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By Richard Burns

While my High School classmates in the 70’s were buying used Mustangs or Camaros as their first car mine was a Red 1966 Volkswagen Beetle 1300. 50HP of fun and simple enough to fix most anything that broke. Later I “upgraded” to a 1972 Super Beetle, all of 15HP increase but it was yellow so that made it faster. I have been hooked on German cars since. 

I favor older cars and  have owned a number of Audi’s, Mercedes, and Porsche’s over the years. Not a collector, never had the money or room, more that I get bored and changed cars often. The only new car I purchased was a 2000 Audi TT taking delivery of one of the first cars to reach the US. Not the fastest but very nimble and turned heads when it first launched. It was my daily driver for a number of years.

My first “weekend car” was a 1974 Triumph TR6 in British Racing Green. I grew up in New England and one of our high school teachers had one. I vowed to buy one when I had the money and lived somewhere you could drive it more than 4 months a year. First thing I did when moving to CA was to buy the exact model from a collector. It was pristine and great car if you could keep it running right. 

Was not looking to replace the TR6 but happened upon a 1987 Porsche 944S on a local lot back in 1996. Took it for a test drive fell in love bought it on the spot and caught the lifelong Porsche bug.  I am on my 7^th.  1987 944s, 1992 968, 1984 911 Carrera Cab, 2001 Boxster, and 1995 Cayenne S. The ‘95 Cayenne buy was a similar experience as the 944. Not looking but out shopping for a new car for my wife and the Porsche Dealer was next door and it was on their lot calling my name. At the time, never having driven one, thought the Cayenne AKA: Ugly Duckling was a Porsche sacrilege. Took it for a test drive and after the first couple of miles thought; My God they have done it, it’s a sports car! Somone went home with an automobile that day and it wasn’t my wife.

Currently own a 2011 Cayenne S as a daily driver and 2006 Boxster S for events and drives. Have been a PCA member since the  late 90’s but attended very few events while living in CA. The Las Vegas chapter is much more active and I will be going to the Racing School in Pahrump in October. (Bucket List Item) 

My wife and I moved to Las Vegas 5 years ago from San Jose CA. I spent my entire career in the consumer electronics industry and came to Las Vegas for the CE Show once a year for 35+ years and not once set foot off the strip.  I thought then like most people who have not lived here believed Las Vegas is just gambling and drinking, not that there is anything wrong with that😊. Who knew just 2 miles off the strip it would be such a great place to live. Unfortunately, the secret is now out and hopefully we don’t turn into California.

I am often asked what has been my favorite Porsche. All of them but my first, the 944S, holds special memories and the one I should never sold the 1984 911 Carrera Cab. Canvas pic still hangs in my garage. 

Hobbies: My dogs and Porsche’s in no particular order.