Welcome to the Engineering YouTube and Podcast. My name is Paul, I'm your host, quite often
joined by friends and this podcast is all about the Porsche lifestyle. Whether it's
Waffle, just me and friends chastising away, mostly about rubbish, or it's the Renault
550 build or the Heritage stuff which is all about Porsche from the very early days
to right where we are now, or it's the tech talks with industry experts breaking down
and myth busting all the stuff that people think is true but it's definitely not. I
hope you enjoy the episode.
Welcome back to the Engineering YouTube and Podcast and wow, so it is the first day back
after returning from France so as I've been mentioning on and off for the last month or
so both here and on Instagram at RENGINEERING UK on Instagram by the way that I had a massive
French road trip planned so that went brilliantly well. The car absolutely lapsed it up from
a drum to the Euro tunnel and drove from where I live to Monaco to grass to all around
the route Napoleon with some private kind of introduction to some of those roads that
might not have been seen before through to where did I go after that? Calde Sirene, Calde
de la Bonnette, so the highest road in Europe which I was very happy about and then after
the mountains I headed to Rance or Reims as people tend to know it and then head home
so I'm stopping by Cannes and a couple of other places either side as well because
it's a big old journey to get down to the south of France. That all went fantastically
well, really excited about the footage I've got, I've managed to document, basically
how I've shot it is for the Rance bit so again Reims I've shot kind of enough footage
to cut together a bit of a history tour of the circuit including some drone footage,
I did a lap basically of the circuit as it would be or as close to a lap as you can do.
Really looking forward to putting that together and going to do some research, proper research
not just half-hearted research and do a bit of a voiceover, really work hard on the editing
and then try and put some together that's really, really watchable so that's going to
be a bit of a slower process but also I documented the whole thing so I shot a documentary effectively.
Every day I got up and kind of did a piece to the camera about what the plans were, how
the day before went, all that sort of stuff so got absolutely loads. Recording it's the
easy part, stitching it together and just editing into the interesting stuff that you
guys will want to watch, that's the more difficult bit as it is with all of this stuff, just
chasing into a microphone, a piece of cake, putting it together and making it meaningful
is much harder, woe is me. Anyway, this episode is in the bank, although there's one other
thing I do want to mention, it was a bit of a showstopper, heart-stopping moment is when
Porsche, after a bit of a leak yesterday, decided to release all the details and lift
the embargo on the 992 911 ST. Now, instantly, so basically it's a touring GT3 with a load
of RS bits thrown in with manual only, lightweight stuff all over the place including a carbon
fibre climbing frame in the back, it's just mega. If I could cherry pick something that
didn't exist in the range it would be that. I'm a huge fan of the 911 R, more of a fan
of the touring than I am of the big wing and stuff so this really plays to me. I've got
absolutely a subtle chance of getting one of these, £290,000 and that won't make any
difference anyway because the people that are going to get these are collectors that
have been buying GT products for decades. So it's completely irrelevant for me but you
can still get excited about it right. So what I've seen so far is their heritage colourway
which is like a light blue, kind of greeny light blue, I don't know what you call it
really, not turquoise, it's like a muted turquoise with a round on and a number, not a big fan
of the round on and a number that can go for me and they've released pictures of a black
one, a black one that's cool, again not the sort of spec I'd choose. I think if I was
going to go for it I'd look back into the back catalogue and go back to the original
ST and then have a look and see what colours they had on those, maybe something that was
kind of rare from back then, I don't know what that might be. Anyway it would be something
very 70's bit of that way and I'd try and do the same with the interior, kind of pick
you know little nods, tips of the hat to stuff that was released back then. Anyway so that's
me, not too tired considering all the driving I've been doing over the last nine days of
that trip, I feel okay, I've slept pretty well. I treated myself from the very last
night to a spa hotel rather than crashing on airbnbs because the whole thing was basically
airbnbs including a sleeping on a boat in Monaco that was pretty cool. Yeah anyway this is
Festival of Speed so this is myself and Nick Forbes George, who's at Nick's Forbes George
on Instagram and it was us mooching around the Festival of Speed and I managed to grab
Dario Frankiti, Portia and Mantai to talk about the Spider RS and headed over to Gunther
Works and chastided all about the Gunther Works products they bought and they bought
a turbo and their sort of standard edition. That was really cool, really really massive
appreciation, much more of an appreciation of Gunther Works and you know the work they
do and where they sit in the marketplace because it's, I would suggest it's probably
the wrong word but there's a few people doing that right, there's all obviously the kind
of super high end stuff like Singer and Tut Hill and you know also Farm. There's lots of
people out there doing it, Theon, you know some of these people I've spoken to, some
I'm yet to speak to but Gunther Works really seem to do their own thing, they're following
their own footsteps and I really appreciated that. And I really appreciated the client
journey that they go through. So you'll hear all of that stuff, you'll hear Dario Frankiti
talking about T50 because that's what he was sat in at the time when I was chatting to
him and his thoughts on the kind of future of the brand, GMA. And then you'll hear about
the thoughts on the Spyder RS and the Gunther Works car. There are people I'd love to have
caught up with, did try my best, I'm looking at you RPM and same with the Cam car, the
Cam manufacture car that you know these people have been trying to, RPM have been super for
anyway but that's the Cam by the way. But yeah, it can't get around everybody, Festival
of the Speed is such a busy day and a pinball around the place is best I could. And on that
I will finish the intro and let you get on with listening to Festival of the Speed 2023.
Welcome back to the engineering YouTube and podcast, Nick. Hello, good morning. Good morning
Paul, how are we doing? Alright, just arrived at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023. Straight
into Supercar Paddock. Straight into Supercar Paddock, yeah. Just the absolute immediate
overload to the senses of things that we normally would absolutely gulp out but now we've got
a two-wheeled-drive. Well, it's that there. It's a Rijera, I mean it's Sainsville, but
yeah, Giesco and Rijera, Rijera, I don't know. Got to be honest mate, they're a little bit
lost on me, I think they're kind of good poster fodder but I've never seen one on the road.
No, someone cared to see a beard when I went to... Oh really? Yeah, there were three or
four of them turned up. Yeah, they're just crazy. I think it's the money of them that
battles me. Yeah. Just the millions. Yeah, I mean I don't know who the customer is for
a Rijera now. It's cool. I've got everything else and this is what I've ended up with.
Actually, we're looking at the Cunigs eggs and we're opposite the Porsche 75 sports cars
stand and this is their Park Fermet I guess for their Supercar running. So these will
be going up to Hill at some point today. And here is my boxers big brother. It is, yeah,
the Spider RS. Oh, it is the RS as well. Yes. Haven't seen one in the flesh yet. No, I haven't
either actually. Only just been released. I've seen a Cayman RS but I haven't seen a
Spider RS yet. So first impressions are great. It looks spawned really. I like the, they've
chosen the good Calla Combo I think. So it's that generation blue? Gentil, yeah. Yeah,
something like that. And then silver wheels for sentinocs. I mean it's quite, it's a classy
look really. And a left hooker. And a left hooker. Yeah, this would have come out of
the Porsche Germany on the thought. So yeah, it's got a Deutsche plate. German plate's on.
