My three hours with Alois Ruf
01-31-2003, 12:54 PM
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My three hours with Alois Ruf
Sometimes you just get lucky. I've been exploring Ruf cars on and off for the past 6 months, but only recently got serious. My phone rings and I find out Mr. Ruf is coming to So. Cal for a Concours (sp?) in Orange County... That's how I ended up having dinner with him yesterday at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
First of all, he is incredibly warn and nice and you can tell he loves everything about what he does. Then, you add in everything he knows, and you get a pretty good dinner companion.
We talked about everything from his approach to his cars to the changes at Porsche through the years. And while I don't feel comfortable expressing his views without asking him first of some topics, here were some things we talked about.
His personal Rturbo, with his premium engine package, just set a new speed target: 351kmh. This is a narrow body car I think.
They are working on the next true Ruf car, the first since the CTR's. (I feel okay posting this because it is discussed in the magazine I just read). It promises to be in the Super Car realm.
He talked about his philosophy of trying to broaden the range of peak HP/Torque as the best way to enhance the driving experience, and indeed if you look at the graphs you are often looking at a more than 3000rpm range where you are at or near peak. He mentioned he thought the PSM system Porsche has is excellent, and that of the recent stock Porsche's his favorite is the GT2.
And on and on and on...
It was nice to see someone so excited and enthusiatic about what he did.
As a bonus, a current Ruf owner joined us. He has a very special car which Mr. Ruf built for him. It has widened track both front and rear, and thus has totally custom body panels...etc. It was great to see how Mr. Ruf had tackled this design challenge -- he managed to make the extra wide car seem totally Porsche.
Of course, the valet parked it next to my GT2. Suddenly my car went from looking like a 'his' to a 'hers'.
Still in all a great time.
PS -- CJV, Alois said the titanium rods were fine for 8000 rpm, but wanted to make sure you know the stock engine without valve mods was not fine for 8000. And as for hp/torque limits, he said the actual number concerned him less than the trade-off between getting the higest number and keep the largest 'sweet spot'. If you all want to know why Ruf cars with 520hp seem to do as well as cars with 600+, it is mainly because the actual amount of time spent at or near peak torque is much greater during acceleration.... Say from 3000-5900, as opposed to from 5500-5800... Thus, of the 11 seconds or so you are blazing down your quarter mile, you'll be spending more of those seconds at peak.
First of all, he is incredibly warn and nice and you can tell he loves everything about what he does. Then, you add in everything he knows, and you get a pretty good dinner companion.
We talked about everything from his approach to his cars to the changes at Porsche through the years. And while I don't feel comfortable expressing his views without asking him first of some topics, here were some things we talked about.
His personal Rturbo, with his premium engine package, just set a new speed target: 351kmh. This is a narrow body car I think.
They are working on the next true Ruf car, the first since the CTR's. (I feel okay posting this because it is discussed in the magazine I just read). It promises to be in the Super Car realm.
He talked about his philosophy of trying to broaden the range of peak HP/Torque as the best way to enhance the driving experience, and indeed if you look at the graphs you are often looking at a more than 3000rpm range where you are at or near peak. He mentioned he thought the PSM system Porsche has is excellent, and that of the recent stock Porsche's his favorite is the GT2.
And on and on and on...
It was nice to see someone so excited and enthusiatic about what he did.
As a bonus, a current Ruf owner joined us. He has a very special car which Mr. Ruf built for him. It has widened track both front and rear, and thus has totally custom body panels...etc. It was great to see how Mr. Ruf had tackled this design challenge -- he managed to make the extra wide car seem totally Porsche.
Of course, the valet parked it next to my GT2. Suddenly my car went from looking like a 'his' to a 'hers'.
Still in all a great time.
PS -- CJV, Alois said the titanium rods were fine for 8000 rpm, but wanted to make sure you know the stock engine without valve mods was not fine for 8000. And as for hp/torque limits, he said the actual number concerned him less than the trade-off between getting the higest number and keep the largest 'sweet spot'. If you all want to know why Ruf cars with 520hp seem to do as well as cars with 600+, it is mainly because the actual amount of time spent at or near peak torque is much greater during acceleration.... Say from 3000-5900, as opposed to from 5500-5800... Thus, of the 11 seconds or so you are blazing down your quarter mile, you'll be spending more of those seconds at peak.
