4,000 Miles to the Arctic Circle: What We Learned About Our Porsches
9WERKS Radio : The Porsche and Car Podcast
4,000 Miles to the Arctic Circle: What We Learned About Our Porsches
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Car
Porsche 356
The Porsche 356 is an older Porsche sports car from the early days of the brand. People talk about it because it helped define what Porsche was about and how their cars were built. It’s often mentioned when discussing the history of Porsche models.
Term
GPS tracker
A GPS tracker is a small device that uses satellites to record your route. Here, it’s used to measure how many miles they drove and how fast the car got.
Term
German auto barn
They likely mean the German Autobahn, Germany’s highway system. It’s famous for sections where there may not be a posted speed limit, so cars can reach higher speeds there.
Term
top speed
“Top speed” means the fastest speed the car hit at any point during the drive. They’re using their tracker to record that number.
Place
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is a line on the map in the far north. Going there usually means very cold conditions and unusual daylight, which can make driving harder on a car.
Place
Orison Bridge
The Orison Bridge is a particular bridge on their route. They’re saying it’s a really impressive, scenic part of the drive.
Place
Moirana
Moirana is a racetrack they say is the farthest north in the world. Because it’s so far north, the conditions are unusual, and they even got onto the track.
Term
resurfacing
Resurfacing means they’re redoing the track surface. That can change how grippy it feels and how tires wear while it’s being finished.
Term
parade lap
A parade lap is a slow, showy lap where you’re not really racing or trying to set a fast time. They’re saying they drove it more like a real run, not a sightseeing lap.
Place
Atlantic Ocean Road
Atlantic Ocean Road is a well-known scenic drive in Norway along the coast. They mention it because it’s a beautiful part of the route they took on the way back.
Car
718 Boxster 718
The “718” is a Porsche model line, and it includes the Boxster 718. It’s a mid-engine sports car, meaning the engine is placed toward the middle for better balance. The podcast is using it to point to a particular Porsche generation.
Term
overtake manoeuvre
An overtake manoeuvre is when you pass another car. They’re saying their car had enough power to do that quickly and confidently.
Term
revved
“Revved” means the engine is spinning faster. They’re saying the engine felt lively and responsive while accelerating.
Term
roof back
They’re talking about opening a convertible roof. With the roof up you’re more enclosed, and with it flipped back you can enjoy the view and fresh air.
Car
Porsche 718
The Porsche 718 is a small, sporty Porsche with a layout that helps it drive well. Here, they’re pointing out that it still has usable storage space both in front and behind, which is handy for trips.
Term
six speed
A “six speed” means the car has a manual gearbox with six gears you shift yourself. Having more gears can make it easier to keep the engine working efficiently as you drive.
Term
rear drive
“Rear drive” means the engine sends power to the back wheels. That can change how the car handles and often makes it feel more “connected” when you’re driving.
Car
Dakar
The Porsche 911 Dakar is a special 911 made to handle rough roads better than a normal sports car. They’re saying it would be a great pick for a big trip like this because it can handle difficult terrain.
Term
all-terrain tyres
All-terrain tyres are tires made for mixed road conditions. They’re better when the route includes dirt, gravel, or rough patches, not just smooth pavement.
Term
CDI unit
A CDI unit is an electronic box that helps your car make a strong spark at the right time. People upgrade it because it can make ignition more dependable than older, worn-out parts.
Term
fuse boxes
A fuse box is where the car’s electrical circuits are protected by fuses. If it’s old or worn out, it can cause weird electrical problems, so replacing it can help the car stay dependable.
Term
original fuse box
The original fuse box refers to the factory electrical protection hardware that came with the car. The speaker is implying that keeping the original unit can mean chasing intermittent electrical issues, while replacing it reduces the chance of failures during long drives.
Term
SC
“SC” here is a Porsche 911 variant name. They’re basically saying their older 911 kept up in the group without feeling like it was struggling.
Term
G-body lifestyle
“G-body lifestyle” means the way people like to own and drive that generation of older cars. It’s more about the culture and how they’re used than a specific mechanical feature.
Place
hotel Wachtelhoff
Hotel Wachtelhoff is the hotel in Germany where they’re staying at the end of the trip. It’s just the location for their wrap-up.
Car
996 GT3 RS
This is a Porsche 911 GT3 RS from the 996 generation. It’s the more track-oriented version of the 911, and here they’re saying their car ended up doing about 30,000 miles on this trip.
Term
puncture
A puncture means the tire got a hole and started losing air. Here, it was bad enough that they couldn’t patch it, so they had to get help and replace/repair it to keep driving.
Term
jack
A jack is the tool used to lift the car off the ground. It’s what you use when you need to change a wheel or work on a tire.
Place
Arctic Raceway
Arctic Raceway is a race track they visited during the trip. The host makes a point that it’s very remote, which adds to the adventure of the drive.
Car
991.2 GT3
This is a Porsche 911 GT3 from the 991.2 generation. It’s designed to be very stable and fun to drive, and the hosts are saying it can also handle a long road trip without feeling stressed.
Term
nose lift
A nose lift is a feature that raises the front of the car a bit. It helps you clear bumps and steep inclines so you don’t scrape the front.
Term
Guards red
Guards Red is a particular Porsche factory paint color. It’s a recognizable classic red that many Porsche fans associate with the brand.
Term
wing version
A “wing version” means the car has a rear spoiler/wing. That wing helps push the car down onto the road at speed so it grips better in corners.
Place
Norway
Norway is the country they’re talking about for most of their driving. Since it’s part of an Arctic Circle trip, it matters because cold weather and long distances change how cars feel and perform.
Place
E6
The E6 is a main highway in Norway. They’re describing switching from that big road to smaller mountain roads.
Place
Rondale National Park
Rondale National Park is a mountain area in Norway. The host is saying that once they reached it, the driving got more twisty and snowy compared with the highway.
Car
Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a Porsche roadster with the engine placed toward the middle of the car. Here, they’re talking about using it for a long road trip because it’s easier to live with than a more hardcore sports car.
Term
Vanadium
Vanadium here is the name of a specific paint color. They’re saying it looks especially vivid in bright light.
Term
Caruna
Caruna is the name of the car’s paint color. They’re saying it looks really good, especially when the sun hits it.
Term
splitter
A splitter is a low front add-on under the bumper that helps the car’s airflow. If the road is rough, it can hit the ground, so it’s something you’d worry about losing or damaging.
Term
storage
Here, “storage” means how much stuff you can carry for a trip—like bags or luggage. The host is saying they can fit more gear than they expected.
Term
pops
“Pops” are the little crackling sounds you sometimes hear from a car’s exhaust, especially when you lift off the throttle. The speaker is saying the car didn’t do that at first, but it started sounding different after more driving.
Term
bedded in
“Bedded in” means the car’s contact surfaces (often brakes) get worn-in properly after some driving. After that initial period, the car can sound and feel different because everything has settled.
Term
roof down
“Roof down” just means the convertible top is lowered so you can drive with open air. The host is saying they’d especially want to be in the Boxster when it’s open-top.
Term
flat tyre
A flat tyre is when a tire goes low on air, often from a puncture. It can happen anywhere, and the key is getting stopped safely and fixing it fast so you can continue your drive.
Term
tyre shop
A tyre shop is a service business that can repair or replace tires and get you back on the road. The episode highlights how quickly they found one (five minutes away), which is crucial when you’re dealing with a flat tyre in remote conditions.
Term
new tyres
“New tyres” means putting fresh tires on the car. They replaced two tires so the car would handle safely again and they could keep going.
Term
manual
A “manual” is a car where you choose the gears yourself. The speaker likes it because it feels more connected to the driving.
Term
second, third gear
The speaker is talking about using the lower gears (like 2nd and 3rd) on mountain roads. Those gears help the car pull smoothly through corners and up hills.
Term
ASAP
ASAP means “as soon as possible.” In this story, it’s the team’s goal after something goes wrong: fix the car quickly so they can keep going.
Car
Porsche 911 (964)
The Porsche 911 (964) is an older generation of the 911 from the late 80s/early 90s. The speaker is using it as a reference point for how different (and improved) the newer 911s feel.
Term
Autobahn
The Autobahn is Germany’s highway system. It’s known for long stretches of very fast driving, so people use it to judge how well a car handles at high speed.
LIVE
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no soft launch of today's episode. We're going straight in on NineWorks Radio. Absolutely,
because we need to be honest, we're pretty broken. Let's not beat about the bush.
