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Yep. His parts/service manager said his nickname was "nasty". Not a pleasant fellow. I was told,and this is rumour, that he would modify cars and put it through as warranty work. That is why Porsche ended his dealership. But that may just be urban legend. Way more choices today. With his attitude toward customers no way he would stay in business. Never enjoyed talking to him. He made you feel that he was doing you a favour just letting you in. He and Downtown were the only dealers in Toronto. You had to go to Pfaff in Newmarket or Performance Cars in St.Catherines for other options. Times have certainly changed.
Ahem, my car might have been the one, as it had some rare parts. That's what I was told.
Ludwig still does a bunch of lapping days in his GT2 with 6th Gear / DriveTeq / EA. Definitely a character, but seems like a nice guy - plus he can still drive. I didn't know him back in the days when he ran the dealership, but I have heard the stores. Incidentally, my 928GT was bought by the original owner from his dealership (and I also bought it from Heimrath but at that point it was run by Mario).
One thing that does resonate is that early this year he saw my 928 at Mosport at a track event we both attended (I had driven the 928 to the track, not on it). He apparently recognized the car, asked me if everything works, how long I have owned it, what I have done to it, etc. etc. and then proceeded to critically examine it inside and out, poking and prodding at things. He eventually nodded and said "It's good. You are looking after it much better than the ******* I sold it to did".
Back when he was racing in the Canadian 944 Turbo Cup series , there were rumors of some teams having a second DME hidden behind the dash, that they would somehow switch
on after tech inspection ... the Spenard team apparently was one of them ... wouldn't be surprised if old Ludwig did the same ... lol
I was a flagger in those days and it was a real blast to marshall their races at Tremblant !
Originally Posted by Turbodan
I heard rumours that the dme was controlled by the mirror switch
It wasn't a second DME and the mirror switch, but close enough... they would connect the power window switch on the driver's side door to a solenoid that would prevent the turbo wastegate from opening, resulting in additional boost. At least that's what my mechanic who at the time was the chief mechanic & crew chief for another championship-winning 944 Turbo Cup team told me they used to do. They eventually got caught and disqualified as in one particular race at Tremblant where they went from 17th to 2nd there were 6' flames shooting out of the exhaust at lift-off that some of the other teams took issue with, but it is true.
Thank you for clarifying the Ludwig story , but other teams had different ways of cheating ... the second DME thing was particularly related to the Spenard cars !
We all know that everything is legal until you get caught !
Ludwig still does a bunch of lapping days in his GT2 with 6th Gear / DriveTeq / EA. Definitely a character, but seems like a nice guy - plus he can still drive. I didn't know him back in the days when he ran the dealership, but I have heard the stores. Incidentally, my 928GT was bought by the original owner from his dealership (and I also bought it from Heimrath but at that point it was run by Mario).
Interesting. Maybe my path will cross with him as I plan on doing a DriveTeq track day on the 11th of October.
Here is one more photo of Heimrath. It looks pretty much the same as today.
I have a 2015 Mustang GT(Orange) that I will be driving unless I pick up the Viper ACR I am looking at today. Actually I'd probably take the Mustang GT because it is better to learn on than an ACR.
I have been to TMP at least 5 times this year but I have never been at Mosport. So this is going to be an interesting experience. I will probably be in the novice section as I am a newbie to the track.
Did 3 hours @ the Glen y-day in the pouring rain--now I'm ready for anything!
Gary
Excellent - I gather you'll be coming to the DriveTeq event at the DDT in mid-February then?
Am off to Tremblant w/ DriveTeq this weekend and back at Mosport on Wed with 6th Gear. Trying to squeeze in as much track time as I can before winter hibernation...
Originally Posted by VRYALT3R3D
I have a 2015 Mustang GT(Orange) that I will be driving unless I pick up the Viper ACR I am looking at today. Actually I'd probably take the Mustang GT because it is better to learn on than an ACR.
I have been to TMP at least 5 times this year but I have never been at Mosport. So this is going to be an interesting experience. I will probably be in the novice section as I am a newbie to the track.
If TMP is your "baseline", you're in for a real treat! And, I completely agree that you should bring the GT. Both Mosport and a Viper can be a handful on their own, so there's absolutely no point in taking unnecessary risks. Will look for your car there on the 18th.
Excellent - I gather you'll be coming to the DriveTeq event at the DDT in mid-February then?
Am off to Tremblant w/ DriveTeq this weekend and back at Mosport on Wed with 6th Gear. Trying to squeeze in as much track time as I can before winter hibernation...
Really no need for a track day in Feb'y, Doug--the way we slide around here in Buffalo every day is a track day!
May see you @ 6thGear tho'.......
Gary
.....enjoy LeCircuit! Have to get back there.......
RE -cheating.
It's only cheating after you get caught. Before that, your just pushing the rules.
I was Honda/Michelin in '88. My 13oo cc car was stupid fast. As fast as the new bodied 15oo's.
Rumour was big teams/shops would take out the engine and kind of blue print and balance.
Not blue print like, grinding and sanding a rod or piston? But measure 100 pistons, and 100 rods.
Find the best matched set and reassemble.
The new 1988 cars had the engines sealed into the chassis, the head and valve cover sealed to the block.
That negated tampering...
09-25-2018, 06:23 PM
