Top Gun Porsche Party

Derek Bell, Westin Fengler (on Derek’s knee), and Ken Fengler at a Derek Bell Motorsports event Perhaps one of the most interesting and fun events undertaken by Ken was his participation in the creation of the Stuttgart Cup and Mission Foods GT3 Cup. In particular, the Stuttgart Cup was conceived as a spec racing event using the highly successful Formula Vee and Spec Miata programs. It was a time of late-model Porsche racing under the name HSR (“Historic Sportscar Racing”), including the Cayman Interseries at Sebring, Road America, Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, and Daytona.

A Chicago, Illinois dealer, Napleton Porsche, sold roughly 70 Cayman race cars. Interestingly, it was decided to provide each car with a specific historical Porsche livery (such as the Pink Pig, Momo, Shell Racing, Coca-Cola, etc.), and of course all graphically designed/ redesigned by our friend David Schnorr. The year was 2009 and David had long since perfected “wrapping” cars in plastic film to allow such historical liveries to be used on the spec Cayman racers.

Successful businessman and Porsche Cayman driver, Bill Ridell, continued to promote both the Porsche Cayman series and the existing Mission Foods GT3 Cup . Ridell hired Ken Fengler as General Manager and Competition Director. Ken’s duties were to secure the various tracks for the competition and to keep the rules and teams in check, preventing rules creep and overly expensive cost to be competitive. There are so many stories in Ken Fengler’s history as this, each just as interesting and compelling. He has participated in multiple Parade events, Rennsport in Watkins Glen and at Lime Rock. He is a co-founder of the 48 Hours at Sebring, attends WERKS at Amelia, and was the Chairman and founder of the first Gold Coast Region Drivers’ Ed program at Moroso in 1985. We had about 45 minutes at Houston’s on Atlantic and the Intracoastal WW to get the basics; we could have listened for hours.

Ken has been married for 42 years to his wife, Maureen. They have two sons, Westin (33) and Garrett (29) with three grandchildren: Rileigh, Kolby, and Aston. Originally from Wallingford, CT the family has lived in the same home in Ft. Lauderdale for 40 years.

His current Porsche stable includes a 1975 911 3.0 RSR in Mexico Blue (bought from the feds in a government auction – and most certainly another story), a stunning 2016 Boxster GTS in Black, and a 1974 914 Phoenix Red (recently seen at Wheels Across the Pond in Jupiter – but not his original “student loan” car). Might there be a favorite Porsche? Of course, several! He loves the 904, 906, 917, 962, ’73 Carrera RS. And what is most amazing is that he has had the opportunity to drive them ALL! As with all this experience in motorsports, Ken has also driven in the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and numerous other races. He suggests that he was not the fastest, but the drives were quite fun. We should all be so lucky.

At the ripe young age of 66, Ken is not slowing down at all. The International GT series races for 2022 are being held at Sebring, Road Atlanta, Road America, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, VIR, COTA, and Daytona International, a busy schedule of mostly monthly events. In between he and Maureen spend time in Florida on the water, and enjoy skiing and travel for business and pleasure. Time spent with their grandchildren is paramount.

When Ken crossed the 60-year threshold, his family and friends threw a party of course – a black button with flashing lights announced his “advanced” age. Those in attendance signed a special guest book, but no ordinary guest book. The guests signed and notated a Dr. Seuss book: OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Having the opportunity to visit with Ken Fengler and hear a few stories, Dr. Seuss’s words, “the places you’ll go,” are so very appropriate. And it all started with a student loan, a Porsche 914, and a PCA club membership.

GOLD COAST CLIMBS TO THE DANGER

At the movies with PCA GCR

by mark johnson

It took 36 years to make the sequel. This is also the exact length of time since the Gold Coast Region won the “REGION OF THE YEAR” from Porsche Club of America. Hmmmm . . . . Serendipity, or coincidence? Hope so…

It may have taken some time to bring the Pete “Maverick” Mitchell story back to the big screen, but it didn’t take nearly as long to gather up a large group of Gold Coasters for a private showing of Top Gun: Maverick! Being Porsche car pilots, it should not surprise anyone that we have “a need for speed”!

On Saturday June 4, 2022, ninety members of the Gold Coast Region and ten additional Veteran guests attended a special viewing of Top Gun: Maverick at the Cinemark Paradise 24 theater in Davie. It was a late afternoon matinee that brought everyone back up into the danger zone for a bit over two hours of thrilling action, great backstory, a renewed love interest, and surprise – a classic aircooled PORSCHE. Of course, Maverick (Tom Cruise) reprises his role as the hotshot Navy pilot. Where would we be without this hero, after all? Even Iceman Kazansky is back as an admiral. (Note: There is a great story about how Val Kilmer, Iceman, who has been treated for throat cancer, has lost his voice. How Val “talks” in TG: Maverick lends a special touching moment to the film). The new love interest is an old flame. We’d tell you but we won’t. The lovin’ feeling is still present, along with the Kenny Loggins tunes; nobody has lost it.

Even with all the stars, action, and suspense perhaps the biggest star to us Porsche peeps is the 1973 Porsche 911S driven by Maverick’s new/old gal, Penny. It’s amazing to see an incredibly classic longhood carry the lineage of Porsche’s influence in this movie. Top Gun fans will certainly remember the 356 Cabrio driven by Charlie (Kelly McGillis) in the original, and the ’73 911S extends this tradition. To quote Charlie from the first Top Gun: “You’re not going to be happy unless you’re going Mach 2 with your hair on fire.” Somehow, this seems to apply every time we turn the key left of the wheel on our Porsches.

Top Gun: Maverick is simply awesome! Those Rotten Tomatoes guys give it a 97% score. The GCR folks were over the top, perhaps in our own danger zone, on our departure from the theater. It was a great way to spend the afternoon with Porsche People – and the cars, and planes. “Talk to me, Goose” and pass the popcorn.