This, for everybody listening to NineWorks Radio, and thank you for joining us again for another
episode, is the day after a mammoth Driven Not Hidden Collective Road Trip.
Full Driven. My God, what a monster. What a monster. Yeah, I think 4,000 miles in 12
days from the UK to the Arctic Circle, no less, and back again. Yeah, and three days
rest in the middle? Yeah, we can call it rest, yeah, operatively, yeah. Is that for debate?
Yeah, it's an adventure, as it always is on these things, and we're just saying that away
from the microphone, we fit so much in. We just want to give a little bit of a highlight
of the experience we've had to encourage everybody else. You don't have to go to the Arctic Circle,
but just honestly, get out there and go on the road trip, go on the big road trip, because
it's one of the most rewarding experiences you can hope to do. Fortifies friendships,
create memories, bond you with your car. Incredible. Yeah, absolutely incredible. Yeah, yeah.
I don't know, somehow miles became, what's the word, very easy to do. Yeah, yeah. I mean
yesterday, coming back from the channel tunnel, normally that'd be a right old slog of a journey
thinking, oh, got hours and hours, and it felt like it was 10 minutes, didn't it? Because
we have done some proper big days. Yeah, yeah. I think we've learned, haven't we, that, you
know, and we did say this to the group before we left, and we did actually have a couple
of dropouts as a result, which was the right decision to make from the comfort of your own
home and not in the wilderness of a trip. But you know, the cars can generally do these
things all day long. We are the weak link there. Yeah. And it's as much an achievement
for us, therefore, to have done that sort of mileage in the time as well. Yeah. And not
only that, Andy, to have fitted in so many things, I think this trip's going to take
a, you know, a number of weeks actually to process. Process, yeah, absolutely. You know.
It reminds me of a holiday Sarah and I took many years ago to Argentina. And at the time
it was like, what the hell's going on? But then you process it over the next six months.
And what a wonderful time that was. Yeah. Because so much is packed in. Yeah. Yeah,
definitely. And it goes back to, you know, I love road trips. I think I'm going to nick
Steve from this road trip when somebody said to him early on, you know, what do you do?
And he said, I'm a professional road tripper. Which I thought was such a great repost. Which
Steve was that? Pidding. Oh, brilliant. Yeah. I'm a professional road tripper. I thought
that is fantastic. And yeah, you know, look, yeah, it's just better to be able to do one
or two road trips a year. I think it's a more rewarding experience than lots of your kind
of weekender events in a way, you know, like just pop into cars and coffee, which is not
to poo poo those at all. But you know, time is precious for everybody with family commitments
and whatnot. And I think if you're, if you're having to choose your time more wisely, I think
this trip exemplifies why I would always personally opt for the road trip. Because these memories
I will just never forget. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You can't forget them, can you?
No, no, no. It's the sounds, the smells, the. Yeah. Yeah. You don't get that wandering around
in a car park. Not at all. So, yeah, look, it's a quick recap
for everybody at home just to kind of what we've been up to really, because this was a
big road trip for us. It meant a great deal to us. I think it's fair to say it's the biggest
road trip we've ever done and possibly, possibly ever will do. Is that longer than Sisley?
Yeah. Yeah. It was two days longer and 500 miles longer. Oh, bloody hell.
So, yeah. And, you know, the reason is we had to do the miles, but also in as short
a time as possible, because, you know, again, work, life, family commitments. And some people
there had taken some annual leave, but then some unpaid leave in order to be there, you know?
Yeah. Others had foregone family holidays later in the year. So we're very respectful and
grateful that some people have kind of chosen us to spend their time with, really. But,
yeah, so it did ask a lot of us and I'm sure the whole group's feeling fairly jaded as of
right now. But, yeah, seven countries.
I was going to say, should we go through them?
Yeah.
France.
France.
Belgium, Germany, Denmark.
Netherlands as well.
Oh, Netherlands, Mr. Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and then back.
Yeah. So, seven countries. Total mileage for you?
I've got a little GPS tracker on my car and it reports that I did 4,156.27 miles.
Brilliant.
Yeah.
In your 48-year-old 9-11, which did not miss a single half-beat.
It didn't. Average 50 miles per hour. This is quite amazing, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
Top speed on my tracker was 139, obviously, on a German auto barn.
Yeah.
And sat in the saddle for three days, 10 hours, 44 minutes, and 22 seconds.
It's amazing, isn't it?
Yeah.
Isn't it amazing?
And the things you have seen and experienced in all that time.
Goodness. Some of the epic scenery.
Yeah.
What was your favorite bit of scenery?
Of scenery. For me, I quite enjoyed when we got up to the Arctic Circle Center, like
Visitor Center. The lunar landscape, it felt like it was a very long way from home.
And I think all of us emotionally were feeling like that. We were all quite proud.
It was a bit of an emotional experience in a way to get up there in the time we did,
but the topography matched that feeling.
Yeah.
It very much wasn't the new forest, you know?
Definitely, yeah.
So, yeah, what about you?
I think you actually missed my favorite bit, which was the FV51.
Okay.
So we went all the way down that to pretty much Oslo. I think it was the E16 that we
got onto.
Yeah.
I think you had to cut across to get to the airport.
Ooh.
So going down through there, and there was literally a, what, the road just, it was that
lunar landscape again.
Yeah.
We were high on like some sort of desert plain, I guess, that was covered in snow.
Yeah.
Mountains all around. Then there was a long straight bit of road that had sort of snow
banks up each side. And then we came into a ski resort. Yeah, that was just a mental
bit of road.
It was, I think it was, do you know, I think it was like 190 kilometers of sweeping bends
in just amazing scenery.
Yeah.
Yeah, because that, we drove that road a couple of years ago when we first went there for
the road trip. Unfortunately, this year, yeah, I got 15 minutes in, so I had to leave slightly
early to take my sips to the airport.
Yeah.
And I was really help and I wanted to do that road. So Waze was telling us to go a certain
way. I turned onto this road and it kept trying to reroute and take us back. And I was like,
no, we're cracking on. I'm not coming all this way and missing that road.
Missing that, yeah.
And yeah, got about 10, 15 minutes in and then Waze realized I wasn't turning round
and said to carry on this ways like an extra hour. And it was too close to, despite my
protestations, we could chip away at that quite generously. Mrs. Sips was just too nervous
about missing our flight. So I had to turn around and come back out. But I have great
memories of that from a couple of years ago. And as you rightly point out, when you turn
on the road, it says, like continue straightforward for like 96 miles and then turn right. And
it's because there is nowhere to turn for the next 90 or miles. It's just corner to
corner. It's the most fabulous road.
Absolutely glorious. We nearly missed it. We did drive past it and had to turn around.
And I was so glad that I realized and made sure that we did turn around and go that way.
That was opportunity missed.
Can we just say, so there is going to be a video going on on my wife's TV to kind of
add some physical pictures to kind of what we're going to describe. But just to top level
kind of say what we've done really, as well as the countries, the miles, eight or nine
cars from the collective, I think, nine, including both of ours, great spread of different cars,
which you'll hear from shortly and the people that drove them. But some highlights included,
of course, driving to the Arctic Circle, which by latitude, we were higher up than Iceland,
which was incredible. We went over the Orison Bridge on the way to it from Copenhagen to Malmo.
That's always spectacular. You've done that a few times now in your car.
Yeah, I think that's twice.
Is it? Okay.
It's when we went to Copenhagen for Luft. They did an early morning run, sunrise run,
probably about 300 cars. That was pretty special. But it was equally special with the nine of us.
Yeah, it's a special bridge, isn't it?
Yeah.
Half tunnel, half bridge.
Yes. Yeah. So we did that Arctic Circle centre. We then spent some time at the world's most
northerly racetrack.
That was cool.
The world's most northerly racetrack at Moirana. Had some lunch there, actually got out on the track,
which was great. It's being finished because they basically have dug up some of the track
for its iron ore underneath it.
Yeah. Chopped a little bit off, so they were just finishing off the resurfacing, but not quite
finished enough.
Yeah.
So we sort of did a three-quarter turn round and came back. It was still fun, wasn't it?
Yeah. And it was great. And what I most enjoyed about it was it absolutely was not a parade lap.
Yeah.
Because we don't do parade laps. It was an actually Hockham who led it for us from our friends
up at the Porsche Club region of that part of the world. He was in a beautiful 992 Turbo
S and he launched control off the line.
