Category: Racing

Gold. Pure gold…

The video above is about John Wyer’s Gulf Porsche 917 team. With interviews with Pedro Rodriguez, Jo “Seppi” Siffert and John Wyer himself, it focuses on the JWA team in 1970. The video, 33 minutes long, covers all the 1970 championship races, from Daytona to Zeltweg. The most interesting part is John Wyer’s take on the team’s performance on each race. In the end, a delightful half hour that will please any vintage gearhead.

Books – 917/10

“Porsche Legend: The Can-Am L&M Penske Porsche That Made Racing History” – Stephen Cox

I just finished this book on my Kindle: “Porsche Legend: The Can-Am L&M Penske Porsche That Made Racing History”. Quite short, dirt-cheap, yet I found it to be a gem. It is totally specific to the L&M Penske 917/10 in the 1972 Can-Am season, and that’s why it is so brief. Nonetheless, it brings some great stories of what happened behind the scenes in the Penske camp. It is very light on the technical side, with almost nothing on stats or specs of the Penske cars. Even so, the book is a nice read, and you can basically finish it in one sitting.

With all that, I don’t think it will appeal to all gearheads, being so specific (and brief). Yet, for the price (less then 3 bucks!) you just can’t go wrong. So, if you have an interest in the 917/10 or Can-Am, it´s a nice read.

Books – Niki Lauda

“Niki Lauda: The Biography” – Maurice Hamilton

Since I’m a gearhead, of course I have some interest in F1. Yet, I’m not exactly a big fan. While that may be so, I do have more than a passing interest in the sport’s history. And a BIG part of that history in my eyes is occupied by Niki Lauda. To me, he was one of F1’s finest personalities, both in the cockpit of a F1 car and in the back scenes. And quite frankly, it is hard to find another driver with such colorful history.

I got this book on my Kindle, and it’s a bit poor on the photo content. Even so, it makes up with loads and loads of stories from Lauda’s carreer. And just as enticing, it gives a good idea of the inner workings of the F1 circus in the 70s and 80s. So I would say this is a must read to the Niki Lauda fan and a great book for the F1 fan.

Books – The IROC Porsches

“The IROC Porsches: The International Race of Champions, Porsche’s 911 RSR, and the Men Who Raced Them” – Matt Stone

Right around when I ordered my 911 RSR IROC #1, I also ordered this book. It took a looooong while to arrive, and I just finished it this week. Hardcover, with an embossed cover, 192 pages and a gazillion photos. The author dives DEEP into the 1973/74 IROC season and the cars that were in the race. To the point that he describes the history of every single one of the 15 chassis that participated in the championship. For the Porsche fanboy (me) a treasure trove of information on this specific model. For the gearhead in general (me again) a fantastic description of a very interesting race series.

The eagle-eyed coffee connoisseur probably identified that coffee as Nespresso 🤮. Yes, I confess, it is Nespresso. No, I don’t drink Nespresso (last one I had was before the pandemic, I think). Yet, I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to fire up my ECM and make a proper espresso. Looking back, though, I should have made a pour-over, instead.
May the God of Speed have mercy on my soul.