01-31-2003, 02:06 PM
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Deanger wrote:
it is mainly because the actual amount of time spent at or near peak torque is much greater during acceleration.... Say from 3000-5900,
I think you meant to say peak power <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
it is mainly because the actual amount of time spent at or near peak torque is much greater during acceleration.... Say from 3000-5900,
I think you meant to say peak power <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
01-31-2003, 03:00 PM
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Three Wheelin'
Dean, that sounds like you enjoyed a very interesting dinner with "The Man" himself. You have the ultimate foundation for a Ruf GT2. When will you be transforming your GT2?
You and your buddy let the valet park the Ruf and GT2? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> I understand sometimes you can't help it. Sometimes you just have to give it up. <img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />
Tyson, Have you ordered your Ruf yet? When are going to take delivery?
You and your buddy let the valet park the Ruf and GT2? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> I understand sometimes you can't help it. Sometimes you just have to give it up. <img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />
Tyson, Have you ordered your Ruf yet? When are going to take delivery?
01-31-2003, 03:11 PM
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Hey Oak,
I am actually thinking about doing a conversion. The extra cost of having a Ruf VIN seems a little high.
Wilber and I are talking about going to Pfaffenhausen after I buy my TT and ship it there so that we can do some unique stuff to the car.
Then again, Dean has me looking out for GT2's for sale now... just a couple of more months to go...
I am actually thinking about doing a conversion. The extra cost of having a Ruf VIN seems a little high.
Wilber and I are talking about going to Pfaffenhausen after I buy my TT and ship it there so that we can do some unique stuff to the car.
Then again, Dean has me looking out for GT2's for sale now... just a couple of more months to go...
01-31-2003, 05:10 PM
#7
Deanger,
I for one would be honoured to meet up with the man himself Alois Ruf.
No I dont drive a 996TT and they cost a bomb here in Singapore. But I do drive a 911/930 Ruf turbo. It's not an original Ruf but I have converted to the Ruf BTR specs. My car weighs 1.2 tons and I'm producing about 410 rwhp. I blow most cars off the road and I have to admit that the Ruf specs I'm using like group B cams, ruf pistons, ruf turbo etc etc.. are fantastic. I'm sure my 410 rwhp behaves totally differently from another cars 410 rwhp. I've yet to have encountered any problems related to the Ruf products I've purchased over the pass 3 years. If it comes to reliability not forgetting performance, Ruf is the way to go.
I for one would be honoured to meet up with the man himself Alois Ruf.
No I dont drive a 996TT and they cost a bomb here in Singapore. But I do drive a 911/930 Ruf turbo. It's not an original Ruf but I have converted to the Ruf BTR specs. My car weighs 1.2 tons and I'm producing about 410 rwhp. I blow most cars off the road and I have to admit that the Ruf specs I'm using like group B cams, ruf pistons, ruf turbo etc etc.. are fantastic. I'm sure my 410 rwhp behaves totally differently from another cars 410 rwhp. I've yet to have encountered any problems related to the Ruf products I've purchased over the pass 3 years. If it comes to reliability not forgetting performance, Ruf is the way to go.
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01-31-2003, 08:57 PM
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ruf, schmoof. give your car to cjv for a real power upgrade! the r&d's already been done! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
dean, congrats, thanks for posting.
dean, congrats, thanks for posting.
01-31-2003, 11:05 PM
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Dean:
Great story, thanks for sharing! It's all about who you know -- having connections can never hurt. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
Great story, thanks for sharing! It's all about who you know -- having connections can never hurt. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
02-01-2003, 02:30 AM
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Not from this board, but you let valet park your GT2!!!!
If i owned a GT2 nobody would touch that car except me, other than the dealer of course!
Otherwise great story!
Just my 2 cents
Lead Foot 944
If i owned a GT2 nobody would touch that car except me, other than the dealer of course!
Otherwise great story!
Just my 2 cents
Lead Foot 944
