As a passenger, memorable experiences often depend on the vehicle, the road, the driver, and any other passengers. If one of those things is off, the drive may be unbearable. Get all four in sync, however, and it may not matter that you’re just a passenger.
To prove it, I’d like to tell you about my experience as a passenger in a very special Porsche: 356/1, commonly known as Porsche No. 1. This mid-engined machine was the first to bear Ferdinand Porsche’s name, and as an indication of its focus, Porsche designed it to be as compact, light, and nimble as possible.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity during a drive of the then-new second generation Porsche Boxster to get rides in some of the company’s best-ever mid-engined machines: the IMSA-winning Porsche 914/6, a 550 Spyder, and No. 1 at Willow Springs Raceway in California. Although factory drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Derek Bell were turning more exciting laps in the 914/6 and 550 Spyder, respectively, it’s the slow laps in No. 1 that were most memorable to me.
A privileged experience, undoubtedly, but one that proved it’s sometimes just as magical to sit in the passenger seat.
