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I am always very curious as to what drew people to their first Porsche ownership experience?

For me it started the year I finished college at the tender young age of 26. (I waited till I was 22 to start). I had started a decent paying job and at the time I was driving a 1974 BMW 2002, It was a wonderful car and I have thought many times about purchasing another for vintage type events but at that age the lure of a Porsche was stronger than my desire to keep the BMW 2002.

That desire started in 1959 when I saw my first Speedster at a local SCCA auto cross. My parents were racers. Mostly English cars such as the Triumph TR3s of various years. Up to the TR4 when they decided they had enough and stopped racing. That being said I will never forget this beautiful silver Speedster with red interior and a hoop roll bar behind the driver. I visibly remember looking at that car and thinking “Why don’t we have one of those?” I even asked my dad but he harbored an anti German resentment from World War Two and was very visceral in his repudiation of all things German as were many of his age at that time. (which was ironic for a guy who was half German himself as am I).

In the first pic is a three year old me embarking on a 3000 mile round trip with my Dad in one of our TR3’s. That trip had a huge impact on me and my memories of that trip 68 years later are still crystal clear. Lake Tahoe, NV to Diggins, MO and back in that car forever cemented my thirst for sports cars.

Fast forward to the second picture taken just before I graduated my undergrad studies. That is my BMW 2002. It satisfied my need for daily transportation, provided a lot of driving thrill on the twisty back roads of rural Missouri and started me getting involved with automobile clubs.

Three years later it led to my purchasing my first ever Porsche. 

That is the third picture about a month after I go is and started doing thins to it. Ultimately five years later it had 15 inchFuchs Five spoke wheels and some aero things. Air dam, small spoiler on back, Weber carburetors, Monza dual exhaust and a number of the changes and improvements (os so I thought in the day).

That car went to many, many events. I still remember my first Porsche Club event and I was so ignorant that I said Porsh at one point and as soon I said it I know that was a being mistake and before I could correct myself a kind old gentleman (about the same age I am now 40 years later) stood up and said, “Hey kid come over here.” I sauntered on over at which point he gave me behind chewing and admonished that I better lear right there and then that Porsche was two syllable word. Never forgot that moment and still remember how I wanted to respond. Needless to say that culminated my 997.2 Carrera RS tongue in cheek homage. 

So what brought you to the Porsche (2 syllables) family. What was the moment you knew this was the car for you? Send me a story about how you got where you are now in your automotive journey. It’s these things that bring us all together.

Best wishes to all, 

Gary Lea