And then that set the time for the lap. It was brilliant. It was absolutely brilliant.
But even like the night before we met up with some members from up that way on the border
with the Arctic Circle had a wonderful dinner with them. And then it was really nice that
they joined us for that last hour drive to the Arctic Circle Center.
Yeah.
It's almost like just ensuring we made that last little bit.
Didn't make any wrong turn.
Yeah. Yeah. Almost just held our hand for that last distance. I kind of viewed it as like
you know, the last stretch of the London Marathon, someone just picking you up and helping you
along a little bit.
Yeah.
Which was quite nice. So we did that. We then dropped back down south via the beautiful
and majestic Atlantic Ocean Road over that stunning bridge.
Yeah. That was cool, wasn't it?
It is.
Yeah.
It's a little spot.
It's short. We should say that. You know, when you see tourism pictures of Norwegian
roads, you will see that bridge.
Yeah.
And the road is pretty much that bridge.
It is.
You know, it's not a three hour drive.
But yeah, it's worth seeing if you're going past it. I personally wouldn't make a beeline
for it.
Yeah. I think there's many other roads in Norway that equal it. Equal it if not.
Absolutely beat the shit out of it.
Definitely.
Yeah.
We were joined for that by our good friend on Nine Works, Mr. Grant Larson.
Yeah.
Who obviously we had over in the UK last month. So he came out with his family, which was
amazing. Heidi and Matilda to join us for the weekend at Gearanger where we spent the
last five years over the Pentecost weekend with our great friends from Porsche Club,
Sunmore Region.
Yeah.
Who are, well, they're like family now.
Absolutely.
And it really wonderful to meet Grant's family and great to chat to Heidi, who's no less than
a member of the supervisory board of Porsche AG. So great to have a conversation with Heidi
and great to see such passion right at the top level of the company.
I tossed the keys to Grant for my car.
Yeah. Right.
What?
I see this thing.
There's so many things you forget.
Yeah.
So he drove back.
Look, I remember where he drove from and to.
From the bridge.
Yeah.
He did the bridge.
Yeah.
Is it all the way back to Alisson?
Oh, but most of the way because then I had to dive off and pick Sarah up at the airport.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How was that then having a Porsche legend drive your car?
He's a very good driver.
He didn't break it.
It was fantastic.
Yeah.
Yeah.
One experience to have him drive in the car and enjoying it.
Really enjoyed it as well.
Excellent.
Probably helps it.
It's a left hooker as well.
Yeah.
Kind of slots in feels right at home in that.
Yeah.
But he drove Rory's car as well.
I didn't need the turbo.
Yeah.
Which was the right hand drive.
Yeah.
Yeah.
997.1.5.
Yeah.
Well played.
Which has come from his pen.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I love that Grant felt comfortable enough to jump behind the wheel.
You could very easily say, oh no, I'm not really up for that.
Yeah.
I'll sit in Pinion and then have a passenger ride.
But to get stuck in.
Yeah.
I thought that was fantastic to be honest.
And that was one of a couple of drives we did out from our basic Kyre Anger.
Yeah.
For a couple of days.
There's just some amazing roads in the region there.
Well worth taking a look if you've never been.
So that was great with the guys there from the Porsche Club Sunmore region.
They then left.
We then dashed on our last night to Trollstigan.
So glad I've done that.
Oh my God.
Do you know that if probably in the afternoon I was like, oh, I don't want to do it because
it was quite rainy.
But yeah, the gods shone on us.
You know, we got there at 9 p.m. ish.
Yeah.
And there was little bits of traces of blue sky where we'd only seen rain for the couple
of days before.
So yeah.
Yeah.
Mental.
Yeah.
Big time.
Someone was looking after us.
There's a ledge for those that are unaware.
There's a ledge at Trollstigan that juts out from the top of the mountain and overlooks
like the valley, the basin below because it's quite steep and dramatic on either side.
And I've stood on that ledge and been unable to see anything below where it's just full
of cloud.
And we could see this cloud kind of reaching out and sweeping slowly towards us when we
got there.
So we knew we timed it perfection.
Yeah.
But yeah, that and then above, you know, just seeing a flutter of blue sky, I think it's
fair to say.
Someone was looking after us and said, no, after it rained for four days and it actually
stopped raining for our, you know, hour at Trollstigan was pretty, pretty special.
And it's a great road.
Fantastic.
Yeah.
Even better when there's no tourists on it at that time of day.
Probably the, you know, there's the picturesque size, which is the bends, the real sharp stuff.
It's on the other side, which seems to be a lot, you know, most of these amazing roads.
You've got the picturesque side, which is the switchbacks, but then you've got the other
side, which is less steeping gradient.
Yeah.
That's actually normally the better side to drive, which was fantastic because we had
to drive all the way back to the ferry along there.
It's brilliant.
Yeah.
Yeah.
At that time of night with the road to ourselves, just perfection, just perfection.
I think we saw three other cars up there, didn't we?
Well, actual Trollstigan, there was only one.
Yeah.
Only just, yeah, the one some, some do taking some pictures.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it.
So otherwise the playground was ours.
Perfect.
And I believe I think the Sunmore guys did it on the way up, didn't they?
Yeah.
In sort of normal operation hours, I think you'd call it.
Full of buses, bikers.
Yeah.
Push bikers, mobile homes and lots of clouds.
Yeah.
I felt blessed to have done it when we did it.
Definitely.
Definitely.
And again, at that time of year in Norway, that's something you can take full advantage
of is the longer daylight hours.
It doesn't really go dark, does it?
No.
No.
No.
So yeah, then we, then we made our way home via the road that you've mentioned, Andy,
one of your favourites, which is a cracker through the middle, then back down onto Germany
in the Autobahn and we decided we're going to do an episode focused specifically on the
Autobahn another time because there's lots to talk about there.
But obviously on the way back, we were all kind of fairly exhausted from the miles.
But that stint through Germany.
Nobody really needed to stop for a coffee.
The Autobahn was doing its best to keep us awake, you know?
It does keep you awake, doesn't it?
It does.
Yeah, it needs to.
No chance of nodding off on it because you're alert unless you get stuck in traffic around
Hamburg.
Yeah.
I'm sure that was a bit...
Was that a tiresome?
Yeah, around Bremen was a bit tedious, I would say.
Because I followed you on later.
I always did a late night run to catch all up and coming around Bremen and Hamburg was
easy peasy.
I hate to report to you.
No, it's great.
It was so easy.
That stint was incredible.
Yeah.
Incredible.
Yeah, good run.
So yeah, so then we got home.
So that's just top level what we've done in the time we've done it.
Yeah.
Lots of other things, obviously smaller things that we can keep within the group really.
But perhaps Andy, it might be best to ask you what your best moment was.
Best moment.
Best moment or best road?
Best...
What's your best moment?
Best moment.
God, there are so many good bets.
I think it's probably actually getting to the Arctic Circle is like pretty momentous,
wasn't it?
Yeah.
And that was the aim of the thing.
And to actually, yeah, all of us got there without any drama.
All cars made it.
All people made it.
Everyone was in great spirits.
And I got to buy my Viking hat.
Yes, if I got better.
So you must explain, yeah.
Couldn't go home without a Viking hat, could you?
So the actual centre at the Arctic Circle is pretty good merch stuff, isn't it?
Yeah.
Some good stuff in there.
We did have a bit of a spender.
And yeah, there was a horny Viking hat.
Just had to have it.
And then because there was some car swapping going on,
and the rule was if anyone drove or was passenger in your car,
they had to put the hat on.
That was the prerequisite.
Luke had it on for hours.
It's like, you can't take it off.
But it was steadfast.
The funny thing was the horns were so large,
you had to have your sunroof open to wear the hat.
So you just had these horns poking up through the roof.
It was so comical to see it on the road.
So comical.
But I probably agree with you on that, Andy, mate.
I have to say because, yeah, you and I had had, I think it's better,
a bit of a being up on it about doing this trip for a while.
And again, you know, such a long way,
but it's the embodiment of our driven or hidden ethos.
And to actually kind of get up there with our own cars.
Yeah.
Was pretty, pretty special.
Especially as both had sort of engines out so late.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, you've had yours totally rebuilt.
I had mine out to do a few bits.
So, yeah, kind of proved that I'm not too bad at putting nuts and bolts together.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
Yeah.
And doing it with everyone that, you know, as I'm sure people know,
particularly on an almost road trip,
you'll become like a little kind of roving family in a way.
