The one guy had a Licence to Kill. I’ve got one for the racetrack. Part 2: Taxi rides, parts hunts, and electricity on instalments

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    A few hours earlier — Friday morning. Sitting in a taxi on the way to the track felt like some parallel universe. I was technically heading for a racing licence — something that should smell like control, precision, and “I’ve got my life sorted”. And yet there I was in the back of a taxi, while my own car was six kilometres away, parked up somewhere, probably having a quiet little pity party. The road to Poznań was harmless. The taxi was warm, quiet, reliable. I realised my body was reacting to every normal bit of acceleration like it didn’t trust it — as if it was asking: “Hang on… so it can move without drama?” I leaned my head against the window and stared out, and somewhere between exhaustion and adrenaline an annoying thought popped up: maybe today would actually be… easy. Luckily, day one was theory. No car needed. No starting. No chasing volts. No praying for 14. Just a classroom, rules, flags, behaviour, safety — all the stuff that makes motorsport feel like...
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Project Marrakesh – Part 4: What Is This Even Supposed to Become?

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Project Marrakesh

 

  

 

 

The destination, the date and the route are set.

Now comes the real question: what does the Porsche need to become in order to cross Europe, survive the Mediterranean, and then keep going once Africa begins?

🔧 1) Mechanics – the unavoidable “grown-up” part

After 25 years of doing absolutely nothing, the car needs more than “fresh fluids and optimism”.
The list is long, and brutally clear:

  • complete brake system rebuild

  • replace brake lines

  • remove and renew the fuel tank

  • renew fuel lines

  • timing belt, water pump, thermostat

  • all fluids fresh

  • countless small parts and seals

  • welding work

  • partial respray

A full technical resurrection — exactly what you’d expect when a car has taken a quarter-century break.

🧳 2) Space – and why this is bigger than I thought

Beyond the mechanics there’s the actual challenge: storage.

My co-pilot is my partner.
And anyone who’s travelled far with a woman knows that “space” isn’t a theoretical concept — it’s hard physics.

Also: after converting my old van into a camper, we got used to stopping anywhere, pulling out chairs and a table, and making coffee in the middle of nowhere.

We’re not giving that up. You can’t pay for that kind of freedom. Not even with Visa.

So the Porsche needs room for:

  • camping table and chairs

  • a fridge

  • cooking kit (gas stove, pots, pan, dishes)

  • water containers

  • spare fuel canisters

  • tools and spare parts

  • camera gear

The storage doesn’t just need to exist — it needs to be re-invented.

🏜️ 3) Morocco demands more than tarmac

South of the Mediterranean we’re expecting:

  • tracks

  • sand

  • stones

  • missing guardrails

  • minimal road markings

  • darkness without helpful reflections… but with plenty of “things” on the road you would never expect

So the Porsche will get:

  • all-terrain tyres

  • a proper full-size spare

  • additional lighting

  • a homemade skid plate

  • slightly increased ground clearance (thanks to larger tyres)

Four-wheel drive would be ideal — but you can’t exactly bolt that on, or wish it into existence. You can’t knit it with yarn and a pair of needles either.
At best I could stick a 4x4 badge on the car… but I’m not sure that helps much.

So: improvise, adapt, optimise.

Am I missing something important?
Something that absolutely belongs in a Porsche heading 4,600 km towards Africa — whether it’s serious, practical, or completely ridiculous?

If you’ve got ideas, I’m happy for every tip, every experience, every suggestion.
Better to laugh about it now than swear in the Sahara later. 😅

 

                             

                                           

                              

 

 

 

Project Marrakesh – Part 4 of 8

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