Project 911S - The End Result

One more benefit of using vinyl instead of rendering the Martini livery in paint is that the sticker material can be easily removed. Understandably, this is an option Hukill would rather I never exercise.

Back to the disheartening test day. It had been 3 years, 3 long years, since I had actually turned a wheel at Willow Springs in the 911S. One never forgets how to ride a bike, or so it is said. But sliding into the seat of a pristine race car and heading out onto the Big Track after an extended hiatus is akin to mounting the proverbial bicycle and letting someone push you off Mt. Everest. Surely you'll remember how to pedal, but making it to the bottom is doubtful.

So, in conclusion, my excuses for impotent lap times are the weather, the need to keep the car in one piece for photographs and, more specifically, FEAR. The first will be resolved by the coming of spring, the second by Les Bidrawn and his trusty Nikon, and the third excuse will be remedied by steady installments of seat time.

In upcoming stories-yes, there will be more on the S, because project cars are never done-we'll find a way to properly scrutinize this lustrous assemblage of German technology and aftermarket racing components. Whether I gather my wits or we entice a real race car driver to run it through its paces, the limits of the project 911S will be examined.

Project 911S History
September 2000 Part 1: The first steps in going from derelict to race car
October 2000 Part 2: A green 1970 911S coupe
November 2000 Part 3: Starting at the front with suspension
December 2000 Part 4: And now the rear suspension
January 2001 Part 5: Fitting bigger brakes for faster laps
February 2001 Part 6: Paint and interior
March 2001 Part 7: Balancing the chassis
April 2001 Part 8: Going racing
May 2001 Part 9: Phase II, the engine
June 2001 Part 10: Induction and exhaust systems
July 2001 Part 11: The transmission
August 2001 Part 12: Removing the undercoating
October 2001 Part 13: Strengthening the chassis
February 2002 Part 14: Body and paint
March 2002 Part 15: Safety equipment
October 2002 Part 16: Upgrading the braking system
November 2002 Part 17: Going with the flow for better cooling
January 2003 Part 18: The ultimate suspension setup
March 2003 Part 19: The good, the bad & the mulligans
July 2003 Part 20: The end results