My Porsche visit
12-11-2008, 04:42 PM
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My Porsche visit
As some of you already know I was invited to the Porsche Motorsports party this year because I am the 2008 Yokohama Cup champion. Every year Porsche has a party to recognize the accomplishments of their customers and this year about 10 drivers from the US were invited as well as some team owners. The party had about 500 people in attendance from all over the world.
I arrived in Germany a few days in advance so I could spend some time seeing some customers and friends. My first order of business was to pick up a rental car and drive to Munich. When I got to the rental car counter they did not have the car I had reserved but offered me a full size Mercedes diesel. My initial thoughts were very cool. After the long walk to get the car I found out it was a small bus. This was not going to work. I walked back and told them I needed a car to which they gave me a VW Jetta. After getting to the car the first order of business was to program the GPs to my friend’s address. First problem was how I change the language to English when I don’t know what any of it says. 45 minutes of just randomly pushing button (something I do well) I was able to change to English.
The town I was trying to go to was Groebenzell but the GPS could not find it. After many try’s I finally scrolled through all towns starting with Gr and found it. My problem was the O was not a standard O but the one with the 2 dots over it. Oh well I’m finally off and the GPS said I should arrive in 2.5 hours which is what I expected.
When it said I finally arrived at my destination I was sure this was not it. The GPS went on to say that my next destination was 400 km away which was the one I programmed in. Apparently I added a destination to an existing route. Oh well I’m now just a few hours behind schedule but It was an adventure seeing the Black Forest.
I arrive at the Schock’s home and had a wonderful traditional Germany lunch that Jae prepared. After talking a bit, Michael and I took the train into down town Munich for a tour of the city followed up with some more German food and a beer. I spent the night at their house and headed to Slovenia the next morning which was about 500km away.
The drive was beautiful as it took me through the Austrian Alps. I was starting to better understand the roads and signs and was enjoying the unlimited speed limits in some areas but the car I rented topped out at 125 mph which seemed about how fast most people drove when the limits were dropped.
I arrived in Slovenia at my hotel and my friends came and picked me up and took me out for a traditional Slovenian lunch which is the main meal of the day. From there we went to their factory and homes for a tour then on to the capitol Ljubljana for a tour of the city and to see the holiday decorations.
The next morning I woke up and it was raining quite heavily and I needed to drive back to Stuttgart which was about 600km. Driving in the pouring rain was not fun but it did not last long as the rain turned to snow as I got into Austria. At one point it was so bad I did not think I would make it. I was following a truck whose trailer seemed to keep swinging in the snow and ice. This part was not fun but I did make it back to Stuttgart by night fall.
The next morning I meet up with friends Bob Faieta and factory driver Patrick Long for a private tour of the new Porsche factory museum. This museum is not open yet and the press has not been granted access so we were not allowed to take any pictures which was a shame because there was so much interesting stuff to see including one 928 that was made out of aluminum. there was also Ferry's 4 door 928 and the last GTS 5sp. This is a must see if you are ever in Germany. There are 85 cars on display and I understand they get rotated out with over 400 cars at another location.
Later that evening was the Porsche party. They had buses to pick us up at the hotel which was nice and the party was at the Wiessach facility in the company lunch room. The food and drink was as good as any I have ever had. Besides the award ceremony they had live entertainment. After that was over it was on to socializing which is when I got to meet Roger Penske. About 3:30 am I am smoking a Monte Cristo and having a glass of wine with Wendelin Wiedeking the CEO and President of Porsche. I did not know who I was talking to at the time so I asked him what his involvement was with the party. He then handed me his card.
It was an amazing trip and I could go on and on. I’m glad to be back but I look forward to doing it again and spending more time.
I arrived in Germany a few days in advance so I could spend some time seeing some customers and friends. My first order of business was to pick up a rental car and drive to Munich. When I got to the rental car counter they did not have the car I had reserved but offered me a full size Mercedes diesel. My initial thoughts were very cool. After the long walk to get the car I found out it was a small bus. This was not going to work. I walked back and told them I needed a car to which they gave me a VW Jetta. After getting to the car the first order of business was to program the GPs to my friend’s address. First problem was how I change the language to English when I don’t know what any of it says. 45 minutes of just randomly pushing button (something I do well) I was able to change to English.
The town I was trying to go to was Groebenzell but the GPS could not find it. After many try’s I finally scrolled through all towns starting with Gr and found it. My problem was the O was not a standard O but the one with the 2 dots over it. Oh well I’m finally off and the GPS said I should arrive in 2.5 hours which is what I expected.
When it said I finally arrived at my destination I was sure this was not it. The GPS went on to say that my next destination was 400 km away which was the one I programmed in. Apparently I added a destination to an existing route. Oh well I’m now just a few hours behind schedule but It was an adventure seeing the Black Forest.
