[redbaron]

Since we all own these beautiful German automobiles, I would like to start a poll to see how many of us have worked/lived in Germany, either with the US Military Forces or as an Expatriate and had the opportunity to drive a Porsche on the Autobahn. I will start out:



1. 1959-1964 Bremerhaven, Germany USAF Security Service 6913th RSM Morse Intercept Operator, Squadron Interpreter SSgt - no Porsche but drove an Opel and VW on the autobahn often <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mellow.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

2. 1986-1990 Frankfurt, Germany AT&T Network Systems Managing Director - company car Mercede 230E, fastest I drove was 135 mph, still no Porsche <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

3. 1990-1999 New York City Deutsche Telekom North Amerika 2 trips monthly to Bonn, Deutsche Telekom's HQ plus attended seminars in Germany but rented mostly BMW's when on business trips. Lived in Rochester, NY initially (yeah, commuted to NYC each week for lst year) and finally bought my first Porsche - a new 1989 944S2 Coupe (Rochester) and later a new 1994 968 Coupe (Hartsdale).



So, even though I lived in Germany for almost 10 years, I never had an opportunity to drive a Porsche on the Autobahn <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> However, there was an exclusive car rental place near the Frankfurt airport that rented Porsches for only $500 per day <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Somehow, I could not justify this on my business expense. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Any other 968 owners out there who worked or lived in Deutschland? (ja, landsleute duerfen auch mitteilen)

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Gotter]

I lived in Germany from 2004-2007, courtesy of the U.S. Army (2 years in Field Artillery in Baumholder and 1 year with the 1AD Band in Wiesbaden). Owned two BMW's there, but no Porsches. My '82 944 had gone kaput about 3 months before moving to Germany, so she didn't make the trip over. But I did earn some respect for BMW. Had both of my 525i's upwards of 240KPH, so about 145-150MPH. Exhilerating feeling. Nervous the first couple times, too! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i've done a couple of venues there

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Scott Collins]

[quote name='J.C.' post='57668' date='Aug 10 2008, 04:50 AM']I lived in Germany from 2004-2007, courtesy of the U.S. Army (2 years in Field Artillery in Baumholder and 1 year with the 1AD Band in Wiesbaden). Owned two BMW's there, but no Porsches. My '82 944 had gone kaput about 3 months before moving to Germany, so she didn't make the trip over. But I did earn some respect for BMW. Had both of my 525i's upwards of 240KPH, so about 145-150MPH. Exhilerating feeling. Nervous the first couple times, too! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



Hey JC-



Were you a playing member of the 1AD Band? If so, what instrument?



I do high school band, and play clarinet, and worked and taught with many retired military men and women at Valley Forge Military

Academy and College.



Cheers!



-Scott

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Seadweller23]

I was in Gelnhausen (near Frankfurt A.M.) as part of the 3d Armored Division from 85-88. I didn't get to drive any Porsche's, though a fellow Lieutenant had a pretty hot 928. I had an 84 Camaro Z28 and it suprisingly got quite a bit of attention in Germany.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i wish i had gotten more time to bounce around germany - beautiful countryside - unfortunately, there was not a lot of opportunity, as we usually had to get on to the next town for the next show - looking forward to going back with more time

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Gotter]

Scott-



Yeah, I play bass trombone. I got my Undergrad at Ohio State, Master's from U. Florida, and before I joined the Army I played at Magic Kingdom in Orlando and with a couple of rinky-dink orchestras. I was with 1AD for about a year, before coming back to the states.



Good to meet a fellow musician on here!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Scott Collins]

[quote name='J.C.' post='57714' date='Aug 11 2008, 06:56 AM']Scott-



Yeah, I play bass trombone. I got my Undergrad at Ohio State, Master's from U. Florida, and before I joined the Army I played at Magic Kingdom in Orlando and with a couple of rinky-dink orchestras. I was with 1AD for about a year, before coming back to the states.



Good to meet a fellow musician on here![/quote]



Hey JC-



Very cool - my Dad is a retired band director, and now plays bass trombone more than ever all around NYC

with various orchestras and big bands. I grew up listening to him play and practice that thing. Great

instrument.



Are both your degrees in music?



-Scott

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[redbaron]

Besides not driving a Porsche while stationed in Bremerhaven with the Air Force, I am also somewhat depressed that I did not take the opportunity to visit Elvis <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> while he was stationed at the Friedberg barracks there (I guess I was too busy drinking German beer and Frauleins - <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )! But, as a personal memory of Elvis, we do have a photo of my wife Elke (14 years old at the time <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) at the Bremerhaven train station when Elvis arrived, which we purchased at Graceland.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Gotter]

[quote name='Scott Collins' post='57717' date='Aug 11 2008, 07:55 AM']Hey JC-



Very cool - my Dad is a retired band director, and now plays bass trombone more than ever all around NYC

with various orchestras and big bands. I grew up listening to him play and practice that thing. Great

instrument.



Are both your degrees in music?



