The Great Race is a rally each year of about 2,500 miles, held in the United States. The time, speed, distance rally is for cars that are 1974 and older, and typically travels across a large stretch of the country, and stops each day at small towns for a “spontaneous” car show. It is as much a moving group of 500 people with a love for old cars.

For this year’s event, there are a lot of really interesting cars entered. A 1931 Auburn Speedster, 1934 Ford Indy Racer, 1966 Shelby GT 350H, 1966 Aston Martin DB 6 MK 1, 1962 Jaguar MK2, 1955 Citroen Traction Avant 15H, 1973 Jensen Interceptor,  as well as a number of 1916 Hudsons, including a Hudson Hill Climber. In total 150 cars will participate in the 2022 Great Race.

But what about Porsches?

Over the years a number of cool Porsches have participated in the rally. In fact, I wouldn’t even know about the rally if it weren’t for Pat and Ali Schulte, and their entry in the event back in 2007, in their 1965 Porsche 356C (pictured above). I came across this picture in their article about their experience in the race, and was instantly hooked.

So who’s running the rally in a Porsche this year?

Only two Porsches are entered in the event in 2022. We will be in Charlie, our tangerine 1969 Porsche 912 (pictured above). For the rally we will be car number 45. You can read about Charlie, as well as our experiences in the Great Race, in our series of articles about the event – HERE

You can also follow us during the rally on Instagram: @charliethe912
You can also watch our videos about the rally and other adventures: YouTube Channel

In addition to our 912, Kobus Reyneke and Andre Van Rensburg, in Kobus’ 1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Cabriolet will run the rally (car number 134). Nice color combination. I am looking forward to seeing it in person. Kobus is no stranger to adventure in his 356. He raced the Empire Cup at Lime Rock in 2020. In fact, his experience was featured on Bring-A-Trailer.

You can follow Kobus on Instagram: @kobusreyneke

Here is a little more information about Kobus’ beautiful 356 Cabriolet.

PORSCHE 356A
The 356A model offers many of the simple design characteristics of the early ‘Pre-A’ models, but with several updates that make these later cars more enjoyable to drive. The year 1959 spelled the last run of the 356A, and near the end of that same year a very different 356 entered the market with new proportions that steered the styling direction of Porsche’s sporting car farther from Ferdinand Porsche’s original design. The 356A represents a pivotal point in Porsche’s history, and offers enthusiasts a car that not only carries enough of the early 356 design qualities, but with less of the crude mechanicals of the very early cars.

THIS PORSCHE 356A 1600 SUPER CABRIOLET
This model year 1959 356A was delivered new on December 30, 1958 and reportedly resided in Michigan until shipped to the east coast in 2014.

Tom Kayser discovered the car while talking to the owner of a furniture store in Kalamazoo.  He looked at it in the late 1990’s sitting in a pine grove – covered with a blue tarp.  He passed on buying it, thinking it was a notchback with a fixed hard top. One night in 2002 while “bench racing”, Tom’s buddy and race car mechanic Bill Hallack, suggested Tom go back to take some photos and get the VIN #.  When he showed his findings to Bill, it was discovered the car was not a Notchback, but a Cabriolet.  Bill told Tom to buy it without hesitation.

Tom Kayser tried to trace the car’s history with the prior owner, who was the owner of Kalamazoo’s infamous “Boogie Records”. His memory was a little faded and couldn’t quite remember whether he bought it from “a girl” for $500, or whether she gifted him the car.  In subsequent meetings the story changed and it became clear that the car and owner seemed to have a somewhat checkered past.

Through the Internet and 356 Registry, Tom found sister cars 151511 and 151513 in Germany – all originally painted (Reuter code 608 / Porsche code 5706) Silver Metallic.

Having not been driven since 1992, the car was purchased for $3,750 in 2002. At the time it had been abandoned in a pine grove, and needed a complete restoration. The mileage at that time was 32,438. Kobus bought the car in 2018.

AWARDS
9/2018 Driven by Purpose New York Harbor Iconic Car Event – High Marque Award
10/2018 Porsche 356 Registry East Coast Holiday – 3rd Place in 356 Open Class