Amelia Island Concours – The Porsche 917 Seminar

Fernandina Beach, FL (March 12, 2010) – The first day of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was highlighted by the Porsche 917 seminar at the classy Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island just North of Jacksonville, FL. The panel of 917 drivers and racing personal was moderated by motorsports author, Tim Considine and renaissance man Sam Posey.

The panel consisted of Racing legends, Brian Redman, John Wyer Racing engineer John Horsman, Speedy Brit Vic Elford, Five-time LeMans winner Derek Bell O.B.E., five-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner Hurley Haywood and the Mississippi flash Charley Kemp.

For a car held in such high regard, the panel was brutally honest with their initial impression of the speedy low profiled Porsche. “Terrible to drive,” “Diabolical” were some terms used. Redman had wondered why the Porsche factory was calling him to test the prototype. After all, they have “six German factory drivers who should be ready to die for their fatherland” he quipped.

However it was Englishman, John Horsman, an engineer for the John Wyer-Gulf Racing team who noticed while in Germany for a test that the Porsche was covered with gnats on the front of the car and windscreen. However there were none on the rear wing or bodywork. No air was getting to the rear causing the instability that plagued the early tests. After some modifying using aluminum pieces and rivets, Redman took the car out and after six or seven laps announced, “That’s it, now you have a racecar.”

It was a wonderful forum, many great racing stories especially Charlie Kemp describing how he flew a Can-Am version of the Porsche 917-10K at Road Atlanta in 1973. Hurley Haywood explaining how if felt going from a 300-HP 911 to a 1000HP 917 Can-Am car was very enlightning. Bench racing at it’s finest.

This year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for March 12-14, 2010 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach. In addition to having the greatest oval racer, greatest straight line racer and greatest road racer together for this Saturday seminar, this year’s Concours will honor the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s inaugural victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans and showcase a number of influential 917s, a model that is widely considered to be one of the most significant racecars of the modern era. For more information, visit www.ameliaconcours.org or call 904-636-0027.

RM Auctions will also present the consignment of a wide range of motor cars from the estate of Mr. John M. O’Quinn to its upcoming sales in Amelia Island. Amongst highlights from the collection slated for RM’s Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event, March 26th – 28th are: a beautifully restored 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; a 1947 Ford Sportsman Convertible; and a restored 1969 Ford Boss 429 Mustang. For those unable to attend in person, both events will stream live on the Internet at www.rmauctions.com to provide real time coverage of all the auction action. For full event details and bidder registration, please visit www.rmauctions.com or call 519 352 4575.

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

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