Ned Luce

Call it my enthusiasm or maybe even my obsession. Since 1979, my auto of choice has been the Porsche 911 and BJ has endured and enjoyed me having one in the garage. 

There have been five of them, a 1967, a 1980, (maybe the best one), a 1987, a 1993, (a rude, crude dude), and until today the 2012. 

As Pat Cooper told me, “God has not very subtle ways to tell you something.” My back and hips told me it is time to get a car that better facilitates ingress and especially egress! A Porsche 911 is not that car. 

The name, 911, is not without some history of its own as there was some litigation with Peugeot in the 1960s. The French company, now owned by Stellantis, had been using the three-digit number 901 for some of their cars. Porsche started to use the number 901, but under pressure changed to 911 and achieved more notoriety and profitability! Of course, over time “911” has claimed recognition for the phone number to call for emergencies and refer to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. The several uses of the number can generate mild confusion in polite conversation.

We have traveled coast to coast in our 911s over the years, particularly to Porsche Club annual “conventions” called the “Porsche Parade.”

These trips never failed to create memorable legends. On a trip east from Kansas City to Lake Placid, New York in 1994 we packed the car for three weeks and committed to: No driving on the interstates, no eating in chain restaurants, and no staying in chain motels. Try doing that without Google maps. 

The route took us by the Johnson Winery in Westfield, New York for some tasting and BJ insisted we buy a couple of bottles in spite of my threat that she would need to jettison her luggage to make room. On another trip, we were coming home from San Antonio, Texas with no air conditioning. 

That did nothing to facilitate matrimonial bliss just like a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio with the heater stuck on. Time and space do not allow for a recitation of all the legends.

Shortly before moving from San Rafael, California to Kansas City in 1979 I bought the 1967 from a guy in Sausalito, California. That car taught me a lot about the 911’s tendency to trade leading ends whilst taking a curve. The 1980 car was a significant technological upgrade and was a gorgeous red color. 

After several years and damage from an egg thrown at the car, I even had it repainted. It was so well done my mechanic bought it from me when I got the 1987. After several years with the 1987 I bought the 1993 RS America. This was the car my neighbor, Bob Sowatsky, came to love as I got up early to attend Rotary breakfast meetings in Sequim and Port Angeles. He kept saying something about it being an alarm clock and I thought I was making music. 

So, after nine great years the 2012 is now sold to Tad from Colorado. He is flying to SeaTac today and will begin driving home in the car this afternoon. If you see him, give him a wave and show him how sad you are that Ned and his car are parting ways! Yep, this phase is one of many that have passed my way, probably just like you. However, becoming an adult is the dumbest thing I have ever done. I will probably get another Porsche but it might have those letters “SUV” in the description. I can assure you it will be easier to get in and out. 

My son-in-law suggested an electric Porsche Macan so I explained to him that the emotion of giving up my 911 was hard enough without also giving up an internal combustion engine. OK, I will think about it. 

Other more dramatic news is that my and about 25 million other March Madness brackets are busted. Princeton won two, Duke lost, Baylor lost, No. 1 seed Purdue lost against a 16 seed, Kansas State won two, and, well, the University of Kansas, last year’s champ, LOST. 

My friends, I have found that growing up in the ’60s was a lot more fun than being in my ’60s, or is it ’70s?

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week.

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident and a post-Porsche Port Townsend trolly bus rider. Contact him at ned@ptleader.com.)