motorsport

Porsche and Pocket Watches: The Union Of Engineering Greats

Two companies intrinsically entangled by the allure and tradition of motorsport. TAG Heuer and Porsche have both had products named after the same 1950’s motorsport race, Carrera Panamericana, for the last 70 years and now they have finally come together to fuse their engineering prowess in the form of modern classic timepiece.

โ€œWe have been flirting for decades, more than a half-century, but at last the relationship is going public,โ€ said Catherine Eberle-Devauxโ€™s, Heritage Director at TAG Heuer.

Jack Heuer, who was 29 in 1961 when he took over the business that his Great Grandfather started in Bern, Switzerland, went on to found the revolutionary designs we now attribute to TAG Heuer. The Heuer family always had close ties to motorsport as avid spectators and inventors. The Heuer name went on to design dashboard timers, with one of which being installed into Jack’s own red MGA that he raced, “We came in third, exactly one minute late, because I had misread the small minute-register dial โ€“ I was furious,โ€ Jack said in an interview. With the love of motorsports running deep in the company, Jack made the decision to name what was to become Heuer’s most successful watch after the short lived Carrera Panamerican.

From Steve McQueen’s famous Porsche car and Heuer watch and race suit set up in 1970 to TAG Heuer dabbling in watch collaborations with a whole host of motorsport brands and the famous TAG-Porsche engine that powered winning hat trick for McLarens Formula One team, it was set in the stars for the two brands to come together after a long history of commercial and engineering courtship.

โ€œItโ€™s about dedication to motorsport,โ€  Frรฉdรฉric Arnault, TAG Heuer CEO says. โ€œThis is the watch brand thatโ€™s most intrinsically and authentically linked to motorsport. Meanwhile, Porsche is motorsport. And we share a name, inspired by the same Carrera Panamericana race. No other car and watch brand shares a link as deep as this.โ€

www.tagheuer.com/gb/en/partnerships/porsche.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edsFE7MoZQ4

The watch embodies the heart and spirit of horology and horsepower. It features a grey, black and red colour scheme to encompass Porsche’s iconic tones and the famous logo is located on the bezel.

This stunning masterpiece of engineering synchronicity can be purchased for just under ยฃ5000 and is any classic motor lovers homage to engineering.

Carl Offord, Lightning Rods – January 2020

Congratulations to Carl Offord, who finished 2nd place at the Best in Britain Lighting Rod championships. The Lightning Rod championships were held at the Yarmouth stadium on the 29th December. Three races were run on the day.

In race number one Carl started 6th from the back in a field of roughly 25 cars. Carl fought his way through the grid and crossed the line in third after a fantastic wheel-to-wheel race. Unfortunately Carl was docked two places due to a racing incident which saw him finish in 5th.

Race two began with a reverse grid with Carl heading out 6th from the front. Carl drove a fantastic clean race and built up a comfortable lead to take the win in the second race of the day.

Finally, the third race of the day was up. Carl qualified on pole position and drove a perfect race for the first 20 of the 25 lap race. On the 20th lap Carl approached a back marker to overtake. The back marker lost control and spun, collecting Carl up with him. Having made his way back onto the racing line, Carl had lost not only a lot of time, but also the lead and slipped down into 2nd place. He fought valiantly to try and regain first place but in the end finished in 2nd place.

Having lead so many laps it was hard not to feel disappointed not to come away with the win, however, second place is still a great achievement. Congrats, Carl.