F'ROMFAST T() T'URIOUS Six le€endary racing at Sebring

BY .HOTOS BY JOIII{ LAIYIM

356 SL Goupe po..ibly becau.e *e're not going very and moving the seat and steering wheel BoDl'woRK oF ALU \4lN u M gar- ir.,r! The hrakes? Well- the car weaves (but nor the steering box:) to the cen- nered from scrap airplanes fabricated around somewhat but iittle more than rer ln rwo week', the work was done. by skilled craftsmen. Hand crafted in might be expecred. Acceleration? To Behra.hocked the racing world. win rhe tiny Ausrrian village of Cmiind. be kind, not exactly brisk. Still, rhe ning at . wirh the mechanicals finiched in start of a dynasty from which would Whar a difference lrom 1c51. Thr Stutrgarr during thar extraordJnarily spring a great succestion ofever fa"ter, lovely silver 1959i60 RS 60, used as a difficu-lt rime foi immediatell ever more reliable, ever more

,tx;ttsl rgrg 109 I A classic design that inspired the Buster, alumilumbodied RS 60 Spyder rvas one 0f the lirst tubeframe Porsche racing cars, unlike the unit-D0dy Gmiind 356 SL coupe that was essen- tially production{ar dedved. B an gets a pre t2 llight b efing from Klaus Bischof. And chuckles at inside-m0unted windshield y{iper.

quafte Heures du Mans. r,\a. inlroduced wirh no minimum pro- the minimum number required would Predictably victorious in 1966 and duction, but r,r ith a maximum di.- be cut from 50 to 25, thus opening a 1967 with iis powerful and reliable placement of 3.0 liters. window of opp,-rrruniry completely un 7.0-l:rer CT40 Mk Il and Mk TV, Up ro this poinr. the highJy respected foreseen by this ruling body. dr:ver b1 rhe be:t d-iver. money c"uld Porsche company had produced firsr Expecting thar ir would be manufac buy. Ford could hard y hare been .ur- rate, small-engined race cars that could, rurer, like Aston Marrin, laguar, Ma nri,ed when for I9tr8 rhe Parl-be'ed with some luck, compete for overall serati, Ford, Chewoler, er al. which al- worldwide g,vrrning body ,-,1 mocor- hooors. Now, it was but a smal1 step to ready had 5.0-lirer producrion engines -porr, rhe Fcderation lnternarionJe de upgrade its 2.2-liter protoq?es to 3.0 rhrr worrld reke the initiative. rhe FIA l'Aurom,bile 1FI A1 ellecrively banned liters and be contenders for outright wa. completel] outmrneuvered -hen the mighty. machines from competi championship honor.. To add a little Por"che went into a massive der elop- tlon by lnstltutmg a maxlmum englne mu'rard ro the.auce. early in 1q68. ment program and built 25 4.5-1iter size of 5.0 liters for what they termed wirh no 5.0-lirer "oroduction car" other racinf cars. Through a slow and ''nrodrr. rion ra.c car' with a minimun, than the renerable 5.0 lirer Ford CT40 painful gestation, one ofthe greatest r'un of 50 identical m,Jel.. Ar rhe and 302-cu.-in. Chery engined Lola and most successful endurance-racing

ATJCUST 1ee8 111 917. Unable to believe that any racing car builder could produce 25 identical cars, the FIA demanded that all the cars be shown for inspection at the same time. Thus, one cold day in April members of the FIA visited Stuttgart and were forced to accept tlat Porsche had done the seemingly impossible aod firlly met all rheir requirements. Because of the immen"e work load, there was linle time for testing and de- velopment. With crashes during test and .hort-tail open-top a08/02s, Por ing and the death of the first private sche quickJl clinched the 1969 cham owner, John Woolfe, in a fiery accident pionship-but still did not win the on the 6rst lao of the 1969 Le Mans greatest prize of all, Le Mans. In the race. the 917 quickly acquired a fear- closest flnish to date, Jaclg, Iclo<, with some reputation. a brilliant final session, partnered by One day in April, 1969, whilst driving the Cull Oil- working in the garden of my Lan- s ponsore d. -managed, cashire, England, home, T received a CT40, gained the victori laurels by 30 call fiom Weissach to "come and test teconds from poor the new 917." Alarm bells rang. Why and G6rard Larrousse. Given the '10 me? They had would-be heroes liv- choice of a new untested 908 spyder ing within a couple ofhours ofthe fac- with a long tail, and a 917 coupe, co- torv Promisins to call back within the driver Seppi and I drove both in prac- ho,1r, I .rng .i-driuer Jo "Seppi" Sif tice and decided that our best chance fert in Switzerland. "Seppi, have you lay with the 908. tndeed, rhree hours tested the 917?" A long silence-"No, into the race we were leading-but no, Bri-on, we let ze uzzers find out alas, an hour later we were out with an what breaks first!" It turned out I had overheated gearbox. an important prior engagement that For 1970 it was decided that John I ll you uen the ompelition, chances a]e corrld not be broken. Wyer's J.W. Aulomotive Engineering. that the hillights yrGlc all y0 saw 0l the With an unprecedented 10-driver. backed by , would run the 917l(, Porsche's first oye]al [e ans winneL five-car team driving 3.0-liter factory-supported 917 team, Seppi lluge, s8GbhD flat-l2 warmed the backside 0l Langhe cA (lorg-tarl) 908/01 coupes and I being retained by Porsche; Pedro drher who sat in the rather clamped cockpit.

