30 Years of Porsche Club Autocrossing

in Northern California



Norbert Nieslony = My Dad

Porsche and ‘racing’ have been a part of my life since before I can remember.  My father, Norbert Nieslony, came over from Germany in the mid 50’s as a Porsche factory representative. Being in this unique position he worked on various Porsche’s and or Porsche powered specials. After my father decided to open his own Porsche repair shop during my early childhood, I was always excited when Steve Froines’ RSK was in the shop or Ed Bowman’s Elva-Porsche was getting upgraded. Very exciting times for a 5   or 6 year old boy!

Demands on my Dad to keep Porsche daily drivers in service became greater and the time required for race cars inevitably took a back seat.  In the late 80’s my dad acquired a tired 1960 Porsche Coupe with a Normal engine. It had “thrown a connecting rod” and the owner didn’t want to repair the car. My father rummaged through his parts bins and put together an engine so that he had a car to play around with for a bit. PCA-GGR was running a very successful Autocross series, and my father was invited to participate. After attending one event he started trying to convince me to join him. In 1980, I was 19, almost 20, and was unsure of my skills and I didn’t understand what this form of racing was all about. Frankly I was a bit scared of embarrassing myself.

Finally my Dad convinced me to give it a try. On the Friday night before the event we mounted up our 5.5x15 steel wheels with worn down Michelin XWX’s (the hot tire set-up at the time) on the car. We also packed a small tool box, tire gauge and a portable air tank. On Saturday we got up early and drove over to the Pleasanton Fairgrounds for my 1^st Autocross. What I most remember is that registration was $5.00 for a single, $7.00 for two drivers (same car). There were so many Porsche’s there… several 356/912’s, a number of 911’s in various levels of updates and a massive swarm of 914’s. Amidst those cars were several cars running race slicks, and 3 or 4 that were heavily modified. This was exciting… I was going to be racing!

My Dad had arranged for Karl Beckle Jr to be my instructor. He had won the 356 class the past few years, so I was in good hands. We walked the course, and there was a lot of hand waiving, and terms like over steer, adhesion threshold, and pointing to where I should be at a certain corner, etc…   After the drivers meeting, and when my turn came I was ready. Helmet on. Safety belt attached. Karl was in the passenger seat. I had already worked on course and saw what was happening. It didn’t look that hard – heck they aren’t even going that fast – you stay in 2^nd gear – how fast can you really go in 2^nd gear!

The green flag dropped, Karl yelled at me… “Go!!!” and away I went! He was yelling at me to give more gas, then to brake, yelling at me to turn earlier, brake now, go left, go right, a blur of commands. I was working my tail off, the car was moving. I was Mario Andretti… I was hustling that car around the course, practice lap… 1^st timed lap…. 2^nd time lap… then the checkered flag. I could hear the crowds roaring in my head… this was fun and I did great! I reached out the window to get my 1st timing slip… my hand was shaking with adrenaline… and then I read my time… boy was I slow! Karl looked over at me and said, that I drove nicely for the 1^st time and that we had several things to work on before the day was done. Luckily I didn’t finish last that day – but I still had to learn a lot of things – but I was hooked, and was already planning the next event as my father and I drove home!  



The 1962 Porsche Coupe at Pescadero, Ca

The Pea Green 356 was replaced shortly thereafter by a no-rust 1962 coupe. Tire technology had moved on a bit and we know had the 1^st R-compound tires – Yokohama A001R - which improved our grip quite a bit. We installed Carrera brand shock absorbers and a Weltmeister front sway bar and built a nice Super 90 / 912 engine so that we had a chance at competing with the faster 912’s. My Dad and I drove this car to 3 Porsche Parades (Costa Mesa ‘85, Monterey ’90 and San Diego ’92). I had lots of fun driving this car and took 1^st in Class at the San Diego Parade.