So that was, yeah, I agree with you.
That was super special.
And for me, and I know it's the same for you
because you mentioned it to me previously,
was being able to have our lovely wives there.
Absolutely.
You know, I think it meant a lot to both of us.
Right.
But in a lot of work away from these things,
it was nice to be able to illustrate and showcase the fruits of it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Raising that, actually, getting to the Arctic Circle was a big achievement
and was an amazing moment.
But another one that I'd like to mention was how much joy I saw on Sarah's face
when we were doing Troll Stick and how pumped she was to enjoy that.
And we were, you know, we were driving fairly swiftly.
I didn't get thumped too many times.
And she really enjoyed it.
And I thought, yeah, that was great.
Yeah.
It's almost a bit of an enlightenment in why we do this silly shit.
Excellent.
Well, a pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled, as PP would say.
Yeah.
Very well said.
Yeah.
And yeah, sharing what we've done with our good ladies was high reward there, I'd say.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I guess we should cover by way of cars.
Obviously, you took your SC, I was in mine.
So from everybody else on the trip with their cars, who would you take most on it and why?
Oh, God, that's a difficult question.
Yeah.
Give us the lineup as well.
What have we got?
So what have we got?
We've got my SC, your 996 Carrera 2.
We had PP in his 996 GT3 RS.
Yeah.
We had, so I've started at the oldest, I think, and we're progressing through, aren't we?
So we had two 997s.
We had a Rory in his 997 1.5 Turbo and Mark in his Carrera S997.2.
Then we went 991, Mr. Kavanagh.
Yeah.
991.2 GT3.
GT3.
Yeah.
Then we had Steve and Karuna in their...
Matt Karuna.
Sorry, Matt and Karuna.
Too many Steve's going on.
In their Boxster 718 and then we had two 992 Dakars.
Have I missed anyone?
Don't think so.
Don't think so.
Yeah.
I think that's the last one.
Right.
What would I take?
Well, I did get the pleasure of driving Paul's 996 GT3 RS and that was pretty special, actually.
I did do a little overtaking move, which you tend not to do too many in Norway or you do
them very slowly because everybody's quite...
What's the word?
Conservative in their driving only in Norway, so you have to respect that.
And I did do a little overtake manoeuvre that overtook three cars and the punch from that little engine.
The way it revved around was really quite special.
Yeah.
It felt good as well.
So I think that all happened.
Would you do 4,100 miles in 12 days in it?
God.
I don't know.
That could be a bit harsh.
No, no.
I think I'd go for it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You're a legend.
You are a legend.
Yeah.
How about you?
What was your...
So for me, it was really close between Matt and Karuna's GTS 4-liter 718 because the engine
in it is cracking for a start, as we well know.
Brilliant thing.
Very dexterous in what it does and its remit.
But the added cash I've been able to flip that roof back and let the outside in, particularly
up in Norway where the scenery is so vast and so dramatic, being able to bring that in,
I just think would be next level.
Yeah.
And I watched enviously many times as they put the roof down in that car.
So that and also as well, by the way, great luggage space in the 718 front and back.
So yeah, that.
But ultimately, I think Vozzi's 997.2 Carrera S, I think that'd be the one for me.
That's such a good looking car.
Isn't it just?
He's really got that set up wheel.
He's got it nailed away.
That stripe works really well.
The wheel colour with a platinum colour.
And the little mod that he's done to the front number plate, where it's a stick on plate,
but it's kind of long, but the character size is small.
Yeah, OK.
It really kind of, you know, lots of people reduce the width of the plate, but he's actually
made it look wider and shorter.
Yeah, yeah.
It's quite narrow.
It just gives it a really good look, the front of that car.
One, I think I've said before as well, 997.2 for me is the most resolved 911 look.
I think, you know, wherever I've said previously, the 993 is a beautiful rear end.
I'm not so sold on the front, unless it's the two or four S, bit too soft.
Obviously, you know, where do you start with 996?
992's the rear end doesn't do it for me at all.
Whereas the 997 is, I think, perfectly resolved front to back.
It just looks perfectly balanced throughout.
Beautiful thing.
And with Mark's being a manual, that's six speed.
Like away from a GT product is probably like peak shifting experience in the 911.
Yeah.
So being able to do that in a rear drive coupe through Norway, that's, you know.
Winning.
And 997, you get levels of comfort and...
I'd say what's interesting, if you were to say what we thought would be the ideal car
for that trip would have been the Dakar, wouldn't it?
And there was two there.
I didn't get to drive one, did you drive one?
I had passenger up Trollstigan in Steve Pease Dakar.
I wish I'd had a little driver one, actually.
But they did look, well, bloody moved as well, didn't they?
Oh, they can move.
Yeah.
If I'd had a drive of one, maybe that would have been on my short list.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, they can do everything.
Can't know those cars, as we know.
And both those cars were on all-terrain tyres.
Yeah.
So, yeah, they tick the box for everyone.
Steve's car, by the way, bought by the Namurts marketplace at RPM Technic.
Yeah.
What I really liked about both Dakars was the lack of livery.
I think they look way better without that.
Great cars.
Great cars.
And perfect for the job.
But, yeah, that'd be my choice.
Yeah.
Anything you've learnt about your car before we hand over to everybody else that was on the trip?
Anything I've learnt about it is just still crazy that it's capable of doing all that shit.
Forty-eight years after being made.
Yeah.
Just mental.
Yeah.
How that thing can do it.
It honestly brings such a smile to my face because you're dead right.
Like, that car, you know, it shouldn't be able to do it.
Obviously it should, but like, it's when you think a car that's nearly half a century old.
Yeah.
And you were driving that car as if it was two years old.
And it was just doing everything.
You know, the more you were pushing it, the more it was kind of giving back to you, really.
Yeah.
There was no, you know, there was no limit at home.
No, no, no.
It was still as strong as it was at the start.
Yeah.
At the end.
Yeah.
It should give an honorary mention to Classic Retrofit, I think, for fuse boxes and a CDI
unit, which, you know, just really up the reliability of those cars, I think.
Yeah.
Because I think I would have been, if still on the original fuse box, should probably
be chasing bits that stopped working for whatever reason because they are troublesome.
Yeah.
But yeah, I didn't see any issue the whole journey.
Right.
There was nothing.
Not at all.
And you know, it's funny because where we are driven or hidden, our cars, they need to
be reliable.
Yeah.
And again, for the mileage and the spirited driving that you do in your car, you're really
kind of, yeah, pushing that car.
And exactly as you said, it's not letting you down.
And cruising along, obviously, you very kindly let me have a go in the car, but when I was
driving it, especially when you were driving it, you know, you're in this convoy with other
cars, much newer cars, and it doesn't feel like you're dragging along an SC.
The SC is in the, well, you were in front of the pack after time, you know.
Yeah, yeah, you know, leading the way and in the mix there, just testament to the build
quality of it.
The big thing, I think it is important to impress is your car is such a great example.
They're not all like that.
Yeah.
You know, it would be remiss of us to say to anyone, you can go out by G Series tomorrow
and drive to the Arctic Circle.
You might not get there.
You know, so it's just testament to previous owners with yours, as well as the way that
you look after that car that it's able to do all of that with the plumb, really.
Because you drove it for a fair, fair while, didn't you?
Yeah, a good couple of hours.
Did you enjoy it?
I loved it, mate.
Loved it.
I was keen to show Mrs. Sibs the G-body lifestyle.
Yeah.
Which, yes, she enjoyed.
And we were both saying, like, the seat's so comfortable.
So comfortable.
You know, you think all old seats, how's that going to work?
But it was like sitting on a pair of sofas, to be honest.
It was wonderful there.
Yeah, pretty good, aren't they?
Yeah, yeah, really good.
And, like, yeah, the way the motor revs is just really nice.
Nice gear change to it.
And plenty of feel where you've got those big tires in comparison to new metal.
Yeah.
You've got so much more, like, roll on the shoulder of the tires.
And I just think that for it's more communicative, more playful.
Yeah.
A lot more playful.
So, yeah, loved it, mate.
Nice.
Loved it on that.
Yeah.
Very well done.
Right.
Shall we hear from the rest of the guys and girls that came along on the trip?
Yeah.
See what they thought of it?
Yes, definitely.
So what you're about to hear is a conversation had on the last night.
So the final hotel, we should give honorable mentions at this point.
Andy, you were currently driving while this was going on.