AUGUST 1998 113 I Hillclimb car{€dr'€d 908/3 wlth 3.Gllter flat{ r$ighed in at a mele 1200 lb. (note ddlled{ut footest). Engine and Eeahox rcre ahead of dlfferential, drivs far forward l0I betterlnnt grip. o wondet that it rYon Targa tlorio oMght in 1970,

Rodriguez and by rules yet again, restricting the engines slowe, than a modern racing box- Wyer. ln addition, Porsche Konstruk- to J.0 lirers. Por.che withdrew. Fenari Porsche always insisted that this rvas in tionen KC (Porsche Salzburg) would with the Formula 1-based 312 PB the inlerest of street-car developmenr. enter a two car leam for drivers Vic would become dominant. The great engine whirls and whistles. Elford, Dickie Attwood, Kurt Ahrens Gening inro rhe beaudfully restored producing a mighry 620 bhp ar 7800 and veteran Hans Hermann. museum 917 brought a flood of mem- rpm. Strong rorque gives a constant. The Wyer cars quickly e.rablished oies: relenrless thrust in the back aJJ the way lhemselves as the cars ro beat and lor My first time in the car, 19o9 prac- from 5000 rpm. Le Mans in 1970. Wyer added an ad- rice at Spa, rain falling. told to go out Very few gauges: rev countet, oil ditional car driven by multiple former and pnctice, knees against the back of pressure, oil temperarure. Lors of col- u orld mororcycle champion Mike the steering wheel, helmet touching ored lights, and it doesnt matter what "The Bike" Hailwood and David the roof, rurning on Lhe giganric wind- they're for-if one glows. pit. Cradual Hobbs. Dickie Attwood and Hans shield wiper, which immediately flew Jy reaching rhe Iimirs of adhesion. rhe Herrmann deliberatelr cho.e the low offand into the pits, 3 slow laps.... 9'17 is well-balanced, a touch ofunder- eI-powered 4.5-lrler engrne 1or thelr Le Mans risr, 240 down the sleer. . progreosive rear-end break' Salzburg car. bur afrer qualif,ing in a straight. John Woolfe! co driver Dig- away once the rear tires lose rheir grip. lowly 14th place. thought rhel d made by Martland spinning at 200 mph Whar a car. Looking at it today, I m re- a mi.take. In typical Le Mans fashion. whilsr uaveling over the "hump" at the minded ofwhatJuan Manuel Fangio II the race 5larled in pouring rain. With- end of the Mulsanne Straight during said a couple of years ago after sitting in four hours Rodriguez was our with practice. Digby drove back to the pits. in Gerry Sutterfield's 917 at Moroso a brohen fan-drive shaft and Mike got out and announced, "I have now Motorsports Park. "Brian, you mean to Hailwood was out after crashing into retired from racing." Begging John to say you actually raced these things?" an Alfa Romeo, which had itself let factory test driver crashed at the Dunlop Curve. Before .rarr the race. He wouJd not. That ap 1970 908103 7:00 p.m. no less than three of the toP palJing plume ofblack smoke from rhe NoT coNTtNT To resr on it. lau- five 512s were eliminated in a White House curve oo the firsr lap.... rels with the 917 and 908/02. Porsche multi-car accident. At 2:00 a.m. Siffert Spa, 1970. tluee tires coming offtheir produced yet another new de"ign lor and I held a tremendous 4-lap 1ead. rims on three consecutive laps at over 1q70. Visiling Weissach lor the Por- Nine minutes later, right in front of 180 mph in pracricel then. the lollowing sche Christmas Party in 1959, I was rhe pits, Seppi missed a gear and over- day, winning rhe fastest road race ever raken to a dark corner of the workthop revef the engine. We wlre out. Now run at an average of over 149 mph . . . . and asked if Id like to see the new the Atrwoodl Herrmann 917 took rhe The cockpit is a tight fit; no rules 908/03. When the dust sheets were lead, which it would hold to the finish. about minimum dimensions in those pulled off, there sat one ofthe neatest, On the podium, great veteran Hans days. As alwal s. rhe grear engine idles smallest racing cars I'd ever seen. Herrmann shed tears ofjoy and retired quierly, completely tractable with its Based on the Type 909 Bergspyder, it from raciog. Porsche had not only won fuel-injected, twin-plug, dual-ignition had the olaced ahead of Le Mans for the first of many times, svstem. We ease out of rhe pits. Is it the final drive, thus pu'