In 1984 I had restored a 1973 Porsche 914 2.0, and made some suspension tweaks with the thought that I would I begin to autocross with it instead of the 356. In 1985, I was transferred from Santa Clara to Folsom and my adventures with the silver 914 began. In the 80’s, the vast majority of the Porsche’s Autocrossing in Zone 7 where 914’s. They ranged from bone stock, to wildly modified, and some of the area’s best drivers, including many quick drivers from Sacramento where pushing 914’s between the cones. The competition level was very high, and if you did well in Zone 7, you could do well anywhere in PCA.



Phil Cloud Drving the Race 914 at Mather Field
before I rebuilt the car

That Silver 914 with the vanity plate D WUCHT, served me very well as I competed with it at many northern California Autocrosses for 16 years. By the late 90’s and early 2000’s, the nature of the events began to change - there were less 914’s and those that did show were increasingly being towed to events as opposed to being driven there. It was at this time that I began to look into the purchase of a more modified 914 that would be faster than my street 914 and that could challenge the really fast drivers and their cars. In 2000 I found just such a model, the price was right and I purchased the car. It had been stored for a long time, and had been built to be an autocross car. I drove it at the last two events of the year to see if the car and I were a good match – we were. That winter and the following year I rebuilt the car, changed some body panels, added a nice paint job with homage to John Surtees’ Team cars, and began to drive the car in earnest in 2002.



The "Pylon Assasin" at McClelland Field

The transition from a street car, to a purpose built autocross car was significant. I needed to learn how to strap the car onto the trailer, how to tow, and then I had to learn how Race Slicks work vs. Street Rubber. Being in a race car was so different than a street car, the vibration of the engine, and surface the tires ride on are felt much more clearly and viscerally. The learning curve was steep, but as the year progressed, I became increasingly comfortable with the car and was able to push it faster and faster.


During the 2003 season I met the love of my life and future wife, Joy. Ours was a long distance relationship (Redding and Cameron Park), and in early 2004 I was able to share and autocross with Joy for the 1^st time. It was March, in Candlestick, it was cold, it was damp it was a long drive that morning. This was Joy’s 1^st experience at an Autocross, she was going to drive for the 1^st time, and it was all going to happen in a full fledge Autocross race car! Against my strong objections she wanted to get a ride with me before she would drive the car. Did I mention that Candlestick in March is a cold, damp place? Did I also mention that I am on slick race tires that need lots of warmth to get the traction they need? The Green flag came out I gave gas, made the 1^st turn, and we started to slide sideways as the car scrambled to get grip, we were heading down the course and I was looking through the passenger window. I got it straightened out, didn’t hit a cone and had a very nice run. Joy can do a better job of telling you her emotions after that run and the one after that - but she looked a bit ‘green’. I was certain I had ‘blown it’ – that she would never be back and would not understand my passion for Autocrossing. However, Joy pushed through the early shock, and she competed the entire season and was named the Rookie of the Year in 2004. She is repeatedly complimented on how smooth she is, and her excellent car placement.

Sabrina, Joy, Me and Hunter @ the Porsche Parade
in Portland 2006

In 2006 and 2007 we were lucky to have back to back Porsche Parades in Portland (’06) And San Diego (’07).  We decided to make these Parades our summer vacation, and since Joy had relatives in both areas it was not just a Parade but a family get-together as well. This was also the 1^st exposure that Joy and her kids had to all that is a Porsche Parade.  Now parade autocrosses are normally bigger and are higher speed than our local events. My 914 is not a high horsepower vehicle (2.0 liter 4 cylinder), it relies much more on quickness than top speed. The Portland Parade was a lot of fun, and we both took class victories, but at the 2007 Parade in San Diego, the proverbial stars aligned for me. The course was big (at Jack Murphy stadium) and fast, but it also had a lot corners that slowed cars down quite a bit, allowing a lighter quicker 4 cylinder 914 to make up for raw horsepower. By the smallest of margins I was able to take the Top Time of Day Overall Trophy home to Sacramento for the 1^st Time.
Over the past 32 years, Zone 7 has had events at many different sites and I have competed at: Pleasanton Fairgrounds, Splinter City at McClellan, Oakland Coliseum, the old GM plant in Fremont, Crows Landing, Stockton Fairgrounds (our current home), Candlestick Park, Delta College, Alameda NAS, Mather Fields (3 different locations), Santa Rosa Airport, Laguna Seca (in the Pits), Marina Airport, Negro Bar, Cal Expo, McClellan (2 other parts), Sears Point/Infineon, Golden Gate Fields… to name just the ones I can recall. Very few of these sites are available to us today (for a variety of reasons), but each one was unique, had their challenges, which really speaks to the uniqueness of Autocrossing vs. the other forms of Porsche motorsports. Each event will be different then the last one you attended… the course layout will be different even if it is the same site. In Autocrossing, the driver is challenged to determine the quick way around the course beginning with the morning course walk, trying to improve with each ‘run’. When you are behind the wheel you are simultaneously addressing and correcting the behavior of the car at that moment while also looking ahead 1,2 or even more corners to determine where you and the car should be.