I arrive at the Schock’s home and had a wonderful traditional Germany lunch that Jae prepared. After talking a bit, Michael and I took the train into down town Munich for a tour of the city followed up with some more German food and a beer. I spent the night at their house and headed to Slovenia the next morning which was about 500km away.
The drive was beautiful as it took me through the Austrian Alps. I was starting to better understand the roads and signs and was enjoying the unlimited speed limits in some areas but the car I rented topped out at 125 mph which seemed about how fast most people drove when the limits were dropped.
I arrived in Slovenia at my hotel and my friends came and picked me up and took me out for a traditional Slovenian lunch which is the main meal of the day. From there we went to their factory and homes for a tour then on to the capitol Ljubljana for a tour of the city and to see the holiday decorations.
The next morning I woke up and it was raining quite heavily and I needed to drive back to Stuttgart which was about 600km. Driving in the pouring rain was not fun but it did not last long as the rain turned to snow as I got into Austria. At one point it was so bad I did not think I would make it. I was following a truck whose trailer seemed to keep swinging in the snow and ice. This part was not fun but I did make it back to Stuttgart by night fall.
The next morning I meet up with friends Bob Faieta and factory driver Patrick Long for a private tour of the new Porsche factory museum. This museum is not open yet and the press has not been granted access so we were not allowed to take any pictures which was a shame because there was so much interesting stuff to see including one 928 that was made out of aluminum. there was also Ferry's 4 door 928 and the last GTS 5sp. This is a must see if you are ever in Germany. There are 85 cars on display and I understand they get rotated out with over 400 cars at another location.
Later that evening was the Porsche party. They had buses to pick us up at the hotel which was nice and the party was at the Wiessach facility in the company lunch room. The food and drink was as good as any I have ever had. Besides the award ceremony they had live entertainment. After that was over it was on to socializing which is when I got to meet Roger Penske. About 3:30 am I am smoking a Monte Cristo and having a glass of wine with Wendelin Wiedeking the CEO and President of Porsche. I did not know who I was talking to at the time so I asked him what his involvement was with the party. He then handed me his card.
It was an amazing trip and I could go on and on. I’m glad to be back but I look forward to doing it again and spending more time.
Last edited by Mark Anderson; 12-11-2008 at 05:22 PM.
12-11-2008, 04:58 PM
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Ah yes, the Autobahn at 200 Kmh in a rented 318i back in the day, then seeing flashing lights and a 30 year old BMW 2002 flying by me. And then getting lost on my first night in Nuremburg Train Station and noone speaking english. Yes, the good old days! And how about that rain, each rain drop is about the size of a can of beer. 
12-11-2008, 05:06 PM
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Great story Mark! Your were honored with honorable company. When I first saw the pic, I thought Wiedeking gave you a "shiner" for not knowing who he was. 
12-11-2008, 05:10 PM
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I showed up in Stutgart not knowing you had to "Schedule" the tour FAR in advance. So I walked up the guy speaking German in front of the doors and every one looks at me and my traveling partner like we were nuts. We figured oput the mistake, but they wouldn't even take my name for a slot 2 months hence either! I had to have my dad get on the phone in America and widdle out a day in December, 1998 It was so great I remember every part. Especially that they tour guide didn't know some answers the tour poarticipants asked so I had to answer them from the back.
12-11-2008, 05:11 PM
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Mark, you've still got a Borg implant in your head. Not sure which eye it's in though. I think it's the right one 
Glad you had fun. Did you catch any crap about winning the Yoko cup in a 928? Or didn't they know and thought you were driving one of those ***-engined !@$%-slot cars?
Glad you had fun. Did you catch any crap about winning the Yoko cup in a 928? Or didn't they know and thought you were driving one of those ***-engined !@$%-slot cars?
12-11-2008, 05:11 PM
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The person on the far right was a journalist but I do not know any of the others. Anyone here recogonize them?
12-11-2008, 05:13 PM
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Mark, you've still got a Borg implant in your head. Not sure which eye it's in though. I think it's the right one
Glad you had fun. Did you catch any crap about winning the Yoko cup in a 928? Or didn't they know and thought you were driving one of those ***-engined !@$%-slot cars?
Glad you had fun. Did you catch any crap about winning the Yoko cup in a 928? Or didn't they know and thought you were driving one of those ***-engined !@$%-slot cars?
I won the Yokohama cup in a GT3 cup car. The Yoko cup is a cup car series so you have to run a stock cup car.
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12-11-2008, 05:33 PM
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12-11-2008, 06:08 PM
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12-11-2008, 06:34 PM
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So why have we not seen the pictures of this Cup Car?? HMMMM. Not going 911 International are you now Mark? I want to see GT3's.
12-11-2008, 06:37 PM
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Great story, thanks!
12-11-2008, 06:51 PM
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