Targa in a 912 ?

[mr901]

I need some honest feedback from those in the know. I'm doing the targa tour in my 993 this year but have a secret desire to do the comp next year despite my average (at best) steering skills. My 912 (pic attached) has an excellent body & reasonably fresh (albeit stock) engine & is in otherwise "average-good" condition for it's age. I'm more interested in participating in the historic category simply with the goal of finishing.

First question would be whether it's realistic to use the 912......I figure it won the 67' european rally championship so can't be too bad but not sure how it'll cope without a full rebuild 42 years later ? Second would 10-15k be enough to prepare it, eg cage, seats, harness, suspension, brakes, tyres, terratrip & a general freshen up (assuming minimum engine/trans work). Thirdly being an ex USA 912 should I start again & spend that money on a 911 ? Finally with a year to go can anyone recommend a specialist who could do this work within a budget ? Any help would be very much appreciated.....I love the 912 & would like to use but not sure if I've lost my mind !!!

[CamBiscuit]

Matt

You are officially at the top of the henceforth to be known as- 'slippery slope'.

Be afraid, be very afraid So many questions here beginning with - how serious are you about this? $15K will seem like a drop in the bucket if you do get into it in a big way.

Ask me how I know! And Ryan, and Andy, and Alex etc

[mr901]

mmmm, that's a disturbing report, Cam.....my theory, perhaps a naive one, is that you should never drive fast in a car you'd can't afford to destroy. I figure I have three options (happy to hear other thoughts)......(1) use the 993 (2) sell the 912 for 20-25k, add my 15k budget & buy a decent 944S2 or (3) do the 912 on a budget......I love the 912 & like the idea of the classic comp but don't want to be the maniac who spent 80k on a 912 bitsa.....so I guess to answer your question I'm serious to a total budget of 40-50k (which removes option 1 or a pre-73 911). I don't need to have the fastest car, just one that will get me home & have some fun along the way......happy to hear all views including those that start with......"are you ^&*#! insane"......ha ha

[griffiths_r]

how could you not have fun in a 912? as long as you accept that you won't be the fastest (but i also suspect you won't be the slowest either!)...

[OBRUT]

matt,

my view is you should prepare the 912 to meet targa's C1 regulations (ie. stock). very little mods allowed thus costs are to some extent minimised.

you could probably do pretty well in this class. it would also keep the car legal for other events such as historic racing (group S). stock mechanicals will be fine - except maybe consider a dual master cylinder/brake bias setup.

put the money into a proper FIA cage (not an off the shelf/bolt in), good seats and safety gear and getting the car in good running order.

i wish i had started rallying earlier (in any car) rather than waiting until i had built up my 911. when you get down there you will see people having a blast in all manner of cars.

any other questions, please ask.

ps. another thought is skip the tour and put that cash into getting the 912 ready - some people get pretty frustrated with the tour setup.

pps. classic adelaide is an easier intro to the sport.

[1st]

968 Cs

Love that 912.......but I say, get yourself a 968 CS.

Best damn car I ever owned and I regretted selling my M030 the second it left the driveway.........they sold 60 of them locally (only 14 were M030's), so there's a few floating around.

Idiot proof handling, reliable and historic in that Jim Richards, Fitzy and others all used these in period when they were new.

Most have been set up and used as intended so your development costs should be minimal if you buy someone else's hard work.

And as I was told, short of bolting on a turbo there's not much you can do to get more HP- great in that it's another way of limiting expense.

And, it's a P O R S C H E. Do targa, club runs, motorkhana's, track days- anything you can chuck at it.

hmmmm, talked myself back into one........ now where's my latest copy of Unique Cars?

Cheers

Stew

[mr901]

Stew.....never thought I'd get a 968CS for the budget but happy to find one !!! The last one I saw was BLU968 at 33k which is now making regular appearances at Porsche Club track days. Anything for sale since seems to be twice the price ?

Ryan......great advice.....I had a look at the targa regs today & was happy to find that in the standard class the things you're allowed to update match nicely with the things the 912 needs done soon anyway. Given that the 912 doesn't owe me much to start I'm starting to think it can be done !! It's a very exciting prospect !! Can anyone recommend a good suspension / brakes guy ? Also I agree on your tour comments. It was a bit of a recon mission to see what it's all about but it does appear to be a lot of effort & cost for not much action !!! Also the time commitment for Targa is much longer than the Classic. If I can find the funds & an excuse to be back in the country in Nov I may have to give it a go.....

If I'm really honest I enjoy my midnight runs in the 912 more than the 993, it's such a fun little car !! So I think I'm on the top of Cam's slippery slope & about to jump.....ha ha

[OBRUT]

matt,

unless you have access to lots of practice time, i also think it is a good idea to develop the car as you (and your co driver) develop your rallying skills.

i first did targa tas in a 911 that had a good suspension setup but only about 150hp, was relatively heavy and had stock gearing. regardless, it felt pretty damn quick at the time.

over time i upgraded the power and brakes, lowered the gearing and reduced the weight. my rally car is now a pretty quick jigger - but i don't think my early times would have been that different if i had my current car back then (some may argue nothing has changed...)

ps. if you really get the bug, then in a few years time i look forward to seeing a C3 class, sub 900 kg plastic 912 with a monster type 4 motor shovelled in the back...

pps. a bunch of us will be in adelaide - another option is to come along for a few days and see how the event runs. others who have done this have had a fun weekend and we can normally arrange for a spare spot in a support car.

[PCM911T]

Matt, found a copy of Tarmac Magazine in my newsagent today. It might be of interest to you. For example, the magazine is offering $2240 off the entry fee to the 2009 Targa Tasmania for the Classic Class to entrants who take their Scholarship Package, for those who have not competed before. Good little mag and well written, including Rex Broadbent's Porsche and Classic Adelaide. Also have a web site: www.tarmac-mag.com.au
Cheers
Paul M

[mr901]

Thanks Paul, great advice on the mag & scholarship. Will be calling first thing in the morning. Now if I can just get the 912 finished in 6 weeks......ha ha

[mr901]

Ryan......just noticed your 2nd reply, thanks !!! You'll probably laugh but when I get the 912 up to speed it feels fast so I understand what you mean......ha ha.....at this stage I couldn't drive my finger up my A#$ so very happy to develop the car along with my skills. Really appreciate the offer for Adelaide & if I can get back to Australia will definately be in contact. Given the car is a bitsa already I think it's future as a plastic monster is assured !!!

[roland paterson]

Hey Matt

The other factor you will need to consider is running the engine in if you decide to open her up! I would also recommend a big bore kit for that extra 20hp ($800 US) . Running in usually takes a couple of months...

Usually costs about $7k if you have good heads. As you know, I love that car and beleive its well worth the investment.

R

[mr901]

Thanks Roland, appreciate the thumbs up for the old jigger....I got my hands on some original fuch's last week so I expect her to be lookin' the goods soon. What is it that costs 7k ? Who does the work on your 356 ?