,rrrcrrs,l lsss 115 I tor better balance at the Ring and at the Iarga Florio Yrith thelr myriad turns, driYer sat in middle of the 908/03, staddling rails of its tubulal alu milum . Car used no add{n spoilels to achifle downforce. rurn Targa Florio, this little rocket was Herrmann and I would take the win. into a series ofspin turns. 20 seco-nds a lap faster than the Now it's 1998 and Im reunited widr Arriving back at the pits. a stern- 908/02, with the same 370-bhp the 908/03 at Sebring. Climbing care- faced Klaus walks over: "Brian, did you engine, ar the Ring. Amazing. Co fullv into this beautiful little car and spin ze car?" driver Seppi Siffert and I had a great, ouiiklv settline into the small but com- rr, yes. trouble-fiee drive to win rhe 1q70 Tar- firr"b'i" ,.ut,'i turn the key. lnsrantly 'Brian. you remember, for every spin, sa Florio ahead of teammates Pedro the flat-8 fues, the coo)ing fan whirring, a botrle ofwine for ze mechanics!" -Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen, and the the inlet mrmpets popping and banging RiEht! Cuess who will drive this lit- oflocal hero Nino Vac- as the motor warms. The 5-speed geat tle biauty at Meadow Brook, Mon- carella and . box is unusual: 5th gear is out offie H' terey and Watkins Glen? Just one year later, I heard Tng. Hel- pattern gate to the right and forward. mut Fleql's instructions, "Herr Red- alonssidi 3rd. The reason: Because 1st 1978 935 "Moby Dick" man, if you must crash, do not crash searls used frequently, whilsr 5th is en- HrsroRY REPEATS ITSELF. Today, on ze risht side" (where the fuel tank iaeed onlv threi times a lap at the Niir- for so-called cost reasons, the premier sal nexr ro the driver). Twenry miles 6,-rig.;g ;d o"ly once a lip at the Tar- FIA endurance-racing championship into the fust lap, in spite of this sage ea Florio, the chance ofa missed shift, is supposed to be based on production niece of advice. I would have the mosr 6r worse, is greatly reduced. After a cars. The fact that these cars cost over hrightening accident of my career: a quick familiarizarion with the gauges a million dollars and bear little relation sreering failure and hitting a concrete (mosdy the oil pressue). offwe go. to their true production brothers mar- oost rieht in Lhe fuel tank. Tremen- Immediatelv. the car feels as com ters ljnle. ln 1975, for the same mis- iouslviu.tv to qet out, I was soaked fortable as ,n'old glou.. On cold tires guided reasons, the FTA mandated a in fu;], anr; frori head ro foot, blind- the handling is good, no excess under- ihange from protoq?es like the Por- ed, had no medical help for 45 min- steer or ove$teer. \Mithin 2 laps we are sche 908, PB and Alfa Ro utes, was taken to the wloog hospital, up to speed, reveling in the crisp engine meo T33 to production-based race bY nbte, ihe surge of power. Only 370 cars. Yes, there were some great cars; and found there 12 hours later q34 and Pedro Rod bhp? Yes, but also only 1200 lb. The the Porsche RSR rurbo, and 935. riguez, Motor racing is fun, leelins ofbeing one with the car. Like a all based on the 911. The Ford Twelve vears aqo we returned to well-irained thoroushbred horse, this "Cologne" Capri and the BMW CSL. Sicilv with'the sub]ect of today'. test, 908 is ready for evefr change of pace. I.)id it save monevl Ofcourse not. th. florsche -u..ui, 908/031009 fot , every chanqe of direction. At the end, With the %4/%5's cockpit-con- re-creation of the Targa Florio. *e perfori, orchestrared turns and trolled turbo boost, it was a real art to Thought at first to be simply a parade stops for John Lamm's photography. extract the maximum from these en- aroun-d the 44-mile circuit, it turned Thinking were out ofsight ofthe pits. gines wirhout blowing them up. When into a flat-out blast with speed restrict- and the watchf.rl eyes of museum chief I was fust drivine 935s for the Carret- ed only in the three vi1iage.. Hans Klaus Bischo( I deliberately throw it son Engineeri ng'-prepared Dick Bar'

I A 911 at hean, bng-tail fiberglailb0dled 935 was dubbed "Moby Dick" hscause ol its whalelike appealance (and slze!). Catch us if you can.

