Project 964

A Fiery Introduction.

- George Achorn

I’m standing in the line at the Virginia DMV, waiting for a ticket so I can then talk to someone who will eventually issue me transfer tags for my new-to-me 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 2. I’ll admit I’ve got a little bit of angst. You see, this isn’t just my first 964. It is my first Porsche and also my first air-cooled car. I’d just bought the thing about 10 minutes ago, and on my way from the bank to the DMV, I smelled some burning oil. After nabbing the spot closest to the door, I noticed a bit of smoke floating up from the engine vent. Now Bill, my wingman for this potential boondoggle, has just walked hurriedly across the DMV to my position and informed me the car is on fire.

Of course it is.

Exactly what do you do in a situation like this? There’s no book for it… no FAQ… no how-to video on some YouTube-suggested watch list between Patrick Long heel-and toe how-to videos and Petrolicious P car profiles.

So, I ask Bill an obvious question. “Is it still on fire?”

“It might be.”

Bill walks past me and out a second door. He yanks a fire extinguisher from the wall on his way out. Shortly thereafter, he passes the large plate glass windows in full sprint.

A girl behind me asks her boyfriend, “Is something on fire?”

“I think it’s that Porsche,” he answers.

Yeah. That Porsche. I wince.