Ready to drive between the Pylons!

While, the physical and cerebral challenge of the sport is unique, what creates the strongest pull for Joy and I is the people we have met and socialized with at the various autocrosses we have attended. It is a little acknowledged fact that Autocrossing is as much about the people as it is about the driving and I am sure that if you come out to one of our events you will experience this as well. We look forward to meeting you soon!

 

Rennsport Reunion IV - Porsche Memories



"Odd Skid Marks"

 This will be a blog that mixes two of my interests, photography and cars - to be more specific - It will be about Porsche's and an excuse to publish a number of Porsche Photo's one of my guilt pleasures.

This year we (northern Californians) were forntunate enough to host and attend one of the largest iof not the largest gatherings of Porsche's that has ever been held. Called Rennsport Reunion IV - it was held for the 1st time on the west coast, specifically at Laguna Seca in Monterey California. The previous three Reunions were scheduled in an ad hoc manner and all had been held on the east coast. So this was a big deal for Porsche lovers - So both Joy and I decided to splurge and attend.

"RS Spyder Nose"




"Split Personality 962"


The 1st impression was the overwhelming number of cars present. I do not know the final count of Porsche's present but the row upon row, upon rows of 911's (taildraggers), 356's, 914's, Boxsters, Caymans, etc... was just mind boggling. There were a tremendous amount of historic race cars present, ranging from 4 Cam Carreras, Spyders,  special builts like Elva-Porsche's, Bobsy-Porsche's, Platypus, etc... Then there were the 908, 917, 935, 956 and 962's that dominated endurance racing and succesfully beat the likes of Ferrari, Ford, BMW, Lancia and others to numerous victories and championships. The history and accomplishment of this little car maker in Zuffenhausen Germany was in full view and is quite impressive.






"Oops at the Corkscrew"

  



Didier's RS Spyder



A bit more subtle was the way Porsche has influenced racing and in turn their production cars by bringing different technologies to the forefront. The Turbopanzers (the 917 Turbo's) introduced Turbocharging to the 911 Turbo which in turn led to many other companies making Turbo machines available at all proce points. Porsche demonstrated Hybrid technology by racing their 911 Hybrid, and creating a high end $800k 918 Spyder sports car with similar technology.

 

"Turbo Panzer"


   

Hybrid Technology



"Not a Prius"

There were many races on the track and many cars to see in the paddock and by the end of the weekend, after three days of Porsche overload, both Joy and I were satiated, tired and ready to go home. I hope you enjoy some of the visual memories I have attached to this blog.




"A Gaggle of 356's"



"Psychedelic Cayman"



"Dueling 917K's"



"Orange 911 @ Speed"





"Brian in his 908/3"



"NewMan 956"



"Lowenbrau 935"





ARTistic 935







7x11 - The Big Slurpee #2

Today's blog is about the 7x11 film format.