Yeah, lovely. So I wonder with this mechanism for the, to pop the, if that's a manual mechanism
now to save on the weight. Yeah, it will be. They will do this. I think these are ducts
actually for the, I'll ask the question I think. You on the standard working for the
side ducts. So they, what they feeding? They feeding radiators. These ones, yeah. This
one is for the, for the latch on the roof. Yeah. And the ducts themselves that are going
through there. That's the air intake. Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's straight into the
air filter. So, got you. Is there anything, so if you break down the Cayman RS versus
the, James, James, do you have the key for the button? So just like you guys know that
I'm speaking to someone on the Porsche stand now, he's going to talk me through the differences
of the Cayman and the popster. Sorry, I don't know. So, right, no worries. So, so that came
out earlier, the Cayman RS. And this is, so, the open RS. Sorry, say that again. It's
some kind of convertible. Yes, of course. Yeah. Yeah. If you had to take one home, if
you were going to say, right, here's the keys. Depending on your need. No, no, you personally.
Yeah, you personally. Yeah, personally, I would take the box of spy kit. Because I'm not
on the race track. So, I would go to the track days and so on. I would take the, the Cayman
RS. The Mazda. Because this one does have the mantai kit. It's much more used for the race
track. So the mantai kit, then talk to me about the mantai kit. So that's, I guess like
the Bravis with, with AMG from Mercedes or like that, the kind of tuning package endorsed
by Porsche. Yes. But not our Porsche. It's an official product of Porsche. Right. From
Porsche to Corp. Yeah. And of course, Porsche is a shareholder of mantai. Yeah. Okay. So
we're really working close together also with the developments and advice of in our
department and the departments in noise-pulled mantai. And we developed this on top level
mantai kit for the G4S. Right. We've gone about six seconds faster. Is it really? Right
ring? Right around the neb-ring, no chiseler? 20.8 kilometers. Okay. So all about dynamics,
suspension and ring. Fine. So nothing added or adjusted at the end, same engine. Yeah.
That's right with dynamics. One more downforce on the race track to precise handling around
the corners. Okay. And some of that is set up. So the geometry set up will be different
between a standard RS and the mantai. Yeah. Some of it is additional parts packages as
well. So different shocks and spring rates and things like that. Only springs. Just springs.
So there's this point of suspension. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Any additional changes in
the camber. So all that's adjustable anywhere with the RS. There will be a completely different
wheel alignment. Yeah. Especially with the specific tool from mantai. Right. Okay. So
it's also from race control. Yeah. They use it for their races. Exactly. And they will
have this specific wheel alignment for this part. Right. Very good. We call it the notch
slide setting. Ah, okay. The notch slide setting. Very good. Very good. And this is running
up the hill today. Both of them are running up the hill? All three of them. All three.
Okay. They've nailed the color with this. Is it gentian blue? San Marino blue. San Marino
blue. Thank you. Is that a PTS color? Or is that? Yeah. Of course it is. Yeah. And it's
set off with the silver wheels as well. It's a, for such a hardcore car, it's a classy look.
It is. You could drive Ryan Molokow in this and everybody thinks, oh. Exactly. Exactly.
I love this color. I saw it the first time this morning. Okay. I'm totally in love with
this. Yeah. Yeah. It's great. And interestingly, the contrast colors of the interiors spot
on as well. You'd be, you'd expect someone to go for, I don't think that's probably got
bright color. No, it's, that's pretty low key. Right? Yeah. No, the interior color is very
low key in that. I just, I'm not great. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think that would have orange
center panels or something to bright enough. And actually the outside does all the talking
anyway. Right? It's probably not enough. It stands for, I'm sorry, I think it's this
morning not that good. Yeah. I'm directly from, from Tuchnauze. So. Oh, wow. Okay. So
you, what talks to me about your experience then, if you live in the South Laisen, then
you grew up there, was it always the idea of working for sure? Or did you, what was it?
My childhood? Yes. Yeah. I'm a bit, 100 kilometers away from Tuchnauze's Tuchnauze in the Black
Forest. Yeah. And to be honest, in my childhood, I saw a lot of cars driving around. So. For
some kind of test runs for them. Yeah. And I was, my mother told me, yeah. This was the
big two. Study hard. Study hard. You are going to work for Porsche. Yeah. As a child, no
other car was interesting for you. Sure. Only for Porsche you turned around. Yeah. What
was your childhood Porsche name? What was the one that was like your poster car? My favorite
Porsche is the 964 Turbo 326. Oh, okay. Bad boys one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This one. Very
nice. And that's what you had. That was the kind of the dream you as a child. Yes, what's
my childhood dream? Until now. Until now. And then what's your dream now? If you had
the kind of Black Bad Boys car back then, what's the kind of one that gets you most
excited now? To be honest, the GT4 RS. Yeah. But when it comes to your future, electric,
yeah, yeah. Tycoon. Oh, that's interesting. Acceleration in a Tycoon is brutal. So you
always lean back your head and then you push the throttle. Otherwise you get ahead. I have
one for a weekend and it was, yeah. It was, I thought it was too big. It didn't feel
Porsche-like for me. Well, I am a petrolhead, of course, but future it's. So what's talked
about is biofuel and Porsche's synthetic fuels. And yeah, so that's a big thing, right? So
that will sustain the life of these cars that are in development now, coming out now. And
I think you know your future proofs, right? I think you know your, yeah, I hope it's future
proofs because as you know, 70% of our cars, which have been produced in the past, are
still. Absolutely. Yeah. I'm a 981 owner. Oh, great. Nip, you've got a 718. Yeah. Porsche
333. This is for a YouTube channel on podcast. That's why. Great. Yeah. Very good. So what's
your role in Porsche and then today? Porsche, I'm the sales department for Porsche to put
you. And I do the sales concept for this Mantai kit in close collaboration with Michael directly
from Mantai. So he's in front of the camera. I'm more in the back. Fine. Right. Okay. And
yeah, this is what we have. It's a world premiere. Yes. Excellent. Very good. Morning. Okay.
What's your name again? Sorry? Alex. Alex. Nice to meet you, Alex. It's an absolutely
pleasure, my friend. I'll leave you to it. You'll plenty of other people to speak to,
I'm sure, but we'll go back and yeah, thanks so much for talking to me and sharing with
me. Thanks. Have a lovely day. Thank you. Thank you.
So we've immediately walked straight into the singer's town, which is quite impressive
because these are some of the cars that I haven't seen in the flesh. This, we're standing
opposite the turbo study. I'm sure all the lessons know what turbo study is, but for
the stone, it is a sort of expansion of the 930 turbo, the kind of classic poster car
that most people have had in the more than the 1980s and it's their singer's rendition
of what that is, but amped up to the max. So kind of it's great. I'm slightly uneducated.
I'm not as educated as you are on these. And I would say this is the whale tail. It is
the most iconic car in the car. This is 10 year old me having a picture of a red one
of these on my wall, but brought up to the 21st century and it's absolutely incredible
to this car. It's perfect. And I think so, and this is not knocking anyone else in the
business is doing this stuff because there's some amazing companies, but you can turn up
to look at the singer and be anal about detail and you won't find a misfitted bit of anything.
Like all the trim looks perfect. And for me, I'm a details guy, so it's, I look at shut
lines, trim pieces fitting properly, you know, all the rubbers and things, all that stuff
has been changed and this car has. It's perfection. It is perfection. And even this, I mean, is
this a, yes, and I were looking at like an inlay, an inlay which has been machined.
