136 | THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALE
The great Ken Miles became another leading Porsche 550 exponent
and one year when 23 drivers scored SCCA National points in the
Club’s F-modified class ¶21 of them were driving Spyders.
In his ‘Road & Track’ piece, Allan Girdler continued: “What was it like
to drive? Very like the standard Porsche, is the opinion of both...” (our
former) ̧ ̄testers and Richie Ginther now. The steering, Ginther said,
‘was completely familiar’.
“The gearshift and brakes were good then, not so good now, although
it’s not really fair to make such a comparison...
“The 550 never had any shortcomings in the suspension departments,
Ginther recalls, and he credits the factory’s use of the Nurburgring as
a proving ground. Every possible handling situation exists there, and
Porsche had them all understood before the car was introduced...”
Weight distribution was 48/52 front/rear where ‘R&T’ had expected
more weight on the rear" ̧The car was, said Ginther ºYou got into it and
felt a part of it. Things reacted just as you expected them to. When
you went into a corner, you’d predict an arc, and the car would carry
through on the arc you predicted. It was the competition machine.”
Girdler considered “Odd he should say that. The car pictured here is
an exception. 0t never was a competition machine. Never raced as they
say in the ads. Only this time it’s the truth.
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Famed racing driver Ritchie Ginther
testing the car for ‘Road and Track’, 1971.4
Ginther poses with the car during
the ‘Road and Track’ test. 1971.
© Pat Sebald5
Ritchie Ginther enjoying himself behind the
wheel of the 550, 1971.6
0090 June Lake, California, 1970.4
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