March 15, ABC l:30 p.n. EST Gmnd PIix of Miami Presented by Toyoia I R€dmar alld Bischot disdrssing allorable March 28, ABC 2:00 p.n. EST boost? llih n0 real Dlat om beneau tiern, Budweiser 500 - Motegi, Japan 935's boost hob, shitH ad a iroll adjllstel April5, ESPN 4:00 p.m. EDT med special mount. tac'tory's 0n6ok*ind Gmnd P x of Long Beach body ort irsDilql 935 comab.

April26, ESPN 12:30 p.m. EDT Bosch Spark PlugCrand Prix Presented by bour team in 1978, Dick said to me, Toyota NEzareth, PA "Brian, whatever you do, don't touch the boost." After qualifying slower than May t0, ABC 3:30 p.m. EDT I have a couple of rime". I de Rio 400 Rio DeJaneirc, Bmzil 'hould cided ro a'k the opinion of a real Por May23, ABC 1,00 p.n. Em sche expert. Going to , Motorola 300 - Madison. IL I said, "Roll do you ever touch the May 3r, FSPN l:30 p,m. EDT boost in quali$ingl" Standing with his Miller Lite 200'WestAl1is. WI leet apart. head thrown back and laugh- ing, he replied, "Brian, do I ever touch with the new roofline and new rear 7, ABC 2,30 p.m. EDT June ze boost? I turn it as far as it vill go!" windshield over it. ITT Automotive Detroit Gmnd P x In a four-year perlod, from t977 As I start the engine, Klaus Bischof June 21, ESPN 5:00 p.m. EDT through 1980, racing the turbocharged walks over: "Brian, the tires are very old, Budwelser/G.I. Joe's 200 Prcsented by 934 aod 935 models, Porsche lost only and the differential is locked." Knowing Texaco/Havoline - Portland, OR one race in rhe pre.tigiou. Internation rhar thi: will make the car push. T ap- July 12, ABC 12:30 p.n. EDT al Moror Sport' Association champi- proach the last turn before the pits at a Medie Drug Grand Prix ofCleveland onship. Because of this unprecedented very moderate 'peed indeed-and im success, in 1980 Bishop, president mediatell go into one ofthe bigge't un July 19, ABC 3:00 p.m. ED'r John Molson Indy ol IMSA, wrole new ruJe', which la- dersteer conditions I ve ever experi vored racing protory?es with no m:ni- enced. On absolutely firll-right lock, the ABC I:00 p.n. EDT July26, mum production number. Although front tires squealing in distress, go U.S.500 Presented by Toyota I Brcoklyn, MI inirially beaten by Lora ,, straight on, missing the solid banl< by a Porsche soon came back with the margin roo close lor comlort. Han Aueust 9, ABC 4,00 p.m. EDT 962-and once again dominated. dJing? What handling? With over 750 Miller Lite 200 Lexington, OH But back to our 935. Designed by bhp on tap from the 3.2-liter engine, AuBust 16, ESPN 3:30 p.n. EDT Norbert Singer especially for Le Mans there is noticeable throttle lag; then Te-\aco/Havoline 200 - Elkhan Lake, WI and the long Mulsanne Straight, where when the boost kicks in-you'd better 't sure less a Septenber 6, ESPN 5:00 p.n. EDT rcacied 227.5 mph, the extraordinary be that the car is more or in Molson Indy "Moby Dick' 935 with its tube-frame, straight Jine. Great fun. water-cooled cyJinder heads and special When discussing with Bischof Septenber 13, ESPN 3:00 p.m. EDT Langheck body Fnished in Martini col- which cars the ex-factory drivers at the Gland Prix of Monrerey Fearudng the Texaco/Havoline 300 ors is quite a sight. Built to production three supported race meetings would rule. that predicated the original sil- drive. I suggesr this would be an excel- October 4, ABC 4,00 p.m, EDT houene be maintained, it is extraordi- lent car for T€xaco Crand Prix ol Houston nary to see the rcar windshield in place Sorry George. October 18, ESPN 8100 p.in. EDT Indycamival GoldCoast, Queensland, Austmlia