I was, yep.
On your mammoth drive from Oslo to Bremen.
Yeah.
Through the night.
No stopping.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mrs. S had flown home the day before, I think.
Yeah.
And Mrs. B was flying home at that point maybe or just landed.
Stuck in a passport key.
Right.
Okay.
Yeah.
Because all the passport system had gone down.
Yeah.
I almost had to turn around at the ferry port to go and pick her up.
More miles.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So honorable mentions to three people, not on the recording, but very much part of the
road trip experience.
So yeah, here's the guys.
I think if you could epitomize the DNHC, the Driven or Hidden Collective, it's possibly
a trip to the Arctic Circle and back.
And if I was to say 32,000, has anybody here, guys and girls, got some inclination as to
what that number could represent?
You've got a chat in front of the mic.
You've got to grab a mic.
Grab a mic.
It's going to be pretty.
Yeah.
The total common is by all the people.
Possibly.
Warm.
A number of lakes.
It could very well be.
It could very well be.
It's possibly more than that.
Luke, there's a mic here if you want that.
Number of hot dogs.
Steve has eaten.
That's so good.
That's so good.
Again, possibly undercut that number.
No pun intended.
Any other, any other takers on the, on the figure?
It could be.
David's closest.
But you undercooked it when you said kilometers.
It's 32,000 miles that the eight cars and 15 people on this trip have done in, I mean,
I can't even remember how many days is it.
It's going to be 11 nights, 12 days, seven countries, a hell of an effort.
So a big congratulations, as we said, away from the mic and a big well done to you all.
That is an incredible achievement.
And again, the epitome of driven not hidden.
If any road trip could epitomize what we do at Nine Works, it's probably that.
So for everybody listening at home, we're at the last night now, we're at the hotel Wachtelhoff
in Germany, kind of just about to sign off on everything really.
We've just got a couple of questions that we just want to kind of pose to people that
might color in the trip for those that weren't lucky enough to be here, basically.
So I'd like to start off really by asking for your best moment, guys and girls.
And for this first question or the first time you ask, you answer the question.
If you wouldn't mind just saying your first name and which car you've traveled in,
whether it's driven or passenger.
Go on MPP, best moment, kick it off.
Okay, it's Paul.
And for my sins, driven 996 GT3 RS here, which actually before the trip had done the same amount of miles
as the entire amount we've all done on the trip, just over 30,000.
Okay, best moment.
It's really difficult to actually say if there was a best moment, it's actually been the overall experience.
But actually for me, it was actually something that came out of adversity.
And it was the spirit and the pulling together when I had a puncture that was not repairable.
And everybody pulled in, pulled together online, looking for a tire place to repair.
And he got his jack out, which he was terribly over excited about.
Mark took the wheel down the road and we had the car back on the road within an hour.
And so for me, personally, that's the best moment because it reflected the spirit of what we've all experienced on this trip.
Coming together, pulling together and got us back on the road.
For me, that was the best.
Many hands make light work, as exemplified.
Indeed, indeed.
Steve, yeah?
I'm going to stretch how long a moment is a little bit here.
There's no real definition for the length of a moment is there.
So for me, it was very much around the day that we actually crossed into the Arctic Circle
and went to our final destination, actually to the visitor centre of that.
Sharing that with Luke, my son who's with me on this trip in the GT3, that was fantastic.
To be able to pull into that car park, PP had already crossed that barrier and was filming us coming in.
But the elation and just the feeling of doing, what is that, 2,000 miles there, 2,000 miles back.
So doing the first 2,000 and just being able to feel that we'd completed it was amazing.
But then beyond that, then we went to the Arctic Raceway.
So like that elation continued.
We ended up, you know, I wasn't expecting a chic little racetrack and a lap, you know, beyond that.
And the people that made us very, very welcome there and showed us great hospitality and we had a lovely, lovely dinner
and just having that racetrack that was out literally in the arse end of nowhere.
And being able to follow the GTS with Matt at the helm and following those two
and that Turbo S that was absolutely ragging in the distance.
That whole bit and then the roads that connected the two things and then back down into town was just stunning.
So that's a long moment.
But what a moment that was. That was absolutely incredible.
That was all one day, wasn't it? To be honest.
So that was, yeah, that was a big day for the group.
I'll say Steve, which car did you do that in?
Oh, yes. Sorry, Steve, 991.2 GT3.
Awesome. Awesome. OK.
And how did you, if you don't mind honing in on that, how did you find doing the entire trip?
It's a lot of miles in a GT product ultimately.
So I think a lot of people at home will be going, oh, I wonder how we got on there.
Yeah, I mean, they are just, they're just so composed.
Like once you get over the fact that it is a GT product, it's just a, it will, it will do.
It's a road trip car.
We've proven that we had two people's luggage, 11 days.
No repeats.
We weren't, you know, rinse and repeat.
It was, we had 11 days worth of luggage, soft bags in the roll cage,
everything else in the front handled it with absolute and the terrain has been a mixed bag.
You know, we've had some absolute glass roads and we've had some lumps and bumps
and that car handles it supremely, supremely well.
And of course you, it's all relative.
Like we've been following Steve and Ian in those Dakars, which looked so at home, you know, in this.
And I've been, you know, I've been very envious of, of their, their capability when being in the GT3.
And then you look over and pee-pees alongside you in a 996 RS.
And you're like, okay, if, if, you know, like that car, you know, puts you,
puts you into perspective when you're in a more modern piece of kit with nose lift, etc.
So, and then Andy tickles out, I know we're in the SC, the air called 78 car.
And you're like, okay, right, this car should absolutely be able to do this.
And of course it does.
Yeah.
Excellent.
Very, very well put.
It's, it's been great because there's been such a spread of Porsches on this trip.
As you've rightly pointed out in, in, in age and whatnot.
But like in, in following the, the gaggle of cars as they've gone along the road as it is,
they're all kind of unmistakably portion that's been quite rewarding.
I found visually to follow that.
Yeah.
Thank you Steve for that.
Yeah.
Anybody else that can, that can jump in?
Rory's itching.
I can see it.
I can see it.
It's going for it.
Well done, mate.
Well done.
What was the question again?
Best moment.
Best moment.
Oh, so many, so many really, really good moments.
I guess when you reflect on the whole trip,
you kind of think not everybody can buy a Porsche,
but people can be lucky enough, I think, to own a Porsche.
And, and, and those that are, I sure,
everybody really appreciate them.
Nothing particularly unique in that.
Even going on a road trip with your friends in a Porsche,
I don't think, again, there's anything unique in,
you've not got a monopoly on that.
Anything unique in that.
I think what's going to be my lasting memory is the people
that were on this trip.
And really, I think that comes down to just people
that share an enthusiasm for the cars,
but also an enthusiasm for each other
and an interest in each other as well.
And that's just like made this trip so special.
I've done it with my son, Sam.
Great opportunity to spend some time together.
Everyone's made him so welcome as he, as he flew in
via Oslo into Alasund and met us halfway through the trip.
So that was absolutely fantastic.
But all those people, you know,
they've thrown you their keys and they've shared their vehicles
and you've got an opportunity to sample things
that you wouldn't normally drive.
I came here in a 997 Turbo,
but I think probably one of my lasting memories
will be the first drive I had in a GT3.
And Steve just said to me when we were filling up for fuel,
do you want to go in this?
And I was like, yeah, hell I do.
So jumped in there.
I had Sensei Kavana to my left,
giving me some driving tips
and taught me through that car.
But what a really special car that is as well, that GT3.
Guards red as well.
I'd followed it.
It was in my rear view mirror at times.
It was at my windscreen.
It just seemed to glide across the road
like a puck on an air hockey course.
It was absolutely unbelievable that car.
I think I've fallen in love with it actually.
A wing version of the GT3.
So lots and lots of memories,
but I think down to me it's just,
for me it's down to, you know,
the destination, but most importantly, the people.
And if I could put you on the spot, Rory,
how would you describe Norway
where we've obviously done the lion's share of our miles?
If you could describe Norway in one word,
what would it be and why?
Otherworldly, I would say.
It's just so spectacular.
The scenery, the driving roads.
I mean, the speed limits are low.
We didn't always, I guess, completely adhere to them.
Can I say that?
No, but it's fine.
We can edit that out.
But it didn't really matter,
because you could be seven hours in the wheel,
but they're the most spectacular scenery.
And I think, you know, that was just all part of it really.
