Meeting Peter Schutz As A Teenager Was The Thrill Of A Lifetime

I am a car guy, have been since even before I could drive.

What does that mean? I think it means I fall in love with my cars. My particular passion was directed toward anything German made.

When I was 14 years old I was a huge Porsche fan. I still am today. I would buy every car magazine on the shelf and read about Porsches. I had Porsche posters on every wall in my bedroom. All this passion for Porsche inspired me to start writing letters to Peter Schutz, who was the CEO of Porsche AG from 1981 to 1987. He was the savior of the 911 and always said, “Hire character and train skill.”

He actually wrote me back!

Take into account that this was before email.

These were handwritten letters and he always responded.

I am still surprised today how this busy CEO cared enough about this 14-year-old to write back.

I mentioned in one of my letters that I would be visiting my grandmother in Germany the following year.

“You have to visit me at the factory!” he said.

WOW! This was a dream come true.

When I was in Germany, I took the train to Zuffenhausen. I started walking, which turned to excited running, to Werk 1 where I was to meet Mr. Schutz. I told the guard in German that I was there to see Peter Schutz. He didn’t believe me and was rather rude. He told me to wait and went into the guard house and checked if I was for real. When he came out I was addressed as Herr Köhler and he politely escorted me to Peter Schutz’s office. While I was walking I passed Ferry Porsche’s office.

“How cool is this!” I thought to myself.

I got an incredible private tour of the factory, the museum and even the private Porsche family car collection.

I had the most incredible day!

I asked Peter how I could thank him and he said, “Just promise me you will work for Porsche one day!”

I have never fulfilled that promise.

After coming back to Canada from that memorable trip to Germany I had my heart on getting a Porsche. The only Porsche I could afford at the time was a Porsche 914. I loved the way the car looked and searched the classifieds for one for sale in my price range. The student parking lot at the high school I attended was full of Novas, Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs and none of that excited me. Then surprisingly I found something and it wasn’t a Porsche. I was in love with what I found in the latest edition of AutoTrader, and it was unlike anything in that high school parking lot. There on the front page was a 1976 BMW 2002. This car is what put BMW on the map in North America. It had a peppy 2 litre, 4 cylinder engine with 100 horsepower. After some negotiation with the seller I wrote him a cheque for $2,500 and the car was mine.

I just needed to get my license and learn how to drive a stick shift!

My dad tried to teach me how to drive it but the car just did the bunny hop every time I let the clutch out. After some determination on my part and patience from my dad I mastered the 4-speed manual transmission. I loved driving that car. Some will say it is because of my heritage but the truth is it is about driving. If you know what Heel-Toe shifting is you get me, nothing autonomous here.

Having your own car at 16 inspired a new unexpected confidence…asking girls on dates. However I believe the car was jealous. After finding someone who agreed to go out with me I would pick them at the arranged date and time. We would then drive downtown toward the movie theatre when the car would stall. It stalled every time at the same spot no matter who was the date. Always right at the main busy intersection of town. Cars honking, drivers yelling at me and a date that regretted saying yes. I would shove a screwdriver down the flooded barrel of the Solex carburetor trying to get the engine going again. Usually a fellow car enthusiast stopped by to help. Well, during my teenage years this car broke down often and my dating life dwindled.

The upside was this allowed for ample time to work on the car on nights and weekends. Before I knew it all my money was gone and I was 18 years old and needed to go to college. With a broken heart I sold the car. Life happens – college, job, marriage, house, kids. In my twenties I worked as a service advisor at a local BMW dealership. On an idle Tuesday someone came into the dealership and asked if I knew anything about 2002s. I said I did and he proceeded to show me pictures of a car he was contemplating buying. It was my old BMW 2002. I said I would love to buy the car back. Disgruntled with this new information the customer left. My next customer came in and saw the displeasure in my face and asked, “Why so glum?”

I told him the story. This longtime customer was a private investigator. By the afternoon I knew where the car was and who was selling it. The rest is history and that car is now again with me. Now years later and semi-retired, every Friday morning I start that beautiful BMW 2002 up and drive out to Hawkesville half an hour away. I stop at a wonderful bakery there and buy a coffee and a donut. I then drive down the road to the Conestogo River. I put out the fishing rod, take in the peacefulness of the river and enjoy my coffee and donut. Heel and toe? Not much anymore but sometimes my wife comes with me and you know the car never stalls.

It must be true love.

I have had a long and rewarding career in the car business. When I reflect back the catalyst that got me really excited about the car business it was my visit to the Porsche factory.