Novernbe. l, ISPN 8,00 p.n. EST Marlboro 500 Prcsented by Toyota Fontana, CA

(Brcadcasts subject io change)

I TOYOTA lEverydav L

118 RoAD&TRc.cK I last ol lhe GIo|p C/GTP ca]s, PoEche's 962 was incrcdibly $e cesslul, lnstmenb flmdsd codeit, mori bred opentim ol car's turtociarged flat6, shown herc gettirg a final adiustnert from Bisdrot

mainlv in the hands of Holbert him- cooled twincam cvlinder heads starts 1986 962 quietly REGULATTONS fOI sell, Jo-driving with Britain's Derek at rhe turn ofthe [ey and idles NEW FIA on lst 1q82-l ou g,uessed it-thar banned Bell. h would be produced in vast at 1250 rpm. There's a lock-out engagement. producr ion-5ased cars brought a fur- numbers, more than'100. and different gear to prevent accidental 1"t. you must have come iher ol magni6cent Porsche manufacturers would build their own To engage 'eries Pro- the lever lo the rofloes to the raietracks of the world. versions. This would include chassis lrom 2nd, so sliding and forward ensases 2nd, and a Foiih" fir.r time Porsche produced an constructed by Holbert himself and by left pr.",.,.i.-to the left and alLrminum monocoque cha.sis. Also lim Chanman in California for Hol- oul1 back with -HR" or de- lor rhe first time. Ptrsche employed terr, which wouJd carry the i,oure in 1st. It"s not necessrS, much, for you the technology klown as -ground el- (Holbert Racing) suffx, officia.lly rec- iirable, to rev the engine almost as in a street car, fecrs,' in whiiir the air going under Lhe ognized by rhe Por"che factory Today, can idle awav great *h,'i" ro norlernmodern ignition and car is used to Droduce downforce. Por- lh"e 962 is'one ofrhe most after "a -*,r tribute to "oughr- technology.rechnoloqy. Again.Again, with sche would 6;ish l-2-3 at Le Mans in cars in vintage-racing circles. fu;l iniection rh" great.'ert advancesrdwances in shock-absotber 1982 and win the much coveted World Climhins into this 1987 Le Mans the 962 rides easily and com- M anufact urer. Championship in wi nner (H"ans Sr uck/Bell/Holbert) de.iin, the the fortibly orer the Sebring bumps. The L982-83-84-85 . isn'r roo easv. but once installed in the turbocharger, The 956 carried our Porsche design .omforrabli padded driver's seat. you engine, subdued by quiedv philo.ophy regarding correct w-eight discover ir's a1l acrion. Gauges. lights wh-istles ouiedv awav and hold tight. di.tribu rion for ma-rimum perlorm- and switches are everywhere. Lights Give iti ful1zuttitro,il. throttle l'"1 twentyt*entv bhPhhn and less than ance. As in the 908/03, the driver sat a indicate problems with fan belr, fuel, Sir hund-red remendous, re- lons wav lorward. [n America, with its alternatoi and oiJ pressure. Thankfulll. 2000-lb. weisht eoual You're 190 society. IMSA racing rules there are iust three gauges: a large rev l"ntl.ss ac.!leration. at Iiti[ioui the .oeiified rhar the driver's feet must be counter sits in the ienterl to the left, mph. rhe final turn belore Pits up, you srand on rhe , b"hind,lin. drawn through rhe cen oil remperaturel to lhe right. oil Pres- co'mes phenomenal braking capabili- ter of the front wheels. Therefore, the sure. Mandared by FIA law, there is and the ground effecrs. creates 95o couid not race here. So, ar the in- more room rhan in the 917. I get into tv, aided by power, almosr stiEalion of U.S. director of motor- a long and complex discussion with .ln.,,-.rrr. !toooine the brea'ri fro"m your body. Se- sp&r AI Holberr, Porsche produced a Klrrriabout the fuel-reserve svstem. forcing modified version known as the 962 Not surprising that it ran out oifuel in lecL 3rd gear, back on the Power, hrsl lor the fi that ultimately superseded the 955. 1983 and the driver didn\ know how of all een"tlv. and then hard pr"rt Not a slip or a This model would carry Porsche to yet to work the reserve! nal of the rurn. the road like hair to another oLrtsranding se'ies of race wins As usual, the 2.6-l1ter, 6-cYlitdet slide'. iust sruck to and three IMSA chamPionshiPs, turbocharged engine with water- yorr liead. Wonder6:1. @

120 RoAD &TRdcK