That, is that, is that, that's been machined? Was it flastered? I think it's machined. I
think it's probably aluminium that's been machined, refinished because, you know, out
of machine, it's only finishing. And there's lots of like an insect honeycomb that sits
in it. And it's, it looks amazing. And it's the same as you'd find on Mercedes or probably
better than the Mercedes. Look at the interior now. Seats are that classic, sort of classic
shape really. The tombstone seats with the huge side bolsters.
It's looked like you'd wallow into them and you could easily munch up a thousand miles
and get out of it and be fine. Absolutely, absolutely. But it still retains that classic
look. It's not, it's moved the game on, but it's still noticeably steep. It's not, it's
almost like if you set a 930 turbo and this next to each other, a child wouldn't know
the difference between each two. They wouldn't know, but as a details person you come in
you start seeing the back bumper and the, the impact, it's exactly the same as an impact
style bumper, but everything flows perfectly. It's like some smoothed all the grease. I've
never once driven though. I'd want to incorporate this into my living room and just sit there
and look at it. Yeah. It's just so pretty. Yeah. It's beautiful. So my road trip was
coming up in a couple of weeks. I tried to get there, but it was booked in all England,
but Sam from Scenery Glass did a European road trip and there's a, an Airbnb that you
can drive your car into the bedroom basically. It's fucking amazing. And that's what you
do this right, is you put two days in that Airbnb, one day to sit and look at your car
and one day to actually be doing other stuff. What do you think of the colour?
Great. I think it's fantastic. I think it's, it would be tempting to go for something that
really stands out, but it almost doesn't need that. And this colour is so close to the original
colour anyway. It's very classy. Yeah. I would say it's perfect, it's perfection. I, I, yeah.
This really is, I still prefer the DLS, which is the one they released before the turbo starting,
but that's just my personal take. But I think I would have had to go and look at the brand
new car they just launched, which for me is too far. I think that they should, they're
stopping at the turbo study and expanding from this, but still within those boundaries.
That's where it is for me. And we can literally see it next to us now and it's, it's intense,
right? It's an assault in the sense is, and I'm not sure that's what singers should be
doing. But let's go and have a look and figure it out.
So this is the turbo DLS. This is the next level up. I think released last week, the week before.
And again, so look at it. It's, it is perfection in terms of the fit and finish. It's, it's,
it's just everything is like, it's, it's like the max power generation. I've made 40 million
pounds in the last year alone. What am I going to do with some of it? Cause I need to get
rid of some money and you go buy this fucking thing. Absolutely.
Yeah, I don't like it. No, no, I, like when it's, when you're sitting next to something
as pretty as the other model, the turbo study, the turbo study, this to me just looks, it
looks like somebody went and raided the parts or drawn just added everything to it.
And then jacked it up. Let's talk to the singer and actually get their take on it.
Morning chaps. Very well. Paul from Rengineering YouTube podcast. Can you take a second or two
to talk me through this car?
I shouldn't have said about the podcast. You'd have been like, yeah, let me talk you through it.
Well, just talk to me about the design, the idea, where the inception came from and how
you ended up with this product. Cause it's, I mean, it's like, it's like you drank about
15 red balls and then sat down with a pet. Right. So it's obviously just a progression
of the DLS. This is the DLS turbo. Yeah. Obviously Rob Dickinson's brain show.
How long has he been working on this?
In his mind? Yeah. Could be years. Could be years. But obviously I'll say it's a predecessor
of the DLS.
Yeah. I mean, that's really clear, right?
Yeah. You can see that model. But it's still, so this is obviously a road car. Is there
going to be a competition car or is this?
There's two iterations of it. So there's this one, which is a bit more aggressive front bumper.
The bigger splitter, you can go out the road to the other side. And I'll enjoy it there with
the different setup on it. More of a ductile, more of a subtle spoiler on it.
Different splitter on it. Different touches here and there.
Yeah. So, okay.
The idea is that you can put this in one car with the two setups.
Right. Okay.
This is for flight cases. So you can keep your bumper in the sport.
Right. So you get the one car, you get the package for both options. Wow.
The touring of the track and switch of mouth.
Right. And they need to speak to you guys to swap that stuff out. I'm guessing they need
to put it in and you go, like, I want to put the ductile and the, you know, the less aero
front on and you guys would go like, yeah, fine. We can do it in three weeks.
Bring it in. We'll do it.
No, no, no. Is overnight change?
Is it really?
Yeah.
Wow. Okay. And I think that's the thing for, for, stands out for singing with me is that
it's all of its cohesive and all looks, I'm a detail addict, right? Like I look for the,
I've looked, looked at lots of restoration versions and some of them are great. And then
they look great from a distance and you get closer and closer again. And you start seeing
that they've got like 98% there and stopped.
Singer for me is that bit where you've gone the 2% and it's probably taken an extra three
years to get the 2%, but it's everything's important, right? That's what you do.
That's the idea. That's the idea.
Everything's important. Every little detail. It's got that spot on you. There's no compromise
on it.
Yeah.
And that's the bit that stands out.
That's what makes us stand out.
Is that what attracted you to working for the company or is it, what was your, what was
your, what's your roles by the way?
Development techniques.
Right, okay.
I got on board from the start. Always been a massive singer fan. Big, poor fan.
I've been in my school for most of my life. And so when I've got the opportunity to come
on board, it's a lovely little time to take a turn.
Where did you come from? I'm an engineer myself. I'm just going through my chartship at the
moment and I'm building a 550 recreation on a Lotus chassis.
Okay.
So I like, I'm, my inspiration is drawn a lot from different engineering projects, right?
Yeah.
But the level of quality in the finish is, I'm a small, small act of it. So it'd be, it's
an attempt to try and hit singers level of quality. But anyway, yeah. So that's you sort
of, you're a design engineer and technician. What about yourself?
That's why I work in general.
Okay.
So I'm going up to the DLS and see my, eventually, to be able to go to the DLS T as well.
And where, what was your, have you, where did you come from to get a singer?
I'm Charlie.
Charlie?
Charlie.
Sorry mate.
Yeah.
Really?
Right, okay.
I started out there as a master.
Right. Which brand?
I'm older.
Right, okay.
Yeah.
I've lived with Kiera as well. So I've lived with them two, eight years. And we got
Kiera for years as well. So I didn't really know a lot about singers.
Really?
Wow.
What about Porsche in general? Is that a brand that resonated with you or?
Probably not.
Wow.
So it was one of them. I could have seen the product, seen the DLS.
It's got to be that.
Yeah.
I'm on. But I've always, I think I've always had the intention of competing.
Hardly telling.
Yeah, yeah.
We've got four roundings from here.
That's where I want to be.
It does, everyone I've spoken to is singer. That's the one thing that seems to thread
through everybody is that you've all got that eye for detail. You've all got that commitment
to producing the best product possible. It's not. And that seems to be, I don't know, if
the interview process is about that.
We try and employ people from background where they will have that sort of attention to detail
and things. A lot of our employees are from pro-drives.
Of course, yeah.
That's my own from pro-drives, 13 years ever.
Right, okay.
So yeah.
If you give me the background at all, I have to say just great attention to detail.
And you're recruiting quite heavily now, right? There seems to be an investment.
We've been expanding massively since we started in the UK.
Because obviously we're just over four years old now.
Yeah, yeah.
