Adventures of an old 914-6, Keeping it in the family and making memories Options

[vintage914racer]

As a regular lurker, and occasional forum participant (primarily when I find myself in a pickle and need to "phone a friend") I've always enjoyed ongoing build and "keeping them on the road and running" threads. So in an effort to do the same for myself, and perhaps prevent haphazardly ad hoc and disjointed threads for projects and updates, I figured I'd try to pull things together into my own, ongoing thread.

This thread is about "Speedy," my 1970 factory 914-6. The car has spent more time off the road than on, but as of late I've proclaimed it's the year of Speedy and started tackling a long list of updates. Before we get into those details, here's a bit about Speedy...

My memories with Speedy go back the the mid-80's when I was a pudgy four or five year old. Back when safety was more of a suggestion than a requirement, I'd often tag along in the front seat between my mom and dad on backroad blasts and the occasional trip up to Brainerd International Raceway when IMSA used to run up there.

Why the name "Speedy?" Well I suppose because as a kid I saw the 180mph speedy, felt my dad's right foot initiate some speedy acceleration, and perhaps because I distinctly remember my mom, in the passenger seat look up from what she was reading, glance at the speedo and shriek upon the realization that we were doing 120mph. By 1980s perspective, particularly that of a 6 year old, the car was Speedy. By today's standards? I'm not sure. But it sure is fun. And for the record, I'm not typically one to name a car, but apparently I was as a youth. And its stuck.

Here's she is, for reference...



It's worth noting that my Dad bought Speedy after he overcame a horrible battle with blood cancer (where they initially gave him 60 days to live). After paying off some truly excessive hospital bills that piled up during his better part of a year spent in the hospital, Speedy was his "I kicked Cancer's ass" celebratory purchase. He bought it at Carousel Porsche Audi in Golden Valley, MN, and perhaps not by coincidence, when I was a teenager I kicked off 10 years of employment at that very same dealership.

Stay tuned for more about our early years with Speedy and my journey as caretaker...

[vintage914racer]

In chasing down the "low speed whine" noted above, I figured I would replace the rear brake flex lines. I don't remember the last time (or if) I replaced them and I though maybe, just maybe, one or both had shrunk and were causing the rear brakes to drag.

Upon further inspection, the lines did indeed look old, but upon removal and dissecting them I didn't see any shrinkage (and it was pretty cold in the garage). Oh well, a new set of flex lines won't hurt and will last me until the next time I forget whether I've replaced them or not. I also replaced one of the hard lines as it didn't cooperate during the job.

I don't have any pictures of the brake line job, but I do have pictures of my next distraction...a trip to Rennsport Reunion VII with my 9-year-old daughter.





The blue car was actually a project car my dad owned many years ago that never got completed when he was around. We ended up selling it maybe 15 years ago and it was subsequently restored to the livery it ran at the Sebring 12 hours in the early eighties. I hadn't seen it since it was restored and it was fun catching up with the current owner. The car was built by group of local MN privateers, back when a few guys could build a car and bring it to the big show.

There were also a few other nice cars there....but ya'll have seen plenty of Rennsport pictures already I'm sure.