FJSeattle

Introduction:
My Porsche story only began a few years ago, as most of my time was spent twisting the grip on a dirt bike. I once heard the phrase "with age, you get a cage" and this is most definitely true for me.

I finally bit the bug after buying a cherry RSA and immediately turning it into a track car (with the help of Cantrell). I loved that car so much, I bought the Guards Red 3.8RS for sale from N. Houston only a couple seasons later.

Fast forward to the 991 RS release with my dad and I actively emailing each other spy shots, reviews and then finally plucking a deposit down with our local dealer. We all know how the story goes with allocations, so I finally bit the bullet and bought an allocation from N. Houston for an ED car.

Operation Bucket List:
My father is a big Porsche fan and ED has always been on his bucket list. His health is good, timing was perfect, so it was time to convert this dream into a reality.

Full Disclosure: I bought the car through my business venture, Drivers Club to utilize for marketing and membership experience. So I call it "Cars and Coffee" spec. No dessert shelf for me.

The car was built in April, but we reserved a late June delivery date at Zuffenhausen.
IMG_0542 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr

Day 1: Museum Tours
Seattle to Stuttgart. We arrive in the morning and immediately take a taxi to the Porsche and MB museums.
1I0A9368 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Phaeton by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9377 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
IMG_1850 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9387 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9419 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9426 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9431 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Gentlemen Drivers by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr


Day 2: Taking Delivery
Jet lagged and too excited, I wake up at 4:30am and start pacing the streets of Stuttgart looking for an coffee shop. We arrive at the delivery center a little early, so we down a couple more shots of espresso and start pacing the lobby looking for people to harass. Finally the moment arrives.
At the delivery center by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9456 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Our custom interior with yellow accents by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr

A quick lunch at the Casino....
View from lunch at the Casino by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr

And then we are off to the Nurburgring for a track day the following morning. We arrive at Hotel AM Tiergarten to warm skies and cold beer.
View from Hotel on track by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Hotel Am Tiengarten at the Nurburgring by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
IMG_1902 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Ring parking lot by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr


Day 3: The Green Hell
This place is not for rookies. Brand new car, brand new track, we are just here for the experience and no trophies. Checking the box!
Drivers Meeting by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
preparing to go out by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Cars of the Ring by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Rain1 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9488 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Pops about to go out, rain delay by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9503 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Actually earned the sticker by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
My ring coach Klaus by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr



We had reservations at a nice hotel in Zurich (CH) that night, so we took off a bit early and hit the autobahns. They are just as fun as the track I would say.
We then jetted to Zurich for the night by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
View from room by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr


Definitely could spend a week just in Geneva.
Continued....

FJSeattle

Day 4: Grimselpass and Furkapass
Swiss passes are definitely on the itinerary for this trip. We chose to stage out of Zurich and stay North as our time is limited. Number #3 and #4 on the map.
Tomorrow's agenda by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Up to Grindelwald by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
top of Grimselpass by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9579 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9625 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9669 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr



We end up a cool modern hotel in Andermatt and enjoy a nice Mediterranean dinner.
Cruising the streets of Andermatt by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
IMG_2013 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr





Day 5: Andermatt to Lugano for lunch, then back up to Germany.
IMG_2022 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr



Day 6: Blaser Tour then off to Belgium for Spa day.
I met the owner of Blaser rifles on a recent bear hunt in Alaska, so we made sure to stop by his factory and get a tour.

IMG_2050 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
Did a Factory tour of Blaser by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr



Day 7: Spa Day
Hotel La Source is a great spot. Wake up, drive to the track, get going.

Spa taxi by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr
1I0A9762 by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr


Some paddock footage:


We have to leave the next day, so we jet back home to Stuttgart, drop off the car, and grab some more Jelly’s

On the way home by FJ Cruiser, on Flickr

A once in a lifetime opportunity that I hope comes around every new RS generation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my journal of our ED experience.


Big Shout Out to Trackcar for helping arrange the track days and show me the ways on the Swiss Passes given our limited time.

Full Gallery here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/888590...57667674641424

DrJupeman

ED is the best. Congrats on a great trip and I love the expression "once in a lifetime opportunity that I hope comes around every new RS generation". I'd love to make a routine of this particular once in a lifetime opportunity, also!

24Chromium

Fantastic! So jealous you got to experience all this in the new RS.

Finlander

Excellent images!

Congrats!

disden

Awesome trip, congrats. Everyone who is a Porsche fanatic needs to make this journey at some point.

Sent from my iPhone using Rennlist

FJSeattle

I cannot take credit for the phrase. It was invented by my buddies wife after growing tired of our adventures and less than sound reasoning.

"Honey, these once in lifetime opportunities seem to happen every weekend."

signes

Sounds like a great trip, checked all the right boxes, congrats! I can't wait to do the "once in a lifetime" trip many more times...

otisdog

Hey, good to see you posting about your trip. Nice meeting you and your father at Spa....I had to laugh with him, because when he and I went to the (in german) drivers meeting, Eric, our translator, only spoke about 20 words to us, whilst the german speaking instructor had rattled off a couple of thousand - we definitely felt a bit "in the dark", to put it politely.
Michael in the grey GT4

Dante

wonderful trip and wonderful car! congrats!

24Chromium

Had a good laugh over the comments regarding the drivers meeting. I had a similar experience at a track day on the 'Ring. It's quite a stark contrast to what goes on over here at our PCA club chapter. We really go overboard spoon feeding people.

FJSeattle

Good to hear from you again!

Yeah the drivers meeting was brief, but that was a breath of fresh air to me -- as ours usually end with 10 minutes arguing over whether we point to pass, signal, and proper hazard light etiquette.

Next time remember to bring your own horseradish!

R.Deacon

Thanks for wonderful share , FAST ENATINGLY COOL

ipse dixit

Well done, sir.

Thank you for sharing, and taking the time to share.

TRAKCAR

Nice photo's, some of it looks very familiar.
Can't wait to do the once in a lifetime trip again!! ;-)