Checkered Blog by Checkered Flag is the automotive play place in Hampton Roads Virginia

Unsung Hero: Porsche 911

Described as "simply astounding," the Porsche 911 is quite possibly one of the coolest cars on the planet. It's been considered an icon in the automotive world since its introduction in the 1960s. Most people recognize the 911 as a high performance vehicle that you'd find on the racetrack, and (yes, it is all of that) but it's also great with day-to-day usability. I know, you must've raised an eyebrow with that one... Porsche a daily driver? Well, along with its Porsche siblings, the Boxster and Cayman, the 911 is an unexpected, but very welcome addition to our Unsung Heroes of Fuel Efficiency list.

There's a long list (15 in total) of 911 model variations to choose from. Here's the basic breakdown: base Carrera (starting at $73,500), Carrera S, GT3, Turbo and GT2. You also have your choice of body style (either standard coupe or convertible Cabriolet), and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Checkered Flag Porsche's Brian Bowers, a sales representative, showed me a Turbo version of the 911 (pictured here). All 911s have rear mounted horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engines. With the engine in the rear, Brian says the vehicle is more stable and delivers better traction. The Turbo Brian and I looked at produces an incredible 480 hp. The Carrera gets 325 hp. Hp numbers vary on the other models.

Brian says the 911 performs like a race car, but it also drives like a "normal" car. For a vehicle of its class and capability, the 911 gets great gas mileage.  It's rated at 26 miles on the highway, and 18 city (numbers reflect Carrera model). That's about 442 highway miles with its 17 gallon tank. Brian also points out that even with a huge difference in hp, the Turbo gets around the same mpg as the Carrera. The Turbo is capable of 25 highway miles on a gallon of gas. 

While performance and exceptional driving experience and feel are major highlights, the 911 is also equipped with an array of comfort features. It seats four passengers and comes standard with: air conditioning w/automatic climate control; tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel; and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. A front trunk compartment also offers ample cargo space. Visit here for the full list of features.

Standard on the 911 is a superior braking system consisting of Anti-lock braking (ABS) and 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs. Other safety features include: Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic range control; Porsche Stability Management; and dual front Advanced Airbags and head and thorax side airbags.

For the fashion conscious driver, the 911 is a dream. Brian tells me you can customize a 911 down to stitch color of the seat upholstery! Porsche offers several exterior color options for the 911, but if a customer came in requesting a specific color, a customized paint match is possible.   

The 911 is one of those vehicles that truly speaks for itself, so it's best to see it in person. If you're interested visit Brian and the Checkered Flag Porsche sales team at 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.

Meet Checkered Flag Porsche/Audi's Bill Thomas!

CB: How long have you worked at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Hmm...let's see. Well, I worked here three years prior, but I left to run a family business called Dream Dinners. My wife handles that now, so I returned to work here.

CB: Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in?
Bill: Virginia Beach. I've lived there since I was ten.

CB: Besides Porsche and Audi what are your other hobbies?
Bill: Music. I play the guitar and drums. All kinds of music, anything from alternative or rock. Stuff from Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hmm...what else?  Volleyball, soccer, video games, golf, and working.

CB: What's your favorite restaurant?
Bill: Well, I don't know if I'd say it's my favorite place to eat, but definitely a great place to hang out and play music. The Green Oak. The owner always asks us if we want to play music. It's just a cool place to hang out.

CB: What's in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Bill: About a 1,000 songs (laughs). Lordie, I listen to everything. Picking out a favorite song is hard. I listen to Stone Sour and Coldplay a lot. Travis is a great band too.

CB: What's the last movie you've seen?
Bill: After tonight, hopefully it'll be Dark Knight. I've been trying to see it. IMAX has been sold out for every showing!

CB: Do you have any pets?
Bill: A Yorkie named Chewie because he looks like Chewbacca (laughs).

CB: What's the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Bill: Ah, this one's hard. Well, I have a pilot's license. I got it when I was like 21 or 22, and I fly every once and awhile. Small planes like Cessnas.

CB: What's the one invention you couldn't live without?
Bill: Electricity! I need it for my guitar amps to play loud. Oh, and definitely air-conditioning.

CB: What's the best thing about working at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Dealing with the best customers and being able to drive the best cars in the world. You take pride in that. We have the best customers, people, and cars. It's just great. 

Join Checkered Flag Porsche at VIR August 8-10th

JOIN US  for the inaugural Zone 2 PCA Club Race & Advanced DE Weekend!