For those not familiar with some of the more esoteric film sizes, this is one of them. From what I have been able to gather, at least three companies made 7x11 (inch) film cameras in the early part of the 20th century, Eastman-Kodak, Korona and Ansco (Anthony Scovill). The first time I heard about the 7x11 format was when I went to a Camera Swap Meet at an old church in Oakland California in 1997 or 1998. There I saw several modern contact prints similar in size to 8x10, but different and skinnier. I spoke with the man behind the table and he stated that the photos were made with a 7x11 Kodak 2d. I was very intrigued and began to search for my own copy of this format. Eventually I found a Korona version on eBay, and had Patrick Alt restore the camera for me. My friends jokingly called it 'The Big Slurpee' naming it after the icy-sugary concoction you got from 7-11 convenient stores. Get it? 7x11 camera - 7-11 Convenient store. :-)

Any way I used the Korona for quite some time - using for different photo outings - however I began to realise that with all of the different type of cameras I had I was not operating efficiently, so I slowly began to modernize and standardize on Canham cameras where I could. As I began this process the Slurpee was mostly idle.

In early 2010 I bought a Canham 10x12 rear standard to swap out with the Canham 8x10 rear standard - which then allowed me work with Keith Canham to make a 7x11 back that would work with my film holders. After a half year wait my new back arrived and I sold the original 'Big Slurpee'.

About a month ago I was able to go into the Darkroom and print the first 4 'keepers' taken using the new Canham 7x11. After scanning them I thought this would be a good opportunity to share them with you.

These digitized images / scans are not the best... I need to save for a new scanner that works with Windows 7.  So here they are...:

Bentonite Forms - Cathedral Gorge, Nevada

October 2010

Ying & Yang #2 - Gladding McBean

Lincoln, Ca - 2011

Open Window - Gladding McBean

Lincoln, Ca - 2011

Capital from Fireman Funds Building - Gladding McBean

Lincoln, Ca - 2011

First Blog - What to Say? Krazy Foto Kampers?

Well... here goes my first step into the Blogosphere... and it feels like I have nothing to share. :-|

Perhaps it is best to explain why I am here and why I am doing this.

First of all I wish to improve my written communication skills. As a Project Manager for a large technology firm - one of the core tenants of that profession is to communicate and communicate well. Fair enough, however often times we communicate in short phrases (bullets) to get our point across - hopefully to glean the support needed, win approval etc... In short it meets the need - but falls way short on the sharing continuum.

Secondly I wanted to talk about my hobbies/interests, primarily photography, but also perhaps occasionally about my Autocrossing experiences or about Music, or a Book I am reading or just to vent a bit about the narrow-mindedness I see in our political leaders. Don't worry - this will not be another political blog - but I may feel compelled to say something when things get really stupid - so, please forgive me in advance.

Okay.... lets get on topic and explain why I titled this Blog Shutter / Stop. Those that are active photographers are familiar with these terms, "Shutter" meaning the amount of time the film or sensor is exposed to light and (f)Stop being the amount of light the lens lets through. I liked the way these two words interplayed so I named my blog Shutter / Stop.

This then left me with a decision on what I should 'kick-off' with. Hmhhhh.... decisions.... decisions! I think I will start off with Krazy Foto Kampers. Okay who or what the "H E double hockey sticks" is that? Well it started out as a group of photographers from the greater Sacramento area that got together weekly (The Friday Night Gang) at a local rental Darkroom decided to do a camping trip together. I joined the group in 2000 and every year, normally before summer, we would get together for a 4 day weekend to camp, talk, eat, drink,exchange white elephant  gifts and yes... take photographs. These trips are mostly in the state of California - but we have had two excursions into Nevada including this year where we met and camped at Berlin-Icthyosaur State Park near Austin Nevada. This location was an interesting blend of an old mining ghost town, the largest depository of Icthyosaurs and great views of the Great Basin.

About 6 months after our camping trip (early fall) we all get together and do a print exchange. We all agree to make an 11x14 image for each participant - so that when the exchange occurs - we all have a portfolio of images from each person... some years we have walked away with about 20 different images.

Now this is not group of Instamatic snap shooters - but a group of very accomplished photographers and artists. I am blessed that I have been able to spend time with these gentleman (term used loosely) and I hope that there wisdom, skill, humor and goodwill have and will continue to rub off on me.

So I will leave this Blog including a sneak preview of the photo that I have chosen to include. In this case it is a digital photo that I took on historic highway 50 in Nevada... enjoy!