The "Car Hauler" came early this morning, and took my FD off to another life in VA with Fritz Morgen. Hopefully, Fritz will take a look at the black beauty and decide to keep it or sell it as-is rather than parting it out. Nonetheless, keep your eyes and ears peeled for parts from Fritz. I sent him some good stuff that had not yet been installed in the car!!

I've been asked by many why I'm leaving the rotary fold. I give them all the same answer, so to anticipate more of the same: my wife of 38 years died at the beginning of April from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Many years ago, we joked about buying a Porsche, then it became semi-serious. But we never got around to it before her disease made it moot. The last several years she wasn't even able to get in the FD.

Before she died, she made me promise to buy that Porsche we talked about. In fact, I learned, she had made her closest lady friends promise to bug me about that.

But I didn't buy the Cabriolet she wanted, nor the GT3 I was thinking about. I decided that since I really don't know the cars that well to buy a used Porsche. I now have a '99 911 Carrera 2 (the first year of the water-cooled engine). It's black over tan just as my FD was when I first bought it in Aug '92.

This may be a short trip as I've already had a few sharp words with Porsche snobs. First, I was corrected that Porsche is pronounce "Porsha." BTW, what's your name? Never even introduced himself.

I was talking to one guy about different wheels for the car, and noted that my RX-7 rode rough with 18" wheels, and that many on the Porsche forum indicated the same with 18" on Porsches. He said, "Well, an RX-7 is not a Porsche." Couldn't help myself as I told him, "No, it isn't. My RX-7 is faster, handles better, and is certainly better looking. And more unique as there are less of them on the road." Of course, he wanted to know how I could say that. I told him I had run rings around a Turbo and a GT3 already.

I'm sure once I get to the autox and track junkies, I'll find better folks. I hope so.

It'll be tough to beat you guys. I know these last few years, the demographics of the Big List and the forums have changed, but for the most part it's been rotorheads trying to pass on the torch. At least my pistons are laid out flat.

Good luck to you all. Don't be surprised to see me back here in a few years (maybe months or weeks).

 

holy crap

this is the first time i actually had a tear in my eye from the amazing story, tone and thought that went into that post..

im sorry about the 2 losses (wife and car) and i wish you the best of luck with the new car..

ok..now..just because you got the 911, ever think that maybe, in the future, you can get back to the 7 road? maybe an fc or possibly an fd when your financially ready, if you're not already are?

 

condolences...
another FD leave the bay area...

 

...

 

Joe, you PMed about your wife's illness a few months ago, but I did not know that she had passed away recently. My sincerest condolences! Surely, she is in a better place to not have to suffer any more.

Although we are local to each other, I have not had the privilege of ever getting to meet you, however, I appreciate the PMs and e-mails you sent me with advice on the car and the Bay Area RX-7 Club. Good luck with the Porsche, and maybe we'll see you here one day as (again) an RX-7 owner. Take care.

 

Sorry to hear about your wife. I also hope you are happy with your new purchase. Please let us know how you like it.

 

Touching story, sorry for your loss. Good luck with the Porshce and in your healing. From Japanese to German---should be an interesting change!

 

I am so sorry to hear about your loss, that really makes me think long and hard about life and how quickly it can change, and whats important.
Now, this porsche, they are great cars, that awesome sound of the flat six's and that classic shape, however theres is nothing like an fd, seeing as how im on my third fd and hopefully final, and fourth rx7 total, i think i know how easy it is to "come back to an rx7". But rx7's will always be incredible cars in their own sense, and nothing compares, and i think you have a little place in your heart for rotaries. (Oh, and just my opinion, i always thought porshhh sounded better than porshaa, i went through a little episode years ago where i started pronouncing it porsha cause i thought thats the way it's supposed to be, but then i realized porshh sounds much better, so i call it what i like, that guy who told you otherwise on that forum sounds like a real ***. Anyways hope you are still regular on the rx7 forum, that way you'll switch back soon. All the best to ya.

 

i though that all porsche engines can only be serviced from below (even changing oil is a bitch i hear). is this correct?

 

im sorry for your wife's passing. your story was VERY touching. IT REALLLY sucks to lose such a great member as you! Stick around.. "porschhahahahah" or not.
Take care.

 

I'll let you know on the servicing as soon as I try my first one. I know the Boxster's a bitch, don't know about the 911.

 

sorry to hear the sad news.

 

Damn dude, I feel sad now. Both for your wife passing away and your FD going...

 

I'm really sorry about your wife.

 

That was a very heart felt story. Sorry to hear about your losses. I wish you the best of luck with your new ride.

 

i am really sorry to hear about your loss.

 

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like she was a great lady. Don't ever forget that you've got a bunch of friends here. HURRY BACK and Buena Suerte!!
-Jimmy

 

Your loss is probably one of the hardest losses a human can go through. I ask you this. You and your wife spent countless trips and moments in the FD correct? Maybe she didn't want you to live in depression by being in those memories all the rest of your life. Luckily she had made you promise to something that the two of you had dreamed about. Making it easier for you to agree too. The only thing that heals a loss is time. But the depression during that time often kills the healer. Maybe she had thought that something like this would happen to you. She loved you to much for that to happen, so she made you promise to buy the Porsche. Now you have a car in memory of her, not a car with memories of her in. It may make it easier for your stability in the long run, and she may have thought of this before she passed. Just a thought. Enjoy your Porsche, and don't ever leave the 7 community.

 

good luck with everything u do in life bro and deepest condolenses go out to u and ur wifes family

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. Good luck and hope to see you again RX-7's 4 Life

 

that is a tradgic story, and my thoughts were very well summed up by cpnneeda. So I send my condolences and as many others have indicated, a plea for you not to leave the rotary community all together because though you may have at first joined the community because of the car you drove, you have obviously hit the point where you would be missed regardless of your current vehicle.
Regards
Bob

 

Wow, such a sad story... you and your wife are in my prayers. My aunt has been struggling with ALS for about 5 years now, it is such a terrible disease.

On the bright side, I'm sure you'll get another RX-7 someday

 

Sorry about your wife !

Next time that jackass corrects you, ask him if he speaks the rest of the language as well, and if he does, ask him to pronounce Encyclopedia in German, you ought to get a nice chucke out of that one
Differen languages butcher different words, don't worry about it, it's your Porshhh and his Prosha...

 

Sorry to hear also, i hope things work out well with all aspects of your life in the future

 

, , I'm sorry. Well good luck with your porsching, and hopefully will see you in a 7.