356SC to California and back

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We arrived at Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe this afternoon. Since the last post, we left Monterey Monday and on the way out of town toured Chateau Julian Winery outside of Carmel. It is one of only a few wineries that actually grows the grapes on its property at the winery. Had a great tour and tasting. Then we continued up the Coast on Hwy 1 then 101 to Gilroy ( the garlic capital of the world where even the air smells like garlic ). We were tempted to try the garlic ice cream but chickened out. Then it was across the cental valley of CA to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mts. Road 600 and Road 415 in the foot hills were rolling and twisty, but the 356 gobbled up the miles in no time. Then a two night stay at the Teneya Lodge just south of Yosemite Park. One full day touring the major sites both above and in the Yosemite Valley. Truely beautiful. This morning we left the Lodge and traveled about 100 miles in Yosemite Park heading north and east thru the Tioga Pass ( elevation 9945 feet ), then past Mono Lake up the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mts to Carson City, Nevada, then back west to Lake Tahoe. The 300 + mile trip took 7 1/2 hours most thru twisty roads with changes in elevation from 4000 feet to 9945 feet and every where in between. Now begins the 356 West Coast Holiday for the next 4 days. Starts with a driving tour to Reno, NV tomorrow to see both a private collection of Porsches (Ranson Webster) and the National Automotive Museum, then on to NLA headquarters ( so I can see where all my money for parts has been going). Friday will be a motorsports day with multiple driving events and Sat the Concours. More on this as it unfolds. Keep the faith.



Chateau Julian Winery outside of Carmel, CA



Outside the massive Lake Tahoe, on the way to the 356 west coast holiday.

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The first full day of the Holiday was beyond words. A quick drive to Reno with a visit to the National Automobile Museum which was started with about 200 cars from the Harrah collection which were not sold to private parties. This included examples fom the early 1900's thru about 1960's. A Rolls Royce with a body made completely of copper. Also a small sample of the private collection we were to visit next. This included a 1948 Gmund coupe, a RSK, a 550 Spyder, and a McLaren Porsche. We then traveled to a warehouse that contained part of the Ranson Webster collection. It was sensory overload, the cars ( 356's of every description, no less than 6 fully restored 4 cam Carreras, a 4 cam Spyder, 2 Arbarth Carrerras, a 1964 901 serial # 300012, 1973 RS, multiple other 911's 930's, 924 Carera, 959, '89 Speedster in fly yellow with 117 miles on the odometer, a Porsche-Alva, 904, 906, 914-6, with other race cars with full histories), the poster collection ( over 450), the models, and any other thing one could imagine that was related to Porsche. And in the next building a totally original 1957 VW Beetle that only had a belt change, gas, oil. Still has its original tires with plenty of tread. Then if all of this wasn't enough on to Stoddard-NLA to visit their place of business and see racks of 356 parts. All in all this was an amazing day. Keep the faith.



paint can't hide any bodywork here...All Copper bodied Rolls Royce!!



1953 550 Spyder Prototype



1948 Gmund coupe, one of the first Porsches made

[sngl-fin]

nice, nice, nice !
love the pics
ed

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Well the WCH is over and we are on our way back to Virginia. The WCH was great. Friday was motorsports day with self guide tours of the Tahoe area, a funkanna in which a driver and co-pilot travels a marked course with several tasks of skill( carrying a potato on a spoon out the window of the car over a distance, backing to a mark, shooting darts out of each window at targets, etc), and a gymkanna. We participated in all events and had a ball. We had a special speaker at the lunch this day by the name of N. Singer recalling his days first in the apprentice program at Porsche to the days when he was in charge of the "special wishes" department.Then on Saturday the Peoples choice Concours with over 230 356's on the golf course at Squall Valley from every year and model from 1949 to 1965 including a Gumund race car from 1949. Then an evening banquet with the invited speaker who is in charge of marketing for Porsche AG. Then on Sunday we left for home and came across 80 from Tahoe to Salt Lake City. Passed the Bonnieville Salt Flats and crossed the Great Salt Desert and got caught in a "salt" storm. Visability about 400 yds and salt blowing in every crack in the car. Thank goodness for K & N filters. After an overnight in Salt Lake City, we hit the road this am and traveled thru Utah and into Colorado. Crossed the Vail Pass and set a new record for the 356 altitude at over 10600 feet. We are currently in Frisco, Colorado and will head out again tomorrow. will try to send more pics to Robert tomorrow. Keep the faith

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We left Colorado in drive mode and covered 720+ miles that day. It was mostly to cross Kansas (480+ miles of straight and relatively flat road). Arrived at Kansas City, MO and decided to drive to the east side to avoid rush hour in the am. However, we hit just when the KC Royals game was over and a ton of traffic. Had to drive 20 more miles just to find a hotel. Next day drive mode again and covered 650+ miles. Then 2 easier days across Kentucky, WVA, and Virginia. Drove Route 60 and I64 in parts of these states. I have to say that Route 60 in these areas is among the best Porsche roads of the entire trip. And it is within a days drive of home or an easy overnight. Anyway, we are now trying to get back in the routine at home with work, ect. All in all, after 8200+ miles for the entire trip the 356 just had routine service and only had a speedo cable broken as the only problem during the entire trip. Plenty of memories and pictures. Glad we did this trip and would do it again in a heartbeat. Keep the faith.

[lufteknic]

Awesome story, thanks for the latest pictures, I'll get them up soon...I'm sure you have more, and we will see you soon for the full de-brief.

Congrats on a successful journey!!

[edevlin]

Great trip pics, we were planning on taking our 2000 Boxster to New Mexico this summer, but it developed a transmission fluid leak the day before we left. Robert found it to be an easy fix for the tranny, but we still had to take our Subaru out west instead. We are looking at Newfoundland next summer.....

Ed