And I think we've changed from, because I don't know if you know, we started off as
Body and Paint.
Yeah.
And Williams were going to be building the catch up.
But now when we put on the whole field process, yeah, we've branched out massively.
It's amazing. I've loved seeing the brand develop from Rob and then the small team in
California and then it's expanded out and expanded out.
And now you've got operations in the UK.
I've been with singer.
No.
Two years next month.
From when I started in GA.
The first place I started in GA.
Really?
To see how it's gone.
Not at all.
It's just, did I ever think you'd be like this?
No, no.
It's fantastic that we've got you here today.
For sure.
What's your, have you got plans for the future?
I mean, you seem quite happy at Singer, but in terms of the role, have you got your eyes
on where you want to be and what you want to be in the future?
I've got it to the best.
Yeah.
I've got it to the best.
Yeah.
I've got no plans to change it.
Everyone who's chosen to work out is obviously going to say, it's the best job I've ever
had.
Yeah.
I honestly think that's the best thing to do.
I've just been working out.
I've been working out for a while.
I mean, my background years and years ago was in Lotus for Lotus dealership.
So as a service manager, and I kind of moved away from that.
I mean, air traffic engineering is a design engineer and a managing engineer producing
air traffic control systems.
Yeah.
But I've still got my hand back in automotive and I still kind of want to connect to it.
Yeah.
Hence the reason why I'm building this 550.
Anyway, yeah.
I'm going to, what I'm going to do is, because we're recording the audio now, I'll come
back and get B-roll.
If I can come back and see this mic, and touring around and doing its thing, but is it all right
if I pop back and get some B-roll and get some footage and speak to you guys again?
Is that all right?
It's been a lovely chat to you guys.
Take it easy.
Have a good day.
Thanks very much.
My car that I was tempted by when I was looking at my, and I'm serious, I was tempted by because
of the price point and the entry points of these now.
McLaren 12C, you can buy one of these for £65,000.
And then you can have to have something done to it for £65,000.
Yeah.
And that's when you suddenly realized.
It was a bad idea.
Exactly.
And you now have to sell an organ.
Yeah.
You've got to, I mean, this is, it's a great looking car.
It was a great looking car.
I don't think it's aged very well.
Ah, okay.
See, I think, I think what we did when they come out, 2011's know that.
I think they have matured nicely given, I mean, look, the panel, it's got a pretty
lot of Vora lines.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's true.
It's got, you can see that where McLaren have built off this for the 540C and just then
it's next to a P1 as well.
Hello, Freddie Tabarish.
But yeah, 12C, I think, if you've got the money to run it, and I know this company's
out there now that are specializing in doing this stuff and looking after them in the same
way that buying an R8 back in the day would have seemed like suicide, actually running
an R8 now, R8 performance is such a good job, they know them inside out, it's not that
big a deal.
This is the Mac though for me.
Do you remember the three, the Trinity came out, so it was the 918, Laferrari and the
P1 all came out at the same time.
Yeah.
This for me was the winner of that little group.
Oh, they've been Laferrari all day long.
Really?
Yeah.
Something about that nose, I just was.
I mean, there's going to be a laugh somewhere around here, I'm sure it is.
But it would be here.
And it's interesting because McLaren as a brand don't really resonate with me too much.
There's a centre next to us as well.
I mean, I wouldn't.
Yeah, I mean, I like them, I'd never eno it.
If it was, again, the endless pot of money, I wouldn't be running to McLaren, do you know?
No, no, no, no.
And if I had a 20 car garage and a limited pot of cash, there would be a P1 in it for
sure, there would not be a fricking centre in there at all.
And I think for me, it's just the design of the centre just looks clunky and the design
of the P1, it looks like, you know, organic.
I think I really like those organic shapes.
Everything looks like it's, you could draw it with three pen strokes, right?
Yeah.
I think, I can't remember who said that, that's, that might have been a Ferdinand Porsche thing
where I said you should be able to draw a car with three pen strokes.
I think that's where the 911 came from.
I don't know if I've wanted, to me, this isn't a car I drive every day though.
And I'd always want, I mean, when we look over at the Valkyrie, even if I had all the
money in the world, I still never buy one.
Yeah.
Something just to look at.
I don't think it was buying them to be fair.
Yeah.
The DB12 there, I mean, that's the one that's just been released, am I right?
Yeah.
It just smacks about, it smacks about Aston Martin.
It's definitely got Aston Martin.
You know, I could take the badge off of you, but you tell me.
And you know straight away, yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I could drive that.
I could see myself driving that in on the open road.
This P1, I think I'd be terrified.
I think it would just be too low down.
Can you imagine if you get to a speed button?
Yeah.
And you'd be like frantically trying to hit the lift button to make sure you don't smash
the like 25 grand speed button.
Well, where we are in the Cotswolds as well, I mean, there's a lot of, you know, we've
got some of the best driving in the UK.
Yeah.
But every now and again, you come to a bridge.
Yeah.
That's small.
And I'd be like, Jesus, I'm terrified.
You'd be terrified.
Yeah.
I mean, you're going to beach it or I'm going to take out one of the carbon fibre side skirts
on a dead rabbit.
Or an M-Paki somewhere, right?
Those side skirts and I don't know, guys, have you seen a P1 before?
I'm sure I'm going to make the assumption you all have.
It's got this kind of little, I guess you call it, it's almost like a canard that runs into
an axle and axle.
A foil, is it?
A foil, yeah.
I can guarantee that if you parked there in a car park, some child would stop.
Oh, they'd go stumbling?
Yeah.
And I don't know, I'm just sure it's strong enough to withhold some weight because of
the air rope packages with it.
I would be amazed if it's, you know, it could hold seven or eight stones worth of child
in one very small place.
And then what are you going to do?
Flying kick to the seven-year-old child?
I don't know.
I don't even bundle them in a boot to either take them to pay for it.
Anyway, that's P1, that's Senna.
Now we're into Gordon Murray, so I might actually see a good friend of mine if he's
knocking around here.
Scott, if you're around, it'd be nice to see you.
These will definitely be running up the hills today.
I think there's all the senior car parks.
It's going to be going up, yeah.
This is the list of cars that are going to go up the hill.
This is the paddock for everybody that's running the hill.
So T50, pro-drive derived, spirituals of the car,
spirituals of success as the McLaren F1.
Is this the one that sucks itself to the ground?
Fankar, it is the Fankar, yeah.
So we'll get around this photographer so I don't ruin his shot.
There we go, Dario Fanchitti.
Yeah, very impressive, okay.
I mean, it's serious, okay, isn't it?
I mean, this is an engineer's dream, this car.
I kind of respect Gordon for doing his own thing on his terms.
I think that's the thing you'd say about this car is that it's his brainchild, his design.
He's nobody, nothing at his age.
He's going to do everything on his own terms, and I think that for me is it.
I think that's a great thing about this car, that it's going to be up next to it.
Oh yeah, that's a really great short, which actually is that you can just,
I mean, you wouldn't be respectful, and everybody is thankfully very respectful,
but these cars are right in front of you for you to look at all the detail up close.
No big, you know, fences around here or anything, stuff like that.
And I haven't seen this up front.
Looking at the distance.
What's the Lotus test driving?
Who was talking to me about the Gavincershaw?