August 8-10, 2008 @ VIR (Full Course)

Registration opens May 5, 2008 at 9:00pm (CDT) at www.clubregistration.net

This will be a three race PCA Club Race weekend (two sprint races and one enduro race). 

Advanced DE open to advanced solo/instructors only as there will be a single DE run group.

This is a dedicated PCA Club Race & Advanced DE only weekend.

Test & Tune (Not a PCE Event) on August 7, 2008 will be run/managed by VIR. 
Please contact VIR for info on the T&T.

Spectators are welcome, but please RSVP in advance.  You can email Richard Hutsko to RSVP as a spectator:  rnhutsko@checkeredflag.com

Virginia International Raceway is located in Alton, VA (near Danville) which is about a 3-4 hour drive from Virginia Beach.  It may sound like a hike, but time at VIR is always well worth it.

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Porsche Cayman

At first glance the Porsche Cayman probably reminds you of another Unsung Hero we've featured before, the Porsche Boxster. Both Porsche vehicles do share very similar characteristics like seating-for-two and mid-mounted engine layout. They both also deliver exceptional performance that we've all come to expect from Porsche. What you probably don't expect from the Cayman (just like the Boxster) is great fuel efficiency. For a vehicle of its class, the Cayman does quite well in that department. We'll go more into that a bit later.

But first some background on the Cayman. I went to a great source on all things Porsche. Known as the "Porsche Man" at Checkered Flag Porsche, Fritz Falch gave me a quick history lesson on the Cayman. He tells me that the Cayman S was introduced on January 15, 2006 (yes, he knows the exact date by heart). The base Cayman debuted a little after that. It's positioned between the Boxster and the 911. But the Cayman doesn't suffer from a case of middle child syndrome by any means. It's a standout sports car that gets its fair share of attention.

Like mentioned earlier, the Cayman benefits from a mid-engine mount, which gives it an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Separating itself from the topdown convertible Boxster, the Cayman has a hardtop roof. The combination of the proven mid-engine placement with a rigid body makes for incredible handling and performance. Two trim models are offered: the base Cayman (starting at $49,400) and the Cayman S. The base model is powered by a 2.7-liter six-cylinder boxer engine that gets 245 horsepower and 201 lb-feet of torque. With the Cayman S the engine upgrades to 3.4 liters and produces 295 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque.

So with a such powerhouse engine, how well does the Cayman do with mpg? It gets 29 highway miles, and 20 city. With a 17 gallon tank, that's around 500 miles on the highway. To ensure the best mpg as possible, fuel supply is regulated by a Motronic ME 7.8 (engine management system), which also controls all the engine-related systems. 

The Cayman's prowess doesn't just lie with exceptional performance and power; its safety features are impressive too. Along with dual front Advanced head and thorax airbags, standard on Caymans is a powerful braking system that includes Anti-lock braking (ABS) and 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs. There's also the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system that monitors the vehicle and adjusts off steering.

Fritz says that most people see the Cayman as a very special high-end toy, but it's also a practical vehicle that could be used as a daily driver. The Cayman offers something rare that most sports cars lack: an ample amount of cargo space. There are two good sized front and rear luggage compartments. The Cayman interior is also generous with storage space conveniently placed on the center console, and in each door. Behind the two seats on the engine bulkhead, there's even more storage space. But if you find yourself still needing more, an optional Roof Transport system is available.  

I learned a lot about the Cayman from my visit with the "Porsche Man," but as always, it's best to see it in person at Checkered Flag Porsche, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111.

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Porsche Boxster

Surfing the net today, I read about a man who is looking to beat high gas prices by finding alternatives ways to commute to work. Sounds like a story you have heard before. Everyone is trying to find ways to save gas, but how many of you would kayak to work? A man living in Seattle does it, and even more impressive (although some would describe it as crazy) his entire commute to and from work takes 8 hours by kayak! Talk about dedication. At least he will not find himself stuck in traffic. But for those of you who are not ready to brave the open waters or have 8 hours to spare for commuting, I have another Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency to tell you about, the Porsche Boxster. Now, I know what you are probably thinking...a Porsche? Porsche is known for high performance, and usually high performance means more fuel. Well, you will be surprised to know that the Boxster delivers the signature Porsche performance, but not at the cost of fuel efficiency (more on that later).

