gcthree

Hello Friends:
I was supremely privileged to have worked with David for the better part of a dozen years. First, at Automobile Magazine for some 9 years and ascending to the role of Associate Publisher.

David wrote his first book entitled 'Thus Spake David E.', and he signed a copy to me with the inscription: "Bob...Surely we're not through having adventures together? I'm not dead yet!....David E."

In 2005 (post Automobile), David called and said that some guy from Texas has made him an overture to take-over a digital magazine, and he confessed to me that he didn't know a thing about digital, no less how to do a magazine in that format. We pow-wow'd in Ann Arbor one weekend, and decided to take the plunge with David offering that he would do it, but only with me at the helm as Publisher. David's inscription proved prescient, as our adventures were not over, and we launched Winding Road back in 2005...well before the advent of the iPad or tablet and general acceptance of precisely what a digital magazine was.

Our first 2 years of issues bent people's minds to the notion that you could not only publish a periodical in a digital format, but you could make it more compelling than were it to be on paper. Validation came from Leo Levine, the former PR boss of Mercedes Benz NA: "David, the problem with your magazine is that the cars look better than they do in real life!"

Better yet, a reader wrote that "I never thought that I would ever consider reading a magazine on a screen, but I'm here to tell you that I read most of your last issue on my laptop...while seated in the can, and never once thinking it was odd. I'm sold."

They were heady times, and David and I were having great adventures together. Best of friends and colleagues....as a kid weaned on David's Car and Driver, could one ask for more?

I joined David and a group of his friends at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor for his 80th birthday. I neglected to bring a video camera, but my Blackberry did a creditable job of capturing his speech on video and it's posted at: . He had once dealt with a bout of prostrate cancer and beat it, but announced at his party that it was now in his bladder. You could have knocked me over with a feather....

There simply was no better magazine editor in the business. Period. His way with words was magic, and I thanked God each day that he was a car enthusiast and we were treated to his talents, as he could easily have steered magazines like the New Yorker.

If you haven't seen this one yet, take a moment and watch: this video was one of the vids that we embedded in Winding Road, where David would write his column and we would embed an audio file of him reading his column to you. Simple...yet so elegant. Except, this time we embedded a video of his column blended with video of his drive in an Audi RS4. This is David at his finest, and as I will always remember my friend. Enjoy:
And, my first go-around with my S4 was during my Automobile Magazine days, and David thoroughly approved of the purchase. He loved the 928.

Cheers!
Bob

MGW-Fla

^^^^

MGW-Fla

Wow, does that not describe the experience of each & every one of us 928 owners, even 35 years later. Feel like I should have a dash plaque made to put on my shark with those words of his quote.

spock04

Hello
Just got back from Hell, Mi.-Dubuque, Ia.-Grand Junction, Co.-Banner Elk, NC. 11,300 miles. Still have St. Charles, IL. and Frenzy to finish off the driving season. That quote says it all. What a machine!

AnatolyL

I've always said to really appreciate the 928 you had to have access to one when they were in production. My first year as a mechanic was 1983, and in 1984 I was employed at Performance Plus in Dania, Fl. We were the exclusive reps for Hartge BMW's and heavily involved in the grey market. I was already into Porsche's (my first one was a 914) and will never forget when an 85 Euro with the 32 valve engine showed up for conversion. Holy S***!!! This was when very few cars had 200 hp and the 928 had 310! Words can't describe it...you had to be there.

Ben

JWise

I was a long time subscriber to Car and Driver back in the good old days of DED, Brock Yates, Patrick Bedard, etc. I remember DED's fondness for the 928. As I recall, he also wrote if he had to choose one car to hop in and drive across the country, he would pick the 928, adding that no other car said "move over" like a 928 in the rearview mirror.

David certainly had a way with words. The quote in the OP is the most accurate description of the car I've ever read, perfectly capturing the essence that is...the Porsche 9-2-8.

gcthree

I don't know about all of you, but car enthusiast magazines have taken a nose-dive over the past years. I hope that I'm not offending anyone here, but the revamp of Road & Track is heresy; it's edited for 20 years olds. Car and Driver without David E. just isn't Car & Driver. The jokes aren't funny, the writing isn't provocative, and it's the same old thing month after month.

We need David today more than ever.....

ALKada

^^^^ so true. I miss his kind of writing that spoke to my soul when it comes to passion for everything automobile. Thank you Bob for allowing us an inside glimpse of Mr. David.

soltino

Thanks Bob.

tino

Tom in Austin

Very cool Bob, thanks for posting those vids!