George & Co Bodyworks

Porsche Centre Melbourne Workshop Evening

Wednesday 25th May Story: Justin Reed Photos: Linley Baxter and Porsche Centre Melbourne

PCM GM Piero Pellegrini welcomes the PCV throng.

The invitation to explore a Porsche workshop as large and diverse as Porsche Centre Melbourne comes into my inbox rarely. Consequently, my response to the invitation took about a nano-second to accept.

Upon arrival we gathered around the Classic Corner of the dealership near a freshly restored and gleaming 993 RS. Beyond the large glass doors into the workshop, a variety of classic Porsches on hoists awaited us.

After the introductions by PCM General Manager Piero Pellegrini, Peter Bowen and Cameron McConville, with over 70 years of combined experience between them, started the tour. First stop was an immaculately clean, white late 80s 930 Turbo SE. The 930 SE was not sold in Australia when new, but the specification of this UK market car, and last of the G series 930s was truly impressive.

From here we moved down to the engine room, where Peter Bowen, Porsche Classic Master Technician took us through the engines that were currently being re-built. I asked what other engines Peter had done throughout his long career, and he reeled off every significant Porsche model from the Porsche back catalogue – 4 cam Carrera 356s, the high revving 906 derived engine from the original 911 R, 2.7 RS, 2.8 RSR, 3.0 RSR, 964 RSR, and more Cup Car engines than both he and Karl could remember.

Following the engine room tour, it was over to a Taycan Cross Turismo in a specially equipped and isolated part of the workshop. As the car was lifted on the hoist, we could easily see the massive skateboard like battery pack, and the extensive cooling systems. Fun fact for the evening was that cooling of the battery in EV’s is one of the key determinants in extending range.

After we finished looking at the Cross Turismo – it was off to the food truck (parked conveniently near one of the workshop doors) for dinner. As we ate a Carrera GT (the race car derived Porsche hyper car from the early 2000s) idled close to the tables that had been set up for us. The revving of the V10 signalled that we needed to be on the move again – through an Aladdin’s cave of back lanes and one-way streets around Collingwood to the Porsche Centre Melbourne Pre- Delivery Department, and then from there to the newly established dedicated PCM Motorsport facility.

As we were welcomed by recently appointed PCM Motorsport Commercial Manager and credentialled GT, super touring, sports car and V8 Supercar driver Cameron McConville – our eyes were drawn to an amphitheatre of Cup Cars – ranging from the very first 996, right through to the newly introduced 992 variant. Taking centre stage was the Porsche Centre Melbourne entry driven in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship by Nick McBride.

The engine room

The magnificent Carrera GT

PCM’s Giles Hunter and Cameron McConville A superb and rare classic 930 SE Organiser Clyde White with Alison White

members. Its popularity was clear from the very long waiting list. Perhaps next time…..

Thank you from the Organiser Clyde White

I would like to thank PCM and in particular Piero, Kate, Giles and Cam who were the architects of a fabulous Workshop Night, thoroughly enjoyed by our members, left wanting more such nights.

Marc Cini’s 992 Cup Car

The newly opened facility will cater to the growing motorsport preparation and trackside support areas of club and more formal motorsport. Cam spoke about the Porsche motorsport pyramid, which starts at club level where an owner takes their road car to a track day. The next level involves running a motorsport car (such as a Cup or GT car) at club level super sprint and track days. After this, participation in championships such as the GT3 Sprint Challenge and finally Porsche Carrera Cup Australia occurs.

To illustrate this pyramid and give it a realworld context we were then introduced to Matthew Belford, who caught the Porsche racing bug from his brother David (a Melbourne based Porsche restorer). Six years later he now finds himself competing in the Pro-Am class of Carrera Cup Australia, driving a brand new 992 Carrera Cup Car, fresh from the round win at Winton the week earlier.

The evening ended with Marc Cini starting his 992 Cup Car, questions from the floor, and racing around Mount Panorama on a racing simulator. Judging by my time and the exterior condition of my GT2 RS at the end of 2 laps, some more practice is needed for me. Perhaps starting on the Porsche motorsport pyramid is a bit more distant than I first thought?

Special thanks to Social Committee member Clyde White who worked closely and assiduously with Porsche Centre Melbourne to bring this wonderful event to life for PCV

Q and A, facilitated by Cam McConville and Matt Belford.