The Boxster is offered in two models: Boxster (base, starts at $45,800) and Boxster S. The Limited Edition Boxster and the Boxster RS60 Spyder are also available, but are fewer in number. Eric Davis (pictured with the RS60), a client advisor there, says there are only 1,960 RS60 Spyder Boxsters in the entire world! I had the opportunity to check out one of the very special and rare RS60s. Eric showed me #498 of the 1,960 produced. A plaque sits on top of the glove box lid to show the limited numbers. Number 498 makes a bold impression with its Carrera Red leather interior. Very stylish. 

The Boxster is a two-seater convertible with a mid mounted engine layout. It is powered by a 2.7-liter, 6-cylinder boxer engine with 4-valve cylinder heads. With the engine placed in the space between the back of driver/passenger seats and the rear of the vehicle, the Boxster gets ideal weight distribution giving it awesome handling and performance. The engine technology on the Boxster is impressive, and I wish I could have taken a photo to post here, but seeing the engine is actually a bit of complex process and requires a Porsche mechanic. But never fret, if you are really interested in the seeing the engine visit the Porsche website. They have detailed diagrams of the Boxster engine. It is pretty cool stuff.

On the Boxster there is also an engine management system called the Motronic ME 7.8. This serves as the control center for all the engine-related systems, including fuel supply. Ah, fuel the magic word. ForbesAutos.com named the Boxster on its Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Luxury Cars list. It gets 29 highway miles, and 20 in the city. With its 17 gallon tank, you can get around 500 miles on the highway.

Other than the engine, I was wowed by the amount of cargo space the Boxster offers. With the engine fitted snuggly in the middle of the car, it leaves room for two generously sized storage compartments at the front and back. Eric even joked that I could fit comfortably inside the front compartment! 

Safety wise the Boxster has you covered with standard features including: Anti-lock braking system (ABS); 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs; seatbelt pretensioner; immobilizer system with transponder system for safety protection; two full-size Advanced Airbags; and the Porsche Side Impact Protection system with dual side airbags. Boxsters are also equipped with Porsche Stability Management (PSM). When the car is in motion, the PSM monitors direction, speed, yaw velocity (speed of the rotation around the vertical axis), and lateral acceleration. Using that information, the Boxster can correct over or under steering. It comes in handy especially during bad weather.

There are a ton of optional features to choose from for the Boxster. A few that caught my attention are: the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) which includes goodies like advanced audio and navigation systems; ParkAssist (rear bumper sensors to aid with parking); and HomeLink (standard remote control garage opener in roof console). The full list of features is found here.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are only a few RS60 Spyders and the Limited Edition Boxsters in the world, and you do not want to miss your chance to see them. Visit Checkered Flag Porsche, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.

Details on 2009 Porsche 911 Leaked

There are intelligence wars that are constantly being fought in the car industry.  Leaks, attributions to "anonymous sources" and, yes, spying are practically as common in the modern vehicle manufacturing world as they were between the two great powers during the Cold War.  If you don't believe me, check out this story regarding Porsche's CEO finding a "bug" in his hotel room the day before an important board meeting.  While that is creepy, and illegal, there are other times when the fruits of espionage are far more rewarding. 

Details on the new 2009 Porsche 911 recently found their way to the world wide web.  Here's what we "know":  The new 911 will feature direct fuel-injection resulting in a healthy increase in horsepower (+20 h.p. for 3.6-liter engine).  Additionally, the '09 911 will include Porsche's PDK, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.  A new touch screen "Communication Management" system will also be available.  Outside, we will see more subtle changes, including slightly tweaked front and rear bumpers, larger headlamps and mirrors and stainless steel exhaust tips.

While it is still very cloak-and-dagger, the leak will more than likely ensure that details on the official release will come sooner than previously thought.  The 2009 Porsche 911 is expected to be on sale mid-fall.

Meet Two "New" Members of Management at Checkered Flag Porsche and Audi

I say "new" because both new car manager Ed Klima and pre-owned manager Joe Hernandez, have actually been around Checkered Flag for many years.

Ed has long been the go-to guy at Checkered Flag Porsche. In fact, pretty much everyone that I talked to about his promotion simply said, "It’s about time!" Ed laughs, "It is nice to have it be official." Ed has been at Checkered Flag for over 7 years and working with Porsche customers for almost as long. He told me that he was really excited about the improved inventory conditions at Porsche, which will ensure more vehicles are available to customers who want them, as well as the renaissance of the Audi brand, "Audi has always been a great German-engineered car, but people are realizing more and more that it’s also very accessible. There really is something for everyone."

