Meet John Clarke
By Karen Bresler
by Karen Bresler
Love is a word that pervades John’s presence. He uses the word “love” frequently and it is used just as frequently when others talk of him . This is John’s happy photo. He loves it. Loves his Porsche and loves the garage it is housed in, with all the memorabilia. And that is just the start to the story that is our member John Clarke.
Photos
Photo submitted by John Clarke
Some of John’s loves include his wife Zoë, their beautiful garden, cars, particularly the classic ones, the students he taught, their parents, collections, people, art, art surfaces, which include cars as a surface, beautiful displays, his friends, the Porsche Club, his art studio and more. There is no particular order to this love, except for Zoë. She is clearly the most beloved. John is a
looked at the photos, its one of the first cars you notice. See John’sCarinJohn’sWords, Page 51.
“I’ve had a lot of experiences, none of which I regret”
We walked toward a little house at the back which is John’s studio where I discovered that John is a very talented photographer and artist.
It is a lot to take in at first and once I got to know John and toured his collection, and then saw the collection at Café 356, I started to realize the
collector. I enjoyed a tour of John’s collection and lunch with Zoë and John in early Spring.
I felt the love and care on their property as I walked up the driveway. Each plant and tree is well looked after and thriving.
John took me on a tour of the exterior first, passing the garage with his iconic car. If you have ever been at Cars and Coffee or
depth of his talent—and his humility. John starts our discussion He says: ”I’ve had a lot of experiences, none of which I regret”. He says it all goes back to his childhood and dinky toys. In 1961 John saw the British Grand Prix and he never forgot it. It was about the beauty of car racing and the elegance of the cars. “I love the cars but they are more than that” he says “I revere them as artwork. I love the old ones”.
John found himself at Westwood when he was 14 years old. As an impressionable teenager, this stuck in his mind and he found it to be a “very sexy sport” Drag racing at Arlington was next . He knew this was temporary as an essential ingredient was missing for him there – sleekness and elegance.
The passion for cars was burning bright and his first car was a 1956 Monarch convertible. He called it a luxury yacht because it was so “big and beautiful” Then he got into Volkswagons in his teens. University became a priority and he focused on his studies in Urban Geography. Around age 20, John owned a Jeep pick up truck, a full-size Tepee and a boat. He describes a wonderful year of driving to a spot, putting up the Tepee and putting a line in the water to catch fish.
During the days of the hippies, cars were not the mode of getting around when you were busy saving the environment.
In June 1977, John witnessed a race that he says “changed my life” He talked with the driver and owner, Peter Gregg. “It was a hellava race and that set the pattern for the rest of my life”. Gregg won the race that day and after looking at the car and talking with Gregg, John decided he would like to have a Porsche.
This is the car that started it all.
John went back to university to become a teacher. This became 32 years of passion for teaching Grades 3 and 4 , mathematics, art and literature. “I loved it and loved the kids, loved every minute of it and loved the parents”. He was described as a master teacher and retired happily at age 55. Becoming a teacher also introduced him to the love of his life, Zoë, who he met at university in 1974. They became teachers together and married. “Car stuff came back then”. On the last day of school, they were both exhausted and John spotted an ad for a 1962 356 Porsche in Vancouver. He bought it the next day.
John’s cars over the decades include five Porsche 356’s; two 912’s, two Caymans, 1 Boxster and 8 911’s.
Greggwontherace thatdayandafter lookingatthecarand talkingwithGregg, Johndecidedhe wouldliketohavea Porsche
John describes his pathway though ownership of these cars as falling into “ a wonderful group of friends and F1 photography”. Sitting in the basement of John and Zoë’s house among John’s extensive collection of car memorabilia, he explains that Zoë has put a rule in place- the car memorabilia stays in the basement. F1 helmets signed by drivers and figurines of drivers adorn the shelves, together with beautifully finished model cars. Car books and albums line the walls. A large number of press passes hang on a hook. John explained that he took photos for Molson Indy for 12 years. He obtained a press pass as photographer for the German Grand Prix in 1993.
John decided subsequently that he needed a more powerful car and this is when he met Paul Rossmo in 1980. He purchased Paul’s 356 SC which had a newer, bigger motor. John still has the cheque he gave Paul for that car.
John, in a presentation, at the Presidents Corral and Bull Sessions, holding up a photo of the car that inspired him to Porsche Ownership.
Photo by John Clarke
John explains that he has always been visually stimulated “I like looking at things. John attended art classes at the Vancouver Art Gallery for two and a half years.
