The "Garage Mahal Crawl"

By David Miller

Let's face it. If you are reading this, it is because you like cars. At least Porsches. If you like these types of cars, you need a place to keep your stable of thoroughbreds. And if you have been "bitten by the bug", like many of our club members, you will need to have room to store more than one of these pristine beauties. Four of our club families were kind enough to invite us into their "family rooms" to see how they keep their "kids" warm and out of the elements.

With around 50 participants on Saturday, July 27th, started the festivities at Jim and Estella Renfroe’s home in Lathrup Village. The Renfroe's added a beautiful 4-car garage to their home to house their collection of 911s including a 911S, modified 930 turbo, a low mile pristine 3.2L 911 and 993. These beautiful specimens have been thoughtfully enhanced to offer some mind-boggling performance statistics. Decked out with all the comforts of home, the Renfroe garage included the TV, stereo, and Porsche artwork throughout. A nice donut and coffee spread awaited us to get the crawl going.

Next stop, Jerry and Patti Door's home. Their "Porsche Garage" was built as a free-standing structure next to their home, offering space for their 914 Track Car, 944 Turbo Club Racer and the infamous, Fly Yellow 993. The garage was decorated with a hoist, currently presenting the partially dismantled 944 Club Racer (we won't talk about that!). Die cast Porsche models, signs and other wall art decked this place out. Cabinets, TV….I'm sure if we looked around a little closer, we would find the hot tub!

As always, Patti Door graced us with a wonderful lunch spread in the daily driver garage: Italian Sausage with onions and all the "go withs". And, of course, her famous dessert table. For those of you who have been active at progressive dinners or Waterford driving schools, you will know what we are talking about. She makes probably the best apple pie in the world, as well as countless others. There had to be no less than 10 wonderful desserts to choose from.

Back in the car and off to the country. Holly-bound to Leo and Linda Wanstreet's home. Once you get past the long, winding white fence, past the indoor riding stable, you have arrived at a brand new 4-car, high-bay "working" garage that looks like something you would expect to find at Bobby Rahal's house. Built-in professional tool cabinets, as many air hoses as Uncle Ed's oil change; lift, etc. Gracing the garage were their 964 (911) Club Racer, a beautiful 911 SC and their lowered, metallic black, Boxster S. This is a beautiful place and a great area to drive a Porsche (room to "stretch your legs").

The final leg was a spirited drive to Oxbow Lake. As you arrive at the lakefront home of our final host and hostess, Dave and Diane Burton, a new 4-car “Porsche” stable nestled in the trees surprises you. Thoughtfully constructed to house the infamous "Blue Flag Racing" trailer, this "working" garage again has a hoist, cabinets, TV, stereo, and all the other comforts of home. Diane's professional greenhouse is built into the side of this “2nd” home. The blue racing stripe around the interior of the garage matched that of their 356 racecar. Also entertaining you as you enter this garage, is the former Neil Goldberg, Mike Valentine 911, the yellow Boxster S, and last, but certainly not least, is Diane's outstanding 356 Roadster.

If there were any tricks forgotten in these garages, you would not know it. These were all thoughtfully constructed and decorated. All for fun. All for a purpose. All for the vehicles we all enjoy (I guess we are all a little “touched”).

We thank our hosts for inviting us into their "homes”, and, for those of you who did not participate, you missed a great event. Keep your eyes open. Maybe we can get others to open up their "homes".