Oh, Gavincershaw, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So if you haven't listened to Nick's Yorbaush story,
he talks about this, about the purchase, or near purchase of a Lotus Amira,
and yeah, Gavincershaw trying to do the hard sell, which works on the day.
Would I fit in it, and then the Gavincershaw came out,
who was the same size as me, and it's built for him to drive.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay, yeah, I'll fit in it then.
So can you just give me the pros, Tom, and that number, please?
Do you have a SROAD legal?
Oh yeah, 100% a SROAD legal.
So this is the, I might understand, I'll talk to Dario in a minute, and ask.
But yeah, I think this is one of the, yeah, pre-series prototypes.
So I'm pretty sure this is the one that's been tested on the road,
one that Gordon drove the first time.
Yeah, very special.
One of the bespoke luggage pack that they did on the car on F1.
I would imagine so.
Yeah, there will be, yeah, there will be something.
Dario, morning.
How are you doing?
I'm very well, how are you?
Good.
Uh, engineering YouTube and podcast.
First time I've seen T-50 up close.
What an impressive vehicle.
I mean, I don't need to tell you, right?
You've been involved from very early on in this, so...
Yeah, it's a mega thing, yeah.
Yeah.
And I think your favourite detail out of the whole car
is the only thing that stands out for you as a...
If you, if you want thing, I mean, this is Gordon's brain,
Chardio's nothing to anybody at this stage in his career,
but there's got to be something for you that you think,
actually, everything that's been designed,
this is my one thing that I love.
It's got to be the complete package.
Right.
It's got to be everything.
All the pieces of the jigsaw put together,
and I think it's the way the usability,
I was taking it about in the M1 two days ago.
Yeah.
Sitting in it, 8 to 5, listening to podcasts.
And then the next thing, you know,
that's good round-darring from Chardio.
Right.
It's so usable, but...
the engine...
I mean, I've watched...
Honestly, the videos I saw of you laughing your ass off driving it,
I mean, it's just...
And same with Gordon, with his first drive,
when you hand the keys over,
and that stands out for me,
it's like the hairs go up into your arms,
and it's spining, you know.
I think the one...
The one part,
I think to get this whole thing under a thousand kilos,
is quite...
Obviously, there's compromise.
You know, things like the luggage bay doesn't have...
They're not lined in, you know,
because people need that.
Otherwise, you do that,
then you go do that,
then you've got a bigger break, you know.
Actually, you don't have to put bigger breaks,
because this is the smallest break,
so you can find it still massively.
And that, for me, is...
I mean, I'm going with my charge of engineering,
I'm a design engineer myself,
I'm building a 550, kind of like a Radford,
so Lotus chassis, one-eleven chassis,
carbon body, air-cooled engine,
and that's my inspiration.
I've got a friend that actually works for GMA,
as well as a design engineer.
So, for me, it's...
What you've just said about...
It's the smallest break package you can get,
and it'll still be exactly what it needed.
It's actually too much.
Exactly.
And the amount of people that design stuff,
and it's just...
It's excessive, for the point of being excessive.
We've had to take the great scoops off the target,
because it was overflowing with rain.
Right.
So, I've repeated stops, well more than 200,000 hours,
we've had a pretty great race.
Great maths.
So, we've taken those off.
Is that included in hot weather testing as well?
It's still the same thing.
Makes no difference.
We've lost some weight in some two-mights.
I think the one thing that doesn't...
Everybody talks about the engine, the weight, right?
It's called dampers.
And they're passive, right?
There's no kind of active...
It's R53, a bunch of rally guys.
And this thing rides better than any modern car.
Right.
It's nuts.
It's the thing, right?
So, when's your one being delivered?
It's going to be a while.
Is it?
Yeah, because it sort of...
First car goes out into the month.
It's probably going to be a year on the production cars.
Then the prototypes and everything will get delivered to customers.
And I'll get mine at the end of the engine.
Thank you.
So, I'm going to come later.
I would think that would be my...
...engine next year.
Okay.
Have you got a spec?
I mean, you've spent enough time around the factory,
and you know, have you got a kind of like,
I know what the interior is going to look like?
It's orange right now.
Is it?
The orange has been used.
I didn't realise it was orange.
I like it because it's heritage colour.
The first car was that colour.
And it's a prototype for the bodywork.
It's a design that's going to be used in life and everything.
But it's going to have a full rebuild before it gets to it.
Right, okay.
Because I've asked for that.
You can ask for it, or you can just leave it as is.
We've got some customers that will hold it.
Yeah, the Japanese call it Wabi-Sami,
and it's kind of the...
...how X-Men ageing naturally are retaining all of its history.
Yeah.
I would have completely understood if you'd been like,
no, no, the battle scars, I want the kind of...
...the stone chips, you want a fresh build from scratch.
I might keep the bodywork.
Well, I will keep the bodywork.
I'll keep the car when I take it off.
Classic boot production bodywork on it.
Right, okay.
I don't know what I'm going to do with it.
This colour works out really well.
Yeah, definitely.
I had a Lotus Elise.
It was very similar to this.
Yeah, it's stunning.
Good.
This was the first one we put silver wheels on.
I love them.
Oh, honestly, black is dead, right?
It's just unnecessary in Otoly.
And I've seen a few bits and pieces.
The singer stand, in fact, got the Spider-R rest
and the Porsche stand.
That's the same, it's got blue and silver.
I give it a two or that, yes.
I love that.
You like it?
Would I have a standard one, though?
I'd be careful with the intake's very noisy.
Oh, yeah, it's there, isn't it?
When you're revving, I put my hand on the intake
and the go-kart choking up the go-kart.
Really?
Really a lot of substance.
Yeah, so it's very cool.
All right, I love the C-class.
I love the DLS, the turbo.
The DLS-T, they do the 935.
I've got to be honest for me, and I was saying this
to the singer guys, completely honest.
I think stopping it at the turbo study
and then kind of keeping it within that DLS turbo study,
that's for me where the happy point is.
I get Rob's intent because he's been working on that.
You know, that's just nuts.
I mean, it's wake up in six rep balls in the morning,
that sort of thing.
I've been with the singer boys like my brother works.
Yeah, of course, yeah.
I love what they do.
They build my car, it's stunning.
Even the classic gets faster.
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
That's where you drive, isn't it?
That's where you drive down, right?
Yeah.
Excellent.
I'll leave you to it.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
Thanks so much, Dario. Have a good day.
Take care.
Anyway, quick little break, little drink,
and now we're on the Porsche stand.
Yes, we are.
We are.
And the first thing you walk into, apart from the red arrows,
going past, which was nice, is the 718 Boxster,
and I can't remember what it's called.
Style edition.
I mean, I love it, but then I'm a bit biased.
No, no, the car itself is lovely.
I'm just not completely sold on the stripe kit and the wheels.
No.
Fair play.
It's definitely an opportunity to do something different, right?
And do you know what?
I'm a bit disappointed they haven't carried the...
What is this car?
Ruby Star.
And I love Ruby Star.
This is what they have on the GT3 that we're touring.
Yes, yes.
Yeah.
So it's a manual car.
And it's got the GT4 style wheels,
but slightly different spec, which I think is cool.
I might get those on my own from this point.
If I do a wheel change, I'll buy those.
Yeah, I mean, it's standard fare for a...
Yeah, this is exactly the same.
It's my 718.
Not quite as many nice accents as it's got the stitching and stuff.
