Peter Wilson
Adelaide, Australia @peterwilson_oz
Model 930 3.3
Year 1980
Acquired 2011
In the last edition of LTL I outlined car preparation for the upcoming road trip to the Phillip Island Classic race meeting in Victoria. The trip has been and gone and the good news is that the car performed impeccably over the 2,000km. Reducing oil level in the oil tank to the lowest dipstick mark seems to have done the trick in stopping oil ingestion, with no sign of oil being pushed into the air cleaner. I will remove the intercooler in the near future to double-check.
The only problem encountered on the drive was a speeding fine in the backblocks of Victoria. International readers will find it hard to believe that the open road speed limits vary from state to state in Australia (110kph in South Australia and only 100kph in Victoria) and are draconianly enforced throughout. I was clocked at 112kph and issued a nasty fine for travelling at a speed that would have been quite permissible an hour earlier on the other side of the border. All very frustrating as the car was just loping along and everything was safe as houses. But rules are rules…
The meeting itself displayed the normal, huge variety of racing classes and cars, most of which were beautifully presented. As always there was also a lot of carnage due to the high speed of the Phillip Island circuit and the no-holds-barred racing in many classes. The strong contingent of Porsche 911s escaped with a few rub marks and dents, but others were not so fortunate, with several big shunts that brought a tear to the eye when considering the rarity, value and condition of the cars. Fortunately, all drivers walked away due to modern safety rules and equipment, but there is now increasing difficulty in finding 50-60 year-old bodyshells and panels in sound condition. These are definitely a finite and diminishing resource.
It made me think that brand-new bodyshells have been available for some time for Minis, MGBS and several other classics. While many panels and repair sections are available for the 911, is anyone out there tooling up to produce an entire new bodyshell? It would certainly be an attractive option to some of the major rust and accident repairs being undertaken.
At the meeting I also made acquaintance with some of the local Porsche Club members who let me park in their display area. There is quite a contrast in rump and wing design between a 40-year-old 930 and current-model Caymans (or is that Caymen?)!
The trip home was uneventful and provided a uniquely Australian Porsche photo opportunity at the Giant Koala at Dadswell’s Bridge near Horsham. Very kitsch I know, but this led to further musings about a future road trip once the world recovers from COVID-19 and its restrictions. I am already thinking up a scenic driving route to take Porsche snaps at such wonders as “Larry” the Big Lobster in Kingston, the Giant Murray Cod in Swan Hill, the Big Merino in Goulburn and maybe even as far afield as the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. The potential list is very long, believe me, so watch this space!