You didn't have to ring the neck of these machines
just to get the most out of it.
Just something that was very special.
And I think you said to me last October
when you recommended this trip,
you've got to do the Arctic and you've got to do Norway.
And it's something I wouldn't have done
unless you've said that,
so eternally grateful for those words of advice
and the opportunity to do it.
So thanks very much to you, to Andy, to Laura, to Sarah as well.
I think you're doing an amazing job
and happy fifth birthday and anniversary
and all the best for the next five years
and beyond that too.
Thank you.
Very kind, Roy.
It's a pleasure to have you here as well, mate.
Goes without saying.
Thank you, mate.
Anybody else?
I think as well we should open this up.
So we said best moment,
but if you want to chuck in best moment,
funniest moment, or biggest surprise,
I think any of those three,
feel free to answer.
Meanwhile, Roy's passed the mic to Sam.
Just to say, it's not a trip
that can be whittled down to moments,
because as you've sort of touched them all week,
you come for the cars and that's great,
but it is the community that makes it.
And so having only been here a week,
first time with this group of people,
meeting everyone, so welcoming, so special.
And then in terms of cars,
I've been a proper passenger princess
just for the whole week,
which has been just as good an experience,
I would say, having not been able to drive here,
because you get a real taste and a flavour
for everything that's on offer
and sort of the touring capabilities of the Dakar.
And then how well the 996 took on the turns in
at Trollsteak and I don't know if I'm butchering
that pronunciation.
I know, you go for it, mate.
But just racing up and down there was like,
wow, wow, wow.
It's one of those ones that for a first road trip,
you'll just remember that
and it'll be a sort of visceral memory
for years and years to come.
It's been absolutely brilliant.
Mega.
Very well put.
Just honing if you don't mind, Sam.
So you're here with your dad, Henry,
and Luke's here with his dad, Steve, as well.
So as long as you're comfortable to chat at all.
So how has it been doing a road trip with your dad's?
It's brilliant.
Yeah, could not think of a better thing to do
with my time, to be honest,
because for a shared passion, spending time together
and spending time with everyone else as well
on top of that, which I've touched on.
But really good fun.
Sort of some of the sing-alongs in the car.
Top notch.
Especially good having such a level of expertise
accompanied with me.
Is this music, Cleo?
Yeah, it's the moments like that
where you're just cracking up laughing,
where you can't help but go,
yeah, wow, I've made a great choice to be here.
And I'm so happy that I am.
Mega.
Yeah, traveling with parents are awesome.
This is my first road trip.
I mean, yeah, sharing all the passions that he has
has now passed down to me has been very, very nice.
Almost no interesting cars are now there.
One of my top passions has been absolutely amazing learning.
Going on a trip.
I love that, Luke, absolutely love that.
It would be interesting to know again
with both of you, Luke and Sam,
what was your expectation versus reality?
So you've both seen your dad rumble off on a,
whether it's a road trip before or Sunday
or Saturday morning coffee,
you've seen him go off in his Porsche.
Hopefully some of that has kind of rubbed off
on this trip, as you're both saying.
So yeah, what was your expectation versus reality
in meeting the other enthusiasts?
I'm disappointed to tell you that I did
a real lack of research coming into it.
I think I told Rory Dad that I looked over the itinerary,
whether the full truth of that or not is up for debate.
But not seeing it come through in WhatsApp photos
and getting to experience it,
it just creates a night and day difference
to what your thoughts on it are.
Because this is a real package.
It's great.
And in terms of what you're saying,
yeah, not just the road trips,
but you've got stuff coming up,
sort of what I'm seeing now on the Nine Works Instagram,
like the Fourth of June,
it's a cars and coffee mirror barbecue or something like that.
And then you sort of, you put that in your back of your mind
and you go, yeah, I'll just keep tabs on that,
see what's going on there.
And just see if you can get more involved in it.
Looking forward, which is great.
So you sort of found something new.
So it's correct to open the door,
perhaps for a little bit of a passion, maybe?
Oh, absolutely, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I don't know if one litre Polo's are welcome,
but if they are, I'm sure you'll see me there.
Luke, how about you, mate?
Oh, yeah, opened a complete new door.
I first thought, yeah, car people,
they're all going to be like,
oh, my dad, old Baldy, yeah, going on like that.
But yeah, it's a new community.
Everyone's so nice, friendly.
It's been awesome meeting everyone,
even the white people that aren't as interesting cars
as everyone else.
But yeah, it's been super cool.
Mega, mega.
We'll be coming on more in the future.
Absolutely, you're both always welcome anytime
and it's a pleasure to see your enthusiasm for the cars,
but also the people that are on this trip,
you know, blossom really.
So yeah, you're both very welcome back anytime, anytime.
Fantastic, thank you both.
Matt Caruna, anything to add for the best moment,
funniest moment?
I'll go.
I think for me, the best moment was perhaps also
the biggest surprise.
And it's when we decided to turn off the E6,
going into Norway,
and landed in the Rondale National Park.
And for me, that was the first time I was driving on
not a motorway.
And after the miles and miles we had covered on the E6,
it was phenomenal to just find ourselves in the mountains,
in snow, literally just appeared out of nowhere,
winding, long, windy roads down the mountain track.
That was brilliant.
That was the point where that made me think,
so this is what this is about.
It's really cool.
Excellent, and you were in your 718 GTS 4L?
Yes I was, and the roof was down.
Love that, I love that.
I think out of, obviously there were some solo drivers on the trip,
there were some people like doubling up and whatnot.
I think you two have done like a fairly even split
for miles each.
I'd love to know, how do you decide who's driving and when
between you two?
Well, turns out that every time I started driving,
the roads just got better, didn't they?
Yes.
So I got to do a lot of motorway,
which was delightful,
and then always hand over to Karuna,
just as everything got fun and twisty.
But in terms of kind of best moments,
I think Steve captured exactly what I was going to say as well,
so the Arctic Circle day,
and then going down the racetrack and setting all the cars up for pictures.
And then they said we could obviously do a little parade lap,
and then a Norwegian friend just launched control of his Turbo S,
and he's like, alright, we're going.
So yeah, that made me laugh a lot.
And I think probably one of the best things for me
is the hospitality from the Norwegians as well.
So in effect, we kind of gate crash their special weekend of the year.
But everyone was so welcoming,
all the different groups of people we met while we've been here.
Always so interested in the cars,
always so thrilled to see you and get a photo of you as a poor celebrity,
which is really nice.
So again, I think ties back to what everyone's been saying about community as well
and shared enthusiasm, openness and willingness to get involved
and ask a question and just be curious about getting to know each other.
Awesome.
I have to say that Boxster, the spec on it is absolutely stunning.
That Vanadium, which thank you for telling me the name of the colour Caruna,
that has got such a pop to it in the sunlight.
It does, doesn't it?
It's fantastic. It's absolutely fantastic.
I asked you guys over dinner, I'd like to ask you again if that's okay.
What have you both felt you've learned about the Boxster on this trip
that perhaps the Miles has taught you on the way to the Arctic?
I think for me, coming in, we had the big debate about which car to take,
Matt's GT3 or my Boxster.
And we decided on the Boxster to be honest,
more because it's the more practical car to take on such a long road trip.
But I didn't know whether it was going to be able to keep up with all the 911s around the table.
But I think it's done all right.
It's been an absolutely fun drive.
I think as the Miles, I think we went over 10,000 kilometres on the trip, didn't we?
So effectively, we've done as many miles on this trip as there was on the counter of the Boxster before we got here.
So it's been really smooth, it's been great to have the top off.
Yeah, it's just been amazing on the Autobahn,
but it's also been amazing on the Longwind roads down the mountainside.
I don't know if there's anything you want to add.
What have you learned?
Probably as someone who's an avid, anti-open-top car,
I've probably learned to love it a bit more.
I think we were saying at dinner, with the roof down, you can really see the scale of the country.
So when you're in one of the valleys and the mountains are going up both sides
or the snow is all around you and you can smell the other cars,
you can smell the brakes, you can smell Roy's clutch when he's trying to reverse park up a hill.
So yeah, it's a much more enriching experience that I've probably never appreciated before.
I think like it again, we're saying at dinner,
just transferring skills from driving my 911 into a mid-engine car
and how you can put the power down differently.
So it's probably helped my growth as a driver and understanding.
So I think it's been a real pleasure to drive much more than I was expecting.
Excellent, excellent.
