Finding Gold

His Dad Drove Race Cars

Member Feature by Mark Johnson

Walter “El Gordo” Sarmiento

is a native of Bogota, Colombia. He arrived in the states in 1989 at the age of 27, but his love of Porsche and automobiles started much-much earlier.

Walter’s father is an architect, who built half of the City of Bogota back in the day. He designed the tallest building in the downtown area among many others. Senior Sarmiento was also a race car driver. He would bring young Walter to the track to watch him race a VW with a Porsche engine. The engine was built by Walter’s dad by his own hand.

Per Walter, “Gustavo Sarmiento can be described as a genius. He’s crazy, stubborn, a tremendous professional, and adorable human being! I don’t remember him much as a race car driver, as all I can remember is being in the back of an old white VW and seeing him pass by on occasion. It was similar to watching any race from a single vantage point, the cars travel past quickly - unless it is on TV. But the smell of fumes; oil, gas, smoke is what stays with me. To me he was one heck of a driver!” Walter also shares, “Today, it’s what gets me excited about my 930, the smelly old bastard” (the car not dad, ed.).

El Gordo Sarmiento lives in the Embassy Lakes area of Cooper City. He is a CEI civil engineer by training (Construction, Engineering, Inspection) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). He has enjoyed an amazing career with FDOT rebuilding roads and bridges in Florida, and our great country. He has been part of renewing our infrastructure, making it more dependable, beautiful, and safer since 1994. Basically, he is doing his part to keep our Florida roads safe for transport by all vehicles, but especially for our Porsches.

Walter Sarmiento on a jobsite, CEI civil engineer for FDOT.

With regards to Porsche, Walter owns a 911 Turbo 930 in Charcoal Gray, the “widow maker” in Porsche parlance. This specific model 911 was given its less-than-ideal moniker owing to the vehicles’ propensity to snap-oversteer in certain cornering situations. He acquired this 930 in 2003 and has driven the Porsche continuously since. The 930 is Walter’s third Porsche. He’s also owned a red 1986 944 Turbo and a red 1988 928 S4 at the same time, of course wishing he still had both. They were moved to make space for the turbo. In addition to the 930 Turbo, Walter currently owns a ’82 C3 Chevy Corvette and an ’88 560 SL Mercedes Benz.

The 930 Turbo is his “all time” favorite Porsche, and he is fortunate to have acquired it back in 2003 after owning the 928 and 944 among many other brands. These days there is consideration of adding to his Porsche fleet by acquiring a Boxster S and perhaps a Panamera. Depending on storage and or garage space, we suspect that the Corvette and Benz will be moved to new owners to make room for the PCar additions.

As for modifications the 930 is equipped with a 3.4L with a larger turbo system and increased capacity intercooler. Interior wise there are quite a few additional mods which are generally too numerous to mention, but they work! Walter has had the vehicle serviced in a few locations around south Florida, to varying degrees of success. As a result, he has identified his personal favorite shops for key vehicle maintenance:

Kevin Wheeler of KMW Motorsports in Boca Raton and a small independent shop owned by Max Strunc in Davie. Per Walter, they are both great guys and always ready to lend a hand on issues with his Porsche.

Walter had driven several different vehicles up at Moroso – Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR). In previous Driver Education type events at PBIR, he had driven a mercury Mekur XR4ti, and a BMW M3, both solid cars on the track. Then he took the 930 to the PBIR track. His previous seat time in the turbo had been confined to the streets. The Moroso track experience would be new. While not a problem so to speak, El Gordo Sarmiento was able to experience the throttle snap-oversteer that gave the 930 turbo models the nickname of “widow maker:!

Flying down the back straight to the bottom turn, Walter experienced the snap-oversteer of the “widow maker” when starting to exit that bottom turn. He thinks he may have added a bit too much throttle – a touch too early - coming out of the turn and WHAM! North, East, West, South, Stalled! The car flipped around faster than a June bug in a tornado. Trembling, he started the vehicle, thanked the Lord he did not wreck the 930 as it would hurt both spiritually and financially, and decided to avoid the track with the car going forward. It was the last time he drove at PBIR with this Porsche, relegating the car to Thursday gatherings and Ruben’s Runs drives. It would be PCA runs for stone crab and other south Florida local Porsche rallies with his Porsche pals.

Beyond the automobiles, Walter’s family life is not uncommon. Walter is divorced. He has a 22-year-old daughter, Daniela, who he has not seen in quite a long time, but he adores her. He is the oldest of four siblings with two younger brothers and his baby sister. The 930 Turbo in the Keys during a recent Air-Cooled Breakfast Club run.

Walter “El Gordo” Sarmiento with Mom & Dad, Senora Liga Hernandez & Sr. Gustavo Sarmiento

Very fortunately both Mom, Liga Hernandez, and Dad are still living and reside in Port St. Lucie. Walter thanks God for each of them and the lives that they have been given. His thankfulness and appreciation for life is evident in the smile that never seems to leave Walter’s face.

Walter has been a PCA member since the 944 was first acquired. However, there was a two- or three-year hiatus taken before rejoining Gold Coast a couple years ago. He has traveled to the Tampa area with PCA in the 928, a beautiful resort, with the trip so long ago the name of the facility remains elusive. Additional trips include two visits to Mount Dora in the 930 with GCR folks. Like many members he participates in social events such as the Second Thursday event at Beat Culture in Miami, and as many long-organized drives as time allows. Walter “El Gordo” (a childhood nickname from his youth as he was rather chubby at birth) Sarmiento believes that he has been blessed with an amazing life and finds himself very fortunate to be living in the USA, Florida, a grand and beautiful country. He feels welcomed and he is thankful for the opportunity to build a great life that includes knowing an exceptional group of friends he has made through the Porsche community. He is happy to be part of our group, our Porsche family. Walter, we are very happy you are part of PCA Gold Coast Region and our Porsche community of friends as well.