-Scott[/quote]





Awesome! I always wanted to taste the NYC or LA free-lance lifestyle. I free-lanced all around Florida in college before joining the Army... Haveng a wife and kids demanded a more stable lifestyle. And in Music, the Army was about the only option. Anymore you need the Doctorate to get a decent college teaching job, and without the teaching certificate, I couldn't do HS or JHS... but yeah, my undergrad is in Trombone performance and the Master's in Music Theory. Started out on Tenor trombone, but at OSU my teacher switched me to bass. I thank him everyday for it. Love the Beast. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

Garlstedt- just south of Bremerhaven (2/66 AR - 2nd AD Forward) 85-89

'84 VW GTI

'77 Porsche 911*

'88 Ford Mustang GT*



Kaiserslautern (53rd TC - 37th TRANSCOM) 92-94

'91 Eagle Talon Turbo TSi*

'70 Pontiac Trans Am

'92 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro*



*lapped on the Nordschliefe



Notice that none of these cars was slow!



The Porsche had a 4 speed and better for back roads than top speed. But it was the most fun to drive and I fell in love with the marque.



The GTI was hilarious - it was US spec (I thought I was going to Texas when I bought it). More hp than the German GTI, but a lower top end due to gearing. The square US headlights was always a surprise to the German GTI crowd, who were very big back then. The local VW dealer did not know what to make of the thing.



The Mustang could draw a crowd with the big wing and unfamiliar design - stopped traffic in East Berlin! Scary handling at anything over 120mph - but it would run up to 140. Dead even in autobahn races with MB 190 2.3-16s and first-generation M3s. Initially came from the states with an 85mph speedometer (I had a Ford Motorsports 160 mph installed)!



Bought the Eagle before I knew I was going back. Blinding fast car that could eat onramps and mountain curves. The Nurburgring was only about an hour from the house. Had it maintained by the local Mitsubishi dealer in K-town. Other than the turbo, it was an Eclipse.



The Trans Am was a lark. Black with T-tops and a big gold chicken. Had some crazy aftermarket exhaust that would literally rattle buildings. Only had it a few months before I sold it to a German collector.



The Audi was best. Cruise at 220kph+ all day long. I loved that car. US spec, I brought it back but had to get rid of it as I racked up 3 speeding tickets in just a few months. The thing just did not go slow.



I don't really miss the speeds on the autobahn, and the traffic had become horrendous by the time I left. What I do miss is the skill and manners of German drivers. In the Audi I could fly down the left lane and traffic just parted before me, even without my blinker on (flashing headlights was rude). Germans recognize the headlight/grill patterns of big MB/BMW/Audi and clear a path. They understand, appreciate, and respect fast cars. Other than that invading Poland thing, a fine bunch of people.



Nowadays I just have to grit my teeth and pass on the right - going against every fiber of my being...



Don, thanks for the post - a nice little jaunt down memory lane! Nice to hear about a fellow NordDeutschlander!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Syncro]

Visited family... ... my uncle picked us up at the train station to drive home. Immediately on the autobahn took the car (not Porsche) to 200 km (125 mph) and held it there for about 1/2 an hour. Toured the Porsche dealer in Düsseldorf, figured I was special, but they didn't give me a car <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> (but I did grab some German brochures). This is me with my first car. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Roland



   

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Gotter]

[quote name='968Syncro' post='57727' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:37 PM']Visited family... ... my uncle picked us up at the train station to drive home. Immediately on the autobahn took the car (not Porsche) to 200 km (125 mph) and held it there for about 1/2 an hour. Toured the Porsche dealer in Düsseldorf, figured I was special, but they didn't give me a car <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> (but I did grab some German brochures). This is me with my first car. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Roland



[/quote]





Fantastic picture! So as you aren't the only one to put yourself out there, here's is me with my Mom's '73 Stingray. Fell in love with speed early! And pop-ups, too!



   

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Syncro]

[quote name='J.C.' post='57729' date='Aug 11 2008, 01:20 PM']So as you aren't the only one to put yourself out there,[/quote]



Yo JC, sorry, I messed up, I have to come clean. I still can't figure out how to make sarcasm clear on the Internet, guess I need a tongue-in-check smiley or something like that. That picture wasn't really me, grabbed it from the Internet as a joke for this thread. However I am in fact German, and yes I did have Lederhosen as a kid! And no I wouldn't be caught dead in (what looks like a Rambler Marlin or something like that, my first car was an Austin Healey Sprite.



Roland

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[redbaron]

Roland - "Einer spinnt immer!" You had me fooled too! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Ralph - it is amazing how much us fellow 968ers have in common. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Don

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Gotter]

I'm confused.....

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[redbaron]

JC,



Not to worry.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lonestar968]

Great thread, I love the pics too!



I did four Reforgers from 1984-1988 while stationed at Ft. Hood. I loved Germany so much I asked for a transfer. I was in Wiesbaden from 88-92. I've been here this time since 2000 and I hope I never have to leave. My great Grand dad immigrated from Germany so it's no wonder this feels more like home here than in the 'States. What's not to love about Germany right?!!



Dan

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

I did Reforger '88 as a Bradley scout platoon leader. That was a huge exercise.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Syncro]

Dan,



I agree the Germany is a very nice country, been there many times. What your messages reminded me of is the special nature of the cars. For me there is just something about they way they engineer the cars. German cars are different, it seems they put much more thought into a more holistic approach to the total car, things are well thought out. Sure the Japanese have caught on very well, but in my opinion the American car companies are not even close. American car planning seems to be driven by what parts are on the shelf rather than what the customer really would like. American cars are so sales driven rather than market driven.



For German cars I have also loved the styling, I think the German cars have set the styling tone for cars worldwide (OK, Italians also). Clearly the Japanese have copied much of what Europe has created. Last thought, one car I would love own is the 280SL in perfect condition. The styling on the car is just perfect, it looks so cool.



Roland

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.