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a different price point to yours.
Yours is like a fully loaded...
They knew what they were doing when they ordered that car.
This is like an order book special.
Yeah.
And what's it got on it?
So it's the 2.0-litre, I think, yeah.
It's the 2.0-litre 5.1-62.
Does that Bermesta?
Good.
I thought it would be more than three grand for Bermesta.
Because it's such a...
I mean, it's so different to your car to my car.
Mine's Bose, yours is Bermesta.
And the jump is 20 levels in terms of quality.
It's all like two.
I'd end any car now that I've just ordered that new X5.
I've paid for the extra bowers and Wilkins upgrades.
My AMG, I've paid for the Bermesta upgrade.
For me, for an audiophile, I'll say that easily.
That's always essential for me.
Taken GTS of that.
I mean, it looks great.
What's that?
I'm just trying to think, at what point would I buy a Taycan?
Taycan, I've never worked out how you pronounce it.
Taycan, Taycan.
Actually, pop in the comments below.
Let me know what I pronounce Taycan, Taycan.
Yeah.
Ballistic car.
It's the ultimate car if you've got a family, right?
If I didn't have...
Two kids, not more than two kids.
If I had two kids, not four, it would definitely be a possibility for me.
I mean, there is a massive benefitting kind, which is a bit boring to talk about,
but electric car owners, you're suddenly not having to...
It's a good...
Well, it's a lot more expensive than a Tesla,
but at the same time, it's got the poor quality of it.
And it looks amazing.
It does, yeah.
It's funny, because like, I'm pictures, I'm like,
nah, I can take them on even, and then you see them in person, and it's...
It's the sport charisma for me.
I don't like the hatchback.
Yeah.
I had one for a weekend.
It was amazing, but for me, it just felt like...
My Porsche is my fun car, and it's my go-out of the weekend, have a blast around.
This, to me, if I was sat behind a desk all the time,
and I didn't have to have anything practical,
and this could be the...
The filming app for that.
Yeah, yeah, it could be the company car answer.
And it's still...
I mean, it's ludicrous figures, right?
Factory limits to 255 miles an hour.
3.2 seconds to 60 miles an hour, or 62 is...
And they do...
Rapid.
Super quick.
This one's actually got five seats.
So you could do three kids.
Well, I'd say two and a half, I wouldn't want to sit three big ones in the back.
Yeah, it's small.
The boot space on it...
Boot space, mate?
I mean, the reality is some of the listeners will be family owners,
they'll have kids in tow.
I know nothing about bush chairs and prams.
Can you get what you need in the back of that?
I think you could...
For a small family, I wouldn't want to be taking two little kids and all that stuff with it.
But I definitely think it's a four-person car.
It could be a comfortable family car.
I mean, it is just...
To me, it looks like a Batmobile.
Yeah.
Would you...
I mean, this is a...
I don't know what you call it.
A mid-blue.
I think that's a shark blue.
Shark blue, yeah.
Shark blue.
So...
Shark blue?
Club blue.
What was it, sorry?
It's a club blue.
Is that a PCS or is that just...
PCS, yeah.
Right, so...
Yeah, similar, though.
Yeah.
See where you get your shark for.
Yeah.
Very nice.
I like the black and the carbon.
I think it's doing really well.
It's funny, I would have...
I've been saying all day,
I spoke to Singer, I spoke to the Manti guys.
Yeah.
And I was saying, I think black is done.
That's where it's at.
And actually, this example, the way it's been specced,
it makes sense, black makes sense on this car.
I disagree because I've got black on my Porsche.
Yeah.
The great thing is, there's so much choice,
I guess that starts...
Well, that's it, right?
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
And the colours very close.
PTS and kind of tech equipment,
the last sort of 10 or 15 years,
really coming to its own,
allowing customers to personalise their vehicles
to do their choice.
And that makes such a difference, right?
It does, yeah.
Absolutely.
What would you...
If this was yours, how would you spec it?
And forget the salesman picture at the moment.
Your car, you've got...
Oh, my car.
You're sitting there in the configurator,
you've had 15 goes,
and this is the one you need to lock in.
What do you go for?
Well, I'm not sure.
I like this, and I guess the challenge that I have,
I work for Porsche,
and I work at Head Office already.
Right.
So you see so many variations.
Blue is always my favourite of mine.
If it wasn't blue, it would be silver.
Right, again.
The respect it would which car.
Yeah.
I would have a white on the black,
but I would have some.
Right, again.
You know, would I have the fancy roof?
Maybe not.
Maybe not, OK.
Yeah.
But I'd be thinking 18 race seats,
I'd be thinking Burmester.
Yes.
And again, irrespective of the car.
Yeah.
Which model.
So it's those sorts of things.
Right.
I wouldn't...
So it sounds much more about the living
with the vehicle experience.
Absolutely, yeah.
Yeah, I would say so.
Right, we could do the new KM,
which is coming in August.
You could now option 22 inch wheels.
Would I have 22s on it?
No, you know.
Right.
Not on my car, I might.
How long have you been working for Porsche?
It's time.
Why, right, OK.
So you...
So that's interesting because you've seen the brand of old
a lot in that time, right?
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, but it's really...
And it has, and I think, you know,
whether you're a fan of electric or not,
just really not, it is here.
Sure.
But I think Porsche's interpretation of that
has kept the integrity of the brand.
Definitely, yeah, yeah.
So I'm a KM owner.
Nick is a Bobster owner, someone named Bobster owner.
I'm really interested to see what happens
with the next generation.
Yeah.
Have you got any insight?
I mean, you're not going to shed too much with me,
but have you got any signs of the next generation?
An electric Bobster has been running about
in Sydney after the past 12 or 15 years.
Right, yeah.
And you can't help but thinking about...
On mules with, like, a 981 mule and a 718 mule with a...
Yeah.
Really, wow.
OK.
And for a while, it did have logo on the side as well.
Yeah, it did.
Sure.
When you think about it,
it's going to be a logical progression.
Same as McCann, BV, his coming lecture.
Yeah.
And my hope is that with the research on e-fuels,
which portion are part of the other manufacturers are,
can we get to a stage where we can keep
in turn up a Boston object?
And my personal take on it is...
Wait for this to go.
Yeah.
It's not where it needs to be, right?
It's not one or the other.
It's a blend for different purposes.
I think that's where it needs to be.
Because realistically, if...
And it's not that far away,
if all of a sudden the switch was caught,
a world would go into a hole.
Of course it would, yeah.
Interesting.
From a grid perspective, from a livability perspective,
from a range, to make all of this.
The infrastructure is nowhere near.
It's not.
And I'm an electrician by trade.
Yeah.
So we...
They're fitting the car chargers in.
Yeah.
And what we have to jump through now with the network operators,
is if you've got a, say, a cul-de-sac with 20 houses,
and they all say, I want a charger,
nope, you can't all have one.
Because it's all just going to happen there.
Yeah, it's not there.
So hopefully that will go the way...
If you think of 718, Game & All Box,
you've got a great place with the batteries behind the seats.
Yeah.
I mean, that's the most logical car to do it with, right?
For sure.
Because it's central to the car,
so you maintain decent weight distribution in front of rear.
It's going to be quite low down, I guess.
Right into the floor, so you're going to pull the car down.
You're not having a...
You've not got that roll centre, you know?
All that's going to be maintained, so...
