A few weeks ago, we attended the annual 912 Rendezvous gathering of enthusiasts, this time in Fish Camp, California, just on the southern edge of the Yosemite National Park. It was a weekend we won’t forget any time soon, as those 912ers really know how to have a good time. The roads were excellent, the views were spectacular, and the camaraderie was second to none.
We left our home base of Reno, Nevada at about mid-day on Thursday. Interestingly, it didn’t take long for us to catch up with a pair of 912s in a little town called Minden. For the next handful of hours, we chased the 912s through some fantastic desert vistas down I-395, and then some glorious back roads across Yosemite on 120, crossing over the 10,000 feet above sea level ‘Tioga Pass’ (which, as I type this is currently closed for massive snow accumulation). While we were making the journey in a Boxster, the 912 owners ahead of us looked like they were having some trouble climbing up the steep mountain, surely not helped by a massive decrease in power. Some quick calculations indicate that a healthy 912 would lose about 27 precious horses at that high of an elevation (our Boxster was down about 60 horses, too!).
All of us arrived at the host hotel just before dark, and were all set to get registered for the weekend’s festivities. Thursday night was simply a social gathering, with a few morsels on hand for an impromptu dinner, and a bar stocked with plenty of social lubricant. Everyone discussed among themselves what was new in the 912 community, including car values ever on the rise, what they’d done to their car in the preceding year, and even the intricate specifications of their respective engines.
The following morning, we all met up for an excellent drive through the local area. A few of the folks that weren’t interested in “spirited driving” took off on their leisurely way to investigate Yosemite in depth. The rest of us, a majority frankly, headed off into Mariposa County to attack the hills and dells on a gorgeous drive route written up by local 912er Don Melcher. It was a fantastic drive, and probably among the best I’ve ever been on.
The sound made by a gaggle of 912s buzzing their way through the California countryside is something you just have to hear once or twice in your life. The ribbon of slope-back sports coupes snaking their way up and down mountain passes makes for a startlingly beautiful visual. The looks on people’s faces as we passed them were fantastic, and the cell phone snapshots taken by roadside gawkers made it obvious that this wasn’t a regular every day occurrence.
Once we crossed out of town, though, the throttle linkages got the workout they’d been waiting for. From that point forward, it was like a solid 5 hours of up and down the gears, into and out of switchbacks, sawing left and right at steering wheels, and practically wearing out the knee joint of our respective clutch legs. It felt as though a giant had chucked a few handfuls of Porsches into a blender and pushed the button marked ‘HI’.
Once we reached the diminutive quasi-ghost town of Hornitos, we all got out to stretch our legs, and wrestle the kinks out of the knees of our clutch legs. The town’s claim to fame is that it was once home to the original Ghirardelli Chocolate factory, and the brick bones of the long-since forgotten chocolate warehouses still stand. The place is pretty deserted at this point, but it was worth a stop for a few minutes to prepare for another attack on the out-in-the-country roads.
Back underway and bombing down the lanes, we arrived at our destination, Casto Oaks winery at the Mt. Bullion Vineyard. Once we’d all gotten parked and dismounted our steeds, we all unpacked our sack lunches, and indulged in a handful of bottles of their finest. Throughout lunch, the conversations started up again, the ‘how long have you had your 912’, ‘I’ve just finished adjusting my timing’, and ‘my, that paint color looks dashing’. The cars bring us together, but the conversations, the people, and perhaps the wine keep us coming back.
After a long driving day, we all just sort of drifted on our own paths back to the hotel for a mid-afternoon nap, a few pints at the local ale-house, or to set about polishing the bugs off of our windshields in preparation for the following day’s ‘concours’. I was properly knackered, so I headed off to a light dinner, and then to bed for an early morning.
The sun rose on a great morning for a car show. Without many wide open spaces for dozens of 912s to be put on display, we took over a large section of the hotel's parking lot. The good part about that was that we didn't have far to go in order to set up the cars in order. There were classes split up by year, and then the Targas had their own class, and there was an additional class for "outlaw", and of course a 'best in show' was awarded. My personal favorite didn't win, but there were so many good cars there, it was hard to pick an easy front runner.
Following the concours, we had an amazing lunch (sponsored by Stoddard NLA, by the way). Lunch was great, but the best part was another drive scheduled for that afternoon. While this drive would be a bit more sedate than Friday's back road bombing, it would end at one of the coolest places on the planet; Glacier Point, overlooking the famous "Half Dome". If you've never seen the place, book a trip now, because it is one of the most beautiful vistas we've ever had the privilege to experience.
After spending a couple of hours in the park, and driving some more of California's amazing roads, we went back to the hotel for the banquet, awards ceremony, and giveaway extravaganza. There was live music, there was witty banter, there were some really cool trophies, and the food and wine provided was amazing. Another 912 Rendezvous done and in the books. Thanks to everyone who made it possible, and here's to another excellent event next year. For those who have not heard, there has been an East Coast Rendezvous added to the calendar in 2015, taking place in beautiful Pennsylvania. For more information, visit 912registry.org or the forum at 912bbs.org.
[Final group photo courtesy a stranger using Jill Ashlock's camera. All other images ©2014 Stoddard NLA, LLC./Bradley C. Brownell, All Rights Reserved]
