Blog 7/11/2022

Membership

New Members

No new members this week.

Member Correspondence

Was curious if any of the BRPCA members are planning to go to VIR Aug 26 – 28 for the IMSA Weather tech race.

There is a Porsche corral and wanted to know where it is located. I am wanting to get my tickets soon. Does BRR have their own corral or is it with other clubs?

It has been so long since I was at VIR, things are very different.

Any information you can give is appreciated.

Thanks,

Sharon Stanley

Great Question! Here are all the Details from the VIR Website. I see nothing about a Corral on the PCA website. Anyone out there know something about this event?

Activities

Cars and Coffee at Blue Ridge Bagels

July 16 at 9:30AM

Lynchburg, VA

RSVP Gene Reed. Space is limited and may be full.

Cars n Coffee at the Peaks of Otter Restaurant – August 20

85554 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Bedford VA 24533

August 20 2022 at 0900 hrs.

Repeat, 0900 hrs. Not our usual time..

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Gene Reed by noon on August 17.

Cars n Coffee at Dale’s Diner – September 17

11076 W. Lynchburg-Salem Tompkins

Montvale VA 24122. Next to the defunct Tank Farm

September 17 2022 at 0930 hrs. Our usual time.

Again seating is limited. Please RSVP to Gene Reed by noon on September 14

Hogan’s Corner

Blue Ridge Region members in Paint Bank, VA fall of 2015.

Cars

This 1956 Porsche 550 Spyder has spent the better part of 35 years sitting in a barn somewhere in the Swiss countryside. Early in its life it was owned and driven by a number of well-known Swiss racing drivers including Rita Rampinelli, Heinz Schiller, and Formula 1 ace Jo Siffert.

During the 1960s the car was upgraded with a number of “werks” factory components including an engine upgrade and new Porsche RS60 bodywork – in order to ensure the car would remain competitive against more modern machinery.

Fast Facts – A Barn Find Porsche 550 Spyder

The Porsche 550 Spyder was introduced in 1953 and sold until 156, with just 90 examples produced in total. Values have been climbing steadily in recent years, a 1958 550A sold for $5.17 million dollars in 2018.
Unlike the Porsche 356, the Porsche 550 is mid-engined, with the engine in the rear but in front of the rear axle line. It was designed to be as low and aerodynamic as possible, and it racked up many wins in period 1.1 and 1.5 liter racing classes.
The 550 Spyder was powered by the legendary flat-four Porsche Carrera four-cam engine, with double shaft-driven overhead cams per bank, dual ignition, dry sump lubrication, and 110 bhp from a displacement of 1498cc.
The car you see here started out as a standard 550, it was then later upgraded with a new factory engine and an RS60 body in the 1960s to remain competitive. It was recently rolled out of a barn where it had been sitting for 35+ years and it’s now being offered for sale.