And I think you can force your own many fans
and shafts the engineers.
That's a real strength.
Andreas is going to be pretty choosy about how he does the stuff, right?
Yeah, I think he will.
Sure.
And, you know, when you talk to the guys, the development guys,
clearly, clearly they are fans, but...
For example, on the new KF,
there's some new world-first technology on the headlight.
Right.
But I've watched a video from the designers only on Tuesday,
and the guys smile and say,
and we're already working on it.
Ready.
She's just...
That's so cool.
So I think he's still excited for the job.
How you doing?
Good.
Paul from the engineering YouTube channel on the podcast.
Hi, how are you?
Yeah, good.
Good.
I think that's okay.
That's good.
So talk me through what we're looking at.
What's this is...
So this is our first UK-specific market coop.
Okay.
Obviously completely bespoke to the client.
Of course.
And there are there a very quiet person that doesn't like to show off, or...
Yeah, pretty much.
Pretty much.
Obviously the paint is very, very special.
It is.
Yeah.
So it's a...
It's a Perl-S.
Triple-stage paint that's...
It took a lot of work to get correct.
Right, okay.
But I think we nailed it.
So your clients are involved almost from scratch, right?
They've wiped in the day of first day.
Open the page and they're right there.
Yeah, exactly.
Open the page and the first...
The way we like to handle the spec is we get color out of the way first.
So mechanical decisions are very easy.
What kind of breaks, what kind of shocks, those are kind of very easy decisions.
Paint and leather is the one that takes a really, really long time.
Especially if you want to do something special.
Yeah.
Obviously a lot of clients...
Porsche has such an amazing history and such an amazing catalog of paint colors.
Yeah.
It's very easy to pick one that is timeless.
Yeah.
And that kind of scratches your itch.
Yeah.
But we also do this where it's basically I want something that we've never done before.
So then that takes a little bit of work.
And there's an element of restraint in design when you pick something that's so...
There is.
So part of our responsibility is to protect clients from themselves.
Yeah.
And we also have to protect our brands and you know, et cetera, et cetera.
But yeah, there is an element of restraint too as well.
We like to think outside the box when he first told us, sorry, I want a pink car.
Sharp and take a breath.
Are you sure?
Yeah.
No.
To be candid, there was a lot of that.
He sent me a picture of a car and I was like, wow.
I was like, I don't know about that.
He's like, yeah, it's got to be that.
And then, you know...
That's quite useful though.
They know their mind well enough to know that they...
100%.
That's almost harder to work with somebody that isn't quite clear about what the design
is.
Exactly.
And they have to go through like a million.
Yeah.
I mean, we did probably go through 20 shades of pink before we were like, oh, not one.
So, but it was, it's part of the fun, you know, and we won't ever paint another car this
color.
Okay.
And that's our mantra to every one of our clients.
I mean, that's something I didn't know.
Okay.
Yeah.
So, but you guys have done a, I mean, a lot of development work in the last 10 years.
I mean, the Guntherworks is a brand that's exploded, but also the development car to
car seems like it's...
Yeah.
You're leveling up each time I see something coming.
Yeah, we insist on the car evolving.
Right.
Improving.
So, you know, this is the most recent coupe we've delivered, probably the best coupe we've
delivered.
Really?
So, well, this is the next kind of car that we'll start delivering next year.
Sure.
But always trying to evolve, always trying to get better.
Yeah.
What's your, I mean, remind me what your home circuit is.
You do a lot of training, it's like Willow Springs, you do.
Yeah, Willow Springs.
There's the thermal club is going in there.
All right.
But you do a lot of testing.
Both on track and on road, right?
Yeah.
Exactly.
We've had a lot of track time to take all the data from that.
Mm-hmm.
our partners, JRZ, really help us to make sure the car is tuned specifically to how we like it.
So even with that though, things like Springray, Damm, all of that stuff,
is the client involved in kind of what they want? Or you're leading that because you have
the expertise and the knowledge as to what the car needs? Both. So I know that this car is going
to live in Scotland. I know that he's going to, he likes driving twisty roads. We have other clients
that live in the middle of a metropolis or have cobblestone streets or some clients have their
cars. Basically they just live at a racetrack and that's where the car stays and doesn't do anything
but lap times. So we can set it up for, and that's part of our job too, is to getting to know the
client a little better to make sure that the car is, when it gets delivered to them, that it's
exactly set up how they want it. So there's no more tinkering involved with it. And it's still
passive suspension. Yeah, so the great thing about JRZ2 is you can, you know, they have a brilliant
interface on a phone that you can kind of switch from sport to comfort. So they do a lot of work
in making sure the car is civilized when it needs to be, but also when it's time to, you know,
give it the beans so you can hit a button and it'll step it up. Okay, right. So interior then
proprietary seats or, yeah, one of the most difficult engineering projects for sure to make a
seat that is universal for all body types and compliant is extremely difficult. Yeah, and it's
fixed as well. So you've got that, that you're gonna, again, if you've got variation of, you know,
again, people like there's a difference between you and I, for example, right? So,
you know, we're able to manipulate the durometer of the cushions as well. So, yeah, if you need
something a little more in your lumbar, you need something more in your back, you know,
something like that, then we can do that. It is a fixed seat, you know, moves back and forth,
but the brakes doesn't. But, you know, also part of the process is before the car is completely
finished, we have the client in, they sit in the seat, they get it where they want it, pedals,
they get where they want so we can, you know, once they're much adjustment in the pedal set,
or is that a little bit? Yeah, a little bit. And, you know, part of the process is making it the car
for the client, you know, so that they, it's truly bespoke. It's truly bespoke. So, and it's not one
of those things where you get in the car, then you have to adjust it when you get it delivered.
Sure. Once you get it delivered, it's already all adjusted to you just like a tailored suit, right?
Right. A good tailored suit. Great, great analogy, yes. Yes. So, what's your, if you don't mind
me asking, what's your role within Guntherworks? I'm the client liaison. Fine. So, for the UK or
for internationally? Or international, right. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, so, you know, when the client
signs up, they get handed off to me, you know, we talk about finding them a donor, we talk about,
we're talking about spec, paint samples, leather samples, they come to the shop, they drive our
shop car, just to get a feel for what it is. Yeah. Do you find that, so with, cast it with clients,
and have they had much experience with Guntherworks at that point? Is there a variation? Some kind
of just know that that's what they want, or some come out, drive the car, and then think, well,
there's elements of this, and there's maybe some of the turbo that I like, and it's quite, is it kind
of, what I guess we're trying to get out is the client, do they vary a lot in terms of, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, they do. One thing that we're extremely lucky is like, we have, we have,
many of our clients have bought several models, so we have, you know, we built 25 coupes,
built them, delivered them all, we're in the middle of delivering our speedster, we offer 25
of those, and then we're offering 75 turbos, we have, you know, in double digits of clients,
we have purchased all three cars, so they're, I mean, that's, that's, that's, that's high right,
yeah, I mean, that's, you know, we don't, we don't sell cars, we don't advertise, we don't,
we don't have a sales team, you know, customers come to us through our clients, and they're the
most important part of our business, right, because of their loyalty, because of, they know that
they can pick up the phone and I'll always answer, and, you know, something's wrong with the car,
or something needs to happen with the car, we'll get it sorted. Which leads me on to
maintenance, servicing, warranty, I like, people don't tend to touch on that stuff, because they're,
the delivery part, they're kind of getting, receiving the car for the first time, but there's
an ownership experience, right, so how does that work with kind of parts? So, I mean, the great thing
is that the cars, if anything, is that they're way more simple than the original car, right, so
the engine bay is very tidy, very simple, you know, we don't, we run it on canvas, I guess, yeah,
exactly, we run electric AC, so all the plumbing is gone, right, so if someone needs to work on the
car, if you haven't experienced air-cooled mechanic, he can work on this car, right, change the oil,
you can do a valve adjustment if it needs to, we have, we run a MoTeC ECU, and so if something
needs, if you fire it up and you say, oh, something just doesn't sound right, you know, you can,
get it done almost as though, we have a tuner in-house, he plugs into his laptop,
you plug into your car, adjust it on the fly, so, you know, it's, it's part of that, you know,
part of that's, part of what sets us apart too from similar companies, is that, you know, we like,
we want to grow, we want to build more cars, obviously, but our client base is so important to
us, because there are big, big changes. That's what's really, honestly, this conversation,
that's the bit that's coming over, is the, the car's important, but the client is clearly
the most important thing to you guys. 100%, yeah, yeah, I mean, they are there, the reason we're
here, they're the reason we've kept going, and why we've been so successful so far, so, you know,
and there are, you know, there are the, there are our biggest advertising wing, it's our clients, so, yeah.
