Family/General Info: My wife Valerie and I have two children, Ryan (13 yrs.) and Olivia (9yrs.).  We also have a labradoodle named Brody.  We live in Blue Ash, Ohio in a home built in 1840 and spend our non-car related time and money restoring “the old house”.  We also enjoy gardening, antiquing and looking after our kids. Describe the Porsche(s) you own: My first Porsche was a 1973 911 Targa that was tangerine orange with cookie cutter wheels.  I sold it back in 1988 and wish I would have kept it.  Our current Porsches are a 2005 Beck Speedster that we converted to look as closely to an original 1958 Speedster as possible.  It has a 1915cc VW engine.  Our other P-car is a “guards red” 1983 911SC Targa with a 3.0 engine which was the last year for that engine. How did you acquire the car(s)? We bought the Speedster in 2005 from Superformance in Ross Ohio.  I wanted a black one but they had a “Harvest Moon” beige one in stock and the salesman convinced me to bring my wife and “just take a look at it”.  I was adamant that I was getting a black one with tan interior and that was that. We visited the facility, drove a silver one, and after some mild arm bending, from my wife, bought the “Harvest Moon” beige one.  I immediately started ordering script, badges,knobs, steering wheel etc. from companies like Stoddard, and a lead by Steve Leiding, and I contacted Autos Intl. in California and had my canvas convertible top boot cover replaced with a vinyl boot cover.  I then took the cover to a buddy in Deer Park, who operates an embroidery shop, and he sewed in a Porsche emblem and Porsche script. In 2006, I was in need of an everyday driver so we searched the car dealers mags etc. and found a car for sale in Melbourne Kentucky.  Again, we were only going to look at it and that’s all.  We arranged with the owner, Paul Klebahn, who is also a Porsche guy and was pretty active with the VW Club and he also wrote a book  called “Bug Tales”  to meet us at his house and when we arrived he had it on a car lift in his garage so I could look underneath it for leaks, condition etc. So far, so good.  We then took it for a drive in the back roads of northern Kentucky.  It drove beautifully and I was getting excited at having a “real Porsche” as my everyday driver.  We discussed price and I told Paul I would get back with him. My plan was to put him on ice and act indifferent to the car.  A week went by and Paul called and asked if I was still interested.  I told him yes but the price was a little too much. He came down a little bit.  My plan was working.  I then told him I still needed to think about it.  Another week past and he called again and dropped the price a little more.  I now think I’ve got him where I want him and hopefully in a couple of more days we’ll get him where we want him and seal the deal.  My plan was working right up to the approaching weekend when Paul called and said was I really interested because he was going to drive it down to Keenland for the Concours and put a “For Sale” sign on it.  At that point my negotiating prowess fell apart because I knew if he took it down there, with the price we agreed on, it would be gone.  We arranged to meet and seal the deal.  I got the car home, started revitalizing the paint, interior and engine bay, and when I was through, I couldn’t drive it every day.  It was just too nice of a car to put excessive miles on it. It now gets driven to car shows, club functions etc. and spends it’s leisure time in the garage. What drew you to the 356? I’ve always liked the body style.  I remember seeing 356’s in movies like Top Gun and 48 Hours and thought how neat they looked and began setting my sights on getting one “one of these days” What is your all-time favorite car...car you would buy if money were no object? If money were no object, I would probably get several cars. My first one would be a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster.  I’d also have to have a early 60’s Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and maybe a late 50s Cadillac.  While we’re at it maybe another early 70’s Porsche and a late 40’s Chrysler New Yorker, Windsor or Highlander. I’d also like to get my 1978 Jeep CJ-7 back. When did you join the Drei Staaten Gruppe? I think it was 2006 when I  got a call from  Tom Oerther who somehow found out I had a Speedster and asked if I would like to join the club.  He was so, just a great car guy, I couldn’t say no. What is the most fun you have had in 356? Every time I drive it.  The smell, sound and feel are exciting every time. Any Interesting/funny stories you can share? Valerie and I attend a lot of car shows and I drive the 911 and Val drives the 356.  If I happen to drive the 356, and am alone, people want to know why I’m driving Val’s car. Any tech tips/secrets you've acquired over the years of 356 ownership? I am way too much of a novice to give anyone any tech tips, however, I am getting pretty good at detailing, waxing etc. and feel I could probably contribute in that area. What’s your favorite part of owning a 356? Just getting in and driving and watching other people’s reactions when we drive down the street. It just puts a smile on their face and  they don’t even realize it.