And you both said that you've at least equaled if not gone over,
the total mileage of the car on this trip.
We always say on our radio that a road trip crystallizes your opinion of your car one way or the other.
It either is the deciding factor in you going,
I've had my fill of this car or it's not for me.
Or it makes you go, yeah, this thing's a real keeper.
I'd be interested to know where you are with that considering it's double the mileage on the trip.
I mean, from my perspective, it's probably made me appreciate it a lot, lot more.
I was probably always a little bit dismissive, but no, I think it's a fantastic car.
I think if we were in my car as a natural warrior, I'd have worried a lot more
and especially with some of the bumpy roads, I'd have probably lost my splitter, I would guess.
So yeah, I think it's probably been a much more relaxed drive,
much more comfortable than it would have been.
And as Krunoz saying, we can definitely get a lot more storage in as well.
I think it's a definite keeper.
So before this one, I had the 2.5-litre turbocharged Boxster
and when I got this one for the first thousand miles,
I kept wondering what have I done here because there were no pops.
Well, you pulled away, but I think we're both saying as well after the first thousand miles,
the sound changed as the car bedded in
and I think it's changed again over the course of this road trip now.
Okay, that's interesting.
So yeah, definitely keeper.
Beautiful.
I am personally very glad to hear that because that is such a lovely car.
And personally speaking out of all the cars here, as I said to you at dinner,
I've really looked to that Boxster a lot this trip and thought,
I'd really like to be in that car, particularly when you've got the roof down
with all the snow around up the top and all the way.
So excellent.
Thank you both for sharing that as well.
That's awesome.
That is awesome.
Can we hear from our friend down under that's come up for air for this trip?
My best moment.
I flew all the way from Australia as an international member of NineWorks.
I've been a member for three or four years,
haven't met a few people before when I've come over to the UK.
Best moment was everybody making me feel so welcome,
giving me a drive in their cars.
I didn't have my own car, but I felt like I was part of the experience driving
cars I've never driven before.
So that was really good.
Just the camaraderie of everybody on the trip and being made really welcome.
Funniest moment, biggest surprise.
Helping out Paul Pressland driving his GT3 RS and a driver around the corner
and go, hello, Steve, is there something wrong with the...
Do I look a bit like I've got a flat?
And yes, sure enough, we had a flat tyre and luckily we had somewhere to pull over
and it was ultimate teamwork mark, racing the tyre down to the local tyre shop,
luckily only five minutes away in the middle of Norway,
you think could have been anywhere this could have happened.
And having the car with two new tyres back on the road in an hour and continuing on.
But overall, I'll be back next year.
Excellent, excellent.
So David, which Porsches have you driven on this trip first?
I drove Little Irish.
I love that.
There was a Magnificent.
Rory's 997 Turbo.
Mark's 997S and Paul's GT3 RS, that was a real experience.
Probably looking forward to having a go in the GT3 tomorrow,
since I've got one at home and a 991.2, but unfortunately it's a long way to come.
So I can't get the car here, but I look forward to maybe having a drive in that tomorrow.
You've had the best trip, David, here, haven't you?
Look, all the cars you've driven, no petrol, lovely.
Well, any international members, I would say if you're from overseas,
come along because everybody makes you feel so welcome.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing that, David.
That's superb, that's superb.
Mark, are you comfortable stepping up to the hockey?
Best moment, funniest moment, or biggest surprise?
Or you can just tell a joke, to be fair, it doesn't matter.
Which car were you driving, first of all?
So I'm marking a 997 2S.
I drove that car to Sicily and it was the first time I found how capable it was.
But once again, Norway proved not a problem for it.
You could drive that car anywhere in the world.
It will do anything.
Really great, very dependable.
Yeah, great car, great car.
Best moment has got to be...
That is so difficult because each moment you came to, the next moment was better.
I suppose it's got to be the Arctic Circle because that's why we came.
I suppose seeing that in the snow, never forget that.
Really, really good.
But then coming into Garanga itself and just how epic the field is
and how small it makes you feel.
Meeting the Norwegians, how nice are they?
I suppose it does all come down like the DNHC, it's the people.
It really is.
To drive here on your own, I wouldn't, never.
Any road trip on your own, it doesn't interest me.
It's always who you come with and what you do, the memories you make, the moments, the laughs you have.
So, yeah, that's what it's all about.
Superb, Mark, superb.
You're a veteran of the Hardcore 9 Makes Road trip, having done the Sicily trip last year.
One of them was very hot.
Not this one's been very cold but the weather's been very different, I guess.
And like you said, same car, 997.2, handled both trips with a plumb, really.
Yeah, yeah.
What did we get down to? Probably two degrees.
We were throwing snowballs the other day.
It's 30, what in the UK at the minute?
Which makes you smile.
Yeah, how about the wipers on?
I've never had them run that fast.
I've had to go on second speed.
And you know, we might be pushing on a bit.
But not a problem.
No, not a problem.
No, it dealt with everything.
You didn't think twice.
I mean, it's probably what you want Norway to look like.
But you would have been nice to have dry roads and sun, which we did have.
Yeah, we did have as well.
But no, never missed a beat in any of it.
Even though with the rain, it was still a blue sky.
And it was hot in the car.
I mean, I got the aircon on full blast.
Because that sun's so strong still that it's coming through the window.
So yeah, you're not cold.
And the light on all the cars taking photos with that blue background, mountains.
People will see on the pictures will be shared and you'll be pretty amazed.
No doubt about that.
It really is good.
We're probably guilty on NineWorks Radio of not giving enough or not shining enough of a light on 997.2 generation cars.
And obviously, you know, you're a proud owner of one, long time owner of one.
Similar to the question put to Karuna and Matt, really.
You know, so after this road trip, I know you have a real affinity with that car.
But you know, what is it about that car and that generation of 911 that really does it for you?
Well, it's about time.
It's about time the 997 got a light.
Because that came in R. I'm fed up with listening to it.
It's about time that got sacked off.
997 became the new R.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So go on any of you've got you've got the opportunity to start the fluff.
Yeah, yeah.
No, it's so capable.
I mean, you can make a few mods and turn it into a passable track car, a really good track car.
But it's just so easy to drive on a road trip.
It it deals with everything.
Mine's a manual, which is more engaging for me.
I can understand it.
It can get your knees.
It can get a bit tricky at times.
It's quite wearing.
But once you get in the mountains and you can be second, third gear, it's it brings it is well worth it.
It really is well worth it.
It's it's comfortable inside.
It's not too dated in there.
It's smaller than the new 992.
It just feels more nimble.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm really, really impressed with it, to be honest.
It's not Mr. Beaks, not let me down.
Not yet.
Hopefully it'll get me home tomorrow.
But yeah.
Excellent.
It is great.
A good synopsis in favor of the 997.2.
Well, yes, I think so.
Thank you.
So get an auto trailer quick because there's not many out there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's what happens when you're building 911 in there yet in a in a world financial crisis.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Offers of a 90,000 or maybe.
Thank you.
My part with it.
Well, we'll go from I think what's fed say can be turned a modern classic into one of two Dakar's on the trip.
Ian, if you're happy to fill us in on that.
Thank you.
So Ian, yeah, best best moment or funniest moment or biggest surprise?
I have a slightly different take on on the favorite moment because I I'm only a new member new member to the to the nine works community.
And the first time I met with this particular group was just as we were at the first stop at lunch, which I think was in Belgium or Antwerp was it Antwerp.
Lovely lunch, by the way, magnificent organization throughout the trip.
But that lunch was my first opportunity to meet each and every one of the people on this trip.
And it's always difficult when you come into a group and everyone knows each other, but it everyone here was very welcoming, welcoming.
And so that moment was important to me.
And then every subsequent stop that we made, whether it was a coffee break after because we did.
I guess when we were on the transport journeys quickly up to the Arctic Circle, we did sort of seven between seven and nine hour days.
And we stopped from time to time for coffee breaks and hot dogs.
And it was an opportunity for for me to speak individually with with each and everyone.
And so each moment and each dinner and each break and each day, it's been wonderful to get to know each and every one of you.
And I and I feel I feel like I do have something in common, something in common with everyone.
And so the moments did get better for me because the quality of the conversation you're prepared to open up more as you get to know someone more.
So those moments interacting with each and everyone was brilliant.
And I love I love being part of this community and it's been great.
So so those. So yes, the Norway was brilliant.
The driving was brilliant.
