Sure, it’s nice to look at sports cars such as the Porsche 944 when they’re standing still. However, it’s even better to drive them.
The 1986 944 Turbo you see here was shelved for seven years after a collector had it modified for track duties. Its engine was outfitted with an upgraded turbo, intercooler, exhaust, and a long list of internals and exhaust tweaks. The owner eventually decided all of that hardware added up to too much car.
Fortunately, he also decided to sell it to CJ Wilson Racing driver Danny Burkett. He describes his purchase as “an old-school Lamborghini that wants to kill you at all times.” I’m sure the 550 horses that the freshly built engine lets out at peak boost would be more than willing to aid in that crime. Even at eight pounds of boost, the horsepower under the hood is threatening.
Despite all of the money the previous owner pumped into this beast, it’s not without its problems. A wiring problem drains juice out of the battery. Burkett still needs to figure it out; short of that, he’ll just have to drive his 944 more. We hope he does both. A car like this can’t just sit in a garage looking pretty all day. A little road grime on its body and some rubber off of its tires will make it look even better.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
