A couple of weeks ago I posted '72/73 RSR replica wanted' on the forum, not realising for a moment that it would be the start of a great adventure.

Within 24 hours I had received offers of hot rods and 74 IROC reps, but among them was a car that leapt out of my computer at me, a car I had only dreamed of. Within 48 hours of the original post I had been sent over 40 photographs of the car and its creation and history, I rang the owner and we just clicked, so the next day I jumped on a plane and flew from London to Phoenix, Arizona!

It was the longest flight ever.... not for the distance, but because of the excitement! I took with me Neil Bainbridge the UK's leading expert on the RSR, and after an overnight stay in Phoenix we hit the road and drove out into the desert. There in a small community an hour from the city sat the car in its purpose built garage, but there more importantly we met the nicest man you could wish to meet, Gib Bosworth, together with his charming wife Edy.

Within minutes I knew it was the car for me, and we spent a next few hours just chatting about Porsche's and getting to know each other. The deal was done and already we started making plans for the future.

To cut a long story short, Gibs car is going to stay as he intended, a re-creation of the 107 Martini Targa Florio car, but now it will undergo its next stage of development with twin plugging, alterations to the hood design and so on.

Gib and I came to the obvious conclusion that the car will go to Sicily for the Targo Florio re-run and Gib will be there to see the conclusion to all his hard work.

As we left Gib's ranch and headed up into the mountains, to take in the great views and sample a bowl of the local chilli before heading back to the airport, I knew that not only had I bought a wonderful car, but that I had made a wonderful new friend, and I know we are going to share many more adventures together. Thanks to the Early 911 Registry for making it happen.