By Rob Ways. Photography by author. Republished with permission from the January 2016 issue of Fourteener Motoring Magazine.

Famous Spinal Tap rocker Nigel Tufnel once explained that amps only go up to 10, but HIS was specially built to go to 11 . . . “when you need that extra push over the cliff“ – 11. 

On a scale of 1 to10 – Rennsport Reunion V in Monterey at Laguna Seca September 25 – 27, 2015 (OK – Mazda Raceway) was an 11.

To put it all down on the pavement – it was the cars, the races, the people, and Laguna Seca (I know…. Mazda Raceway).

Pulling in Thursday night, I climbed out of my diesel pusher and admired the brilliance of having 4 phones dialing for a reservation months earlier: I was looking over turn 5, the 911 corral, and the entire PCA/exhibitor area from my RV site. Beyond that, I could see turn 1 off the straight and a completely full paddock.

Sounds of vintage racecar motors filled the air as practice racers climbed the hill to turn 6. It was like hearing Mozart in person (or Slash if you prefer). On the road in between the track and my campsite, Porsches drove in and out. Yes, that was a 959 on the street. Yes, that is a 550 Spyder, being driven. Cars you never see, and never see driven, were everywhere. Speedsters, Turbos, GT3s, 911s, and yes, 914s littered the landscape.  You couldn’t even stop and take a picture, because you’d miss something. This is something special.

“Hey buddy, can you pinch me?”  I asked the guy next to me. “Huh?” Well, I guess that’s the last I’ll see of my RV neighbor.

Friday was practice day on the track. I spent half the day walking around the PCA exhibits, the vendor tents, and the corrals. A strong showing of 914s attended, appropriately nestled between the track, the beer tent, and the 912s. Track noise was also an 11.

Every 914 was a winner. A winner for driving there, showing there, and being there. 914s ranged from Tom Provasi’s Orange Crate  (Porsche Parade 2006 AX TTOD winner), to a real 914/6 GT owned by Larry Moeller, to flared cars with /6s, and finely cared for /4s. The Nagy family brought both their LE and 914/6. Jim Hoyland’s /4 was stunning in person. Patrick Motorsports had a silver 916 replica complete with a steel roof, and another race ready conversion. In the paddock, Brumos Racing had their ever-familiar red 914s, and the historic Bic 914/6 GT raced. MSDS had their black turbo 914 on display, and there were countless more.

Porsche had their factory exhibit, although Porsche seems be moving up in the world. Seeing the Cayman GT4 and 918s are both exciting and somewhat a departure from what I love about Porsche the most – being everyman’s everyday exotic. Perhaps it’s just becoming exotic.

Race day 914s were well represented in the chase for the Eifel Trophy. Thomas Gruber in his 1971 914/6 (no. 158) finished 3rd overall (qualified 2nd). 914s placed 6th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 32nd, 37th, and 38th – representing 19.5% of the field. Always great to see the ponies run.

Two 914s also competed in the Carrera Trophy, (along with 935s and RSRs), placing 20th and 37th.

Fastest competition lap was a blistering 1:19.678 put down by a 2006 Porsche RS Spider. This equates to an average speed of 101.12 on one of the most challenging 2.238 road-racing miles on earth. With 180 feet of elevation change and 11 turns, racers had to be at their best, and fans were rewarded with amazing views from pretty much everywhere on the track. The famous Laguna Seca (Mazda) Raceway is famous for its “corkscrew” between turns 8 and 8A, which drops the racer straight down, and some cars that push the limit can be seen lifting off a wheel ever so gracefully!

In between races on Saturday and Sunday, PCA offered highly controlled laps on the track. A paddock pass allowed you to walk among the racers and see everything you could ever want to see including some famous people (like me and the rest of the 914world folks?). Late Saturday also had famous racecars on display in the pits for pictures and stories, and the day finished with a few happy laps from the drivers.

With only 57,531 in attendance, there was plenty of room for you if you didn’t make it.  Some brave 914world amigos traveled from as far as North Carolina, Texas, Colorado, and the great state of Southern California.

As a final thought, understand this: These things only come around once every 3 – 4 years. Missing one is like missing your kid’s birth. So do yourself a favor – Make plans to go to Rennsport VI. Then make a point of actually going! Extra points if you drive a 914.

And don’t forget to turn your radio, and your expectations, up to 11.