
For the first time in my life, I have walked to the edge of a precipice and taken a step back.
As I have noted earlier, I am signed up for the Oregon Porsche Club’s annual NW Passage tour.
Last year I did the 1,500 miles in our fifty-year-old 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 coupe, and Bradley in our 1975 911S.
This year, Bradley is signed up to take the 2006 Lotus Elise, and I was planning on the Jag again.
In a complete about face, I have decided to borrow a 2017 Porsche Macan SUV (I’m not even sure which variant it is) and leave the Jag at home.
Does this make me a vintage-car chicken? Perhaps, but I have my reasons.
First, NW Passage is not a vintage car event. Most cars are late-model Porsches that have a very small chance of needing mechanical attention. The Lotus fits right in with them.
If this were a vintage car tour like the SCM 1000 or the new Vintage Underground Emerald Invitational, the performance envelope of all the cars entered would be more similar. There would also be support vehicles on the route.
(By the way, the Emerald Invitational is shaping up to be a first-rate vintage event, and SCM is pleased to support it. Take a look for yourself.)
The NW Passage will cover over 1,500 miles in six days, and go as far north as Sand Point, ID, 428 miles (6 hours and 30 minutes) from Portland. Chances are that 1971 Jaguar repair shops will not be in abundance. That’s not to say we don’t have faith in the reliability of the Jag. In our four years and 8,000 miles together it has only let us down once, when the 50-year-old alternator gave up the ghost.
But I feel like I am pushing my luck by taking a half-century-old car on such a long, multi-day tour. Especially when surrounded by modern cars with their biggest issue being how accurate their adaptive cruise control systems are.
I confess to having a bout of vintage car breakdown PTSD. And rather than spend the next few months worrying about this, I decided why not just take a modern Porsche on a modern Porsche tour?



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Keith, I feel your pain. I drive with hand controls. Although I had the knowledge to fix my collector cars, I do not longer have the ability. For short events, I drive the antique cars for longer things that I have interest in. I drive a modern Porsche or Corvette. You are doing the right thing. Enjoy yourself.
Thanks your note. I’m exactly the same. I used to be able to work on my cars but I can’t stand on my legs long enough to do that now. Like you, I think it will be my automatic classics for shorter events and my more modern ones for longer events. At least we are both still above the grass. 🙂
Keep driving.
Being the owner of one old Porsche and a Macan, I look forward to your review. Personally, I love my contrast of analog and electronic. Have fun!
Keith. You are getting “Long in the Tooth” !! ….You should be joining me this June in Brescia, for the 2025 Mille Miglia, as I prepare my ‘56 356A 1600 for the event …what are you doing driving an Automatic SUV with NO dipstick ! Sacriledge !
Rand, If Keith can’t make it to Brescia, I can. I maintain a small collection of cars, including a 1996 911 Carrera and a 2018 9114S among others. I’ve driven everything from a 3 speed on the column or floor to a 7 speed C7 Corvette.
I enjoyed a half dozen driving schools, competed in Time Trials years ago, and perhaps a dozen Autox with the
NJBMW club and Empire Jaguar club. Ray Lynch
Keith, you’re making a good decision and will love driving the Macan, they are great cars. Ken
Thank you so much for the shout out, Keith! The team at Vintage Underground is delighted to roll out the Emerald Invitational, which will showcase our beautiful state of Oregon while fostering friendship and community among the vintage car enthusiasts on the tour. Hand-in-hand with the event we are developing an internship opportunity in our shop, to help young technicians cross the threshold from education to experience in a working shop environment. We invite your readers to join us!
Hopefully the Macan will be a GTS. Push the Sport or Sport Plus button and you will think you’re in a 911 station wagon. Not kidding, I have a 911 and a Macan GTS. After a trip to the “Porsche Driving Experience “ in Atlanta I learned how capable the Macan is.
Dear Rand. Enjoy the MM. I am a little ahead of you I drove it in 1992 in a 47 nardi Zagato and 95 in an Alfa 1900 CSS. Have a great time b
I think your thoughts are correct. In this case, you should drive a similar car to others or the same theme of the event. It’s never good to be the slow person or stuck behind a slow person. Good solid decision-making here. Maybe it’s time to add a more modern Porsche. It’s all about having a use for a specific car and not a garage queen. Enjoy the tour, never lift!
Enjoy the Macan, Keith. That’d be my choice, too, and for the same reasons. I’ll enjoy the old cars on a couple hour drive with a few car buddies on a nice Sunday afternoon.
Enjoy the trip – without the worry!
Who cares what anybody else thinks.
You said it yourself – it’s NOT a vintage event.