And people essentially, are passionate about both the brand, and the Porsche brand in general,
you clearly got a, you know, love for that as well, right? Yes, absolutely. Do you,
have you, do you drive a Porsche now, or? No, I don't, I have young Pilton, I drive an SUV.
Oh, my heart, please. But, I drive every single car before this. Of course you do, of course you do.
Part of the QC process is after the team finishes it, then me and the owner, Peter,
we take it on a 20, 50 mile drive, we come back with a list of things, yeah, those things get fixed,
we do another drive, as soon as the list starts like this, and then as soon as it gets basically,
to, you know, smaller than, okay, we stamp it, and it's ready to go. So talk to me about the turbo,
thanks. The next car that we're gonna start delivering, we'll start those Q3 of next year,
we're gonna build 75 of these, so, rear wheel drive, four-liter,
twin turbo, also built by Jeff Gamroth at Rossport, outside of Portland.
I mean, that's, you say that name and you immediately go, whoa, there's one,
he's the guy, yeah, he's a legend. So, he built all our engines, he built this engine for us as
well, and this will be a whole other follow-axe, this is 750 horsepower with 560 pound-peter torque.
So, you, there's, I mean, they're not shy of tire, but traction still has to play a part.
So, you know, one of the things that we did recently is, you know, we have a mule also that
got one of the engines, and, you know, we put the engine in, we drove it, and we scared the
bejesus out of everybody. So, that's gotta be a fun day, right? Yeah, I kind of went back to the
drawing board and said, all right, what's, you know, what do we need to do? The, there are,
are, you know, keeping that kind of client focus in mind, is like, we don't want to have a car that
someone's not going to drive because they're scared of it, and, you know, we want people to drive the
cars. So, you know, we're gonna, we're contemplating offering a few different packages, something maybe
a little bit more civil, something, you know, we do have a lot of clients that say, I want to go to
the store, I want to pick up my kids in it, you know, I want to be able to drive it to the shop,
so I want to be able to drive it to work, and sometimes, you know, having that much horsepower
is, can be a little bit intimidating. Again, especially depending on your pedal modulation,
you've got like a small amount of modulation, and you're on and off, that's hard, right? So, we'll
have traction control, we'll have driving modes on this, we'll have a valet mode, we'll have a
normal mode, and then we'll have a, you know, bonkers mode, like I said, traction control,
and then, you know, a few different things have changed in this car. This is about 97% of what
the production car will be, there'll be a few aesthetic changes in the inside. Okay.
I mean, for most people, you would think this is full production, right? I walked up to her and was
like, why, they finished? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, again, it screams the attention to detail that you
guys have had, that this is close, but it's not quite there. Yeah, it's not quite there yet. And
like, you know, I don't know how many, how much experience you have working with creatives,
but you know, something can change in the last second. Absolutely. I don't, you know, I don't
like it, I don't want it, and then, you know, you're, you're changing something. Yeah. And that's,
you know, Peter, Peter's works like that, and you know, he'll, you know, and you understand
actually in the morning saying, we're going to change this deep breath. Okay. There's something
about that creative that you don't want to stifle that because you know, something, the gold comes
from that, right? The thread that runs through it. You don't want to start, you start limiting that.
And you lose the part that made this right. So totally. Yeah. And you have to let, you have to
give creatives that room. Both from a kind of content creator point of view. They think this
is fascinating, but talking to you about the build process, there's a part I'm listening for me as
well, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm actually planning on coming out to the States next year
because I've had some in-bites. So I don't know if I can grab your card or something and then
I'd love to come out and thank you. Yeah. And whether it's a tour or whether it's a, I don't know,
what I can squeeze out. Yeah. I'd love that. Yeah. Give me a call. We'll see what's happening. And if
we're, we're around and we've got time, I'll, I'd like to show you around. Of course. Yeah. I love that. I love that. And thank you so much for taking the time.
I really appreciate it. And I've loved talking to you. It's been a pleasure. Thanks so much. Be well. Take care.
So I've walked away from Guntherworks, deeply impressed.
I mean, they're a phenomenal company. I like the, the Matt Farrah, his interaction with Guntherworks and the fact that he's tested a number of them and seen the iterations grow and move and kind of the development that faces taking place. And what we're left with is,
yeah, I want to go and have a go at one. I don't know if that's going to be possible, but I am going to work hard to achieve it. So yeah, I hope you enjoyed that conversation there with kind of the client liaison manager for Guntherworks
internationally. But what a lovely chap. Really nice to speak to him. And he really took time out to kind of, I mean, it's a busy stand. There's a lot of people around. So yeah, I hope you enjoyed that. I certainly did.
Well, I hope you enjoyed that episode on the Festival of Speed 2023. I certainly enjoyed it. That's the fourth year I think I've gone to Festival of Speed now. I might give it a miss next year, just to keep it
fresh so it doesn't feel like I'm doing the same thing. The layout is basically the same each year.
We'll see. What I do want to mention though before I head off and leave you to your week is the Winchester Coffee Roasters and
Rengineering Cars and Coffee event on the 3rd of September. So it's a Sunday 1 till 4 in the afternoon. Sunday 3rd of September 1 till 4. Tickets are available. They are absolutely free. It's not being done to raise any money at all. It is literally an opportunity for me to get to know more of you. Maybe shoot some your Porsche stories stuff and just have a nice time. Cars and Coffee.
Standard Sunday morning. Cars and Coffee. Winchester Coffee Roasters are amazing. I am a massive coffee guy and I'm very, very fussy about this type of coffee. The roast, the blend, or not a blend if it's a single origin, and they absolutely cracked it. It's literally just off the most way.
So a piece of cake to get to off the A34 and off the M3. So you can't miss it. Check out Eventbrite. Head over to Outrangeering UK and the links in the bio for the tickets for that. Absolutely free. I hope to see you there.
Anyway, have a lovely week. Now I'm back in the UK. You should be able to get these out pretty damn regularly. Take care for now and bye bye from me.