting/hoping/aching for a reason/opportunity to feel that rush, crack that whip
First Thing that I notice, driving 1059 --- after driving almost any other car . . . is how sharp her engine + throttle feel. Just taking her down the street in 2nd gear --- 3500-4500 . . . feels so precise, I can practically index the revs, 100 rpm at a time, off the tach . . . and feel the car flinch at every one. It takes some concentration to keep things smooth . . . but that's the satisfaction. I mean --- sitting in that seat, looking-out over those 5 gauges and between those two fenders, feeling that engine spinning/humming/tensing . . .
Good thing I gotta Big Tank . . .
. . . until I have to fill it, anyway
And I'll top-off before I head up to the Parade . . . but I'm betting that we can do the round-trip on one fill
1) 'Restored.' John said it started-out as a real nice tank, too
2) If someone didn't tell you that there was another 12 gallons of tank down there . . . then you'd never know. Spare wedges into that pass-side well = no straps, etc
3) Underneath = can't tell
4) Minus everything. All the original carpets fit 'good enough.' At some point, I'll have a bag-o'-some-kind made up to hold the spare . . .
5) Tah-daaaah!