Joe Hernandez recently returned to Checkered Flag after having spent some time out of the car industry. With the exception of the last few years though, Joe has worked in the auto biz pretty much his whole career (since the mid-80s!). He moved to Hampton Roads about 14 years ago from northern Virginia and was quickly offered a position at Checkered Flag Toyota. He eventually moved on to Checkered Flag Porsche. When I asked him what made him come back he explains, "They say it [selling vehicles] gets in your blood and you can’t get rid of it and they’re right. I enjoy the instant gratification and being able to help customers get what they want, when they want it." Joe is married and has three children, including a son who recently graduated from Virginia Tech, another son in college at JMU and a 4 year old daughter.

The Checkered Blog would like to congratulate both Ed and Joe on their new positions and wish them the very best luck!

Meet New Checkered Flag JPA GM Richard Hutsko

The Checkered Blog recently caught up with Richard Hutsko, the new General Manager at Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi. Richard has officially been at the helm of JPA since mid-October. He’s no stranger to Checkered Flag however, as he’s been with the company for almost 12 years! Prior to coming to JPA, he served as the General Sales Manager at Checkered Flag’s BMW-MINI franchise.

Richard has worked in the automotive industry for even longer. Before starting at Checkered Flag he worked in the retail auto parts business where he owned his own store! He’s lived in Virginia Beach his whole life and when he’s not at work, he enjoys hanging with his wife of 19 years, his two teenage daughters and his two Springer Spaniels. He is also an avid road cyclist and loves music (rumor has it, he's quite a singer!).

Richard is really psyched about taking the reins at JPA. One of his primary goals as GM is, " to find and keep the best people who all pull in the same direction." He feels that the best things about working at Checkered Flag are the integrity of the company and all the great people who work there.

Congratulations and good luck, Richard!

Meet CF Porsche's Ed Klima

What is your name? Ed Klima

What do you do at Checkered Flag?  About everything and anything that involves, relates to, or in a word, looks like, a Porsche.  (Oh, and I sell a few Audis and Jags along the way.)

How long have you worked at Checkered Flag?  I have been with Checkered Flag since December 2001 and with Checkered Flag Porsche for about five years.

Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in? Virginia Beach, at the beach!!!

How long have you lived in Hampton Roads?  Since I was about six, at the beach.

What are your hobbies? Cars, trucks, working on my house, and trying to get down to the Outer Banks whenever I can (which is not nearly enough.)

What is your favorite restaurant? Rudee's or possibly CP Shuckers (it's a long story and too tough to call.)

What is in your MP3 player (or CD player) right now? Probably some bad rock.

What movie have you seen most recently? I do not watch many movies anymore ... sports take up too much TV time as it is! And who has that much time in this industry?

What pets do you have?  Two very curious and rather dramatically oversized cats that believe they are actually dogs.

What is one thing about you that people would be surprised to know? I had planned to become an English teacher and coach football at the secondary education level ... and I even got the degree, but it just never quite happened (thanks to the car business.)

What is one invention you couldn't live without?  Combustion engine or beer ... it depends on the day ... but not the two things together.

What is the best thing about working for Checkered Flag? The pure fact that "The Flag" is such a longstanding and established local company with great local presence and recognition in both the local and regional area ... plus, we house and sell the best car line in the area ... PORSCHE!

What Are You Doing on Thanksgiving?

Ray Aiden, sales consultant, Checkered Flag Toyota: "I am going to attempt to cook the turkey.  It's 10 pounds and I got the recipe from my mother-in-law.  My nine-year-old son wants to eat Thanksgiving dinner at home and I said I would make the turkey.  If it doesn't work out, our back-up plan is PB&J."

Consetta Hawk, cashier, Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi: "I am going to Roper, North Carolina to be with my family.  It's about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.  My stepmother is going to make the dinner, but I will probably help her. We have family coming from New York. There should be about 50 people there."

Don Robinson, parts consultant, Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi: "I'll be watching the Dallas Cowboys game. I'm going to my mom's house for dinner.  We'll have turkey, dressing, ham, sweet potatoes.  There will be about 15 people there."

Karin Hervet, receptionist, Checkered Flag Body Shop: "My mother and my sister are coming from Ohio, from a town called Ashley.  They're going to make dinner for me and they are probably going to shop for it before they come.  It will be the traditional turkey dinner."

FYI, Checkered Flag will be closed Thanksgiving Day and back open with regular hours on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Checkered Flag!