For more than two decades, the Adelaide motorsport enthusiast has driven a variety of Porsches in tarmac rallies, the next one being this weekend’s Adelaide Hills Tarmac Rally.
But instead of the ex-Jim Richards 2007 GT3 RS in which Black and co-driver Naomi Tillett have contested the event for the past three years, this time they’ll team up in a rare 1973 911S.
Black believes the 40 year-old Porsche is one of only four genuine examples in Australia, and has brought the car out of ‘retirement’ now that the newer model is for sale.
“I’ve had a great run in the GT3 RS, but I want to sell it while it’s still immaculate, like it was when Jim Richards drove it,” Black said.
“That’s given me the opportunity to drive the 911S again, which is great because it’s such a classic car.
“It’s reminiscent of Alan Hamilton’s 911T Rallye that gave the big V8 touring cars of Ian Geoghegan, Norm Beechey and Alan Moffat a hard time in the late-1960s!”
For Naomi Tillett, co-driving in the 1973 naturally aspirated, air-cooled, rear-engined 2WD Porsche is quite a change from the 2011 turbocharged, front-engined AWD Nissan GT-R that she usually co-drives with Tony Quinn.
“Obviously the Historic cars aren’t as fast as the latest models because they have less power and none of the modern driver aids like all-wheel drive, traction control and ABS,” she said.
“But that makes them just as challenging – if not more so – to drive quickly.
“And they have a charm and character all their own, which makes it a great experience just competing in them.
“We mightn’t win the event or even our class, but if there were a prize for the biggest smiles we’d win that easily!”