“I like things that are unique, competent and wholesome”
Media Passes
John’s collection is vast and these photographs do not cover it all. He is selling it now and inviting people to schedule a mutually convenient time to look it over and perhaps purchase a piece for themselves.
As the years have gone on, the items have become richer in meaning. The letters written to John by the F1 Drivers, Porsche and other organizations were written, John says, “with honesty and integrity to one person, not 5000 people”. Personal letter writing, he says, ended with the arrival of the internet and email.
On the art of collecting, John describes it as a “pursuit”. If he sees something,
he pursues it. He teaches the youth he mentors to be very thorough about things. “If I get a hint of it, I have to find out more. I do it with honesty and attention to detail”.
John feels strongly about preserving the past and says that the “best of times have come and gone with respect to cars”.
A tour around John’s collection brings to light how rich and elegant that past was and how it can inform us now. John’s car epitomises this as he says: “when I drive my car, kids flock around it” He talks to them and fuels their fire, much like his talk with Peter “Perfect” Gregg did for him in 1977. That was a moment that defines John’s life. An impressionable young man started a journey that continues to touch many lives, young and old.
John is a collector. He also collects love and people who love him. And, everyone loves his iconic car - a car so like him. A product of an elegant past, at home in a modern world; artistic; an inspiration and a conversation starter.
Left: A younger John Clarke
John’s car...in John’s words
“When I reflect and consider what most influenced me to have the car I have I think back to the 1977 Trans Am race at Westwood. When I saw the Porsche 934/935 entered by Brumos Motors and driven by Peter “Perfect” Gregg I was awestruck. There was something about the aerodynamic shape, beautiful presentation and sheer elegance of that machine that imbedded itself in my memory forever. The experience left me determined to have a unique, custom built Porsche of my own.
After sampling 356s, 912s, and other Porsche offerings I eventually found a recently custom built and modified 1986 911. The car was modified in the style of a 1973 Carrera RS. Many tribe members consider that year and version of the 911 to be the ultimate expression of Porsche production. I certainly do. My car was built for another enthusiast and I bought it in February 2022. It had 2,000kms. at the time and was in perfect condition. The suspension is modified, has a Wevo short shift mechanism, new interior, custom exhaust and engine and transmission rebuilds by “Wonderful” Juan Recaverran at Juan’s Auto Service in Richmond. Since purchasing the car I have had a Getty Design ducktail installed, mounted Cibie Pallas driving lights and changed out the seats for Recaro LXs. The car is zesty and 3rd gear acceleration at 3,400+ RPM makes me feel like I have tapped into the essence of Porsche 911 ownership. Other people like it too and the car won the ünStock class at the 2022 Porsches on the Pitch gathering.
To own a car like this it is helpful to be sociable. Wherever it goes it attracts attention and teenagers everywhere want to know all about it!
I love my car. It embodies everything I have always appreciated about cars. I consider it a work of automotive sculpture and I do think of it as a work of art. “
Photo credit : Karen Bresler
John, polishing his Porsche outside Café 356
Photo credit : Karen Bresler
At home, in John’s garage
Café 356
By Karen Bresler
Photo credit as indicated
Photo Credit: Martin Mansfield - Gary Glover’s Cayman S outside Café 356 with Gail McCully and Roy Eggler’s Intermecannica inside, and reflection of two others from the parking lot.
Café 356 opened in May 2024, just in time for the Parking Lot Party of WochenendEscape. A vision of member, Marc Klijnsmit, brought to life together with his partner, Santana Portman, Café 356 is causing wheels to turn into French Creek, just outside Parksville. The Café is next to the French Creek pub, which is also operated by the dynamic team.
On the day of the Parking Lot Party, Café 356 and its parking lot volunteers demonstrated what is possible.
Around 87 Porsches were very efficiently displayed in the large parking lot that surrounds both the Café and the French Creek Pub.
There were many conveys travelling in that area that weekend and a member of the public was heard asking: “what is with all the Porsches in the area?”
It was a very celebratory Porsche infused event.
Despite the grey rainy day, and on-and-off rain, the energy at the Parking Lot Party was high and the scenery stunning, with so many beautiful cars against the backdrop of the marina.
where Marc loves to take photos. Marc was so inspired by his interaction with John that he attended Cars and Coffee regularly and got to know the other members.