The you know, the the roads where where you could drive enthusiastically without having to look over your shoulder were brilliant.
But I my memory, primary memory of this trip will actually be the new friends I've met.
So lovely and here here Ian as well.
And it's been a real pleasure having you on the trip and getting to know you the last 12 days.
It's funny, isn't it? You know, a road trip of this sort of nature.
I think we can all agree when you spend the best part of 12 days in each other's pockets.
I mean, how many meals have we all shared? How many miles have we all shared?
You know, you get to know people very quickly.
It's a very intense way to get to know people really agreed.
And you know, moments like like Paul's RS having a mishap like a, you know, a puncture was just a moment where you get to see everyone buzz around, unorganized, but working together, completely unplanned, but having a common objective.
And it just immediately was apparent to me everyone was without being told focused on how do we get this car back on the road ASAP.
That wasn't never said, but that was everyone's objective.
So everyone was doing a different thing to make that happen.
You know, and so it was nice to be part of that as a newbie.
You know, it kind of felt like, OK, I'm part of this team.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Ian, you're one of two Dakar's on the trip, as I mentioned.
I'm going to ask this question to Steve very shortly.
But how have you got on with the Dakar this trip?
Why did you select it and how is it fair for you?
Well, I haven't owned a 911 for about 25 years and the last one I owned was a 964.
And so it is magnificent to see how much progress there has been in the Porsche 911 series.
I mean, the 992, as far as I'm concerned, is also a luxury car on top of the fact that it is able to be a sports car.
And the Dakar on this trip, we came across a lot of unusual and different and varied driving situations from smooth tarmac to unexpected poor road conditions.
And frankly, I made no adjustments to the Dakar.
I hardly reduced my speed and it was just able to soak it up.
So I think the Dakar for me is a car that sort of flatters.
It sort of makes you look good in a way, which perhaps is a dangerous thing.
So this trip is about 4,000 or 5,000 miles in total, I guess.
And in my opinion, it has been the Swiss Army knife of this particular road trip because it has been able to cope with any situation.
And at the same time, I found it completely thrilling to drive.
I do not consider the 992 Dakar to be a boring car. It is thrilling.
Yeah, yeah.
And that's the way I feel.
And I mean, you've certainly put it through its paces.
You know, on the Autobahn, it really highlighted how it picked up its skirt.
Luke and I were talking about this, the way that car just takes off is frightening, frankly.
And you're on the all-terrain tyres as well, particularly up in the upper echelons of Norway.
As one road in particular, I think the Dakars really came into their own.
Yes, I think, I mean, frankly, I don't have much experience of driving on conditions, the extreme conditions like we have in Norway.
But I didn't require a lesson.
You know, the car was, the car of the tyres, the setup of the car was just able to be in between me and the road and just deal with it.
Yeah, and it can do the high-speed stuff, and it can do the bumpy stuff, and it can do it while engaging me anyway.
I found it thrilling.
Yeah, yeah.
Excellent. Thank you so much for that insight, because that's real world firsthand insight into that.
And Steve, what can you add to that as the second Dakar driver on the trip?
Yeah, I'd agree with the comment that it's the Swiss Army knife of 911s.
It does everything really well. It sells, obviously, off-road.
Yeah, there's been times, obviously, when we're on the Autobahn that I'd rather be in a GT3.
But yeah, it's a really accomplished vehicle.
I'm fortunate enough to own a number of 911s, and I didn't really consider anything else for this trip.
I've never been to Norway on a road trip, and it just seemed the perfect vehicle to bring.
Excellent. Okay, and for those that haven't been, how would you describe Norway?
Norway is absolutely spectacular. The scenery is stunning.
I'll give the example. I've got a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, so I've been wearing those and videoing some of the trip.
And it was actually yesterday that I was wearing them.
We were going through a snow field, and it was actually stunning. The road was flowing. It was absolutely brilliant.
And I was wearing the glasses, and they'd record for three minutes.
I took them off, thought that was great. And then we turn a corner, and there's an even better bit of road.
So they're straight back on again, filming another three minutes.
And they were literally on and off for 45 minutes solid, because it was just incredible.
I've done a number of road trips in the past, in the Alps, Northern Spain, the Dolomites.
For me, this has been the best road trip I've ever done. The scenery has been spectacular.
That's high praise for someone who at the top of the road trip described themselves as a professional road tripper.
Absolutely love that. Yeah, best moment, funniest moment.
Yeah, best moment for me, undoubtedly, was the evening stroke night-time drive to the Troll Stig and Pass.
Again, I'm sure all of us have driven great roads. People listening to this podcast have driven great roads,
whether that's over a course of a number of days, or just one day in Wales or Scotland or in the Peak District.
But for me, just being in the hotel, having an evening meal, finishing dessert,
and then getting in your car with a group of mates, and we're in the land of the midnight sun,
literally eight o'clock in the evening in daylight, driving, getting a ferry for an hour and a half to the Troll Stig and Pass,
driving at that time of night, again, in daylight, with no camper vans, no other cars.
I think we saw literally in a four-hour round trip three other cars on that whole duration of that four hours,
and then driving the Troll Stig and with three other cars, me in the Dakar and obviously yourself,
Marks997 and Andy, just absolutely spectacular and great to do it in that environment at that time at night as well.
Very well said, very well said. There have been so many moments that we've all picked out different bits on the trip,
and every time I think, oh, I forgot about that. There's a lot that's happened, it's going to take a long time to process it all.
Thank you to all of you for, as we said away from the mic, tipping in positive vibes and a bit of patience along the way.
You've all made what is just the most spectacular and apt fifth birthday road trip for my own works, really, so thank you.
Top stuff, thanks for being so open and sharing your time as well for everyone listening as well on the podcast.
Hopefully it wets the appetite for others to get involved in the future.
Yeah, it's like Jules Holland Hoot and Annie Stahl, Steve Cavs sitting on the Joanna, he's going to play us out.
What are we doing, are we?
Yeah, we are, mate.
Hi, mate.
Karuna should be over it really, shouldn't she? Knocking the sound.
Yeah.
So, from the last night here in Germany on the most spectacular artichip adventure with these non-merch driven up hitting collective people,
we'll see you soon on Nonmerch Radio.
Thank you.
About this episode
A 4,000-mile UK-to-Arctic-Circle-and-back Porsche road trip turns into a real-world endurance test—and a lesson in what preparation, reliability upgrades, and the right tires can do. The hosts track mileage with GPS, praise how their classic 911s “did not miss a single half-beat,” and swap standout moments from the Arctic Circle visitor center to Moirana’s far-north racetrack. Along the way: navigation scares, punctures, midnight-sun driving, and plenty of community bonding.
Original notes
With the engines finally cooling down and the midnight sun overhead, the team gather around the table to look back on a journey of a lifetime. From navigating unpredictable Scandinavian weather to pushing decades-old air-cooled and modern water-cooled Porsches to their absolute limits, this is a raw, emotional, and deeply honest debrief of what it takes to complete the ultimate automotive pilgrimage.
In this episode, we reflect on:
The Ultimate Highs:
- The standout roads, the breathtaking Arctic vistas, and the moments that made the entire trip worth it.
What We Learned About Our Cars:
- How the Porsches actually handled 4,000 miles of relentless driving—and the surprises along the way.
The Power of the Collective:
- Why doing a trip of this magnitude with the DNHC community changes the entire experience.
The Road Trip Takeaways:
- Essential advice for anyone planning to point their Porsche toward the top of the world.
Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join the collective for the ultimate road trip post-mortem.
9WERKS RADIO PARTNERS:
Heritage Parts Centre: Proud sponsors of 9WERKS Radio. A 4,000-mile road trip requires serious preparation. From preventative maintenance kits to emergency spares, Heritage Parts Centre has your back. Get 10% off your order by using code '9WERKS10' at the checkout! Shop now: https://www.heritagepartscentre.com 9WERKS Marketplace: Ready to find a Porsche built for the open road? Browse the latest community-listed cars here: https://9werks.co.uk/porschemarketplace/
JOIN THE 9WERKS COLLECTIVE: Want to join us on the next epic road trip? Access our dedicated discussion forum and get exclusive benefits here: https://9werks.co.uk/join
Follow us:
- Instagram: @9.werks
- Website: https://9werks.co.uk
- Lee Sibley: @9werks_lee
- Andy Brookes: @993andy
9WERKS Radio : The Porsche and Car Podcast
Andy Brookes, Lee Sibley, Max Newman
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