Keith Waterman Part 2

A Porsche 911S is a classic 911 variant from the late-1960s, known for its air-cooled flat-six and period-correct 911 styling. In this segment, the host discusses how a 1967 911S sale offer (15 grand) was likely far below what the car would be worth, highlighting how 911 values have surged over time.

In collector-car talk, a “bubble” refers to a market period where prices rise faster than underlying fundamentals, often driven by hype and speculation. The host argues the Porsche market was already in a bubble-like state before the pandemic and that it later became even more extreme.

The Ford Mustang is a long-running American sports coupe/convertible known for its strong performance potential and huge enthusiast following. It often comes up in conversations about classic muscle cars because it’s widely recognized and has many generations with different engines and driving characters. In a podcast context, it’s a natural reference point when discussing iconic performance cars and what people aspire to drive.

The AMC Javelin is an American muscle car from the 1970s era, remembered for its bold styling and performance-oriented lineup. It’s often brought up in discussions that compare classic muscle cars because it shares the same “iconic” category as other famous nameplates from that time. In the podcast context, it’s referenced as part of a list of cars that people associate with the same general muscle-car vibe.

The Porsche 356 is the early, original Porsche sports car line that established the brand’s lightweight, rear-engine identity. When someone lists it alongside 911 generations, it’s usually to highlight classic Porsche heritage and the “roots” of the 911’s design philosophy.

“Pre-impact” refers to earlier Porsche 911 bodywork/bumper designs made before later crash-structure and bumper regulations. On older 911s, this usually means the earlier front/rear impact-absorbing hardware and styling before the more modern “impact” bumpers.

“79 turbo” refers to a 1979 Porsche 911 Turbo. The 911 Turbo is notable for using a turbocharged flat-six engine, which helped make the 911 a benchmark for fast, usable performance.

A “boxer” engine is an engine layout where the cylinders move in pairs that oppose each other, like boxers throwing punches. Porsche’s classic “boxer” flat engines are known for their low center of gravity and distinctive sound.

“85 Carrera” refers to a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera. The Carrera is the non-Turbo 911 variant, typically with a naturally aspirated flat-six, and it’s a key part of the 911 lineup’s enthusiast reputation.

“Market could fall out” is the speaker’s way of saying the collectible-car market can drop sharply if demand weakens. In enthusiast terms, that affects how much you can sell a specific Porsche for later.

“73 RS” is shorthand for a 1973 Porsche 911 RS. The RS (Rennsport) is a lightweight, performance-focused 911 variant that’s especially prized because it’s tied to Porsche’s racing heritage and limited production.

A pushrod engine uses pushrods to transfer motion from the camshaft to the engine’s valves. The speaker mentions a “pushrod, four cylinder” Porsche engine, which helps identify the engine’s mechanical layout rather than just its cylinder count.

A “Porsche transmission” means the gearbox used in the car is from Porsche rather than the original Cooper setup. In this segment it’s part of a broader swap story: the Cooper is described as using Porsche engine and transmission components, which can change how the car drives and how it fits together.

This segment shifts into advice on modifying a car, starting with the question “why” you want changes in the first place. The speaker argues that modifications often don’t fit as perfectly as original parts and can trade off performance in one area while hurting another.

“Driving school” here is used as a practical prerequisite before any performance modifications. The speaker’s point is that learning to use the car safely and effectively can matter more than adding power or upgrades.

Willow Springs Raceway is a well-known road course in California used by racers and enthusiasts for testing and track days. The speaker mentions driving the car there with race hardware installed, emphasizing how they evaluated the setup on track.

A “megaphone” exhaust is a straight-through, race-style exhaust with a flared “megaphone” outlet. It’s used to improve exhaust scavenging and reduce backpressure compared with more restrictive mufflers.

“911 R hitters” appears to refer to the Porsche 911 R-style exhaust “hitters”/headers used on race cars. In this context, they’re paired with a megaphone exhaust and described as bolting on where a muffler would normally go.

“Small valve” refers to using smaller intake/exhaust valves in the engine head. Valve size affects airflow and breathing, so changing valve sizes is a common way racers tune power.

A “dyno” (dynamometer) is a machine used to measure engine output by running the car or engine under controlled load. The speaker references dyno testing to quantify horsepower.

“Rear wheels” horsepower means the power measurement is taken at the driven wheels (wheel dyno), not just at the engine crankshaft. This typically includes drivetrain losses, so wheel horsepower is usually lower than engine-rated horsepower.

Richie Ginther was a prominent racing driver and team figure associated with Porsche in the 1960s. In this segment, he’s described as working on “seat reduction cars,” indicating involvement in race-prep and performance development.

Riverside refers to Riverside International Raceway in California, a historic venue for American road racing. The speaker says they met Peter Briggs at Riverside with the car.

The Trans Am series (SCCA Trans-Am) was a major American road-racing championship that adopted Porsche 911s and other sports cars in the late 1960s. The speaker says the Mission Bell 250 “became the Trans Am series,” linking the event to that broader racing platform.

SCCA stands for Sports Car Club of America, which organizes amateur and professional road racing in the U.S. The speaker says they were in SCCA, then notes how Trans Am came out to the area and changed their racing schedule.

Sears Point is the former name of Sonoma Raceway in California. The speaker mentions running there as part of their racing schedule when the Trans Am era came to the region.

“Laguna Sega” is almost certainly a transcription error for Laguna Seca, the famous road course in Monterey, California. The speaker lists it alongside Sears Point as tracks they ran in the Trans Am/SCCA context.

An injection pump is the component that pressurizes and delivers fuel to the engine in a controlled way. In many diesel setups it’s a key part of how much fuel gets injected and when, which directly affects power and drivability.

A hairpin turn is a very tight, often near-180-degree corner that forces heavy braking and careful downshifting. It’s a useful kind of road to test brakes and driver control because small mistakes show up quickly in speed and stability.

The Volkswagen Bora is a compact-to-mid-size sedan/wagon-style model that’s known more for its everyday usability than for being a track-focused car. It comes up in the podcast because the speaker is describing a particularly memorable sound from a “Bora,” using it to illustrate how certain cars can stand out audibly. That makes it relevant in a discussion about what makes a car feel exciting even when it’s not the most extreme machine.

The Maserati Bora is a mid-engine Italian grand tourer known for its sharp styling and V8 performance. The speaker calls it one of the sweetest-sounding cars they’ve ever heard, emphasizing the auditory character that enthusiasts chase.

The Porsche Carrera GT is a rare, high-performance supercar built for serious driving, not everyday commuting. It’s especially discussed because it’s a “bucket list” car—something many enthusiasts want to experience briefly due to its exclusivity and driving focus. In the podcast context, it’s mentioned as a dream to drive for a short period, highlighting its status and desirability.

A twin-turbo setup uses two turbochargers to force more air into the engine, which helps produce stronger acceleration. In practice, it can feel like a sudden surge of power when you get on the throttle—exactly the kind of “whoa” moment the speaker describes.

The Porsche Cayenne twin turbo is a performance-focused version of Porsche’s SUV, using a twin-turbo setup to deliver strong acceleration. The speaker describes how the initial acceleration surprised them, and that they needed repeated drives to build confidence and learn how much throttle they could use.

The Ferrari 355 Spider is a mid-engine Ferrari with a convertible (Spider) body style, known for its distinctive sound and classic supercar feel. The speaker says it’s one of the sweetest-sounding vehicles they’ve driven, but they don’t enjoy driving it much because visibility is poor for them.

Brakes are the system that slows and stops the car by converting motion into heat through friction. The speaker’s comment implies the road is fast enough that braking performance and confidence matter a lot.