Karen Bresler
The Vision
At the time, Marc was working as a chef at the Black Goose Inn in Parksville. He suggested to the group that they meet there when a fire near Serious Coffee posed a few challenges. Marc brought the coffee and donuts and members loved the location. “Cars and Coffee became a new thing in my life. Having that excitement of having people over, with Porsches, I thought it would be super cool to have a coffee shop with Porsches”.
Marc contacted a commercial real estate broker to find him a concept space. Enter Santanna Portman.
Getting owner Marc to sit down for an interview is challenging. Café hours are 7 am to 3:56 pm and the French Creek pub has an ever expanding regular clientele at dinner time. While he was opening up the Café for the day, I asked him how this all came it be.
“When I bought my Porsche in 2022, I became a member of the Porsche Club for the resources and knowledge. I was interested in seeing what other people were driving and I found out they were meeting at Serious Coffee” Marc explained. On the second visit to Cars and Coffee, Marc discovered John Clarke’s Porsche in the parking lot. Marc was taking photos when John came out and they got into an enthusiastic conversation which landed up in them going for a drive in John’s Porsche to a location
The search was for a space that was bigger than a regular coffee shop and could hold a car in it. Santanna, who is based in French Creek, looked at the premises with Marc and they both got excited about the possibilities, even though the property was in really bad shape. “So we started building the bar and the concept”
April 2024
Work in Progress
Karen Bresler
Marc Klijnsmit outside Café 356
Photo:
Photo:
A donation of Porsche area rugs to Marc, and Café 356, by Gordon Halkett in early May helped with the finishing touches.
Photo Credit: Linnea Uphoff
Santanna arranged all the legal requirements, Including getting the trades in for the renovations. Marc credits Santanna as being the force that brought it altogether.
Background as Chef
Marc got busy using his 20 years of being a chef, running a restaurant and being a hospitality host. Marc explains that he has always been in kitchens and restaurants. When he moved to Canada from Holland in 2007, he says that “as an immigrant you have to do something” so he opened a restaurant in Bear Lake in Northern BC. That turned into a motel and a 72 hook up RV resort.
Marc opened another restaurant in Whistler. When the lease expired, Marc wanted to do something different. He opened a restaurant at a gas station. In 2017, Marc moved to the Island, where he worked at the Black Goose Inn for 7 years.
Artful décor
When you walk in, you immediately notice at least two things. A car or two parked in the Café and car themed artwork and memorabilia adorning the walls and surfaces. The spot for the car/s is a space
where owners can leave their car on display for an agreed period of time. “This is a place people can enjoy things that people leave here on display with me”, Marc explains. The car currently displayed is owned by members Gail McCully and Roy Eggler. It is a 2019 bespoke built Intermecannica, styled after a 1959 Porsche 356.
The artwork and memorabilia is from John Clarke’s extensive collection. It is an experience to walk through and engage with this art and the collection on display.
Photo Credit: Karen Bresler
Inside the Café, portion of John Clarke’s collection on display.
Photos by Karen Bresler
Asked about his friendship with John Clarke, Marc says they communicate daily. Marc attributes John’s energy to Marc’s engagement in the club. “John is the reason I became involved and stayed”. At the Parking Lot Party, John presented Marc with a Plaque he had made for Café 356.
That wasn’t the only plaque made for Marc and Café 356 in May. At the Cars and Coffee on the Sunday of the WochenendEscape weekend, a plaque of the VIRPCA logo made by member Didier Brard and donated by him to the Auction was purchased and donated to Marc for display in Café 356.
The connection with members and car enthusiasts has created an energy in Café 356 which is all about cars, friendship and passion. If you love cars, it’s a must see destination.
Future plans– in the works are plans to offer more choices on the menu. Cars and Coffee for mid-island area on Sunday is always buzzing with Porsche members and lately the parking lot has seen a few Ferraris, along with Mini Coopers, MG’s, and vintage Volkswagen, to name a few.
“There are cars and restaurants... and I always love making posters” Marc confesses to a love for graphic design as a way to connect people. He says making a weekly poster and sending it out as a reminder for Cars & Coffee “brings everyone together and I feel that our Cars & Coffee are exciting”.
You are all invited…
Photo Credit : Karen Bresler
From left to right: Norm Smith (Nanaimo Tour de Rock Committee Co-chair and VIRPCA member), Sonia Ross, Trevor Ross, Marc Klijnsmit, Didier Brard Photo Wyman Lee
Photo Credit: Wyman Lee
John caught working at the back of Café 356, after the Parking Lot Party, on a new piece of art for the Café.
Photo credit: Karen Bresler