Where I Came From...

[Apoc]

Awhile back there was some discussion about the "olden days" and where we may have gotten our interest in cars from. Here's a brief pictorial about where I came from. Needless to say, my destiny was predetermined long before I was ever conceived.

One of my grandfather's many licenses, complete with 'stache.




My dad and mom with him and his Porsche Elva at a track I haven't figured out yet.




My grandfather doing a hill climb in the Elva in '73.




My grandfather (or is it my dad?) racing the Elva at what I'm pretty sure is Summit.




Sadly the car is not in the family any more. My dad sold it, and all his other cars except the '67 911S, after my grandfather died in '91. To this day, my dad regrets the decision to sell that car (which wasn't running at the time). Probably the most unfortunate part is I was 13 when he died so he never got to see me drive/race.

[Mike]

that "unknown track" one looks like it might be summit. i'm matching up the numbers and shirt being worn with the confirmed summit one.

[JackoliciousLegs]

Those are some awesome pics. I'm sure he'd be proud... and holy crap a 67 911s is still a pretty sweet family heirloom!

[Ginger0]

My grandfather (or is it my dad?) racing the Elva at what I'm pretty sure is Summit.

Hasn't changed much

[Apoc]

that "unknown track" one looks like it might be summit. i'm matching up the numbers and shirt being worn with the confirmed summit one.

The numbers and suit (which is hanging in my closest) were standard regardless of where they raced. I haven't confirmed, but I'm pretty it's my dad because it's 207 and not 201. I think they took the top off the 7 to make the 1 because they both raced the same car.

I don't believe Summit ever had anything to that scale. I want to say Daytona but I don't think they ever raced there. There can't be that many tracks on the east coast that had two rows of garages in the '70s.

[Maengelito]

those are awesome pics. The numbers on those two cars are the same but they look like different cars to me. The rear fenders look to be flatter in the side picture. Also, the rear wing looks like it spans the entire width of the car while it only spans the trunk lid in the head on view. Also, I can't really tell but the front canards/lip look to be either not there or black while they are red in the side view. Regardless, those are awesome pics and its pretty neat to see that your grandpops was badass back in the day.

[Mike]

those are awesome pics. The numbers on those two cars are the same but they look like different cars to me. The rear fenders look to be flatter in the side picture. Also, the rear wing looks like it spans the entire width of the car while it only spans the trunk lid in the head on view. Also, I can't really tell but the front canards/lip look to be either not there or black while they are red in the side view. Regardless, those are awesome pics and its pretty neat to see that your grandpops was badass back in the day.

yep, you're right... entirely different rear "fender."

[Apoc]

those are awesome pics. The numbers on those two cars are the same but they look like different cars to me. The rear fenders look to be flatter in the side picture. Also, the rear wing looks like it spans the entire width of the car while it only spans the trunk lid in the head on view. Also, I can't really tell but the front canards/lip look to be either not there or black while they are red in the side view. Regardless, those are awesome pics and its pretty neat to see that your grandpops was badass back in the day.

Yeah it's a different rear, you can see the seam in from of the MII on the 2nd pic. I'm pretty sure the chin spoiler was removable but I don't know for certain.

[Evan]

super cool pics, I love that Elva, especially with the curved fenders.

I dont think Summit ever had garages before, so I dont think the unknown pic is from there.

What about the Glen?

[Apoc]

I highlighted the two best parts.

This is Pocono. You can see another Porsche Elva in the background. Only 16 made in the world and 3 of them were there that weekend. This was at the 1974 PCA Parade. Our first exposure to passing on track as this was the advent of DEs. My Dad bought the Elva in 1971 in Silver Spring, Md from a guy racing in SCCA club racing for the lofty price of $2500. With Dad's persistence, PCA later accepted the Porsche Elva as an official Porsche car. Needless to say that had a dramatic effect on the value. Good ole Dad.



That's Grandpop at SP. That was a test day we did. We rented the track that day for $50 and had it all to ourselves. Back then didnt need corner workers or EVs.





The PHA hillclimb pictured was the Duryea Hillclimb in Reading, Pa. Only hillclimb we had that acutally had some downhill. This hillclimb is actually still being run to this day. Actually have thoughts of doing a 944 Cup Time Trial event as part of the Cup shcedule at this historic venue. Just something different. Stayed tuned.

Pop went on to race in SCCA with the Mom, 3 sisters and me as crew. He was the SCCA MARRS C Sports Racer Champ for 1980 and 1981.

[Sijray21]

pretty cool stuff man! :-D

[BLAIR]

SWEET..

[Apoc]

3.5 years later, I got an email from a guy who was looking for pics of his dad in his Elva. I didn't have anything to help him, but a week later I got an email with pictures he found from someone else.

These are from various hill climbs around in/around '73. I'm pretty sure the first pic is of my dad. I can't tell the rest.

[ScottyB]

cool. looks like the elva was a pretty popular chassis at that time.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Wow this is so damn cool!

[Apoc]

cool. looks like the elva was a pretty popular chassis at that time.

Interestingly, no. There were only 14 (I think) of them and by coincidence were there two in the same part of the world, doing the same events. In a few exchanges between my dad and the other guy, I've learned their two dads (one obviously my grandfather) bonded as a result of their unique car choice and became very good friends.

[Jeff]

Man this is some pretty neat stuff. It cool to see the old race cars, not to mention the 70's fashion. Thanks for sharing.